Each Fall, the Centennial Youth Hockey Association hosts a great pre-season Bantam event. It is labeled an “event” because it isn’t classified as a tournament and it is far from a jamboree. Thanks to Centennial’s rich Bantam tradition, they are able to attract several top teams each year. Most important, the hosts roll out the red carpet and treat their guests like royalty. Players and fans are treated to complimentary food (walking tacos - yum!), beverages and door prizes. One fan won a prize for admitting to having mismatched socks. In addition to all the fun, visitors were also treated to some great hockey.

Twelve top Bantam AA programs competed at the event, held at Centennial's High School Rink in Circle Pines, including three teams highly ranked by Youth Hockey Hub (YHH) – Minnetonka, Cloquet and Blaine. There were three, four-team pools that played six round-robin games. 

The top teams battled all weekend with Blaine, Minnetonka and Wayzata leaving with the highest grades from YHH. Minnetonka beat Stillwater and Cloquet, while tying Blaine. Blaine beat Cloquet and lost to Wayzata.

The YHH pre-season No. 1 (Minnetonka) and No. 2 (Cloquet) Bantam teams faced off on the event's final day, with each featuring talented-laden lineups. The Skippers have Jack Bayless, Josh Luedtke and Luke Loheit back from the team that won State in Duluth. The Lumberjacks return Landon Langenbrunner, Gavin Rasmussen and Dane Stoyanoff from a team that came a game away from the State Tourney last year. 

Minnetonka defeated Cloquet 4-1. Bayless scored two goals, including one while the Skippers were two men short.