The state champions are coming for the Herald Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic on Dec. 21-22 in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
And all proceeds go to charity.
In the tournament field are defending Minnesota state Class AA champion Roseau and defending North Dakota state champion Grand Forks Red River. In addition, former North Dakota state champion Grand Forks Central and former Minnesota state Class AA champion Bloomington Jefferson will be on hand.
Combined, the teams have won 49 state titles.
Roseau is ranked No. 1 and Jefferson is ranked No. 8 in this weeks state Class AA poll.
ADVERTISEMENT
Central will meet Roseau at 5:30 p.m. Dec 21. In the other semifinal that day, it will be Red River against Jefferson at 8 p.m.
The third-place game will be at 5 p.m. Dec. 22. The championship game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
The two-day tournament features some of the top boys high school hockey talent in the country, and all proceeds will go to Altru Cancer Center, Relay for Life and Grand Forks youth hockey.
Tickets, which will be available in the Ralph Engelstad Arena box office, are $5 for students through high school each day and $9 for adults each day.
The tournament is named in honor of a former Grand Forks Central hockey player.
Jason Stadstad was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, but the teenager battled back with relentless optimism, providing a message of hope and courage that caught the community's attention.
Stadstad, 19, of Manvel, N.D., died in December 2006 after a battle with cancer that lasted more than three years. Doctors told Stadstad more than once he had days or weeks to live.
Stadstad responded by earning a scholarship to UND after graduating from Central in 2005. After being diagnosed with cancer, Stadstad played on the Central hockey team, coached a Grand Forks Supras youth hockey team, went snowmobiling and water and downhill skiing and managed a full social calendar.
ADVERTISEMENT
In the spring of 2006, he was named honorary co-chair for the American Cancer Society's local Relay for Life. During the 2003-04 school year, the Central hockey team won the state title armed with his inspiration and helmet decals bearing his initials and uniform number, JLS19.
"He's shown us that no matter how things are in life, you just keep on keeping on," friend Danielle Herington said. "He never complained about things ever -- no matter how bad it got. He always said things could be worse."
For more information, call Kevin Fee at (701) 780-1127 or Todd Olson at (701) 746-2200.
