Maple Grove hockey's Sam Huff posts near-record game to celebrate

Maple Grove's Sam Huff was a playmaker extraordinaire in the Crimson's 14-0 rout of Osseo on Tuesday, notching two goals and eight assists. Many initially thought Huff's 10-point effort had broken the state's single-game scoring record based on numbers listed on the Minnesota State High School League website.

But a little digging unearthed some big games from long ago that weren't listed on the site, most notably a 12-goal effort by Max Oshie, T.J.'s great-uncle, for Warroad in 1948. It sheds light on the difficulty of definitively determining high school records. (Oshie's game is now listed in the league's record books).

The MSHSL has been around since 1916 but efforts to compile accurate state records are more recent, coinciding with the growth of the league's website. Previously the league was diligent in recording state tournament records but not overall state records.

The problem stems from spotty record-keeping and reporting from days long gone by, particularly outside the Twin Cities area. For example, Eveleth's John Mayasich is listed on the league site as being tied for second-most goals in a game with seven. But in a 2009 interview he recalled an 11-goal game in 1950 that has not been verified. As record talk swirled after Huff's eight assists, hockey aficionados shared vague memories of players in Luverne and Moose Lake chalking up eight helpers in a game, but no proof was provided.

All of which is to say that amazing performances such as Huff's are to be celebrated, but caution and skepticism is needed when claiming a state record.

Jim Paulsen