Note: The Hurricanes won the Edina Invitational this past December beating Centennial and Wayzata in their last two games. Carolina also beat Minnesota state Champion Grand Rapids 4-3, but lost to State Runner-Up Stillwater 5-3. 

During Friday's game, Edina's Grant Mismash showed why he is considered one of the nation's best 1999 players...scoring three goals, most with amazing ease. His linemate Connor McMenamin also impressed scoring a pair, including an amazing wrap around goal that defied the laws of physics. Another Sabre that really stood out was Defenseman Josh Maniscalco. The tall and talented Blue Liner showed great skill and an incredible quick release when shooting the puck. What impressed most about Maniscalco was his ability to jump the play at the right time and pressure the Sabres' opponent.

To see a broadcast of Friday's Game between SSM and Carolina click here.

On Saturday a new set of superstars revealed themselves to YHH. One was a familiar face, the other two will soon be familiar faces to the teams in Nationals. Scott Reedy, formerly from Prior Lake, showed why he was one of the state's best Bantam players last year as a first year Bantam. He had two goals, but impressed YHH more with his ability to hold the puck and set up his linemates. One of those liney's was Brannon McManus, the California Kid, showed incredible speed, skill and determination. The Newport Beach native also scored two goals for Shattuck, including a pretty snipe top shelf on a Team Wisconsin turnover. The other star that emerged was Logan Hutsko, the speedy playmaker from New Jersey made great plays with and without the puck. Shattuck went on to beat Team Wisconsin 10-1.Team Wisconsin also had an outstanding crop of players..including Mick Messner from Madison, WI and Peter Versteegen impressed up front. On the blue line for TW, Derick Breezee a Hill Murray product and Chase Blackmun from Hudson showed great skill on Saturday.

To see a broadcast of Saturday's Game between SSM and Team WI click here.

Heading into Nationals, the Sabres are likely the favorite. That being said, there will likely be 3-4 legitimate opponents who will challenge. The Chicago Mission, Belle Tire (MI) and the Mid Fairfield Yankees (CT) have all beaten SSM this season. After watching these '99's here are few reasons they will take the title:

1. Talent: The two lines of Mismash, McMenamin, and Austin Pratt - Reedy, McManus and Hutsko are spctacular. Defensemen Maniscalco, Brady Lyle, Erik Dahl and Brock Draeger are all players that need to be accounted for when on the ice.

2. Goaltending: In both games, TW and Carolina had nice spurts of energy. Goaltender David Tomeo showed serious chops in the blue paint. He rarely gave up loose rebounds, he controlled the puck well around his net and made a few show stopper saves in each game. 

3. Four Lines: The Sabres skated 17 skaters (Tyler Inamoto, the standout D Man from Chicago was out with an upper body injury)...rolling their lines 1-4 with no players missing time in tight situations (except of course for disciplinary reasons). This four line attack allows each player a 2-3 minute break between shifts making SSM a very fresh group of kids every shift. In the early periods, this could hurt SSM, but late in the game it is a huge advantage being so deep.

1. Careless Turnovers: at times in both games this weekend, the Sabres had several careless turnovers. In most cases "Careless" turnovers are made by the defense. But in the case of SSM, it didn't matter where in the line-up they were on they made some mistakes that need to be corrected prior to Green Bay.

2. Only 1 Puck: The counter to having so many talented players on one team is that there is only 1 puck on the ice. One D1 coach said of SSM, "they'd be a lot better if there were 2 pucks on the ice for all of that talent..." He went on to say, when they share the puck they can be lethal.

3. Four Lines: As balanced and as talented as Shattuck is, there are a few players on the team that could use more ice time, probably in clutch situations. The Sabres will be challenged in Green Bay by a few teams, with a shorter bench that banner could be all theirs.