Prep Hockey All Senior Team – First Team

We welcome you to the first annual prep hockey all senior team first team! These are the best players at their positions (forward/defenseman/goalie). This is the first team, and in our opinion, these are the cream of the crop for players in high school hockey. This group right here should accomplish a lot in their playing careers outside of high school. We will break down each player’s career and talk about their future. There will be a second-team and honorable mention. We also will cover all classes. Let’s get right into it!

Forward- Alex Bump Alex Bump 6'0" | Forward Prior Lake | 2022 State MN

Forward- Daimon Gardner Daimon Gardner 6'2" | Forward Warroad | 2022 State MN

Forward- Max Strand Max Strand 5'9" | Forward Roseau | 2022 State MN

Defenseman- Thor Byfuglien Thor Byfuglien 5'9" | Defense Roseau | 2022 State MN  

Defenseman- Leo Gruba Leo Gruba 6'2" | Defense Hill Murray | 2022 MN

Goalie- Ben Dardis Ben Dardis 5'10" | Goalie Mahtomedi | 2022 State MN

Alex Bump Alex Bump 6'0" | Forward Prior Lake | 2022 State MN | Prior Lake – Alex Bump Alex Bump 6'0" | Forward Prior Lake | 2022 State MN the University of Vermont commit, wowed all of us the second half of the season and in the state tourney. Bump had a crazy increase in points from this year to last year. Last season Bump finished with a solid 32 points in 19 games played. Well, this season the point total more than doubled to 83 points in 31 games. Alex Bump Alex Bump 6'0" | Forward Prior Lake | 2022 State MN finished this season with an astonishing 48 goals and 35 assists. Bump has a very good chance at being drafted in the upcoming NHL draft. Some say Bump was a Mr. Hockey snub, and we think he would have gotten it if they didn’t vote a month or so before the season ends. His 4 goal first-round state tourney game showed the whole world what he can do offensively. Elite offensive player and a great skater that should have a great future in hockey.

Daimon Gardner Daimon Gardner 6'2" | Forward Warroad | 2022 State MN | Warroad- Gardner came to Warroad this season after playing in Winnipeg for his youth career. He was a huge addition to the Warriors roster and had an absolutely huge season this year. Gardner makes our list on the first team with an 83 point season. He had 45 goals and 38 assists in 30 games played this year. The Clark don commit is already off to the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL in Canada. Gardner was in the running for Mr. Hockey and that was very well deserved. Gardner has a bright future with Clarkson and a chance at the NHL. Great to see him come play for the state of hockey this year.

Max Strand Max Strand 5'9" | Forward Roseau | 2022 State MN | Roseau- Just had a recent article featuring Strand, but the Mr. Hockey winner had an absolutely impressive senior season. Mr. Hockey award speaks for itself, but scoring 36 goals and dishing out 42 assists is a whole other echelon of a player. Like Bump, Strand about doubled his total points from his Junior to Senior season. Sad to not see Strand and the Rams in the state tourney, but he easily makes it on our first team. What a season for Max.

Thor Byfuglien Thor Byfuglien 5'9" | Defense Roseau | 2022 State MN | Roseau – Arguably the top senior defenseman in the state of MN was a lock for this list. 13 goals and 32 assists for 45 points makes him an elite playmaker. As a defender, he is very tough to get by, as he uses his physicality and footwork to assert dominance against his opponents. Thor is currently committed to the University of St. Cloud State. Thor is playing with the Chicago Steel of the USHL currently. He played a big hand in Strand getting Mr. Hockey, as he set him up quite a bit from the point. The Huskies are getting a great player and he will be super valuable to their team.

Leo Gruba Leo Gruba 6'2" | Defense Hill Murray | 2022 MN | Hill Murray – Leo Gruba Leo Gruba 6'2" | Defense Hill Murray | 2022 MN went from 5 points in his sophomore year to 33 in his senior year. Huge growth for a player that started his career off with 5 points. Gruba also had a big preseason with the HS elite league, with 9 goals and 17 assists for 26 total points. Gruba is currently playing with the St. Cloud Norseman in the NAHL, and isn’t committed to a college yet. He is our 2nd ranked defender in the senior class.

Ben Dardis Ben Dardis 5'10" | Goalie Mahtomedi | 2022 State MN | Mahtomedi – Some consider Ben Dardis Ben Dardis 5'10" | Goalie Mahtomedi | 2022 State MN the best goalie of all time for MN HS hockey. While that might be debatable, there is no question of the impact he has had in this league over the years. He leads his team to a state title win in his sophomore year and has had off-the-charts stats his whole career. Dardis broke the career shutout record recording over 18 shutouts in his career. We recently released an in-depth article about the Brimsek award that he recently won. What a career, and he will be missed in HS hockey but his legacy and impact will last.