About Us
Minnesota Lakers Hockey prides itself on fostering the athlete's journey to peak performance on and off the ice.
We are lead by a professional staff that has playing experience and coaching credentials Internationally, NHL, NCAA, USHL, multiple North American Junior Hockey Leagues, MSHSL, USA Hockey, and more.
Minnesota Lakers Hockey provides opportunities for hockey players and teams to develop their skills with competitive teams in tournaments and also practices with high paced skills, drills and small area games designed for skating, hands, compete, scoring, proper body positioning, body contact and most importantly hockey sense.
Our mentors and coaches work with its athlete to reach lifetime achievements and the program goes well beyond the ice.
Meet the team
Ben Monahan
Minnesota Lakers Hockey Director
Ben Monahan is the Director of Hockey Operations for St. Michael Albertville Youth Hockey Association. He has been a Head Coach and Assistant Coach at the High School level. Ben has participated in 2 state tournaments as an assistant coach with Orono and STMA. He also won Northwest Suburban Conference Coach of the Year while coaching Andover Girls HS. As well as a Head Coach at various Youth Hockey levels. He is currently a scout for the Minot Minotauros and Sioux Falls Stampede.
Coach Monahan will be helping various Lakers Teams and is the Director of the Minnesota Lakers HS Prep teams.
Elias Sandholm
Minnesota Lakers Assistant Program Director & Goalie Program Director
Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Elias developed his goaltending foundation within some of Sweden’s top hockey organizations under the guidance of professional goalie coaches. His early training emphasized the Swedish model of efficient movement, calm positioning, and technical precision. As an underager, he advanced rapidly through the J18 and J20 levels before relocating to the United States in 2016.
After moving to the U.S., Elias made an immediate impact by leading his high school team to the 2018 Illinois State Finals at the United Center. His performance earned him junior hockey opportunities on the East Coast, eventually committing to Trine University, where he played NCAA hockey for the Trine Thunder.
Elias’s playing career includes being named to the 2021–22 NCHA All-American Team and earning the 2022 NCAA Statistical Champion title for an undefeated season. He also represented the Swedish University National Team (Studentkronorna).
Currently, Elias serves as the Goalie Program Director for The Base and Minnesota Lakers, Minnesota Lakers Assistant Program Director, Goalie Coach at Bethel University, and Goalie Coach for Rogers Girls High School. He also serves as Assistant GM and Goalie Coach for the Swedish University National Team.
Elias holds an MBA in Analytics and a Bachelor’s in Business Management. He combines his playing experience with a passion for coaching, helping to develop goaltenders at all levels through a strategic approach that emphasizes technique, mental toughness, and leadership.
David Brown
Minnesota Lakers President/Founder
David Brown is the Owner of The Base Sports Performance and President/Founder of Minnesota Lakers Hockey.
Brown is currently the Head Coach of Rogers Varsity Boys Hockey and the Head Minnesota Scout & Skills Consultant for the Waterloo Blackhawks in the USHL. He has his Level 5 Master USA Hockey certification.
Rogers reached the State Tournament for the first time in program history in 2025. They have won three Northwest Suburban Conference Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2025. Brown was named 5AA Head Coach of the year honors in 2022.
In Brown's time at Rogers, they've had multiple Division-I commits, Division-III commits, Mr. Hockey Finalists, Reed Larson Award Winners, All-Metro Players, and a NHL Draft pick.
He was previously the Varsity Assistant Coach for Wayzata, Head Coach of Champlin Park Bantam AA, Rogers Squirt A and Assistant Coach of Rogers Bantam AA.
Brown was with Wayzata from 2014-2019 and was apart of the program's first State Championship in 2016 and two Section Championships. In his time with Wayzata they had NHL Draft picks, Mr. Hockey Finalists, Division-I commits, and Division-III commits.
Minnesota Lakers launched Prep Tier I program in 2019, becoming a top program in the country. The Minnesota Lakers have had multiple Division-I commits in its first five years.
Brown also coached Varsity Baseball for four seasons at Providence Academy, including a Sectional Runner Up and first conference championship in program history.
Brown has coached in the Minnesota High Performance and Minnesota Tier I programs. He has lead skills development clinics for Wayzata Youth Hockey, Champlin Park Youth Hockey, Little Wild, USA Hockey and Rogers Youth Hockey.
Brown has owned and operated Dave's Hockey Camp LLC since 2013 and founded the Minnesota Lakers in 2018.
Brown has a Bachelor of Arts Communications Degree from California Lutheran University. Brown also was a NHL Credentialed media member from 2012-2014, covering the Minnesota Wild.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are teams formed?
We hold tryouts in August for the following AAA season. Teams will be formed after tryouts. Families will have their invites sent to them with certain amount of days to accept the invite. Depending on the roster size, additional players could be added throughout the winter.
How often do we practice? How many games do we play?
Typically, 2-3 practices per week and somewhere between 12-20 games based on the age and level. The season usually begins late March and runs for 8-10 weeks. Most teams will take a break in June and July and the last part of the season resumes around August 1.
When is the deposit due?
Deposit amount could vary, but it is required to secure your spot on the roster.
(Payment options available.)