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Founders Cup: Preview and Predictions

By Peter Odney, 01/04/18, 5:30PM CST

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Can Stillwater, champions of the Lumberjack Cup, continue their magic in Rochester?


Tanner Henricks scores for Woodbury PWAA in the Lumberjack Cup against Stillwater. The teams are among the favorites to reach the finals of the Founder's Cup.

Graham Arena Enters Second Season As Host

For the next three days, the quartet ice sheets at Graham Ice Arena in Rochester will be a hive of activity, as twenty-four Peewee AA and Peewee A teams engage in the fourth annual Founder's Cup, the first Youth Hockey Hub event of the New Year. 

The tournament featured four teams ranked in the YHH NOW Minnesota PWAA Rankings, including No. 4 Woodbury, No. 5 Stillwater, No. 6 Rogers, and No. 9 Rochester. All of those teams will begin during the Friday afternoon session, as will No. 11 Lakeville South. Two teams in the NOW Minnesota PWA top-10, No. 6 Osseo-Maple Grove and No. 7 Chaska/Chanhassen, will begin in the White Bracket. 

The Founder's Cup has been a stage for numerous talented players, including current Cretin-Derham Hall leading scorer Matt Gleason, who was named Tournament Most Valuable Player after his St. Paul Capitals won the title in 2015. Rochester's own Tyler Haskins was named MVP in 2016, and Lakeville South goaltender Ethan Dahlmeir earned the award in 2017.  

YHH Staff Predictions

YHH Staff Member Champion Darkhorse
Tony Scott Stillwater St. Michael-Albertville
Peter Odney Woodbury Rochester

Joe Lewis and the Osseo-Maple Grove Peewee A team will look to shake things up in the White Bracket. The Leafbirds took the PWA championship during the Lumberjack Cup.

Players to Watch

Ty Tuccitto, Stillwater

Obvious size combined with obvious skill, Tuccitto is a game-changer in every sense of the phrase.

Matthew Volkman, Stillwater

Diminutive forward came in clutch during the Lumberjack Cup finals, scoring two goals for the champion Ponies. 

Simon Hogue, Woodbury

Strong skater who's effort pays dividends on both sides of the ice. One of many standouts in the Predators' lineup.  

Gavyn Thoreson,  Andover

Speed and a scorer's touch highlight Thoreson's game, and he's shown he can take over when he needs to, like his five-goal performance against Osseo-Maple Grove during the Big Pumpkin in October. 

Jack Sweeney, Mahtomedi

Sweeney can do it all on the ice, and helps power a quality Zephyr group that could make some noise in the top half of the bracket.  


Gavyn Thoreson, Andover.

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