Race for Mr. Hockey
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With section playoffs approaching, the Mr. Hockey race is heating up. A lot of players are still in the race and it is very close. The Mr. Hockey Award is awarded to the most outstanding senior hockey player in the…
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Continue ReadingWith section playoffs approaching, the Mr. Hockey race is heating up. A lot of players are still in the race and it is very close. The Mr. Hockey Award is awarded to the most outstanding senior hockey player in the state, following the state tournament. The trend for Mr. hockey is that it never comes down to who has the best stats, but it ultimately comes down to who has the best career ahead of them. Players that are proven to be ready for college right away are usually favored. Last year, defenseman Jack Peart from Grand Rapids won the award and he has played in 17 games for St. Cloud State. In 2020, Hermantown’s Blake Biondi won the award and played in 26 games for the UMD bulldogs, the following year. The 2019’s winner from Blaine, Bryce Brodzinski started the following year for the University of Minnesota and was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers. This year the race is super tight, and we break down a couple of favorites, as of February 3rd.
Slight Favorite: Alex Bump Alex Bump 6'0" | Forward Prior Lake | 2022 State MN | Prior Lake | 6’0 Forward | #5 Ranked ’22 | University Vermont Commit
Why? Alex Bump Alex Bump 6'0" | Forward Prior Lake | 2022 State MN is the slight favorite at this point and time, mainly due to where he got ranked by the NHL Central scouting list. Bump got ranked as the 69th overall Central NHL prospect, whereas that is the highest-ranked player on their list for the senior class. That is telling for the way the voters pick the Mr. Hockey award, as he is likely to play next year for Vermont (with a good offseason at juniors). He also has a shot at being drafted to the NHL this summer. Bump also has the stats to prove he is the favorite for this award, with 26 goals and 25 assists for 51 points. Bump is a slight favorite due to his status as a college and NHL prospect. What might hurt his case is that his team is around .500 and might not make state. Percent chance to win the award: 25 percent.
Good Shot (4 Players)
Daimon Gardner Daimon Gardner 6'2" | Forward Warroad | 2022 State MN | Warroad | 6’4 Forward | #3 Ranked ’22 | Clarkson University Commit
The gap between Gardner and Bump is very very small. Gardner is putting up outstanding numbers, as he has 60 points in 20 games. His case for the Mr. Hockey award is the stats he is putting up, as well as still being ranked in the central scouting list at number 101. Gardner has a pretty good shot at stepping up and playing for Clarkson as early as next year. Gardner averages an impressive 3 points per game- his stats and his potential make him number two on this list. Percent chance to win the award: 20 percent
Thor Byfuglien Thor Byfuglien 5'9" | Defense Roseau | 2022 State MN | Roseau | 5’9 Defenseman | #4 Ranked ’22 | St. Cloud University Commit
If there was a defenseman to win this award this year (which we think is unlikely, Thor is the guy to win the award. Thor currently has 28 points with 20 assists and 8 goals in 19 games played. The St. Cloud commit has had a very solid high school career and is seen as the best defender in the state, by many. Thor should be a finalist, but we think it is a forwards year to get this award. As we previously stated, if a defender won the award it would most likely be Thor. Percent chance to win the award: 15 percent.
Adam Marshall Adam Marshall 5'10" | Forward Benilde- St. Margarets | 2022 State MN | 5’10 Forward | Benilde St. Margarets | #11 Ranked ’22
Marshall has been playing very good hockey as of late, and many voters have been considering him as their favorite. He is currently uncommitted to a college, which hurts his case. But two things help his case. #1 How good his team is and #2 how good his stats are. Marshall has to lead his team to be a state title contender, and anytime you do that you have a solid chance at this award. Marshall has 33 points in 19 games. Percent chance to win the award: 15 percent.
Tristan Sarsland Tristan Sarsland 6'0" | Defense Benilde St. Margarets | 2022 State MN | 6’0 Defenseman | Benilde St. Margarets | #8 Ranked ’22
Sarsland is a really solid player and he has a decent shot of becoming a Mr. Hockey finalist. He deserves to be included, but it will likely be given to a forward this season. The Mr. Hockey award tends to favor forwards, and last year a defender won it, so Sarsland has a lower chance for this prestigious award. Sarsland de-committed from Colorado College, he is a D1 caliber prospect, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Sarsland is ranked #82 on the NHL central scouting list. Percent chance to win the award: 10 percent.
Dark Horses (2 Players)
Joey DelGreco Joey DelGreco 5'10" | Forward Grand Rapids | 2022 State MN | 5’10 Forward | Grand Rapids | #9 Ranked ’22
With the second-most points out of all these contenders, he is the leader in the dark horse category. He has the stats to make a case to win this award, with 57 total points. He isn’t committed to a college and last years’ Mr. Hockey winner was from Grand Rapids, which can only hurt his case. Percent chance to win the award: 7.5 percent.
Max Strand Max Strand 5'9" | Forward Roseau | 2022 State MN | 5’9 Forward | Roseau | #7 Ranked ’22
Max Strand Max Strand 5'9" | Forward Roseau | 2022 State MN has just as big of a case as DelGreco. With the stats, he is putting up he isn’t as far down as this articles shows. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Strand wins this award, especially if Roseau makes the state tourney. Strand is averaging 3 points per game and has 27 goals and 30 assists in 19 games played. He isn’t committed to a D1 school just yet, so that hurts his case a bit. Percent chance to win the award: 7.5 percent.