The Bantam Elite League kicked off their third season Sunday in three rinks all over Minnesota. Each team had a pair of practices - four of which were in Burnsville and two outside the metro. The North Stars - made up of second year bantams from the four northern Minnesota Hockey districts met in Brainerd for the day. The futures team made up of first year bantam players from all over the state met in St. Cloud. 

All six teams have some great talent at all three positions making for some highly competitive games in the coming weeks. At first glance a few teams really stood out in our visit to Burnsville. 

The Kings have a really strong group of players up front including Jacob Braccini, Bobby Brink, Luc Laylin and St. Cloud State commit Garrett Pinoniemi. The Flyers looked like a High School Elite League team with several very mature players, a great coaching staff and two great goalies. On any given shift you might see Shane Griffin (Lakeville North), Mason Wheeler (Rosemount) or Griffin Streeter (Shattuck St. Mary's)...in the net they have Jon Howe (Minnetonka) and Ramsey Bell (Edina) in the nets.

None of the hype will matter come Friday in Moorhead - each team will play four games in Spudville next weekend. We suspect there to be some great games as the league kicks off.