Each year, teams travel all over Minnesota to get a game.  Many teams play in association sponsored tournaments, some take weekend trips and play in loosely organized scrimmage-fests, and others take a tour.

Last weekend, four Roseau teams headed south to the cities for access to some really tough early season games.  You see, the Rams (as do many northern teams) don't get started in earnest until late October. The Squirt A, PeeWee AA and Bantam AA and B teams packed onto a few coach buses and tried to tackle some of the metro's storied programs.

On Friday, we saw the PeeWee AA team take on Osseo Maple Grove.  The OMGs really took it to Roseau, outscoring them 4-1.  From the get-go, OMG had the advantage.  Despite being outshot and outhustled, Roseau kept fighting and showed no signs of quit. Missing big man Ben Helgeson was a short term loss in goals and physicality, but probably opened up some spots for developing players for long term growth.

On Saturday we got a chance to see all of the Roseau teams at the Vadnais Sports Complex. First we saw the Rams PeeWee AA team play White Bear Lake.  In just the opposite fashion, the Roseau PWAA team took it to the Bears and won 6-3. At the end of regulation, each team lined up a shooter in a full team shootout. In each of the games, we got to see some great individual skills on display both the skaters and the goalies.

A PeeWee AA player from Roseau that stood out was number 16, Hanson O'Leary.  He's a big tall kid with a great stride, good hands.  He's the type of player that always seems to have his nose in the play or stirring up trouble. Another standout for the Rams was number 8, Aaron Huglen.  We saw Huglen this Summer and were really impressed. Besides being a head's up player, he has some spectacular hands.  On Saturday in the shootout, he made a move that even the White Bear dads oohed and ahhed at.

Also on Saturday we got a chance to see the Roseau Squirt A team.  First, it is rare to see a District 11, 12, or 16 Squirt  team in the Cities.  The Rams first two games in the Twin Cities were against soon to be number 1, Osseo Maple Grove and number 2, White Bear Lake.  Needless to say the Rams were served a double helping of humble pie. To their credit they got better as the weekend progressed and gained a tie with Edina White later Saturday.  The Rams had some great players on display. Several don't look like Squirts, great skaters and high hockey IQ for 9 and 10 year old boys.  Damon Furuseth and Gavin Gunderson are two players to keep an eye on for the Rams.  Each has a wow factor.  Gunderson is a great skater and has a nose for the net.  Furuseth is a great puckhandler and has after burner speed. 

After the White Bear games, White Bear hosted a Spaghetti feed for the Roseau boys, parents, and coaches.  Breaking bread after a hard fought game and fun shootout is what this game is all about. 

During the weekend, I got a chance to meet several Roseau players, parents and coaches.  Roseaus has a great hockey heritage.  Having a 24/7 available rink for it's residents to play hockey is just the beginning of why this town has such a rich history. While chatting with one dad on Friday, he shared that his son is now on the same line as his high school linemate's son.