International Invitational Showcase field is set

Eight teams, including one comprised solely of Upper Midwest High School Elite League players, will descend on New Hope Ice Arena this weekend to play in the International Invitational Tournament.

The showcase will be played as a three-day bracket-style tournament with Friday’s quarterfinals followed by consolation and championship rounds played on Saturday and Sunday.

Minnesota Elite League opens play at 7:30 p.m. on Friday against Michigan Development Hockey League.

Other quarterfinal games Friday include Austria-based Red Bull playing Stanstead College, a prep school out of Quebec, at 5 p.m.; Shattuck-St. Mary’s playing Pittsburgh Elite at 5:30 p.m.; and Chicago Mission playing Culver (Indiana) Academy at 8 p.m.

This year’s Elite League team includes the league’s top eight scorers. Twin Cities Orthopedics’ Brent Solomon of Champlin Park enters the the tournament having set the Elite League record for goals in a season (regular and postseason) with 29. Solomon has a league-high 40 points.

Easton Cody of Centennial, who helped MSP Magazine win the league’s playoff championship last weekend, and TCO’s Zach Price of Maple Grove are the goaltenders.

Elite League teams have won at least a share of eight of the last 11 IIT titles, including three of the last five.