Cottage Grove has a great crop of skaters this year. Jackson Rudh and the Wolfpack have a great shot to win Fargo.
One of the biggest spectacles at any level of youth hockey in our area is the Fargo International Squirt Tournament held at the end of the season. Here is a list of the 64 Squirt A teams, how the teams are ranked by the computers, our projected number one seeds and a few sleeper picks, too.
The 64 teams get put into 16 pools of four. With two wins on Friday, the top seed can find themselves in the Winner's bracket sweet 16 on Saturday morning. Meanwhile the other three teams get slotted to three separate Consolation brackets.
Garrett Lindberg and the Moorhead Spuds have their eyes on the prize
A few things you should see while in Fargo/Moorhead.
Thursday at Scheels Arena - If you are looking to get into the spirit of the event go to Scheels Thursday night and see all of the teams and their pins. Oh and see where the championship game is played on Sunday.
Sunmart Arena - Okay, the event is no longer held there, but if you want to see possibly the most unique rink in the whole area. Check it out. If you run out of time, here is a funny blog about his experience there.
Pizza - Looking for tasty pizza while in the area? Check out Rhombus Guys in Fargo or Duane's House of Pizza in Moorhead.
Ryan McPartland leads the defending champs back to Fargo
Team | State | NOW Rank MN | Rank USA | 1 Seed | Sleeper |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Moorhead | MN | 1 | * | ||
Hermantown | MN | 2 | * | ||
Cottage Grove | MN | 3 | * | ||
Edina Green | MN | 4 | * | ||
Stillwater | MN | 5 | * | ||
St. Louis Park | MN | 6 | * | ||
Osseo Maple Grove Crimson | MN | 8 | * | ||
Orono | MN | 10 | * | ||
East Grand Forks | MN | 13 | * | ||
Minnetonka | MN | 15 | * | ||
Chaska Chanhassen | MN | 28 | * | ||
Affton Americans | MO | 37 | * | ||
Mahtomedi | MN | 27 | * | ||
Carolina Jr Hurricanes | NC | 52 | * | ||
Fargo Black | ND | N/A | * | ||
Junior Coyotes | AZ | 55 | * | ||
Lakeville South | MN | 12 | |||
Bemidji | MN | 14 | |||
Rosemount | MN | 17 | * | ||
Farmington | MN | 21 | |||
Northern Lakes | MN | 23 | * | ||
Faribault | MN | 24 | |||
Roseville | MN | 25 | * | ||
White Bear Lake | MN | 29 | * | ||
Shakopee | MN | 30 | |||
Little Falls | MN | 36 | |||
Roseau | MN | 38 | |||
Eden Prairie | MN | 42 | |||
St. Paul | MN | 44 | * | ||
Crookston | MN | 45 | |||
Lakeville North | MN | 47 | |||
Woodbury | MN | 52 | |||
Armstrong Cooper | MN | 54 | |||
Mankato | MN | 56 | |||
Grand Rapids | MN | 57 | |||
Forest Lake | MN | 59 | |||
Eastview | MN | 60 | |||
Proctor | MN | 61 | |||
Warroad | MN | 63 | |||
Apple Valley - Burnsville | MN | 66 | |||
Brainerd | MN | 68 | |||
Thief River Falls | MN | 73 | |||
Wayzata | MN | 74 | |||
Prior Lake | MN | 77 | |||
Minneapolis | MN | 78 | |||
New Prague | MN | 80 | |||
Eagan | MN | 82 | |||
Sibley | MN | 86 | |||
Alexandria | MN | 87 | |||
Bismarck Red | ND | N/A | |||
Bismarck White | ND | N/A | |||
Devils Lake | ND | N/A | |||
Fargo Angels | ND | N/A | |||
Fargo Blue | ND | N/A | |||
Grand Forks Gladiators | ND | N/A | * | ||
Grand Forks Titans | ND | N/A | * | ||
Minot | ND | N/A | |||
West Fargo | ND | N/A | |||
Arizona Bobcats | AZ | 127 | |||
Arvada | CO | 135 | |||
Evolution | CO | N/A | |||
Foothills | CO | 402 | |||
Littleton | CO | 101 | |||
Omaha | NE | 66 |
YHH has its obvious favorites, but unlike any year in our memory has the Fargo field been so wide open. So many teams have had tournament success this year. Example number one is Squirtacluar champion Stillwater, just like Hermantown in 2017, they emerged as champion as the 8-9 seed. Only one Squirtacular champion has won the Fargo International (2014, Osseo Maple Grove).
We could see any of about nine or 10 teams winning the International in 2018. In years past, you could maybe pick two or three. On paper, the Ponies are the hottest team in Minnesota. But the team that may be as deep and as hot is Edina Green. The Hornets put a blemish on Moorhead's perfect season Sunday. And the week prior, the Spuds beat the previous No. 1 Hermantown.
You starting to see how hard this one is to reconcile?
Stillwater is loaded...Luke Myers helped lead the Ponies to Squirtacular title in January
Lots of teams missing from the field of 64 this year. Here are a few:
Bloomington Jefferson - the Jags have won the International almost as many times as Edina...shame not to see the Columbia blue in Fargo.
OMG and Edina (White) - the two white versions from the two top youth associations in Minnesota deserve more representation.
District 10 - the northwest suburban district has their playoffs the same weekend. It's too bad, some nice teams like Blaine, Rogers and Coon Rapids this year.
Leaving Jefferson out leaves this writer blue.
Carson Clark, Orono - Orono is a very complete team, Carson is their General from the blue line.
Max Edwards, Junior Coyotes - The 2017 Squirt B MVP of the Squirtacular can really move and move the puck.
River Freeman, Hermantown - The Hawks are again a team to beat this year. Freeman is a power player with a big shot.
Matushak Twins, Edina Green - Grant and Kellen play hard and seem to always be in the right place at the right time.
Junior Podein, St. Louis Park - Very athletic player who makes even the refs good on the ice during the game.
Grant and Kellen Matushak