Nick Bjugstad, the smooth-skating, 6-foot-4, 180-pound Blaine forward with the NHL-caliber wrist shot, was named Mr. Hockey on Sunday, March 14.
Bjugstad is a junior-aged student who accelerated his studies so he could graduate early. He is expected to be a first-round pick in June's NHL draft and play for Minnesota next season.
Bjugstad had 35 goals and 34 assists and almost singlehandedly led the Bengals to the state Class AA tournament, scoring two goals in each of Blaine's Section 5AA semifinal and final victories over Osseo and Maple Grove, respectively.
Bjugstad, the newphew of former Minnesota North Star Scott Bjugstad, scored at least one goal in eight of Blaine's final nine regular season games. He scored two goals in each of the Bengals' three sectional playoff games before being shut out in state tournament losses to Apple Valley and Roseau.
Bjugstad was presented with the award during the Mr. Hockey Awards banquet at the RiverCentre in St. Paul.
2010 Mr. Hockey Finalists
| NAME | SCHOOL | DOB | HT | WT | POS | COLLEGE COMMITMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Alt | Cretin-Derham Hall | 10/18/1991 | 6'3" | 199 | D | Minnesota |
| Joey Benik | St. Francis | 1/26/1992 | 5'9" | 151 | F | St. Cloud State |
| Nick Bjugstad | Blaine | 7/17/1992 | 6'4" | 180 | F | Minnesota |
| Cal Decowski | Andover | 2/4/1992 | 5'7" | 160 | F | UM-Duluth |
| Max Gardiner | Minnetonka | 5/7/1992 | 6'2" | 205 | F | Minnesota |
| Caleb Herbert | Bloomington Jefferson | 10/12/1991 | 5'10" | 180 | F | UM-Duluth |
| Justin Holl | Minnetonka | 1/30/1992 | 6'2" | 170 | D | Minnesota |
| Christian Isackson | St. Thomas Academy | 1/20/1992 | 6'0" | 174 | F | Minnesota |
| Adam Krause | Hermantown | 9/12/1991 | 6'1" | 175 | F | UM-Duluth |
| Brock Nelson | Warroad | 10/15/1991 | 6'2" | 205 | F | North Dakota |
Mr. Hockey winners
| Year | Name | School |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Kyle Rau | Eden Prairie |
| 2010 | Nick Bjugstad | Blaine |
| 2009 | Nick Leddy | Eden Prairie |
| 2008 | Aaron Ness | Roseau |
| 2007 | Ryan McDonagh | Cretin-Derham Hall |
| 2006 | David Fischer | Apple Valley |
| 2005 | Brian Lee | Moorhead |
| 2004 | Tom Gorowsky | Centennial |
| 2003 | Nate Dey | North St. Paul |
| 2002 | Gino Guyer | Greenway |
| 2001 | Marty Sertich | Roseville |
| 2000 | Paul Martin | Elk River |
| 1999 | Jeff Taffe | Hastings |
| 1998 | Johnny Pohl | Red Winig |
| 1997 | Aaron Miskovich | Grand Rapids |
| 1996 | Dave Spehar | Duluth East |
| 1995 | Erik Rasmussen | St. Louis Park |
| 1994 | Mike Crowley | Bloomington Jefferson |
| 1993 | Nick Checco | Bloomington Jefferson |
| 1992 | Brian Bonin | White Bear Lake |
| 1991 | Darby Hendrickson | Richfield |
| 1990 | Joe Dziedzic | Minneapolis Edison |
| 1989 | Trent Klatt | Osseo |
| 1988 | Larry Olimb | Warroad |
| 1987 | Kris Miller | Greenway |
| 1986 | George Pelawa | Bemidji |
| 1985 | Tom Chorske | Minneapolis Southwest |
