UMHSEL: Bauer NIT making history

By Upper Midwest High School Elite League Staff 

For the first time in its 11-year history, the Elite League's Bauer National Invitational Tournament will feature a standing national team as part of the three-day competition.

The Norway U-18 team is one of eight teams participating in the tournament. The same team will represent Norway in the IIHF World U18 Championships in December.

Along with the team from Norway, The Bauer NIT will showcase arguably the best hockey talent in the nation.

Nearly 200 Elite League alumni are currently on Division I rosters, with 20 more skating for National Hockey League teams – including young stars like Nick Leddy and Jake Gardiner, who skated in the NIT three years ago.

The NIT is one of North America's most scouted hockey events, with representatives from virtually every NHL team in attendance and a "who's who" of the top college coaches.

Championship Sunday is great for rubbing shoulders with the top coaches in the nation, including Don Lucia (University of Minnesota), Scott Sandelin (University of Minnesota-Duluth) and Dave Hakstol (University of North Dakota).

This is a great opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow.

The action starts at 5:15 p.m. Friday with the quarterfinals at the New Hope Ice Arena in New Hope, Minn.

The quarterfinal matchups are as follows:

Minnesota Red vs. Northwood School (N.Y.): 5:15 p.m. at New Hope-North
MDHL U-18 vs. Minnesota White: 5:45 p.m. at New Hope-South
New England Prep vs. Norway U-18: 8:15 p.m. at New Hope-South
Massachusetts All-Stars vs. Shattuck-St. Mary's: 7:45 p.m. at New Hope-North

Semifinal matchups will be played at 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at the New Hope north arena, with the championship held at noon Sunday, Nov. 6 at the north arena.

Click here for a link to the tournament bracket.

In addition to the NIT, the Elite Prep Development League will be hosting its Young Guns National Invitational Tournament this weekend at the New Hope Arena. Many of the Young Guns will go on to compete in future Elite League events.

Friday's games include:
Michigan vs. Shattuck – 2:45 p.m. at New Hope-North
Massachusetts vs. Minnesota – 3:15 p.m. at New Hope-South