The Four S's that matter to scouts

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Minnetonka’s Javon Moore
MAPLEWOOD, MN
APPLE VALLEY, MN
CHANHASSEN, MN
DELANO, MN

Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of

players in the state. With over 67,000 registered players and coaches, it is the largest state governing

Register now for Girls fall training

Prepare for new season with 10 practices with top coaches

Minnesota Hockey is excited to offer a skill development opportunity for girls born in 2008-2011. Participants will receive a series of 10 one-hour practices.

The Burnsville site will be led by Brooke White-Lancette, who played professionally for the Minnesota Whitecaps for 18 seasons. Brooke will be joined by assistants who have also garnered storied careers at the collegiate and professional level.

The Blaine site will be led by Annie Juergens, whose background includes both playing and (currently) coaching for Augsburg’s Women’s hockey program. Annie will be joined by assistants who have played collegiately or professionally and have augmented Minnesota Hockey’s Player Development Team for years.

This program is designed to prepare players for their upcoming 2024-2025 season. Practice sessions will be held on weeknights in August and September. The weekday concentration is intended to enable participants to compete in the Elite League or Premier Prep League on weekends.

The training program will be held at two locations. The Super Rink in Blaine will host a group in the north metro area,

USA HOCKEY

and another group will skate in Burnsville.

Each group will be limited to 30 skaters and four goaltenders.

The registration fee is $280. Dates and times are listed.

Super Rink

Thursday, Aug. 8 – 4:20-5:20pm (Rink 5)

Tuesday, Aug. 13 – 4:20-5:20pm (Rink 5)

Thursday, Aug. 15 – 3:30-4:30pm (Rink 1)

Tuesday, Aug. 20 – 4:30-5:30pm (Rink 1)

Thursday, Aug. 22 – 3:30-4:30pm (Rink 1)

Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 4:30-5:30pm (Rink 2)

Thursday, Aug. 29 – 3:30-4:30pm (Rink 2)

Tuesday, Sept. 3 – 4:30-5:30pm (Rink 2)

Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 4-5pm (Rink 2)

Thursday, Sept. 5 – 4-5pm (Rink 2)

Burnsville

Tuesday, Aug. 6 – 1-2pm

Tuesday, Aug. 13 – 4:30-5:30pm

Thursday, Aug. 15 – 3:30-4:30pm

Tuesday, Aug. 20 – 4:30-5:30pm

Thursday, Aug. 22 – 3:30-4:30pm

Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 4:30-5:30pm

Thursday, Aug. 29 – 3:30-4:30pm

Tuesday, Sept. 3 – 4-5pm

Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 4-5pm (Rink 2)

Thursday, Sept. 5 – 4-5pm

*Harker Rink unless designated otherwise

HOCKEY’S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

USA Hockey is the national governing body of hockey in the United States. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, USA Hockey is responsible for — among many duties — development and education programs for players, coaches and officials; determining Select, National and Olympic Teams, and developing policies and procedures.

MINNESOTA HOCKEY

Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of hockey players in the state. Since 1947 Minnesota Hockey (formerly known as the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association) has been providing volunteer services for the development and growth of hockey in Minnesota. Minnesota Hockey is governed by a board of directors.

DISTRICTS OF MINNESOTA HOCKEY

Minnesota Hockey is currently divided into 12 “Districts” based on geography. These districts are responsible for organizing, supervising and enforcing Minnesota Hockey’s rules and regulations within their districts, including tournaments. Districts are primarily composed of representatives from local associations, and each district elects one District Director to represent their district on the Minnesota Hockey Board of Directors.

COMMUNITY-BASED ASSOCIATIONS

Minnesota Hockey is comprised of approximately 150 community-based associations that serve as the base of hockey in Minnesota. Associations create teams, develop hockey players and grow the game at the local level. They are typically managed by a volunteer board of directors. Minnesota Hockey’s community-based structure is considered by many to be the premier youth hockey model in the United States and across the world!

There are three distinct advantages to the community-based model. Perhaps most importantly, this model allows players to develop their hockey skills close to home. In many other states, hockey involves significant travel and leaving home at the ages of 14-16, or even earlier to compete at a high level. In Minnesota, players get to stay at home and play hockey with their best friends from school from Mites through High School. Secondly, our associations work directly with the community in supporting hockey and maintaining a volunteer based, non-profit structure, which keeps the cost of the game down. The third benefit is in many ways a byproduct of the first two as limiting the cost and travel involved in playing hockey allows more kids to participate and learn to love the game.

Wild release schedule for 2024-25

The Minnesota Wild’s 2024-25 National Hockey League (NHL) regular season schedule was released. The Wild opens the season at home on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. against the Columbus Blue Jackets – the 12th time in franchise history Minnesota will start the season at Xcel Energy Center (not including the home start in 2010-11 vs. Carolina in Finland).

The 2024-25 schedule consists of 82 games – 41 home contests and 41 road contests. Minnesota’s home schedule features 17 weekend games (three on Friday, nine on Saturday and six on Sunday). March holds the most home games in a month this season with 11. The Wild’s longest homestand is seven games, March 9-22. Minnesota will play nine road games in January. The Wild will play a season-long, seven-game road trip, October 13-29.

Minnesota is scheduled to play 10 games that start before 5 p.m. this season, six home games and four on the road. Last season the team played 13 games that started before 5 p.m.

The Wild will play 26 games against Central Division opponents: Chicago (two home, two road), Colorado (two home, two road), Dallas (two home, two road), Nashville (two home, one road), St. Louis (two home, two road), Utah (two home, two road) and Winnipeg (one home, two road). Minnesota will also play three games against each team in the Pacific Division for a total of 24 games: Anaheim (one home, two road), Calgary(one home, two road), Edmonton (two home, one road), Los Angeles

(two home, one road), San Jose (one home, two road), Seattle (two home, one road), Vancouver (one home, two road) and Vegas (two home, one road).

The Wild will play each team in the Eastern Conference twice (one home, one road) for a total of 32 contests.

New this season, the NHL will hold a 4 Nations Face-Off that will feature players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States. The 4 Nations Face-Off will consist of seven games from February 12-20, 2025, at the Bell Centre in Montreal and TD Garden in Boston. Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin is General Manager, Wild Assistant General Manager Chris Kelleher is Director of Player Development and Wild Head Coach John Hynes will serve as an assistant coach for the 2025 U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete in the 4 Nations Face-Off. More information and the schedule for the 4 Nations Face-Off can be found here.

Home Games by Day: Mon. – 3, Tue. – 8, Wed. – 4, Thur. – 8, Fri. – 3, Sat. – 9, Sun. – 6 Road Games by Day: Mon. – 3, Tue. – 7, Wed. – 3, Thur. – 6, Fri. – 7, Sat. – 11, Sun. – 4

Home Games by Month: Oct. – 2, Nov. – 8, Dec. – 9, Jan. – 5, Feb. – 3, March – 11, April – 3

Road Games by Month: Oct. – 7, Nov. – 7, Dec. – 5, Jan. – 9, Feb. – 5, March – 4, April – 4

Games by Conference/Division:

Western Conference: Central Division (26 games), Pacific Division (24 games)

Eastern Conference: Atlantic Division (16 games), Metropolitan Division (16 games)

Opponents Visits to Minnesota (41): Anaheim – 1, Boston – 1, Buffalo – 1, Calgary – 1, Carolina – 1, Chicago – 2, Colorado – 2, Columbus – 1, Dallas – 2, Detroit – 1, Edmonton – 1, Florida – 1, Los Angeles – 2, Montreal – 1, Nashville – 2, New Jersey – 1, New York Islanders – 1, New York Rangers – 1, Ottawa – 1, Philadelphia – 1, Pittsburgh – 1, St. Louis – 2, San Jose –1, Seattle – 2, Tampa Bay – 1, Toronto – 1, Utah – 2, Vancouver – 1, Vegas – 2, Washington – 1, Winnipeg – 2

After 4 Nations Face-Off (Feb. 12-20): Minnesota will have 26 games remaining on its schedule, including 15 home games and 11 road contests. The Wild will play six games against the Central Division, nine contests against the Pacific Division and 11 games against Eastern Conference opponents.

Longest Homestand: seven games – March 9 – 22 vs. Pittsburgh, Colorado, New York Rangers, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Seattle, Buffalo

Longest Road Trip: seven games –October 13 – 29 at Winnipeg, St. Louis Columbus, Florida, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh

Back-to-Back Games: 12 sets – the Wild played 15 sets of back-to-back contests in 2023-24

Back-to-back on road: 6

Road game followed by home game next day: 1

Back-to-back at home: 2

Home game followed by road game next day: 3

Length of Wild’s 2024-25 Season: 187 days (Oct. 10 – April 15). The 202324 season lasted 190 days.

Wild Visits to Road Cities (41): Anaheim – 2, Boston – 1, Buffalo – 1, Calgary -2, Carolina – 1, Chicago – 2, Colorado – 2, Columbus – 1, Dallas – 2, Detroit – 1, Edmonton – 1, Florida – 1, Los Angeles – 1, Montreal – 1, Nashville – 1, New Jersey – 1, New York Islanders – 1, New York Rangers – 1, Ottawa – 1, Philadelphia – 1, Pittsburgh – 1, St. Louis – 2, San Jose – 2, Seattle – 1, Tampa Bay – 1, Toronto – 1, Utah – 2, Vancouver – 2, Vegas – 1, Washington – 1, Winnipeg – 2

Wild sign Middleton to 4-year extension

Locking up Brock Wild ink hometown native to 8-year extension

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Jake Middleton to a four-year, $17.4 million contract extension ($4.35 million average annual value) that begins in the 202526 season and goes through the 2028-29 season.

Middleton, 28 (1/2/96), collected 25 points (7-18=25), 77 penalty minutes (PIM), 148 hits and 161 blocked shots in 80 games with Minnesota last season. He led the Wild in PIM and blocked shots and ranked third in hits, and his goal total was T-2nd among team defensemen. The 6-foot-3, 219-pound native of Stratford, Ontario, set career-highs in points, goals, assists, PIM and games played last season, and skated in his 200th career NHL game on January 12 vs. Philadelphia. He tallied five assists in 10 games to help Team Canada win the gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship and led the tournament with a plus-12 rating. Minnesota acquired Middleton from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NHL Draft on March 21, 2022.

Originally selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round (210th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Middleton owns 57 points (14-43=57), 244 PIM, 402 hits and 448 blocked shots in 239 career NHL games in six seasons with San Jose (2018-22) and Minnesota (2022-24). The leftshot blueliner has three points (03=3), 10 PIM and a plus-4 rating in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Minnesota.

Minnesota

adds Trenin

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed center Yakov Trenin (YA-kawv TREH-nihn) to a four-year, $14 million contract ($3.5 million AAV) through the 2027-28 season.

Trenin, 27 (1-13-97), registered 17 points (12-5=17), 40 penalty minutes (PIM), 116 shots, a plus-15 rating and a career-high 207 hits in 76 games with the Nashville Predators (60 games) and Colorado Avalanche (16 games) during the 2023-24 NHL season. He added one goal and 30 hits in 110 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Colorado. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound native of Chelyabinsk, Russia, has tallied 82 points (48-34=82), 164 PIM, 479 shots, 129 blocked shots, a plus-20 rating and 705

TRENIN

Continued on Page 11

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed defenseman Brock Faber to an eight-year, $68 million contract extension ($8.5 million average annual value) that begins in the 2025-26 season and goes through the 2032-33 season.

Faber, 21 (8/22/02), recorded 47 points (8-39=47), 28 penalty minutes (PIM) and 150 blocked shots in 24:58 of time on ice (TOI) while playing in all 82 games as a rookie in 2023-24. The 6-foot-1 native of Maple Grove, Minn., led all NHL rookies in TOI (6th among all NHL skaters) and blocked shots, ranked T-1st in assists, T-2nd in points and third with 13 power-play assists (PPA). Faber was named NHL Rookie of the Month in January after posting 13 points (2-11=13) in 14 games, including a six-game point streak (2-7=9) from Jan. 15-25 that marked the longest streak by a rookie defenseman in franchise history. Faber finished the season with 2,047:53 of TOI, the most by an NHL rookie since the 2000-01 season and the fifth-highest total among all NHL players last season. He skated a career-high 33:25 of TOI vs. Montreal on Dec. 21, the high-

MINNESOTA

WILD TO HOST LEVEL 1

HOCKEY REFEREE SEMINAR AND CLINIC

The Minnesota Wild, in partnership with Minnesota Hockey, the Minnesota Hockey Officials Association and USA Hockey, today announced the 2024 Level 1 Hockey Referee Seminar and Clinic will be held at the Minnesota Wild Executive Offices on Sunday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event will provide new officials the opportunity to complete their USA Hockey Level 1 Seminar. Participants will also have the opportunity to skate at TRIA Rink, hear from NHL Officials and attend the Minnesota Wild preseason game against the Dallas Stars. To register for the 2024 Level 1 Hockey Referee Seminar and Clinic go to: https://www.nhl. com/wild/community/hockey-programs/referee-seminar

est single-game total by an NHL skater last season and third-highest total by an NHL rookie since the 2000-01 season. He set single-season rookie franchise records for most assists, blocked shots and TOI. Faber’s point total was also the most all-time by a Wild rookie defenseman and the second-highest total by a rookie in franchise history (Kirill Kaprizov, 51). Faber finished second in the voting for the 2023-24 Calder Memorial Trophy and was named to the 2023-24 NHL All-Rookie Team, becoming one of four players in franchise history to receive the honor (Jonas Brodin, 2012-13; Kaprizov, 2020-21; Marco Rossi, 2023-24).

Faber made his NHL debut with the Wild on April 10, 2023, vs. Chicago, and played in the last two regular-season games of the 2022-23 season. He then skated in all six of the team’s games during the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording a plus-two rating and averaging 14:33 of TOI. Faber played three seasons (2020-23) of collegiate hockey at the University of Minnesota, finishing with 53 points (7-46=53), 38 PIM, a plus-54 rating and 130 blocked shots in 97 career games, and served as team captain his final season in 2022-23. Faber was a 2022-23

AHCA/CCM Hockey All-America West First Team honoree, a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year recipient (2021-22, 22-23), a two-time First Team All-Big Ten selection (2021-22, 22-23) and a two-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2021-22, 22-23). He helped the Golden Gophers win two Big Ten Regular-Season Championships (202122, 22-23) and earn three berths in the NCAA tournament, including consecutive NCAA National Frozen Four appearances during the 2021-22 and 202223 postseasons. Internationally, Faber captained the United States at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording two points (1-1=2) and a plus-10 rating in five games, and tallied five assists in seven games to help the U.S. win the gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also represented the U.S. at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he tallied one assist in four games. Originally selected in the second round (45th overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, Faber was traded by Los Angeles, along with a first-round pick in 2022 NHL Draft (Liam Ohgren), to the Wild on June 29, 2022, in exchange for forward Kevin Fiala.

JAKE MIDDLETON
YAKOV TRENIN
Brock Faber is a product of Maple Grove, MN who played in the USA Hockey NTDP before joining the Minnesota Gophers. A second-round pick by the Los Angeles Kings, the Wild acquired Faber from the Kings in the Kevin Fiala trade.

Guentzel signs mega deal with Bolts

From Minnesota

to upper tier of NHL forwards

Former Hill-Murray and University of Nebraska-Omaha star Jake Guentzel signed a 7-year $63 million contract last week with the Tampa Bay Lightning, putting him in the upper echelon of toppaid forwards in the NHL.

Guentzel’s deal will give him an Average Annual Value (AAV) of $9 million per year.

Guentzel, the son of former Gopher assistant coach Mike Guentzel, has come a long way since his youth hockey and high school playing days in Minnesota and could have become an unrestricted free agent as of noon Monday, July 1 had Tampa Bay not signed him. Tampa Bay’s urgency to obtain Guentzel from Carolina and the length and value of his contract proves Guentzel was one of the more sought-after players in the league. Before playing at Hill-Murray, Guentzel played in the Woodbury Hockey Association.

Guentzel played two seasons with Hill-Murray in 2010-11 and 2011-12. He scored 19 goals and added 30 assists in his first season as a sophomore. He tallied 23-52-75 in 2011-12. The following year he played a full season with Sioux City in the USHL and posted 29 goals and 44 assists in 60 games. He was drafted that same season in the third round by the Pittsburgh Penguins, 77th overall.

Guentzel went on to have a solid career at the University of Nebras-

Sjkei signs in Nashville

Former Lakeville North and Minnesota Gopher defenseman Brady Skjei signed a 7-year, $49 million contract with Nashville Monday.

The 30-year-old was coming off his best season with the Carolina Hurricanes. Nashville also signed former Tampa Bay superstar Steven Stamkos, making a considerable splash on the free agent market.

Skjei is a former first-round draft pick of the New York Rangers in 2012 (28th overall). He played two seasons with Lakeville North High School (2008-10) before joining Team USA’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) in 2011. He played for the Gophers for three seasons (2013-15). After toiling in the AHL for the Hartford Wolf Pack in 2015-16, he made the Rangers as a full-time defenseman in 2016-17, playing in 80 games and recording five goals and 34 assists.

Towards the end of his fourth season with the Rangers, Skjei was traded to Carolina for a first round pick in February of 2020. In the past three seasons with Carolina he has played in 82, 81 and 80 games, respectively, establishing himself as a top-4 defenseman in the league.

Last season he had his best point output with 13 goals and 47 points. He also comes with plenty of playoff experience with Carolina having been a playoff team for each of his five seasons with the club.

Skjei is tagged as a two-way defenseman who is solid on both ends of the ice. In his career he has a +21 ranking, including a +15 last season. He has played in 609 career NHL games and has recorded 247 points.

in 2023.

ka-Omaha, scoring 40 goals and adding 79 assists in three seasons. In 2016-17 he played 44 games in the American Hockey League with the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins before being called up to Pittsburgh where he had immediate success with 16 goals and 33 points in 40 games. But it was that year’s playoffs where Guentzel’s game elevated to the next level. Skating on a line with Sidney Crosby, Guentzel had 13 goals in the playoffs helping lead the Penguins to the Stanley Cup title.

The following season he played in all of the team’s 82 games and had 22 goals and 26 assists and once again shined in the playoffs with 21 points in just 12 games. In 2018-19 he had his first 40-goal season and became a reliable scorer for the Penguins, notching 40 goals a second time in 2021-22.

This past season, with free agency

looming, Guentzel was traded to Carolina where he finished with 25 points in 17 games and had nine points in 11 playoff games before Carolina was eliminated. The Lightning then acquired Guentzel’s rights in a trade with Carolina, sending a third-round pick and then penning him to the 7-year deal.

Guentzel said he is excited to join the Lightning. He said the organizations winning culture is one of the reasons why he decided to sign.

“The pedigree behind Tampa bay and the winning culture,” he said. “Just a lot of high end players. For me, I’m just really excited for the opportunity to play with these guys.”

There is a strong probability Guentzel will be linemates with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Kucherov led the NHL with 144 points last season and Point notched 90 points, including

46 goals. With Guentzel’s strong track record of being able to score goals, it could make Tampa Bay’s top line one of the top scoring lines in all of hockey, if not the top.

Guentzel has also proven he is a 200-foot player, evidenced by his +69 rating in his career, including a +25 mark last season.

“I’m a really competitive guy,” Guentzel said. “I’m not the biggest guy out there, but I’m going to do everything in my power to get to the front of the net and go to the hard areas and make some plays.”

Tampa Bay won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021. Shortly after Guentzel’s signing it was reported longtime Lightning star Steven Stamkos had signed with Nashville.

Guentzel has eight NHL seasons under his belt and has a strong playoff pedigree, scoring 67 points in 69 career playoff games. In the regular season he has 491 points in 520 career games, on pace, if he stays healthy, to reach the 1,000 games played and 1,000-point club by the time his contract with Tampa Bay runs out. He said his experience playing with the likes of Sidney Crosby and other top players has taught him a lot about competing and winning at the highest level.

“I’ve learned from good leaders and what it takes to win,” he said. “I have been fortunate to be alongside people who have been through a lot and won a lot.”

In the meantime, the product of Woodbury Youth Hockey and former Hill-Murray star is excited for him and his family to move to the Gulf Coast area and to get started with his new team.

“This is really exciting time for me and my family and can’t wait for the season to start,” he said.

Minnesota retools support staff

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minneso-

ta Wild General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Bill Guerin announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Jack Capuano Associate Coach, joining the coaching staff of John Hynes (Head Coach), Patrick Dwyer (Assistant Coach), Jason King (Assistant Coach), Frederic Chabot (Goaltending Coach), Jonas Plumb (Video Coach) and T.J. Jindra (Video Coach). The team has also promoted Cody McLeod to Assistant Director of Player Development and named Brian Grogesky Assistant Athletic Trainer, Abe Edson Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach and Dominic Hennig Manager of Team Services.

Capuano joins the Wild after spending five seasons as Associate Coach with the Ottawa Senators (2019-24). The native of Cranston, R.I., worked as Associate Coach with the Florida Panthers for two seasons (2017-19) following a 12-season stint (2005-17) coaching in the New York Islanders organization. While with the Islanders, Capuano served as Head Coach for parts of seven seasons (2010-17) and was an Assistant Coach for one season (2005-06). He also coached for the Islander’s primary affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League (AHL), working as the team’s Head Coach for parts of four seasons (2007-11) and as an Assistant Coach for one season (2006-07). Capuano began his coaching career as an Assistant Coach with the Tallahassee Tiger Sharks of the ECHL for parts of two seasons (1995-97). He then served as Head Coach and General Manager of the ECHL’s Knoxville Cherokees/Pee Dee Pride for parts of eight seasons (19962005). At the international level, Capuano has served as an Assistant Coach with Team USA at both the 2016 World Cup and the 2017 IIHF World Championship and worked as Head Coach for Team USA at the 2021 IIHF World Champion

by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fifth round (No. 88 overall) in the 1984 NHL Draft. An All-American defenseman at the University of Maine, he played in six career NHL games over parts of three seasons with Toronto (1989-90), Vancouver (1990-91) and Boston (1991-92). He also played professionally with the AHL’s Newmarket Saints (1988-90), Springfield Indians (1989-90) and Maine Mariners (1991-92) along with the International Hockey League’s (IHL) Milwaukee Admirals (1989-91). Capuano and his wife, Donna, have a daughter, Adriana and a son, Anthony. McLeod enters his first season as Assistant Director of Player Development after serving as Player Development Coach for two seasons (2022-24). The native of Binscarth, Manitoba, joined Minnesota after playing 17 years of professional hockey. A forward, McLeod collected 127 points (72-55=127), 1,630 penalty minutes (PIM) and 1,914 hits in 776 games during 12 NHL seasons with Colorado (2007-17), Nashville (2017-18, 2019) and the New York Rangers (201819) while adding four points (3-1=4) in 38 career Stanley Cup Playoff games. He also recorded 60 points (31-29=60) and 643 PIM in 243 career games in the

AHL with Lowell (2005-06), Albany (2006-07), Lake Erie (2007-08) and the Iowa Wild (2019-22). McLeod also played in 16 games with the San Diego Gulls in the ECHL (200506), one game (2004-05) with the Adirondack Frostbite in the United Hockey League (UHL) and four seasons (2001-05) with the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Hockey League (WHL). He and his wife, Jessica, have two daughters, Peyton and Emma.

Grogesky joins the Wild after eight seasons (2016-24) as Head Athletic Trainer for the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms. Prior to his tenure with Lehigh Valley, Grogesky served as Head Athletic Trainer of the ECHL’s Reading Royals for 15 seasons (2001-16). The native of Mehoopany, Penn., received a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Pennsylvania State University in 1997 and a master’s degree in Sports Medicine from West Virginia University in 1998. Grogesky is a certified sport manual therapist and is working towards his Master Certification in Manual Therapy (PT1 and PT5). He is also certified in dry needling (level 1 & 2), dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (level 1), holds numerous soft tissue cupping certifications and is an integrated flexibility specialist. Grogesky and his wife, Diana, have a son, Kolin,

ABE EDSON
LPH PHOTO BY JEFF ANDERSON
Jake Guentzel signs autographs for fans after a Da Beauty League game at Braemar Arena
JACK CAPUANO
DOMINIC HENNIG

Wild earn high marks in NHL Draft

Team trades up one spot to land defenseman Buium

Let’s

The 25th draft for the Minnesota Wild was history when they turned in pick #174 of the sixth round in the 2024 NHL draft in scorching Las Vegas on June 29. Let’s take a deep look into the Wild draft and review how our Minnesota boys fared at the coolest draft venue in sports history, the Vegas Sphere. (Why would you not keep a live draft at this locale every year? Huh, Gary?).

The Wild had a modest quantity of six picks in the ’24 draft but leave cloaked in value especially on the back end with plentiful blue line soldiers in the pipeline. Four of their six picks are blueliners, so the message is clear to Des Moines. Creating positional competition is the cornerstone for improvement so judging the Wild on this alone garners an ‘A grade’. In the 1st round, having highly regarded defenseman, Zeev Buium lingering just outside the top 10 fueled the Wild brass to trade up one spot in the first round, from No. 13 to No. 12 via Philadelphia to nab Buium, cumulatively ranked No. 6 overall. In fact, not a single scouting service had Buium lower than No. 9 with a handful ranking him as high as No. 4. The Wild filled a glaring need with a high-value player at No. 12 by swapping 1st round picks with the Flyers and sending Broad Street a 2025 3rd round pick. Folks, you do this all day, every day for a Zeev Buium.

Zeev Buium-D/Denver at 6’/185 was the lead 1st pair D-man for the NCAA national champion Denver Pioneers proving himself at the next level as a smooth skating, three-zone defender. Buium will QB the power play and give the Wild quick, clean breakouts and playmaking from the deep point. Last season the collegiate freshman tallied 11-39-50 over 42 games in the NCHC. For perspective, the Dec ’05-

born would have been a senior in the MSHSL circuit. The Wild needed another deep threat that deploys on both special teams with an unlimited O-zone ceiling. In fact, Buium’s ceiling is colored sky blue. The crafty Buium is supremely confident with a foundation of sublime edgework, high hockey IQ, and 200 ft. creativity. Moreover, he’s just a great kid. Envisioning Buium and Brock Faber on same defensive corps will provide two All-star cornerstones, and just maybe, Buium will lift his second championship trophy on St. Paul ice.

The Wild caught lightning in a bottle again in the 2ndround with the timeless “we can’t imagine player X fell to us” at No. 45, with Ryder Ritchie-RW/ Prince Albert (WHL). Ritchie, on paper, was cumulatively ranked at #31 even with an abbreviated season due to injury, so he projected as a late 1st round or early 2nd round select. At No. 45, the Wild landed another value pick to be sure. Only turning 18 this August, Ritchie has a longer runway to physical maturity, but is already 6’1”/176 projecting to an NHL playing weight of 185lbs. Ritchie is equal parts playmaker and finisher as he put up a twoyear total of 39-60-99 over 99 games at Prince Albert for a balanced, supremely active, point-per-game average. Ritchie is deceptive off the rush with savvy cutbacks and precision attack angles while patiently waiting for gaps to present themselves. In the U-18 World Juniors for Canada, Ritchie put up a balanced 4-4-8 over seven games on the international scene. Ritchie is an offensive weapon with relentless effort and a quick release – an intriguing value add to the Wild forward talent pool.

The Wild were without a pick in the 3rd round and headed to the 4th round looking to bolster overall depth, but with their four remaining picks went full defensive mode with three of

the picks. Again, this portends a direct message to Des Moines for the likes of O’Rourke, Lambos, and Peart to buckle up as this new wave arrives. Hey, “pressure makes diamonds” as they say…

At No. 122, the Wild selected Aron Kiviharju-D/Liiga (HIFK), a slightly larger Jared Spurgeon clone at 5’10”/185, with an identical scouting profile as the Wild captain. Kiviharju has some offensive upside, but his real talent is competing within the threezone ‘middle alley’, so he is constantly attacking or neutralizing opponent setups. Lastly, his high situational IQ portends quick, laser-like breakouts and commanding presence directing the power play with nifty playmaking. He suffered an ACL injury last season which drove the downward draft spiral so he will need time to properly heal and, most importantly, regain the mental toughness/confidence, but ‘Kivi’ can slow burn for a few years with that task, perhaps as the Spurgeon contract expires in July 2027? Hmm…vexing.

In the 5th round, the Wild used picks No. 140 and No. 142, respectively, on a depth defenseman, Sebastian Soini-D/Liiga (Ilves) and rising goalie prospect, Chase Wutzke-G/Red Deer (WHL). Soini is a big, mobile defenseman at 6’2”/190 with strong four-way edges providing quick pivots and exit passes routinely beating the oncoming forecheck with ease and confidence. He projects as a third pair, mobile, checking D-man.

Wutzke, a late bloomer, rose up the spring draft rankings as he settled in to his role as a disciplined butterfly goalie, not committing to his drops too early and rather choosing to battle in the paint. He never wanders evidenced by his skates always touching blue ice. Wutzke has tight footwork and is a high-end athlete, but still a development project potentially slotting as a future backup goalie behind “The Wall.” Helps re-stock goalie depth for the Wild, at minimum.

Last, but not least, in the 6th round, the Wild took a flyer on an over-ager with their last pick at No. 174 plucking Stevie Leskovar-D/Mississauga (OHL). Got size? Leskovar measures 6’4”/207 as a Sept ’04 born, so yeah, we got size! A stay-at-home defenseman who takes pride in that designation, often staying deep, preferring to be first man back. Relishes net-front protection, delivering big turnover causing hits to then clean and sweep the biscuit for crisp breakouts. Old-school soul who will make you search for yours after delivering monster hits. An intense, on-ice demon is reportedly a teddy bear off-ice so maybe the Wild have a new buddy for Jake Middleton?

OVERALL WILD DRAFT GRADE: A- (If a few later round depth choices pan out, that is. If not, a solid B effort, nice work overall in Sin City).

The Minnesota Wild took University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Officially speaking Perceptions and thoughts from a middle-aged ref

The Kings of Vegas 10AAA tournament just left town after what must be its 10th season in Las Vegas. It’s definitely one of the best tournaments and OS looks forward to it every July.

It’s also one of the smartest tournaments of the year. Meaning, it’s played Tuesday through Friday afternoon, thereby avoiding the outrageous weekend hotel rates in town.

Anyway, these remind OS of mini-NHL games. It’s crazy how good these kids are. Not only their skating, stick-handling, heads-up play and hustle, but also their play-making ability at this young age. Often, I want to talk to a particular kid’s parents, inquiring if they are considering the services of an agent.

If only my old adult-league team had 10% of this talent.

Still, OS is going into a 35th consecutive season, and perception remains sharp as ever.

And OS’s perception is that something is missing over the last ten years in this tournament.

The skill is there. For sure.

But the whining and parental ignorance has markedly increased.

Veterans know what OS is talking about. It used to be that in AAA games, you let the kids play. They hustled, got up quickly when knocked off their feet, never said a word and totally kept their feet moving.

And no one ever cried.

This is no longer the case. Anytime there’s contact and Charlie loses his

footing, the fans scream for a penalty.

When a goalie gets scored upon, there’s often tears behind the mask.

Coaches call for penalties away from the play where there’s no competitive advantage gained and the infraction was not injury-potential.

Referees are not exempt either. One game saw an official call a hook late in overtime, away from the play with absolutely no effect on possession. Needless to say, the penalized team was scored upon fifteen seconds later, and OS beelined it out of the arena through a side door. And this is even though OS has his nameplate on at all times, making it obvious it wasn’t OS’s call.

Just to recap for all you AAA parents. Even at a 10AAA level, the game is classified as competitive contact category. Yes, contact is allowed. Checking isn’t. And if you read the rule book, a player can use his size and weight to gain a competitive advantage during the game. Meaning, if a guy is bigger or a stronger skater and leans against a weaker player, the fact that the smaller guy falls does not warrant a penalty. Got that?

As for crying, there should be no place for this in AAA hockey. Not sure if it comes from peer, coaching or parental pressure, but it’s not healthy. I know this is not the 1970s, but when OS was younger, there was an unwritten rule that once you hit 10 years old, you don’t cry in sports.

Conclusions? OS has none. OS actually suspects that much of this has to do with the state of officiating and USA Hockey’s methodical destruction

of the game. Interestingly, OS was just looking at a yearbook from 1977 and there was this action picture of the high school hockey team lined up for a face off with a middle-aged official donning an AAAUS patch, glasses and no helmet as he prepared to drop the puck. That’s hockey!

Seriously though, what is likely happening is that the younger refs have been indoctrinated by USA Hockey with overcalling the game due to insurance and liability reasons. This results in penalties being called at all levels simply because one player falls. This further results in parental, player and coaching expectations that these are penalties, whether in A, AA or AAA games. This is known as the California Hockey Syndrome.

Naturally, when veteran guys like OS get assigned to games, the standard is suddenly changed back to real hockey. And there you go. Whining and crying quickly follow.

Interestingly, OS doesn’t see the California Hockey Syndrome affecting the Canadian teams coming into town. At least not to the extent of USA Hockey clubs. This is because the California Hockey Syndrome only affects players that never skated outdoors in their lives.

Alas, us veteran officials won’t be around forever. But it’s our collective responsibility to teach the up-and-coming guys what real hockey is.

And what it isn’t.

Questions, comments and feedback can be sent to editor@letsplayhockey.com, via Twitter @OSpeaking or through the Let’s Play Hockey Facebook page

Walker returning to Wild

Forward signs 1-year, 2-way contract

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Bill Guerin announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed forward Sammy Walker to a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000/$125,000) for the 2024-25 season.

Walker, 24, appeared in four games with Minnesota last season. The rightshot forward also skated in 70 games with the Iowa Wild in the American Hockey League (AHL), recording 45 points (14-31=45), three power-play goals (PPG), three game-winning goals (GWG) and 176 shots on goal. Walker ranked first on Iowa in points, assists and shots and third in goals. He has recorded two points (1-1=2) in 13 career games with Minnesota. Walker made his NHL debut at Vancouver on Dec. 10, 2022 and recorded his first career NHL goal at Winnipeg on Dec. 27, 2022. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound native of Edina, Minnesota, owns 93 points (41-52=93), 12 PPG, eight GWG and 294 shots in 126 career AHL games over two seasons with Iowa (2022-24). Walker ranked second among AHL rookies in GWG (5), third in goals and T-6th in scoring in 2022-23. He collected 112 points (48-64=112) and 81 penalty minutes (PIM) in 144 games during four seasons at the University of Minnesota (2018-22) and served as team captain his final three seasons. Originally selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (200th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft, Walker signed a two-year, entry-level contract with Minnesota on Aug. 18, 2022.

Flex, 11-Game, half and full season memberships are available for purchase. Please visit tickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting (651) 222WILD (9453) for more information. Group reservations of eight or more tickets can place a deposit now, contact grouptickets@wild.com for more information.

USA U-17 squad features six Minnesotans

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Hockey announced today the 20 players – including 12 forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders — who will compete as the 2024 U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team at the Under-17 Five Nations Tournament in Piešťany, Slovakia, from August 14-18.

The list included six Minnesotans, including Cole Bumgarner (F/Albertville/Rogers HS), Nathaniel Celski (D/ Vadnais Heights/White Bear Lake HS), Nathaniel Pederson (F/Shakopee/Shakopee HS), Luke Puchner (F/New Germany/Shattuck-St. Mary’s), Casey Vandertop (F/Edina/Edina HS), Xavier Wendt (G/Plymouth/Shattuck-St. Mary’s).

In addition to the U.S., the tournament will include teams from host

Slovakia, as well as Czechia, Germany and Switzerland.

The players were selected from among those attending the USA Hockey Boys National 16 Player Development Camp this week in Amherst, New York.

Players represent 12 different U.S states, including Minnesota (6), Illinois (3), California (2), Pennsylvania (2), Florida (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (1), New Hampshire (1), New York (1), Washington (1), and Wisconsin (1).

Rich Hansen (Westfield, Ind.) will serve as the general manager of the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team, with Joe Bonnett (Colorado Springs, Colo.) as head coach. Joe Doyle (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Joe Howe (New Haven, Conn.) are the team’s assistant

coaches, while TimSerratore (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is serving in hockey operations.

Other staff include team leader Joe Amundson (Fargo, N.D.), athletic trainer Kevin Margarucci(Colorado Springs, Colo.), team physician Dennis Sullivan (Portland, Maine), and equipment manager Max Elberty (Dryden, N.Y.).

NOTES: Team USA has captured titles at eight Under-17 Five Nations Tournaments since the event was established in 2007 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2021) as well as six second-place finishes (2007, 2008, 2009, 2019, 2022, 2023) … The U.S. owns an all-time record of 51-2-1-10 (W-OTWOTL-L) at the U17 Five Nations Tournament.

United States, Canada to resume rivalry in 5-game series

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

– The fiercest rivalry in sports will return to the ice this season as the U.S. Women’s National Team will face the Canadian Women’s National Team as part of the five-game 2024-25 Rivalry Series.

USA Hockey will host the first three games of the Series in November, including the opening contest at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, California, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. PT. Game two will be at the Maverik Center in West Valley City, Utah on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. MT, followed by game three at the Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho, on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. MT.

Canada will host the final two games of the Series in February 2025, with game four at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Thursday, Feb. 6, and game five at Credit Union Place in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Tickets for the Nov. 8 game at the Maverik Center will go on sale Friday (July 12) at 10 a.m. MT, with tickets for the Nov. 10 game at Idaho Central Arena going on sale July 23 at 11 a.m. MT. Tickets for the Nov. 6 game at Tech CU Arena will go on sale at a later date.

The Rivalry Series was introduced by USA Hockey and Hockey Canada in 2018-19 to provide additional visibility

TRENIN

Continued from page 7 hits in 299 career games through five NHL seasons with Nashville (2019-24) and Colorado (2024). He has also appeared in 20 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, logging six points (6-0=6), eight PIM, 28 shots and 65 hits.

The left-shot center has also totaled 87 points (40-47=87), 86 PIM, 268 shots and a plus-43 rating in 155 career games through four seasons (2016-20) with the Milwaukee Admirals of the American Hockey League (AHL). Trenin also posted four points (0-4=4) and six PIM in eight career Calder Cup Playoff games and was named to the 2019-20 AHL All-Star Classic.

Trenin played 21 games with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) during the 2020-21 season, tallying seven points (4-3=7) and a plus-five rating. He also recorded 195 points (74-121=195) and a plus-55 rating in 169 games over three seasons with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and participated in the 2014-15 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Top Prospects Game.

Rivalry Series schedule for ‘24-’25 season

Wed., Nov. 6, 2024

7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET Tech CU Arena, San Jose, Calif.

Fri., Nov. 8, 2024

7 p.m. MT/9 p.m. ET Maverik Center, West ValleyCity, Utah

Sun., Nov. 10, 2024

5 p.m. MT/7 p.m. ET Idaho Central Arena, Boise, Idaho

Thurs., Feb. 6, 2025

7 p.m. AT/6 p.m.ET Scotiabank Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sat., Feb. 8, 2025

7 p.m. AT/6 p.m. ET Credit Union Place, Summerside, P.E.I.

for women’s hockey and showcase the best players in the world.

NHL Network is expected to broadcast all five games of the Rivalry Series live.

Internationally, he helped Russia to a Bronze Medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, finishing with four points (2-2=4) in seven games. Trenin was originally selected by Nashville in the second round (No. 55 overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.

STAFF

Continued from page 11

two seasons (2018-20) with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage following one seasons (2017-18) as a Strength and Conditioning Fellow with the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. He worked for one summer (2017) as a Strength and Conditioning Coach with Prentiss Hockey Performance after completing strength and conditioning internships with the Bakersfield Condors (2016) and Penn State University (2015-16), his alma mater. Edson earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Penn State in 2017 and

Hockey Day Minnesota dates, match-ups set

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild, in conjunction with Bally Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and the Shakopee Local Organizing Committee, today announced the date for the 19th Annual Hockey Day Minnesota (HDM), presented by UnitedHealthcare. Valleyfair Amusement Park will serve as the venue for the 19th annual statewide hockey celebration on Saturday, January 25. Game times will be announced at a later date.

“We are very excited to celebrate Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 in Shakopee,” said Minnesota Wild CEO Matt Majka. “Combining the thrill of Valleyfair and the thrill of Hockey Day Minnesota will create a memorable day for everyone involved.”

“It’s our pleasure to announce the date and matchups for Hockey Day Minnesota 2025,” said Stacey Langemo, Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 Chair. “We are thrilled about the matchups and expect competitive hockey being played throughout the weekend here at one of Minnesota’s most iconic locations.”

“We are honored to return as the presenting sponsor of Hockey Day Minnesota,” said Brett Edelson, chief executive officer, UnitedHealthcare of Minnesota. “Nothing unites our state quite like hockey and we look forward to celebrating a day that promotes physical activity and wellness of the community.”

“Hockey Day Minnesota has become one of the highlights of our network calendar,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager of Bally Sports North Randy Stephens. “Televising Hockey Day Minnesota at a location like Valleyfair will provide a one-of-akind backdrop, and we are excited about the opportunity.”

Bally Sports North’s broadcast event will feature over 16 hours of original hockey programming beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25. Coverage will include the three live outdoor games from Valleyfair Amusement Park, followed by a Minnesota Wild game during primetime. The regional sports network will show highlights from all Hockey Day games taking place throughout the weekend and incorporate coverage of the outdoor festivities taking place at Valleyfair Amusement Park.

Information and updates on Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 can be found at hockeydaymn.com.

About Hockey Day Minnesota Hockey Day Minnesota originated in 2007 by the Minnesota Wild to celebrate the game that has made Minnesota the State of Hockey. It is produced in partnership with Bally Sports North, Minnesota Hockey and the respective local community that serves as host each year. Previous locations include Baudette Bay (2007, 2008), Phalen Park (2009), Hermantown (2010), Moorhead (2011), Minnetonka (2012), Grand

Hockey Day Minnesota 2025 games

Wed., Jan. 22 - Lakeville North vs. Rosemount - Girls

Wed., Jan. 22 - Eastview vs. Rosemount - Boys

Thu., Jan. 23 - Northfield vs. Orono - Girls

Thu., Jan. 23 - Prior Lake vs. Eden Prairie - Girls

Thu., Jan. 23 - Shakopee vs. Brainerd - Girls

Fri., Jan. 24 - Orono vs. DelanoBoys Fri., Jan. 24 - Lakeville South vs. Prior Lake - Boys

Sat., Jan. 25 - Eden Prairie vs. Hibbing - Boys

Sat., Jan. 25 - Univ. of Minnesota vs. Bemidji - Women

Sat., Jan. 25 - Shakopee vs. Maple Grove - Boys

Sat., Jan. 25 -Minnesota Wild vs. Calgary Flames

Rapids (2013), Elk River (2014), Saint Paul (2015), Duluth (2016), Stillwater (2017), St. Cloud (2018), Bemidji (2019), Minneapolis (2020), Guidant John Rose MN Oval (2021), Mankato (2022), White Bear (2023) and Warroad (2024). Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee, Minn., will host Hockey Day Minnesota in 2025. For more information, visit wild.com/hockeyday.

About Valleyfair Valleyfair, the Twin Cities’ biggest amusement park, is located on 125 acres in Shakopee, Minn. The park features more than 75 rides including eight roller coasters, Planet Snoopy featuring 15 children’s rides, and is home to Soak City, a seven-acre water park filled with slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and children’s water features. Valleyfair also boasts a large entertainment and event line up including Grand Carnivale, Fourth of July Fireworks, Latin Days, Corn Fest and Tricks and Treats. About Bally Sports North Bally Sports North – Diamond Sports Group-owned regional sports network presents more live, local sports programming than any other network or broadcast system in the market. Serving sports fans throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North and South Dakota, the regional network produces over 250 live professional sporting events every year. For more regional sports content, visit www.ballysports. com and follow @BallySportsNOR on Twitter, BallySportsNorth on Instagram and BallySportsNorth on Facebook.

his master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion with a focus in Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention from the California University of Pennsylvania in 2019. He is a certified strength and conditioning coach and a certified performance enhancement specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). Edson and his wife, Zoey, have a daughter, Everly.

Hennig joins the Wild after serving as Team Services Manager for the AHL’s San Diego Gulls. The Detroit, Michigan, native served as Senior Director of Broadcasting, Communications and

Hockey Operations for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and was a key member in launching one of six NCAA Division I conferences as the Director of Strategic Communications and Brand Advancement with the Central Collegiate Hockey Association (CCHA). Hennig also worked as the Director of Broadcasting and Communications for the OHL’s Flint Firebirds for six seasons (201521) after beginning his career at his alma mater, Ferris State University, as a Communications Associate for the men’s hockey program, a position he held for six seasons (2009-15). Hennig received a Bachelor of Science in Business and

Public Relations, with a minor in Sports Communications, from Ferris State in 2013. He is married to his wife, Nicole. Flex, 11-Game, half and full season memberships are available for purchase. Please visit tickets.wild.com or contact a Wild Ticket Sales Representative by calling or texting (651) 222-WILD (9453) for more information. Group reservations of eight or more tickets can place a deposit now, contact grouptickets@wild.com for more information. Deposits are now accepted for single game suite rentals, contact suites@wild. com for more information. single-game tickets will be announced later this summer.

Hage wins McGuire award for character excellence

Chicago Steel forward second USHLer to win

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Chicago Steel forward Michael Hage was named the recipient of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence at the 2024 NHL Awards.

The award is presented annually to the NHL Draft prospect who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness and athleticism.

E.J. McGuire, who worked as the Director of NHL Central Scouting starting in 2005, was integral in putting the NHL’s annual scouting combine on the map and building it to where it is today. Following a battle with cancer, McGuire passed away in 2011.

A University of Michigan commit, Hage led the Steel in scoring in 20232024 with 75 points on 33 goals and 42 assists in 54 games. Hage was selected and played in the 2024 Chipotle All-American Game in Plymouth, Mich., Jan. 24. The Mississauga, Ont., native who was named All-USHL First Team this year and ranked fourrth in the league in scoring, had a five-point night in a 9-7 win over the Madison Capitols Nov. 10.

Rated #10 in the final NHLCS Draft rankings, Hage is projected to be selected in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Hage is the second player with USHL lineage to win the award with Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson, who played in the USHL with USA Hockey NTDP (2020-22), winning the award in 2021-22.

The First Round of the 2024 NHL is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 28 starting at 6:00 PM CDT on ESPN.

Be sure to visit ushl.com for more information on the USHL.

Schuler named coach of Minnesota Duluth women

The University of Minnesota Duluth has hired Laura Schuler as its next women’s hockey head coach, Director of Athletics Forrest Karr announced recently.

“Laura has been instrumental in the consistent success of UMD women’s hockey,” said Karr. “She has earned respect throughout the hockey community for her work ethic, hockey knowledge, recruiting and teaching ability. We look forward to supporting the team and staff to ensure that each athlete has a high-quality environment to develop, and helping Laura continue the program’s strong tradition.”

Schuler becomes the third head coach in the 25 year history of one of the most successful programs in all of Division I women’s college hockey after finishing her third consecutive season with the Bulldogs in 2023-24 as an associate head coach. Her return to UMD bench in 2021-22 helped result in an NCAA championship title game appearance and three-straight NCAA Tournament berths for the Bulldogs.

A part of six NCAA Tournament teams at UMD in all, including three NCAA Frozen Fours and an NCAA championship title in 2010, Schuler has spent a total of 10 seasons on the bench of the Bulldogs over her coaching career in Duluth, and helped those 10 UMD teams to a record of 187-105-29. Schuler not only coached all 13 of the Bulldog’s PWHL draft picks over the past two drafts during her time with the UMD program, but has also coached 25 of UMD’s 41 Olympians.

“I am so excited to continue to be a part of this incredible university,” said Schuler. “This program has a proud history in the classroom, in competition and in this great community, and I look forward to building on the legacy of excellence that is UMD women’s hockey. I would also like to thank Chancellor Nies, Athletic Director Karr and the entire search advisory committee for this tremendous opportunity.”

Schuler notably owns an extensive resume of coaching and playing with Hockey Canada, and an international background that has spanned over two decades. Named the head coach of the Canadian National Women’s Hockey team during the 2015-16 season, Schuler was again tabbed for the job over the 2016-17 season. Schuler was then chosen to lead the Canadian Olympic women’s team in the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang. Schuler and Team Canada went on to face the United States where Canada took home the silver medal in a 3-2 shootout loss.

Additionally, the Scarborough, Ontario native has spent a decade coaching all three of Hockey Canada’s High Performance Programs. She was as an assistant coach with the National Women’s Team in 2010-11 (Four Nations Cup –Gold); a head coach of the U-22 National Development Women’s Team in 2011-12 (Meco Cup – Silver); an assistant of the Canadian U-18 National Team in 201213 (Worlds – Gold) and a head coach of the U-18 National Team in 2013-14 (Worlds – Gold).

As a player, Schuler competed for Hockey Canada after her collegiate career at Northeastern. She won three gold medals at the World Championships in 1990, 1992 and 1997, two gold medals at the Pacific Rim Championships in 1995 and 1996 and two gold and a silver at the Three Nations Cup in 1996, 1997 and 1999. She was also a member of the 1998 Canadian Olympic team and won a silver medal at the Winter Games.

Schuler began her coaching career in 2001 as the head coach of UMass Boston and later at her alma mater of Northeastern from 2004-2008. Schuler became an assistant coach for the Bulldogs originally in 2008 and, over seven seasons, helped lead UMD to three NCAA Tournament berths, as well as an NCAA title in 2010. She then spent three seasons at the helm of Dartmouth College (20162020), with a one-year sabbatical during her tenure to guide the Canadian Olympic team in the 2018 Olympics.

Schuler graduated cum laude from Northeastern University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

As the third head coach in program history, Schuler notably has the distinction of having served as an assistant coach for multiple seasons under both of the previous head coaches at UMD – most recently Maura Crowell (20152023) and Shannon Miller (1999-2015).

Excellence in safety award to be named after late Dr. Ashare

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. –

The USA Hockey Excellence in Safety Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has positively impacted the safety of the game, has been renamed the Dr. Alan Ashare Excellence in Safety Award.

Ashare, who passed away on July 5, 2023, at age 85, was the chair of the USA Hockey Safety and Protective Equipment Committee for 25 seasons (1989-2016) and was also co-chair of the committee for another seven seasons (1988-1989, 2016-2022).

“Alan worked tirelessly to better the sport of hockey throughout his career,” said Dr. Michael Stuart, chief medical and safety officer of USA Hockey. “He had an enormous impact, and it is only appropriate that this award be named in his honor.”

The Waltham, Mass., native also served as the chair of the Certification Committee of the Hockey Equipment Certification Council from 1986-97, a group that works closely with USA Hockey to influence the reduction of injuries in the sport through testing and

certification of protective equipment.

The creation of the USA Hockey Heads Up, Don’t Duck program in 1995 is among Ashare’s most notable contributions, an effort that focuses on the prevention of head and spinal cord injuries.

The USA Hockey Excellence in Safety Award was created in 2005 and is presented annually in June at the USA Hockey President’s Awards Dinner as part of the USA Hockey Annual Meeting.

MICHAEL HAGE

Minnesota to be well represented in Hockey Women’s festival, 18U camp

US/Canada Select Series Schedule

Wed., Aug. 14, 2024

Under-18 Select Team vs. Canada 3:30 p.m.

Collegiate Select Team vs. Canada 7 p.m.

Thurs., Aug. 15, 2024

Collegiate Select Team vs. Canada 3:30 p.m.

Under-18 Select Team vs. Canada 7 p.m.

Sat., Aug. 17, 2024

Under-18 Select Team vs. Canada 3:30 p.m.

Collegiate Select Team vs. Canada 7 p.m.

USA Hockey announced the athletes invited to take part in two significant events slated for Lake Placid, New York, in August, including the USA Hockey Women’s National Festival, which is set for Aug. 4-11 at The Olympic Center and also the Girls National Under-18 Select Player Development Camp from Aug. 4-9 at the Northwood School.

The Festival will include 75 players who are currently either playing professionally or at the collegiate level, while the Under-18 Select Player Development Camp features 76 players from around the country under the age of 18.

Coming out of the two events, USA Hockey will select rosters for the U.S. Under-18 Select and U.S. Collegiate Select Teams, who will each face Canada in a three-game series at the Seymour-Hannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines, Ontario, from Aug. 14-17.

NOTES: The rosters for the U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team and U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team are expected to be announced Sunday, Aug. 11 … The U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team has previously been named the U.S. Under-22 Select Team. The team is expanded this year to include any player with collegiate eligibility during the 2024-25 season … John Wroblewski (Neenah, Wis.) will serve as the head coach of the 2024 U.S. Collegiate Women’s Select Team. Chelsea Walkland (Rochester, N.Y.) and Molly Engstrom (Siren, Wis.) will serve as assistant coaches, while Alli Altmann (Eagan, Minn.) will be the goaltending coach.

Minnesotans on under-18 roster

Over-18 Minnesotans invited to national festival

Rylee Bartz F 5-8 (173)

Hanna Baskin D 5-9 (175)

Ella Boerger G 5-7 (171)

Sydney Brodt F 5-6 (168)

Kendall Coyne Schofield F 5-2 (157)

Britta Curl F 5-9 (175)

Izzy Daniel F 5-5 (165)

Jenessa Gazdik D 5-7 (171)

JuliAnna Gazdik D 5-7 (171)

Emma Gentry F 5-11 (181)

Rory Guilday D 5-11 (181)

Ellah Hause D 5-7 (171)

2004-10-01 Fargo, N.D. University of St. Thomas

2003-07-10 L Minnetonka, Minn. University of Minnesota Duluth

2004-10-20 L Andover, Minn. University of St. Thomas

1998-05-03 R North Oaks, Minn. PWHL Minnesota

1992-05-25 L Palos Heights, Ill. PWHL Minnesota

2000-03-20 L Bismarck, N.D. PWHL Minnesota

2000-09-29 R Minneapolis, Minn. PWHL Toronto

2004-10-19 R Somerset, Wis. Minnesota State University

2004-10-19 L Somerset, Wis. Minnesota State University

2002-10-23 L Alpena, Mich. St. Cloud State University

2002-09-07 L Minnetonka, Minn. Cornell University

2005-04-05 L Forest Lake, Minn. University of St. Thomas

Ashlyn Hazlett G

Jasmine Hovda F

Mackenzie Jones D

Madelyn Kimbrel F

Teagan Kulenkamp F

Senja Leeper F

Jemma McAlexander D

Addy McLay D

Lorelai Nelson F

Emily Pohl F

Macy Rasmussen F

Bailey Rupp F

Katya Sander D

Josehpine Skoogman D Ellie Stewart F

Taylor Heise F 5-10 (178)

Peyton Hemp F 5-5 (165)

Nicole Hensley G 5-6 (168)

Ella Huber F 5-6 (168)

Gabbie Hughes F 5-9 (175)

Vivian Jungels D 5-7 (171)

Sydney Langseth F 5-8 (173)

Jamie Nelson F 5-9 (175)

2000-03-17 R Lake City, Minn. PWHL Minnesota

2003-05-15 R Andover, Minn. University of Minnesota

1994-06-23 L Lakewood, Colo. PWHL Minnesota

2002-12-18 L Northfield, Ill. University of Minnesota

1999-10-04 L Lino Lakes, Minn. PWHL Ottawa

2003-10-08 L Edina, Minn. University of Wisconsin

2002-01-29 R Eden Prairie, Minn. Minnesota State University

2002-06-13 L Andover, Minn. Minnesota State University

Kelly Pannek F 5-7 (171) 1995-12-29 R Plymouth, Minn. PWHL Minnesota

Emma Peschel D 5-10 (178) 2004-01-20 L Edina, Minn. Ohio State University

Dominique Petrie F 5-7 (171) 2001-01-21 R Hermosa Beach, Calif. PWHL Minnesota

Whitney Tuttle F 5-4 (163) 2004-02-20 L Rosemount, Minn.

Cutline line here
Vivian Jungels
Ella Boerger
Peyton Hemp
Taylor Heise
Madeline Wethington
Grace Zumwinkle

Rud back behind bench as assistant at St. Cloud State

Veteran coach was

in building Husky hockey in 00’s

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey head coach Brett Larson announced the addition of Eric Rud as Assistant Coach to round out his 2024-25 coaching staff on Wednesday. A 25-year veteran of the coaching world with head coaching experience, Rud returns to St. Cloud for the third time after previous stints as an assistant coach with the men’s team from 2005-10 and as the head coach of the women’s team from 2014-19. Rud most recently served as the head coach of the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, his second stint as a head coach in the nation’s top junior hockey league.

“I am very excited to bring Eric Rud and his family back home to St. Cloud,” said Larson. “In his first time on staff with the Huskies, Eric did some of his best work as a coach while helping our program reach new heights, including recruiting the team’s first Hobey Baker winner. I know St. Cloud is a place where he can come back and help our team accomplish the goals we set each season, because Eric knows the type of players and people we need in our program to remain among the elite in college hockey. His passion for our program and this community will make for a smooth transition back on staff and will allow our program to continue moving forward.”

“Our family could not be more excited to be coming back to the SCSU family,” said Rud. “My wife got her teaching degree from St. Cloud State and our three kids graduated from St. Cloud Tech. We are thrilled to be coming home. I can’t wait to jump in with a great staff and get to work!”

In his first stop in St. Cloud, Rud was an important figure in building the Husky Hockey program into what it is today, as he served as an assistant coach for the Huskies from 2005-10. In his five seasons on the bench, Rud helped the Huskies record five consecutive winnings seasons, reach three NCAA Tournaments and advance to the 2010 NCAA West Regional Championship Game. He was instrumental in the recruiting efforts during his tenure, leading the charge in signing 2013 Hobey Baker winner Drew LeBlanc, Hobey Baker finalists Ryan Lasch and Nic Dowd and all-conference honorees Andreas Nodl, Garrett Roe and Nick Jensen. In all, three Huskies earned

All-America, 16 earned AllWCHA recognition and Nodl was named the 2006-07 WCHA Rookie of the Year with Rud on staff.

Rud’s second stint in the Granite City came as the head coach of SCSU Women’s Hockey (2014-19), where he coached five Huskies to all-conference recognition and had 63 WCHA all-academic recipients. Three Huskies earned WCHA All-Rookie Team honors in consecutive seasons under Rud’s tutelage with Julie Tylke (2015-16), Janine Alder (2016-17) and Emma Polusny (201718) all earning the recognition. Alder was also the team’s first Olympian, as she represented Switzerland in the 2014 Sochi and 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games.

Rud comes to St. Cloud for the third time after a two-year stint as head coach of Sioux Falls (2022-24) in the USHL, where his team showed vast improvements in his tenure, earning its first playoff appearance since 2019. Prior to his return to head coaching, Rud spent three seasons with NCHC rival Miami (2022-24) as an associate head coach.

The Colorado College graduate spent three seasons as an assistant coach with his alma mater from 2011-14 and one season as the head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Gamblers (2010-11) of the USHL between his stints at SCSU. Rud set a USHL record for a rookie coach with 41 wins with the Gamblers, while his squad set the league record for penalty kill at 92 percent.

A 1997 graduate of CC, Rud was a two-time team captain and two-time WCHA Defensive Player of the Year for the Tigers during his collegiate playing career. He went on to play professional hockey from 1997-02 and served as a player assistant coach with the Florida Everblades (ECHL) in 1999-00 and with the Idaho Steelheads (WCHL) from 2000-02. He joined the coaching ranks as an assistant with the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders from 2002-04 and was an assistant coach at Colorado College in 2004-05.

Rud’s career in coaching

• 1999-00 – Florida Everblades (ECHL) – Player Assistant Coach

• 2000-02 – Idaho Steelheads (WCHL) – Player Assistant Coach

• 2002-04 – Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) – Assistant Coach, Director of Scouting

• 2004-05 – Colorado College (NCAA) – Assistant Coach, Recruiting Coordinator

• 2005-10 – St. Cloud State (NCAA) – Assistant Coach

• 2010-11 – Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) – Head Coach, General Manager

• 2011-14 – Colorado College (NCAA) – Assistant Coach

• 2014-19 – St. Cloud State (NCAA) – Women’s Hockey Head Coach

• 2019-22 – Miami (NCAA) –Associate Head Coach

• 2022-24 – Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) – Head Coach

Rud has worked extensively with the USA Hockey program throughout his career and served as the head coach of the 2008 USA U-17 team in the Slovakia Four Nations Cup, the 2009 USA U-18 team at the Czech Republic Ivan Hlinka Cup and the 2022 USA Hockey World Junior Challenge team that won a gold medal.

A native of Inver Grove Heights, Minn., Rud prepped at Simley High School. Rud and his wife have three children Sam, Gabbie and Max.

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter,Instagram and Facebook. To contact the ticket office, visit www.scsutickets. com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-3082137.

Defending Their Ice debuts on YouTube

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.

– The breakout six-part docuseries, Defending Their Ice: The Story of the U.S. Women’s National Team, is now available on USA Hockey’s YouTube channel.

The series, which documented the journey of the 2023-24 U.S. Women’s National Team and provided a behind-the-curtain look at Team USA throughout the season, starting from puck drop on game one of the Rivalry Series all the way to the final whistle of the Women’s World Championship in April.

Fans wishing to watch the highly celebrated docuseries can do so by visiting https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLic5nbXG3HoHei_LoZ1gFZ2rdwiplGEDW.

For more information about Defending Their Ice,visit https://teamusa. usahockey.com/defendingtheirice. Produced by USA Hockey and RightHand, Defending Their Ice: The Story Of The U.S. Women’s National Team, gives viewers an inside look at how the top women’s hockey players in the world prepared to defend their world championship title on home soil.

The 30-minute episodes dive into different aspects of what it takes to succeed both on and off the ice at the national team level and will offer a behind-the-curtain look at Team USA throughout the entirety of the 202324 season, starting from puck drop on game one of the Rivalry Series all the way to the final whistle of the Women’s World Championship in April.

All six of the 30-minute episodes orginally aired on NHL Network, and are now available to watch on USA Hockey’s YouTube channel.

Women’s Hall of Fame Classic features Gophers

Gophers to take on Bemidji State in key early matchup

Two of the top women’s teams from the country’s premier hockey conference will battle in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women’s Face-Off Classic, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, 5 p.m. CST, at Lakeville Hasse Arena in Lakeville, Minn.

The contest will feature the Universiy of Minnesota against Bemidji State University, two members of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The

teams will battle for the Hall of Fame Game Trophy.

The annual game will raise awareness for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum in Eveleth, Minn., and showcases women’s college hockey at its highest level.

“Our team is really excited to participate in the Hall of Fame game,” said Brad Frost, Gophers’ head coach. “It’s another opportunity to showcase the highest level of collegiate hockey to the masses. We can’t wait to play in Lakeville.”

Amber Fryklund, Beavers’ head coach, said “We are thrilled to be a part of the women’s Hall of Fame game and look forward to playing in Lakeville.

What a great opportunity to inspire the next generation of hockey players by showcasing an NCAA D I women’s hockey game in the Lakeville community! It will be an exciting experience and environment for the players, fans, and hockey community .”

Dan Klocke, Lakeville Hockey Association president, said “It is with great excitement and pride that Lakeville is hosting this amazing event showcasing top women’s hockey players. Our town is home to a thriving youth hockey program, and we are proud to unveil our newly installed outdoor ice sheet this season. This is a clear indication of Lakeville’s commitment to the sport. Our girl’s youth program has flourished,

thanks to the dedication of the countless community leaders. This event offers a unique chance to link our program with elite level hockey.”

Additional event details and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum (www.ushockeyhall.com) opened in 1973 with the goal of preserving the rich history of ice hockey in the United States while recognizing the extraordinary contributions of select players, coaches, administrators, officials and teams.

The four S’s that matter

SKILLL SKATING SMARTS SPEED

An insider’s opinion on what scouts look for in players

DON’T BLINK TWICE:

It’s always nice to take a break and catch your breath, even when you enjoy your work, but after ten months, 160plus games, and the need to thaw middle-aged bones, the off-season respite is most welcome. Time for barbecues, golf, and chilled lemonade to squeeze out what one can amidst the fleeting Minnesota summer.

Per usual, the Fourth of July rockets by and lo and behold, the first Da Beauty League social posts appear which, of course, signals that the annual Summer Showcase beckons. For this scout, the late-July Showcase at BIG is then the pre-cursor to the Bantam Elite League which owns August. Inhale the syrupy humidity, soak up some vitamin D, and warm those achy bones but don’t blink twice, otherwise you’ll realize the start of a new hockey season has commenced. That’s ok, truth be told, I’m getting antsy for the puck to drop as I loathe humidity! Parallel to most life endeavors, the scouting life is also a flat circle, filled with predictable routine, travel and undercooked concession stand hot dogs. Yet, there’s nowhere I would rather be than at a frosty rink taking notes on the next player crop and catching up with fellow puck purveyors as we decipher the hockey world from bantams to the NHL. Yeah, I double blinked and the 2024-25 scouting season is here!

SEASONAL RHYTHM:

The late-July Summer Showcase at BIG allows a peak of the state’s top MSHSL squads in a series of scrimmages sandwiched between tryouts for the an-

nual Upper Midwest Fall Elite League. The Showcase is the official scouting kickoff to each season as a first look of players in a team setting with coaches. Albeit informally structured, the weekend provides initial notes on emerging players, their respective team roles, and emerging themes that will prove as trends or mirages throughout the upcoming Fall Elite League. Post Labor Day kicks off the fall Elite season where the first task is determining the players who departed for a ‘before & after’ season versus those who stay rostered with the Elites. Does taking the ‘before & after’ path affect a player’s ranking? Sure, but rarely. In as much as every player’s situation is unique, leaving early for a ‘before & after’ only elevates a player IF they make a productive, seamless transition to Tier 1 (USHL) juniors while maintaining a 200 ft. game. This success is often elusive, so it’s of rare concern, but again, IF a player exhibits a measurable level of success, it will vault their regional ranking, see: Hagen Burrows, C/LW, (Mtka/Tampa Bay ‘24).

The Fall Elite program competes through early November, culminat-

ing in an 8-team playoff, similar to the MSHSL annual state tourney by roughly the same 8-section set-up. The very next weekend finds another slate of eight teams battling in the IIT national tournament that includes Shattuck-St. Mary’s and teams from the east and Canada.

These Elite matchups are filled with scouts from every level of juniors, colleges, and a plethora of NHL scouts. I doubt there is a venue where you will find more scouts viewing Minnesota amateur HS players. I will have nearly 20 viewings of each Elite player as I distill my top-30 down to a top-20 for the upcoming MSHSL season which kickstarts in late November as the heart of the seasonal rhythm to the State of Hockey ushers anew.

Post-Thanksgiving we have the NHL, NCAA, Juniors, and the HS ranks all in full-tilt competition. The MSHSL season, especially top-10 matchups during the holiday tournaments, help pair down my top-20 regional rankings into a top-15 as the tougher matchups help slot a player and provide more indepth reports. I rarely scout a player versus unevenly matched teams as it simply

doesn’t provide fair assessment, however if a ‘down matchup’ week/weekend, I will take best-available views and watch for one specific area in a targeted player, body language. In a highly favorable matchup, is the player still a good teammate? Carry the same fire? Are they displaying consistent sportsmanship (not showboating)? When all else is equal between players, these answers can be the behavioral differentiators in my rankings. From here, I consider road game performance, top-20 matchups, sectional rivalries/playoffs – it is these games that truly define and separate a player. These deep dives paint unique pictures through the darkest winter months as the bright light pressure intensifies leading up to the grand finale, the MSHSL state tourney at the X. Like clockwork, players will rise and fall during this crucial stretch and round out my regional rankings that now shape a bona fide top-10 ranking.

Post state tourney, the Ides of March bring Tier 1/U-18 viewings, so regionally, this means Shattuck players and their annual run at the national U-18 tournament help me finalize the merging of Shattuck players into the MSHSL player rankings. My annual deadline for the upper Midwest regions’ final NHL draft rankings is due early April and will hold steady for the annual June NHL draft guide. The last scouting venues of the season wrap up with the CCM/NIT festival in late April and concludes with the NAHL’s Final Four at Fogarty Arena. Tracking youth players begins at the CCM/NIT and rounds out during the annual August bantam elite league. A top10 ranked, draft-eligible player means I will have viewed that player compete in 70+ games dating back to their bantam years, but even with deep knowledge of a player, I present at best, a 50/50 hypothesis on a player’s future. Why? Many factors, including linemate fluctuations, lack of next-level maturation, loss of passion for the game, coaching changes, transferring, etc. the list is endless. Hockey, like all of sport, is unpredictable, but hockey is also a worldwide sport, so the layers and level of competition are unlike most sports, but none

Brock Boeser and former Wild defenseman Matt Dumba battle for position during a game at the Xcel Energy Center in 2020. LPH PHOTO BY MIKE THILL

Four S’s

Continued from page 16

provide such an incredible ride from amateur to pro. The commitment, time, and investments are deep, the struggles tangible, which only makes victory and memories that much sweeter.

THE EYES NEVER LIE:

The foundation for hockey scouting breaks down into the “Four S’s”; Skill, Skating, Smarts, and Speed. Each of the “Four S’s” provides the framework for breaking down players. Each is defined in a myriad of ways by different scouts/teams. I try to deep-dive into each ‘S’ with a pinch of modernity as the game of hockey is changing. The game is faster, trending smaller, and scoring is up, mostly by design. However, one must be diligent in not over-analyzing the modern game as one only needs revisit the NHL playoffs to see that a blend of modernity and old school led by a hot goalie, team defense, gritty compete-level, and a sprinkling of snipers is the blueprint to becoming a champion.

SKILL: A player has nice, soft hands for sending and receiving the puck, a rocket snapshot and lasers passes that are racking up the points, well, that’s great! Now, let’s dive deeper, shall we? What is the goals-to-assist ratio? For a center, I like to see 2-1 assists to goals ratio. For wingers? I prefer an inverse 2-1 goals to assist ratio. However, all must have tangible dimes in their stat line. Sharing is caring, as they say. Does the high-scorer rack up points versus top-ranked teams? Or just the lower-ranked teams? Let’s do a comparative analysis on that gap. Do they perform at same level in rivalry or sectional playoff games? Or do they shy away from rivalries, on the road, under the bright lights? Consistency in the creative realm of ‘soft skills’ is key and easy to spot so it’s a good starting point overall but always requiring a deeper dive.

SKATING: Top-flight speed is great, gets one noticed quickly, but is not the be all-end all. Vertical speed on breakouts and odd-man rushes lifts the fans out of their seats, but hockey is played in tight, heavy traffic, so I look for agile four-way edgework, fluid hips for pivoting and transitional speed, especially initial short bursts from dead stops. Now, if we can couple high-traffic, balanced edgework with vertical speed? Trust me, scouts will find that player wherever they play. Smooth and deceptive change-of-pace skating that adjusts to game situations will always be valued over straight-line speed. Take Edmonton’s Connor McDavid, his blistering speed is amazing and fun to

“Vertical speed on breakouts and odd-man rushes lifts the fans out of their seats, but hockey is played in tight, heavy traffic, so I look for agile four-way edgework, fluid hips for pivoting and transitional speed, especially initial short bursts from dead stops.”

watch, but McDavid’s tight-space edgework, three-zone transitional speed, and odd-man rush deception is what truly separates him as the best player on the planet.

Analytics are important, but context is key. Nowhere does this come into play more than within the area of Smarts.

SMARTS: Most often referred to as ‘Hockey IQ’. A common phrase, but doesn’t really define anything, so let’s break it down. I prefer the label ‘Situational IQ’ - Does the player routinely locate their opponent in all zones? Are they chasing the puck versus playing ‘ahead’ of the puck, routinely positioning themselves ahead of the play, e.g., ‘where the puck WILL be’? Are the eyes/head up and surveying the action? Lastly, does the player approach the game with defensive acumen, playing team defense and allowing defensive efforts to fuel their offensive game? Is player deceptive on both ends of the ice with their feet and stick? If so, THIS is the player with high situational IQ, opposed to the routine defender who floats at the blue line, waiting for outlet passes. These are key elements that apply regardless of players position and are indicators of compete level. Want to get scratched off my list? Easy. Display low battle effort, avoid the corner grind, and

never sacrifice blocking a shot with the body. Scoring is an impressive barometer, but only paints broad strokes – I am looking for full color detail, the tools deployed, the finite details of the game that paint clarity to a player’s game and provide separation within the rankings. It is the situational IQ that fuels compete level and vice versa - it is the key factor at all levels in hockey scouting.

When Skill, Skating, and Smarts are, in varying degrees, all present? This is when the ‘speed of the game’ takes on unique meaning.

SPEED: Skating speed, both vertical and horizontal, pivoting, and backpedal are measured in various metrics, but falls under skating, here, ‘speed’ refers to ‘processing speed’. Processing the game involves discerning when to attack, to defend, opponent matchup strategy, situational adjustments, special teams’ leadership, etc. executing all of these without pause. Speed is how a player embraces and adjusts to these variables during a game, over the season, and especially post-season that paints the holistic player. Processing speed is purely reactionary, based in muscle memory of both brain and brawn, executed in-stride and once seen, is unmistakable. Career NHL special teams’ aces excel at processing and situational

- Regional Scout T.R. Holler

IQ. Know your strengths, your role then work to excel at them like nobody else. If all else is equal after numerous viewings, analytical input, and critical matchups between two or three of my top-10 players I’ll divert to the intangibles; special teams play, leadership, coachability, and body language. The goal for a hockey scout is to be thorough, unbiased, and fair. To do so, a scout might interview the player or their coaching staff discussing off-ice endeavors, academic performance, and life goals. Ultimately, scouting is educated guesswork. We do our best, over time, to weigh multiple scenarios and categories against a plethora of games but again, the future is the hardest to predict.

Advice? Don’t ever rush or chase the game, simply let the game come to you for processing then, with all your heart and soul, outwork everybody. Play the game with the unbridled fun and passion you had as a peewee player. Do that and we will find you, wherever you are, because we are always watching, and the eyes never lie.

T.R. Holler is a

Connor McDavid is arguably the most talented skater in the world. Not only does he possess breathtaking breakaway speed, his agility and edgework in tight spaces also separates him from the pack. LPH PHOTO BY MIKE THILL
regional amateur scout covering the Upper Midwest.

NHL teams select 11 from Minnesota

Nine played in High Performance League

The 2024 NHL Draft, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, was held on June 28th and 29th and saw 11 Minnesotans selected.

The second round saw four Minnesotans come off the board, starting with Adam Kleber, who played for Chaska/ Chanhassen growing up, and then followed by Max Plante (Hermantown), Colin Ralph (Osseo-Maple Grove) and Will Skahan (Woodbury).

The third round saw Brodie Ziemer (Chaska/Chanhassen) taken, followed by William Zellers (Osseo-Maple Grove) to bring the total Minnesotans selected through the first three rounds up to five.

In the fourth round, Javon Moore (Chaska/Chanhassen) was selected by the Ottawa Senators followed by Jake Fisher (Woodbury) who was selected by the Colorado Avalanche. Rounding out the fourth round was Hagen Burrows (Orono) who was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In the fifth round, John Whipple (Minnetonka) was selected by the Detroit Red Wings.

To finish the draft out for Minnesota, Austin Burnevik (Blaine) was selected by the Anaheim Ducks.

Minnesota Hockey just celebrated its 76th year of its unique and successful community/high school model of hockey. Further proof of this model’s success was evidenced by the 2024 NHL Draft, in which Minnesota led all states in players drafted. This is the ninth straight year that Minnesota has led or tied all states in players drafted.

• Minnesotans made up 27.5% of all Americans drafted in the 2024 NHL Draft.

• Minnesota has had the most players drafted of any state since 2000, with 313 Minnesotans selected by NHL teams.

• With 313 players drafted, Minnesota has made up 23% of all American-born players who have been drafted since 2000.

• This is the fourth straight year that two high school teammates have been selected in the same draft.

• Since 2000, there have been ten or more Minnesotans drafted in 20 of the 25 NHL Drafts. In three of the other drafts, nine Minnesotans were selected.

• Of the 11 players drafted, 9 of them participated in the CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance League.

• 7 different non-profit community associations were represented in the 2024 draft.

Javon Moore

Colin Ralph

#48 (2) St. Louis

D/Shattuck (Maple Grove)

Big and getting bigger, mobile D-man is a burgeoning offensive talent and master shutdown defender. Could use bit more physicality given his size, but that will come with the Huskies. Joins the Blues in ’27.

Will Skahan

#65 (2) Utah HC

D/USNTDP

(Shattuck/ St. Thomas)

Big, stay-at-home defenseman will round out his game for minimum three years but will be taken to school at BC and get his learn-on before cross-country debut in the Rockies of Utah HC in ’27.will come with the Huskies. Joins the Blues in ’27.

Will Zellers

#76 (3) Colorado

RW/Shattuck (Maple Grove)

Will heads to Green Bay (USHL) this fall and will team up with dynamic center and former Shattuck teammate, Aidan Park to form a deadly pair before heading to NoDak in fall ’25 as a lethal finisher who loves to scoop up loose pucks in front of the net for highlight reel lamp lighting.

Jake Fisher

#121 (4) Colorado

C/Fargo (CDH-Woodbury)

An overager eligibility-wise, but this last year in Fargo, Fisher helped produce a USHL champion, matured his game and playmaking to tune of 47 pts over 51 tilts and now, drafted into The Show. This is how it’s done, kiddos. Pioneers west this fall and breaks into the Avs lineup in ’28 with outside shot at ’27 depending on Avs future roster.

John Whipple

#144 (5) Detroit

D/USNTDP/ Shattuck (Mtka)

The Motor City Hall of Fame execs lean on the REAL state of hockey for the second time in the ’24 NHL draft with classic stay-at-home defenseman, Whipple. A strong and sturdy 6’1”/195, Whipple defends the rush with textbook backpedal, tight pivot radius, and swift outlets. Will forcefully direct attackers to the outside and bury them into wall with relish. Lands in Dinkytown this fall and, at minimum, a three-year tour prior Motor City move in ’27.

Brodie Ziemer

#71 (3) Buffalo

RW/USNTDP

(Carver/Chaska)

Geez, the Sabers sure do love the ‘Sota/Goldy Gopher pipeline, don’t they? Ziemer is a squatty bull who needs to elevate the soft skills a bit to become a true threat in the O-Zone, but he’s a grinder and a team leader. Earliest move to Tatanka land projects to ’27, but we smell the buffalo chip move-in as more fall ’28.

Javon Moore #112 (4) Ottawa LW/Mtka

HS

(Chanhassen)

The skills for scoring are there and the ceiling is high, now we need to extract battle effort, physicality and get that jersey dirty. A season or two in Sioux Falls before Dinkytown is on the horizon with work to do for fully mature 200 ft. game so Canada’s capital will wait awhile till fall ’28.

Hagen Burrows

#128 (4) Tampa

C/W/Mtka HS/ Sx City (Orono)

Mr. Hockey took his game to the next level in the USHL with the Musketeers as he transitioned from the Skippers with ease. So much potential to really grow an NHL game. Was slated for a full year back at Sioux City but with departures at Denver and his success this past year, he will also pioneer west with Fisher (and former Shattuck alum Hunter Anderson) to form the new DU crop of snipers. We project Hagen as a fall ’28 debut for the Bolts.

Austin Burnevik #182 (6) Anaheim RW/Madison/ Totino-Grace (Ham Lake)

Burnevik is the 2nd overager to get plucked from ‘Sota catapulting into the NHL draft two draft cycles later. Again, another perfect example of patience and hard work. Big winger, heady playmaker and disciplined 2-way player equally capable of sniping or dropping dimes. Off to St Cloud State joining stud D-man, Colin Ralph. Fall ’27 to the Ducks feels right.

Neck laceration safety gear requirement begins August 1

Starting August 1, players competing in youth, girls, high school or junior hockey within USA Hockey are required to wear neck laceration protectors (NLPs) for all games and practices. In addition, on-ice officials under the age of 18 as well as players in all six disciplines within USA Hockey’s disabled hockey program are also required to wear NLPs.

While players in the adult age classification are excluded from the requirement, USA Hockey continues to recommend neck laceration protectors for those playing adult hockey and remains steadfast in encouraging the use of cut-resistant socks, sleeves or undergar-

ments for all players and on-ice officials.

“The focus and commitment to safety is evident each and every day at USA Hockey and this new requirement is a positive step forward in helping ensure the safest possible environment in our sport,” said Kevin Margarucci, manager of player safety for USA Hockey.

Below are some key points to assist in this transition.

CHOOSING THE BEST NECK LACERATION PROTECTOR

Choose a neck laceration protector with cut-resistant material that covers as much of the exposed neck area as

possible. The protector should be worn properly without any alteration.

HOW COACHES AND PARENTS CAN HELP

Coaches and parents will play an important role in helping make sure that players and officials are properly equipped before heading out to the ice for both practice and games, including wearing appropriate neck laceration protection that is not altered.

IN-GAME ACTION

Rule enforcement will be the same as any other protective equipment vio-

Development camp tournament roundup

Minnesota District finishes second at USA Development Camp for 17s

The USA Hockey Boys National 17 Festival took place June 25-July 1, 2024, at The Northtown Center at Amherst in Amherst, New York. This camp is comprised of male players who are registered USA Hockey players (202324) and born in the year 2007.

The Boys National 17 Festival is a District team-based tournament format, but the priority is still to improve and showcase the players participating. Players experienced a competitive, age-specific environment with on-ice training (drills, small area games, competitions, etc.) and off-ice training (strength & conditioning, team building, mental skills, nutrition, classroom, etc.)

Players from the USA Hockey Boys 17 Festival were evaluated and chosen to attend the Hlinka Gretzky Cup Camp which will take place July 26-30, 2024 at TRIA Arena, St. Paul, MN. Those chosen from the Hlinka Camp will play

for the 2024 U.S. Under-18 Select Team during international competition, the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup August 5-10, 2024, in Edmonton, Canada.

Final standings for the 2024 Boys 17 National Festival can be found below. 1. Atlantic District 2. Minnesota District

New England District

Rocky Mountain District

Massachusetts District

Michigan District

Northern Plains District 8. Central District

New York District 10. Mid-American District 11. Pacific District

Southeastern District

Boys National 16 (2008)

The USA Hockey Boys National 16 Player Development Camp took place July 9-15, 2024, at The Northtown Center in Amherst, New York. This camp was comprised of male players who are registered USA Hockey players (202324) and born in the year 2008. The players experienced a com-

lation - the first violation will result in a player substitution and a team warning. Any subsequent protective equipment violations by the team during the game will result in a misconduct penalty.

If a player loses their neck laceration protector during play, it is treated the same as a mouthpiece. Play will continue until the next stoppage, then the player must replace the equipment or undergo a substitution.

Hanging throat protectors for goaltenders are not designed to prevent lacerations from a skate blade and are not a substitute for a neck laceration protector.

petitive, age-specific environment with on-ice training (drills, small area games, competitions, etc.) and off-ice training (strength & conditioning, team building, mental skills, nutrition, classroom, etc.)

The Boys National 16 Camp format at this camp creates an extremely competitive atmosphere with a grueling week of training and competition meant to improve and showcase our players but it is not a tournament.

Players from the USA Hockey Boys 16 Camp will be evaluated and chosen to play for the Under-17 Select Team playing in an international competition, the Five Nations Tournament, which takes place August 14-18, 2024 in Piešťany, Slovakia.

Boys National 15 Camp (2009)

The USA Hockey Boys National 15

Player Development Camp takes place July 17-22, 2024, at The Northtown Center at Amherst in Amherst, New York. The USA Hockey Boys National 15 Goaltending Camp takes place July 14-17, 2024. This camp was comprised of male players who are registered USA Hockey players (2023-24) and born in the year 2009. All goalies are required to attend the Boys National 15 Goaltending Camp. The players experienced a competitive, age-specific environment with on-ice training (drills, small area games, competitions, etc.) and off-ice training (strength & conditioning, team building, mental skills, nutrition, classroom, etc.).

The Boys National 15 Camp format creates an extremely competitive atmosphere with a grueling week of training and competition meant to improve and showcase players, but it is not a tournament.

Gold Medal Meet & Greet

Sunday, Aug. 18 • 6:00pm at former NHL Star Jordan Leopold’s Mississippi Garden in Chaplin, MN

Annual Mark Pavelich GOLF SCRAMBLE and Gold Medal Meet & Greet

Sunday, August 18th • Monday, August 19th To

4th Annual Mark Pavelich GOLF SCRAMBLE

Monday, Aug. 19 • 10:30am at The Legends Club in Prior Lake, MN

Attendees at the Fish Fry can mingle with hockey celebrities and members of the 1980 Gold Medal team. There will be pub-style hockey trivia, meat raffles, and the chance to win a professionally guided fishing trip for 2 with NHL hockey legend and avid tournament fishing professional Reed Larson.

Scan here to sign up for either or both events!

GIVING BACK

Wild foundation announces $1.3

million

in total donations during ‘23-’24 season

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Thanks to the incredible generosity of Wild fans, donors, corporate and community partners, the Minnesota Wild announced today that the Minnesota Wild Foundation distributed a total of $1,311,732 through grants and Split the Pot Raffle proceeds to local charities during the 2023-24 season.

“The impact the Wild Foundation has within the State of Hockey is made possible by the continued support of our fans, year in and year out,” said Scott Peterson, Minnesota Wild Foundation Board Chair. “The Wild Foundation and its board of directors is excited to continue supporting community programs, charities and youth hockey associations that play a critical role in making our great game more accessible to all.”

The Minnesota Wild Foundation provided $592,500 in grants to the following organizations in the State of Hockey:

• Children’s Minnesota Foundation received $200,000 from the proceeds of the annual Minnesota Wild Foundation Gala event to support the Children’s Minnesota Mental Health program. Children’s Minnesota Foundation also received $30,000 from the Wild Foundation’s annual Whiskey and Wine with the Wild event, held on February 17 and hosted by Zach and Bianca Bogosian, and $5,000 from the Crazy Game of Hockey event, held on July 8. For more information visit www.childrensmn.org.

• DinoMights received $60,000 to start a Brooklyn Park DinoMights chapter. DinoMights also received $25,000 to support its Hockey Is For Everyone Youth Hockey Program and their annual Learn 2 Skate recruiting program that provides opportunities for kids to play hockey in addition to tutoring, mentorship and spiritual development opportunities in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. For more information visit www. dinomights.com.

• Minnesota Youth Hockey Associations received $61,500. 41 Minnesota youth and amateur hockey associations were invited to sell game programs at Wild home games and each received a $1,500 grant from the Wild Foundation to support their association.

• Minnesota Hockey received $52,500 to support important grow the game initiatives throughout the State of Hockey including the Gear Up Minnesota Equipment Grant Program, the Little Wild Learn to Play Program, the Family Mentor Program and the Never Too Late Hockey Camp. Minnesota Hockey also received $3,500 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Black History jersey online auction when the Wild held its Black History Month Celebration on February 17. For more information visit www.minnesotahockey.org.

• CollegeBound Saint Paul received $25,000 to support its goal of providing a college savings account with $50 for each child who lives in Saint Paul and is born on or after January 1, 2020. The purpose of the program is to connect families and their children to early childhood resources as well as financial education and tools to be financially healthy to provide a pathway to a brighter future for both families and the city. For more information visit www.collegeboundstp.com.

• The American Indian Family Center received $10,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Native American Heritage jersey online auction to help serve approximately 700 American Indian families annually with mental health, recovery, employment, housing, family and youth services. The Wild, in partnership with the Prairie Island Indian Community, celebrated Native American Heritage Day during its game on November 24. The American Indian Family Center also received $5,000 in honor of goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury’s Celebration Night, commemorating his 1000th NHL game and NHL wins milestones, on February 9. For more visit www. aifcmn.org.

• Minnesota Diversified Hockey received $15,000 from proceeds of the annual Strike it Wild bowling event, presented by Treasure Island Resort & Casino and held on October 8, to help enable veterans and those with physical or intellectual disabilities to participate in the sport of hockey. For more information visit www.minnesotahockey.org/page/show/85013-min -

nesota-diversified-hockey.

• Warroad Hockey received $10,000 to help grow the game in Warroad, Minnesota, as part of Hockey Day Minnesota 2024. For more information visitwww.warroadhockey.com.

• The Pinky Swear Foundation received $10,000 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s Hockey Fights Cancer jersey online auction. The Wild held Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on November 12. For more information visit www.pinkyswear.org.

• The Minnesota Boys Hockey Coaches Association (www.mnhockeycoach. com) and the Minnesota Girls Hockey Coaches Association (www.mghca. com) each received $7,500 to provide ice time, coach and player training and development opportunities, equipment, and assistance for player fees associated with hockey or related activities.

• United Heroes League received $7,500 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s camouflage jersey online auction to help keep military kids engaged in hockey. The Wild held Military Appreciation Night on October 24. For more information visit www.unitedheroesleague.org.

• Twin Cities Pride received $7,500 from proceeds of the Wild Foundation’s pride jersey online auction. The Wild held Pride Night on March 12. For more information visit www. tcpride.org.

• On behalf of the Iowa Wild, the Wild’s AHL affiliate, the Des Moines Youth Hockey Association (www.dmyha. com) received $10,000, the Gabe Fleming Memorial Hockey Scholarship Fund (www.gabeflemingmhsf. org) received $5,000, Blank Children’s Hospital (www.unitypoint.org/ giving/blank-childrens-hospital-foundation)received $5,000 and Can Play (www.can-play.org) received $5,000.

• The Minnesota Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs received $5,000 to support the Home Team Scholarship program done in partnership with Bally Sports North and all of the Minnesota professional team foundations. For more information visit www.bgcminnesota. org.

• Hockey Ministries International re-

ceived the $5,000 Naegele Legacy Grant to support the development of youth hockey players in Minnesota through scholarships for summer hockey camps. For more information visit www.hockeyministries.org.

• The Minute Men Amateur Athletics Foundation received $5,000 to promote cultural diversity and inclusiveness through athletics. For more information visit www.minnesotaminutemen.com.

• The Blaze Hockey Kids4Kids received a $5,000 matching grant for the first two teams to raise $2,500 for Blaze Credit Union’s Hockey Kids4Kids, which encourages youth hockey players to use the teamwork and leadership skills they practice on the ice to come together and raise funds for kids at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. For more information visit www. hockeykids4kids.org.

• Ronald McDonald House Charities – Upper Midwest received $5,000 on behalf of Marc-Andre Fleury for receiving the annual Tom Kurvers Humanitarian Award. For more information visit www.rmhc-uppermidwest. org.

In addition, $719,232 in raffle proceeds from the Minnesota Wild Foundation’s Split the Pot Raffle Program were donated to the following 28 local non-profits:Autism Society of Minnesota, Children’s Cancer Research Fund, Crescent Cove, DinoMights, Minnesota Wild Blind Hockey, Minnesota Sled Hockey Association, Minnesota Wild Deaf & Hard of Hearing Hockey, Fraser, Friends of St. Paul Hockey, Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, Hendrickson Foundation, Herb Brooks Foundation, Hobey Baker Memorial Award Foundation, HopeKids, Make A Wish Minnesota, Minnesota Hockey, Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey, Minnesota Wild Foundation, Minnesota, Wild Special Hockey, Ronald McDonald House Charities – Upper Midwest, Sophie’s Squad, Special Olympics Minnesota, Twin Cities Pride, United Heroes League, US Hockey Hall of Fame Museum, Washburn Center For Children Wishes & More, Women’s Hockey Association of Minnesota

All invitational tournaments held in Minnesota must first go through a district tournament coordinator before being sent to the Minnesota Hockey tournament coordinator, Tim Sweezo, for final approval. The list below is of Minnesota Hockey tournament coordinators for each district. Please call them if you need information about a certain tournament.

District 1 Tom Mickus (651) 248-3075; District 2 Jake Reinseth (651) 274-9023; District 3 Chad Nicholls (952) 544-0808; District 4 Kris Hohensee (507) 360-6787; District 5 Jeff Carlen (320) 274-3509; District 6 Brad Hewitt (952) 250-6431; District 8 Zac Dockter (612) 735-9703; District 9 Troy Marquardt (507) 384-7386; District 10 Mark Osmondson (612) 747-8308; District 11 Clark Coole (218) 590-0703; District 12 Craig Homula (218) 744-5566; District 15 Cyndi Young (218) 731-5899; District 16, Mark Dragich (218) 791-0229; Senior Women, Nancy Wefler (763) 537-7837.

Tournament entrants from outside Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota: Be informed that Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Squirt, PeeWee and Bantam teams will likely have some players up to six months older than the USA Hockey age guidelines for those classifications. Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota are using a July 1 age cut-off date while USA Hockey is using a January 1 age cut-off date. If you are concerned about this issue, you should contact the tournament director immediately to determine whether or not you should register for the tournament.

August 2024

8 Edina, MN. Rumble at the Rink. Girls 8U. Girls 10U. Contact Amy at amyw@mnmadehockey.com. Visit www.mnmadehockeytournaments.com/rumble.

September 2024

21-23 Edina, MN. Liberty Classic. Girls 8U/10U/12U. Contact Amy at amyw@mnmadehockey.com. Visit www.mnmadehockey.com

October 2024

25-27 Des Moines, IA. Lady Wild Pucktoberfest. 10U, 12U, 14U, 16/19U. Register at www.dmyha.com.

November 2024

1-3 Faribault, MN. Bantam Challenge B2 Tournament. Bantam B2. Contact fhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://www. faribaulthockey.com/page/show/10555-tournament-registration

8-10 Albert Lea, MN. Bantam B/B2. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

8-10 Luverne, MN. Luverne Blazing Blades Tournament. Bantam A. Contact Amber Lais at 605-212-8169. Register at https://luvernehockey.sportngin.com/tourneys.

8-10 Eden Prairie, MN. Bantam B1 & C Season Premiere Kickoff. Bantam C, B1. Contact ephatournaments@ephockey.com. Register at https://www.ephockey.com/page/ show/180737-tournaments.

8-10 Baldwin, WI. Out in the Sticks Squirt Tournament WI A: 1B 2B 3A 4A MN:B2 WI B: 16 2C 3B 4B MN:C. Contact Deanna Bignell at deannalink@att.net. Register at baldwin. pucksystems2.com/show/26105-tournament-information.

15-17 Albert Lea, MN. Bantam A. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

15-17 Austin, MN. Talkin’ Turkey Showdown. Squirt B/C. Contact Marty Clennon at 319-230-6065 or ayha.tournaments@gmail. com. Register at https://austin.pucksystems2. com.

15-17 Des Moines, IA. Squirt Fall Classic. Squirt A/B. Register at www.dmyha.com.

15-17 Little Falls, MN. Squirt Flyer FaceOff Challenge. Squirt B1, Squirt B2. Contact apeterson@isd116.org. Register at https://littlefallsyha.pucksystems.com/page/

show/51280-tournaments.

15-17 Fairmont, MN. Fairmont City of the Lakes Shootout. Squirt A/B. Contact Luke at luke.ebeling@midco.com. Register at https:// fairmont.pucksystems2.com.

21-24 Anoka, MN. Casey Orn Memorial Bantam Tournament. Bantam B2, Bantam, B1, Bantam A. Contact tournaments@anokaareahockey.com Register at anoka.pucksystems2.com/page/show/2757-anoka-classic-tournaments

22-24 Brookings, SD. Peewee Winter Classic. Peewee A/B/C. Register online at www.brookingsrangers.com.

22-24 Luverne, MN. Luverne Blazing Blades Tournament. Peewee A. Contact Amber Lais at 605-212-8169. Register at https:// luvernehockey.sportngin.com/tourneys.

22-24 Owatonna, MN. O-Town Showdown. Peewee C, Bantam C. Contact Mary Kelvie at oyha.adm.director@gmail.com. Register at www.owatonnahockey.com.

22-24 Little Falls, MN. Flyer Face-Off Challenge. Bantam B1. Contact apeterson@ isd116.org. Register at https://littlefallsyha. pucksystems.com/page/show/51280-tournaments.

22-24 Fairmont, MN. Fairmont Bar-Down Showdown. Peewee A/B. Contact Luke at luke.ebeling@midco.com. Register at https:// fairmont.pucksystems2.com.

22-24 Mankato, MN. Mankato Squirt Tournament. Squirt C. Contact cfoguth92@gmail. com. Register at cfoguth92@gmail.com

29-1 Blaine, MN. MVI Mavericks Super Rink Spectacular. Bantam B1/B2/C (Waitlist).

Peewee B1/B2/C (Waitlist). Squirt B1/B2/C (Waitlist). Register at https://www.mvihockey. org.

29-1 Chaska and Victoria, MN. Squirt A/ B1/B2/C. Peewee C. Contact Laurie Grund at jlgrund@gmail.com. Register at www.cchockey.org/brick-city-tournament.

29-1 Edina, MN. 20th Annual Tradition Cake Eater Classic. 15UA/15UB12UA/12UB /12UB2/10UA/10UB/10UB2. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www. edinahockeyassociation.com/ourtournaments.

29-1 Hopkins, MN. Boys Rasberry Jam. Girls 12 A, Girls 12U B1, 12U B2, 10U A, 10U B1, 10U B2.. Contact hyhatournaments@ gmail.com. Register at https://www.hopkinshockey.com.app.crossbar.org/program/ girls-raspberry-jam.

29-1 Hopkins, MN. Hopkins Girls 48th Raspberry Jam Hockey Tournament. PeeWee A, Bantam C, Bantam B1, Bantam A, PeeWee B1, PeeWee C, Squirt B1, Squirt B2. Contact hyhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://www.hopkinshockey.com.app.crossbar. org/program/girls-raspberry-jam.

29-1 Minneapolis, MN. 50th Annual Minneapolis Cup. Bantam C, Bantam B2, Bantam B1, PeeWee B1, PeeWee B2, PeeWee C, Squirt B1, Squirt B2, Squirt C. Contact psmith@mplshockey.com. Register at www. mplshockey.com

29-1 Rosemount, MN. Squirt B2 Much Turkey Extravaganza. Squirt B2. Contact Michaelc@rosemounthockey.org. Register at https://www.rosemounthockey.org/sqb2muchturkey

29-1 Eden Prairie, MN. Bantam AA & Peewee AA First Test of the Best Hockey Tournament. Peewee AA, Bantam AA. Contact ephatournaments@ephockey.com. Register at https://www.ephockey.com/page/ show/180737-tournaments.

29-1 Northfield, MN. Northfield Peewee A Tournament. Peewee A. Contact TournamentDirector@NorthfieldHockey.Net. Register https://tourneymachine.com/Register/ h202107071638162694d7e1dac18894a/ h2024052120261175172e267dd11c743.

29-1 Faribault, MN. Peewee Frost Tournament. Peewee A & C. Contact fhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://www. faribaulthockey.com/page/show/10555-tournament-registration

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

December 2024

5-8 Anoka, MN. Anoka Classic. Girls 12U B1, Girls 12U B2, Girls 10U B1, Girls 10U B2. Contact tournaments@anokaareahockey.com Register at anoka.pucksystems2.com/page/ show/2757-anoka-classic-tournaments

22-24 Brookings, SD. Bantam Winter Classic. Bantam A/B. Register online at www. brookingsrangers.com.

6-8 Little Falls, MN. Flyer Face-Off Challenge. Bantam A. Contact apeterson@isd116. org. Register at https://littlefallsyha.pucksystems.com/page/show/51280-tournaments.

6-8 Two Harbors, MN. Two Harbors Bantam B1 Tournament. Bantam B1. Contact thyouthhockey@gmail.com. Register at https://www.twoharborsyouthhockey.org/page/ show/2693908-tournaments.

6-8 Albert Lea, MN. Squirt A. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

6-8 Austin, MN. Battle for the Biscuit. Girls 10U/12U. Contact Marty Clennon at 319230-6065 or ayha.tournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://austin.pucksystems2.com.

6-8 Hutchinson, MN. Bardown at H-Town. Peewee A/B2. Contact Adam Simantel at 715-531-5432 or adam_simanntel18@ hotmail.com. Register at www.hutchhockey. com.

6-8 La Crescent, MN. Iced Apple Tournament. Squirt C. Contact Kasey Payne, LYHA Tournament Coordinator, lyha.tournaments@gmail.com, 608-385-5448. Register at https://www.lacrescenthockey.com/page/ show/6687062-tournaments

6-8 New Hope, MN. New Hope Classic. Squirt A/B2/C. Contact Susie Melynchuk at 612-940-8686 or smelynchuk@comcast.net. More info at https://www.armstrongcooperhockey.org/page/show/3442473-tournaments.

6-8 New Richmond, WI. Joe Swanda Memorial Tournament. Squirt WI A/B, MN B1/B2. Contact Tournaments@nryha. net. Register at https://www.nryha.net/page/ show/193714-our-tournaments.

6-8 Owatonna, MN. O-Town Showdown. Bantam AA/A/B. Contact Mary Kelvie at oyha. adm.director@gmail.com. Register at www. owatonnahockey.com.

6-8 Proctor, MN. Girls 15UA. Contact Carl Burke at pahatournaments@gmail.com or 218-393-2220. Register at www.proctorhockey.com.

6-8 Rochester, MN. Rochester Invitational. Peewee A/B/C. Contact Rob at rob@ ryha.net. Register at ryha.net.

6-8 Fergus Falls, MN. Bantam B1 Fergus Falls Flow at the Falls Tournament. Bantam B. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://fergusfallshockey.pucksystems. com/page/show/48928-tournaments

6-8 Eden Prairie, MN. Peewee B1 & B2 Prairie Face Off Hockey Tournament. Peewee B1, Peewee B2. Contact ephatournaments@ephockey.com. Register at https:// www.ephockey.com/page/show/180737-tournaments.

6-8 Mankato, MN. Mankato Bantam Tournament. Bantam B1. Contact cfoguth92@ gmail.com. Register at cfoguth92@gmail.com

6-8 Faribault, MN. Battle of the biscuit Squirt Tournament. Squirt B. Contact fhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://www. faribaulthockey.com/page/show/10555-tournament-registration

6-8 South St. Paul, MN. Cowtown Classic. Squirt B/C. Contact sspyha.tournaments@ gmail.com.

7-8 Crookston, MN. Crookston Bantam B/ B2. Contact Jsolberg@crookston.mn.us or atr 218-281-1242. Register at https://www.crookstonmn.us

7-8 Hoyt Lakes, MN. Mike Kangas Memorial Squirt Tournament. Squirts. Info/Registration at www.mesabieasthockey.org.

12-15 New Richmond, WI. Ryan Olson Memorial Tournament. Peewee A, Peewee B1. Contact Tournaments@nryha.net. Register at https://www.nryha.net/page/ show/193714-our-tournaments.

13-15 Albert Lea, MN. Peewee A. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com.

13-15 Brookings, SD. Girls 15UB Winter Classic. Girls 15UB. Register online at www. brookingsrangers.com.

13-15 Des Moines, IA. Peewee Winter Freeze. Peewee A/B. Register at www.dmyha. com.

13-15 Edina, MN. 5th Annual Cornerstone Tournament. Squirt A/B1/B2. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www. edinahockeyassociation.com/ourtournaments.

13-15 La Crescent, MN. Iced Apple Tournament. Bantam B1. Contact Kasey Payne, LYHA Tournament Coordinator, lyha.tournaments@gmail.com, 608-385-5448. Register at https://www.lacrescenthockey.com/page/ show/6687062-tournaments

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

13-15 Luverne, MN. Luverne Blazing Blades Tournament. Squirt A, B. Contact Amber Lais at 605-212-8169. Register at https:// luvernehockey.sportngin.com/tourneys.

13-15 Owatonna, MN. O-Town Showdown. 15UB/12UB. Contact Mary Kelvie at oyha.adm. director@gmail.com. Register at www.owatonnahockey.com.

13-15 Fergus Falls, MN. Bantam A Fergus Falls Flow at the Falls Tournament. Bantam A. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://fergusfallshockey.pucksystems. com/page/show/48928-tournaments

13-15 Walker, MN. City on the Bay Hockey Tournament. Squirt B/B2 (No B1 Teams). Contact Mitch at loomis@shoresofleechlake.com.

13-15 Fairmont, MN. Fairmont Southern MN Ladies Classic. Girls 10U B, Girls 12U B. Contact Luke at luke.ebeling@midco.com. Register at https://fairmont.pucksystems2. com.

13-15 Baldwin, WI. Rose Schultz Memorial Girls 10/12 Tournament. WI: A/B. MN: B1/ B2. Contact Shawn Kline at BLACKCATTOURNAMENTS@BLACKHAWKHOCKEY. NET. Register at baldwin.pucksystems2.com/ show/26105-tournament-information.

13-15 Northfield, MN. Northfield Bantam A Tournament. Bantam A. Contact TournamentDirector@NorthfieldHockey.Net. Register https://tourneymachine.com/Register/ h202107071638162694d7e1dac18894a/ h2024052120261175172e267dd11c743.

14-15 Crookston, MN. Crookston Peewee A. Contact Jsolberg@crookston.mn.us or at 218-281-1242. Register at https://www.crookstonmn.us

14-15 Crookston, MN. Crookston 12UA Girls. Contact Jsolberg@crookston.mn.us or at 218-281-1242. Register at https://www. crookstonmn.us

19-22 Eden Prairie, MN. Squirt A, B1, & B2 Prairie Shootout Hockey Tournament. Squirt A, B1, B2. Contact ephatournaments@ephockey. com. Register at https://www.ephockey.com/ page/show/180737-tournaments.

20-22 Sauk Centre, MN. Bantam B1 I-94 Challenge. Bantam B1. Contact Heidibeissel@ gmail.com. Register at https://saukcentremelrose.pucksystems.com/i94tourneys.

20-22 Two Harbors, MN. Two Harbors Peewee B1 Tournament. Peewee B1. Contact thyouthhockey@gmail.com. Register at https://www.twoharborsyouthhockey.org/page/ show/2693908-tournaments.

20-22 Aberdeen, SD. Brown County Battle Squirt A/B. Contact Contact ihtd.cougars@ gmail.com or 605-290-7296. Register at http:// aberdeenhockey.sportngin.com/tournaments.

20-22 Albert Lea, MN. Peewee B/B2. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

20-22 Hutchinson, MN. Bardown at H-Town. Bantam A/B2. Contact Adam Simantel at 715-531-5432 or adam_simanntel18@

hotmail.com. Register at www.hutchhockey. com.

20-22 Proctor, MN. Bantam B2. Contact Carl Burke at pahatournaments@gmail.com or 218-393-2220. Register at www.proctorhockey.com.

20-22 Rochester, MN. Rochester Invitational. Squirt A/B. Contact Rob at rob@ryha. net. Register at ryha.net.

20-22 Fergus Falls, MN. Fergus Falls Girls 10U Candy Cane Classic. Girls 10U A. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://fergusfallshockey.pucksystems.com/ page/show/48928-tournaments

27-29 Baldwin, WI. New Year’s Eve Bantam Tournament. WI A: 1B 2B 3A 4A MN: B2 WI B: 1C 2C 3B 4B MN:C. Contact Deanna Bignell at deannalink@att.net. Register at baldwin.pucksystems2.com/show/26105-tournament-information.

27-29 Des Moines, IA. New Years Puck Drop.10U, 12U, 14U, C/House Level. Register at www.dmyha,com.

27-30 Edina, MN. 56th Annual Tradition Invitational Tournament. Bantam AA/A, Peewee AA. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www.edinahockeyassociation.com/ ourtournaments.

27-29 Mankato, MN. Mankato Squirt Tournament. Squirt B2. Contact cfoguth92@gmail. com. Register at cfoguth92@gmail.com

PEEWEE TOURNAMENT

Nov. 15-17, 2024

Peewee 2A/3A(WI) / Peewee B1(MN ) 4 Game Guarantee - Cost $1200 https://tourneymachine.com/R146082

PEEWEE TOURNAMENT

Dec. 6-8, 2024

Peewee 2B/3B/1C(WI) / Peewee C(MN)

Cost $950 https://tourneymachine.com/R146084

BANTAM TOURNAMENT

Dec. 13-15, 2024

Bantam 2B/3B/1C(WI) / Bantam C(MN)

Bantam 2A/3A(WI) /Bantam B1(MN)

Cost: $1050 https://tourneymachine.com/R146088

Feb. 14-16, 2025

Feb. 14-16,

Cost $1325

https://tourneymachine.com/R146090

Boys’ Tournaments

for the best Hockey Hair!

Bantam B1 Dec. 6-8, 2024 • $1350

Bantam A Dec. 13-15, 2024 • $1350

Squirt A Jan. 10-12, 2025 • $1150

PeeWee B1 Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2025 • $1250

Girls’ Tournaments

10U A - “Candy Cane Classic” Dec. 20-22, 2024 • $1150

12U A Jan. 24-26, 2025 • $1250

8U Jamboree Feb. 7-9, 2025

29-1 Edina, MN. 56th Annual Tradition Invitational Tournament. Bantam B1, Peewee A/B1. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www.edinahockeyassociation.com/ ourtournaments.

January 2025

1-4 Crookston, MN. Crookston Mite & 8U Girls Jamboree. Contact Jsolberg@crookston. mn.us or at 218-281-1242. Register at https:// www.crookstonmn.us

2-5 Anoka, MN. Anoka Classic. Peewee B1, Peewee B2. Contact tournaments@ anokaareahockey.com Register at anoka. pucksystems2.com/page/show/2757-anoka-classic-tournaments.

2-5 Blaine, MN. MVI Mavericks Super Rink Spectacular. Bantam A (Waitlist)/Peewee A (Waitlist)/Squirt A (Waitlist)/ U15A&B (Waitlist)/ U12B1&B2 (Waitlist)/U10B1&B2 (Waitlist). Register at https://www.mvihockey.org

3-5 Albert Lea, MN. Girls 12UB/10UB. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

4-5 Des Moines, IA. Mite Madness. Advanced and Intermediate Mites. Register at www.dmyha.com.

10-12 Brookings, SD. Squirt Winter Classic. Squirt A/B/C. Register online at www. brookingsrangers.com.

10-12 Sauk Centre, MN. Squirt B2 & C I-94 Challenge. Squirt B2, Squirt C. Contact Heidibeissel@gmail.com. Register at https://saukcentremelrose.pucksystems.com/i94tourneys.

10-12 Little Falls, MN. Peewee Flyer FaceOff. Peewee B1. Contact apeterson@isd116. org. Register at https://littlefallsyha.pucksystems.com/page/show/51280-tournaments.

10-12 Albert Lea, MN. Squirt B. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

10-12 Austin, MN. AYHA’s Peewee Tournament. Peewee B/C. Contact Marty Clennon at 319-230-6065 or ayha.tournaments@gmail. com. Register at https://austin.pucksystems2.

tel at 715-531-5432 or adam_simanntel18@ hotmail.com. Register at www.hutchhockey. com.

10-12 La Crescent, MN. Iced Apple Tournament. Squirt B1. Contact Kasey Payne, LYHA Tournament Coordinator, lyha.tournaments@gmail.com, 608-385-5448. Register at https://www.lacrescenthockey.com/page/ show/6687062-tournaments

10-12 New Hope, MN. Knockdown at New Hope. Girls 12UA/10UB1/10UB2. Contact Susie Melynchuk at 612-940-8686 or smelynchuk@comcast.net. More info at https:// www.armstrongcooperhockey.org/page/ show/3442473-tournaments

10-12 Rochester, MN. Rochester Invitational. Bantam A/B1/C. Contact Rob at rob@ ryha.net. Register at ryha.net.

10-12 Proctor, MN. Peewee A. Contact Carl Burke at pahatournaments@gmail.com or

10-12 Walker, MN. City on the Bay Hockey Tournament. Peewee B/B2 (No B1 Teams). Contact Mitch at loomis@shoresofleechlake. com.

10-12 Fergus Falls, MN. Fergus Falls Squirt Flow at the Falls Tournament. Squirt A. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://fergusfallshockey.pucksystems. com/page/show/48928-tournaments

10-12 Baldwin, WI. Ice Fest 14/15 Girls Tournament. WI: 14 A/B. MN: 15 A/B. Contact Shawn Kline at BLACKCATTOURNAMENTS@ BLACKHAWKHOCKEY.NET. Register at baldwin.pucksystems2.com/show/26105-tournament-information.

10-12 South St. Paul, MN. Cowtown Classic. Peewee B2/C. Contact sspyha.tournaments@gmail.com.

11-12 Crookston, MN. Crookston 10UA/10UB Girls. Contact Jsolberg@crook

BLACKHAWK

Mite Cross Ice Jamboree - Jan. 3-5, 2025

Ice Fest 14/15 Girls Tournament - Jan. 10-12, 2025

WI: 14 A/B MN:15 A/B

❑ February Freeze PeeWee Tournament - Feb. 7-9, 2025

WI A: 1B 2B 3A 4A

Contact: Boys - Deanna Bignell: deannalink@att.net Girls - Shawn Kline: blackcattournaments@blackhawkhockey.net https://baldwin.pucksystems2.com/page/show/ 26105-tournament-information

11-12 Crookston, MN. Crookston Squirt A/B. Contact Jsolberg@crookston.mn.us or at 218-281-1242. Register at https://www.crookstonmn.us

16-19 Edina, MN. 48th Annual John Reimann Tournament. Junior Gold B/Junior Gold 16. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www.edinahockeyassociation.com/ ourtournaments.

17-19 Brookings, SD. 19UA Winter Classic. Girls 19UA. Register online at www.brookingsrangers.com.

17-19 Mankato, MN. Mankato Peewee Tournament. Peewee B2. Contact cfoguth92@ gmail.com. Register at cfoguth92@gmail.com

17-19 Sauk Centre, MN. Peewee B1 I-94 Challenge. Peewee B1. Contact Heidibeissel@gmail.com. Register at https://saukcentremelrose.pucksystems.com/i94tourneys.

17-19 Two Harbors, MN. Two Harbors Girls 12U B Tournament. Girls 12U B. Contact thyouthhockey@gmail.com. Register at https://www.twoharborsyouthhockey.org/page/ show/2693908-tournaments.

18-19 Hoyt Lakes, MN. Geno Olds Mini-Mitee Jamboree. Info/Registration at www.mesabieasthockey.org.

24-26 Austin, MN. Chris Fischer Bantam Classic. Bantam B. Contact Marty Clennon at 319-230-6065 or ayha.tournaments@gmail. com. Register at https://austin.pucksystems2. com.

24-26 Brookings, SD. Mite Winter Classic. Termite/Mite. Register online at www.brookingsrangers.com.

24-26 Des Moines, IA. Bantam Rumble at the Recplex. Bantam A/B. Register at www. dmyha.com.

24-26 Edina, MN. 12th Annual Quinn’s Cup. Boys Mite 4 and 3. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www. edinahockeyassociation.com/ourtournaments.

24-26 Hutchinson, MN. Bardown at H-Town. Girls 12UA/12UB2. Contact Adam Simantel at 715-531-5432 or adam_simanntel18@hotmail.com. Register at www.hutchhockey.com.

Bantam B

Nov. 22-24, 2024

Thanksgiving Classic

Cost: $1300

PeeWee A

Dec. 6-8, 2024

HoliDangle Classic Cost: $1300

Squirt

Jan. 3-5, 2025

Kent Cup Winter Series Cost: $900 Bantam A Jan. 10-12, 2025

Derick Brehm Memorial Cost: $1300

For more info contact Brooke Bohls, Tourney Coordinator: 605-520-4941 or email: brookebohls.dlyha@gmail.com Gate

17-19 Albert Lea, MN. Squirt C. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

17-19 Owatonna, MN. O-Town Showdown. Squirt A/B. Contact Mary Kelvie at oyha.adm. director@gmail.com. Register at www.owatonnahockey.com.

17-19 Proctor, MN. Bantam A. Contact Carl Burke at pahatournaments@gmail.com or 218-393-2220. Register at www.proctorhockey.com.

17-19 Rochester, MN. Shannon Cup Girls Weekend TournamentGirls 10UA/B, 12UA/B, 15UB/TBD. Contact Rob at rob@ryha.net. Register at ryha.net.

18-19 Faribault, MN. Mite Jamboree. Mini Mites. Mite 1, 2, 3.. Contact fhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://www. faribaulthockey.com/page/show/10555-tournament-registration

24-26 Minneapolis, MN. Winter Storm Girls Tournament. Girls 10UB1. Register at www.mplshockey.com.

24-26 Minneapolis, MN. Winter Storm Girls Tournament. Girls 10UB2. Register at www.mplshockey.com.

24-26 Minneapolis, MN. Winter Storm Girls Tournament. Girls 12UB1. Register at www.mplshockey.com.

24-26 Minneapolis, MN. Winter Storm Girls Tournament. Girls 12UB2. Register at www.mplshockey.com.

24-26 Proctor, MN. Squirt A. Contact Carl Burke at pahatournaments@gmail.com or 218-393-2220. Register at www.proctorhockey.com.

24-26 Walker, MN. City on the Bay Hockey Tournament. Bantam B/B2 (No B1 Teams). Contact Mitch at loomis@shoresofleechlake. com.

America’s No. 1 Hockey Newspaper!

24-26 New Richmond, WI. Cally Briggs Memorial Tournament. Girls 12U B, 12U B2, 10U A, 10U B. Contact Tournaments@nryha. net. Register at https://www.nryha.net/page/ show/193714-our-tournaments.

24-26 Fergus Falls, MN. Fergus Falls Girls 12U Hockey Tournament. Girls 12U A. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://fergusfallshockey.pucksystems.com/ page/show/48928-tournaments

24-26 Fairmont, MN. Fairmont Mitiest Mite Jamboree. Mini-mites, Mites. Contact Luke at luke.ebeling@midco.com. Register at https:// fairmont.pucksystems2.com.

24-26 Faribault, MN. Artic Blast Squirt C. Squirt C. Contact fhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://www.faribaulthockey.com/ page/show/10555-tournament-registration

25-26 Hoyt Lakes, MN. Mite Jamboree. Info/Registration at www.mesabieasthockey. org.

30-2 Edina, MN. 40th Annual Bob O’Connor Tournament. Bantam B2/C, Peewee B2/C, Squirt B2/C. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www.edinahockeyassociation.com/ourtournaments.

31-2 La Crescent, MN. Iced Apple Tournament. 12UB Girls. Contact Kasey Payne, LYHA Tournament Coordinator, lyha.tournaments@gmail.com, 608-385-5448. Register at https://www.lacrescenthockey.com/page/ show/6687062-tournaments

31-2 Proctor, MN. Squirt B2. Contact Carl Burke at pahatournaments@gmail.com or 218-393-2220. Register at www.proctorhockey.com.

31-2 Two Harbors, MN. Girls 10U B Two Harbors Tournament. Girls 10U B Contact thyouthhockey@gmail.com. Register at https:// www.twoharborsyouthhockey.org/page/ show/2693908-tournaments.

31-2 Luverne, MN. Luverne Blazing Blades Tournament. Girls 12U B. Contact Amber Lais at 605-212-8169. Register at https://luvernehockey.sportngin.com/tourneys.

31-2 Fergus Falls, MN. Fergus Falls Peewee B Flow at the Falls Tournament. Peewee B1. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https://fergusfallshockey.pucksystems.com/page/show/48928-tournaments.

31-2 Eden Prairie, MN. Peewee C & Squirt C Prairie Madness Hockey Tournament. Peewee C, Squirt C.. Contact ephatournaments@ ephockey.com. Register at https://www. ephockey.com/page/show/180737-tournaments.

31-2 Fairmont, MN. Fairmont Red, White, Ice Invitational. Bantam B. Contact Luke at luke.ebeling@midco.com. Register at https:// fairmont.pucksystems2.com.

31-2 Northfield, MN. Northfield Squirt A Tournament. Squirt A. Contact TournamentDirector@NorthfieldHockey.Net. Register https://tourneymachine.com/Register/ h202107071638162694d7e1dac18894a/ h2024052120261175172e267dd11c743.

February 2025

1-2 Albert Lea, MN. Mites 8U Boys/8U Girls. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail. com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2. com

1-2 Sauk Centre, MN. Mite I-94 Challenge. Mite. Contact Heidibeissel@gmail.com. Register at https://saukcentremelrose.pucksystems. com/i94tourneys.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

powered by

7-9 Albert Lea, MN. Bantam C. Contact Darcy at dbhauser92@gmail.com. Register at www.albertlea.pucksystems2.com

7-9 New Richmond, WI. Girls Stars Classic Tournament. Girls 15U B, 14U, 12U B1. Contact Tournaments@nryha.net. Register at https:// www.nryha.net/page/show/193714-our-tournaments.

7-9 Edina, MN. 1st Annual Girls Mite Jamboree. Girls Mite 4 and 3. Contact tournaments@edinahockey.org. Register at www. edinahockeyassociation.com/ourtournaments.

7-9 New Hope, MN. New Hope Invitational. Bantam A, Peewee A. Contact Susie Melynchuk at 612-940-8686 or smelynchuk@comcast.net. More info at https:// www.armstrongcooperhockey.org/page/ show/3442473-tournaments

7-9 Two Harbors, MN. Two Harbors Squirt Tournament. Squirt B. Contact thyouthhockey@gmail.com. Register at https:// www.twoharborsyouthhockey.org/page/ show/2693908-tournaments.

7-9 Baldwin, WI. Febuary Freeze Peewee Tournament. WI A: 1B 2B 3A 4A MN: B2 WI B: 1C 2C 3B 4B MN:C. Contact Deanna Bignell at deannalink@att.net. Register at baldwin.pucksystems2.com/show/26105-tournament-information.

7-9 Virginia, MN. Jr. Gold Frozen Battle. JR Gold 18U. Contact Michelle at rryhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https:// www.rryha.org/page/show/4365485-tournaments-2024-2025

8-9 Fergus Falls, MN. Fergus Falls Girls 8U Jamboree. Girls 8U. Contact ffhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https:// fergusfallshockey.pucksystems.com/page/ show/48928-tournaments

12-15 New Richmond, WI. Mite Invitational. Mite. Contact Tournaments@nryha. net. Register at https://www.nryha.net/page/ show/193714-our-tournaments.

14-16 Eden Prairie, MN. Girls 10U A & B2 Prairie Meltdown Hockey Tournament. Girls 10U A, 10U B2. Contact ephatournaments@ ephockey.com. Register at https://www. ephockey.com/page/show/180737-tournaments.

21-23 Virginia, MN. Up North Wolverine. Squirt B2. Contact Michelle at rryhatournaments@gmail.com. Register at https:// www.rryha.org/page/show/4365485-tournaments-2024-2025

March 2025

12-15 New Richmond, WI. Senior Mens Tournament. Adult Men Over 35 Years old. Contact Tournaments@nryha. net. Register at https://www.nryha.net/page/ show/193714-our-tournaments.

To Advertise in the LPH Tournament Calendar contact bryan@letsplayhockey.com Also visit.www.letsplayhockey.com/tournaments for our

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