16U Team Wisconsin 

The group of Wisconsinites managed to go undefeated against a solid 16U field in Brooklyn Park, posting a 3-0-1 record with the only blemish being a 4-4 tie against Shattuck-St. Mary's. Team Wisconsin scored wins over the Minnesota Blades, Colorado Thunderbirds, and a 3-2 overtime victory over the Chicago Mission, a team featuring four Division I commits and eight USHL/CHL draft selections.

Max Itagaki, Chicago Mission 16U

Despite falling in overtime in the aforementioned Team Wisconsin battle, Itagaki tied the game late in regulation to force the extra session. Itagaki started with the Mission as a Squirt Major according to the organization's website and made his verbal commitment to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Monday.

U15 Powers Maintain Supremacy 

The Chicago Mission and Detroit Little Caesars are arguably the gold standards for Tier I hockey in the United States, and the premier programs did not disappoint during their trip to the north metro. The Mission went 3-1 over the weekend, with the only loss coming against Little Caesars while earning wins over the Minnesota Blades, Team Wisconsin, and the Colorado Thunderbirds. 

Little Caesars' only loss came against the Blades, with wins coming against Shattuck-St. Mary's, Colorado Thunderbirds, and Mission. The scheduled Saturday night bout between Little Caesars and the Gentry Galaxy was canceled.     

Central Division

The Austin Bruins find themselves atop the Central Division after going 3-1 at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine, with the lone loss coming in a shootout to the Topeka Pilots. Andrew Willis currently leads the team in scoring with two goals and five points, followed by Dante Sherriff and Joseph Winkelmann with four points each. 

East Division  

Both Johnstown and New Jersey find themselves in first place after the weekend, as the Tomahawks went 2-2 in Blaine. Chad Merrell paces the Tomahawks with six goals and seven points so far. The Titans also took home a 2-2 record, with both losses coming by just one goal against Odessa and Amarillo. Kyle Jeffers leads the team with six points. 

Midwest Division

Kenai River managed to bounce back after losing its first two games of the showcase with two wins, including a 4-1 victory over defending NAHL champion Shreveport. Assist-master Markus Komuls currently leads the Brown Bears in scoring with a goal and five helpers. 

South Division 

With one-goal wins over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (4-3) and Austin (2-1), Topeka piloted its way to four wins in Blaine, running its record to a league-best 6-1. Austin McCarthy has been the offensive catalyst for the Pilots, totaling four goals and eight points.  

The Bantam Elite League's Minor season came to a close on Sunday afternoon, as the Sharks edged the Bruins 3-2 on a late goal by Jack Kernan. Kernan buried a centering pass from Wyatt Olson with just 29 seconds remaining in regulation to lift the Sharks to the win. 

The North Stars took third-place on Sunday in a similar fashion before the title game, as Max Roby deposited a rebound with 34 seconds left on the clock for the game-winner. The North Stars scored three times in the final 13:57 of regulation en route to the win. 

For the full Sunday BEL story, click here. 

Team White scored five times in the second half to pull away from Team Red in the Red/Black Bantam League finals for a 7-4 win, paced by Sam Rice's hat-trick and assist. Team Red's Alex Bump scored two goals in the loss, pushing his season totals to a league-leading 29 goals and 36 points in just 12 games. 

In the Peewee finals, Team Gold skated past Team Black 5-1, as the league's leading scorer Brittan Alstead tallied two goals and an assist. Alstead finished the Red/Black slate with 21 goals and 32 points in 12 games. Rounding out the league's leading scorers were Team Gold skaters Jacob Mattson (13-15-28) and Luke Miller (13-14-27).

The Bantam Major Great Plains team headed south to Faribault for a pair of games, facing host Shattuck-St. Mary's on Friday night and Team Wisconsin on Saturday morning, winning both games. 

Friday night's 3-1 win over the Sabres featured quality goaltending play from Ryan Wallin, while Saturday's 8-0 romp over Team Wisconsin provided offensive highlights from Gavin O'Connell (three assists), Nick Baer (two goals, one assist), and Maddox Fleming (two goals). The win gives Great Plains 21 consecutive wins since an Aug. 5 loss during Bantam Elite League.  

The 2004 Great Plains group will close out its season on Tuesday night, facing Shattuck-St. Mary's for the second time in Faribault.