96 of North America's top youth women's hockey programs will come together this weekend at the Tradition NIT Showcase in Minnesota.
96 of North America's top youth women's hockey programs will come together this weekend at the Tradition NIT Showcase in Minnesota.
The women's hockey scouting season continues to roll on, with the Tradition NIT Showcase this weekend in Blaine, Minnesota.
After welcoming 72 teams last season, the NIT is up to 96 teams this season, the most ever, including 15 from Minnesota and 81 from across North America.
“No where in the country do you have 90 teams in one building,” Winny Brodt-Brown said on the Upper Midwest High School Elite League hockey website. “They can walk from one rink, watch 30 minutes then you can be on another rink to watch another period, different age groups, 16’s 19’s.”
Brodt-Brown, an American hockey legend was one of the founders of the Upper Midwest High School Elite League in 2008, alongside other prominent Minnesota women's hockey stars at the time including Natalie Darwitz and Jenny Potter, as well as John Russo. The league itself has grown to 28 teams across the U-19 and U-16 levels from six states.
At the Tradition NIT Showcase however, some of the top programs from North America will be there playing in front of NCAA scouts and recruiters. Among those teams are highly rated programs like Bishop Kearney, Detroit Little Caesars, Chicago Mission, Shattuck St. Mary's, RHA Kelowna, Stanstead College, NAHA White, and the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers.
The tournament will feature dozens of NCAA committed players, U-18 national team members, but more importantly in the eyes of scouts, talented uncommitted prospects.
Some of the top uncommitted players in attendance include Chloe Primerano (RHA Kelowna), Nela Lopusanova (Bishop Kearney), Haley Box (Shattuck), Natalia Dilbone (Little Caesars), Mary Derrenbacher (Shattuck), and Rachel Gorbatenko (Chicago). .