This past fall, I took a look at the top 10 candidates for Minnesota's Mr. Hockey award. The list still holds up pretty well, but there's also a number of players who have played very well this season and are making push, not necessarily to win the award, but to at least get their name mentioned as a finalist. With that in mind, I've decided to pick ten new players that I didn't mention in November that have a good shot at being finalists for the award in March.
The list is after the jump.
1. Steven Fogarty, Forward, Edina, Notre Dame Commit
I mentioned Fogarty in my initial post, but ended up not choosing him because I thought he'd have a tough time garnering attention playing alongside teammate Max Everson, but Fogarty is increasingly looking like Edina's top player, and the more I watch him, the more I'm convinced he'd be a decent late round NHL Draft pick, something that has happened fairly infrequently this year with the Minnesota high schoolers. Fogarty is a big, physical presence, and a commitment to a top-notch hockey program earlier this year only helps solidify him as a legitimate player.
2. Michael Dockry, Forward, Burnsville, Uncommitted
Dockry was a player that really jumped out at me during the Elite League season, and he has since carried that play over to the high school season, where he's leading a strong Burnsville squad that has proven itself capable of competing against the best teams in the state.
3. Patrick Daly, Defense, Benilde-St. Margaret's, Wisconsin Commit
Daly has always been a fantastic skater, but never quite put the rest of his game together enough for me to include him in my first top ten list. But earning a commitment to play for Wisconsin, a school renowned for producing defenseman, should be enough to turn some heads and get people to take a closer look at Daly's abilities.
4. Nick Stoskopf, Forward, Warroad, Uncommitted
Stoskopf has flown under the radar a little bit with this being a quiet year for big name prospects from the northwest, but he's a player that has definitely stood out with his tough, gritty play.
5. Tim Bonner, Forward, Osseo, Uncommitted
Bonner just barely missed my cut the first time around. The small, crafty, play-making forward has helped keep Osseo pretty respectable this year despite some very heavy losses to graduation after last season. Bonner is on pace to pass Travis Morin as Osseo's all-time leading scorer.
6. Ville Rantanen, Forward, Mankato West, Uncommitted
Rantanen has fallen off the pace to break Joey Benik's goal-scoring record, but should still end with some eye-popping scoring totals that could be hard to ignore. Mankato West doesn't play a very tough schedule, and provincialism may be a factor with Rantanen being an exchange student, but if Benik was a finalist for the award, Rantanen may have a shot as well.
7. Brandon Wahlin, Forward, White Bear Lake, Uncommitted
Wahlin wasn't as good in this year's Elite League as he was in last year's Elite League--he made the All-Star team two years ago, but did not this year--but he appears to be playing his best hockey now in his final year of high school hockey.
8. Garrett Skrbich, Forward, Hermantown, Uncommitted
Players from Hermantown seem perpetually underrated, despite almost always having a very solid team. Skrbich is a big, strong forward that already have 25 goals on the season, and is a big part of the reason the Hawks are a contender in Class A this year.
9. Josh Archibald, Forward, Brainerd, Uncommitted
Archibald's play has been so impressive this year that he earned an opportunity to skate with the US-U18 team in a game against North Dakota in December, but declined the opportunity so as to not miss any of Brainerd's games. Archibald is a decent skater with nice scoring touch that is helping Brainerd to a strong year.
10. Nolan Meyer, Defense, Cloquet, Uncommitted
Meyer transferred from Duluth East to Cloquet, and is having a fantastic senior season for the Lumberjacks. He is carrying his team with 24 goals through their first 17 games, from the blueline.