The Bantam Elite League hit the road this weekend to Moorhead where we got a chance to see some of the best incoming Minnesota freshman hockey players. As players continue grow and develop their game, YHH likes to give its readers a lens into some of these top players we saw in the Spud city.
While in Moorhead we saw a handful of players that began to separate themselves from the pack as a few of the teams completed their first half of the season.
Edina's Ben Brinkman
The Wild's Ben Brinkman and Tommy Winges should not come as any surprise as top players in the BEL player pool. They both have more skill than much of the league. They skate well, they see the ice well and are passionate about getting the puck to the net.
When paired together on Saturday and Sunday, they appeared to coach Gerry Anderson's F4 and F5 in the game plan. So swift with the puck on their stick, both of them fly by the opposition as if they were standing still.
Brinkman made a play Sunday that is difficult to remove from the memory banks. Devils Forward Dontae Lawson snuck past the defense and caught a pretty stretch pass in stride...Brinkman raced back to catch Lawson just as he was about to fire a shot to break a 2-2 tie. A play that even a novice hockey fan would have appreciated.
Winges spent last season playing for the St. Thomas Academy JV. He's fast with the puck and very strong on his skates - sometimes next to impossible to knock from the puck. His greatest strength is getting the puck out of the defensive zone - at times he makes it look easy.
What separates Brinkman and Winges is their ability to shoot the puck. This weekend we saw a lot of big and accurate shots and shooters. None get their shot off as fast as these two Wild defenders.
Luke Loheit scores for Tonka last March to lead them to State
Luke Loheit (pronounced Low Height) has always been a Tweener. He's born after the Bantam Elite birth cut off of June 30, 2000. But he's entering tenth grade. Sometimes you see Luke play and he's a Forward - he scored two huge goals up front for Minnetonka last winter on their run to the State Title. Sometimes you see him on the blue line using his speed and skill to defend or rush the puck.
No matter when he was born or what grade he is in, the grandson of former MN North Star Bill Goldsworthy is a highly talented player that continues to grow and get better every time we see him play. One scout approached us this week and said, "what's the story on Lo-Heat, kid can really play?"
No doubt he can play - he can play anywhere you put him, the only tough part is he will likely need to choose one or the other within the next few months.
Centennial's Will Francis fires from the point for the Bolts last weekend
Players that are taller than six feet prior to 15 years old tend to be a little uncoordinated or wobbly. Will Francis is just the opposite, he has a great stride and is impossible to miss when he hits the ice.
Besides his obvious skill, he doesn't lack confidence to carry the puck any chance he can. Francis was a great defender and an important piece to the defensive puzzle for the league leading Bolts.
Speaking with one scout this weekend in Moorhead, what stood out to him was his ability to create space for himself and win battles in tight spaces. Both hard tasks for a player of Francis' size and length.
Duluth East's Ryder Donovan
Ryder Donovan would be a dream to coach. He's got speed, skill and a very long reach. He strikes any hockey fan as very versatile - he's a play maker, he's a battler in the corner, and he's a scorer. A very fun player to watch.
This past season Ryder was called up from the Duluth East Bantam program to play Varsity for the Hounds as an eighth grader. While there he got to see first hand one of the greatest wins in school history as they knocked of two-time state champ Edina. In the Spring, Ryder was very impressive skating for District 11 in the HP15 Festival earning a spot to the Summer Camp in St. Cloud where he was tabbed an alternate for the US National Camp in New York.
In his first four games in the BEL he dominated the ice with and without the puck. As a ninth grader this year for the Hounds we expect big things from him on one of the best teams in the state.
Declan Beers from Luverne stars for the Flyers in the BEL
When our readers think of Luverne Hockey - most would think of University of Minnesota Commit Jaxon Nelson or Chaz Smedsrud. But the stockpile of talent in Southwest Minnesota doesn't end there. Declan Beers will likely make an immediate impact on the Cardinals this Winter.
Beers is an athletic player who has good hands and balance making him extremely productive on every shift. Beers brings a little outstate work ethic with him to the Metro teams that his Flyers teammates seem to feed off of each game.
YHH writer Frederick61 voted Declan his PeeWee Player of the Year - in his announcement, he said that he someday wanted to play hockey at Air Force. Based on what we saw this weekend, he may have more options than playing for the Falcons.
While the Brinkman, Winges and Loheit crowd impressed with their physical stature and ability, here are a few skaters that showed great skill despite not having the fully developed body.
Aaron Huglen, North Stars - the Roseau native has so much skill carrying the puck sometimes it isn't fair to the other opponents. A comparison to Roseau legend Neal Broten isn't fair for any kid, but the resemblance is tangibly visible when he has the puck.
Josh Luedtke, Bruins - similar to Huglen, Luedtke has great hands and vision when has the puck. As a seventh grader he was seen running the power play for the Minnetonka Bantam AA team as a move-up. Heading into his third year of Bantams, YHH expects big things from this smaller package.
Ryan O'Neill, Wild - had a great weekend for the Wild notching five points in four games. The shifty O'Neill does a great job avoiding contact when he carries the puck and is very opportunistic when he gets his chances.