North Branch and Pine City – Who? Yes, these two programs have a combined one team that has ever played A hockey in Minnesota.  Pine City played A for the first time last year and had double digit wins.  North Branch swept through Minnesota as a B team and returns the core of that group as Squirt A this year.

Grand Rapids – After finishing third in Fargo in 2011, the Thunderhawks have been quiet the last two winters.  This group of second year players has great long term upside.  Watch out for Jack Peart in orange and black, he is the real deal.

Mahtomedi – a nice team last year knocked off Top 5 Stillwater.  They that return a solid core of players, many of which play high end off season hockey.  Lead by former Gopher Sean Fabian, the Zephyrs will be a great team in District 2.

Highland Central – a decent team at U10′s two years ago with an ever improving set of girls at U10s last year makes for a potential surprise.  Add in arguably one of the best 12 year old girls from Boys hockey and the Caps won’t surprise YHH with success.  If you coach 12A, don’t let them surprise you.

Sartell – this is an association that consistently produces great individual players, but has not seen great team success.  Two years ago, the Sabres had great success at the Squirt A level beating some top Metro teams.  Playing at the single A level this year will surely shoot them up the rankings into the limelight.

Roseville – Two years ago the Raiders had a nice Squirt team competing with several teams in the top ten. They won four games in Fargo and have a great group of second year players returning to PeeWee AA this fall.  Add in Nik Norman, a bonafide super star who moved to Minnesota from St. Louis and the Raiders will be a team to fear in District 2 this Winter.

St. Michael Albertville – Okay they are a top ten team in our Preseason top 10.  So not exactly a surprise team.  However, the mere fact that STMA will be a major player this year at the Bantam AA level is a nice surprise. They break up the madness of the same old, same old.

Edina Not #1 – The Hornets have ruled the roost in Bantam A for the last few years and will again starting again next year.  Ran into an Edina guy last week, to which he said to me, “Edina number 9? You are crazy!!!” As if to say, that was a surprise.  This is a good team with a lot of talent.  Maybe they will surprise someone this year?