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Elite League Showcases State's High School Stars

08/17/2016, 7:00pm CDT
By Peter Odney

Puck Drops on 2016 Season September 10

Casey Mittelstadt (left) from Eden Prairie battles in the corner with Clayton Phillips from Edina during action from last year's Elite League. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Casey Mittelstadt (left) from Eden Prairie battles in the corner with Clayton Phillips from Edina during action from last year's Elite League. Credit: Nick Wosika.

On September 10th, the Upper Midwest High School Elite League begins its 13th season, continuing a tradition of showcasing top-quality hockey players and providing a platform for unparalleled exposure.

The Elite League offers scouts from colleges, junior hockey teams and numerous professional organizations a chance to see the top high school talent from (primarily) Minnesota.

Since 2006, the Elite League has helped produce 12 first-round National Hockey League draft picks, including Cretin-Derham Hall’s Ryan McDonaugh (NYR, 2007), Warroad’s Brock Nelson (NYI, 2010) and Blaine’s Riley Tufte (DAL, 2016).

John Russo, president of Russo Consulting Inc., was instrumental in starting the Elite League in 2003, and says the idea was born out of his own observation of lagging evolution of players.

“I called for a meeting with all the major colleges in the Upper Midwest and they all felt the same way I did. We weren’t developing enough top-end players,” Russo said in a recent interview, adding that he has a far smaller role in the Elite League today. 

Despite a similar existing league constructed and run by the Minnesota Hockey Coaches Association and Minnesota Hockey, Russo and his partners decided to press on with their idea. 

Wyatt Aamodt of Hermantown skated for Team North last fall. Credit: Nick Wosika.

Wyatt Aamodt of Hermantown skated for Team North last fall. Credit: Nick Wosika.

“The coaches’ association didn’t want to give up on (its league),” Russo explained, adding that acquiring an ally in prominent Minnesota hockey figure Jack Blatherwick played a key role in the league’s birth.

“We (told the MHCA) we’re going to do it anyway,” Russo said, giving former Bloomington Jefferson boys’ coach Jeff Lindquist credit in assisting the league’s start. “He really helped the process.”

Despite the support, Russo admits that the league’s start wasn’t seamless.

“It was a very difficult start,” Russo said. “We really had to crowbar (the league) in there.”

The result of Russo and company's determination is a great league with a collection of teams and players that for more than a decade has helped develop and produce premium talent, a reputation that Russo attributes to a simple philosophy.

“We take the best players. Period.”

For more on the Upper Midwest High School Elite League, including league schedule, team rosters and a full list of NHL Draft picks who have played in the league, visit hselitehockey.com.

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