2018 Mr. Hockey banquet set for Sunday, March 11

ST. PAUL -- The 34th annual Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet is slated for noon Sunday, March 11 at St. Paul RiverCentre. Tickets cost $40 apiece and are
on sale now
via the Minnesota Minute Men website.

Along with the Minnesota Wild, the Minnesota Minute Men
recently announced the 10 finalists
for this year's Mr. Hockey Award, granted to the outstanding senior high school boys' hockey player in the state of Minnesota and selected by a panel of NHL scouts, junior scouts and coaches, and selected media members from around the state.
The banquet also includes four other honors: the Frank Brimsek Award, which recognizes the state's top senior goaltender; the John Mariucci Award, given to the Class A and Class AA high school coaches of the year; the Cliff Thompson Award, presented to the "Old Timer Coach" of the year; and the inaugural Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award, given to an influential leader dedicated to the growth and development of hockey in Minnesota.
Former Minnesota North Stars defenseman and general manager Lou Nanne was announced last month as the first Mr. Hockey Ambassador Award recipient.
This year's top ten Mr. Hockey Award candidates are Ben Almquist (Holy Family), George Grannis (Duluth Marshall), Demetrios Koumontzis (Edina), Luke LaMaster (Duluth East),Luke Loheit (Minnetonka), Lucas McGregor (Centennial), Carter Randklev (Moorhead), Colin Schmidt (Wayzata), Sammy Walker (Edina) and Garrett Worth (Duluth East).Ben Garrity (Rosemount) and Atticus Kelly (St. Thomas Academy) were named the finalists for the Frank Brimsek Award.

WCCO morning news anchor Ali Lucia will host the festivities one day after the conclusion of the Minnesota State High School League Boys' Hockey Tournament held March 7-10 at Xcel Energy Center. The Mr. Hockey Awards Banquet begins with an 11:30 a.m. social March 11 inside the RiverCentre, located at 175 Kellogg Boulevard in St. Paul.
Previous Mr. Hockey Award winners are: Casey Mittelstadt (2017, pictured above), Riley Tufte (2016), Jake Jaremko (2015), Avery Peterson (2014), Grant Besse (2013), Justin Kloos (2012), Kyle Rau (2011), Nick Bjugstad (2010), Nick Leddy (2009), Aaron Ness (2008), Ryan McDonagh (2007), David Fischer (2006), Brian Lee (2005), Tom Gorowsky (2004), Nate Dey (2003), Gino Guyer (2002), Marty Sertich (2001), Paul Martin (2000), Jeff Taffe (1999), John Pohl (1998), Aaron Miskovich (1997), Dave Spehar (1996), Erik Rasmussen (1995), Mike Crowley (1994), Nick Checco (1993), Brian Bonin (1992), Darby Hendrickson (1991), Joe Dziedzic (1990), Trent Klatt (1989), Larry Olimb (1988), Kris Miller (1987), George Pelawa (1986) and Tom Chorske (1985).
Previous Frank Brimsek Award winners are: Jake Begley (2017), Nick Althaus (2016), Dyllan Lubbesmeyer (2015), Hunter Shepard (2014), David Zevnik (2013), Michael Bitzer (2012), Alex Lyon (2011), Zane Gothberg (2010), Casey O'Connor (2009), Joe Phillippi (2008), Reid Ellingson (2007), Austin Lee (2006), Alec Richards (2005), Matt Lundin (2004), Jon Anderson (2003), Josh Johnson (2002), Eric Aarnio (2001), Jake Brant (2000), Adam Laaksonen (1999), Adam Coole (1998), Kyle Kolquist (1997), Karl Goehring (1996) and Todd Kelzenberg (1995).
Related:
Top photo courtesy of Walt Barry