6th ANNUAL SCHWAN CUP HOCKEY TOURNAMENT, DECEMBER 26-29, WILL OFFER THE BEST HOLIDAY HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY TOURNAMENT IN MINNESOTA AGAIN THIS YEAR
Fox Sports North to broadcast boys’ championship games, December 28
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 17, 2006
Contact: Barclay Kruse, National Sports Center/MN Amateur Sports Commission
763.785.5634
bkruse@mnsports.org
Kathy Ross, Xcel Energy Center
651.265.4819
kross@wild.com
Blaine, Minn. (November 17, 2006) – Sixty-four of the best boys and girls high school hockey teams in Minnesota will battle in the sixth annual Schwan Cup hockey tournament, December 26-29. The tournament field is divided into three eight-team boys’ divisions and five girls’ divisions.
The top four divisions will get the most attention. The top gold and silver boys’ divisions will play at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul and Aldrich Arena in Maplewood. The top blue and red girls’ divisions will play at the Schwan Super Rink at the National Sports Center in Blaine, with championship games at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis. All four tournaments are loaded with top-ranked teams.
In addition to these marquee divisions, the tournament will also offer an additional eight-team boys division playing at the Brooklyn Park Arena, and three additional girls’ divisions playing at the Schwan Super Rink, with championship games at Ridder Arena.
In addition to the 64 high school varsity teams, Schwan Cup divisions will be offered for 48 junior varsity teams, and 56 youth teams. The youth teams will play at the Schwan Super Rink at the National Sports Center in Blaine, December 29-31. A total of 168 teams will participate in the event.
The National Sports Center, Minnesota Amateur Sports Commission, the Minnesota Wild and its parent company Minnesota Sports & Entertainment will host the tournament, which is sponsored by the Schwan Food Company.
Fox Sports North will broadcast four boys’ games from the Xcel Energy Center on December 28, with Anthony LaPanta handling the play-by-play and Kevin Gorg providing color commentary. The FSN broadcast will feature the third place game in the gold division, followed by the championship games in the bronze, silver, and gold divisions.
Here is a summary of the teams in the top four divisions. Rankings in parenthesis are from Let’s Play Hockey Magazine, November 16 rankings.
The top boys’ high school division, with most of the games played at the Xcel Energy Center December 26-28, boasts a field of teams all ranked in the top twenty in the state. Included are the 2005 Schwan Cup gold and silver division champions Holy Angels (#2AA) and Hill-Murray (#9AA), as well as the other semifinal teams from last years gold division, runner-up Moorhead (#3AA), third place Centennial (#13AA), and fourth place White Bear Lake (#11AA). Rounding out the gold division field is Bloomington Jefferson (#12AA), Duluth East (#8AA) and Roseville (#16AA).
The second boys’ high school division, the silver division, offers a potential championship match-up between the reigning State AA and A champions as well as the pre-season top-ranked teams, Cretin-Derham Hall (#1AA) and St. Thomas Academy (#1A). Blaine (#5AA), which finished third in the State AA Tournament, will also be a championship favorite. Rounding out the silver division field is Edina (#18AA), Benilde-St. Margaret’s (#14AA), Burnsville, Brainerd, and Wayzata. This division will play preliminary games Aldrich Arena in Maplewood, on December 26-27, with the championship game scheduled for the Xcel Energy Center on December 28.
The top 16 girls’ teams, also split into two eight-team divisions, will play all their preliminary games at the Schwan Super Rink at the National Sports Center, December 27-28. Championship games will be at Ridder Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota on December 29.
The blue division will be led by defending Schwan Cup blue champion Elk River, Schwan Cup red division champion Blake (#2A), Schwan Cup white division champion Coon Rapids (#5AA), Cloquet-Esko-Carlton, the third place team in the State AA championship (#8AA), Benilde-St. Margaret’s (#6AA), and Cretin-Derham Hall (#12AA). Hopkins and Hill-Murray round out the blue division.
The second red division will offer an early-season glimpse of five teams ranked in the pre-season Let’s Play Hockey magazine rankings. Leading this bracket is Warroad (#6A), runner-up in both the StateA Tournament and the Schwan Cup red division last year. The other ranked teams in this division are Bemidji (#9AA), Mahtomedi (#13A), Silver Bay/Two Harbors (#12A), and Eagan (#20AA). St. Louis Park, Eastview and Rochester Mayo complete the red division.
Last year’s tournament drew over 18,000 fans, with the biggest crowds turning out for the boys’ games at the Xcel Energy Center and the girls’ championship games at Ridder Arena.
Single-day ticket prices vary from $10-$12 per day, depending on the venue. Student and senior tickets are priced at $8-$9, depending on the venue. Tickets are good for all four games played on a given day. A discounted tournament pass is available for those wanting to attend games on all three days. Children nine years of age and under will be admitted free. All tickets are general admission and may be purchased at the door.
For additional ticket information, call the Schwan Super Rink at 763.717.3880. All schedules and results can be found here.
Working media:
Requests for Media Credentials can be obtained by faxing, emailing or calling Barclay Kruse, National Sports Center Media Director:
763.785.5634
763.785.5699 (fax)
bkruse@mnsports.org
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