Today, we take a look at the top goaltenders in the state of Minnesota, that are juniors. There are 10 goalies ranked in the top 50 of the junior class; we are going to feature the top five of them in this article. There are currently no junior goalies that are committed to a college program thus far.
Nick Erickson Nick Erickson 6'3" | Goalie Hill Murray | 2022 State MN | 6’3 Goalie | Hill Murray | #9 Overall
Nick Erickson Nick Erickson 6'3" | Goalie Hill Murray | 2022 State MN is a huge goalie standing at 6’3 in net- this is a scary frame and makes it hard to get pucks by him up high. Erickson has a 13-2 record on the year and in those games he has an astonishing 6 shutouts. Erickson has faced 288 shots this season and has 269 saves- that is a save percentage of .934. Lastly, Erickson has a goals against average of 1.26 which is very impressive. Erickson is the top junior goalie and he has an important section final game against White Bear Lake tomorrow night.
Ben Dardis Ben Dardis 5'10" | Goalie Mahtomedi | 2022 State MN | 5’10 Goalie | Mahtomedi | #14 Overall
Ben Dardis Ben Dardis 5'10" | Goalie Mahtomedi | 2022 State MN has had a very successful career for Mahtomedi, as he has been playing since his freshman year. This season he has a goals against average of 2.13 and save percentage of .933. Dardis is on a ’A’ team, and they have been playing some stiff competition, like Hill Murray, Eden Prairie and St. Thomas. Dardis has some nice stats this season when considering the tough competition they have went up against. His two best games of the year are when he held both St. Thomas Academy and Hill Murray to 2 goals on 41 and 32 shots, respectively.
| 5’11 Goalie | Prior Lake | #19 Overall
has had a very solid career so far, and started at Prior Lake as a sophomore. His sophomore year he went 16-4-2 with a goals against average of 2.23 and save percentage of .906. This last year for his junior year he went 12-3-2 with a goals against average of 1.74 and a save percentage of .907. He improved on his stats for his junior year when playing even harder competition this year. He returns next year for what should be a very successful senior season with a team that returns a lot of good juniors.
Marko Belak Marko Belak 6'1" | Goalie Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State MN | 6’1 Goalie | Cretin Derham Hall | #22 Overall
Marko Belak Marko Belak 6'1" | Goalie Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State MN has one of the best records in the state at 17-2 this season. Has a really nice save percentage at .926 and a really good goals against average at 1.78. This was Belak’s first year as a starter for Cretin, and I would say he for sure made a statement on his first year starting. He had a disappointing loss to Benidle in the section semifinals, but I think he will be back strong for his senior year.
| 6’4 Goalie | Lakeville South | #27 Overall
has only let in 11 goals this year on 156 shots faced- that is good for a save percentage of .929. He is undefeated so far as he has 9 wins and zero losses. His goals against average is 1.21 and has had four shutouts in just 9 games played for him. Dahlmeir splits time with their other goalie- Cody Ticen Cody Ticen 5'11" | Goalie Lakeville South | 2021 State MN , who is a senior. Dahlmier has played in about 50 percent of his teams games this year and might get the call in the section final tomorrow night. Big playoffs coming up for Dahlmeir, but even bigger senior season next year when he will likely get 100 percent of the starts.