The Minnesota Bantam Elite League heads into its third season Friday in Moorhead. They will field six teams, each will play four games at the Youth Rink over the weekend. This year northern Minnesota will have one team (North Stars), the metro will have four (Bruins, Flyers, Kings, Penguins) and in a new twist this year the BEL a futures team (Blackhawks) of incoming first year Bantams from all over Minnesota (and North Dakota). 

Here is an overview of a few players to watch on each squad.

Head Coach: Scott Bond

Goalie: Konrad Kausch (Duluth East) was chosen YHH Goalie of the Year will also share time state champ Carson Limesand (Orono) and Shattuck bound Kiron Morioka (MPLS). 

Defensemen: Joey Pierce (Ely), Owen Baumgartner (Owatonna) and Wyatt Kaiser (Andover) are three of the premier 2002 defensemen in Minnesota in the state's very deep group.

Forwards: Jackson Kunz (Grand Forks, ND), Michael Overbo (Moorhead) and Jack Smith (St. Cloud) won't look like or play like PeeWees. Lots of size and skill up front for the Hawks.

Coach: Jay Ekman

Goalie: Nathan Mueller and Ben Bullis both made a name for themselves last year at Bantam AA. Mueller turned heads for Buffalo with a few big wins.

Defense: Ben Dexheimer (Edina) and Sam Emmerich (Prior Lake) both had great years in district six last Winter..this could be one of the deepest defensive corps in the league.

Forward: Watch out for Tampa import Jet Lee Swift - great skater and electric hands - it would be fun to see him paired with Nathan Warner a returner from the '15 BEL.

Coach: Beau Christian

Goalie: A dynamic duo in the nets for the Flyers...Ramsey Bell (Edina) and Jon Howe (Tonka) are very athletic and have been game changers for their teams their whole career.

Defense: Mason Wheeler (Rosemount) and Lachen Reid (MPLS) are two Flyer d-men that will make an immediate impact on the BEL in Moorhead.

Forward: Shane Griffin (Lakeville North) and Griffin Streeter (Minnetonka/SSM) both have a lot of size and skill. The Flyers could have three very productive forward groups in the league.

Coach: Tom Adolph

Goalie: National camp invite Aaron Haider (Maple Grove) will hold down the fort while Cottage Grove exceptional status Bantam Conner Nelson will shore up the blue paint for the Kings.

Defense: Lucas Jorgenson (Orono) and Lucky Ahles (White Bear) are two more highly skilled blue liners in the BEL. Both break the puck out easily and aren't afraid to jump into the play as an extra attacker.

Forward: Bobby Brink (Tonka), Luc Laylin (STMA), Garrett Pinoniemi (Delano) and Jacob Braccini represent four of the best '01 skaters in the state. Yes, they are all on the same team. Enough said.

Coach: Sam Walstad

Goalie: Thomas Webert (Edina) and Hudson Hodges (Moorhead) are great options who both have size and skill.

Defense: The Fargo/Moorhead duo of Tyler Kleven (Fargo) and Luke Gramer (Moorhead) are the type of defensemen who can score and defend. 

Forward: Blake Biondi (Hermantown) and Logan Anderson (Duluth East) command a lot of attention in the offensive zone. Biondi has size, skill and a very high IQ.

Coach: Ryan Bohrer

Goalie: Caleb Mayer (Omaha AAA) and Will Pinney (St. Louis Park) were both amazing during tryouts last Fall - one of the better all around pairs in the league.

Defense: Brett Oberle (Hill Murray) is a dynamic blue liner who could see Varsity time as a ninth grader for the Pioneers.

Forward: Matt Gleason returns to the BEL - he lead his team in scoring last year, we expect big things from the national camp invite in '16.