Top Junior Defensemen

[ExecutionTrumpsStrategy]

List from the final 54 of the Advanced 16's & 17's

Hannah Behounek Minnetonka
Sara Bustad Stillwater
Katlyn Byfuglien Roseau
Maddie Carras BSM
Kelsey Cline Bloomington Jefferson
Carley Esse Cloquet
Hannah Esselman Rosemount
Kendra Goodrich Rosemount
Halie Gudmonson North Wright County
Paige Haley Red Wing
Liv Halvorson BSM
Carly Haskins Andover
Anna Keys Park-Cottage Grove
Ashley Klein Wayzata
Sidney Morin Minnetonka
Arianna Reid Lakeville South
Jaci Reinke Holy Family/Waconia
Stephanie Stettler Rochestor Mayo
Jenna Ulberg Moorhead
Emily Varner Buffalo
Lauren Wilcox SSP

Not on the list but worthy is Sara Taffe of BSM....probably others!

[woogieboogiewoogie]

I noticed some of these girls aren't in the Elite 1 fall league. Maybe they turned it down or they weren't asked to tryout? Does anyone know how the Elite 1 league works as far as what girls get asked to tryout or participate?

[Knight7]

Seems to me all the Whitecaps 19's and 17's are split amongst the RED-BLACK and WHITE teams. Then all the girls that made the 16's and 17's in St. Cloud are automatic on those teams listed. Then they have an invite process where they bring in 4 teams worth of players to compete over a weekend to find the last couple of players to fill the last couple of spots.

You can correct me if I am wrong.

[puckskillz]

I have heard they start with National camp attendees over the past 3 years or grades 10-12 so that could be as many as 50+ players though not all participate. They have a try-out for the balance of rostered players plus substitutes for players that need to miss a weekend. I hear this 2nd hand so not completely sure. The Ice cats and Whitecaps teams are made up of the top tier players so no surprise they are Natl camp invitees and thus heavily represented in the Elite I league.