The Founder's Cup kicks off Friday morning with the 16 lower seeds fighting for a spot against the the top eight on Friday night. The 24 team affair has drawn in some great players and teams from all over Minnesota. Four teams from southern Minnesota: Dodge County, Mankato, Owatonna and Rochester make their way to the Iron Range this weekend. On top of that we will get to see four clubs from the range: Eveleth Gilbert, Greenway, host Hibbing, and Virginia. We will see top AA teams like Apple Valley, Park Cottage Grove and Duluth East and No. 2A East Grand Forks and No. 5A North Branch. 

So if you are looking for variety, you have come to the right place. If you want to stars shine, the Range will have them on display. Joe Miller from Minneapolis, Owen Baumgartner from Owatonna and Tyler Haskins from Rochester are just a few of the great players we will see. 

On Friday, we will see 16 games in 10 hours in three rinks. Should be some great action. Last year, the first two rounds had more action than a James Bond film on fast forward. The Play-in games feature some intriguing match-ups including tiny Dodge County against Osseo Maple Grove's A team. Both of these teams have a lot of talent. North Branch and STMA will square off Friday...North Branch is a slight favorite despite having a much smaller program and no rink to call home. 

Friday night should provide some great TV for the fans. Good because the games will be tight and good because some great talent will be on display. Projected games like East Grand and Alex is fun to dream about - two great northwestern Minnesota hockey programs on display.

Mound Westonka and Mahtomedi could be a dandy...Mound hasn't lost since the Big Pumpkin White Bracket championship, when they fell to #5AA Elk River....a streak that spans 27 games! Mahtomedi has collected some nice wins thus far including wins over Jefferson, Hermantown and #4AA Park Cottage Grove. 

The character and atmosphere in these old rinks will be fun for the players, coaches and fans to experience. Expect some surprises Friday.

Here are a handful of players we think could break out this weekend...names that have not hit the mainstream. 

Kole Chupka, East Grand Forks - pronounced Choop-ka, get to know it...this kid has great hands and is very unselfish with the puck.

Maddox Fleming, Rochester - terrific skill player that creates space for himself both with his moves and puck protection. 

Christian Galatz, Hibbing - fun player to watch...skates well and has great hands.

Carter Oftedahl, Mound Westonka - big winger that has a really fast motor - gives opposing defenses trouble.

Nick Pierre, Park Cottage Grove - a first year wiz who generates a lot of offense with his speed and vision.

Zarley Ziemski, Duluth East - goal scoring machine and playmaker all wrapped into one. Ziemski is like a stealth bomber, you don't see him or notice him until he's at the goal mouth pounding in his second goal of the game!