Each of the last few years a Minnesota team has made the ride home down I94 with the coveted North American Hockey Classic Super Elite Champions Jersey. Last year the 2002 MN Blades won their second jersey in a row and the 2006 Machine Orange won their first. Last weekend the 2002 Minnesota Machine won the Girls U12 Jersey. 

On Thursday, Minnesota teams began their quest. The biggest win of the day came by Team Minnesota in the 2005. The Brick team took down a very solid BC Jr. Canucks Brick team 5-3. Rosemount's William Whitelaw lead the Blades with 1 Goal and 2 Assists. The '04 Blades won 6-4 over Havoc Jr. Flames to get off on the right foot in the very stacked '04 field. Tourney fave 2001 Machine Orange won their first game with a nice win over the Okotoks Oilers 5-3. The addition of Nik Norman showed early returns, the Shattuck St. Mary's standout had 1G/2A in his Orange debut.

Key Friday Games

01: Machine Orange vs. VAN Selects..top two teams in the field face off Friday for the likely #1 seed in Bracket Play.

02: Machine Orange vs. 2K2 Warriors..the Orange have to win to keep hope alive for hardware...the Warriors cruised to an easy win Thursday.

04: MN Blades vs. VAN Vipers...a tough game Friday will likely be a key test for Pool #1 seed.

05: Team MN vs. Winnipeg Jr. Jets...another great tune up game for the Blades as they begin to measure up for The Brick in two weeks.

06: Machine Orange vs. H2 Selects..both teams won Thursday, Friday will be a rematch of last year's title game where the Orange won 3-2.

2006

Machine Orange > Team Alberta Brick (3-1)...Hans Hedlund 1G/1A

MN Blades > BC Bears (6-4)...Ben Miller 4G, Ryan Madigan 3A

2005

Team MN > BC Junior Canucks (5-3)..William Whitelaw 1G/2A, Connor Brown 2G/1A

Team Alberta Brick > Machine Orange (10-1)...Lucas Kickhofel 1G    

2004

MN Blades > Havoc Jr. Flames (6-4)...JJ Wiebusch 2G/1A, Jimmy Clark 2G

Montreal Vikings > Machine Orange (4-2)...Maddox Fleming 1G, Will Schumaher 1G

Machine Orange > Selects Hockey (8-2)...Wyatt Chartier 1G/2A, Ryder Ferguson 2G, Will Schumacher 1G/1A

2003

Team Alberta South > Northern Wings (6-0)

Machine Orange > Alberta Junior Golden Bears (3-2)...Dylan Lewis 1G, Bennett Soderberg 1G, Trey Fechko 1G

2002

MN Blades vs. South Sask Selects...Gunnar Thoreson 1G/2A, Grant Ellings 1G/1A

Vancouver Selects > Machine Orange (6-2)...Luke Levandowski 1G, Jonny Meiers 1G

2001

Sask Stars > MN Blades (2-1)...Grant Silianoff 1G

Machine Orange > Okotoks Oilers (5-3)...Nik Norman 1G/2A, Bobby Brink 1G/1A, Killian Kiecker-Olson 1G/1A