A Young Captain's Impact
Team Minnesota clinched the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament in dramatic fashion, downing the Detroit Jr. Red Wings 7‑2 in the championship game. The win avenged a narrow semifinal defeat from the previous year and marked a full‑circle moment for a squad that had narrowly missed the podium in 2025.
At the heart of the celebration is 10‑year‑old forward Colton Stewart, who served as team captain and emerged as the tournament’s leading scorer. Stewart recorded 19 goals and 13 assists across nine games, amassing 32 points that underscored his offensive dominance.
What makes Stewart’s achievement especially noteworthy is his status as the sole returning player from last season’s roster. “Winning this with my best friends feels like a dream,” he said during a KSTP Sports interview, adding that the camaraderie forged over the summer was a key factor in the team’s cohesion.
The Stewart family, based in Hastings, Minnesota, has been a constant presence throughout Colton’s rapid rise. His father, Joe Stewart, joined the interview to discuss the pressures and joys of watching his son lead on the ice.
Beyond the scoresheet, the tournament highlighted the growing talent pool in youth hockey across North America, with teams from across the continent converging in Edmonton, Alberta, to showcase the next generation of players.