Teams that will suffer the biggest downfall for 08-09?

[xcel554]

Its a little early to tell because I have not heard of everyone who is leaving school early, but I do feel that DM toppers are past the days of being the first loser in state, and will have he couple of down years.

[IAMAHOCKEYPLAYER]

To name a few:

Roseau
Benilde-St. Margaret's
Minnetonka
Burnsville
Cloquet
Anoka
Little Falls
Warroad
Park Rapids
Brainerd

yup, Roseau should be fine though

I agree, Roseau should be fine, they will still have Landman, Oliver, Weston, and of course Mike Lee returning

[HShockeywatcher]

As keepyourheadup said, St Thomas will be down. They should make it to state in their section, but beyond that, I have no idea. With a goalie who will be a junior and a state title under his belt that should help quite a bit. Anyone with anymore info on him?

[Northern16hockey]

International falls way down next year.. youso and corrin are gone along with 7 other seniors.

[creampie09]

sta will definantly be down as bad as anyone. they are losing their top 4 forwards (walters, isaacson, saintey, and rooney) along with the big 5 defensemen that got all the playing time this year. they will still be good but will have a extremely difficult time defending their title.

you cant say that Isackson is leaving forsure and the vannellis are 2 of the best coaches in the state. you shouldnt talk unless you know the facts about something

[Mite-dad]

As far as Little Falls is concerned, I still think LF will be right there with Fergus and Alexandria for the section title, even if Ben decides to play Juniors.

[Proud-Pioneers-Fan]

Pioneers will be just fine

First Line: Tyler Zepeda, Isaac Kohls, Jeff Westerhaus
Second: Nick Widing, Monte French, Paul Prescott
Third: Jack Walsh, Open, Open - Plenty of talent coming up from a strong JV team to fill these slots.

4 solid defensive players in Chris Casto, Jordan Johnson, Jonathan Stadler, and Alex Kelly - back filling Sova and Dolan will not be easy but out of this pool you have two solid lines.

Look for them to make another run.

[pipes3030]

Providence loses Larson, Derosier, Gilyard, Bennecke, and Zierbes, who accounted for 69% of the teams points and 75% of the teams goals

[H-M 4 Life]

Pioneers will be just fine

First Line: Tyler Zepeda, Isaac Kohls, Jeff Westerhaus
Second: Nick Widing, Monte French, Paul Prescott
Third: Jack Walsh, Open, Open - Plenty of talent coming up from a strong JV team to fill these slots.

4 solid defensive players in Chris Casto, Jordan Johnson, Jonathan Stadler, and Alex Kelly - back filling Sova and Dolan will not be easy but out of this pool you have two solid lines.

Look for them to make another run.

Totally agree with you. Also theres a rumor that Ben Marshall from Mahtomedi might go to Hill next year.

[Stealth]

As far as Little Falls is concerned, I still think LF will be right there with Fergus and Alexandria for the section title, even if Ben decides to play Juniors.

Fergus Fall loses 12 Seniors also.

[Cabela10]

sta will definantly be down as bad as anyone. they are losing their top 4 forwards (walters, isaacson, saintey, and rooney)

Where is Walters and Isaacson going? I thought there were both Sophomores this season, Walters for sure.

[komada77]

Pioneers will be just fine

First Line: Tyler Zepeda, Isaac Kohls, Jeff Westerhaus
Second: Nick Widing, Monte French, Paul Prescott
Third: Jack Walsh, Open, Open - Plenty of talent coming up from a strong JV team to fill these slots.

4 solid defensive players in Chris Casto, Jordan Johnson, Jonathan Stadler, and Alex Kelly - back filling Sova and Dolan will not be easy but out of this pool you have two solid lines.

Look for them to make another run.

Totally agree with you. Also theres a rumor that Ben Marshall from Mahtomedi might go to Hill next year.

But they lose the player that had more to do with their championship than anyone else in Joe Phillipi. Who's gonna replace him?

[pipes3030]

Pioneers will be just fine

First Line: Tyler Zepeda, Isaac Kohls, Jeff Westerhaus
Second: Nick Widing, Monte French, Paul Prescott
Third: Jack Walsh, Open, Open - Plenty of talent coming up from a strong JV team to fill these slots.

4 solid defensive players in Chris Casto, Jordan Johnson, Jonathan Stadler, and Alex Kelly - back filling Sova and Dolan will not be easy but out of this pool you have two solid lines.

Look for them to make another run.

Totally agree with you. Also theres a rumor that Ben Marshall from Mahtomedi might go to Hill next year.

But they lose the player that had more to do with their championship than anyone else in Joe Phillipi. Who's gonna replace him?

Kirk McGinley

[2darink10]

As keepyourheadup said, St Thomas will be down. They should make it to state in their section, but beyond that, I have no idea. With a goalie who will be a junior and a state title under his belt that should help quite a bit. Anyone with anymore info on him?

Kurt Altrichter he's from white bear. Hadn't heard much about him there, but winning state for sta was big.. really big.

[Trashman]

I can't understand why Westerhouse didn't play more this year, he's a hell of a player but was relegated to 4th line most of the year until Zapeda was hurt. May not be one of Lechners favorite players for some reason. If this year was any indication though, I would bet he plays second line with Widing on first.

[Mite-dad]

As far as Little Falls is concerned, I still think LF will be right there with Fergus and Alexandria for the section title, even if Ben decides to play Juniors.

Fergus Fall loses 12 Seniors also.

Whoops! Well, then I guess LF looks even better then.

[pioneers]

Totally agree with you. Also theres a rumor that Ben Marshall from Mahtomedi might go to Hill next year.[/quo

If he does, his parents will have to move or he will have to sit out a year.

[pioneers]

I can't understand why Westerhouse didn't play more this year, he's a hell of a player but was relegated to 4th line most of the year until Zapeda was hurt. May not be one of Lechners favorite players for some reason. If this year was any indication though, I would bet he plays second line with Widing on first.

I think part of the problem with Westerhouse is that he seems to take a lot of bad penalties. He did get to play more toward the end of the season, even after Tyler came back

[Proud-Pioneers-Fan]

No clue why Westerhaus did not play more. He was a main stay on second & third line last year and was 7th on points list for the year.

This year he was bounced around and only started seeing real time at the end of the year when Zepeda got hurt (which seemed to stay with him through the tourney - he was off a couple of steps) as mentioned by 'Trashman'. Even with only a handful of games with regular shifts he still ended up with 21 points. When he got out there for more than a half shift at a time he shows that he can play. I am guessing the old politics of hockey relationships may have gotten in the way. On the penalty front... he had his share but I believe they come with the territory with his aggressive style of play e.g., Sova, Furne, Dolan, Singer, etc. which ended up playing a big part in the Pioneers knocking the Rams out and keeping the Hornets at bay. But agree that he needs to tweak that part of his game. I can see him taking on a big role next year.

Monte French too. The few times I saw him get some time it looks like the kid has some real talent. Opportunities to play on first and second line tend to have a way to focus a player and that is the opportunity that is in front of both of them.

[61ache]

Hill Murray loses two linebackers, both defensive ends and their best defensive back.

[Proud-Pioneers-Fan]

Totally agree with you. Also theres a rumor that Ben Marshall from Mahtomedi might go to Hill next year.

But they lose the player that had more to do with their championship than anyone else in Joe Phillipi. Who's gonna replace him?

Kirk McGinley

There is some good young talent on JV in Basil Sampair. Should be a good battle for the spot. Either way I would not look for as many shutouts or a 93% save percentage.

[Bench Major]

Champlin Park has to address the loss of 12 seniors (8 forward, 2 D, 2G). They were a one line team that faded down the stretch, missing their goal of reaching the Coliseum after losing to Rogers two seasons in a row, once as a #8 seed in the 8-9 play-in, once as a #2 seed being upset by #7. The scoring is all gone and the decent goaltending will be missed dearly next season. Look for wins over North Metro and Coon Rapids, and that's about it.

[pioneers]

No clue why Westerhaus did not play more. He was a main stay on second & third line last year and was 7th on points list for the year.

This year he was bounced around and only started seeing real time at the end of the year when Zepeda got hurt (which seemed to stay with him through the tourney - he was off a couple of steps) as mentioned by 'Trashman'. Even with only a handful of games with regular shifts he still ended up with 21 points. When he got out there for more than a half shift at a time he shows that he can play. I am guessing the old politics of hockey relationships may have gotten in the way. On the penalty front... he had his share but I believe they come with the territory with his aggressive style of play e.g., Sova, Furne, Dolan, Singer, etc. which ended up playing a big part in the Pioneers knocking the Rams out and keeping the Hornets at bay. But agree that he needs to tweak that part of his game. I can see him taking on a big role next year.

Monte French too. The few times I saw him get some time it looks like the kid has some real talent. Opportunities to play on first and second line tend to have a way to focus a player and that is the opportunity that is in front of both of them.

Tyler will most likely have surgery to fix his injury in the off season. It was the type of injury that he could play with depending on how much pain he could tolerate.

[wbmd]

sta will definantly be down as bad as anyone. they are losing their top 4 forwards (walters, isaacson, saintey, and rooney)

Where is Walters and Isaacson going? I thought there were both Sophomores this season, Walters for sure.

Walters is going to play full time in the USHL then off to the Gophers.

[H-M 4 Life]

But they lose the player that had more to do with their championship than anyone else in Joe Phillipi. Who's gonna replace him?

Kirk McGinley

There is some good young talent on JV in Basil Sampair. Should be a good battle for the spot. Either way I would not look for as many shutouts or a 93% save percentage.