The CCM High Performance Youth Tier 1 16U League announced today it will be sending two teams to participate in the USHL Fall Classic 2016 Youth Tournament. The tournament will be held in Omaha, NE on September 9-11 in coordination with the USHL’s Fall Classic West, which serves as a pre-season showcase for all eight teams in the USHL’s Western Conference.

The inaugural youth tournament will feature 16 of the top Midget Minor (Tier 1 16U) teams in the country. A total of 40 players will be selected from the Youth Tier 1 16U League to participate on the two teams that will represent Minnesota at the event.

“From a scouting standpoint, the USHL Fall Classic continues to provide NHL and NCAA scouts the chance to view some of the top junior hockey talent in North America,” said Doug Christiansen, USHL director of player development when the Fall Classic was announced. “By adding the youth invitational component, we can provide USHL scouts with a glimpse of an upcoming crop of talent, while also providing a forum for us to educate young players and their families about the developmental path to the NHL through the USHL, other U.S. junior leagues and college hockey.”

In addition to the tournament, all players and coaches will be given the opportunity to attend off-ice informational sessions on the USHL and player development.

“Many of the top players from Minnesota eventually play in the USHL so we’re excited to offer them a firsthand view of that experience,” said Charlie Graves, Program Director for the Youth Tier 1 16U League. “We’re looking forward to providing our players the opportunity to compete against some of the top players in the country.”

The seven-time Clark Cup Champion Omaha Lancers will be the host of the Fall Classic West, and all games will be played at Ralston Arena, which opened in the fall of 2012. The complex includes two sheets of ice, highlighted by a state-of-the art arena with a capacity of 4,000 fans.

The CCM High Performance Youth Tier 1 16U League is an extension of the Minnesota Elite Prep Development League (MEPDL).  The MEPDL was started eight seasons ago in cooperation between Minnesota Hockey and Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association to provide the best underclassmen in Minnesota an opportunity to develop their skills while competing against each other. This year the league will consist of six Youth Tier 1 16U (2000 birth year) teams and four 18U (non-Tier 1) teams, formed geographically by modified high school Section boundaries.