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2020 Bantam Elite League Major Preview

By YHH Staff , 07/30/20, 3:45PM CDT

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Photos from last season, overview for 2020, Players to Watch for each team, and key matchups.


2019 Bantam Elite League Major champions, Wisconsin.

St. Cloud to host BEL Road-Trip Weekend

115. 

115 Bantam Elite League alums have verbally committed to Division I college hockey programs, spanning the 2018-2022 graduating classes.

The total number shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the amount of Division I verbals coming from Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin annually. The number also isn’t a reason to play in the Bantam Elite League. The league is not a guarantee of collegiate advancement, not even close. 

The number should alleviate any anxiety about the level of competition in the league, which continues to feature some of the top bantam-aged players in the upper midwest as the BEL enters its seventh season. 

Last year featured a broken scoring record, courtesy of Osseo-Maple Grove product Landen Gunderson, who scored 22 goals and finished with 42 points. It featured Team Wisconsin capturing playoff championship, thanks in large part to the play of league Most Valuable Player Quinn Finely. Wisconsin won seven straight contests after a loss on August 11, including consecutive playoff games against the Bolts, North Dakota, and the Penguins to earn the ultimate crown. 

Along the way, Finley picked up 16 goals and 35 points. The Suamico, Wis. native, was selected No. 1 overall by the Madison Capitols in the UHSL’s Phase I Draft this past May.

Defensively, Bolts goaltender Tomas Anderson paced the league with a 2.71 goals-against-average. Sharks netminder Carsen Musser led the BEL with a .910 save percentage, and Robert Clarkowski edged Ryan Wallin for the lead in shots faced with 271.   

Each year, the BEL takes a road trip to an outstate location for a weekend’s worth of games. After trekking to Duluth last season, the National Sports Center in St. Cloud will host the league from Aug. 14-16. 


2019 Bantam Elite League Major Most Valuable Player, Quinn Finely (Wisconsin.

Key Matchups

Wisconsin vs. Bruins - July 31

North Dakota vs. Bolts - July 31

North Dakota vs. North Stars - August 8

Sharks vs. Bolts - August 9

Penguins vs. Bruins - August 15


Jackson Turner, Wisconsin.

2020 BEL Major Players to Watch


Ben Miller, Bolts.

Metro Area Players to Watch

Team Player
Bolts Ryan Flaherty
Bolts Ben Miller
Bolts Isaiah Paulnock
Bolts Aidan Sigfried
Bolts Easton Swift
Bruins Brittan Alstead
Bruins Lucas Busch
Bruins Oliver Duininck
Bruins Beckett Hendrickson
Bruins Drew Stewart

Drew Stewart, Bruins.

Metro Area Players to Watch


Charlie Brandt, Penguins.

Metro Area Players to Watch

Team Player
Penguins Charlie Brandt (G)
Penguins Luke Giuliani
Penguins Joey Luger
Penguins Danny Nelson
Penguins Tanner Zolnosky
Sharks Will Emerson
Sharks Liam Hupka
Sharks John Halverson
Sharks Michael Risteau
Sharks Teddy Townsend

John Halverson, Sharks.

Outstate Players to Watch

Player Team
Zach Boren North Dakota
Owen Branson North Dakota
Colton Getzlaff North Dakota
Mason Ray North Dakota
Kai Weigel North Dakota
Nolan Barker North Stars
Brayden Berg North Stars
Dane Callaway North Stars
Gavin Jensen North Stars
Max Plante North Stars
Jordan Geike Wisconsin
Cade Kozak Wisconsin
Mason Peapenburg Wisconsin
Robbie Tripp Wisconsin
Jackson Turner Wisconsin

Dane Callaway, North Stars.

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