In a very stacked junior class, we are pleased to present the 2022 Prep Hockey All Junior 1st Team. Players included on the list have not only had strong high school careers so far, we also expect all of them to have much success in juniors and college and possibly beyond. This was a very tough list to assemble with the amount of star power in this class, but here is the 1st team which includes 3 forwards, 2 defenseman, and 1 goaltender. Following the release of this article, we will be releasing the 2022 Prep Hockey All Junior 2nd Team, so make sure to look out for that one. Without further ado, lets get started!
Forward – Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN
Forward – Landen Gunderson Landen Gunderson 6'1" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN
Forward – Finn Brink Finn Brink 5'10" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN
Defenseman – Zam Plante Zam Plante 5'9" | Forward Hermantown | 2023 State MN
Defenseman – Tanner Luedtke Tanner Luedtke 6'0" | Forward Lakeville South | 2023 State MN
Goaltender – Cam Briere Cam Briere 5'11" | Forward Stillwater | 2023 State MN
Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN | Hermantown
Once again this season, Sam Rinzel Sam Rinzel 6'4" | Defense Chaska | 2023 State MN was one of the best players in the state as a junior. In the state tournament, he helped lead Hermantown to their 4th Class A state championship and the first since his grandpa, Bruce Plante, retired. If Plante comes back next season for his senior year, he should be the favorite to win Mr. Hockey at the moment. As a 2004 birth year, Plante is ranked #40 on the NHL Central Scouting draft list. Right now, Plante is currently playing with the Chicago Steel of the USHL and scored just a couple nights ago. The Minnesota-Duluth commit could easily elect to stay with the Steel into the winter, but he may want to come back and rep the Hawk jersey once last time. We shall see what he decides to do.
Landen Gunderson Landen Gunderson 6'1" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN | Warroad
Landen Gunderson Landen Gunderson 6'1" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN , another Minnesota-Duluth commit in this strong junior class. It’s hard to believe that this season was Shaugabay’s 3rd year of playing high school hockey. Of course we all remember when Grant Slukynsky and Shaugabay as a freshman led Warroad to the state tournament for the first time in a long time 2 years ago. He was able to lead his team to the Class A state championship this season, but they ultimately fell to a very strong Hermantown squad, 4-3. Shaugabay along with Plante, is a player who could leave to play juniors in his senior season and it will be interesting to see what he decides to do. He is affiliated with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. If he stays, he will more than likely be a Mr. Hockey finalist.
Finn Brink Finn Brink 5'10" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN | Maple Grove
Finn Brink Finn Brink 5'10" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN is a high end junior forward who is not committed to a college yet. Gunderson had an outstanding season in the maroon at Maple Grove as he finished the entire season with 80 points. He helped lead his team to the Class AA state championship game versus Andover, but lost in a hard fought battle in double overtime. Gunderson’s junior rights belong to the Madison Capitals of the USHL. Along with many other players in this class, Gunderson could choose to leave and pursue his USHL career, or he could come back for one last high school hurrah and get a shot to get revenge after losing in the championship game this season.
Zam Plante Zam Plante 5'9" | Forward Hermantown | 2023 State MN | Chaska
There is a reason why Zam Plante Zam Plante 5'9" | Forward Hermantown | 2023 State MN is the #1 player in our Class of 2023 player rankings. Rinzel is committed to the University of Minnesota and was the highest ranked Minnesota high school hockey player in the NHL Central Scouting rankings at #26. Rinzel is an outstanding two-way-forward as he finished with 38 points this season and continued his shutdown defensive play. Rinzel and the Hawks suffered a heartbreaking loss in the Section 2AA championship game vs Prior Lake and it will be up to him if he wants to get revenge and have one more shot at a state tournament berth. Rinzel’s rights belong with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL.
Tanner Luedtke Tanner Luedtke 6'0" | Forward Lakeville South | 2023 State MN | Hermantown
The defensive pair of Tanner Luedtke Tanner Luedtke 6'0" | Forward Lakeville South | 2023 State MN and Beau Janzig Beau Janzig 6'2" | Defense Hermantown | 2022 State MN on Hermantown this season was a lethal one. You saw it in that championship game between the Hawks and Warroad, Hermantown was so strong defensively and basically shutdown the Warriors offense in the second half of the game. Hanson finished the season with 15 goals and 32 assists, which shows that he can play an entire 200 foot game. Hanson is committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth and his USHL rights belong to the Sioux City Musketeers. If Plante and Hanson return to Hermantown for their senior seasons, they may be even better than they were this year.
Cam Briere Cam Briere 5'11" | Forward Stillwater | 2023 State MN | Warroad
In Cam Briere Cam Briere 5'11" | Forward Stillwater | 2023 State MN ’s first season as the Warriors fulltime goaltender, he was up to the task finishing the season with a Goals Against Average of 1.59, Save Percentage of .925 and 9 Shutouts. Very impressive numbers from the junior and he was one of the main reasons why Warroad had so much success against top teams in the state. Right now, Slukynsky is probably the favorite to win the Frank Brimsek award next season and watch for him to have a Dardis type year between the pipes. Warroad will once again be a top team in the state and it could very well be the Warriors meeting Hermantown once again in the Class A state championship. If Slukynsky improves even more as a goaltender, Warroad will be a very tough team to beat.