Ben Blood named head coach of Shakopee Bantam AA team
The Shakopee Youth Hockey Association (SYHA) is proud to announce the hiring of Ben Blood as head coach of the Bantam AA team for the 2026–27 season.
Blood, a Plymouth, Minn. native, brings a wealth of high level playing experience and a deep understanding of what it takes to compete and develop within elite hockey environments. A former defenseman, Blood was selected in the fourth round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the Ottawa Senators and went on to build a professional career that included stops in the AHL, ECHL, and top European leagues. Most recently, he played for Jokerit in Finland’s Mestis league before retiring from professional hockey.
“I’m excited to join the Saber hockey community,” Blood said. “There’s something special happening here, and I’m grateful for the opportunity the Lord has put in front of me. I can’t wait to get started with our Bantam group this fall and to serve the association in a way that makes a meaningful difference for our players and families.”
Standing 6-foot-4 and known throughout his career for his physical presence, competitiveness, leadership and team first mentality, Blood now turns his focus to coaching and player development. His experience across multiple levels of the game – youth, college, professional, and internationally – positions him to bring a strong developmental framework to Shakopee’s top Bantam team.
Blood will lead the Bantam AA team beginning with the start of the 2026–27 season, working closely with Hockey Director Shep Harder and SYHA’s Hockey Development Committee to prepare athletes for success in District 6 competition and beyond.
“Ben brings an accomplished and distinctive hockey background to SYHA,” Harder said. “He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators, spent four years at the University of North Dakota, and went on to a professional career that spanned more than a decade in Europe. His experience and perspective will be a tremendous asset to our program and will support the development of our Bantam AA players while reinforcing the preparation, standards, and commitment required to compete at a high level.”
In addition to an extensive professional career spanning more than a decade, Blood spent four years at the University of North Dakota, serving as an alternate captain as a senior. He helped lead UND to a pair of Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season championships, as well as three straight Final Five titles. He was voted the Most Improved Player by his teammates following his freshman season in 2008-09.
Blood played high school hockey at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Faribault, leading them to a USA Hockey Prep National Championship in 2007.
“We are thrilled to welcome Ben to Shakopee,” said SYHA President Dan Myers. “His playing background, leadership qualities, and commitment to developing young athletes make him an outstanding fit for our Bantam AA program. Ben understands the demands of high level hockey, and he brings a perspective that will help our players grow both on and off the ice.”
He and his wife, Hali, have two children, Jet (4) and June (3) and are expecting a daughter in October. The family resides in Hamel.
When he’s not behind the bench, Blood is the owner of Blood Hockey, a player development service that assists athletes across the Twin Cities.
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