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BHS: 2020 Player of the Year Finalists

By YHH Staff , 02/16/20, 6:00PM CST

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Four seniors from all over the state make up this year's list of outstanding candidates.

blake biondi

Blake Biondi
Hermantown 
Senior 

A tantalizing blend of power, speed, and skill, Biondi has totaled 101 goals and 197 points in his three varsity seasons at Hermantown as of Feb. 16. The Hawks' captain is nearing a 40-40 season with 37 goals and 39 assists, and his 76 points rank second in the state. In January's NHL Central Scouting Midterm Rankings, Biondi was the fifth-highest Minnesota native, cracking the list of top-100 North American skaters at No. 91.

The Minnesota-Duluth commit has proven to be clutch for the Hawks in the postseason, totaling 13 goals and 22 points in nine section playoff and state tournament games throughout his first two varsity seasons.  


Blake Biondi, Hermantown.

Matt Gleason

Matt Gleason 
Cretin-Derham Hall
Senior

For four seasons, the St. Paul Capitals youth hockey product has flown past and flustered opponents with arguably unparalleled effort in all three zones. Like Biondi, Gleason hovers near the top of the scoring leaders statewide, where his 35 goals and 73 points rank sixth and fifth in Minnesota, respectively. 

Career-wise, Gleason eclipsed the 200-point mark earlier this season, and currently has 122 goals and 220 total points, including 18 goals counted as game-winners. Perhaps even more impressive than his scoring ability is Gleason's knack for staying out of the penalty box. His 46 career penalty minutes break down to approximately 12 penalty minutes per season, and six penalties per season. Comparatively, the state's leader in penalty minutes has 88 this season. 

Gleason rated as the No. 187 North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting, and is committed to Colorado College.   


Matt Gleason, Cretin-Derham Hall.

Wyatt Kaiser

Wyatt Kaiser
Andover
Senior 

Ranked No. 56 in NHL Central Scouting's Midterm Ranks and regarded by NHL scouts as the Minnesota high school player best prepared to make the eventual jump to the big show, Kaiser is a point guard on the ice. The senior defender has directed the Huskies' power play to a ridiculous 41.6% success rate the season and logs significant minutes on the penalty kill as well.

Committed to Minnesota-Duluth, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Kaiser has captained the Huskies to a 21-3-1 record the No. 1 spot in the latest Youth Hockey Hub Class 2A rankings. The Huskies will also have the No. 1 seed in the Section 7-2A playoffs, which begin on Tuesday, Feb. 18.    


Wyatt Kaiser, Andover.

Grant Sklukynsky

Grant Slukynsky 
Warroad
Senior

Slukynsky has guided the Warriors to a 23-2 record this season, the No. 3 rating in the Youth Hockey Hub Class 1A rankings, and it feels like 2005 all over again for fans across the northland.

A key player for a veteran group of Warriors that experienced success at both the Peewee and Bantam levels, Slukynsky has emerged over the past three seasons as a legitimate Division I talent, committing to Northern Michigan this season. Slukynsky's 30 goals and 75 points make him among one of the highest scorers in the state and give him 78 goals and 173 points for his career. 

Slukynsky is a two-time participant at the High Performance Final 54 level and made the USA Select 17's earlier this year.     


Grant Slukynsky, Warroad.

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