Teams: Machine Orange, Acceleration, Northern Storm, CA Wild, White, Icemen, Northern Wings, Black Aces, Velocity, Blues, Team Combat, Izzy’s Ice Fishermen, Huskie Prospects, and Beavers.

Commentary: This field is loaded with some good teams.  The Orange are the favorites, but watch out for Izzy’s team (they are very good) and the Icemen (played to a tie with Orange two weeks ago.  Those three will advance out of pool play…I’d say the Beavers may sneak in as the Wild Card. A few Canadian teams and a California team will add mystery to the pool play.

2000

Teams: Machine Orange, West Coast Supreme, Competitive Edge, Thunder Bay Thunder, Euro America Red, Edge, Lake Superior Stars, WMD, Icemen, California Wild, Blues, Omaha Tropics, Blades, Black Aces, Team Combat, and Jr Wheat Kings.

Commentary: Another very good set of teams…mostly local flavor.  The Machine Orange is the prohibitive favorite to win…losing only once in the last 3 years.  After that there should be some good battles for second place.  One of those battles comes in the tournaments first game…MN Edge versus EuroAmerican Red.  The winner of this game will carry their pool and advance to play the winner of the Gold Pool (Blades).  We expect a lot of well played games at this level.  Teams like the Jr. Wheatkings or the Omaha Tropics could throw a wrench into a local Final Four.

2001

Teams: Machine Orange, Wisconsin Flyers, Jr Bison, Northern Elite, Blues, Legacy, Manitoba Tornados, Thunderbolts, Icemen, South Sask Selects, Ice Caps, and Manitoba Storm

Commentary: This is a pretty good field, too.  Wish somehow The Blades were involved in this one. South Saskatchewan Selects are the best team out there and will be a force to watch out for this weekend.  They are our choice to win it all.  The host Machine will contend, as will the # 2 ranked Northern Elite, the winner of their game on Friday morning will advance far in the tournament.  The loser will have to win big and pray the rest of the way.

2002

Teams: Machine Orange, San Jose Sharp Shooters, Thunderbolts, Manitoba Mustangs, Euro America Red, Victory Honda, Manitoba Warriors, and Blues

Commentary: As with a lot of AAA tournaments, the contestants can show up in all shapes and sizes.  Here is what we know.  The Machine and Euros are both very solid clubs at this birth year.  Our sources say Victory Honda (losers to Machine in Detroit) is good and the Manitoba Warriors (who may have a handful of Winnipeg Jr. Jets (winners of NA Hockey Classic in Winnipeg last Summer) or be a the former unbeatable 2K2 Warriors. Because they are slotted in the opposite bracket as the Machine, we have to assume they are good.  We look for the Machine to advance along with the Mustangs in the Red and The Euros and Manitoba Warriors in the White.

2003

Teams: West Coast Supreme, Blues, Miracle Gold, Blades, Black Aces, Lake Superior Stars, Lightning, and Machine Orange.

Commentary: Pretty small field at this level.  Eight teams with the Blades and Machine flanked in separate pools.  We think the Blades and Miracle Gold will advance out of the Red Pool and the Lake Superior Stars and Machine out of the White Pool. The Blades will run away with this tournament, hardly being challenged by any of the other three top teams.  The West Coast Supreme is a mystery team…their other age level clubs fared okay in the Chi Town Shuffle, so watch out Red Pool Teams.

2004

Teams: Machine Orange, Lightning, Manitoba Bruins, Manitoba Titans, Miracle Gold, Xtreme, Winnipeg Chiefs, and Jr Ducks

Commentary: The ’04 Miracle Gold is one of the best teams in Minnesota in any birth year.  YHH does not suspect they will be tested this weekend. This is a very young age to anoint kids to any level of ranking…as they develop this year, we suspect teams like the Machine, Blades, and Euros to catch up to the Miracle.

YHH Pick: Miracle Gold