HSL to Play Host to Minnesota Machine in 2020!
The Hockey Super League and its stakeholders are excited to announce that the 2007 and 2008 Minnesota Machine teams will be joining us for a showcase in Calgary at the beginning of the 2020 calendar year! Dates have been finalized and further details are being worked out, but we can’t wait to host these two Elite and very competitive teams.
Since its inception, the Hockey Super League has had a great working relationship with the Minnesota Machine (formed through the Minnesota Made program). In the past we have had teams travel to Minneapolis to play games against the Minnesota Made and the aforementioned Minnesota Machine teams.
The 2007 Minnesota Machine is known around North America as being one of the top spring teams in their particular birth year. They can lay claim to the following accolades:
- 2019 Stars & Stripes '07 Elite Championss
- 2019 Chitown Shuffle STX 2007 Elite Champions
- 2018 Red Savoy Rumble at the Rink '07 Elite Champions
- 2018 3rd Place in “The Show” (Now known as the Continental Clash)
- 2018 2nd Place Winnipeg North American Classic
- 2018 AAA Independent Classic '07 Elite Champions
- 2018 Stars & Stripes '07 Elite Champions
- 2018 CHITOWN SHUFFLE 2007 Elite Champions
Not to be outdone, the 2008 Machine has no shortage of successes as a group. They have had the following notable performances in some high profile events:
- 2019 Chitown Shuffle STX 2008 Elite Champions
- 2018 Stars & Stripes '08 Elite Champions
- 2018 CHITOWN SHUFFLE 2008 Elite Champions
The league is extremely proud and excited to host these two elite level clubs from south of the border!
A brief history on the Minnesota Machine program taken from their website:
‘The current Minnesota Machine AAA Hockey Club began years ago with a group of 8 and 9 year old boys born in 1988. These boys became the Minnesota 88s - a successful youth AAA team that developed into a group of athletes that would branch off and move onto Shattuck St Mary's Prep School, the National Development Training Program (NDTP) in Ann Arbor, MI and to the Western Hockey League.
As they grew up, they took spots on World Junior rosters and All-Star teams. They played on NCAA teams - University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of Wisconsin Madison to name a few. Many were drafted by NHL teams and are playing on professional rosters today - Eric Johnson, Kyle Okposo, Jamie McBain, Peter Mueller.
The Minnesota 88s were a special group of athletes that have given many athletes that come behind them a legacy to aspire to.
These athletes that perhaps just grew up a good group of friends that loved the game have now inspired many more hockey players pulling on the Orange Jersey in hopes of catching their hockey dream too.
The Minnesota 88s are the inspiration. The Minnesota Machine AAA Hockey Club is their legacy.’
There are many Minnesota 88s Alumni that you may recognize:
Ricky Booker Michael Carman Matt Erickson
Ryan Flynn Andy Inderieden Eric Johnson
Taylor Matson Jamie McBain Derek McCallum
Tony Mosey Peter Mueller Kyle Okposo
Trent Palm Brett Peterson Tyler Ruegsegger
Alex Stuart
