In year one of YHH, this year's second year Bantams class were first year Squirts. When they were Squirts we saw future stars like a goalie named Ramsey on Edina Silver win YHH's first tourney the State Squirt B tournament. There was a kid in Rosemount that opposing teams didn't find a-moosing at all. We also got to see a Lily that was anything but sweet to her opponents.

As PeeWees, we got to see Bobby tip in the game winning goal to beat Edina and snap their long winning streak. We witnessed Matthew lead his team to an epic semifinal win in the state tournament, one people in St. Paul will never forget.  It was hard to imagine these little guys as young men and even harder to imagine them entering high school as the class of 2020 this Fall.

As these players embark on their final year of youth hockey, several teams enter with a great deal of optimism. So many of these teams are high in skill leaving the staff at YHH no clue who this season's number one team will be. At Bantam A/AA the last couple years there have been three to four teams who had a realistic shot at making a run for a state title. This year, YHH has found (at least) 13 teams that can make their case.

Here is a look at those team and what their case is.

Andover, District 10 - there may not be a team as talented or deep as the Huskies. Many experts say that this could be their year.

Player to Watch: Wyatt Kaiser

Blaine, District 10 - oh man, if we had to pick one team as #1, it might be the Bengals. Big, strong and very deep. 

Player to Watch: Carson Richels

Cloquet, District 11 - took third in state last year...this group has as a lot of top end talented players that have seen a lot of games in the state tournament at the youth level.

Player to Watch: Jacob Huhta

Eden Prairie, District 6 - a team that will do a lot of damage this year. They have several great defensemen and are two lines deep. Where they may lack some scoring depth early in the season, they will make up for it with a pair of great goalies.

Player to Watch: John Mittelstadt

Edina, District 6 - does not have one superstar (assuming Jake Boltmann will skate Hornet varsity), this team won't get out skated or out worked.

Player to Watch: Cole Cavanagh

Minnetonka, District 6 - no team in Minnesota has captured three consecutive Bantam A/AA state titles. Highly unlikely the Skippers pull it off in Marshall. We won't count them out until they tap out.

Player to Watch: Teddy Lagerback

Moorhead, District 15 - a team that will sit inside the top five most of the year. Great size, depth and experience returns from a team that has taken third and second in state the last two years.

Player to Watch: Luke Gramer

Osseo Maple Grove, District 3 - very young team that lacks experience, but that is the only thing they lack. The high end core from their state champion PeeWee AA team, plus 5 returners make this a tough team to beat.

Player to Watch: Conner Kelley

Prior Lake, District 6 - state champion team from two years ago. Return with coach Tony Bianchi at the helm. Loss of 2015 Goalie of the Year Carsen Stokes to Shattuck-St. Mary's is only question mark.

Player to Watch: Sam Emmerich

Rosemount, District 8 - another team that skated in state in Woodbury two years ago that will be tough to match up with every night. High skilled forward and a great blue line will make this team fun to watch.

Player to Watch: Mason Wheeler

St. Cloud, District 5 - hard to imagine calling a team a sleeper that went to state two years ago. The loss of Nate Warner to high school is bad on the surface, but if you peal back the onion you will see some new faces that might make this team even better than the '14-'15 squad...#scary.

Player to Watch: Jack Smith

Stillwater, District 3 - this group in Stillwater has always had the talent, can they put it together this year? Noah Tussey may be the best returning bantam in Minnesota and to think there are five or six at that level along side on the St. Croix is exciting.

Player to Watch: Noah Tussey

White Bear Lake, District 3 - the Bears snuck up on teams last year, they won't this year. A great group that just keeps getting better every year. No major drop off from line one to three.

Player to Watch: Billy Rose

Elk River, District 10 - this team could be as good as they've had in Elk River in the last five years. Some unstoppable forces up front.

Player to Watch: Austen Humphrey

Grand Forks Aviators, N/A - okay, they won't make a run at Minnesota's state title...but they will be a team to contend with this year for AA teams in-state. Boasting one of the area's best players and a cast of other top North Dakotans - the Aviators will be hard to ground.

Player to Watch: Jackson Kunz

Minneapolis, District 3 - a very talented team two years ago at PeeWees. Will likely lose some talent to local private high schools. How many dictates how strong this team could or couldn't be.

Player to Watch: Joe Miller