Blaine standout considered a NHL first-round pick, but that's not what he wants to be rememered for.
When it comes to standout prep athletes, there is no shortage in the state of Minnesota. In the fall, it was Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul) stars Seantrel Henderson and Mark Alt catching the attention of recruiters everywhere.
Henderson was considered by many to be the nation’s No. 1 high school football recruit and eventually committed to USC, while Alt led the Raiders to the Prep Bowl championship and started earning Division I football scholarship opportunities – even though he had committed to play hockey for Don Lucia at the University of Minnesota.
As the season shifted to the winter sports, there again was no shortage of standout athletes making headlines. In wrestling, Apple Valley wrestling standout Destin McCauley continued to stake his claim as one of the best prep wrestlers in the nation by winning another state championship. It helped Jim Jackson’s Eagles wrestling program to another team title.
In basketball, a number of players have stood out, led by Kevin Noreen, the Minnesota Transitions (Minneapolis)High senior and Boston college recruit who became the state’s all-time leading scorer this season, and could go over 4,000 career points with a strong playoff push.
But when it comes to winter sports in Minnesota, hockey is king.
And the king of the 2009-2010 boys hockey season is Nick Bjugstad of Blaine. The senior was recently named Mr. Hockey Minnesota for 2010 after scoring 35 goals and 34 assists while leading the Bengals to the state tournament this season. The 6-5 Bjugstad has signed with the Gophers and is also expected to be a first round pick in the upcoming National Hockey League draft.
How good of an NHL prospect is Bjugstad?
A recent article in nhl.com said there is little doubt that Bjugstad will be the highest U.S. scholastic player drafted in the NHL draft that takes place June 25-26 in Los Angeles.
Bjugstad was named Mr. Hockey from this list of 10 finalists: Mark Alt, Cretin-Derham Hall; Joey Benik, St. Francis; Cal Decowski, Andover; Max Gardiner, Minnetonka; Caleb Herbert, Bloomington Jefferson; Justin Holl, Minnetonka; Christian Isackson, St. Thomas Academy,; Adam Krause, Hermantown and Brock Nelson, Warroad.
What is also impressive about Bjugstad, the nephew of former University of Minnesota standout and NHL player Scott Bjugstad, is that he is only a junior but accelerated his education to be eligible to graduate this spring. Imagine what another of year of development will do for him – a year most kids spend in high school. Bjugstad is ranked as the 12th best prospect in all of North America by the NHL’s Central Scouting bureau.
Blaine went 21-6-3 on the season but was upset in the first round of the state tournament by Apple Valley and then lost to Roseau in the consolation bracket. Despite the success on the ice, Bjugstad has remained humble off the ice. Two quotes in recent interviews really stand out:
Blaine co-head coach Dave Aus said this in a recent Star Tribune article: "He's the ultimate team player. Everyone knows the kind of rare talent he is, but he doesn't carry himself that way. Bjugstad carries himself in a way most others would appreciate.”
For most, being a good hockey player is what they want to be remembered.
Not Bjugstad.
“I want to be remembered as a nice kid who was nice to others," he told the Pioneer Press. "I’d like to be remembered as something more than just a good hockey player. I hope I’ve been an all-around good person.”
