ST. PAUL (AP) &8212; The halcyon days of high school, for those who&8217;ve finished them, seem to pass as fast as any period in life.

Just ask Aaron Ness. He really sped through.

&8220;I took eight classes during the day and three-and-a-half online,&8221; said Ness, who has rolled his junior and senior years at Roseau into one. He wanted to fast-track his development and start playing major college hockey in the fall.

Ness, who was named this season&8217;s Associated Press Minnesota boys Player of the Year in a landslide vote by sports writers and broadcasters, appears ready for the early jump. The defenseman is considered a possible first-round NHL draft pick after his prep career ended at the state tournament over the weekend.

The Albert Lea boys&8217; hockey team was represented by a trio of all-state honorable mention selections in senior forwards Casey Woodside and Jared Bowman and senior defenseman Adam Royce.

The Tigers finished the season with a 21-6 record and were the runner-up in the Big Nine Conference.

Woodside led the Tigers in points with 44 scoring 18 goals and dishing out 26 assists. Bowman led Albert Lea in scoring with 22 goals and had 39 points. Royce had 36 points including 13 goals for Albert Lea.

The Tigers were knocked out of the section tournament by Mankato West in the semifinals.

Though the Rams failed to defend their Class 2A title and saw their 42-game winning streak end with a semifinal loss to eventual champion Hill-Murray, Ness was able to see beyond the disappointment.

&8220;It&8217;s kind of a sad thing,&8221; he said, &8220;but at the same time I&8217;ve got bigger and better things &8212; I guess you could say &8212; next year. So I&8217;m looking forward to it.&8221;

Ness will play for the University of Minnesota next season. He said his offensive skills as a blue-liner will fit well with the Gophers&8217; style on the wide-open ice at Mariucci Arena. In 31 games for Roseau this season, Ness had 28 goals and 44 assists. His plus-minus rating, entering the state tournament, was an eye-popping plus-67 for a team that dominated almost every opponent until meeting its match in the semis. The Rams also lost to Benilde-St. Margaret&8217;s in the third-place game on Saturday afternoon.

&8220;We&8217;re very proud of them,&8221; coach Scott Oliver said. &8220;I told them they&8217;re going to leave with their heads up.&8221;

Especially Ness, the standout &8212; if such a designation was possible on a team with so much talent. Goalie Mike Lee joined him on the AP&8217;s all-state first team. Forwards Tyler Landman, Ben Nelson and Nick Oliver were honorable mention selections.

&8220;Aaron&8217;s very unselfish and very well-respected in the locker room by his teammates,&8221; his coach said.

At 5-foot-10 and about 170 pounds, Ness has exceptional quickness but needs to get stronger to excel at the next level &8212; and the level after that.

But don&8217;t mention that just yet.

&8220;I haven&8217;t even thought about the NHL yet. Obviously it&8217;s flattering to bring it up,&8221; Ness said. &8220;I&8217;m just looking forward to next year and whatever happens happens.&8221;

The Associated Press 2008 All-State team for Minnesota boys&8217; hockey, as voted on by statewide media.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Aaron Ness, Roseau

FIRST TEAM

F&8212;Zach Lehrke, SR, Park Rapids

F&8212;Beau Hanowski, SR, Little Falls

F&8212;Zach Budish, JR, Edina

D&8212;Aaron Ness, SR, Roseau

D&8212;Jake Gardiner, SR, Minnetonka

G&8212;Mike Lee, JR, Roseau

SECOND TEAM

F&8212;Jake Youso, SR, International Falls

F&8212;Tyler Barnes, SR, Burnsville

F&8212;Ricky Litchfield, SR, Mankato West

D&8212;Joe Gleason, SR, Edina

D&8212;Drew Olson, SR, Brainerd

G&8212;Joe Phillippi, SR, Hill-Murray