State’s top players featured weekly at Braemar and on MNHockey.TV

by Robert Brent, Let’s Play Hockey

The NHL, college, and high school hockey seasons may shut down in spring, but in Minnesota, the ice never really melts. During the offseason months, Edina’s Braemar Arena hosts several summer leagues that provide athletes of all experience levels the opportunity to sharpen their skills. Among them is the fast-growing and fan-friendly Celly League.

The league features five teams of professional and collegiate women’s hockey players, as well as athletes entering the college ranks in the fall. The Celly League dropped the puck on its first season in the Summer of 2023 and has brought elite action to Braemar Arena since.

The Celly League opened play on June 17 and will play a slate of games each Tuesday and Thursday until the championship game. The Celly Cup Championship will take place at Braemar Arena at 6:45 PM on Thursday, July 31.

This year’s campaign has delivered no shortage of action. Team Ace Hardware has dominated the field since the league’s inception, capturing the first two Celly Cups in a row. However, the current standings suggest that there may be a new contender for the coveted championship.

Team Lake Cowboy is currently steamrolling the competition with a 6-0 record, which includes 40 goals scored and only 13 against. The team is led by the dynamic duo of Katelyn Roberts and Ellie Zakrajsheck. 

Roberts, a Chanhassen native and Penn State Nittany Lion entering her senior season, currently leads the league in scoring with 13 points in five games. Minnetonka High alum Zakrajsheck has notched 10 points in five games before her first season with Minnesota-Duluth in the fall.

Team Tradition Mortgage and Pellicci Ace Hardware are right behind Lake Cowboy, both with three wins and three losses. 

Goaltender Hailey Hansen has been a standout player for Tradition Mortgage. The Minnesota State Mankato netminder has logged a .894 save percentage while making the second-most saves in the league with 88 through six games played. 

Meanwhile, forward Avery Farrell has starred for the Ace Hardware team. Farrell suited up for Ace last season, playing a key part in the team’s championship run. The St. Cloud Huskies forward has been even better this Summer with five goals in four games.

You can catch all the Celly League action leading up to the championship live at Braemar Arena in Edina. Spectators can watch the games for free. Those unable to attend can also stream games on mnhockey.tv. 

Braemar Arena also hosts the Celly League’s sister organization, the Dangle League. 

The Dangle League provides another slate of summer hockey, this time for Minnesota’s top high-school players. Players from around the state compete in the league, which is meant to mimic the team environment and schedule of a regular season.

Celly League players coach teams, and the rosters remain consistent for most games unless substitutions are necessary. This format fosters a team-first and competitive atmosphere that prepares elite high school players for the coming season.

The league kicked off its second season on June 19 and takes place every Tuesday and Thursday until the championship is decided on August 14.

Admission to Dangle League games is also free to the public, and games can be viewed on mnhockey.tv.

Complete schedules, results, and statistics for the Dangle League can be found here.