Elite League

Ahrens plays like veteran

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 04 October 2012 15:59

By Loren Nelson
MN Hockey Hub editor

Vaughan Ahrens probably didn’t realize that when he got the call to play in the Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League he not only would receive a snazzy Euro-styled uniform but would also be stamped with an alter ego.

Meet Vaughan Ahrens, “The Real Aaron Arherms.”

Girls Elite League set for fifth season

Details: Last Updated on Friday, 07 September 2012 15:12

The fifth season of the Girls Upper Midwest High School Elite League will soon be underway! Modeled after the boys’ version, this fall developmental league allows the top female hockey players in the upper Midwest to compete with players of similar ability. The schedule allows multi-sport athletes to continue their fall sport.

Midwest Xposure set for March 16-18

Details: Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

Like it’s “parent,” the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, the Midwest Xposure Tournament adjusts to maintain it’s strength and competitiveness. Consequently, it will be staying with it’s early dates — one week after the Minnesota State High School Tournament (March 16-18). It has also made a decision to adjust the number of teams each year based on the quality of the player applications.

Elite League set for 12th season

Details: Last Updated on Thursday, 14 February 2013 17:35

By Loren Nelson
MN Hockey Hub editor

Benilde-St. Margaret’s forward Grant Besse is the top returning scorer with 35 points as the Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League released its rosters for the 2012 season.
Besse, who scored all five goals for the Red Knights in their 5-1 state Class 2A championship victory over Hill-Murray, is an early Mr. Hockey frontrunner. He scored 15 goals and added 17 assists in 21 regular season games for Team Northwest last fall, and added two goals and an assist in three playoff games.

Besse is one of six Benilde-St. Margaret’s players on Elite League rosters and is joined by Team Southwest’s Patrick Graham, Dan Labosky and Justin Quale and Team Northeast’s T.J. Moore. Labosky and Moore are forwards, Graham a defenseman and Quale a goaltender. Spencer Naas, who played last season for Blake but is transferring to Benilde-St. Margaret’s, joins Besse on Team Northwest.

Shattuck-St. Mary's Claims Bauer NIT Championship

Details: Last Updated on Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:31

Max Becker scored twice in the title game and finished with five goals and four assists in three games to lead Shattuck-St. Mary’s to the championship of the Bauer National Invitational Tournament Nov. 4-6 at New Hope Ice Arena in New Hope, Minn.

A sophomore from Orange, Calif., Becker scored midway through the second period and added a power-play goal in the third as Shattuck-St. Mary’s beat Minnesota Red 5-3 in Sunday’s championship game. Becker led all players in the tournament in goals and in points with nine.

Kyle Hayton, a senior from Denver, made 39 saves against Minnesota Red and stopped 65 of 70 shots in two starts for Shattuck-St. Mary’s. Jake Montgomery registered a tournament-best seven assists for Shattuck-St. Mary’s, which beat Massachusetts 15-2 in the quarterfinals and Norway 9-1 in the semifinals.

Jordan Gross, a junior defenseman from Maple Grove, scored two goals and added five assists to lead Minnesota Red in scoring in the tournament. Gross, who has committed to play at Notre Dame, had a goal and an assist in the third period of the championship game as Minnesota Red scored all three of its goals.

Grant Opperman, a Breck senior committed to Dartmouth, and linemate Christian Horn, a senior from Benilde-St. Margaret’s, each had two goals and three assists in the tournament. Minnesota Red reached the championship game with a 7-3 triumph over Northwood School (N.Y.) on Friday in the quarterfinals and 5-1 win over Minnesota White in Saturday’s semifinals.

Hermantown senior Jared Thomas scored three goals and added three assists for Minnesota White, which beat Norway 5-3 in Sunday’s third-place game. Kyle Lee of Wausau West had four assists to finish second on Minnesota White in scoring.

Northwood won the consolation title with a 7-5 victory over New England on Sunday. Massachusetts won the seventh-place game with a 4-2 triumph Sunday over Michigan.