Best Off-Ice Performance 

While Danny Nelson led the three-on-three portion of the combine with 19 goals in four games, his talents extended to the LumberYard's training areas as well. 

In a dodgeball game that approached epic proportions, Nelson began his odyssey facing ten players on the opposite side of the artificial turf. One-on-ten. The Vegas Golden Knights had better odds at the beginning of last season. 

Through sheer force of will and skill, Nelson pared his opposition down to five players before gracefully bowing out of the game without blowing his cool like Phil Mickelson.

Best Comeback

Getting shelled 38-20 in a team's first two games of three-on-three ranks fairly close to the bottom on the list of "Best Ways To Start A Set Of Games."

Enter White 1. 

Losses to Gold 2 and eventual champion Grey 1 in the teams first two games at the LumberYard lined up the putt for White 1 to face an unbeaten Maroon 2 squad, armed with a pair of players that finished near the top of the final scoring leaders. 

With a spark more suited for the Fourth of July, White 1 exploded for the first four goals of the game en route to a rollicking 15-14 win. The group would follow that victory up with a win the following day, capping a remarkable turnaround from the first pair of games. 

Best Overall Team 

Typically, the team that claims the five-on-five championship on the Minnesota campus runs into problems as the combine moves east, with players split into two teams while often dousing full-ice chemistry. 

Last week, Grey smashed the NOW Prospects glass ceiling, claiming both the five-on-five title and (at least half) the three-on-three crown, as Grey 1 outscored opponents 71-61 in four games at the LumberYard.

Best Coach 

The Golden State Gopher may as well have been Scotty Bowman behind the bench last week. Just ask him.

Best Snipe 

With pinpoint accuracy, Ben Tauscher launched a rocket toward 5th Street. With a wrist-missile en route to Siebert Field, Tauscher found mesh instead, converting one of the most impressive goals of the week.  

Best Moves 

The jury is still out on whether or not Lucas Kickhofel uses Gorilla tape on his blade, but his wizardry with the puck was never in doubt last week as he zigged and zagged around opponents.  

Best Ultimate Player

The Beanstalk was enthusiastic, engaged, and took a sincere interest in the participants as both players and kids. 

Best Moment (Mariucci)

While the plush chairs in the Mariucci player’s lounge are designed to support athletes pushing 200 pounds, the NOW Prospects made themselves at home in the seats, no doubt contemplating what it would be like to settle into those same pieces as Golden Gophers.  

Best Moment (LumberYard)

Over sandwiches in Stillwater, the players bantered about the combine, hockey, and life in general, as hockey continues to connect kids from all over the state.   

Best Save 

When he’s not jet-setting to the Olympics as one of the 16 best ice-makers in the world, Lead Ice Maker for the University of Minnesota Facilities Adam Stirn is the point man for the NOW Prospects Minor Combine. On Thursday, the final day when the teams skate in Dinkytown, a hole materialized on the ice at Ridder Arena. Stirn gracefully fixed the problem, and the games were played on time.