About Us
Minnesota Lakers Hockey prides itself on fostering the athlete's journey to peak performance on and off the ice.
Minnesota Lakers achieves its high level of success through elite player development, professional coaching, and strong relationships throughout the hockey world.
Professional Coaching Staff: Instructors hold international, NHL, NCAA, and USHL experience, emphasizing a high-paced long-term athlete development model.
Our mentors and coaches work with its athlete to reach lifetime achievements and the program goes well beyond the ice.
Location(s): Champlin Ice Forum, Rogers Ice Arena, STMA Ice Arena, Plymouth Ice Center, New Hope Ice Arena, and Brooklyn Park Ice Arena.
Minnesota Lakers Hockey is a Dave's Hockey Camp LLC program. Dave's Hockey Camp was founded in 2013 as a place for athletes to grow and chase their goals with an environment unlike any other. It prides itself on furthering the athlete's long term athletic development working on their journey to peak performance mites to the pros.
Meet the team
David Brown
Minnesota Lakers President/Founder
David Brown is the Founder and President of Hockey Operations for Minnesota Lakers Hockey and the owner of The Base Sports Performance. A Level 5 Master Certified USA Hockey coach, Coach Brown brings a wealth of elite-level development experience to the Lakers program. He serves as the Head Coach for Rogers Varsity Boys Hockey—leading the Royals to their first-ever Minnesota Class AA State Tournament appearance in 2025—and is the Head Minnesota Scout & Skills Consultant for the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL.
Throughout his coaching tenure, Brown has trained and mentored a diverse roster of elite athletes, including Olympians, NHL Players, NCAA All-Americans, and Mr. Hockey Finalists. His mission with the Minnesota Lakers is rooted in integrating world class development model and elite mentorship to help every player maximize their development and reach peak performance on and off the ice.
Ben Monahan
Minnesota Lakers Hockey Director
Ben Monahan is currently the Minnesota Lakers Hockey Director. He was previously 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, participating in 2 state tournaments as an assistant coach with Orono and STMA. He also won NWSC Coach of the Year while coaching Andover Girls High School. As well as a Head Coach at various Youth Hockey levels. He has scouted in the NAHL and USHL.
Coach Monahan also coaches Minnesota Lakers Showcase and Prep HS teams.
Elias Sandholm
Minnesota Lakers Assistant Program Director & Goalie Program Director
Elias Sandholm serves as the Assistant Program Director and Goalie Program Director for Minnesota Lakers Hockey and The Base Sports Performance. Originally from Stockholm, Sweden, he trained under top professional coaches using the Swedish model focused on efficient movement and positioning.
Moving to the U.S. in 2016, Sandholm achieved an impressive playing career at Trine University as an NCHA All-American and NCAA Statistical Champion. His coaching roles extend to Bethel University, Rogers Girls High School, and the Swedish University National Team. He holds an MBA in Analytics and a Bachelor’s in Business Management.
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.)