When Moorhead finally won its first boys high school hockey state championship last March, the Spuds certainly looked built to last.

Beyond the varsity title, Moorhead’s AA Bantam team — youth hockey’s highest level — also won a state championship, finishing 50-3-1.

But Moorhead is churning out so many elite hockey players these days, the best ones are testing the junior hockey waters, leaving bigger holes to fill on the varsity. A recent rule change has shifted the landscape, as players can now play in the Canadian Hockey League while maintaining their NCAA eligibility.

“There was kind of a system in place that everybody could predict and had an idea of what was happening,” Moorhead coach Jon Ammerman said. “And it was completely blown up.”

The Spuds knew they had to replace their graduating seniors, including Mr. Hockey Mason Kraft, high-flying forward Brooks Cullen and goalie Charlie Stenehjem.

But now the Spuds’ top returning scorer, junior Zac Zimmerman (32 goals, 46 assists last season), will start the season with the Fargo Force in the USHL. Senior Tyden Bergeson (25 goals, 26 assists) will start with the Madison Capitols in the USHL.

They’ll have the option of returning to the Spuds for the high school season, but it’s not certain they will.

“Our biggest challenge now is recruiting those players and reassuring them that this is an OK place to develop,” Ammerman said.

Moorhead also will have two high school-age players in the prestigious USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich. — Wyatt Cullen and Beck Thoreson.

Wyatt Cullen just joined his brother Brooks in committing to eventually play for the Gophers. Meanwhile, Thoreson is making the jump to the development program straight from Moorhead’s Bantam AA team.

Spuds defenseman Brandon Mickelson, who had eight goals and 36 assists as a junior last season, will join Kraft at Wenatchee of the Western Hockey League, which is under the CHL umbrella.

“It’s obviously great for the players because there’s more opportunity,” Ammerman said. “But we’ll see kind of what the lasting impact is.”

Here’s a look at where some of the top Moorhead hockey names are headed this season.

Recent graduates

Mason Kraft

The state tournament sensation still plans to play for Minnesota State Mankato, but first he’ll play this winter with Wenatchee in Canada’s Western Hockey League.

Brooks Cullen

He plans to play for Fargo in the USHL and then join the Gophers.

Charlie Stenehjem

The state championship goaltender graduated and will head to Penn State for academics, not hockey.

National Development Team

Wyatt Cullen

This will be his second season in the NTDP, and he’s committed to eventually play for the Gophers.

Beck Thoreson

He’s heading into his first year with the U.S. National Development Team Program.

Junior hockey

Zac Zimmerman

A junior, he would be Moorhead’s top returning scorer (32 goals, 46 assists last season), but he is slated to start the season with the Fargo Force of the USHL.

Tyden Bergeson

Would be Moorhead’s No. 2 returning scorer (25 goals, 26 assists last season) but the senior is slated to start the season with the Madison Capitols of the USHL.

Brandon Mickelson

The defenseman would be a senior for the Spuds but is heading to Wenatchee to play in Canada’s Western Hockey League.

Returning to Spuds

Max Cullen

He’ll be a senior for Moorhead this season after scoring 11 goals with 17 assists last season and is being recruited heavily by colleges.

Evan Wanner

The junior who led Moorhead’s lacrosse team in scoring is back after notching 10 goals and 12 assists for the hockey team last season.

Drew Simonich

The junior defenseman had surgery after the state tournament but has been cleared to skate.

Zak Devig

The senior is slated to return as a top-pair defenseman for the Spuds.