Jarrett Lee was a second year Bantam for the Hibbing/Chisholm Bantam AA team this past Winter. Number 12 was a huge part of their team's success despite being on the small side.  We saw him play twice this year and vividly remember he was a slick skating dual threat skater who could play both forward or defense depending on the situation. 

He learned recently that he had Nodular Schlerosing Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Doctors feel it is very treatable. Please pray for Jarrett and his whole family as they take on this wicked disease. To follow his progress go to @Pray4Jarrett on Twitter. The outpouring of support so far has been amazing.

The '01 American Stars knocked off the Machine Orange Thursday and Nik Norman scored seven Goals. The son of former Hill Murray and North Dakota star, Todd Norman, and younger brother of Shattuck St. Mary's star Ryan Norman, Nik looks to be making a name for himself as well. 

It has been reported to YHH that Mounds View and Irondale will join forces in the coming year and play in District 2. YHH has also learned that Johnson Como and North St. Paul will do the same. It has not been decided where they will participate in league play (NSP is D2 and JC is D8). Forming a COOP should allow both associations a chance to play AA hockey as all four associations have 3-4 AA type players...stay tuned.

The Western Hockey League had their 1999 Bantam Entry Draft Thursday. There were 13 Minnesota kids selected. Austin Pratt was the first Minnesotan taken, he was drafted by Red Deer 75th overall in the fourth round. We published a story this week projecting our T10 players...7 of those 10 were chosen. One surprise was Kyler Yeo, the son of Minnesota Wild Head Coach Mike Yeo, he was selected by Everett and traded to Kamloops.

Trying to figure the minds of the WHL scouts and GMs can be tricky. Some players of note overlooked - Ryan Poehling (likely because of his pledge to St. Cloud State), Ben Copeland (possibly lack of size) and Nolan Sullivan (no explanation here...the kid fits the mold of the W better than anyone we saw - game changing power, speed and unselfishness).

Note: A WHL team, provided they have room on their list of protected players (a team can have 50), can now draft/protect any '99 birth year (or older) player they choose. This would explain John Stampohar ('98, D, Grand Rapids) name being added in March and Sam Huff ('98, F, Maple Grove) being drafted Thursday.

2 Bantam players from this past season were selected to the final list of 20 player headed to the USAH National Camp in Amherst, NY. Scott Perunovich (Hibbing) and Brady Tatro (Bemidji). Two very impressive players from the North. Here is a link to the full list.

Five of the 20 selected already made major Division I commitments:

Ryan Edquist - Minnesota
Matt Kierstad - UND
Ryan Lindgren - Minnesota
Mitchell Mattson - UND
Riley Tufte - UMD

YHH sources say a few more will committing soon.

The Gophers continue to pile up the best players from all over the globe. Once a proud tradition to only take kids from Minnesota. Don Lucia and his staff went to Florida recently to get Gabe Guertler. This year he drove 45 miles south to Shattuck St. Mary's to get a pledge from Brannon McManus from Newport Beach, CA. McManus is one of the brightest stars at the '99 birth year.

In the same week, Defenseman Ryan Zuhlsdorf (Edina, '97) committed to play for the Maroon and Gold. A year ago, Zuhlsdorf was manning the blue line for the Edina's Bantam AA team. This year as a Sophomore skated a regular shift for the State Champion Hornets.