This weekend, 14 teams spread across three age-groups will make the trek to Plymouth in pursuit of The Big One’s inaugural championship trophy. Only three teams will be left standing on Sunday afternoon. 

Blue Army will have one team in each division, as will the Minnesota Blades and the Black Bears. All three Black Bears groups are made up of players from around the state, and the East Metro team in the 2006 Division is made up of players from the Miracle Gold program and, obviously, the eastern part of the metro area. 

Rounding out the age-groups are Green Bay (WI) in the 2004 Division, Euro American Red and Velocity Black in the 2005 group, and the Yuro Stars in the 2007’s. 

For full tournament schedules, click here.   

The 2004 Division has four teams that could all vie for the championship on Sunday, with a load of talented players suiting up for all squads. The Minnesota Blades and Blue Army square off on Thursday night at 8:15 in what could be the best matchup of pool play, featuring a number of players that are highly familiar with each. 

Predicted Champion: Minnesota Blades

Players to Watch 

Max Roby, Black Bears

Bodie Jorgenson, Black Bears 

Dylan Godbout, Blue Army 

Nick Erickson (G), Blue Army

Nick Pierre, Minnesota Blades

Maddox Fleming, Minnesota Blades

Colton Jamieson, Green Bay 

Matthew Rafalski, Green Bay 

One of two divisions with five teams, the 2005's are already hitting their stride, as Euro American Red captured runner-up honors at the Minnesota Meltdown, and the Minnesota Blades taking third in the same tournament. The Blades will get another crack at Euro Red on Saturday at 9:15 a.m.

Predicted Champion: Euro American Red

Players to Watch 

Tanner Zolnosky, Black Bears 

Isaac Johnson, Black Bears 

Landon Dauner, Blue Army 

Jake Fisher, Blue Army 

Wyatt Olson, Euro American Red 

Jay Ellingson, Euro American Red 

Will Skahan, Minnesota Blades

Max Plante, Minnesota Blades

Mikey Mason, Velocity 

Brodie Ziemer, Velocity  

The East Metro team in the 2006 Division poses an intriguing mix of Miracle Gold skaters and assorted athletes from the east metro, offering the division a solid and balanced  team that should challenge for the title. The '07 Blades, playing up a level, should give teams just as much as they bargained for, while Blue Army, the Yuro Stars, and the Black Bears are all viable candidates for one of the final two spots on Sunday. 

Predicted Champion: Blue Army 

Players to Watch

William Weidemann, Black Bears

Luke Babineau, Black Bears 

Graham Greeder, Blue Army

Ben Tauscher, Blue Army

Carter Callan, East Metro

Josh Hewitt, East Metro

Cullen Ingebritson, '07 Blades

Ryder Betzold, '07 Blades

Joey Kubas, Yuro Stars

Kevin Graff, Yuro Stars