The American Bandy Association, also called USA Bandy, is the governing body of bandy in the United States. The association was established and became a member of the Federation of International Bandy in 1981, and was recognized as a non-profit corporation in 1983. It is headquartered in Savage, Minnesota. The president of ABA is Chris Middlebrook, who is also a lawyer by profession. ABA runs the American Bandy League. It also arranges an international summer camp for children every year. All ABA league games are played at the Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval in Roseville, Minnesota.
League play
The American Bandy League is the top-tier of bandy played in the United States. The league is split into two divisions, with 6 teams in Division I and 4 in Division II. All ABA league games are played at the Guidant John Rose Minnesota Oval in Roseville, Minnesota. The variant rink bandy is also played, organised as the USA Rink Bandy League. As of 2017, the latest champion is Tonka Bay Bombers.
Initially known as the Dinkytown Dukes, the Sparrows were formed in the 2014-2015 season by General Managers Jon Keseley, John Arundel, and Scott Arundel. In their first season, the Dukes went undefeated in the regular season and claimed their first Gunnar Cup as US Premier League champions by winning the series 2 games to 1 over Mississippi Mojo. Jon Keseley was named the season MVP, while Mikael Lickteig received playoff MVP honors, backstopped by the goaltending of Erik "The Red Baron" Kraska. The Dukes claimed their second championship in 2017. Under their new name, the team is competing against Minneapolis Bandolier for the 40th US Bandy Championship.
Minneapolis Bandolier
Bandolier was founded in 1980. It has won the United States Championship ten times, more than any other club. Many of the club's players also play in the United States national bandy team.
Minnesota Blades
The Blades were formed at the beginning of the 2002-2003 bandy season as the successor club to the Stabaek Bandy Club, which, after enjoying success in the 1980s and 1990s, fell on hard times. After Stabaek finished last in the Premier League table in 2001-2002, the Blades were founded and led by Steve Nelson of Edina, MN and finished their inaugural season in third place, before losing in the league playoff semifinals to the Amur Tigers. The Blades have won four US Premier League titles, taking the Gunnar Cup in 2004, 2005, 2008, and 2011. In 2005, the Gunnar Cup, which is traditionally awarded to the playoff champions, was awarded to the Blades by virtue of their first-place regular-season finish, as inclement weather in Minnesota caused the cancellation of that year's post-season tournament. In the 2005-2006 season, the Blades finished 4th in the regular season, and were eliminated from the league playoffs by expansion side OBS. In both 2005 and 2006, the Blades were the runners-up in the North American Cup competition. The Blades are captained by Steve "Jazz Hands" Nelson; he earned the nickname due to his indelible stick-handling prowess in the 2006 Federation Cup.
Mississippi Mojo
The Mississippi Mojo was the runner-up for the Gunnar Cup in 2013, 2015, and 2017.
