skip navigation

2021 Big Pumpkin: Preview and Picks

By Peter Odney , 10/28/21, 8:00AM CDT

Share

Schedules, Players to Watch, and predictions from YHH staff members for this year's tournament.

Nearing a decade of existence, the Big Pumpkin carves onward

2013 was a wild year. 

Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” topped the Billboard charts. The Big Bang Theory and NCIS dominated television screens and preceded an unprecedented boom in streaming. 

The Fast and Furious franchise was only on its sixth sequel. 

And a tournament, stocked with a mixed bag of 16 Peewee AA and Peewee A teams, took root in Bloomington. 

Nearly a decade later, the Big Pumpkin marks the official start of Youth Hockey Hub’s season, kicking off an event lineup that features almost 20 independent tournaments with numerous variations. 

Over the next few months, the YHH crew will travel hundreds of miles in pursuit of pucks, guzzle gallons of coffee in dimly lit rinks early in the morning, and chew through pencils deciphering tiebreakers. 

But it all starts with the Pumpkin. 

Despite the COVID-19 regulations that hampered the social experience of the event last fall, the results on the ice spoke for themselves. 

Edina powered through the competition en route to the championship, outscoring opponents 32-4 and hanging nine goals on the board in the title game. Hornet forward Mason West earned MVP honors last year after netting seven goals and totaling eight points. The same Edina squad capped the 2020-2021 campaign with a state championship five months later.  

Like every season, there are questions. 

Can Edina repeat as champions? 

Can an out-of-state program like Omaha spoil some early-season dreams?

Will there be a champion crowned that doesn’t hail from the Twin Cities or the Duluth area?

We'll learn all of that and more this weekend.

See you in Rochester. 

2021 Big Pumpkin Daily Schedules


Centennial celebrates after a goal during the 2020 Big Pumpkin.


Parker Trottier (16) of 2020 champion Edina scores during the 2020 tournament.

*2021 Big Pumpkin Players to Watch*


Nolan Fitznhenry, Andover

Team Player
Andover Nolan Fitzhenry
Andover Kian Hendrickson
Andover Dylan Knox
Chaska/Chanhassen Jake Bloedorn
Chaska/Chanhassen Mason Schemenauer
Chaska/Chanhassen Finn Spehar
Duluth East Sam Berry
Duluth East Paxson Madill
Duluth East Kaenen Smith (G)
Edina Drew Botts
Edina Bode McConnell
Edina Freddie Schneider

Bode McConnell, Edina

*2021 Big Pumpkin Players to Watch*


Wyatt Kuznik, Osseo-Maple Grove

Team Player
Minnetonka Gabe Lindholm
Minnetonka Dean Stevens
Minnetonka Max Thompson
Osseo-Maple Grove Wyatt Kuznik
Osseo-Maple Grove Sammy Nelson
Osseo-Maple Grove Luke Smith
Rochester AA Holland Christopherson
Rochester AA Beckett Fleming
Rochester AA Alex Monosmith
Woodbury Lance Kohnen
Woodbury Beckett Shillings
Woodbury Riley Zupfer

Cade Nystrom, Minnetonka

YHH Staff Predictions


Todd Hauch picks Woodbury to take it all (pic: Lance Kohnen)

YHH Staffer Champion Darkhorse Sleeper
Todd Hauch Woodbury Rochester Stillwater
Peter Odney Edina Duluth East Stillwater
Tony Scott Minnetonka White Bear Lake Centennial

*Players to Watch are applied to the tournament's top eight seeds*

*Teams and players are listed in alphabetical order*

Colby Krier 2017 Goal

M3 - MYHA More Info

M3

Social Media

Facebook - YouthHockeyHub

Instagram - @tonyscottyhh

TikTok - @youthhockeyhub

Twitter - @YouthHockeyHub

Recent MN YHH News