As often is the case for the State of Hockey, the eyes of the United States amateur hockey community turned to Minnesota from Sept. 25-29.

With the North American Hockey League Showcase, also known as The Greatest Show on Ice, concluding Sept. 28 in Blaine, Minn., various league and tournament officials took advantage of having approximately 400 college and pro scouts already in the area by scheduling events featuring some of the top U.S. youth players and teams in the 13O through 18U age groups.

An affiliate of the NAHL, the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) held the first showcase of the year for its T1ER League, also known as the North American Tier 1 Hockey League. The NAPHL T1ER League is comprised of USA Hockey National Bound Tier 1 Boys teams in the 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U age groups. These teams play a full-season schedule, including strategically located and scheduled NAPHL Showcases, throughout the 2024-25 campaign.  

Meanwhile, fewer than 20 miles away in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Blades held their annual showcase for Tier 1 USA Boys teams at the 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U age levels. The Minnesota Blades Invitational Fall Showcase featured 35 teams from as far away as Anaheim, Calif., to the west and Pittsfield, Mass., to the east playing a total of 70 games at Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center and the Breck School’s Anderson Ice Arena. Games started Sept. 25 and concluded Sept. 29.

And at rinks within a 30-mile radius of Blaine, Minnesota Hockey held its Fall Tier 1 High Performance League Playoffs for Minnesota Girls and Youth teams between the ages of 13 and 15 starting Sept. 27. Between eight and nine teams competed in a double-elimination format in each age group for the right to advance to the Minnesota District Tournament. District Tournament winners earn a trip to the USA Hockey National Championship in April. Youth Tier 1 playoffs were held at the 13O, 14U and 15O age levels, while the Girls 14U Tier 1 Playoffs also were contested through Sept. 29.

 

NAPHL T1ER League Showcase

Play started Sept. 26, with a total of nearly 70 teams competing in about 150 games across the 15O, 16U and 18U age groups through Sunday. All games were streamed on NAHLTV.com.

 

NAPHL T1ER League 15O Division

The 15O Division included 13 teams each playing four games from Sept. 26-29. The Orange County Ice Dogs were the only team to compete the showcase undefeated, posting a 4-0 record and outscoring their opponents, 17-9. Stefan Kaiser, Jax Poredi and Owen Schrader tallied three goals apiece for OC at the event. Schrader led the team with six points. CarShield went 3-1 on the weekend with an overtime loss to Elite AAA Hockey from Connecticut. The Pittsburgh Stars also were 3-1, and similarly suffered their lone loss to Elite AAA hockey in regulation. Despite those two big wins, Elite finished the showcase 2-2.  

 

CLICK HERE for the 15O schedule and results.

CLICK HERE for the 15O standings.

CLICK HERE for the 15O team rosters.

 

NAPHL T1ER League 16U Division

In the 16U Division, six of the nation’s top-52 teams, according to our first MHR 2024-25 rankings, competed in four games apiece from Sept. 26-29. Of the NAPL member organizations, the Vegas Jr. Knights and Madison Capitols, not two of those top 52, led the way by each posting three wins to go along with an overtime loss. Vegas fell to the Minnesota Lakers, 4-3, while the Caps’ lone setback came at the hands of Team Alaska. The Lakers and Windy City Storm were guest teams, and both posted perfect 4-0 records. Another guest team, the Pittsburgh Vengeance, was 3-1 with a shootout loss. Guest team the Minnesota Blue Ox posted a 3-1 mark with an OT setback, while two other guests, the Nashville Jr. Predators and Team Alaska, each won three games. 

Madison’s Mason Majewski, Pittsburgh’s Alexander Popov and VGK’s Joe Bukovec paced all players with 9 points. Majewski recorded 4 goals and 5 assists, while Bukovec had 7-2-9 and Popov added 6-3-9. Nicholas Barnett off the Orange County Ice Dogs recorded 3-5-8.  

 

Here is how the top-ranked 16U teams performed:

#23 Nashville Jr. Predators – (3W, 1L, 9PTS)

#28 Windy City Storm – (4W, OL, 1OTW, 11PTS)

#31 CarShield – (2W, 2L, 6PTS)

#38 Indiana Elite – (3W, 1L, 8PTS)

#48 Pittsburgh Stars (2W, 1L, 1OTL, 7PTS)

#52 Belle Tire (2W, 2L, 6PTS)

 

CLICK HERE for the 16U schedule and results.

CLICK HERE for the 16U standings.

CLICK HERE for the 16U team rosters.

 

NAPHL T1ER League 18U Division

Eight top-50 18U USA Boys teams, according to our first MHR 2024-25 rankings, competed in the 18U Division. The Madison Capitols, Lincoln Stars and CarShield all had perfect weekends as NAPHL member teams, going 4-0. Madison gave up just one goal while scoring 16 in recording three shutouts. North Dakota, a guest team, also went 4-0 while leading the 18U Division with 26 goals.

North Dakota’s Bryce Mattern led all 18U players with 11 points on 6 goals and 5 assists. He had four more points than the next-closest players as five players were tied with 7 points apiece.

 

Here is how the top-ranked 18U teams performed:

#23 CarShield (4W, 0L, 12PTS)

#28 Team Maryland (0W, 4L, 0PTS)

#35 New Jersey Jr. Titans (2W, 1L, 1SOL, 7PTS)

#38 Biggby Coffee (2W, 1L, 1SOL, 7PTS)

#45 Team North Dakota (4W, 0L, 12PTS)

#48 Pittsburgh Stars (1W, 3L, 2PTS)

#49 Philadelphia Little Flyers (2W, 2L, 6PTS)

#50 Cleveland Barons (3W, 1L, 7PTS) 

 

CLICK HERE for the 18U schedule and results.

CLICK HERE for the 18U standings.

CLICK HERE for the 18U team rosters.

 

All NAPHL T1ER League games were streamed at NAHLTV.com.

 

 

Minnesota Blades Invitational Fall Showcase

The Minnesota Blades Fall Showcase started with one game apiece in the 16U and 18U divisions Sept. 25 and continued through Sept. 29 with games at all age levels. There were a total of 35 Tier 1 USA Boys teams competing in 70 games in the 14U, 15O, 16U and 18U age groups. Games were played at Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center and Breck School Anderson Ice Arena and should be available for viewing for the next 30 days or so at LiveBarn.com.

 

Minnesota Blades Showcase 14U Division

The 14u Division had a total of six USA Boys Tier 1 teams, five of which were ranked among the nation’s top 28, according to our first MHR 2024-25 rankings. Third-ranked Shattuck-St. Mary’s finished the Blades Showcase with a perfect 4-0-0 record. The Sabres outscored their opponents, 30-9, and recorded wins against the No. 8 Chicago Mission (6-5), No. 22 St. Louis AAA Blues (5-1) and #35 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (10-1). The Mission went 3-1-0 and beat No. 28 Team Wisconsin (4-3), and Anaheim, 4-2) The Blues also were 3-1-0, with wins over the Ducks (5-3) and Team Wisconsin (3-2).

 

Here is how the 14U Division Teams performed:

#3 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (4-0-0, 8 PTS)

#8 Chicago Mission (3-1-0, 6 PTS)

#22 St. Louis AAA Blues (3-1-0, 6 PTS)

#28 Team Wisconsin (2-2-0, 4 PTS)

#35 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (0-4-0, 0 PTS)

N/A Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (0-4-0, 0 PTS)

 

Minnesota Blades Showcase 15O Division

Nine USA Boys Tier 1 teams competed in the 15O Division, and three of them were ranked among the nation’s top 15 in our initial MHR 2024-25 rankings. Six teams were ranked among the top 50. The No. 4 Chicago Mission led the way with a 4-0-0 record, followed by the No. 35 Anaheim Jr. Ducks, who went 3-1-1. Chicago beat No. 6 Honeybaked and Anaheim, with the lone loss coming against a Shattuck-St. Mary’s team that figures to be ranked among the top 10 soon. The Jr. Ducks recorded wins vs. No. 60 Sioux Falls, No. 50 Compuware and No. 36 Team Wisconsin while also skating to a 2-2 tie with the No. 15 St. Louis AAA Blues.

 

Here is how the 15O Division Teams performed:

#4 Chicago Mission (4-0-0, 8 PTS)

#6 HoneyBaked (2-2-0, 4 PTS)

#15 St. Louis AAA Blues (2-1-1, 5 PTS)

#35 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (3-1-1, 7 PTS)

#36 Team Wisconsin (1-3-0, 2 PTS)

#50 Compuware (1-1-0, 2 PTS)

#60 Sioux Falls Power (2-3-0, 4 PTS)

N/A Shattuck-St. Mary’s (2-2-0, 4 PTS)

N/A Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (0-4-0, 0 PTS)

 

Minnesota Blades Showcase 16U Division

The 16U Division featured 10 USA Boys Tier 1 Teams. Four of those teams were ranked among the nation’s top 10 in our opening MHR rankings, and six were among the top 27. Not surprisingly, top-ranked Shattuck-St. Mary’s went 3-0-1, picking up wins against the 10^th-ranked Chicago Mission and No. 54 Anaheim Jr. Ducks. The ninth-ranked Bishop Kearney Selects also posted a 3-0-1 record. Those two skated to a 2-2 tie Sept. 27. BK beat the NortStar Knights, 11-2, No. 62 Atlantic Coast Academy, 6-5 in OT, and No. 27 Team Wisconsin, 3-1. The No. 6 Sioux Falls Power and No. 25 St. Louis AAA blues each posted 3-1-0 records for the weekend.

 

Here is how the 16U Division Teams performed:

#1 Shattuck-St. Mary’s (3-0-1, 7 PTS)

#6 Sioux Falls Power (3-1-0, 6 PTS)

#9 Bishop Kearney Selects (3-0-1, 7PTS)

#10 Chicago Mission (1-2-1, 3 PTS)

#25 St. Louis AAA Blues (3-1-0, 6 PTS)

#27 Team Wisconsin (2-2-0, 4 PTS)

#54 Anaheim Jr. Ducks

#62 Atlantic Coast Academy

N/A NorthStar Knights

N/A Phoenix Jr. Coyotes

 

Minnesota Blades Showcase 18U Division

Ten USA Boys Tier 1 teams participated in the 18U Division. Three of the participants were ranked among the nation’s top 28 in our first MHR season rankings. The fourth-ranked Bishop Kearney Selects and No. 54 Chicago Mission posted the best record of the weekend in the Division, going 3-1-0. BK’s lone loss came against the NorthStar Knights by a 2-1 margin, and they did beat Chicago, 4-2. The Mission’s best win was a 2-1 decision vs. #28 Little Caesars. No. 44 Florida Alliance went 2-1-1.

 

Here is how the 18U Division Teams performed:

#4 Bishop Kearney Selects (3-1-0, 6 PTS)

#11 St. Louis Jr. Blues (2-2-0, 4 PTS)

#28 Little Caesars (2-2-0, 4 PTS)

#44 Florida Alliance (2-1-1, 5 PTS)

#54 Chicago Mission (3-1-0, 6PTS)

#60 Atlantic Coast Academy (2-3-0, 4 PTS)

#61 Sioux Falls Power (1-3-0, 2 PTS)

#69 Anaheim Jr. Ducks (1-2-1, 3 PTS)

N/A NorthStar Knights (2-1-0, 4 PTS)

N/A Phoenix Jr. Coyotes (0-2-2, 2 PTS)

 

 

Minnesota Fall Tier 1 High Performance League Playoffs

The High Performance Tier I League provides the top players from each district within Minnesota a chance to play with and against the best players from around the state. The League is conducted in accordance with USA Hockey rules, and all teams are eligible for USA Hockey’s Tier I National Championships.

There are eight or nine teams from the 12 Minnesota Hockey districts competing at each age level: Loons (District 2), Walleye (District 3), Grey Ducks (Districts 4/9), Polars (District 5), Lakers (District 6), Moose (District 8), Green Giants (District 10), Voyageurs (Districts 11/12) and Blue Ox (District 15/16). 

Tryouts were held in May, June or July, with competition weekends starting in August and running through early October. Teams play a total of 20 games against Minnesota teams, Team Wisconsin, Team North Dakota and other teams from around the United States visiting Minnesota.

Playoffs were held for 13O, 14U and 15O Minnesota Youth teams and 14U Minnesota Girls teams Sept. 27-29.

All games can be viewed at MNHockey.TV.

 

13O Youth Minnesota Fall Tier 1 Playoffs

The 13O Youth Playoffs were held at Richfield Ice Arena and Burnsville Ice Arena from Friday, Sept. 27 through Sunday, Sept. 29. There were nine competing teams: the Grey Ducks, Voyageurs, Lakers, Walleye, Blue Ox, Moose, Green Giants, Loons and Polars. Winners of each round continued to advance, while losers dropped into a lower bracket to compete for third and fourth place. The top-four finishers advance to the Minnesota District Tournament to compete for a spot in USA Hockey Nationals.

The Lakers beat the Loons, 8-0, to complete a perfect weekend and capture the league title. Meanwhile, in the third-place game, the Blue Ox skated to a 3-0 victory over the Green Giants. Donovan Klin, Blake Schmitt and Owen Moulton scored three points apiece to lead the Lakers to the championship, while goalie Blake Pickens stopped all 19 shots he faced to record the shutout win. Jace Manger scored twice, while Dylan Elliott and Arend VanWyngeeren combined to record a 23-save shutout for the Blue Ox in the third-place game.

 

CLICK HERE for the 13O Youth bracket

CLICK HERE for the tournament program

 

14U Youth Minnesota Fall Tier 1 Playoffs

The 14U Youth Playoffs were held at Richfield Ice Arena and Burnsville Ice Arena from Sept. 27-29. There were nine competing teams: the Grey Ducks, Voyageurs, Lakers, Walleye, Blue Ox, Moose, Green Giants, Loons and Polars. The teams finishing first through third advance to the Minnesota District Tournament along with Shattuck-St. Mary’s to compete for a trip to USA Hockey Nationals.

The Blue Ox were perfect in the playoffs, capping off their three-game run with a 7-2 victory against the Loons Sept. 29 to claim the championship. The Voyageurs claimed the third berth in the District Tournament by defeating the Moose, 5-1, for third place. William Cullen and Easton Dozark had three points apiece, with Lucas Mills and Will Arnold combining for 16 saves for the Blue Ox in the championship game. TJ Wojtysiak and Kolby Chiodo each had a pair of goals for the Voyageurs in the third-place game, while Carter Nash stopped 38 of the 39 shots he faced to pick up the win in goal.

 

CLICK HERE for the 14U Youth bracket

CLICK HERE for the tournament program

 

15O Youth Minnesota Fall Tier 1 Playoffs

The 15O Youth Playoffs were held at Furniture and Things Community Event Center in Elk Ridge, Minn., from Sept. 27-29. There were eight competing teams: the Voyageurs, Lakers, Walleye, Blue Ox, Moose, Green Giants, Loons and Polars. The top-three finishers advance to the Minnesota District Tournament to compete for a trip to USA Hockey Nationals along with Shattuck-St. Mary’s.

The Loons knocked off the Walleye Sept. 28, 4-2, to capture the league title, with the Polars capturing the third bid to the District Tournament by beating the Green Giants, 5-1, for third place the next day. Grant Jakaboski scored twice for the Loons as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead before surrendering a pair of goals to Bode Sarsland. But Jakaboski’s second of the game into an empty net with 26 seconds left sealed the championship. Raef Roller made 32 saves for the winners. Isaac Mentzler scored four consecutive goals for the Polars to break a 1-1 time and lift his team into the District Tournament. Logan Preugschas stopped 19 shots for the Polars.

 

CLICK HERE for the 15O Youth bracket

CLICK HERE for the tournament program

 

14U Girls Minnesota Fall Tier 1 Playoffs

The 14U Girls Playoffs were held Doug Woog Arena in South St. Paul, Minn. from Sept.  27-29. There were eight competing teams: the Voyageurs, Lakers, Walleye, Blue Ox, Moose, Green Giants and Loons. The teams finishing first, second, third and fourth advance to the Minnesota District Tournament.

The Lakers scored three times in the final 18:05 to break a 1-all tie and knock off the Moose, 4-1, for the league championship. Josie Nelson, Alaina Lindsay, Brooke Kapeller and Ella Olsen scored for the winners, while Piper Tam made 18 saves. In the third-place game, Josephine Kelzenberg scored twice as the Green Giants netted the first four goals of the game and cruised to a 4-1 win against the Loons for third place. Gabbi Johnson was the winning netminder, stopping 19 shots.

 

CLICK HERE for the 14U Girls bracket

CLICK HERE for the tournament program