Energy, excitement define Minnesota State Tournament

By Chuck Grillo

The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament is an event held sacred in the state of Minnesota.  Personally, I don’t know of any other experience more suited for personal and professional growth for teenage boys and girls.

This tournament, played in a world-class facility at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center, continues to define itself as one of the largest spectacles in the entire hockey world. 

It’s is a social event, a reason for hockey people to gather in one place for a weekend and reflect on all the great things about the game.  It's a time to remember a player or a moment, like the past performances of a John Mayasich, Joe Micheletti, Henry Boucha, Gary Sargent, Mike Antonovich, Bill Israelson, Steve Christoff or Neal Broten.  My thoughts always turn to men like legendary coaches Larry Ross and Willard Ikola as well as hockey legends like John Mariucci and Herb Brooks.

The event shows up on every NHL and college scout's schedule before the season begins.   The economic effect on the Minnesota State High School League, as well as the communities hosting the regional playoffs and the tournament, are a matter of record.

I've had the unique opportunity of participating in 11 state tournaments in hockey and baseball as an assistant and head coach at Bemidji High School.  Along with serving my country in the Marine Corps, these are some of the most memorable moments of my life. 

As a scout, it’s relatively easy to grade out a player's skill level.  We all see how they skate, handle the puck and think the game.  At a tournament of this magnitude, we spot subtleties that tell us a player sees the game at a higher level.

The state tournament is like a quiz for the student-athletes; not the final exam in life.  The tough grade is how much they hate to lose.  Character and levels of competitiveness sort the real players from the pretenders, as does execution in critical situations.

As a player, the state tournament is an opportunity to make a difference and create memories with friends that will last a lifetime.

So who will use this year’s tournament as a springboard for launching a career in hockey?  What team will create memories that people talk about for years to come?  Is there a newcomer that will begin a tradition that lasts forever?  How do all these experiences translate into success stories on and off the ice?