Youth Hockey Hub is excited to announce the The Battle for the Blue Ox, Presented by Craguns. The invite-only 12 team tournament will feature several of the top teams from Minnesota. Fully sanctioned by USA Hockey, Minnesota Hockey and the Brainerd Hockey Association, The Blue Ox promises to be one of the season’s best Bantam AA Tournaments. 

Held the weekend after Minnesota’s deer hunting opener and two weeks prior to Thanksgiving (November 15-17, 2013), The twelve team tournament guarantees each team four games throughout the weekend. Pools and brackets will be assembled by a team’s preseason ranking, with each pool seeded by that ranking. The tourney winner will take home a giant Blue Ox traveling trophy.

Teams committed to The Blue Ox are (in District Order):  St. Michael/Albertville, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Prior Lake, Eastview, Centennial, Elk River, Hermantown, Grand Rapids, Brainerd and Bemidji. To get your Bantam AA team onto the waiting list of the event, simply send us an email at editor@youthhockeyhub.com.

In addition to some great hockey, Craguns Resort will be the tournament headquarters and host to a great event Friday Night.  Spaghetti Dinner, Beverages, raffle and equipment give-aways.  YHH will be there to announce their Bantam Watch list for the coming year, plus some commentary on each tourney team and select players to watch for in the Blue Ox.

We couldn’t be more excited to have the top two Bantam teams in Minnesota (Elk River and Hermantown), plus four great teams from District 6, and top ten teams like Centennial and STMA and traditional northern powers Grand Rapids and Bemidji. It should be a great weekend of hockey.