Minnesota Scouting Report

The Junior A Combine May 17 - 20, 2012

The Junior A Combine is for players looking to advance to the Junior A ranks.  We will be hosting the event that includes scouts from the USHL, NAHL and CHL.  

Players will participate in testing, games and events throughout the weekend.     

R4 Hockey and the Minnesota Scouting Report takes pride in hosting special events that include the top high school prospects in Minnesota and throughout the nation. Over the past five years we have brought teams and players to the USHL Fall Classic, Junior A games, and college campuses such as UMD, SCSU, amongst others.

Events include:

• Tours to facilities
• Visits with college and junior coaching staffs
• Educational meetings
• Two to three game competitive series
• Player Testing On and Off-Ice
• College and Junior prepration seminars

The MSR (Minnesota Scouting Report) hosted the 2011 USHL Fall Classic Sophomore Series for the 4th consecutive year. The trip consisted of 32 of Minnesota's Top 1995/96 Prospects (mostly Sophomores) who traveled to Sioux City, Iowa for a 3 Game Series during the USHL Fall Classic preseason event. Once again, this was a very successful trip. Players were given the opportunity to live the junior hockey lifestyle and showcase their skills to Scouts and Coaches in the 3 Game series between MSR South Black and MSR North Gold.

Both Teams were sent out on a bus together after school on Thursday en route to Sioux City. Friday morning was the first game of the series held at the Musketeer's home rink, The Tyson Center, and included USHL Coaches from Waterloo and Fargo on the bench Coaching. Other USHL Coaches and College Scouts also attended the game. The players were treated to a guided tour of the Sioux City Musketeer's locker room by Assistant Coach Mark Abalan. After Watching a couple of USHL Games and grabbing lunch, both MSR Gold and MSR Black had the opportunity to listen to Team USA's Assistant Coach Matt Greason and former participants of MSR trips in the past, Kyle Osterberg and Brady Skjei speak about their decision to join the USNTDP, and all of the hard work and sacrafices that were made to reach their goals.

Later that evening, the second game game of the series was played at IBP Arena. Both teams put together a great performance in front of another handful of USHL and College Scouts. In true Jr. hockey fashion, the third game of the series was played early the following morning. Game 3 of the series was played back at The Tyson Center and was certainly another exciting performance. The MSR South Black made a statement by winning all 3 Games of the series. Both MSR Black Goalie, Zach Mains (Holy Angels) and MSR Gold Defensemen, Drake Thomsen (Maple Grove) were voted by the Coaching Staff as the MVP's of the weekend. They both displayed strong, positive attitudes and played solid, consistent hockey in all 3 Games. Cole Borchardt (Burnsville) was given 3rd Star for scoring some big goals to help MSR Black capture the series.

All of the players involved took in some great USHL action and viewed first hand the speed, talent, sacrifices, size and strength needed to play in the USHL. The Minnesota Scouting Report would like to thank the Sioux City Musketeers organization and everyone that helped make this trip a success once again. Thank you!