Former Austin hockey player John Kirby will be participating in the 2010 North American Hockey League Showcase Tournament Sept. 15-18 at the Schwan Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.

A total of 118 Minnesotans will take to the ice to open the 2010-11 NAHL season in front of scores of college and professional scouts, family members and fans.

Kirby played his high school hockey at Austin High School and now skates for the NAHL’s Austin Bruins.

The 118 Minnesota natives represent 62 communities from around the state – from Warroad in the north to Rochester in the south and from Stillwater in the east to Alexandria in the west. The complete list of the NAHL Showcase’s Minnesota players is attached.

Sixteen of the NAHL’s 26 teams feature at least one Minnesota native, led by the Coulee Region Chill with 19, and the Alexandria Blizzard and Owatonna Express with 14 each.

The NAHL Showcase is now widely considered one of the most well-attended and heavily-scouted festivals in all of North America. Each of the league’s 26 teams will play four regular-season games during the event.