YHH launches its first Spring off-season event this weekend - Stars of Tomorrow. We are really excited to see players from all over the state, pair up and play. Teams will play three pool play games followed by a bracket play game on Sunday. With the top two teams playing on a live streamed broadcast. 

Each championship game YHH will hand out a tourney MVP and  recognize some top players in the event.  Hats off to all of the coaches who did a great job of assembling some great teams this weekend. We can't wait to roll up our sleeves and watch some hockey in Plymouth.

2003

The '03 division has a ton of great talent waiting in the stable - players from top AA programs like Eden Prairie, Edina and Lakeville South and a few players that played Tier 1 hockey, too. We are very lucky to have a chance to see players like Chaz Lucius, Carter Batchelder and Connor Mahony, all playing on separate teams.  Some great goalies like Anton Castro and Eli Andrews will be in the nets making goals a premium.

Players to Watch: Jackson Borst (South), Chaz Lucius (East), Tyler Chamberlain (West) and Hunter Bischoff (North)
Little Known: Carson Van Zuilen (Northfield)
Team to Beat: East
Best Game: East v. South

2004

This will be a fun level to watch...so many great players spread throughout the state at the 2004 birth year. Many feel that this is the next big birth year in Minnesota. The East has guys like Dylan Godbout and Gabe Rasmussen who are hard to stop. The North is deep with skill, guys like Kellen Murphy are fun to see. The West will be rich in talent with big guys Cashin Naeve (Wayzata) and Kash Kindegren (STMA). And, the South is deep too - we like Kevin Odlaug to go crazy from St. Paul....he's got size and hands like a locksmith.

Players to Watch: Quinn Schliesman (South), Carson Triggs (North), Ben Dardis (East) and Bryce Laager (West)
Little Known: Trent Wiemken (Fargo)
Team to beat: East
Best Game: North v. East

2005
 

We really like what we have seen with the 2005 this year. How about Carter Wishart from Chaska Chan shutting down the state's best last weekend in the state PeeWee AA title game as an '05 against mostly '03 and '04 skaters...wow? The SOT group recruited to play this weekend is pretty good.  There will be a lot of tight games on Friday and Saturday -- we expect the North to be a good group. We like Kade Kohanski from Hermantown a lot...he's your prototypical Hawk, lots of speed and grit. Another '05 with some flare is Javon Moore -- the big diesel is built like a power forward, but can play like a center-man. The West has a nice 1-2 punch with Austin Burnevik and Cooper Conway, two gunslingers that should light the lamp quite a bit.

Players to Watch: Jayden Veney (East), Aaron Reierson (North), Austin Burnevik (West) and Teddy Townsend (South)
Little Known: Drew Stewart (South)
Team to beat: South
Best Game: South v. North

2006

This was our first year with a true look at the 2006 birth year. After the top '06 players from MN did so well in the Brick Invitational, we found out really fast how deep the 2006 birth year is. We will get a glimpse of some really good '06 players in Plymouth this weekend. Including  the South's Bobby Cowan, Adam Kleber and Henry Lechner...we think the South will rise again. Taylor Berg played in the Brick last Summer, he's got quick feet. But possibly the quickest feet you will see this weekend is Mitch Vanderwey from Thunder Bay. A future Great Plains' skater has rockets attached to his skates.

Players to Watch: Mitch Vanderwey (North), Bobby Cowan (South), Owen Durigan (East) and Landon Stringfellow (West)
Little Known: Will Dosan (South)
Team to beat: South
Best Game: South v. North

Admittedly we don't have a great grasp of '07 and '08 players - not many have made an impact on the YHH stage to date. Here are a few educated guesses based only the kids' name. This weekend will be the first of many for these young guns to make a name for themselves.

2007
 

Players to Watch: Jake Godbout (West), Grayson Hanggi (East), Gunner Spicer (North) and Nash Saterdalen (South)
Team to beat: North
Best Game: North v. West

2008

Players to Watch: Hunter Hansen (West), Kai Yurichuck (East), Chase Hiltner (North) and Parker Trottier (South)
Team to beat: North
Best Game: North v. South

2003

The '03 division is top heavy with some elite level girls making their way to Plymouth.  Including "North" goalie Becky St. George who did not allow a goal in last Fall's PeeWee Challenge and Gabby Krause (West) who was one of the best players on the state champion Andover 15A team.  The East has McKenzie Rich who will bring a wealth of skill from Rochester. It will be fun to see the bodies and ponytails flying around the rink. 

Players to Watch: McKenzie Rich (East), Peyton Hemp (West), Dani Benson (South) and Georgia Pettygrove (North)
Little Known: Paige Blattner (West)
Team to Beat: West
Best Game: South v. West

2004

This will be a fun level to watch, each year we dig our heals further into girls hockey - we get to see future high school and college level players. Each of the teams have great players and the talent level is well balanced, so the games should be very competitive. 

Players to Watch: Kate Ness (South), Cara Sajevic (East), Danielle Burgen (West) and Paige Holt (North)
Little Known: Josephine Lillquist (North)
Team to beat: North
Best Game: North v. West