The most difficult level to predict is the youngest level in the first big tournament each year. At this point it is pin the tail on donkey. Or maybe the donkey (me) trying to act like he has this age group by the tail???

A strong 6 team field...no '05 Blades which I hear has attracted a nice set of player. The jury is out on this age group, this weekend is their Opening Statement.

Winner: Xtreme '05 (top Elite team in Winnipeg)

Sleeper: Warrior

A tremendous field of 12 teams, great local teams, Brick teams, and a team from Alaska. Looks to be one of the best fields in the tournament. According to the lineup, the California Brick team will be here. Last year they fielded one of the best teams in the Brick tourney. Also in the tournament the '04 Blades team is listed. It will be interesting to see if this is their Brick roster, if so, this will be some great hockey! Other teams like the Miracle Gold (arguably the best '04 team in Minnesota), Euro Red, the Alaska Selects, 3 teams from Manitoba, and the Machine Orange.

Winner: California Brick

Sleeper: Miracle Gold

A 10 team field with several very good teams, mostly local.  Last year the '03 Blades (mostly Brick roster) knocked off the Machine Orange.  This year looks to have a very similar script. The other teams in this field will have some success this weekend and beyond, but the class of the field are the Blades and the Machine.

Winner: Blades

Sleeper: Machine

(insert, I hate the '03 Orange comment here)

Another very strong 12 team field including defending champ 2K2 Warriors and Runner Up the Mustangs. Top Minnesota teams Euro American Red and Machine Orange are in the field along with a host of always tough Canadian teams and the Alaska Selects...kudos to the Tournament Committee at MN Made for attracting such good teams.

The 2K2 Warriors are essentially the same nucleus of players that played as the Winnipeg Jr. Jets in the 2012 Brick. If Ty Smilanic and Ty Thorpe on their roster this weekend, it will mean trouble for the rest of the field. Watch out for the Mustangs, last year they were a spirited bunch that showed some serious skill.

Winner: 2K2 Warriors

Sleeper: Euro American Red

The 2001 field has some great teams including the defending champ Machine Orange. We think the top teams in the field are the three Minnesota teams (Machine, Blades and American Stars). The Blades have held the upper hand on the Machine and Stars so far this Spring. Both the Orange and Stars have shown that they can beat the Blades and both have thick pools of talent on their rosters. Keep an eye on the Colorado Thunderbirds, it is one of the best '01 Tier 1 teams in America.

Winner: Blades

Sleeper: American Stars

Must See Game: American Stars v. Machine Orange...the Stars took out the Orange in the ChiTown Shuffle semifinal scoring three late goals. The rematch should be a great first round game.

Predicting the winner of the 2000 Division is like shooting fish in a barrel. The 2000 Machine is arguably the best off-season AAA team in the history of MN hockey. Losing less than five games in five years and winning nearly every tournament they have entered. So rather than choosing a winner, we are going to highlight a few teams who could compete with the Orange in the finals and a few players to watch for:

1. Euro Red: On paper, the strongest contender to compete with the Machine this weekend. Their team's strength starts in goal with Reebok/CCM Goalie of the Year Finalist Brennan Boynton. Opponents should keep their head up when Brady Berning (STMA) is on the ice and fellow STMA'er Zach Sjlien is a force up front for the Red. Younger '00's Trevor Janicke (Wiz Wyatt POTY Finalist) and Jack Perbix need constant attention.

2. Competitive Edge: a very nice team top to bottom, watch out for Peyton Madison and Nikolai Jensen from River Lakes HS. Another player to focus on is goaltender Jake Sibell in the pipes. Some say Sibell is the best goalie his age, no matter the zip code.

3. Lake Superior Stars: some of the best '00 kids from Northern Minnesota will make the trek to the SW suburbs to show their talents. Gavin Hain (Grand Rapids) is a can't miss prospect and a player the other opponents may want to avoid...the kid is a wrecking ball of a player. Forwards Ian Mageau (Duluth), Jacob Seitz(Virginia), and Wiz Wyatt Player of the Year Finalist Landon Langenbrunner (Cloquet) all can put on a show. And finally in the nets is Ryan Ullan (Hibbing) who was a Reebok/CCM Goalie of the Year Finalist as a seventh grader playing Bantam AA. 

4. Blades: This year's Blades team has made some nice new additions. They finished Runner up last year to the Machine..they could challenge. Watch out for Forwards K'Andre Miller and Nathan Johannes up front and Taiyo Larson on the Blue Line. All were impact players at the Bantam AA level this year.