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2020 YHH Squirtacular: Best Of

By YHH Staff , 01/31/20, 12:15PM CST

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Memories, favorite moments, all-tournament teams, and the 2020 tournament highlight video.

2020 YHH Squirtacular Tourney Video

YHH'S LONGEST-RUNNING TOURNAMENT CONCLUDES 9TH YEAR


Weston Johnson sporting our favorite jersey from this year's tournament.

Best Jersey 

Blaine (Hockey Day)

Sometimes, originality is overrated. The Blaine Squirt A team borrowed the same design that their high school counterparts donned for Hockey Day Minnesota, and stole the show when it came to on-ice threads. The horizontal stripes don't take away from the bold "B," and vice-versa. A classic color-scheme and clean lines always make a winner.   

Best Pin Trade 

Like the Minnesota Vikings mortgaging their future to trade for Dallas Cowboys running back Herschel Walker in 1989, an overheard pin trade featured numerous assets for one ultimate prize. Among the conversations taking place in the main hallway on the Super Rink's first floor, a player explained to his cohorts that he had traded six pins and $12 for a single pin. Happy with his deal, the player maintained that the lone pin was worth the trade, as it was the best in the tournament.

Best Atmosphere

Rarely does a Squirt game come down to a pair of goaltenders, but Saturday night's Platinum semifinal battle between Northeast Wisconsin Jr. Gamblers' netminder Drew Otten and his Elk River counterpart Owen Stockman proved that those who guard the crease could steal the show. First, Otten would make a highlight-reel save, then Stockman would answer on his end. Back-and-forth, the duo went through overtime and into a shootout, where the Jr. Gamblers would eventually emerge in victory. A capacity crowd was treated to a wonderful display of controlled tenacity from each team, and more specifically, from each goaltender.  


Wyatt Cullen of Moorhead Red was selected as the Platinum Division's Most Valuable Player.

Best Display of Patience

Omaha Jr. Mavericks

Overtime in a championship game certainly skews how the tournament All-Tournament First Teams are selected, for obvious reasons. Compound a title game that goes to the extra session with four other rinks playing at the same time, and postgame ceremonies can find their hiccups. The Omaha Jr. Mavericks fell to Edina Black in the Bronze Division final, and with great patience, waited out the awards ceremony without leaving their blue line or displaying frustrated body language throughout the process. Thanks for hanging tight with us, Omaha players, and coaches. 

Best Family Ties 

The Cullen Four

On various teams, you'll find a handful of sets of brothers, or sisters, or cousins. But to have four players with the same surname is indeed a rarity. The Moorhead Red Squirt A team not only won the Platinum Division championship but did so with for Cullen boys on the roster. Wyatt was selected as the division's Most Valuable Player, with Wyatt, William, Joseph, and Max all playing critical roles in the Spuds' run to the Platinum crown. 

Best Coach 

Jordan Leopold, Champlin Park SQA

When you've won a Hobey Baker Award, as Leopold did in 2002 as a Minnesota Golden Gopher, coaching nine and ten-year-olds is not a task you take too seriously. From pulling a goaltender at the beginning of a game to encouraging dancing on his bench, Leopold and his Rebels provided routine entertainment for fans and tournament officials alike.

Best Pin 

Edina SQB Gold 

Skates are always fashionable in the pin universe, and to have each player's name representing the laces on the skate-pin earns bonus points. Appropriately sized and creatively designed, the Hornets take home the prize for Best Pin.


Jordan Leopold behind the bench of the Champlin Park SQA team.

All-Tournament Teams By Division

All Name Team


Nolan Fitzhenry, Northeast Wisconsin Jr. Gamblers.

All-Tournament Name Team

First Last Team
Huck Balmer Northern Lakes
Jaxx Berberena Rosemount
Phoenix Cahill Park of Cottage Grove
Nolan Fitznhenry Northeast Wisconsin
Cash Hardie Minnetonka
Lincoln Husby Blaine
Keaton Kazlauskas Northwest Wisconsin
Knox Luther Edina
Collin Otto Sartell
Vinny Redpath Mahtomedi
Nolan Twardowski Roseville
Jonny Ulness Moorhead
Gavin Veneruzzo White Bear Lake
Jake Wolf Chaska/Chanhassen
Oakley Yost Madison
Zach Zins Mahtomedi

Edina's pin wins gold for best pin!

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