What's better than 24 teams? 34 teams.
The Battle for the Blue Ox has expanded this season, adding a 10-team pool play style tourney for Bantam A squads, and a traditional 24-team bracket-style tourney for Bantam AA teams. The caveat is that the Bantam AA teams competing in the usual Blue Ox have corresponding Bantam A groups.
This year's event has an uphill climb if it hopes to top last season's tournament.
Chaska/Chanhassen and Minnetonka put on a show in the 2020 championship game, with the Stormhawks scoring twice in the third period to complete a 2-1, come-from-behind victory. 2020 also featured one of the rare instances where the tournament's Most Valuable Player award went to a player not from the championship team. Minnetonka's Drew Stewart earned the honor after tying the tournament's overall scoring record with 19 total points in just six games.
Will we see another performance like Stewart's
Will this year's crop of teams match the magic of the 2020 class?
Will the winner of a play-in game go all the way to the finals like Stillwater at the Big Pumpkin?
See you in Moorhead.
2021 Blue Ox Bantam Schedules
YHH Staff Predictions
| YHH Staffer | Bantam AA Champion | Bantam AA Sleeper | Bantam A Champion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Todd Hauch | Moorhead | Chaska/Chanhassen | Osseo-Maple Grove |
| Tom Kuppich | Moorhead | West Fargo | Grand Forks |
| Peter Odney | Moorhead | Woodbury | Moorhead |
| Tony Scott | Moorhead | Bloomington Jefferson | Edina |
*2021 Blue Ox Players to Watch*
Ryder McDonald, Grand Forks Aviators
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Mack Blue | Grand Forks |
| Cooper Deziel | Gand Forks |
| Ryder McDonald | Grand Forks |
| Tyden Bergeson | Moorhead |
| Mason Kraft | Moorhead |
| Sam Laurila | Moorhead |
| Parker Deschene | Rogers |
| Mason Jenson | Rogers |
| Keaton Weis | Rogers |
| Cole Bumgarner | Shakopee |
| Cooper Simpson | Shakopee |
| Carson Steinhoff | Shakopee |
Mason Jenson, Rogers
| Player | Team |
|---|---|
| Cole Braunshausen | Stillwater |
| Carson Kingbay | Stillwater |
| Luke Myers | Stillwater |
| Szilveszter Lippai | St. Paul |
| Dawson Kloek | St. Paul |
| Dominic Kopp | St. Paul |
| Cameron Kirschner | Wayzata |
| Jacob Kvasnicka | Wayzata |
| Mason Minor | Wayzata |
| Will Distad | White Bear Lake |
| Graham Greeder | White Bear Lake |
| Jack Stanius | White Bear Lake |
Graham Greeder, White Bear Lake
*Players to Watch includes the top eight seeds from the AA level*
Bantam A Players to Watch
Bryce Mattern, West Fargo
| Pool | Team | Player |
|---|---|---|
| Pool A | Edina | Tucker Johnson |
| Pool A | Grand Forks Blue | Kale Gruenberg |
| Pool A | Moorhead | Jacob Franklin |
| Pool A | West Fargo | Bryce Mattern |
| Pool A | White Bear Lake | Magnus Benz |
| Pool B | Fargo | Caleb Christianson |
| Pool B | Grand Forks Red | Kasen Panzer |
| Pool B | Osseo-Maple Grove | Cale Braid |
| Pool B | Shakopee | Jaxson Tolonen |
| Pool B | Stillwater | Gavin Bajda (G) |
Gavin Bajda, Stillwater
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