Every year at the YHH Squirtacular there is a story or two that can't be told while our staff is covering 136 games with photos, tweets and real time statistics. So in the aftermath of the event, we like to tell a few tales of things you can't see on the Twitter feed or box score. Last year, Rochester stole the show playing three incredible games back-to-back-to-back. First they beat top seeded Andover in last year's "The Game" and then had four goal third period to beat Edina in the quarterfinals and then lost to eventual champion OMG in a shootout in the semis. 

Squirt hockey always delivers excitement, the Squirtacular tends to take it to the next level. This year, due to a move to the Schwan Super Rink - that excitement hit an all time new level. All 64 teams in the same building trading pins, watching do-or-die games on Saturday morning and evening at both the A and B level - the energy was fun to be apart of for our crew and hopefully the players, coaches and fans. One coach said to us after his team lost in the Quarterfinals, "the atmosphere in there was insane...thanks for having us." This was from a coach that lost!

On Saturday evening the Squirt A Quarterfinals kicked off - much as we expected. Osseo Maple Grove beat Edina Green, the Leafbirds three lines were just too much for the Hornets who never gave up and put a late scare into the then three-time champs. The next game was between #5 seed Rosemount and #4 seed Stillwater, two teams who looked virtually even on paper when our team did the seeding. 

Through two periods, Rosemount was in control getting three goals from star William Whitelaw...they lead 5-3. Stillwater had great chances, but could not get a break. Early in the third they got a break when Whitelaw charged the net on one of his patented rushes. Just after beating the defenseman wide he fed the puck to Jackson Ganser who flushed it to what would have made the game 6-3. After calling it a goal, the referees waved it off saying Whitelaw interfered with Stillwater goalie Tomas Anderson (see photo slides below). Soon after the goal was disallowed, a Rosemount player was called for covering a puck in the crease giving Eli Miller a penalty shot - that he made and the game that was hot just got hotter.

Jax McGlynn tied the score with 3:37 to go and the temperature went through the roof. By now, the fans from the OMG/Edina game couldn't leave and the fans from the Andover/Sibley and Woodbury/Chaska games to follow had poured in. The final few minutes of regulation and overtime were spectacular. The determination from both teams was very manly for a bunch of 10 year olds.

During a timeout in overtime, a YHH staffer said, "tears are going to fall after this one..." The tension was thick, the prize of winning was right in front of them. At the completion of overtime - both teams sized up a strategy. Coaches telling their shooters instructions that surely confused them and goalies words that likely they didn't understand. 

The shootout went one extra shooter where Tomas Anderson was able to make the game saving poke check for the Ponies. Video of Anderson's Save.

On Saturday, we received a call from the STMA coaching staff asking if they could use a goalie in the tournament because their goalie had become ill. After explaining the goalie replacement rules to the staff, they began trying to find a goalie for their game that would determine their fate into or out of the Quarterfinals that night. 

They did not find a goalie, but a skater on their team did step up.  AJ Lester got out the goalie gear, stepped in and played for the Knights. He faced 36 shots and turned away all but four in their 5-2 loss to the Stormhawks Saturday. A yeoman effort for a team that needed a man to step up. On Saturday, AJ was that man.

One perk of running a hockey website is having the chance to meet former high school, college and pro stars. Most times we meet an ex-player the experience is always a lot of fun. Almost all of these guys are super down to earth and approachable. A couple weeks ago, I got to meet my favorite Gopher Tim Harrer in an article I wrote for the The State of Hockey. During the interview Tim mentioned playing with Roseau native Aaron Broten. He said Aaron was the smartest player he'd ever skated with. 

On Sunday, Aaron Broten was coaching in the championship game for Chaska Chanhassen. Prior to the game while giving each coaching staff pre-game and post-game instructions I mentioned to Aaron the article and how many nice things Tim had to say about him. 

One small problem. The Chaska Chan head coach is not "the" Aaron Broten of former Gopher and NHL fame. It was his much younger cousin from Thief River Falls. This Aaron was very polite and explained how his parents never could have imagined when they named him "Aaron Broten" that the Roseau Aaron would turn into such a famous name in Minnesota. "Aaron is 14 years older, at that age my parents had no idea, that those three Broten boys would be so famous."

Each year we get teams from the sunbelt to travel and play in the YHH Squirtacular - last year we reached out to the two teams from Arizona and asked if they'd be interested in skating outdoors. They both loved it - one played a game against Mahtomedi and another played amongst themselves at the US Pond Hockey ice at Lake Nokomis. 

This year with a tighter Saturday schedule and no pond hockey event on our weekend, we reached out to the owner of what is likely the best outdoor facility in the twin cities, Craig Norby. In a text message to Norby, we asked if he'd be interested in hosting the '06 team at his place on Lake Minnewashta. Within seconds he responded, "I'd love to have the dessert boys out there...send me their info!!!" 

The kids from Phoenix got a chance to skate on his rink have lunch at his mancave/cabin and sit by a bonfire. An experience they will likely never forget.

The tournament was moved to Blaine from Bloomington this year due to the US Figure Skating competition held at the Ice Garden. The new venue made for some minor changes to the date and how we scheduled games. Other than that we had no idea what to expect. We were blown away with how great the staff was to work with and the energy in the building as the weekend wore on.

Some games the stands were packed and it seemed like the hallways were full of players and pin traders. A huge thumbs up to Pete Carlson and his whole staff for opening their facility to us and their hard work.

Each year at the Squirtacular teams bring pins to trade with the teams they play and the others from around the state and the tournament. Glitter, dangles, celebrations, zambonis...you name it. Each year the pins seem to getter better and bigger.

This year the pin every kid was talking about and seeking out was Moorhead. It had more glitter than a Kardashian birthday party and was as big as an 800 pound potato.

It was fun to hear the players whisper around the rink, "I got the Spuds" or "I did a two for one to get the Spuds."