Bauer National Invitational Tourney set for this weekend

NIT Field Features 17 D-I Signees, 29 on NHL Scout List

New Hope, Minn. – Teams from five states and Canada make up an exciting field for the Bauer National Invitational Hockey tournament November 6-8 at New Hope Arena.

Defending champion Shattuck-St. Mary’s leads a field of eight teams that include two Minnesota squads (Red and White, made up of players from the just-completed Upper Midwest High School Elite League), Culver Academy of Indiana, Team Wisconsin, an all-star team from the Michigan Developmental Hockey League, the Dallas Jr. Stars and an all-star team from a prep school league in Manitoba.

There are four future University of Minnesota Gophers and four future University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on tournament rosters. Also in the field are players who will go to player for MSU-Mankato, St. Cloud State, the University of Wisconsin, the University of North Dakota, Princeton, Cornell, Miami of Ohio and the Air Force Academy. In addition to these 17 players, another dozen players are on the “Players to watch” list recently produced by the National Hockey League’s Central Scouting Service.

“Every year the NIT brings the stars of tomorrow to New Hope for three days of great hockey,” said John Russo, founder and commissioner of the Elite League. “This year we have an especially impressive group of players from all over North America.”

First-round games being played on Friday include:

5:15 p.m. – Minnesota White vs. Culver Academy, North Rink
5:45 p.m. – Shattuck-St. Mary’s vs. Dallas Jr. Stars, South Rink
7:45 p.m. – Minnesota Red vs. Team Wisconsin, North Rink
8:15 pm. – Michigan Developmental Hockey League vs. Manitoba Prep

The semifinals will be at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, with the championship game scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Last year’s NIT featured seven players who were selected in the NHL Entry Draft this past June. Scouts and coaches from more than 100 NHL teams, colleges and junior programs have registered to attend the tournament.

The Upper Midwest High School Elite Hockey League is a non-profit hockey league designed to provide high-level competition supplementing the regular high school hockey season. For more information visit the league’s website at www.hselitehockey.com.