The Minnesota Blades announced their roster for the 2015 Brick Super Novice Invite held in Edmonton, Alberta. Team Minnesota has 13 players from the state of hockey and two from Florida. Minnesota has done well in the Brick the last three years making the playoffs in 2012, Final Four in 2013 and a near playoff miss last Summer

This year's team is coached by former Gopher Reggie Berg, whose son Wes will also play forward for Team Minnesota. After Berg completed his collegiate career for the University, he went on to play seven years of minor league hockey, most of which was for the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Berg left as the all time leading scorer for the Blades and now has his number retired at Germain Arena in Estero, FL.

Coaching Team Minnesota is a thrill for Berg, “I am excited to lead this team of great kids and talented players.  Every player on this team has a role that they understand as we work towards a common goal.  These players will have the opportunity to compete against and witness firsthand the best competition that exists today in all of North America in a 9-day period,” said Berg. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to share this experience with them.  We will represent Minnesota proudly.”

Leading up to the Brick, Team Minnesota will travel to Boston for the Boston Showdown where they will face 2 other Brick teams the Boston Jr. Bruins and Connecticut Yankees. They will also travel to Winnipeg in June to play in the North American Hockey Classic. In the NAHC they will see the BC Jr. Canucks and Winnipeg Jr. Jets in Pool Play and potentially the Sask Jr. Pats and Team Brick Alberta in Bracket Play.

Team Minnesota has seven forwards and six defensemen on their roster. Two Minnesota players that have stole the show so far are William Whitelaw and Oliver Moore. With seven Forwards, those two will likely see a lot of ice time. Other Minnesota players to keep an eye on in Edmonton are Joey Sylvester from South St. Paul who played last Winter for Sibley Squirt A. Sylvester is the kind of player who is very skilled and has a great hockey IQ. 

Success at The Brick has historically been predicted with success in two big categories, scoring and goaltending. Minnesota has two goalies, both from Elk River, Wes Johnson and Sam Stockman. In order to compete at the highest level in The Brick, Johnson and Stockman will have to get the hot hand. The team will need a Lucius-like scoring effort by Whitelaw and Moore (brothers Chaz and Cruz Lucius combined for 18 points in six pool play games in 2013) . If these two ifs become reality, watch out Team Minnesota could be dangerous come July.

YHH looks forward to following this team as they prepare for the Brick this Summer.