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2015 Model Camp is Good as Gold

By Minnesota Hockey, 07/31/15, 6:45PM CDT

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The 2015 CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance Model Camp wrapped up this afternoon with its first-ever championship game.  Model Camp is an annual development camp at the University of Minnesota campus that hosts the top 15-18 year old boys’ players in Minnesota for a week of training and competition.

This year’s Model Camp was only the second season as a part of Minnesota Hockey’s CCM High Performance programs.  The redesigned camp now has a reinforced emphasis on long term athlete development, increased collaboration between Division I hockey coaches in Minnesota and features Minnesota’s top players, many of whom just recently finished participating in USA Hockey’s national camps.

After such a successful camp last year, word spread throughout the hockey community, and there was a sizable increase in interest coming into Model Camp this summer.

“This year we went to six teams, and it was as competitive as I’ve ever seen Model Camp,” said Model Camp Director, Grant Potulny.  “The championship game was maybe the best Model Camp game I’ve seen in seven years.”

In addition to the games, Model Camp also provided the players with a series of on-ice skill sessions and off-ice training with a focus on giving them all the tools to continue along the proper development path.  

“With the way the kids responded to some of what we did this year, I don’t think it could have gone any better,” said Potulny. “That’s a testament to our coaches that came to help and the kids coming to work.

“I thought the talent level this year was unbelievable. I think our ‘98’s, our ‘99’s and our 2000’s are as good as anyone in the country. The individual talent in the skills sessions, forwards and defensemen, was something even guys that coach college hockey can appreciate because these kids can compete and play at a high level.”

Gold Captures Inaugural Model Camp Championship

With Model Camp’s inaugural championship on the line, it was Team Gold that rose to the occasion this week, capping off an undefeated week with a 6-4 win over Team Grey in the Model Camp Championship.

The matchup got off to a fast start as the teams traded blows throughout the first 35 minutes, piling up seven goals in the first running time half.

Jason Smallidge (St. Thomas Academy) put Grey on the board first as they got off to a good start in hopes of payback after a 6-2 loss to Gold earlier in the week. It wasn’t long before another defenseman, this time Nick Leiverman (Eden Prairie) tied the game up for Gold on a rocket from the point.

Grey regained the lead, going up 2-1, on a William Reim (St. Thomas Academy) goal after he picked off a pass in the neutral zone and found the top corner. Grey’s reign proved to be short lived though.  Chaz Smedsrud (Luverne), who had already entered the game as one of Model Camp’s leading scorers, scored back-to-back goals for Gold to put them up 3-2. 

Later in the period, Reim and Kyler Yeo (Hill-Murray) capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity to even the score at 3-3.

Then, Gopher recruit and Model Camp’s leading scorer, Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie), ensured Gold entered the break with a 4-3 lead by stick handling through three defenders, turning and firing a twisted wrist shot through a mass of bodies.

“The speed was the first thing that I noticed from the bench,” said Potulny about the first half. “When you get on the bench level, you can really gauge how quick the play is moving back and forth. Brett Larson and I came off the bench, and we both kind of said, ‘Holy cow, there’s a lot of kids out there making plays, playing fast.’”

The second half of the game proved to be a slightly different style though. After trading goals once again in the first few minutes, both teams tightened their defense and limited the transition opportunities that led to most of the goals in the first half.

“In the last 10—15 minutes, I thought the compete level was through the roof,” said Potulny.  “It was physical. Guys were hard on pucks. There was communication. You could tell the kids were focused and they were dialed in, know that you’re playing to a champion.”

Down 5-4 with just over two minutes to play, Grey was able to draw a crucial power play and go up on a 6-on-4.  After surviving 3-4 quality scoring chances, including a scrum in front of the net where the referee waited several seconds before signaling whether a goal was scored or not, Gold sealed the win with an empty net goal. 

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The 2015 CCM Minnesota Hockey High Performance Model Camp wrapped up this afternoon with its first-ever championship game.  Model Camp is an annual development camp at the University of Minnesota campus that hosts the top 15-18 year old boys’ players in Minnesota for a week of training and competition.

This year’s Model Camp was only the second season as a part of Minnesota Hockey’s CCM High Performance programs.  The redesigned camp now has a reinforced emphasis on long term athlete development, increased collaboration between Division I hockey coaches in Minnesota and features Minnesota’s top players, many of whom just recently finished participating in USA Hockey’s national camps.

After such a successful camp last year, word spread throughout the hockey community, and there was a sizable increase in interest coming into Model Camp this summer.

“This year we went to six teams, and it was as competitive as I’ve ever seen Model Camp,” said Model Camp Director, Grant Potulny.  “The championship game was maybe the best Model Camp game I’ve seen in seven years.”

In addition to the games, Model Camp also provided the players with a series of on-ice skill sessions and off-ice training with a focus on giving them all the tools to continue along the proper development path.  

“With the way the kids responded to some of what we did this year, I don’t think it could have gone any better,” said Potulny. “That’s a testament to our coaches that came to help and the kids coming to work.

“I thought the talent level this year was unbelievable. I think our ‘98’s, our ‘99’s and our 2000’s are as good as anyone in the country. The individual talent in the skills sessions, forwards and defensemen, was something even guys that coach college hockey can appreciate because these kids can compete and play at a high level.”

Gold Captures Inaugural Model Camp Championship

With Model Camp’s inaugural championship on the line, it was Team Gold that rose to the occasion this week, capping off an undefeated week with a 6-4 win over Team Grey in the Model Camp Championship.

The matchup got off to a fast start as the teams traded blows throughout the first 35 minutes, piling up seven goals in the first running time half.

Jason Smallidge (St. Thomas Academy) put Grey on the board first as they got off to a good start in hopes of payback after a 6-2 loss to Gold earlier in the week. It wasn’t long before another defenseman, this time Nick Leiverman (Eden Prairie) tied the game up for Gold on a rocket from the point.

Grey regained the lead, going up 2-1, on a William Reim (St. Thomas Academy) goal after he picked off a pass in the neutral zone and found the top corner. Grey’s reign proved to be short lived though.  Chaz Smedsrud (Luverne), who had already entered the game as one of Model Camp’s leading scorers, scored back-to-back goals for Gold to put them up 3-2. 

Later in the period, Reim and Kyler Yeo (Hill-Murray) capitalized on a 2-on-1 opportunity to even the score at 3-3.

Then, Gopher recruit and Model Camp’s leading scorer, Casey Mittelstadt (Eden Prairie), ensured Gold entered the break with a 4-3 lead by stick handling through three defenders, turning and firing a twisted wrist shot through a mass of bodies.

“The speed was the first thing that I noticed from the bench,” said Potulny about the first half. “When you get on the bench level, you can really gauge how quick the play is moving back and forth. Brett Larson and I came off the bench, and we both kind of said, ‘Holy cow, there’s a lot of kids out there making plays, playing fast.’”

The second half of the game proved to be a slightly different style though. After trading goals once again in the first few minutes, both teams tightened their defense and limited the transition opportunities that led to most of the goals in the first half.

“In the last 10—15 minutes, I thought the compete level was through the roof,” said Potulny.  “It was physical. Guys were hard on pucks. There was communication. You could tell the kids were focused and they were dialed in, know that you’re playing to a champion.”

Down 5-4 with just over two minutes to play, Grey was able to draw a crucial power play and go up on a 6-on-4.  After surviving 3-4 quality scoring chances, including a scrum in front of the net where the referee waited several seconds before signaling whether a goal was scored or not, Gold sealed the win with an empty net goal. 

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