Albert Lea Tigers boys’ hockey forward Eric Carlson was named Tuesday as an Associated Press All-State honorable mention.

As a junior, Carlson had a career-high 66 points this season on 39 goals and 27 assists. He finished the season tied for 13th in the state in points (Class A and AA) and fifth in scoring. He was also named Big Nine All-Conference after leading the Tigers to a conference championship.

“It is a great honor to be up there with some of those big names,” Carlson said,of the All-State list. “There are some kids (on the list) who are great players and it felt good to be recognized for that.”

After notching 44 points last season, Carlson said it was his goal this year to improve on that number.

“I’m pretty proud of those points,” Carlson said. “I thought it was a big year stepping forward in all parts of my game.”

Tigers coach Roy Nystrom said Carlson already ranks among the top players in Albert Lea hockey history .

“He is a two-time team MVP and he’s only a junior,” Nystrom said. “I think that speaks for itself.”

Carlson finished the season with four hat tricks, including a four-goal game against Austin on Dec. 21, and had a school-record 12-shorthanded goals. Nystrom said the 12 short-handed goals may also be a state record.

“He is a very important part of our team,” Nystrom said. “He’s got great hands and good anticipation. He’s just a good offensive hockey player.”

Carlson was on of seven Big Nine players to be named All-State honorable mention.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Kyle Rau, Eden Prairie

FIRST TEAM

F–Kyle Rau, sr, Eden Prairie

F–Garrett Hendrickson, sr, Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

F–Tony Cameranesi, sr, Wayzata

D–Max Everson, sr, Edina

D–Nick Seeler, sr, Eden Prairie

G–Alex Lyon, sr, Lake of the Woods

SECOND TEAM

F–Mike Dockry, sr, Burnsville

F–Tyler Heinonen, sr, Delano

F–Josh Archibald, sr, Brainerd

D–Patrick Daly, sr, Benilde-St. Margaret’s

D–Rory Vesel, sr, Rochester Lourdes

G–JoJo Jeanetta, sr, Duluth East

HONORABLE MENTION

FORWARD:

Conor Anderle, jr, Breck

Ben Bahe, sr, Hill-Murray

Nate Baker, sr, Detroit Lakes

Tony Barbaro, sr, Cretin-Derham Hall

Max Birkinbine, sr, White Bear Lake

Jonny Brodzinski, sr, Blaine

Eric Carlson, jr, Albert Lea

Bryant Christian, jr, Moorhead

Tyler Cisar, so, Moose Lake/Willow River

Zach Cisar, sr, Moose Lake/Willow River

Cam Coborn, jr, Park Rapids

Nick DeCenzo, sr, Hibbing/Chisholm

Landon Farrell, jr, Rochester Lourdes

Connor Fitzer, sr, Luverne

Steven Fogarty, sr, Edina

Andrew Frentz, sr, Mankato West

Alex Funk, so, Rochester Lourdes

Andrew Habel, sr, Chisago Lakes

Tyler Hansen, sr, Morris

Max Hazelton, sr, Bemidji

Steven Heller, sr, Bemidji

Wesley Iverson, jr, Breck

Mac Jansen, sr, White Bear Lake

Adam Johnson, so, Hibbing/Chisholm

Kaleb Juntunen, sr, New Ulm

Justin Kloos, jr, Lakeville South

Matt Kroska, sr, St. Thomas Academy

Joseph LaBate, sr, Holy Angels

Dylan Lambert, jr, Blaine

Zack Lawdermilt, jr, East Grand Forks

Mario Lucia, jr, Wayzata

Eric Mackey, sr, Rochester John Marshall

Alex Mason, jr, Detroit Lakes

Jack McFarlane, sr, Cloquet/Esko/Carlton

Will Merchant, jr, Eagan

Dillon McLain, jr, Delano

Mitch McLain, jr, Brainerd

Derek McMasters, sr, Rochester Mayo

A.J. Michaelson, jr, Apple Valley

Patrick Moore, sr, Grand Rapids

Nick Nielsen, sr, Bloomington Jefferson

Colin O’Brien, sr, Cretin-Derham Hall

Trevor Olson, jr, Duluth East

Grant Opperman, jr, Breck

Matt Pohlkamp, jr, Brainerd

Jake Randolph, jr, Duluth East

Ville Rantanen, sr, Mankato West

Micah Ranum, sr, Thief River Falls

A.J. Reid, sr, St. Thomas Academy

Ben Ruberg, sr, Two Harbors

Jason Samuelson, so, Rochester Lourdes

Thomas Schutt, sr, Minnetonka

Zach Schroeder, sr, St. Thomas Academy

Ryan Siiro, sr, Bloomington Jefferson

Nick Stoskopf, sr, Warroad

Garrett Skrbich, sr, Hermantown

Dom Toninato, jr, Duluth East

Brandon Wahlin, sr, White Bear Lake

Drew Weber, sr, Mankato West

Blake Winiecke, jr, Lakeville North

Michael Zajac, jr, Eagan

DEFENSE:

Tyler Tatro, jr, Bemidji

D.J. Jones, sr, Wayzata

Eddie Wittchow, sr, Burnsville

Jared Kolquist, jr, Hermantown

Scott Hennen, so, Alexandria

Bill Norman, sr, Rochester Mayo

Matt Audette, sr, Thief River Falls

Mark Bittner, sr, Crookston

Ryan Bullock, sr, Blake

Ryan Busch, sr, Roseville

Taylor Fleming, sr, St. Thomas Academy

Neil Goff, jr, Stillwater

Carson Gray, sr, Warroad

Jake Horton, jr, Benilde-St. Margaret’s

Wes Judnick, sr, Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl

Terry Leabo, jr, Moorhead

Dan Molenaar, sr, Eden Prairie

Mike Pechovnink, jr, Hibbing/Chisholm

Brady Riesgraf, sr, Holy Family Catholic

Garrett Schmitz, jr, Red Lake Falls

Kevin Schulze, sr, Hill-Murray

Sam Wolfe, jr, Eagan

GOALIE:

Michael Bitzer, jr, Moorhead

Blake Burgau, sr, New Ulm

Blake Cates, jr, Stillwater

Ryan Coyne, sr, Maple Grove

Bodhi Engum, sr, Burnsville

Andrew Ford, sr, Eden Prairie

Jeremiah Graves, sr, Bemidj

Nick Heimer, sr, Rochester Lourdes

Charlie Lindgren, jr, Lakeville North

Connor Lucas, sr, Hermantown

Nick Malvin, jr, Blaine

Tim Shaughnessy, sr, Hill-Murray

Mike Stumpf, so, Little Falls