Arizona Jr. Coyotes 

The Grand Canyon state welcomes California standout Jaden Lipinski to its forward line, adding a player that totaled 18 goals and 36 points in 46 games for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks last season. Joining Lipinski as Arizona scoring threats are a pair of Ukraine natives in Mykhailov Danylov and Danilo Dolia. Danylov totaled 40 goals and 68 points for the HK Ldinka Hockey Club's 13U AA Elite team, while Dolia scored 25 goals and 46 points for the 16U Panter Hockey Club in Finland's HPK League.  

Chicago Young Americans

Head Coach: Mark Plantery

The 2006 Chicago Young Americans group will be a young squad, with 10 players in their first year of AAA competition. Strength will come from the backend, with goaltender Owen Flores providing an athletic presence between the pipes. Defensively, Kendall Geier offers good size and excellent puck skills and should be effective in moving the puck to speedy and skilled forward standouts of Marc LaFrance, Luke Lizak, and Owen Just. Levi Velick will help Geier hold down the fort defensively, and gives CYA a dose of grit on the blue line.  

Gentry Academy

Head Coach: Cole Bassett

After going 3-1 in 2017, Gentry Academy sends another talented group to the Western States Invite, this crop headlined by the likes of Devin Cardenas and defenseman Tyler Geyer. Cardenas turned heads at the NOW Prospect Major Combine with his speed and showed off his soft hands in addition to his skates. Geyer is a rock-solid defender with impressive offensive skills. 

Great Plains

Head Coach: Connor Clark

The recent champions of the Minnesota Bantam Elite League enter the tournament with the same lineup, spearheaded by several of the same faces that led the BEL in scoring this August. Forward Maddox Fleming scored five goals and finished tied for second in the BEL with 15 assists, while linemates Jimmy Clark and Charlie Stramel totaled 12 and eight goals respectively. All-Bantam Elite League defensive selection Nick Baer helps anchor the Great Plains blue line.  

Madison Capitols 

Head Coach: Rick Fleming

Led by Jonah Aegerter and Landon Fleming, the Madison Capitols represent the Badger state at this year's Western States Invite. Both Aegerter and Fleming were invited to participate in the STX 68 Combine, while Fleming also skated with the East Coast Selects in this year's World Selects Invite.