The Bantam Elite League officially began on Sunday afternoon, as players dropped off waiver forms and took the ice for a scrimmage and practice at Bloomington Ice Garden.

Great Plains and the Kings squared off in the informal skirmish, giving YHH its first glimpse at the inaugural Great Plains roster dotted with players hailing from Grand Rapids to Mankato. 

The league, which is entering its fourth season, draws the top players entering their second year of Bantams and plays a schedule with 10 games a plus playoffs. 

To date, there are 38 players in the classes of 2018, 2019 and 2020 that participated in the Bantam Elite League and have committed to a Division I college program.

Seven players have eventually gone on from the Bantam Elite League the U.S. National Team Development Program.

The first slate of official BEL games is scheduled for Wednesday (Aug. 2) at Bloomington Ice Garden, where Great Plains will face the Bruins and the Sharks take on the Kings. 

Click here for more information on the league, its history, and its upcoming schedule.