Day 1 of NSC Minnesota Stars 2011 Combine

The NSC Minnesota Stars combine got underway this morning at the National Sports Center. 45 players were invited into camp to try out for the Stars, with each player having dreams of playing professionally. Last year’s Stars team and past Thunder teams averaged 65-70 players at a combine, so the numbers are a bit lighter this season.

The combine runs through Friday morning. The public is invited to watch, and tomorrow’s schedule is from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. and again from 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Friday’s session is only in the morning, running 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

If any player makes the cut, he will be invited back to tryout with Stars next week when the players under contract gather for training. Head Coach Manny Lagos said he also has a number of players invited to next week’s training who were either at the NASL combine or who he feels have a chance of making the Stars roster.

Minnesota Thunder and NSC Stars historian and jersey collector Scott Kerssen has gathered a full list of combine players along with hyperlinks to each player where he could find information concerning their young careers. You can find that here.

Also, Scott is once again conducting his contest to pick the player who will survive the combine and make the 2011 roster of the Stars; a fun game he’s been putting together for 5 years now. Scott gives away a signed jersey of his choice for the prize. For more information on the contest and how to enter please go here. Entries need to be posted by this Friday noon.