Good hockey, good crowds: Da Beauty League nearing end of successful first season

Training camp is still a month away, yet dozens of NHL players are skating for a championship cup this week at Braemar Arena in Edina.

Da Beauty League's John Scott Cup is up for grabs as playoffs kick off Tuesday night with semifinals at 7:20 and 8:45 p.m. Tickets for these 4-on-4, 60-minute hockey games are $5 and kids shorter than the picture of 6-foot-5 Dustin Byfuglien are allowed in for free.

But chances are you have never heard of this cup and might be wondering why so many NHL players are on the ice instead of still enjoying summer break.

Octagon Hockey agency and several partners tossed around the idea of a summer league featuring the state's ample professional and premier amateur hockey talent. Players showed interest and eventually Da Beauty summer hockey league was formed.

"It's funny to think it took this long to get something like this going with the amount of players that come back here [to Minnesota each summer]," New York Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh, a St. Paul native told NHL.com. "With the pros and colleges in the area and just the number of players who train here, it's been a great thing. I think all of us players didn't realize how big it was going to be and how many kids are having a blast just watching us."

McDonagh's team Tradition was one of two teams in the six-league league that missed the playoffs.

The inaugural season has attracted more than 35 NHL players, dozens of minor league prospects and several premier amateurs from around the state for a chance to train in an organized and competitive game setting.

Each of the games filled Braemar Arena with 700 to 1,000 fans most nights. The organizers are expecting even larger crowds during the playoffs.

RBC Wealth Management will face off against Aspire Beverages at 7:20 p.m. Sportsdigita and Velocity Hockey close out the night with an 8:45 start. The teams are named after local sponsors. All proceeds from the games are donated to various charities.

"It's a great experience. It's fun to skate alongside all the NHL players," said Kyle Rau, the former Gophers star who played nine NHL games for the Florida Panthers last season. "It's great for the fans because they get to watch some of their favorite players that they do not get to see very often during the winter.

"It's a pretty good pace for being summer hockey."

Rau is a forward for Sportsdigita and will be on the ice Tuesday night.

"That kind of shows how competitive all of us are. … It's a lot of fun."

Fasching's team Tradition missed the playoffs, but he enjoyed his time so much he is considering attending Wednesday's 7:50 p.m. championship game.

He said this league is different than any other summer workout he's been a part of and enjoys the consistent and competitive schedule.