The dog days of Summer are upon in Minnesota. Baseball, Lacrosse and Soccer seasons are winding down. Teams are finding tournaments for next year. Kids are heading off to the cabin or family trips before they start winding it up for school and another hockey season. Here are some notes of interest from around Minnesota.
Tryouts for Bauer Emerson 14, 16, and 18 teams were held last Sunday in Vadnais Heights.
The nation’spremier state for hockey will soon be home to the nation’s first leadership academy exclusively for students with a passion for the game. Launching in August 2014, Bauer-Emerson Preparatory Academy will offer a groundbreakingprogram that provides leading-edge academics, elite sports development, andpersonal career direction for exceptionally focused student-athletes.
Dedicated to teaching lifelong learning skillsthat allow students to reach their potential, the private Academy will belocated in North St. Paul, Minnesota, and will serve students in grades 3 through 12.
Distinctly unique among schools nationwide, the Academy will offer students an equal balance of academic and athletic training,with all programs completed during the school day -- allowing students abalanced life with their families. By fortifying the robust academic school daywith ice training, off-ice training and hockey IQ, the Academy doubles thestandard development and training of other programs, with a training-to-game ratio of 4:1.
The school also holds a coveted Tier 1, full in-season hockey charter for the 2014-2015 season, with elite sanctioning by Minnesota Hockey -- the statewide governing body of amateur hockey in Minnesota, and an affiliate of USA Hockey. Bauer-Emerson’s Revolution Tier 1 AAAHockey Team will field players at the U19, U16 and U14 levels for girls, and at the U18, U16 and U14 levels for boys. Younger students will compete at the Squirt A and PeeWee AAlevel in District 2 of Minnesota Hockey, via anaffiliation with the North St Paul Area Hockey Association.
Wings goalie with a big save Sunday in the BEL.
The Bantam Elite League entered their first season last week. Top names of second year Bantams played 2 to 3 games in Woodbury and White Bear collectively. Shattuck St. Mary's big man Austin Pratt was the leading scorer after the first weekend. Nick Konkel from White Bear played lights out for his Redwings team.
YHH gets it's first glimpse of the North team (Rangers) this weekend. Elite players Luke LaMaster (Duluth), Alex Verbout (Roseau), and superstar net minder Zach Stejskal (Grand Rapids) in the nets will come to Bloomington on Sunday for two games.
The U of M held their annual Model Camp this past week. The Gophers were able to attract top Minnesota kids including their own verbal commits Rem Pitlick (Wayzata, SSM), Ryan Norman (Roseville, SSM), Ryan Edquist (Lakeville, SSM), Ryan Lindgren (SSM), Scott Reedy (Prior Lake, SSM), and Ryan Zuhlsdorf (Edina). In addition to their commits, there were other standouts from the '97, '98, '99, and yes, even a 2000 standout.
Lawrence Jungwirth (Bloomington, SSM), Jack Sadek (Lakeville), and Evan Robert were standout '97 kids this week. Austen Long (Spring Lake Park, Omaha), Garret Wait (Edina), and Sam Huff (Maple Grove) were players from the '98 class worth noting. The '99s had Reedy, Ben Copeland (Edina), Clayton Phillips (Edina), and Josh Ess (Lakeville) take the ice and stand out. And alas, Luverne's Jaxon Nelson was in Dinkytown to play with the big boys who measured 6 foot 1 and nearly 180 pounds...besides his obvious size show great athletic ability and great hockey sense.
The players spent the week at the U practicing with members of the U of M coaching staff and other NCAA coaches.
YHH has learned that two east side districts and two west side districts will likely merge their PeeWee and Bantam AA leagues into one league for in season play. District 8 (South of the River to Woodbury) will merge with District 2 (North and East of St. Paul Suburbs) and District 6 (Southwest of Minneapolis) and District 3 (Minneapolis, North and West of Minneapolis) will both merge their highest level PeeWee and Bantams next season.
Why this is Good?
Teams in these leagues will be guaranteed a variety of games without scheduling non-league scrimmage/games...likely opponents they would have played anyway. It also will guarantee more high end match ups during league play. For example, Wayzata and Minnetonka will play twice this year, when often they only face each other in tournaments. On the east side, fans will get to see Rosemount and White Bear Lake at PeeWees and Sibley vs. Woodbury in Bantams.
How could this be bad?
This move likely kills any district championships and will likely hurt the seeding process for Regionals. Currently, Minnesota Hockey gives automatic bids to District Champions. More to come on potential pitfalls of these mergers.
Geared Up Sports is a new Hockey and Sporting Goods store in Elk River. They opened in July and will be carrying a full line of hockey gear, seasonal sporting goods, and apparel. The store is right next to the Elk River movie theatre off of 169 and is a short drive from the ER arena. For more information about the store visit their website at www.gearedupsports.net.
