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“When I heard all of them come in and speak… it made me want to get my sons into hockey,” McBride said. “That’s the kind of people that it produces, these men.”

She was in search of male role models for her sons. Enter hockey and the Richfield Little Spartans, a new youth hockey program for various ages, experience levels and diverse backgrounds. The diversity piece was huge for McBride, who moved to Minnesota for medical school in 2015 and said she’s “never felt a part of this community.”

“In every sector I go it’s, unfortunately, diversity really does make a difference for me feeling comfortable,” McBride said.

Terri McBride and her son, Xavier, take in the Blues vs. Wild game on March 23 at Xcel Energy Center. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Walsh)

Hockey came at the perfect time for her family last fall. Her son Xavier started hockey in December with the Little Spartans.

“It’s really been like perfect timing that we had a new family and new structure to come to every weekend,” McBride said.

McBride and her son attended their first Wild game with a group of other Little Spartans participants and their parents/guardians, thanks to InSports Foundation, on March 23 when Minnesota hosted the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center. Xavier loved the peanuts and the music, his mom said, and he gave his approval of the game with a thumbs-up signal from his seat in the lower bowl behind the Wild’s net.

It was also fitting that the Blues were in town because Xavier was born in St. Louis. He came two months early while McBride was in the area for her Coast Guard drills. While Xavier was in the NICU in St. Louis for a month, Blues fans celebrated the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2019.

“We’re not hockey people,” McBride said. “We’ve never been to a game. I don’t even understand the rules. We want to learn.”

McBride and her son have started to learn through being part of the Little Spartans program. This winter was the first season for the program, with Anthony Walsh, Edina graduate and author of the children’s book “Hockey is for Everybody,” as a coach. The program met each weekend in the mornings starting in December at Richfield Ice Arena with anywhere between 40 to 65 kids participating.

Nine-year-old Carlos Martinez took in the Blues vs. Wild action as well, as part of the Little Spartans group. It was his first Wild game, and he said he liked seeing the players up close. His favorite thing about playing hockey? “Skating fast.”

Walsh recalls how Martinez couldn’t skate – he’d never tried before – when he first joined the program.

“Now, this kid is flying around,” Walsh said. “One-timers, putting it home. It’s incredible.”

Brian Boyer, another coach with the Little Spartans, attended the game with his 5-year-old son, Remi. March 23 wasn’t Remi’s first Wild game. He got interested enough to start playing hockey after coming to a lot of Wild games in the past, his dad said. Now, Remi loves getting on the ice with the Little Spartans.

“We wake him up Saturday morning, and he just jumps out of bed,” Boyer said. “We just count down the days of the week until Saturday… and he gets to play. He’s obsessed.”

They’re going to continue to stay involved with the Little Spartans, and Boyer said he looks forward to coaching more, too.

“It’s been really fun to watch him really fall in love with hockey, and then really focus on something,” Boyer said. “For a 5-year-old, there’s not a lot that interested him. It’s been really fun. He wants to play as much hockey as he possibly can.”

Special visitor
Before the Wild game that day, a game ultimately won by the Blues 5-4 in overtime, the Little Spartans had a special guest at their practice at Richfield Ice Arena. Former Wild defenseman and Elk River native Nate Prosser stopped by and was on the ice with the young players.

Boyer said that while a lot of the kids didn’t realize who Prosser was, it was the parents who were excited to see the former NHLer working with their kids, since they remember when Prosser played for the Wild from the 2009-10 to 2016-17 seasons. Boyer added that the kids were all excited about which former NHL player was going to see them, taking guesses in the locker room the previous week, Boyer said, “but their guesses were far from accurate.”

Parent Owen Fors noticed more parents than usual at the special morning practice with Prosser in attendance.

“He had a really nice way of working with the kids,” Fors said. “Obviously, a lot of hockey experience. Knows the nitty gritty details. So, he knows how to make the kids focus on those little details but still have fun while doing it.”

Owen Fors took his son Kyllian to his first Minnesota Wild game as part of the Little Spartans outing on March 23. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Walsh)

While young Remi was already a veteran fan of Wild hockey games, Fors’ son, Kyllian, sat nearby at the X on March 23 and held a souvenir certificate marking his very first Wild game. Kyllian sat with his dad. The tradition of Richfield hockey is a generational activity for the Fors family.

Owen Fors was on the last varsity team for Richfield, and now his son Kyllian is part of the rebirth of the program. The Richfield program merged with Kennedy during Owen’s squirt year of hockey, he said, so he didn’t get a chance to play out of mites with Richfield. But by eighth grade, he had an opportunity to play on Richfield’s last varsity team; he was only one of a dozen players who returned the next season, meaning they couldn’t have a team.

Owen is happy to have a youth hockey program back in Richfield for his son, and he noted the benefits of a city having its own team.

“It kind of just builds pride in the program and the school,” Owen said.

Father-son hockey traditions
Six-year-old Dominic had also been to Wild games before, but he took in the action on this day with his Little Spartans cohorts. He said he likes “to learn” when he’s watching the Wild. As a player, Dominic likes to skate, score and make new friends.

Besides the Little Spartans, Dominic, who’s been skating since he was 3 years old, plays within Edina’s youth organization as well. But his dad, Tony DeRocha, wants his son to keep skating with the Little Spartans in hopes that he’ll learn a lot of basic hockey skills.

Little Spartans are diverse, from age to hockey skills to ethnic and economic backgrounds. DeRocha also played hockey, for Cretin-Derham Hall where he’s currently on the coaching staff for the football team. His grandparents were immigrants.

“Just think generationally,” DeRocha said. “When they become parents, what the game will look like.”

It’s exciting to see kids have this opportunity with the Little Spartans, DeRocha said.

“They’ve got a good thing going,” DeRocha said. “It’s important as a parent to see him see other kids making those strides.”

Little Spartans on the ice at Richfield Ice Arena. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Walsh)

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Every year during the spring, the DinoMights organization brings in kids ages seven and eight (1st and 2nd grade) from Minneapolis and St. Paul to teach them how to ice skate. During this six week program they teach kids the basics of skating in a very inclusive and encouraging environment.

Skating for the first time, which is the case for most of the kids they serve, can be a very anxious task. With the help of the DinoMights staff and many amazing volunteers they help minimize any self doubts about stepping into the unfamiliar world of hockey.  Their smiles and confidence grow throughout the course of the program and, if you volunteer, you will be a part of many unforgettable and important moments that these kids can share and experience for the rest of their lives.

Although there are still many barriers that prevent kids from being able to join the world of hockey, DinoMights provides a solution by bringing in kids from areas that often get overlooked to both participate in and enjoy our Learn 2 Skate program.

The DinoMights are seeking groups and individuals to volunteer to help tie skates, and to give a hand on the ice. They hope to see you!

Here is the link to sign up to volunteer:

https://signup.com/client/invitation2/secure/4110193960127/false#/invitation 

Above details provided by Scott Harman, DinoMights Executive Director

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For 50 years, the St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association has provided generations of players – from mini-mites to Bantams – the opportunity to learn, compete and enjoy the sport on hometown rinks in their own community.

The organization has evolved from its inception as the Highland Hockey Association, which, in 1973, was one of many organizations supporting neighborhood and local park teams.

Highland joined forces with the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul in 1987, eventually becoming the Highland Central Capitals. In 2014, its current incarnation, the St. Paul Capitals as it is known today, became permanent.

Much has changed since the early days of the organization, but much has stayed the same, according to Capitals board president Julie Bustos, who’s been involved for years as a board member as well as a parent, having three kids participate in the program.

In the buildup to the 50th anniversary celebration, Bustos connected with a number of people involved in the early years of the association and heard first-hand how their shared experiences forged lasting bonds.

“There’s a lot of pride built into that,” Bustos said. “It was amazing to hear their stories about how much hockey meant to players both on the ice, as well as skills and things that they applied in their life off the ice, the friendships that they made that they still have.”

Matt Funk is the athletic director and boys hockey coach at Cretin-Derham Hall and knows the value the Capitals provide not just the community, but his program as well. Funk’s grandfather, Bill, coached at the University of St. Thomas, and in 1973, was one of the founders of the association, creating opportunities for three generations of Funks who went to play and coach in St. Paul high schools and colleges.

The St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association started as the Highland Hockey Association. (Photo courtesy of St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association)

“We’re rooted in St. Paul hockey. It’s not just a game. It’s about the lifelong skills you learn and the memories and friends you make,” Funk said. “The history here is remarkable and we need to keep that going for generations to come.”

Mike Vannelli also knows all about hockey friendships and lasting traditions. The Vannelli family is synonymous with hockey in St. Paul. Mike’s father, Tom Vannelli, played for Herb Brooks at the University of Minnesota, and was a freshman in 1974 when the Gophers won their first national championship. As a sophomore, the elder Vannelli was second in scoring for the WCHA champion Gophers.

Tom was head coach at Cretin-Derham Hall and co-head coach with his brother, Greg, at St. Thomas Academy. Mike played his high school hockey for his father at Cretin; and he played four years for the Gophers under Don Lucia, where he won a national championship before several seasons in Europe.

But prior to skating at Mariucci – or for the perennially powerful Raiders – Mike Vannelli came of age with the Highland Central Capitals.

“There’s a phenomenal sense of community,” Mike Vannelli said. “There’s a lot of kids that are playing in the association that are second, third, some are even fourth generation. And so, it’s pretty special in that regard. And it’s a very tight knit community.”

Today, Mike Vannelli’s son and daughter play in the Capitals program, where he is doing double time as vice president of boys hockey, as well as coach of his son’s squirt team.

“There’s so many things that as a parent and coach that you see that they’re able to get out of it,” Mike Vannelli said. “First and foremost, it seems like they’ve built some amazing friendships that they’ll be able to carry with them the rest of their lives.”

Mike Vannelli points to the fun he sees his kids having with teammates – in practices and in games, both structured and unstructured, inside arenas and outdoors in parks – as invaluable experiences, providing not just enjoyment, but lifetime lessons.

“The qualities that they begin to get instilled in them through competition, accountability, just learning to be a good teammate; what that means, essentially translates to being a good person on and off the ice,” he said.

How can the Capitals keep moving forward? 
After decades of creating those experiences for thousands of St. Paul kids, the Capitals are now faced with an existential challenge: how to keep the organization vital and thriving for the next 50 years and beyond. Ice time has grown scarce, and expensive, while participation costs continue to increase.

During the 2023-24 season, fees for squirt and 10U were $1,220; and that number only rises for older players.

The Capitals are working to keep the program viable for future generations. (Photo courtesy of St. Paul Capitals Hockey Association)

“We’re challenged with finding ways to try and keep that cost as manageable as possible,” Mike Vannelli said. “And there’s some folks within our association that have done an amazing job with some fundraising efforts that they’ve kicked off.”

With rising costs and dwindling numbers already having claimed most of St. Paul’s youth programs, the Capitals are working in-season and out to keep their program viable for future generations.

“It’s a little bittersweet to be honest with you,” said Jim Runyon, director of fundraising for the Capitals and a lifelong St. Paul resident who grew up playing in the Central Hockey Association.

Runyon can’t help but think of the thriving programs in the parks and recreation system when he was growing up. Associations like Battle Creek, Phalen and Conway, among numerous others, no longer exist.

“There were probably 25 organizations in St. Paul that offered really good, quality competitive hockey,” Runyon said. “So, to celebrate our 50th was great because you feel like ‘Wow, this is a long time that kids have been playing hockey here,’ but you also look at who’s still around and it’s kind of sad to see.”

But Runyon is quick to call out the silver lining the Capitals have sought: New fundraising efforts which are now the lifeblood of the program.

Kelly Rand, the association’s gambling coordinator, has set the course for the Capitals to raise funds as suburban programs like Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Eagan and Edina have through legalized gambling or, more specifically, pull-tabs and Bingo, through exclusive agreements with local establishments.

“A year and a half ago, we became licensed. We started with one bar, and a bar and restaurant,” Runyon said. “We now have two up and running and we’re trying to play catch up.”

Creating financial stability as hockey costs rise
The goal is to generate more than just fast funding – which is needed – but to create generational stability for the association.

“The costs of hockey are going up too fast,” Runyon said. “And in order to sustain it, we had to put on the brakes, and the only way to do that was to set up some sort of endowment.”

The growing need inspired the St. Paul Capital’s Legacy Fund, which will maintain proceeds for investment, with a small percentage coming out each year to fund the program.

“We have to work a little bit harder, but more importantly, we have to be smarter about what we do with our money,” Runyon said. ‘That money is dedicated and restricted so that for the next 50 years, kids in St. Paul will have an opportunity to play hockey.”

The results are encouraging for coaches, parents and their kids. And for leaders like Bustos, who’s seen hockey evolve since her playing days, before girls hockey was ever a thought.

Bustos competed exclusively with boys in the Tartan Area youth league until Bantams. So for her, the focus is always about providing opportunities for kids to participate – now and well into the future.

“How do we keep this association and the service that it brings to the community alive and vibrant?” she asked, rhetorically. “We want to produce the same kind of emotional connections and life connections and athletic development that we’ve been providing for the last 50 years.

“My dad coached me and now I’m coaching my kid and I want to make sure that my kid has a chance to coach their kids.”

The post 50 Years And Counting appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Class AA
(Rank-Team-Section-Dec. 18 rank)

1. Minnetonka 2AA 1
2. Wayzata 6AA 2
3. Benilde-St. Margaret’s 6AA 5
4. Edina 6AA 3
5. Maple Grove 5AA 9
6. Chanhassen 2AA 4
7. St. Thomas Academy 3AA NR
8. Holy Family 2AA NR
9. Shakopee 2AA 10
10. Rosemount 3AA 8

Class A
(Rank-Team-Section-Dec. 18 rank)

1. Hermantown 7A 1
2. Warroad 8A 3
3. Delano 2A NR
4. St. Cloud Cathedral 5A 2
5. East Grand Forks 8A 5
6. Mahtomedi 4A 6
7. Orono 2A 4
8. Northfield 1A 8
9. Cloquet 7A 7
10. Monticello 5A NR

Bantam AA
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Moorhead 15 WWWWWWW
2. Osseo/Maple Grove 3 WWWWLL
3. Minnetonka 6 LWWWWW
4. Wayzata 3 WWWLWLW
5. Prior Lake 6 LWLTWW
6. Rosemount 8 WT
7. Hermantown 11 LWLWW
8. White Bear Lake 2 WTLWLWL
9. Edina 6 LWWWL
10. Centennial 10 W

Moorhead has established itself as the favorite to win state in Grand Rapids in March. They are arguably one of the best Bantam teams in the country.

Tonka and Wayzata both move up after impressive post-holiday success. Skippers win the Edina Invitational and the Trojans beat previous #2 Prior Lake and gain the Grand Forks final before losing to the Spuds.

Bantam A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Shakopee 6 WLLLT
2. Hopkins 3 WWWWWWWW
3. Warroad 16 WWLW
4. Rock Ridge 12 WWW
5. St. Louis Park 3 WWWTWWL
6. Osseo/Maple Grove 3 WWTWLW
7. Northern Lakes 15 DNP
8. Moorhead 15 WWW
9. Mankato 9 WWTL
10. New Ulm-Sleepy Eye 4

After a 2-week holiday ranking hiatus, the top nine stays the exact same. There is a new team at No. 10, and that team is New Ulm- Sleepy Eye, as the Eagles went 10-0-1 in the month of December.

Here are some notes on the rest of the top ten.

-No. 1 Shakopee dropped a few games to AA squads, the Sabers are safe at No. 1 for now.

-Hopkins impresses this weekend as they won the Edina invitational tournament over No. 6 Osseo/Maple Grove.

Bantam B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Hermantown (Blue) 11 WWWTWW
2. Mahtomedi 2 WL
3. Bemidji (Blue) 16 WW
4. Woodbury (Black) 8 WWWWL
5. Roseville 2 WWW
6. Edina (White) 6 LWWWW
7. Morris-Benson 15 WW
8. Osseo/Maple Grove (Black) 3 WLLWW
9. Lakeville North 8 WWLW
10. Eden Prairie 6 L
10. Hastings 8 WWTLT

Edina White is the biggest story in this weeks top 10, as the Hornets swarm from unranked to No. 6. Edina White defeated two top-10 teams on their way to a title in the Edina invitational this past weekend. Lakeville North is another team that went unranked to ranked this past week. The Panthers took 3rd place on the Edina invitational with two top-10 wins as well. Hermantown Blue is the new No. 1 team at the Bantam B level. The Hawks went an impressive 5-0-1 since the last time we did rankings. One notable score is Roseville defeating previous No. 1 Mahtomedi, which bumped the Raiders to No. 5.

Peewee AA
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Minnetonka AA 6 DNP
2. Moorhead AA 15 W
3. Woodbury AA 8 WL
4. White Bear Lake AA 2 W
5. East Grand Forks 16 WW
6. Stillwater AA 2 WW
7. Osseo/Maple Grove AA 3 TW
8. Prior Lake 6 WW
9. Wayzata 3 LWWWW
10. Edina 6 WWWL

A fairly uneventful couple weeks in AA. The Thief River Falls Prowlers take the Paul Bunyan International in Bemidji beating Hibbing, Champlin Park and Spring Lake Park to win. Wayzata jumps into the top-10 after winning the Edina Invitational with good wins over Rogers, Rochester and Edina to hoist the trophy.

Peewee A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Northfield 9 WTWW
2. Warroad 16 L
3. Park-Cottage Grove 8 WTL
4. Proctor 11 WW
5. Roseville 2 WTWW
6. River Lakes 5 WW
7. Marshall 4 WW
8. Bloomington Jefferson 6 WWWW
9. Thief River Falls 16 LWWWW
10. Mounds View/Irondale 12 WLW

Not many changes this week in PWA, but here are some things to note: Warroad drops a game to EGF, opening the door for Northfield to take the No. 1 spot back. Roseville moves one spot up this week to No. 5. The Raiders are 27-2-4 overall on the season. No. 8 Bloomington Jefferson had a big week, as the Jaguars won the Edina Invitational with some big wins.

Peewee B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Edina White 6 TLWWWW
2. Osseo/Maple Grove (Black) 3 WWLWWW
3. East Metro 8 WLW
4. Minnetonka (Blue) 6 W
5. East Grand Forks (Green) 16 WWWWW
6. Minnetonka (Black) 6 TWTWWL
7. Hermantown 11 WWLW
8. Eastview 8 LWW
9. Bemidji (Blue) 16 WLWWW
10. Coon Rapids 10 WWTWW

Edina White goes unranked to No. 1 in the two weeks there hasn’t been rankings. Why? The Hornets won the Edina Invitational, rattling off wins against two top-five teams, including a victory over previously top-ranked Osseo-Maple Grove Black.

East Grand Forks Green is back among the top five, as the Green Wave won all five of their games this past week. Coon Rapids is back in the rankings this week at No. 10, as they recently defeated last week’s No. 10 Elk River.

All content in this article is provided by Youth Hockey Hub.

The post YHH Staff Rankings (BOYS): January 2 appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Class AA

1. Minnetonka (13-1-1)

The Skippers move back to No. 1 after Hill-Murray’s loss to unranked Lakeville North at the Eden Prairie Mid-Winter Meltdown. Everything’s been gravy for Minnetonka since its loss to the Pioneers on Dec. 9, having won six straight games (seven if you include the Walser Tourney shootout win over Andover, which I do not for personal reasons) and have allowed two goals or fewer in those contests.

As is the case for a handful of top teams, the Skippers will do some personnel shuffling over the next couple of weeks, given that defender Lauren Goldsworthy, forward Kendra Distad, and goaltender Layla Hemp will be competing for Team USA at this Under-18 Women’s World Championships.

2. Andover (9-2-3)

Despite “falling” to Minnetonka in the finals of the Walser Tourney, the Huskies should feel like Unbothered Queens after the holiday. The game against the Skippers was decided in a shootout, and the Huskies will never be in that position again. Shutouts over perennial top-10 teams Maple Grove and Edina only bolster the Huskies’ resume, and gives the team 10 consecutive periods without an allowed goal.

3. Hill-Murray (14-1)

Any coach will tell you that regular-season losses don’t keep them up at night, but being undefeated does.

Losses reveal mistakes and weaknesses, and the Pioneers suffered their first at the hands of an opportunistic Lakeville North squad in the first round of the Eden Prairie Mid-Winter Meltdown. In response, the Pioneers pounded Roseau 8-2 and edged an underrated North Wright County team 3-2.

4. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (10-2)

The Red Knights came out on top in the Eden Prairie tournament, beating Roseau, Lakeville North, and the host Eagles in the finals. The mid-span championship also means the Red Knights have won five straight since the 5-0 loss against No. 2-2A Andover.

5. Edina (10-3-1)

The Hornets have won four of their last five, including a third-place finish at the Walser Tourney thanks to a 3-2 overtime win over current No. 10-2A Stillwater. The lone loss in that stretch came against Andover, and while the final 3-0 score isn’t much to read into, the fact that the Hornets went 0-9 on the power play is…not great.

Starting goaltender Nora Hannan will be unavailable during the U18 Women’s Worlds, so Reese McConnell will eat most of the starting minutes.

6. Moorhead (12-2-1)

I’ve said it in private, and now I’ll reiterate in public – Moorhead is the last team I want to face when it’s do-or-die.

The Spuds can play in close games like few teams, winning four of five games decided by two goals or fewer this season. The lone loss in that data set came against top-ranked Minnetonka in the opening round of the Walser Tourney, and the eventual game-winning goal for the Skippers came on a power play.

Five-on-five, ten-toes-down, the Spuds are the definition of dangerous.

7. Centennial/Spring Lake Park (12-1-2)

Speaking of things that are dangerous (remember to unplug your non-denominational holiday trees at night!), the north metro’s favorite co-operating downed Dodge County, Rogers, and No. 1-1A Orono to earn top honors at the Crosstown Cup in late December.

Not exactly the strength of the Walser field, but Orono is one of the top teams in the state regardless of class, and the Cougars are finding goal-scoring after the graduation of Lauren O’Hara, who led the team with 37 goals last season.

8. Lakeville North (10-2-1)

Scoring is nice, and balanced scoring is nicer, but the goaltending situation at Lakeville North is a bit like having a Maserati to rely on, even if the G-Wagon is in the shop.

I’m not sure who the Maserati or the G-Wagon is between Kaia Weiland and Addie Oettinger, but the Panthers are #blessed to have a pair of gamers between the pipes no matter the night.

The Panthers’ losses have been by a single goal against Edina and Benilde-St. Margaret’s, and now they have a top-10 win to add to their list of qualifications. Aside from a Hockey Day Minnesota game on enemy ice in Warroad, there is a genuine chance Lakeville North wins out the rest of the season against a primarily South Suburban Conference schedule.

9. Northfield (15-0)

The wins keep on coming for the Raiders, and unlike Jesse James, the winning streak shows almost zero signs of dying. Free plug – Northfield hosts a yearly Defeat of Jesse James Days. This year, the eponymous foundation that hosts the event donated $6,000 to the Northfield Hospital Foundation.

Crookston may challenge the Raiders on Jan. 5, and the tilt with Benilde-St. Margaret’s offers Northfield the chance to capture a top-10 win, but the rest of the Big Nine Conference slate poses little resistance to the Raiders’ march to glory.

10. Stillwater (10-5)

We’re about to find out a whole heckuva lot about the Ponies over the next few games, with all-everything Josie St. Martin enjoying her third tour of duty with Team USA at the U-18 Women’s Worlds.

Brooke Nelson and Addy Finn are now the drivers on offense for the Ponies, and the time is now for a second or third-liner to step up on the scoresheet. Personal pick for a player to emerge in the absence of JSM on the top line and power play – Belle McKenzie.

McKenzie has three goals this season, which won’t turn heads, but the junior forward has speed to burn and a motor that never quits.

Class A

1. Orono (12-4)

Losing to No. 7-2A Centennial/Spring Lake Park in overtime isn’t nearly enough to knock the Spartans out of the top spot this week, nor is a 2-1 OT loss to previous No. 8-2A Maple Grove. The Spartans play arguably the most demanding schedule among Class A teams and have hung with some of the upper Class’s best.

No. 4-2A Benilde-St. Margaret’s and no. 2-2A Andover are the following games on the Orono slate, which the Spartans will play without Team USA-bound Macy Rasmussen.

2. Warroad (10-3)

The Warriors followed a 1-0 loss to No. 6-2A Moorhead with three straight wins in its Holiday Tournament, topping Rosemount 5-4, Fort Frances (Ont. ) 9-1, and then avenging a Dec. 5 loss with a 4-3 win over Section 8A foe and top-10 team Crookston.

A gnarly six-game road trip awaits the Warriors in the new year, but those bus legs could come in handy come the postseason.

3. Holy Angels (10-3-2)

The Stars’ run to the finals of South St. Paul’s Kaposia Classic came to an end in a shootout loss to Champlin Park/Coon Rapids, which shouldn’t taint the Stars’ record because (as noted above) shootouts do not happen during regular-season or postseason play.

Orono and Hill-Murray represent the toughest tilts remaining on the Stars’ schedule this season.

4. Duluth Marshall (15-1-1)

We are coming up on two straight months without a loss for the Hilltoppers, who edged Wazyata in a shootout of the Herb Brooks Holiday Classic Gold Division’s championship game. The regular season’s ultimate game is scheduled for Jan. 23 against Section 7A rival Proctor/Hermantown, which curiously gives the Hilltoppers 19 days between games from a Jan. 4 meeting with Rock Ridge.

5. Proctor/Hermantown (8-5-1)

The 8-0 loss to Andover on Dec. 8 has turned into five consecutive victories for the Mirage, including a win over fellow top-10 team Delano/Rockford on Dec. 15. The strength of P/H’s schedule doesn’t let up for the rest of the season, with Hill-Murray coming to town on Jan. 6.

6. Dodge County (13-2)

The Wildcats salvaged two wins after losing to No. 7-2A Centennial/Spring Lake Park in the opening game of the Crosstown Cup on Dec. 27, thumping Breck 6-2 and defeating Gentry Academy 3-1. With 10 games left in the regular season, the Wildcats still have games against Class A top-10 teams Crookston and Orono on the docket, plus a Jan. 30 bout with No. 9-2A Northfield.

7. Crookston (11-4-1)

The Pirates will swing down to the metro area and beyond this coming weekend, facing Northfield on Jan. 5 and Gentry Academy on Jan. 6 after falling to Warroad during the Warriors’ holiday tournament at The Gardens.

Should the Pirates pull off the upset on the road in Northfield, there’s a chance they could be looking at 20 wins this season, although a power play success rate of under 14% is concerning.

8. Mound Westonka/Southwest Christian (10-5-1)

A 5-1 loss to Blaine snaps a six-game winning streak for the White Hawks, who did not compete in the holiday tournament and whose other four losses have all come at the hands of ranked teams in Class AA and Class A.

A Jan. 9 date with No. 9-1A Delano/Rockford should be an entertaining matchup between MWSWC goaltender Ashlyn Roth and Delano/Rockford netminder Kayla Simonson.

9. Delano/Rockford (9-6)

The Tigers put their schedule on hold from Dec. 21 until Jan. 5, giving the team time to rest and heal the injuries that come with playing the fastest sport on ice. Like Mound Westonka/Southwest Christian above, the Tigers’ losses this season have come against top competition, including a one-goal loss against No. 5-1A Proctor/Hermantown and a two-goal loss to No. 3-1A Holy Angels.

10. Willmar (10-3)

I like to believe there is a Cardinal fan out there who can scream “WILLLLLLMARRRRRR” the same way Fred Flintstone called for Wilma all those years ago. Just me? Okay.

The Cardinals are riding a four-game winning streak entering 2024, including a win over Section 6A contender Fergus Falls on Dec. 21. Willmar should also be favored to win roughly eight of their next 12 games.

15A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Edina Green 6 WWWLW
2. Minnetonka Black 6 DNP
3. Rochester 9 WLWWWWW
4. Alexandria 15 WWWWWL
5. Woodbury Black 8 WTWW
6. Stillwater Red 2 WT
7. Andover 9 WWWW
8. Eden Prairie 6 TLTWL
9. NWC Riverhawks 5 LWWWWLL
10. Wayzata Blue 3 LLLWW

The deck got shuffled a little after a barrage of games last week – many at the Danglefest in Blaine. North Wright had a great showing, giving top-5 Alex all they can handle in the semifinals. They slide into the top-10. Rochester jumps up a few slots with an undefeated slate in the Danglefest.

15B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Wayzata (Gold) 3 WWW
2. North Shore 11 WWW
3. Grand Rapids-Greenway 12 LWWWWW
4. Armstrong Cooper 3 WWW
5. Central MN Riverblades 5 TWW
6. Owatonna 9 W
7. Bloomington 6 WTLWWWLW
8. Alexandria 15 WLWW
9. Brainerd/Little Falls 15 W
10. Osseo/Maple Grove (Black) 3

North Shore and Grand Rapids-Greenway trade places this week at No. 2 and No. 3, as North Shore defeated GRG 3-2 this past week. Central MN Riverblades continues their rise to the top, winning two games this week moves them up to No. 5. Bloomington is ranked for the first time this year, as they defeat two current top ten teams- No. 8 Alexandria and No. 10 OMG Black. Brainerd/Little Falls hasn’t lost since the beginning of November- that prompts a No. 10 spot this week and their first time being ranked all season.

12A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Minnetonka 6 WWWWW
2. Edina 6 WWWWL
3. Woodbury 8 WWW
4. Centennial/Spring Lake Park 10 WWWWLWT
5. Chaska/Chanhassen 6 WWWL
6. Grand Rapids-Greenway 12 W
7. Lakeville 8 WW
8. Osseo Maple Grove 3 WWLWWWW
9. Warroad 16 WWWWL
10. Wayzata 3 L

Minnetonka extends their undbeaten streak to 22 games with a narrow win over Edina Sunday in the Danglefest. Blaine had seven of the top-10 teams in the building including Edina who beat previous #2 Centennial-SLP in pool play.

12B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Cannon River 9 W
2. Minnetonka (Blue) 6 WLWWW
3. Eagan (Blue) 8 WW
4. Elk River 10 WTWWL
5. Mounds View/Irondale (Gold) 2 WWW
6. Bemidji 16 DNP
7. Northern Lakes 15 DNP
8. Moorhead (Black) 15 TLT
9. Eagan (White) 8 WL
10. Osseo/Maple Grove (White) 3 W

The top six stays the same as those teams had a solid couple weeks during the holiday season. No. 2 Minnetonka Blue was victorious over No. 4 Elk River winning the Danglefest. Northern Lakes had a big leap from No. 10 to No. 7 this week, as the Lightning are 18-5-0 on the season with 177 goals for and only 33 goals against. OMG White has done enough on the year with a 15-4-4 record to be amongst the top 10 in the state. The Leafbirds are ranked No. 10 in this weeks installation of the rankings.

10A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Osseo-Maple Grove 3 WW
2. Moorhead 15 DNP
3. White Bear Lake 2 WW
4. Blaine 10 WWWWWL
5. Chaska/Chanhassen 6 WTWL
6. Hastings 8 TL
7. Stillwater 2 W
8. Edina Green 6 LWLW
9. Sartell/Sauk Rapids/St. Cloud 5 DNP
10. Bloomington 6 LTWL

So many great 10A teams this year at this level. OMG and Moorhead remain undefeated about halfway through their seasons. White Bear and Blaine flexed their muscles in the Danglefest and earned their way up the T-10 ladder.

Bloomington had a good showing in Blaine and garnered a spot this week in the T-10.

10B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Mankato 9 W
2. Waseca 9 WWL
3. Apple Valley/Burnsville/Eastview 8 W
4. New Prague 6 WWWWLW
5. North Shore 11 WW
6. Central MN Riverblades 5 W
7. Marshall 4 W
8. Woodbury (Gold) 8 T
9. Armstrong Cooper (Red) 3 W
10. Anoka Rogers (White) 10 WWLWW

The No. 1 Waseca and No. 2 Mankato faced off this past week in District 9 play. The last time these two teams played, they skated to a 4-4 draw. This time it was close again, but No. 2 Mankato prevailed 4-3, and now are ranked as the No. 1 team in the state. North Shore is a very good defensive team, the Storm are now ranked in the top five at No. 5. Newly ranked No. 10 14-4-0 Anoka Rogers White has done enough in the past two weeks: winners of their past 10 of 11 games, to prove they belong back in the top ten.

All content in this article is provided by Youth Hockey Hub.

The post YHH Staff Rankings (GIRLS): January 2 appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Background and Ties to Minnesota

The Olde Crabs Hockey Club, LLC, was established in 1991 when a bunch of guys playing against each other on various teams in Westchester County, NY decided to join up to form a team to  play in over 50 division of Snoopy World Hockey Tournament in California.  One of their players was killed in an auto accident.  They hosted a charity tournament with all proceeds going to the American Diabetes Association as requested by his family.  After 3 successful early years and 4 years negotiating with the IRS, the Olde Crabs were granted 501c non-profit charity status. The Fall Tournament Hosted at the Danbury Ice Arena in Danbury , CT, draws 28-32  teams from across the US and Canada in  50, 60,70 and women’s 40+ divisions, is celebrating 15 years and has raised over $300,000 to support local charities.  The Hockey Club founder was Ron Faanes, a Roosevelt grad, class of ’59.  Minnesota Hockey Magazine did a story about their tourney and the yearly participation by the Minnesota Old Timers hockey club.  You can read that story by clicking >> HERE.

The following is the story of  the Connecticut Junior Rangers U12 Girls, one of the benefactors last year, written by Lindsay King and edited by Ron Faanes.

Quebec Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, February 8-19, 2023

For over 60 years, 11 and 12-year-old hockey players from all over the globe have convened in Montreal to battle it out for what has colloquially referred to as “The Pee-Wee World Championships”. The tournament takes place at the Videotron Center, with a capacity of 18,000 fans. These young players have repeatedly called this tournament a “once in a lifetime experience”, often playing in front of more than 10,000 people and televised for all to see. The tournament is annually attended by over 2,000 competitors from over 40 countries, and takes place during the Quebec City Winter Carnival, which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, as the largest winter festival in the Western Hemisphere. For the first time in over 60 years, the Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament, the most prestigious amateur hockey tournament in the world, created a girls division. Twelve girl’s teams from around the world were selected to participate; the Connecticut Junior Rangers U12 Girls was one of the 12 selected.

This group was thrilled to have the occasion to compete against the best female youth hockey players in the world.  The CT Junior Rangers felt they were up to the task to compete on the world stage.

The tournament, more than hockey, presented an opportunity to be immersed in French-Canadian culture, touring such historic landmarks as Old Quebec and the Citadelle of Quebec. It was about meeting, competing against and forging friendships with players from all over the world who share the same passion.

Women’s hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. Making its Olympic debut in 1998, those former players are now back in their communities, serving as role models and ambassadors for the game. There’s a long way to go, but the number of girls currently playing hockey globally is greater than ever before, and the numbers only continue to accelerate. The tournament’s decision to include girls in the Annual Tournoi International de Hockey is yet another example of progress being made and boundaries being broken.

The Path to Respectability

The CT girls went 4-1-1, losing in the Quarterfinals to the eventual Champions, the West Durham Lightning 2-0.

Over the course of the tournament, the girls beat teams from Montreal (2), New Brunswick and England. They also tied a very large team of Kazakhstan boys in an exhibition game 2-2.

Playing in front of thousands of people, on the big stage, our girls played their hearts out game in and game out.

Given that our team is made up of half 2011’s in a vastly predominant 2010 tournament, our girls were often outmatched in physical size, but never in speed, skill or grit.

Off the ice, the girls took in all Quebec had to offer. They went to the Winter Carnival and the Old City, fortunate that many of our days were unseasonably warm! They also loved the 63 year traditional of pin trading with teams from all over the world. It was great to see the “value” of the CJR girls’ pins increase as they continued to win throughout the week! Initially the boys were disinterested… not the case by the end of the week! And glancing through a larger lens, having Ukraine participatingthe tournament drew fans and emotions from all, and it was special to see our girls find understanding and warmth in supporting them. As is often the case, the lessons learned throughout the week were not confined to hockey.

All of the girls in the tournament were a part of something truly special. To be the very first girls division to play in the biggest youth hockey tournament in the world is something no one can ever take away from them. It was a great week for girls hockey, and to be a part of it in this way was a special experience these girls will cherish throughout their lifetime. Thank you for helping make this possible for them.

Please enjoy these photos from the tournament.

Warm Regards, Ron Faanes & Lindsay King

The post CT U12 Girls Get Noticed at Canadian World Tourney appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Mosaic Hockey Collective players take part in a shootout competition during first intermission at Xcel Energy Center on Feb. 9, 2023. (Jeff Wegge/Minnesota Hockey Magazine)

“I think for me, I was just set out to normalize black and brown faces in hockey,” Meredith Lang said. “I just wanted them to know that they have a place.”

Mosaic Hockey Collective is a newly formed 501©3 focused on building an inclusive hockey community that empowers players of color with skills, resources and positive experiences to grow and give back to the game.

Lang, a 2022 Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award finalist, said she doesn’t want any player of color to quit playing hockey or feel like the sport isn’t for them because of bad experiences.

“I don’t want to lose one kid,” Lang said. “So to me, the motivation is I understand the culture. We can support and say, ‘no, we’ve got you.’”

Mosaic Hockey Collective, though relatively new, has already had a few events, including a clinic with the Augsburg women’s hockey team in January, Matt Dumba’s Hockey Without Limits event in Roseville on Feb. 20 and Black History Night with the Minnesota Wild on Feb. 9.

At the first intermission of that Wild game, youth players involved with Mosaic Hockey Collective took part in a shootout competition at both ends of the ice. Some of the goal-scoring moves were pretty impressive and drew boisterous cheers from the crowd. They practiced their deking moves all week leading up to that night, and the goalies worked on having their A-games, too, Lang said.

Lang made the “Let’s Play Hockey!” call prior to puck drop for that matchup between Vegas Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild that night. She was joined at the microphone by her daughters, Aubrey and 11-year-old Mia Lang, both hockey players.

When Aubrey asked about playing hockey nearly a decade ago, Meredith, a former Richfield High School hockey player, was a little confused, since they didn’t talk about hockey.

“’What do you know about hockey? And why?’” Lang asked her daughter. “I’m blessed that I did play a little bit. But I had my high school friends, and I could just call them up and say, ‘my kid wants to play hockey. What does that mean? What do I do?’”

Within a week, her daughter was all set with equipment, learning to skate and getting placed on a hockey team. That’s not a path that every family in Lang’s community is fortunate enough to be on, however.

But Lang does have some of that knowledge, thus she started Hockey Ninas and Minnesota Unbounded before moving on to starting Mosaic Hockey Collective in December 2022. This program also incorporates boys, as Mosaic includes girls and boys from the BIPOC community who are hockey association players from around Minnesota. Mosaic represents about 30 communities in the Twin Cities metro area but also have families from Fargo and Wisconsin involved.

“They want to play the game at the highest level, whatever that is for them,” Lang said. “And we are able to provide amazing experience for them, development opportunities.”

Wild defenseman Matt Dumba and Aubrey Lang at Dumba’s Hockey Without Limits event on Feb. 20, 2023. (Submitted photo)

At the heart of Mosaic is the community of youth hockey players and their families who all love hockey. It’s made up of boys and girls who play association hockey in the age range anywhere from U6 to high school. Mosaic wants to hit the demographic because these are kids who are invested in hockey but need help getting to whatever their next level may be, like development, a next-level opportunity or exposure.

It’s also important for the kids in Mosaic to see that there are other kids who look like them who play hockey.

“Honestly, not to exaggerate, but I do think it’s life changing for these kids,” Meredith said.

Mosaic will have weekly developmental practices for kids on the ice from April through August, along with some guest coaching. Jason Poitra’s three daughters, who play hockey in Edina, are involved in Mosaic. He’s excited about the new venture.

“I think this is great, what’s going on. I really do,” Poitra said. “It opens a lot of eyes for whoever is on the outside looking in. I think it’s great.”

Poitra, a native American, grew up a hockey player in South Minneapolis before moving to White Bear Lake. Being part of Mosaic is personal for him, and it’s an organization he wished he would have had growing up.

“Specifically to make things more comfortable as a minority kid playing the game of hockey, which is predominantly dominated by, is a white sport,” Poitra said. “And that’s just the truth.”

Mosaic’s main mission is to continue to grow the game of hockey and have it be a more inclusive sport and representative of players of color.

“When we look at teams, there’s maybe one boy or girl of color on a team,” said Michael Hafertepe, a Mosaic Hockey Collective board member. “So it’s really about trying to bring awareness that kids of color can play hockey.”

Mosaic is also about shrinking the game for these young players so that they can have some of these great experiences, like playing on the Xcel Energy Center ice sheet, to help fuel them, Lang said.

“We believe that the more positive experiences they have, the longer they’re going to play, the longevity that they’re going to have,” Lang said. “Then they are going to cycle through and they are going to end up growing the game.”

Mosaic Hockey Collective players at Matt Dumba’s Hockey Without Limits event on Feb. 20, 2023. (Submitted Photo)

Part of Mosaic Hockey Collective’s mission is for these kids to be involved with the sport of hockey in more ways than playing the game. The initiative is all-encompassing surrounding hockey, helping to open doors for kids.

The faces of Mosaic will also be hockey coaches, referees and members of a hockey-team front office.

“That’s how we’re going to grow the game, and that’s our initiative,” Lang said.

Hafertepe, a Richfield native (adopted from Korea as a baby) who played hockey growing up and is now a U15 coach in Lakeville, started working with Lang a couple of years ago when she started Minnesota Unbounded. One of the fun parts of Mosaic Hockey Collective is recruiting kids when his teams are out playing games, to help build the Mosaic community.

“Then it’s just helping get those players to whatever level, next level they want to get to,” Hafertepe said. “Whether that’s college hockey, whether that’s high school hockey. Whether that’s making the next A team. That’s what we’re here for.”

The post Mission: Mosaic appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

No matter how many children they raise in the sport, each of them experiences that one first-ever hockey practice and everything that comes with it: The excitement, the anticipation and, for many, the trepidation. Child and parent alike are susceptible to one or all of these feelings — and more —on Day 1 of a youth hockey “career.”

It’s one thing to walk into a rink to watch a sibling play, but what goes through a player’s mind as he or she steps into an arena lobby or locker room filled with peers on the verge of making their organized hockey debut?

In her new book, I’m Going to Be a Hockey Star, A.L. Wegwerth tells that story through the eyes and imagination of one little boy whose aspirations already extend well beyond his immediate surroundings. Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target and Walmart, among others, the 32-page hard-cover picture book was released on Nov. 8, just in time for the Christmas season.

“The premise of the book is just a little kid getting ready for hockey practice and it’s kind of showing you in the first half what to expect; you know, you’re going to fall and all that stuff,” Wegwerth said. “But then as it goes on, he’s dreaming of what he will do when he’s a hockey star.”

A.L. Wegwerth is a pseudonym for Amber Ross, a 15-year publishing veteran, the last 13 of which has been spent focused on children’s publishing.

“I told my husband that when I got famous, I was going to use my maiden name,” a chuckling Ross said over coffee in a White Bear Lake café near where she and her husband, Dan, raise and coach their three children, ages 6, 9 and 11.

Not surprisingly, Ross says the book is “very much informed by me watching and helping coach my kids.”

Amber Ross, aka A.L. Wegworth (riverhorsebooks.com photo)

“This is my fifth book, but it’s definitely the one that’s closest to my heart just because it relates so much with my kids and everything,” Ross said. “They were so sick of reading of it by the end.

“It was like, ‘Okay, can I read it to you now?’

‘Mom, you just read it?’

‘Well, I know but I changed some things.’

‘It sounds the same.’

‘Well, it really doesn’t but, okay.’

“They had a consulting role, for sure,” Ross added.

Enhanced by Canadian illustrator Alana McCarthy’s colorful, eye-popping illustrations, the book takes the reader through his vision of the upcoming practice and how his hard work and skill development puts him on a path to hockey stardom.

Despite her Canadian heritage, McCarthy did not come from a hockey background, so Ross worked closely with her, sharing photos of her own children, to inform McCarthy’s drawings regarding apparel, jersey fit and hand position on sticks.

“So, it was kind of fun to be able to direct her in that too,” Ross said. “I got to be more involved than a typical author would be.”

Published by St. Paul-based independent children’s book publisher, River Horse Children’s Books, the concept for I want to Be a Hockey Star was brought to Ross by her friend and long-time former colleague John Rahm, who launched River Horse after they were each let go by their previous employer due to the pandemic.

“Since I coached and I played, he asked me to write something for his list,” Ross said. “He wanted something for beginning hockey players, like what to expect when they get on the ice. I was like, ‘OK, well, that’s a little bit boring.’ So, I actually gave him what I call three and a half ideas of different ways we could approach it and this was my half idea.

“I knew him well enough that I knew he would get where I was going with it and he said, ‘I like that one, do that.’”

Ironically, the former Amber Wegwerth got a late start in her hockey career. Unlike her book’s subject, Ross did not skate competitively until the age of 15 but was a quick study and played her prep hockey for late-90s Minnesota girls’ high school powerhouse, Roseville, skating to a state tournament with legendary names like Curtin (Ronda and Renee) and Brodt (Chelsey) in 1998.

“I always call myself a pioneer because it was right when girls hockey was getting big in Minnesota,” said Ross, by day a managing editor for Lerner Publishing Group. “And then I had the opportunity to do it in college, too, at St. Ben’s.”

Along with her twin sister — and Roseville teammate — Kelly, Ross was a member of the first class at the College of Saint Benedict to play all four years with the school’s newly-formed women’s varsity hockey program. Ross collected 11 goals among 34 points as one of only three players to play in all 103 games from 1998 to 2002, serving as a co-captain as a senior.

It’s a personal story which pairs well with the dream-big message Ross sends to her readers in I’m Going to Be a Hockey Star.

The post Puck Dreams appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.