Aaron Pionk scores for the '03 Lake Superior Stars in last year's Independent Classic.
The summer hockey season rolls along into the latter days of May with the Independent Classic, an Easton AAA tournament spread across 12 arenas and over 225 teams for the next four days.
The bulk of the boys' divisions will take place at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, with the four highlighted divisions of 2003 Invite, 2004 Invite, 2005 Invite, and 2006 Invite. Among those teams include players who have skated for nationally ranked squads in the Gentry Galaxy and several skaters from the '03 Great Plains team that sits at No. 5 in the MyHockeyRankings. Gentry is currently No. 8.
In last year's tournament, Lake Superior took home the title in the 2003 Invite Division, with the Minnesota Steel taking 2004 honors and the Minnesota Blades earning the crown in both the 2005 and 2006 Invite divisions.
For full tournament rules, schedules, hotel accommodations, and more click here.
Tristan Tabucol will skate for '03 Miracle Gold this weekend.
Participating Teams
Centennial Cougars, Lake Superior Stars, Gentry Astros, Miracle Gold
Players to Watch
Owen Van Tassel, Centennial
Powerful player with great strength. Van Tassel is a workhorse on both ends of the ice.
Zarley Ziemski, Lake Superior Stars
Ziemski's shot and nose for scoring areas enabled him to score seven goals and total 10 points for Northstar Elite earlier this month during the World Selects Invite.
Tristan Tabucol, Miracle Gold
Tabucol floats through all three zones in the best way possible. Constantly moving, the forward is just as skilled at picking off passes in his own end as he is navigating in close to the net for rebounds.
Chaz Lucius, Gentry Astros
Lucius is a gifted scorer is the engine behind a potent offense. He'll rank among the division's top scorers throughout the weekend.
Predicted Champion: Miracle Gold
Matt Everson, Centennial Cougars.
Participating Teams
Mustangs Green, Blue Army, '05 Minnesota Blades, Miracle Gold
Players To Watch
Chase Cheslock, Mustangs Green
Staunch defender with nice reach who doesn't lose players during offensive cycles.
Connor Dewandeler, Mustangs Green
Difficult to slow down once he winds up, Dewandeler pushes the puck with speed when the breakout lanes are clogged.
Matthew Whisler, Blue Army
Gritty forward with strong hands, Whisler will find his share of rebounds low in the offensive zone this weekend.
Jett Gibbons, Blue Army
Another net-hound for Blue Army. Gibbons has solid skates and rotates well through the neutral zone.
Oliver Moore, 2005 MN Blades
Fearless with the puck, Moore can get his shot off from any point of the offensive zone.
William Whitelaw, 2005 MN Blades
Whitelaw factors into every facet of the game, contributing on offense, defense, and special teams. Find him leading the power play and anchoring the penalty kill.
Predicted Champion: 2005 Minnesota Blades
Oliver Moore, '05 Minnesota Blades.
Participating Teams
Velocity Black, Midwest Devils, Blue Army, Team Attack
Players to Watch
Brodie Ziemer, Velocity Black
Ziemer is a deft scorer with soft hands and is the primary scoring option for Velocity Black.
Chase Messner, Velocity Black
Skated well in The Big One, handing out a pair of assists and creating offensive pressure.
Jayden Veney, Blue Army
A lengthy defender who rarely loses battles along the boards or in the corners.
T.J. Gibson, Blue Army
Specializes in hounding the opponent's net, has a habit of maintaining zone presence below the dots.
Predicted Champion: Blue Army
Brodie Ziemer, Velocity Black.
Participating Teams
Lake Superior Stars, TC Red Knights Selects, Velocity Black, Hometown Hockey, Blue Army, Fox School of Hockey, '06 Minnesota Blades, Viverant
Players to Watch
Max Plante, Lake Superior Stars
Tireless worker whether forechecking or back-checking, Plante's play pays dividends on both sides of the ice.
Ashton Schulz, TC Red Knights Selects
Broke out in a big way during The Big One, racking up eight goals and 13 points in just five games.
Lucas Mann, Hometown Hockey
A smooth skater with speed, Mann can be found lurking around an opponent's net waiting for defensive lapses.
Bode Sampair, Viverant
A solid athlete with strong puck skills, Sampair is a quality player who excels at using the boards to manipulate passes.
Carter George, Fox School of Hockey
A goaltender adept at ruining quality scoring chances, George has a quick glove and good lateral movement.
Predicted Champion: Lake Superior Stars
Ashton Schultz, TC Red Knights Selects.