The Minnesota Meltdown is the first in a trio of tournaments executed by Showcase Hockey, with the Easton Cup and AAA Showdown following the Meltdown later in the spring and summer. 

This year's field features a total of 24 divisions between the boys and girls sides, with boys' age groups ranging from 2004-2010, and the girls highlighted by 10U, 12U, 14U, and 16U age groups. Outside of the Invite levels, there are Wales and Campbell Divisions for all age groups, with an Open option for 2004 Boys.

In addition to a solid crop of AAA teams from across Minnesota, this year's field will include teams from Alaska at the 2005 Boys Invite level, DHI West Coast at the 10U AAA Girls level, the 12U Girls New York EJ All-Stars, the Glenview Stars of Illinois, and the Finlandia Hockey Club of Thunder Bay (OT).  

The champions of the 2017 Minnesota Meltdown included Team Gradient (2003 Invite), Southeast Elite (2004 Invite), Red Army (2005 Invite) and Miracle Gold (2006 Invite), among others across the numerous levels.

Click here for day-by-day schedules for all levels.   

Last year's champion in the 2004 Invite Division finished the season ranked No. 4 in the country according to My Hockey Rankings, as the Southeast Elite (FL) pulled off a thrilling win over the 2004 Steeldogs Teal in South St. Paul. 

If this season's iteration of the 2004 Invite Division measures up to the drama, it could likely include Blue Army and Mustangs Green. Blue Army, a new AAA group, features a solid core of players from the Stillwater Peewee AA team that finished fourth at the state tournament, while Mustangs Green's blue line crew is a highly skilled group.  

Despite playing up a level, the 2006 Minnesota Blades should still make some noise at the 2005 Invite level, running up against talented squads in Red Army, Euro American Red, and Blue Army. If the field comes down to goaltending, Red Army and the '06 Blades may have the edge with Myles Gunderson and Brick Invite MVP Landon Palmgren suiting up. 

The six-team 2006 Invite field also includes a Minnesota Blades team, along with Velocity Black, Blue Army, Miracle Gold, Acceleration NW, and Breakaway Red. Last year, Miracle Gold won the '06 Invite Division, defeating Gentry Astros Gold 5-2 in Brooklyn Park.

For full team rosters for all levels, click here.  

Tate Pritchard, 2004 New Generation 

Matthew Whisler, 2004 Blue Army

Chase Cheslock, 2004 Mustangs Green

Myles Gunderson, 2005 Red Army

Danny Nelson, 2005 Euro American Red 

William Whitelaw, 2005 Midwest Devils

Landon Palmgren, 2006 Minnesota Blades

Quintin Schaefer, 2006 Velocity Black 

Will Zellers, 2006 Minnesota Blades

Cayden Alphin, 2006 Miracle Gold