In what appears to be the 2000 Machine's last tournament together, looks to be their best team. If that is even possible to say about a team that is loaded top to bottom, year in and year out the past six years.

Teams to Watch: Manitoba Selects lead by Riley Stotts and Jett Woo will likely find their way into the Final Four Sunday. The Vancouver Selects whose first game is vs. Machine. Luka Burzan is a guy you always need to account for for the Selects. And, the Alberta Alliance who has Josh Prokop up front is a team that will make it's way to Bracket Play...are all top teams from their Provinces.

Tony Says: No one beats the Machine...high end scorers (McCabe, Lesko, and McLaughlin), top 4 defensemen (Ziemer/Strom and Lagerstrom/Brinkman), and great goaltending (Todd Scott) is tough to beat. Machine wins their fourth in a row.

In what appears to be a very evenly balanced and deep 16 team pool...is a one horse race. Or should I say dog? The Notre Dame Jr. Hounds will be the class of this tournament. Lead by former NHL'er Mike Blaisdell, the Hounds will be lead by his son Harrison and a cast of other superstars like Nolan Renwick (likely a liney of Blaisdell), Casey McDonald, and standout Goalie Nolan Maier.

Teams to Watch: Red Pool has the American Stars lead by Nik Norman from Roseville...this team has played some great hockey this Spring. On top of the Stars, the Manitoba Xtreme is the likely favorite...big and strong on the blue line (Andrew Hopko and Ryden Fedyck) with a few snipers up front (Nakodan Greyeyes and Jon Lambos). The MN Blades in the Green will be tough to beat...Jake Hale might be the best '01 talent in Minnesota.

Tony Says: The Hounds will be too much for the rest of the teams this weekend...don't be surprised if one of the three MN teams sneak into the finals (Blades, Stars or Machine).

The defending champ MN Blades enter the North American coming off a third place finish in May at the the Challenge Cup in Toronto. They will look to rebound in the North American. The Machine Orange could rebound nicely with a couple good wins in pool play. Last year's Runner Up the 2K2 Warriors roster has a few missing names (Thorpe is one for sure) and Ty Smilanic is double rostered on 2K2 and the '01 Pro Hockey team...this makes the Red pool very winnable for the Orange.

Teams to Watch: it's a small 8 team field. The Mustangs are a scrappy bunch that could cause harm in the Black Pool. Edmonton Jr. Oilers are lead by Cole Dubinsky and Bode Hagan, the Blades/Oilers game Thursday is a great post lunch snack.

Players to Watch: Tristan Broz (Bloomington) and Blake Messenburg (Orono) from the Machine are playing well for the Orange. Carson Bantle and Gunnar Thoreson (Andover) are playing some great hockey for the Blades.

Tony Says: The Blades will rebound from their loss in Toronto and repeat...don't be surpised if the Machine sneaks into the final for an all Minnesota matchup.

The 2003 Tournament should be very competitive. Two Minnesota teams head up to Winnipeg with plenty to prove. The MN Blades have essentially their same roster as they had at last year’s Brick Tournament in Edmonton…where they lost in the semifinals to eventual Champion Toronto Bulldogs. The Blades beat the Machine 9-5 in the Stars and Stripes a month ago and many of the Blades players play on Team Gradient that has also done well this Spring.  Chaz Lucius (White Bear Lake) who lead the entire Stars and Stripes in scoring with 29 points is always dangerous...also watch out for super skilled forward Jack Harvey (North Branch) this weekend

Teams to Watch: Alberta South has Noah Serdachny who had 8 points in the Brick last Summer. Team Alberta Brick who won the tournament last year has several key players returning to play for Alberta South. Team West Selects has a nice roster of players including Logan Stankoven who lead the BC Jr. Canucks in scoring last year at the Brick.

Tony Says: This may appear as a homer pick, but it is not. The Minnesota Blades are playing some great hockey lately, both at the '03 and the '02 level. They have three great lines, four solid Defensemen and Anton Castro in the pipes. If Castro can win a game for the Blades along the way, the Blades should take the NAHC this year.

The 2004's are the most difficult bracket to choose of all five we will select. During the Brick year, AAA teams tend to splinter a bit. Last year, Havoc Hockey won the NAHC. Can they sustain their dominance as a Non-Brick team? In addition to Havoc, the Chicago Bulldogs Selects could make a run at the NAHC. They won the Chitown Shuffle in April beating the Brick Jr. Blackhawks and the Florida Alliance, arguably one of the best teams in the US at '04. 

Teams to Watch: For the Brick teams, this is their final tune up prior to heading to Edmonton. This will be our first look at Alberta and Saskatchewan. We got a preview of the Jr. Jets ten days ago - they have all the tools to make the final 6...a superstar big man (Conor Geekie) and a top flight Goalie (Ethan Buenaventura). Team Minnesota will have it's complete Brick Roster in Winnipeg. Gavin Brindley and Isaac Howard will be players that NAHC coaches need to keep an eye on this weekend. YHH expects this team to steadily improve as they learn to gel as a team and make a run at the Final 6 in a couple weeks.

Tony Says: The Chicago Bulldogs is our homer USA pick in this one. Their impressive 5-1 win over Florida Alliance says so much for their skill level.