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Huskies will be not be the underdogs this weekend

'15 Squirtacular Preview and Predictions

By Tony Scott, 01/15/15, 9:00AM CST

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Every Dog has his Day


Andover's Gavyn Thoreson will lead the Huskies to Squirtacular title Monday.


Prior Lake's Jackson Anderson will be a factor this weekend in the YHH Squirtacular

Four years ago, thanks to one of our first big fans Stu Nutting, YHH put on an end of year Squirt B Tournament. We called it the State B Squirt Tournament. Current Edina PWAA goalie Ramsey Bell made 32 saves as his team beat Minnetonka in the finals. Other current PeeWee stars that played that weekend were Mannon McMahon from Osseo Maple Grove's PeeWee AA team, Carter Johnson and Wyatt Gunkel from Moorhead PWAA team and Brett Witzke who plays for Edina''s #1 rated PWA team. By all accounts, it was a successful weekend. All teams got some good games against some good competition. Fast forward, it is our fourth season and our once proud State B tournament is now the top Squirt attraction in the state at all 3 levels.

There are 32 teams at the A level and the field is deep with some great teams getting great competition again this year. Each will play 3 pool play games with the winner advancing to the single elimination Quarterfinals. Here is our look at how we think it will shake out.


Woodbury's Dylan Godbout is a star in the making

Pool A (#1 Seed): Andover, Rochester (Red), Minnetonka, and Sibley

The Call: Andover is the best team in Minnesota, some say it isn't even close. Rochester and Minnetonka will make the Huskies pant a bit, but in the end Andover will advance. If you are Andover the better keep an eye on Tyler Haskins and Maddox Fleming from Rochester. Those two can make things happen in a hurry.

Pool B (#2 Seed): Osseo Maple Grove, Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, White Bear Lake, and Lakeville South.

The Call: This is a great pool, two known commodities in LVS and OMG and throw in the Jr. Coyotes and anything could happen. OMG is too deep...keep a pair of eyes on Landon Gunderson and Tyler Friederichs at all times. LVS is deep too, three very aggressive lines. OMG will find a way to win.

Pool C (#3 Seed): Woodbury, Elk River, Prior Lake, and Madison.

The Call: YHH is going to pick an upset in this pool. Prior Lake will knock off Woodbury. Elk River and Madison may also cause some disturbance, too. The Lakers have a very mature teams that rarely gets out worked by its opponents.


Patrick "Blake" Guerin scores for MVI earlier in the year.

Pool D (#4 Seed): Mahtomedi, Bloomington Jefferson, St. Cloud, and Champlin Park.

The Call: Mahtomedi comes into the tournament with 1 loss and 1 tie. A very balanced attack that has both great defensemen and one of the best Goalies in all of Minnesota (Ben Dardis) in the net. The Zephyrs score best in transition or when they can hold their opponent in deep for too long. 

Pool E (#5 Seed): Hermantown, Chaska Chan, Park Cottage Grove and Stillwater.

The Call:  YHH has yet to see Hermantown play, we can't wait to see what they bring to the table. On paper, it is hard to argue with their record of wins. Chaska Chan has had a good year and will likely challenge. Same with Park Cottage Grove who just knocked off Woodbury this week. This pool is loaded with individual stars...likely the best team wins this one. We say Hermantown.

Pool F (#6 Seed): Mound Westonka, Lakeville North, Mounds View Irondale, and Edina White. The pool of death. This pool features an undefeated team (Mound Westonka), two teams with a bunch of great players (Lakeville North and MVI) and an Edina Squirt team. So many big names in this pool, Austin Williams and Henry Whitleff from Edina are great, Nick Blood from Mound Westonka is fun to watch, as is the big man from Mounds View Irondale Patrick "Blake" Guerin. Guerin is so big he needs two first names. YHH says that the depth of Lakeville North will be too much for the other 3 teams and the Panthers advance.


EP's Jackson Blake could lead the Eagles to the promiseland Monday

Pool G (#7 Seed): Eden Prairie, Hudson, Rosemount, and Orono

The Call: Eden Prairie brings in a very strong team. The Eagles are undefeated in District 6 play, but have yet to find the Winner's Circle in a Tournament. Watch out for Jackson Blake, one of the top 10 Squirt players in Minnesota, Blake could break Squirtacular records this weekend. Don't overlook Rosemount or Hudson, both teams have major star power and may surprise. The Eagles are a very mature team and will advance.

Pool H (#8 Seed): Edina (Green), Grand Rapids, NSP Revolution, and Sartell. Wow, this is going to be a fun pool to watch. All teams have had some great success already this year. Sartell lost to OMG in their tourney and has a T10 win over Moorhead. NSP has a win over Eden Prairie and close loss to Hermantown already, the Revolution have a small roster, but big time talent and heart. You can never overlook Edina, they come in with a tourney win and only one loss. YHH says Edina beats a pesky Grand Rapids team to advance.

Andover Wins....others will challenge

Quarterfinals

Andover > Edina, OMG > Eden Prairie, Prior Lake > Lakeville North, and Mahtomedi > Hermantown

Semifinals

Andover > Mahtomedi and OMG > Prior Lake

Championship

Andover > OMG...the Dogs will end OMG"s 80+ game Squirt A unbeaten streak.


Watch out for Grand Rapids sniper Mitchell Howsen

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