A Rankings for 11/24/19

[ClassAGuy]

After Week #1 of Games still hard to make a full poll with some teams yet to start.

1. Hermantown (0-0-0)
-The Hawks have been, without a doubt, the state’s most reliable Class A team for years. This week is interesting for the Hawks as they play what may be their best competition in 7A in Eveleth0 Gilbert to open the week then finish up with a slate of games vs. AA Programs. It will be interesting to see how they handle what may be their main Iron Range competition to start the year.
This week: Tues vs. #14 Eveleth Gilbert, Fri vs. Wayzata, and Sat at Lakeville South

2. East Grand Forks (1-0-1)
-The Wave withstood an early challenge from what looks to be a solid Orono squad and then demolished Delano on Saturday. This week will include one big test against the defending champs Cathedral, plus it's their home opener, and they will be fully rested playing a Cathedral on the second day or brutal early Northern Swing. Wave will look to Roll and show they are worthy of a top 2 ranking.
This week: Tues at Detroit Lakes, Sat vs. #3 St. Cloud Cathedral.

3. St Cloud Cathedral (0-0-0)
-The Crusaders were idle this week, but I have heard less than glowing reports from Scrimmages. Their Goaltending and Depth issues look to be more significant question marks, then some had realized. Also, no Warner was a massive blow to this team last year. They were (16-0-0) and dominated with him in the lineup. Without him, they were (11-4-0) and struggled to beat anyone decent. They are going to struggle early with a brutal Northern Swing without their Mr. Hockey Canidiate. It could be a long weekend and a dropping in the rankings for the Crusaders.
This week: Tues vs. Fergus Falls, Fri at #5 Warroad, Sat at #2 East Grand Forks

4. Mahtomedi (0-0-0)
-The Zephyrs, who seem like the somewhat forgotten top-five team right now, are poised to be very strong again this winter. They have been to the State Tournament for three consecutive years and will look to make it four this winter. They open up with a re-building Sartell team and then their former 4A foe in now AA Totino Grace.
This week: Tues vs. Sartell, Sat at Totino Grace

5. Warroad (0-0-0)
-The Warriors seem poised to have a break out year and maybe finally return to St. Paul for the first time in over a decade. This program at one time was the Hermantown of Class A, a tournament regular who's fans booked a hotel in June for St Paul in March, It been a rough stretch for Warrior hockey in the last few years, but this year it seems Warroad is poised to return to glory. A solid AA test in Bemidji to open the year, and then they will get their first chance to show they are a definite player with the Defending champs Cathedral in town on Friday. Three excellent games to start the year up at the Gardens.
This week: Tues vs. Bemidji, Fri. vs. St. Cloud Cathedral, Sat. vs. Sartell

6. Orono (1-0-1)
-It was a great opening weekend for Orono. The Spartans established themselves as a top team in Class A. They gave the Greenwave all they wanted and fought to a tie and then dominated Alexandria on Saturday. They showed they are a team to be aware of all year. This week they face the Moose of Monticello on and then start a slate of big Section 2A games after that.
This week: Tues at Monticello, Sat vs. Minneapolis

7. Thief River Falls (2-0-0)
-Two solid wins for the Prowlers to start their year. This team is sneaky good and with the Return of Evan Bushy from the USHL lookout for TRF. They continue to a nice slate of home games this week as we will see them tested more vs. AA Roseau and emerging Class A Threat Little Falls and St Paul Johnson. This team can beat anyone in Class A on any given night. With Bushy back in the fold, 8A is going to be so much fun to watch this winter.
This week: Tues vs. Roseau, Fri. vs. Little Falls, Sat vs. St Paul Johnson

8. Greenway (0-0-0)
-The Raiders were idle this week, as well. Now we will get to see what they are made of this week. Three home games two easy Section games to get the year rolling than a very stiff AA test from Minnetonka. Greenway had limited Depth playing ten guys only down the stretch now this year they may be even more short-handed. Don't Count out Coach Clafton and Greenway this year. But they have even a more depleted bench this winter.
This week: Tues vs. Virginia, Fri. vs. Ely, Sat vs. Minnetonka.

9 North Branch (1-0-0)
-The Vikings will be the toughest team to get a read on all year. They had an up and down win vs. a bad Sauk Rapids. Next week they play in a weak Turkey Day Classic with Simley, MN River, and not sure who else. Their schedule will not give us a good read of this team. They should have a flashy record and be right there in the end. They will be rooting for the Moose to beat Delano and Orono, and they will need to beat the Moose if they want to be seeded at State.
This week: Fri. vs. MN River, Sat vs. TBD.

10. Alexandria (1-1-0)
-The Cardinals had a weird weekend. They showed glimpses of being a solid team, but holy moly were they undisciplined. They took 15 penalties this weekend. They took ten against Delano and almost blew their late lead. Against Orono, they were outmatched, but it was again two powerplay goals for the Spartans that turned a 1-1 tie into a 3-1 lead that would never be challenged. The big match up on Tuesday against Little Falls who is looking to show they are for real. The Cardinals need to figure out how to play even strength more.
This week: Tues at #11 Little Falls

11. Tartan(1-0-0)
-The Titans took care of business this weekend. They soundly defeated Minneapolis and will be a Class A Team to watch all year. They have a nice mix of A and AA in their schedule, and they look to be Top 15 team all year and one of the main challengers to knock off the Zehpys in Section Section 4A. This week the play Dodge County a team with potential in 1A and then AA Roseville.
This week: Wed. at Dodge County, Sat. at Roseville

12. Little Falls (2-0-0)
-Great Weekend Northern Swing for the Flyers as they took down I Falls on Friday and then one of the eye-popping scores of the weekend they blew out a usually good Virginia Team 9-2. This team was young last year and returned nearly everyone this week they get to face Section Rival Alex at home and finish the weekend at TRF & Crookston. This team could be Top 10 by this time next week.
This week: Tues vs. #10 Alexandria, Friday at #7 TRF, and Sat. at Crookston

13. Duluth Denfeld (2-0-0)
-The Hunters got off to a good start at home. Taking care of two weaker opponents with ease. This week they will get another easy game vs. Section 7A foe North Shore. A big contest looms with Greenway the following week. The Hunters are a very well-coached and hungry young team on the rise. It will be interesting to see how quickly they can grow up as the year goes on.
This week: Tues at North Shore

14. Eveleth Gilbert (2-0-0)
-The Golden Bears looked dominate in their opening weekend. It could be argued they beat similar opponents better than the Hunters above them. This week should give us a better glimpse of what this club is capable of. A huge matchup with Section 7A bully #1 Hermantown on Tuesday night should be a good barometer for Eveleth early in the year.
This week: Tues at #1 Hermantown, Friday at I Falls

15. Monticello (1-0-0)
-Don't sleep on the Moose this year. They will be the next best team besides North Branch in Section 5A. They have slowly improved their schedule over the last few years, and they return their back-end intact all Defenseman and goalie. They looked good in week one. Now a much stiffer test awaits with Orono on Tuesday. Its a big game for not only the Moose but all of Section 5A in hopes of getting a seed at State down the road.
This week: Tues vs. #6 Orono

Other Class A Notable Teams (To Watch)
Delano (0-2-0) - Rough opening weekend for the Tigers who are very young this year. Still a great Class A program, and they play a tough schedule, and they will be around by the end of the year.

Mound Westonka (2-0-0)- Got off to an excellent start this weekend. The White Hawks have been a great Class A Program over the last few years. They generally are old and reload with more good seniors. It looks to be the case again this year.

Marshall (1-0-0)- The top team in Section 3A got off to a little rocky start but found a way to win on the road. A possible Match-up with Mound Westonka would help give a better idea this weekend to where they truly stand.

Mankato East (0-1-0)- It was a very rough opener for the Cougars against Mound Westonka. They still look like the lead dog in a very down and winnable Section 1A this winter. They will need to play better then they did this past weekend.

St Paul Johnson (0-0-0)- Team returns a ton of talent; they are still young as most are only Juniors. It should be a good two year run for the Governors.

Sartell (0-0-0)- Team lost just about everything from last year. 13 Seniors (6 Forwards, 5 Defenseman, and both goalies). It will be a rebuilding year for the Sabers, but they have a great Freshman Class who will get early Varsity time and will have Sabres rolling by playoffs.

CLASS A GAME OF THE WEEK:

#3 St. Cloud Cathedral at #2 East Grand Forks
Huge Matchup with possible State Tournament Seeding on the line. The Green Wave is fully healthy and will be rested as they do not play Friday Night. Cathedral IF and that is a HUGE IF they survive Warroad on Friday will be limping in already minus Warner this matchup does not bold well for the Crusaders. East Grand Forks will be fresh and looking for revenge from last year.

Prediction: Look for EGF to down the Crusaders in this one but should be a great early season tilt!!

[ClassAGuy]

Tuesday Class "A" Big Game Recaps:

#6 Orono Defeats #15 Monticello 3-2
The Moose show they should not be overlooked in Section 5A. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead after 1 period only to see it slip away. Big loss for Section 5A in their quest to gain the Section's first-ever seed at the Class A State Tournament since losing (Hermantown & SCC). Overall, shows that the Moose can still play with anyone on any given night. A good win for Orono early in the year down 2-0 after 1 period on the road and they find a way to win the game. Another early-season test for the Spartans PASSED!

#1 Hermantown Defeats #14 Eveleth Gilbert 5-2
This was the shocker of the night as the game was tied 2-2 in the third period. Biondi took over after that after having spent a majority of the first two periods in the box. The Golden Bears proved that again this year Hawks are beatable on any given night. I thought Hermantown would be tougher at home early in the year vs. a Section 7A team. A win is a WIN and now the Hawks will play their Mainly AA Schedule for awhile.

#10 Alexandria Defeats #12 Little Falls 3-1
A good road win for the shorthanded Cards in Little Falls. I big win in Section 6A for them. All the scoring took place in the first period and the team grinded it out after that. Two even teams that look to meet again possibly two more times down the road. Alex playing without Three Key Defenseman last year due to injury on the road this a great win for them!

#4 Mahtomedi Blows Out Sartell 8-1
Mahtomedi looks to be very good again this year and it also looks like Sartell will have a little bigger rebuild then expected early on this year. This one was ugly and the Zephyrs dominated from the beginning of the game.

#7 Thief River Falls Defeats Roseau 2-1 in Overtime
The Prowlers are going to cause havoc this year. Section 8A is loaded with THREE TOP 10 Teams. Don't sleep on the Prowlers this was a very good win at home and now they welcome Little Falls on Friday.

[elliott70]

No arguments from me.
Top 15 look good.

[ClassAGuy]

Class A Weekend Thoughts-

Stock Rising for Tomorrow-
#1 Hermantown- Great win over a very good Lake Conference AA Super Giant Wayzata. The Hawks look to be the cream of the crop yet again in Class A.

#5 Warroad- Dominated what looks to be an over-hyped Cathedral Team. Warriors are back and they are not even the favorite in their own Section.

#11 Little Falls- Great weekend Out Played TRF in their rink and then dismantled Crookston. 6A looks wide open after this weekend. The Flyers are primed to be in the race all year.

Unranked St. Paul Johnson- Showed they are for real with a SOUND 3-0 victory over TRF Today.

Stock Falling for Tomorrow-
#3 St Cloud Cathedral- Got soundly defeated by #5 Warroad. Without Warner, in the Lineup, this team is very beatable. The real question is when or will he even return to save the Crusaders this season like last year?

#7 Thief River Falls- Prowlers Prove again they can beat anyone in the State (Great OT win over solid AA Roseau) and Lose to anyone. Rough weekend at Home. They hit the Road though this weekend big-time match up with Tartan and then they get a reeling SCC Team. Don't be surprised if they win both. They are a team that can lose and beat anyone on any given night.

Mound Westonka- Rough Weekend in Marshall, MN looks to drop the Whitehawks out of the conversation tomorrow.

New Top 5 Tomorrow- I know one thing the Defending Champs will not be one of them and While TRF will drop out of Top 10 dont overlook them this coming week on the road.

Until tomorrow....