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HIBBING, Minn. — Hibbing/Chisholm standout defenseman Whitaker Rewertz has committed to play college hockey at Minnesota Duluth, giving the Bulldogs one of northeastern Minnesota’s top young players.
Rewertz, who will be a junior, announced his decision Thursday. The left-handed defenseman recorded 23 goals and 27 assists for 50 points in 31 games last season, helping the Bluejackets reach the Class 1A state tournament for the second consecutive year.
Rewertz was named the 2026 HowieHanson.com All-Area Player of the Year after emerging as one of Minnesota’s most productive defensemen. He has 33 goals and 40 assists in 60 varsity games over two seasons.
The commitment continues a prominent Hibbing-to-UMD connection. Former Bluejackets defenseman Scott Perunovich helped the Bulldogs win national championships in 2018 and 2019 before receiving the Hobey Baker Award in 2020.
Rewertz will divide the 2026-27 season between Hibbing/Chisholm and the Penticton Vees of the Western Hockey League. He signed a scholarship and development agreement with Penticton in June and is expected to begin the season with the Vees, return to Hibbing for the high school season and rejoin Penticton afterward.
Rewertz also played for TDS Transportation in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League last fall, producing four goals and nine assists in 17 games.
His commitment is a significant recruiting victory for UMD coach Scott Sandelin, who has maintained a strong emphasis on securing elite players from northern Minnesota. Rewertz cannot sign a national letter of intent yet, and his eventual arrival date at UMD will depend on his development and junior-hockey schedule.
Hibbing/Chisholm teammate Cole Swanson, one of Minnesota’s leading forwards, recently committed to Western Michigan. Together, Swanson and Rewertz helped restore the Bluejackets as a Class 1A championship contender and one of the state’s most closely watched programs.
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The U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team overcame a three-goal deficit and defeated Czechia 5-4 in a shootout in the championship game of the Four Nations Tournament at Rocknet Arena.
The victory gave the United States its 10th championship in the event and third since 2021. Team USA went unbeaten in four games, including two shootout victories.
Czechia scored three times in the opening 12 minutes before Jack Riehl began the American comeback, redirecting a rebound of Hermantown's Nikolai Zhukov’s shot at 12:50. Parker Colmer scored later in the period, and Benjamin Slavick tied the game at 3 in the second.
Czechia regained the lead before Soren Saumweber of Roseville tied it 4-4 at 6:13 of the third period.
After a scoreless overtime, Aiden Kelly, Dylan Delgado and Levi Ellingsen converted consecutive shootout attempts. U.S. goaltender Chase Pastor stopped all three Czech attempts after making 35 saves through overtime.
Riehl was named the U.S. Player of the Game. Czechia held a 39-37 advantage in shots.
