Conference, section and state championships have long been decided, but the high school boys’ hockey season is not quite finished for three Albert Leans.

Josh Tubbs, an Albert Lea High School senior, has been selected to play in the 22nd Annual Ted Brill Great Eight All-Star Hockey Festival. He’ll be joined by ALHS coach Roy Nystrom, by virtue of his selection as Section 1A Coach of the Year, and the Tigers’ manager, Tom Larson.

The Great Eight, set for March 28-30 at Wakota Arena in South St. Paul, started in 1983 when the Minnesota High School Hockey Association and the Minnesota Amateur Hockey Association collaborated on a high school all-star series involving 42 of the top graduating seniors in a two-game series. The program has grown and expanded to now include eight teams and 136 players.

The players are nominated by their high school coach and voted on by coaches from those combined sections. The top two goaltenders, six defensemen and nine forwards from each section are named to the team. Several alternates are also named to the team but do not participate unless one of the active players is unable. Each section’s 2002-03 Class A and AA Coach of the Year will coach teams.

Tubbs was the Tigers’ top goal-scorer this past season with 19. He also had 20 assists, putting him second on the team with 39 points.

The 2002-03 Tigers finished 10-6 in the Big Nine and 17-10 overall, reaching the championship game in Section 1A.

The rest of the Section 1A-1AA Red Team that Tubbs will play for includes Riley Gill and Brady Seesz of Northfield; Eric Hansen, Cole Hughes, Brad Weichmann, Austin; Craig Johnson, Mike Reveland, Chris Collins, Rochester Century; John Brunkhorst and Nick Forliti, Rocheser Lourdes; Ryan Hoehn, Waseca; Tony Clemons, Lakeville; Vince Anderson, Rochester Mayo; James Gaulrapp, Owatonna; Jeff Jacobs, Marshall; and Josh Skinner, Rochester John Marshall.

Joining Nystrom as coach is Aaron Neuer of Rochester JM.

According to College Hockey Guide, last season Minnesota had more than 220 players participating on Division I teams, more than any other state.

&uot;That is a remarkable testimony to the quality of players in Minnesota and the programs in which they were developed, said Ted Brill, one of the founders of the festival.

Following the Great Eight, 20 players who do not have firm Division I commitments will be selected to represent Minnesota at the 24-team National High School Hockey Showcase April 15-20 in Chicago. Minnesota has won the Showcase the last six years.