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2021 Mr. Hockey and Frank Brimsek Finalists Announced

By Peter Odney , 03/19/21, 12:00PM CDT

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The Mr. Hockey and Frank Brimsek finalists are chosen from a panel of coaches, media members, and scouts from the professional and junior ranks.

*The Mr. Hockey Award is given to the outstanding senior high school boys’ hockey player in the state of Minnesota and is selected by a panel of National Hockey League Scouts, Junior Scouts/Coaches and selected media members from around the state.

The Frank Brimsek award annually honors the state's top goaltender.  

*From the Minnesota Minutemen website 


2020 Mr. Hockey winner Blake Biondi of Hermantown now plays for the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

2021 Mr. Hockey Finalists

Carter Batchelder

The Eden Prairie forward has been a contributor since his sophomore year, and helped the Eagles to the Class 2A State Tournament twice, finishing as runner-up in 2020. 

Batchelder is the Eagles' leading scorer this season with 24 goals and 44 points, has career numbers of 51 goals and 91 points. The Colorado College commit has an excellent chance to surpass the 100-point milestone during the 2021 postseason.


Carter Batchelder, Eden Prairie

Cameron Boche

Boche's stock began to rise last season, as the shorty forward recorded seven points in five postseason games for Lakeville South. 

After notching nine goals and 20 points during his fall stint in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, Boche has put together his best season in 2021, leading Lakeville South in scoring with 20 goals and 44 points.

Boche is another candidate to join the scoring century club this postseason, entering section play with 95 career points.


Cameron Boche, Lakeville South (photo: Sara Lynn)

Jackson Hallum

After leading St. Thomas Academy to the 2020 Class 2A State Tournament semifinals, Hallum was selected in the third round of 2020 NHL Entry Draft by the Vegas Golden Knights, throwing his expected return senior year into question. 

Thankfully for the Cadets, Hallum opted to play his final season in Mendota Heights, and currently paces the Cadets with 15 goals and 37 points. Hallum is committed to the University of Michigan. His junior rights are owned by the Green Bay Gamblers. 


Jackson Hallum, St. Thomas Academy

Kyle Kukkonen

A do-it-all forward who has been a winner at every level, Maple Grove's Kukkonen has bounced back from an injury that kept him out for all but seven games last season to become one of the state’s leading scorers. 

The Michigan Tech commit averaged 3.61 points-per-game this season, totaling 27 goals and 65 points for the Crimson. His career marks are currently 57 goals and 136 total points, and he is tabbed as a 'C' prospect buy NHL Central Scouting. 

Kukkonen won state championships as a Peewee and Bantam at the AA level with Osseo-Maple Grove, skated at the USA Hockey Select 16 and 17 national camps, and spent nine games in the North American Hockey League this season before the high school start. During his time in the NAHL, he scored six goals and adding five assists for the Minot Minotauros.


Kyle Kukkonen, Maple Grove

Luke Levandowski

A Wisconsin commit, Rosemount's Levandowski has built a reputation for torching defenses his speed and making goalies look silly with his rocket of a shot. 

The speedster has totaled 20 goals in the abbreviated 2021 season, his third straight campaign in which he has scored 20 times or more. Levandowski's consistency has built career totals of 72 goals and 131 points. 

A participant at the USA Hockey Select 16 and Select 17 national camps, Levandowski also spent time in the USHL this fall, record three points in nine games for the Chicago Steel.

According to NHL Central Scouting, Levandowski has been slotted as a 'B' prospect, indicating a possible second or third-round pick. 


Luke Levandowski, Rosemount

Luke Mittelstadt

The third and final Mittelstadt to pass through the Eden Prairie program, Luke is the lone defender of the trio of brothers that includes 2016 first-round NHL Draft selection Casey and current USHL forward and Minnesota commit John. Luke is also committed to Minnesota.

This season, Mittelstadt has eight goals and 22 points, giving him career totals of 18 goals and 89 points as of this list’s publication date. He has spent the last two fall season skating in the ultra-competitive Upper Midwest High School Elite League, and was selected by the Madison Capitols as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 USHL Phase I Draft.

According to NHL Central Scouting, Mittelstadt is one of the highest-rated players on this list, tabbed a ‘B’ prospect.


Luke Mittelstadt, Eden Prairie

Henry Nelson

Nelson has proven to be one of the best puck-moving defensemen in the state during his high school career, posting 29 assists as a senior and 63 assists during his three years on Maple Grove's varsity blue line.

Against some of the state's best competition in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, Nelson has racked up 28 assists and 33 points in two fall seasons with the league.  

The Notre Dame commit should also be a finalist for the Reed Larson Award, annually given to the state's top defenseman. Nelson is a 'C' prospect, according to NHL Central Scouting. 


Henry Nelson, Maple Grove

Joe Palodichuk

A mainstay on the blue line for the storied Hill-Murray program for three seasons, Palodichuk played a pivotal role in helping the Pioneers capture the 2020 Class 2A State Tournament championship, despite being ruled out before the title game due to a diagnosis of mononucleosis. 

Like Henry Nelson above, Palodichuk has been a distribution specialist for the Pioneers over the last three years, totaling 65 assists and 79 points as a defender. He has seven goals and 28 points thus far in his senior season. 

Palodichuk is committed to Wisconsin.  


Joe Palodichuk, Hill-Murray

Jack Peart

The Grand Rapids product has been a model defenseman since he became a varsity regular for the Thunderhawks as a sophomore, and should be a frontrunner for the Reed Larson Award, annually given to the state’s top defenseman. 

Peart has 31 career goals and 84 points in three varsity seasons, which are impressive numbers for a defenseman. The two-time Grand Rapids captain is a ‘C’ prospect according to NHL Central Scouting, meaning he could possibly be picked as high as the fourth round.

The St. Cloud State commit leads the 13-1 Thunderhawks with 10 goals and 29 points so far this season.


Jack Peart, Grand Rapids

Joey Pierce

One of the most naturally talented players in the state regardless of position, Pierce has been a contributing defender since he joined the Hermantown varsity as a sophomore. 

Despite playing 14 of 17 games this season, Pierce netted six goals and added 11 assists for a total of 17 points, averaging 1.21 points-per-game. His career numbers sit at 54 goals and 146 total points in four non-consecutive varsity seasons.

Pierce is committed to Minnesota Duluth, and is rated a 'C' prospect by NHL Central Scouting. 


Joey Pierce, Hermantown

2021 Frank Brimsek Finalists

Aksel Reid

Reid has been a five-year member of the Blake varsity, and has consistently given the Bears the goaltending necessary to punch above their weight with young rosters in the past. Reid has earned a goals-against-average of 2.10, and a .927 save percentage to go along with three shutouts this season.

Reid won 19 games during the 2019-2020 season and powered the Bears to a third-place finish at the Class 2A State Tournament, the best conclusion in program history. 


Aksel Reid, Blake

Alex Timmons

Gentry Academy's Timmons has been (nearly) statistically perfect this season, posting a record of 9-0 with a GAA of 0.89 and a save percentage of .930. The senior has allowed just eight goals this season for the 13-0 Stars. 

As a junior, Timmons won 14 games and maintained a GAA under 2.00, and earned two shutouts. 


Alex Timmons, Gentry Academy

Jack Wieneke

Wieneke helped Maple Grove to the Class 2A State Tournament last season with 10 wins, rotating with then-senior Parker Slotsve. 

As the clear starter in 2021, Wieneke has gone 15-1 with a 1.50 GAA, and a .921 save percentage, both sets of numbers near the top of the Northwest Suburban Conference. 

Wieneke showed well during Upper Midwest High School Elite League play this fall, allowing just two goals in three playoff games after recording a .913 save percentage during league play. 


Jack Wieneke, Maple Grove

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