The 2017 season of the Bantam Elite League saw growth in several areas, for players and for the league itself. 

Richfield, Bemidji, and St. Cloud all played host to the league for a weekend's worth of games, further expanding the league's influence and visibility.

In addition to the top-shelf play on the ice on these (for some) road trips, players were exposed to the campuses of Bemidji State and St. Cloud State, with visits including tours of the universities' hockey facilities.  

Under the watchful eye of numerous Division I, USHL, and WHL scouts, a league's worth of players showcased their skills against the best of opponents.

Heading the 2017 class in scoring was Blackhawks forward Chaz Lucius, who along with his brother Cruz promptly committed to the University of Minnesota in the days after the BEL concluded. 

Chaz broke the league's scoring record with an impressive 22 goals and 35 points, smashing the record of 23 previously set by Hermantown's Tyler Watkins in the 2014 season.

Following Lucius as the league's second-leading scorer was Osseo-Maple Grove's Kyle Kukkonen, who paced a Kings team loaded with talent with nine goals and 22 points.  

Landon Parker

North Stars (East Grand Forks)

Freight train. Bulldozer. Battering ram. 

Watching Landon Parker play evokes a certain comparison of a powerful force capable of flattening anything in its path, and that sole comparison wouldn't be incorrect.

It would just be incomplete.

Throughout the 2017 Bantam Elite League season, Parker exhibited the aforementioned power, but also an efficient speed and quickness, adept at dodging opposing players and creating space for himself in any situation. 

En route to eight goals and 21 points, Parker guided his North Stars to the BEL title, a championship earned due in no small part to Parker's play. 

For his undeniable talent and relentless drive, Parker has been selected as the Bantam Elite League's Most Valuable Player for the 2017 season. 

Demons on the Blueline

Chase Beacom and Mitchell Wolfe showed well in August. Beacom was a great puck-handler and power-play general, while Wolfe had great hands and no fear in the corners.

Frantic Up Front

Carter Batchelder, Nikolas Hong and Jonathan Peine showed some great offensive explosion over the course of the season, with all three showcasing their skills in their own way.

Hong, despite missing the final weekend had 11 points in the same number of games. Peine was one of the best two-way forwards we saw in the entire league. 

Besides a host of talent on the ice, the Bantam Elite League can be a great opportunity to coach some great players.

Young coaches like former Golden Gopher Jake Cepis and recent St. Cloud State blueliner Nate Widman each coached in the league and made great connections with their teams. 

If there was a Jack Adams Award in the BEL, no doubt Minneapolis native Connor Clark would have received a lot of consideration.

Clark led the Bruins to a regular season title and valiant third place win in the playoffs.