This year's Squirtacular is a 44 team affair with 20 teams in the A Bracket, 16 teams in the B Bracket and 8 teams in the C Bracket. Fillng the historic Bloomington Ice Garden with 9 and 10 year old boys for five straight days.

The A Bracket is composed of five, four team pools with two teams from each pool advancing to Bracket Play on Sunday and Monday.  The five top seeds and 1 second seed will get a bye into the Quarterfinals.  The other four teams will play a play-in game on Sunday.  In theory, a 7-10 seed could play three games on Sunday.

Here is a look at the pools and who we think will advance.

Pool A: Osseo Maple Grove, Apple Valley, Jefferson and STMA

Commentary: OMG is the class of this pool, they should advance but be tested by Jefferson and Apple Valley.  The Apple Valley and Jefferson game should be a good one. The winner likely advancing to Bracket play.  Both teams scrimmaged earlier in the season to a draw.

The Call: OMG and Jefferson

Pool B: White Bear Lake, North Branch, Minneapolis, and Burnsville

Commentary: White Bear is the number two team in MN for a reason. They are stacked with ability, both up front and defensively.  North Branch, Minneapolis, and Burnsville will battle for the final spot. North Branch has a great record and a nice set of players. Minneapolis has beaten some good teams including Prior Lake and never count out Burnsville.

The Call: White Bear Lake and North Branch

Pool C: Edina Green, Eden Prairie, Stillwater and Eagan

Commentary: This is one of the best pools top to bottom. Edina Green has had a solid run the past two weeks, Eden Prairie won the EP tourney before Christmas and Stillwater has a great team. This pool could have a few 2-1 teams praying to the Tie Breaker Gods on Sunday.

The Call: Edina Green and Eden Prairie

Pool D: St. Cloud, Chaska/Chan, Rosemount, and Forest Lake

Commentary: This is the Rodney Dangerfield Pool. All of the teams have gotten no respect all year. St. Cloud is undefeated, but still not ranked in the top 5, Chaska/Chan knocked off White Bear but has yet to make the top 5. Rosemount and Forest Lake have had good teams in the past, but are still looking to make their own mark this year.

The Call: St. Cloud and Chaska/Chan

Pool E: Prior Lake, Edina White, Sibley, and Monticello

Commentary: This looks to be a two team race between District 6 foes Prior Lake and Edina White. If the two teams take care of business versus MAML and Sibley, their game will have huge bearing on who will likely be the pivotal #6 seed.

The Call: Prior Lake and Edina White

Final 10: Osseo Maple Grove, Jefferson, White Bear Lake, North Branch, Edina Green, Eden Prairie, St. Cloud, Chaska/Chan, Prior Lake and Edina White.

Championship (Script Version): The script says, "White Bear Lake vs. OMG, with OMG winning in the third period." It is hard to argue with the script, each team has exhibited a stronghold on their side of town.  WBL owns the east and OMG owns the west.  If one of those teams is knocked off this weekend, it will be by a worthy opponent. There are a lot of great, improving teams with great coaches.  We won't be surprised to see a flip in the script Sunday or Monday.

Best of luck to all Teams.

Here are few kids you may not have heard of yet, but after this weekend you will know them well. Each can play their position with the best of them. I will do my best to give you a short description.

Ethan Elias, Osseo Maple Grove - highlight reel goal waiting to happen, this kid is electric.

Jack Smith, St. Cloud - strong, smart and always on the score sheet.

Jared Wright, Apple Valley - fast and is the center of the other team's attention.

Brett Herbert, Jefferson - great motor and knack to score in bunches, younger brother of Caleb Herbert (UMD).

Ryan Sweeney, White Bear Lake - always a threat to score every shift, has little brother Jack who is also a spark plug.

Max Burkholder, Chaska Chanhassen - great puckhandler, fun player to watch..one of many great CC D-men.

Tanner Domschot, White Bear Lake - this kid was born to play the game.  

Drew Holt, Eden Prairie - goal scorer or goalies worst nightmare (couldn't decide).

Cody Croal, North Branch - one of the hardest working kids you will see this weekend..has a motor that never stops.

Patrick Fontaine, Chaska Chanhassen - one of the best goalies you will see at the Squirt level in Minnesota. Great mechanics, very calm in the crease.