MINNESOTA ELITE HOCKEY

AAA PROGRAM

PROGRAM GRID

 Minnesota Elite: Our Unique Training Philosophy

Our unique training grid provides athletes with the newest hockey training combined with today’s technology to compete at the highest level. Professional coaching, specialty-individualized training, and competitive tournaments stand as the core pillars of our program.

Athletes will have unparalleled opportunities to compete, be challenged, and be mentored. We are dedicated to developing high-caliber athletes through age-appropriate and age-specific modern skill development and leadership training.

 A fundamental part of Minnesota Elite’s philosophy is the belief that the best competition challenges players to be their best. The underlying principle is that highly skilled players, when competing with others of similar abilities, can learn more profoundly about teamwork and the game of hockey. This is achieved through our coaches' dedication to developing players into a cohesive team, where everyone can execute and understand at the same high level.

Minnesota Elite’s coaches consistently stress:

  • Individual skill sets

  • In-game drills

  • Systems development

  • Modern training methodologies

  • Teamwork and collaboration

 BEGIN YOUR REIGN

 Our Player Development Philosophy. We are dedicated to building a comprehensive set of tools for each player, designed to strengthen their game and maximize their in-game effectiveness. This foundational skill set will ultimately define a player as they progress in their career and will significantly influence how far they will go in the game of hockey. Here, athletes are not just developing skills; they are building their "brand" and forming their own dynasty as a hockey player. This year is merely the beginning of their quest to achieve their hockey goals.

 AAA PROGRAM

 ROSTER LIMIT. Rosters are limited to 17 players per team, consisting of:

  • 15 Skaters

  • 2 Goalies

    In addition, each team roster can accommodate up to 5 practice players.

 2026 Season Dates. The 2026 season will run from early April 6th through late August 23rd, 2026. There will be a six-week break during the months of June and July.

Season Halves:

  • 1st Half: April 6th through June 7th, 2026

  • 2nd Half: July 20th through August 23rd, 2026

 PRACTICES.

Rink Locations:

  • Main Location: Champlin Ice Forum

  • Alternate North Metro Locations: Super Rink, Fogerty Ice Arena, Brooklyn Park Ice Arena

Practice Schedule:

  • Teams will have two (1-hour) practices per week.

  • Practices will be scheduled during weekday evenings or weekend mornings/early evenings.

  • Each team will receive up to 30 hours of on-ice practice throughout the season.

  • The full practice schedule will be posted in February.

Practice Periods:

  • 1st Half: April 6 through June 7, 2026

  • 2nd Half: July 20 through August 23, 2026

 High Tempo Practices: Developing Elite Performance. Our practices are designed with a high tempo to continuously develop high-performance skating and skill sets, alongside advanced team play strategies, including specific job roles and positioning. Our comprehensive approach aims to develop your athlete in all areas of the game. All athletes will be consistently pushed and expected to perform on-ice drills at game speed with game intensity. Goalies will be fully integrated into each session, focusing on in-game drills while receiving shots, ensuring their development aligns with the skaters.

 Professional Hockey Staff: Elite Coaching for Higher Levels. Our program is led by a professional hockey staff dedicated to providing elite coaching. The core focus will be on developing exceptional hockey players and clearly outlining a path for them to reach higher levels of hockey. We are committed to utilizing the most up-to-date hockey training methodologies, techniques, and drills to ensure our athletes receive cutting-edge instruction.

 On-Ice Instruction. At the beginning of every practice, our primary focus will be on individual skill sets specifically designed for each athlete's skill level. Athletes will actively study and execute multiple techniques, immediately applying them to in-game situational drills.

 Our goal is to teach your athlete techniques that will seamlessly transfer directly into their gameplay. We firmly believe that players must be allowed to work on the skills they are developing within a realistic game situation to truly master them.

Individual Skill Sets Covered:

  • Powerskating: Enhancing speed, agility, and efficiency on skates.

  • Stickhandling: Mastering puck control and creativity.

  • Dekes: Developing deceptive moves to beat opponents.

  • Puck Protection: Learning to maintain possession under pressure.

  • Checking: Proper body contact and defensive techniques.

  • Shooting: Improving accuracy, power, and quick release.

 TEAM POSITIONING CONCEPTS. We will focus on comprehensive team position concepts. Players will extensively study and execute team play strategies tailored to their specific job roles and responsibilities on the ice.

Team Positioning:

  • Positions – Forward (left wing, center, right wing) & Defense (left defense, right defense)

  • Breakouts – Right-Up, D to D, Reverse

  • Face-offs – D-Zone, N-Zone, O-Zone

  • D-Zone Coverage – Collapsing, Tight Point, Staggered

  • N-Zone Breakouts – Right-Up, D to D, Reverse

  • N-Zone Forechecks – 1-2-2 Red, 1-2-2 Blue, 1-3-1

  • O-Zone Forechecks – 1-2-2 Passive, 1-2-2 Aggressive, 2-3 Lock

  • O-zone Cycling – 1 Man Cycle, 2 Man Cycle, Scissors

  • Special Units: Penalty Kill – Diamond, Passive Box, Aggressive Box & Power Play – Overload, Umbrella, Shooting

 AAA Tournaments 2026. The program is committed to playing against high-level competition, which will include 3-4 AAA tournaments throughout the season. We will also be exploring alternate local and out-of-town tournaments (TBD) to further enhance the competitive schedule.

Tournament Dates:

  • May 15-17, June 5-7, July 31-August 2, & August 21-23

 Minnesota Elite Hockey (MEH) 2026 Commitment. The Minnesota Elite program expects a high level of commitment from all its athletes. Without this commitment, we will not be able to achieve our collective goals for development and success.

Practice Attendance:

  • All practices are mandatory unless a player is out of town due to a holiday.

  • Each player will be granted six excused practices per season. These excused practices can be utilized at any time, with the exception of the two practices immediately preceding a tournament.

  • If a player misses additional practices beyond their six excused absences, they will sit out one period for each practice missed during the next tournament.

  • These excused practices are designed to provide sufficient flexibility for families without compromising the team's overall development process.

Tournament & Game Participation:

  • Minnesota Elite players are not permitted to participate in any other local or out-of-town tournaments or games with any other AAA teams without the express consent of their MEH coach. We believe these guidelines are crucial for fostering team cohesion, consistent player development, and achieving our program's objectives.

 Off-Season Planning. Providing specific focuses and establishing personal goals is a valuable tool to further motivate athletes. Our player consultations offer a healthy and clear direction regarding focal points for individual development. We cover specific strategies for each athlete to maximize the benefits of our program.

Unlocking Athlete Potential. Minnesota Elite's programming and services are meticulously organized to provide the utmost opportunities for our athletes to develop and learn. Through a specifically orchestrated and well-rounded approach, supported by an elite and passionate staff, we possess everything necessary for athletes of any age to achieve growth and success at a high level.

Every aspect of the player experience here is supplemented by professional instruction and fostered within a healthy, competitive environment. Individual player growth is our top priority, both on and off the ice. The thoughtful structure of our program consistently allows our staff to provide personalized feedback and instruction to each athlete, ensuring continuous improvement.

 Uniforms & Apparel. Included in Program Fee: Your program fee includes the essential uniform items:

  • Practice Jersey, Game Jersey, Game Socks

Additional Apparel Items (Available for Purchase): Enhance your team look with our optional apparel items, available for purchase:

  • Pant Shells, Gloves, Bags, T-shirts, Shorts, Joggers, Hats, Helmet Stickers, Vehicle Stickers, Jackets, Pants, and more!

 MEET THE COACHES

Josh Kern - Anchorage, Alaska

Coach Kern brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, stemming from his background playing professionally, teaching, and coaching at both youth and professional levels. He conveys a fresh and modern approach to hockey training and development, specializing in teaching all skill sets. He is passionate about monitoring and developing high-end athletes, staff instructors, and coaches. Coach Kern takes pride in delivering the most up-to-date hockey instruction with a new sense of high energy and enthusiasm, both on and off the ice. His primary passion is training the newer generation of hockey players in the "NEW" game of hockey.

 "As an expert in my field, it is my job to be modern, up-to-date, and provide the best training resources possible. I need to be able to provide athletes with the newest training, gear data, and technology. Going above and beyond, day-in and day-out, providing players with what they need to compete at the next level." — Josh Kern

Kern grew up playing hockey for the Alaska All-Stars and was drafted by both the Red Deer Rebels (WHL) and the Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL). He spent two years in the USHL and was selected to play for Team USA U17. He then played for the Minnesota State Mavericks (Division I) and went on to play professional hockey for the St. Louis Blues organization.

Josh has been instructing players of all ages and levels for the past 30 years, and has coached youth and junior "AAA" hockey teams for the past 22 years. He possesses a unique ability to identify, demonstrate, and verbally break down modern hockey training, combining it with technology, which is then applied to practice drills that mimic game scenarios. He has worked with players currently competing at the Junior, National, Division I College, and NHL levels. Josh is currently the owner of Kern Hockey and holds a Level 4 USA Hockey Coaching Certificate.

 Blaise Schutt – Elk River, Minnesota

Coach Schutt brings a youthful and high-energy approach to teaching the game of hockey. He is dedicated not only to developing athletes' hockey skills but also to fostering their character. His dynamic approach creates a demanding and engaging learning environment.

 Growing up, Coach Schutt played for the Elk River Youth Hockey Association's AA team throughout his youth hockey career. In high school, he was a three-year varsity letter winner and a top scorer. Following high school, he advanced to play for the New Mexico Ice Wolves in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

Coach Schutt has been a dedicated student coach with Kern Hockey since he was less than 10 years old. During this extensive period, he has learned the advanced techniques and skills required to coach effectively under the Kern Hockey brand. He began coaching in 2020 while still in high school, dedicating his summers and weekends to on-ice instruction. Now in his fifth year coaching with Kern Hockey, he is a valuable team member and has served as a lead instructor for over three years, often acting as Coach Kern's right-hand man.

 Contact Information. Phone: 612.666.3930 / Email: josh@kernhockey.com