The draft room was buzzing all evening at Rink Bandy Central in Minnetonka on Wednesday night. The NAC Chairman and high-level USA Bandy officials presided over the player draft by the 4 captains to determine team rosters for the 29th Annual North American Cup of Rink Bandy.

Andrew Knutson made the picks for the storied and gloried Minneapolis Bandoliers. Davis Plaunt will introduce his Duluth-Minneapolis fusion bandy style into the tournament with the Lowry Hill Lizards. Chris Halden brought his decades of bandy expertise together when drafting the Bakial Lakers. John Arundel picked the Dinkytown Dukes, soon to be a household name.

After Wednesday's player draft a flurry of big names were being offered on the trading block. Pieces for a blockbuster deal between the Dukes, Bandoliers, and Lakers in order to keep family members together would have seen several first round picks change sides. However, the deal fell apart with at least one of the managers walking away from the table, happy with the team he picked, and at the end of the day all 4 rosters remain as the managers originally drafted.

The Cup may well have been won or lost already after Wednesday evening’s player draft. Questions running through managers minds the next several days include: late round sleeper team coming to play; an early round flop dragging a team under (more than a few candidates).

Which one of these teams will be able to come together quick enough during the two day tournament to advance to the NAC Championship match on Monday, September 15th?

Who will be able to keep it all together and raise the North American Cup of Rink Bandy for the 29th time?

Sharpen your steel, tape up your Klubban, and dust off your chinstrap; the 29th annual North American Cup of Rink Bandy is ready to hit the ice!