Every year, a team or two come out of nowhere to surprise you. Last year, Woodbury was an 11-15 seed in Bantam AA and made it all the way to state. The year before, Minneapolis was not a Top Ten Squirt A team...they ran the table and finished second the Fargo International Squirt Tourney. It is these surprises that make covering youth hockey so much fun. Here are 10 teams that are not in the Top 5 but will give teams fits on Sunday of Regionals.
SLP's Luke Mobley will be a tough customer come Bantam AA regions.
- St. Louis Park Bantam AA - this group is playing AA compared to A the two previous seasons. On top of the change, their District merged its league into District 6 for the regular season. Seemingly being thrown to the wolves right away. The Orioles are by no means tearing up the new mixed league. They are gaining respect from their peers from District 3 and 6 as the season progresses. this team has legitimate stars Jonny Sorenson and Luke Mobley, plus a great goaltender...if you draw SLP in the first round of Regions, be very careful.
- Minnetonka PeeWee AA - their record is very deceiving, playing in tough tournaments and very tough league and non-league schedule will likely make this team a tough foe come Regions. With highly talented Griffin Streeter, Nic Henry and Teddy Lagerbeck on the ice a lot come playoffs, the Skippers should not be overlooked.
- Bantam B - choosing a team or two from Bantam and PeeWee B is dicey...so many districts are so closely contested, choosing a team that is tough to beat may not make it out of District play. That said, here are some non-T10 teams that are playing really well at the right time of year. Both Edina teams are crazy hot right now. White just won the Woodbury Rumble and Green has a great chance of winning the District 6 regular season.
- PeeWee B - every team in PeeWee B is dangerous. Trust no one, especially the YHH NOW Rankings. Teams rated in the 30's beat T10 teams all the time. One day it is Eagan Green that we think is the latest piece of sliced bread. They lose to Jefferson, twice. Jefferson is the shiny ball, they lose to St. Louis Park. And so on and so on.
- Osseo Maple Grove PeeWee A - this team is playing some really good hockey right now. Three good lines and Cooper Olson in the nets, make this team a tough customer in the first round as a likely #2 or #3 seed, no thanks.
Orono White's PWB team is one of many PeeWee B teams that could make a run in March.
Prior Lake's Cade Kujawski could be a weapon for Prior Lake's Bantam AA team this March
- Eden Prairie PeeWee AA - They are much like Prior Lake in Bantam AA. Great defense, good coaching and two great goaltenders. The Eagles seem to always be in tight low scoring games. On any give day come Regions, these are the kind of teams that scare you the most. Last year, Jefferson took Chaska Chan deep into Overtime of the first round before finally losing...that game changed the complexion of the East Regional. Eden Prairie could be that team this year in their Regional.
- Park Cottage Grove U12A - granted the Wolfpack are a top 10 team, but they are the kind of team that could win the state tourney. They have a great formula for success: great coach, solid and mature talent, and a great goalie. Another one of those teams that plays so hard every game.
- Greenway PeeWee A - strong defense and few snipers is what makes this team so hard to beat. Christian Miller is as good of a player there is in Minnesota, couple him with three snipers like Ben Troumbley, Cameron Lantz, and Mitchell Vekich..the Raiders may be the team to beat in March.
- Prior Lake Bantam AA - this team should be Public Enemy number 1. They are the reason we chose to write this article. They have great defensemen, arguably the best Goalie in the state, and a really good defensive system that is winning games. Ask Centennial and Edina if they would like to see them in their Regional and I'm sure they would pass.
- Wayzata U12A - here is a team that hasn't seen much of the T10 this year. They too, seem to be building toward the end of the year. This is a very talented team that has beaten T10 teams all year.
Christian Miller from Greenway lights the red lamp a lot for the Raiders.
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