St. Paul, MN – February 26, 2018 – Minnesota Hockey has announced the game and event schedule for the 2018 CCM High Performance Tier 1 Fall League. Several changes will be implemented this year, which will mark the third year of Minnesota Hockey’s Tier 1 Fall League. TRIA Orthopaedic will be the presenting sponsor of the Leagues this season.

New in 2018, in partnership with TRIA, the first-ever Tier 1 Training Camp will take place August 10-12 at the TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center, and will allow participants an on-ice and off-ice training experience complete with dryland training, skill work, health and nutrition education, Fusionetics movement screening/education and TRIA Concussion Program and baseline ImPACT testing events.

Competitive regular season weekends for 14’s and 15’s will begin August 24 – 26 and host sites will include Blaine, Brainerd Burnsville, Shakopee St. Cloud and the new TRIA Rink at Treasure Island Center in downtown St. Paul. The Minnesota District Playoff weekend will take place at Plymouth Ice Center the weekend of October 6-7. The playoffs for 16, 18 and 19 classifications are to be determined.

This year’s format will consist of five regular season competition weekends, including the first-ever Minnesota Hockey Tier 1 National Invitational for the Youth 14U & 15 and Girls 14U levels the weekend of September 14-16 at the Schwan Super Rink and Fogerty Arena in Blaine. Tier 1 teams from across the country will be in town to compete with the Minnesota teams.

Registration for the Tier 1 15 (2003 birth year) and 14U (2004 & 2005 birth years) Fall Leagues will open on April 23 following the conclusion of the CCM High Performance Spring Festivals on April 22. Teams will be made up of players from Minnesota Hockey Districts and will begin the tryout process June 25--30. At the 14U & 15 levels, all players that participate in the Spring Festivals will be scouted by Tier 1 evaluators and the 30 players at each age group that qualify for the USA Hockey Summer Development Camps will be granted automatic placement on their District team in the Fall.

Minnesota Hockey’s Tier 1 structure was established in 2016 to enhance Minnesota’s community-based association and high school model by bringing together the most talented 14, 15 and year olds from all over Minnesota for highly competitive League play and providing a path to compete in the USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championships. The League schedule is designed to allow participants to play for their association or high school team.

Last year, the CCM High Performance Tier 1 Leagues included 25 teams between the Youth 14U, Youth 15, Youth 16U, Girls 14U and Girls 15 classifications.

Two teams from the 2017 CCM High Performance Tier 1 Leagues will be representing Minnesota at the USA Hockey Tier 1 National Championships, held April 5 – 9. The Green Giants of District 10 will be competing in the Girls 14U Tier 1 National Championships in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The Blue Ox of Districts 11, 12, 15 & 16 will be in Plymouth, Michigan for the Youth 15 Tier 1 National Championships.

Plans are for the Youth 14U and Youth 15 classifications to increase to as many as nine teams: Loons (District 2), Walleye (District 3), Polars (District 5), Lakers (District 6), Moose (District 8), Green Giants (District 10), Grey Ducks (Districts 4/9), Voyageurs (Districts 11/12) and Blue Ox (District 15/16). Districts 11, 12, 15 & 16 at the Youth 15 level will once again combine into Team North this season.

The Girls 14U League is expected to increase to seven teams: Loons (District 2), Walleye (District 3) Lakers (District 6), Green Giants (District 10), Polars (Districts 5), Moose (Districts 4/8/9) and Blue Ox (Districts 11/12/15/16). The Girls 15 League will once again have four teams formed equally based on evaluations. There is not a USA Hockey National Championship provided for this classification. 

Dates and Locations for 2018 Tier 1 Fall League Weekends