Gaining a little Xposure

As 240 hockey players descend on the Shattuck-St. Mary’s ice rinks this weekend, around 80 junior and college scouts and coaches will be watching and taking diligent notes.

After all, that’s what the Xposure Tournament is all about: Exposure.

“That’s the reason they’re coming,” said Murray Eaves, coach of SSM’s Midget AAA team, who will coach one of 12 teams at this weekend’s tournament.

According to Larry Horstman, who helps coordinate the tournament along with SSM boys prep coach Tom Ward, players will come to Faribault from nearby states such as Wisconsin and Illinois, as well as New York and Canada.

The majority of the players, however, are from Minnesota, said Ward.

“It’s a chance to measure up where you are against different parts of the state and beyond,” Horstman said.

“It kind of has a life of its own,” Ward said of the event. “It’s been a good thing for our kids.”

Ward said the Xposure Tournament was started around five years ago in a similar style as the Prospects Camp in Toronto an the Global Camp in Vancouver. The advantage of SSM’s camp, however, is that it gives hockey players in Minnesota and surrounding states a closer alternative to showcase their talents.

Not everyone who wants to attend will get a chance, however. Ward said players must submit profile, and then a committee chooses whether to accept or deny each player.

“It’s not just a cattle call,” Ward said. “There’s a certain aptitude you have to have to get into the camp.”

Eaves’ AAA squad is one of two Sabres teams taking part in the tournament, along with the Midget AA team. Eaves said about 15 of his players will be among the 240 on the ice this weekend.

He’ll be joined by fellow SSM coaches Mike Dietsch, John LaFontaine, Cale Politoski and Christian Bragnalo. The remaining teams will be led by coaches from the Minnesota High School Elite League.

This weekend’s camp is held earlier in the year than any previous camp at SSM. Horstman said a big reason was to have the tournament run closer to the end of the high school hockey season, which in Minnesota finished last weekend. That not only means the players will be in better hockey shape, but it will give scouts and coaches a better chance to attend.

“We always try to avoid the Minnesota select USA Hockey tryouts,” Ward said. “This is the weekend this year that’s worked for us and stay away from our national tournament.”

Each team will play five games — two on Friday, two on Saturday and one on Sunday, with two 25-minute halves per contest. Games will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. After the first four games, the teams will be matched up based on wins, losses and goals scored.

The teams don’t get a chance to practice prior to their opening games, making things interesting for Eaves and the rest of the coaches. And given that the purpose is to showcase the individual talents, that makes the coaches’ juggling act even more challenging.

“It’s amazing how quickly you can kind of see the strengths and weaknesses of players and hopefully get them into the right line,” Eaves said. “It’s not a weekend of only certain guys play. Everybody’s got to play. … You want to make sure they’re showing what they can do.”

— Sports reporter Tyler Mason may be reached at 333-3119