Mason Jenson had just completed another hat trick, and the celebration called for something special. As he glided toward the Rogers’ student section he bowed in their direction, both hands behind his back and stick waving in the air.

“(Teammate) Jayden Kurtz did a celly in practice like that the week before,” Jenson said. “I didn’t know what else to do, so I went with that.”

Impromptu goal celebrations are hardly the primary reason Jenson and several of his Royals’ teammates returned from fall stints in junior leagues to suit up for Rogers this winter. But scoring goals, winning games and celebrating with teammates you’ve grown up with since mini mites is a big part of the allure of high school hockey.

Of course, nothing tops playing in the state tournament — widely considered the nation's greatest high school event.

“A lot of us on our team this season … maybe could have had other options and maybe could have left,” said Jenson, a senior forward who spent the fall playing for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. “But we all wanted to come back and win a state tournament … like we have been working for.”

It’s a lofty goal, given that Rogers has never reached the state tournament. Sixth-year Rogers coach Dave Brown said there hasn’t been a lot of state tourney talk this season with his players, and not because of any sort of decree from the coaching staff.

“This is probably the least amount we’ve talked about the state tournament in my time at Rogers,” Brown said. “We were the No. 1 seed in the section two years in a row and the kids back then got asked about the state tournament every day. This season we are focusing on our identity and how we want to play each and every day.”

The Royals, 14-1-1 and No. 3 in Legacy Hockey’s latest state Class 2A rankings, have had plenty of signature moments this season. They beat then-highly regarded Shakopee 5-2 on Nov. 23, eased past top-10 ranked White Bear Lake 5-2 on Nov. 26 and took down another top-10 team in Stillwater 5-1 on Dec. 14. The Stillwater game provided the hat-trick-and-bow moment for Jenson, an Ohio State commit who is tied for the state lead with 54 points and tied for fifth in goals with 24.

Parker Deschene and Jackson Smithknecht each played for the NAHL’s Minnesota Mallards this fall before returning to the Royals. Their return to high school hockey, along with Jenson’s, is reminiscent of players making similar stay-at-home decisions at Minnetonka and Chanhassen last season, Andover in 2022-23 and Prior Lake in 2021-22. Chanhassen finished second, Andover third and Prior Lake fourth in playoff runs that reached the state tournament.

“I think it is huge that all those players returned to high school hockey,” Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association Executive Director Dustin Vogelgesang said. “Going out and playing junior hockey, it becomes a business and it becomes a job. To get one more year playing with your buddies, that’s something you can’t replace.”

Jenson, Deschene and Keaton Weis have established themselves as one of the state’s preeminent forward lines, combining for 139 points (including 56 goals). The firepower on that unit is similar of that generated by Andover’s fabled trio of Gavyn Thoreson, Cayden Casey and Cooper Conway (seniors in 2022-23) or Prior Lake’s powerhouse trio of Alex Bump, Will Schumacher and Sam Rice (seniors in 2021-22). All six of those players declined to forego their senior seasons for a full season of juniors.

“I look at our guys, and they are not just a prolific offensive line that can score goals, but they are learning how to be dominant at both ends of the rink,” Brown said about his top forward unit.

Jenson has pushed himself to the forefront of Mr. Hockey conversations with his stellar play. But it’s the group accomplishments that mean the most to him.

“This is our last year doing it all together, and we are embracing it,” Jenson said. “You are never going to get this year back. Senior year is probably the best time of your life.”