Managing three very large Squirt Tournaments in successive weeks takes a major effort. Over the past four seasons we have taken our shots at the Fargo Youth Hockey Association and their selection process. Each year they do 100 times more than almost all tournaments, the actually ask each team for their resume.
Two thumbs up for that.
They also put on a great event for the kids, attracting several great teams from all over North America. Most come from nearby Minnesota and North Dakota...but they also attract a lot of Canadien teams and teams from as far away as North Carolina and Arizona to attend.
Two thumbs up for that.
This year, they spent a great deal of time studying each team and their performance. If you look closely at their seeding they are getting closer and closer to our Staff and NOW Rankings system. This year they chose eight of our T10 Staff Ranked teams in their top 10 seeds and nine of our T10 NOW Ranked teams.
Two thumbs up for that.
Their seeding isn't perfect however. It seems the committee has it out for Eden Prairie. The 2010 Champs haven't gotten a favorable seed since Mittlestadt, Lieverman and Rasmussen tore up the 218 five years ago. Last year EP was a T10 teams and they got Roseau in the second round. This year they get NSP Revolution in the second round (whom they have lost to already) and T10 Mahtomedi in the round of 16.
Chaska Chan is another team who hasn't gotten any favors from the committee. May it is because their name is so long...Chaska Chanhassen is 17 characters long, that is a bit excessive. Last year the StormHawks fought through a low seed all the way to the Final 4. This year they will have to do the same.
Editor's Note: the StormHawks were not a top 8 seed in the YHH Squirtacular and made it all the way to finals finishing second.
Should be another great tournament. Besides the great pin trading and great hockey...the overall mood in Fargo is as good as it gets. Three straight nights of hockey wonderland. One of my children after an experience at the International exclaimed, "I just wish every day was like Fargo..."
