Who will be the top team next year? AA

[Pioneerprideguy]

Just goes to show, your team wins a state title & good things happen.

[labattblue17]

Do I smell another underachieveing hornets team next year? I think I do.

Edina was the #1 seed at the state tournament last season, went 2-1, and won the Consolation hardware.

Edina was the #2 seed this year, lost in the final, and was Runner-up.

Is this the underachieving team of which you speak?


I think Holy Angels has to be on anyone's short list of contenders just below Edina. Hopkins too, as Fons moves to 11th grade and their phenom becomes a freshman. The other teams listed all make sense to me.

Edina will be the favorite for sure.

Yeah it is. If you don't think Budish, Everson, Lee, and Gleason fully expected to win the state championship this year, you would just be dead wrong. When your team is that much more talented than every other team in the state, anything less than a state championship is an underachievment.

Sure they may have expected to win, but are we forgetting how talented Hill's team was? They had guys from all 3 lines on Elite league and I am pretty sure they had more guys in the elite league then edina.

Edina had Budish, Everson, Gaarder, Gleason, Leer, Cashcetta

HM had Widing, Cecka, Sova, Philipi, Singerhouse, Furne, maybe more someone help me out right there they are even.

[parrish4president]

Edina was the #1 seed at the state tournament last season, went 2-1, and won the Consolation hardware.

Edina was the #2 seed this year, lost in the final, and was Runner-up.

Is this the underachieving team of which you speak?


I think Holy Angels has to be on anyone's short list of contenders just below Edina. Hopkins too, as Fons moves to 11th grade and their phenom becomes a freshman. The other teams listed all make sense to me.

Edina will be the favorite for sure.

Yeah it is. If you don't think Budish, Everson, Lee, and Gleason fully expected to win the state championship this year, you would just be dead wrong. When your team is that much more talented than every other team in the state, anything less than a state championship is an underachievment.

Sure they may have expected to win, but are we forgetting how talented Hill's team was? They had guys from all 3 lines on Elite league and I am pretty sure they had more guys in the elite league then edina.

Edina had Budish, Everson, Gaarder, Gleason, Leer, Cashcetta

HM had Widing, Cecka, Sova, Philipi, Singerhouse, Furne, maybe more someone help me out right there they are even.

steady your tongue son. Are you trying to tell me your comparing the talent of Budish, Everson, Gaarder, Gleason against all but Phillipi and Checka, haha.

Hill played well that night, but they were significantly outmatched in talent.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Just goes to show that talent alone doesn't always win championships.

[The Huge Hook]

Obviously Edina as the 2008 strength of schedule champions

The Hornets have won a lot of hardward in this discipline. We keep them hidden in a closet in our East Rink, along with 3rd place hardware......Oops, sorry!

[packerboy]

Obviously Edina as the 2008 strength of schedule champions

The Hornets have won a lot of hardward in this discipline. We keep them hidden in a closet in our East Rink, along with 3rd place hardware......Oops, sorry!

Which brings up an interesting question: Where do you keep the 3 trophies that BIAFP wants to pretend were never won by Edina while the name was changed to "East"

[The Huge Hook]

Obviously Edina as the 2008 strength of schedule champions

The Hornets have won a lot of hardward in this discipline. We keep them hidden in a closet in our East Rink, along with 3rd place hardware......Oops, sorry!

Which brings up an interesting question: Where do you keep the 3 trophies that BIAFP wants to pretend were never won by Edina while the name was changed to "East"

Those banners hang in the West Rink. They are merely three of nine! I though we would go double digits last week!

[komada77]

Yeah it is. If you don't think Budish, Everson, Lee, and Gleason fully expected to win the state championship this year, you would just be dead wrong. When your team is that much more talented than every other team in the state, anything less than a state championship is an underachievment.

Sure they may have expected to win, but are we forgetting how talented Hill's team was? They had guys from all 3 lines on Elite league and I am pretty sure they had more guys in the elite league then edina.

Edina had Budish, Everson, Gaarder, Gleason, Leer, Cashcetta

HM had Widing, Cecka, Sova, Philipi, Singerhouse, Furne, maybe more someone help me out right there they are even.

steady your tongue son. Are you trying to tell me your comparing the talent of Budish, Everson, Gaarder, Gleason against all but Phillipi and Checka, haha.

Hill played well that night, but they were significantly outmatched in talent.

There's absolutely no doubt Hill is a very talented team, a better team, in fact, than Edina, but you can't tell me they are more talented. Edina, in terms of pure talent, is far superior to Hill at every position but goalie. I can't confirm this, but someone posted on a different thread that Edina had 10 Elite League players, 6 of whom are going D1. If that is true, it's gotta be some sort of record.

[IrishStiff]

Centennial should be up near the top.

They will be playing in the 6th Bantam State Championship game since 2001. This is their 4th title game in a row.

Now bantams don't really mean high school success since in high school you are competing with 4 age groups, privates, open enrollment (not for long) juniors, and USA development.

Has a program in recent time ever had that much success at the bantam or pee wee level??

2001 at Willmar.............................................(C) Centennial.....................................(R) White Bear Lake
2002 at Blaine.................................................(C) Wayzata...................................................(R) Roseville
2003 at Cloquet.......................................(C) White Bear Lake.........................................(R) Centennial
2004 at Stillwater...........................................(C) Moorhead..............................................(R) Duluth East
2005 at New Ulm..............................................(C) Edina..................................................(R) Centennial
2006 at New Hope........................................(C) Centennial......................................................(R) Edina
2007 at Alexandria.......................................(C) Eden Prairie.............................................(R) Centennial

2008 at Edina ...........Centennial vs. Eden Prairie

[Pioneerprideguy]

It appears that the Centennial kids peak by the bantam level. They get to high school with high expectations & fail to achieve the same success at the next level. Their progression is slowed down by something (coach Aus?). If things don't change, I forsee their elite players opting not to finish high school for a chance to develop elsewhere. If that happens, they become just another average program. Should be interesting.

[Sparlimb]

It appears that the Centennial kids peak by the bantam level. They get to high school with high expectations & fail to achieve the same success at the next level. Their progression is slowed down by something (coach Aus?). If things don't change, I forsee their elite players opting not to finish high school for a chance to develop elsewhere. If that happens, they become just another average program. Should be interesting.

It certainly was an odd year for Centennial this year. Sure looked like they had talent to compete with anyone in state yet had some real head scratching performances. Not sure if they were missing one kid to make it all go or if they just didn't gel for whatever reason. I expect them to be strong again next year and they will be fighting for the conference crown and another #1 seed in their section. Blaine seems to be their biggest rival and I'm glad they are in the same section finally for these to become some really fun sectional finals...

[hockey59]

Centennial should be up near the top.

They will be playing in the 6th Bantam State Championship game since 2001. This is their 4th title game in a row.

Now bantams don't really mean high school success since in high school you are competing with 4 age groups, privates, open enrollment (not for long) juniors, and USA development.

Has a program in recent time ever had that much success at the bantam or pee wee level??

2001 at Willmar.............................................(C) Centennial.....................................(R) White Bear Lake
2002 at Blaine.................................................(C) Wayzata...................................................(R) Roseville
2003 at Cloquet.......................................(C) White Bear Lake.........................................(R) Centennial
2004 at Stillwater...........................................(C) Moorhead..............................................(R) Duluth East
2005 at New Ulm..............................................(C) Edina..................................................(R) Centennial
2006 at New Hope........................................(C) Centennial......................................................(R) Edina
2007 at Alexandria.......................................(C) Eden Prairie.............................................(R) Centennial

2008 at Edina ...........Centennial vs. Eden Prairie

This is an interesting statistic when you consider their High School team has only made it to State once (2004 when they won it) during the same time span....what is clearly demonstrates is the superior coaching ability of their Bantam "A" coaches (especially Karl R. over the years)...compared to their HS coaches.

[Neutron 14]

This is an interesting statistic when you consider their High School team has only made it to State once (2004 when they won it) during the same time span....what is clearly demonstrates is the superior coaching ability of their Bantam "A" coaches (especially Karl R. over the years)...compared to their HS coaches.

YA THINK???

[mightyknight]

You can win at the pee wee and bantam levels with finesse teams. Which is what cetennial has always had. Cavers and Karl have both done great jobs with their teams no doubt. But high school hockey is much differant than bantams. Now bigger,stronger less finesse players match up better against those guys. You need guys like this to help out your team and make them tougher and better. Aus does a great job also with all the skilled guys he has year in and year out. Don't remember his last losing season. Maybe they get a little spoiled winning all those younger titles.

[IrishStiff]

You can win at the pee wee and bantam levels with finesse teams. Which is what cetennial has always had. Cavers and Karl have both done great jobs with their teams no doubt. But high school hockey is much differant than bantams. Now bigger,stronger less finesse players match up better against those guys. You need guys like this to help out your team and make them tougher and better. Aus does a great job also with all the skilled guys he has year in and year out. Don't remember his last losing season. Maybe they get a little spoiled winning all those younger titles.

Well said! This just proves that bantams has nothing to do with high school. It's a completely different animal. More age groups and tons of other factors that I have mentioned. To blame this on the high school coach is completely comical. It's one and done in high school. Many teams can make it to state without winning all of their playoff games.

Aren't the bantam coaches in continual contact with the high school coach? Didn't they used to play for him?

[hockey59]

You can win at the pee wee and bantam levels with finesse teams. Which is what cetennial has always had. Cavers and Karl have both done great jobs with their teams no doubt. But high school hockey is much differant than bantams. Now bigger,stronger less finesse players match up better against those guys. You need guys like this to help out your team and make them tougher and better. Aus does a great job also with all the skilled guys he has year in and year out. Don't remember his last losing season. Maybe they get a little spoiled winning all those younger titles.

Well said! This just proves that bantams has nothing to do with high school. It's a completely different animal. More age groups and tons of other factors that I have mentioned. To blame this on the high school coach is completely comical. It's one and done in high school. Many teams can make it to state without winning all of their playoff games.

Aren't the bantam coaches in continual contact with the high school coach? Didn't they used to play for him?

Irish and Mighty...believe whatever you want to believe...but the facts speak differently...Karl gets every bit of ability and team effort out of his players through superior motivation and coaching (I'll throw in that it helps having them for 60-70 games)...EA simply does not. Nuff said.

[Neutron 14]

You can win at the pee wee and bantam levels with finesse teams. Which is what cetennial has always had. Cavers and Karl have both done great jobs with their teams no doubt. But high school hockey is much differant than bantams. Now bigger,stronger less finesse players match up better against those guys. You need guys like this to help out your team and make them tougher and better. Aus does a great job also with all the skilled guys he has year in and year out. Don't remember his last losing season. Maybe they get a little spoiled winning all those younger titles.

I'm sure I've read something more ridiculous, I just don't remember when. Less skilled is better? Maybe in Irondale. Dump and chase finesse teams, ya gotta love these people....

[IrishStiff]

You can win at the pee wee and bantam levels with finesse teams. Which is what cetennial has always had. Cavers and Karl have both done great jobs with their teams no doubt. But high school hockey is much differant than bantams. Now bigger,stronger less finesse players match up better against those guys. You need guys like this to help out your team and make them tougher and better. Aus does a great job also with all the skilled guys he has year in and year out. Don't remember his last losing season. Maybe they get a little spoiled winning all those younger titles.

Well said! This just proves that bantams has nothing to do with high school. It's a completely different animal. More age groups and tons of other factors that I have mentioned. To blame this on the high school coach is completely comical. It's one and done in high school. Many teams can make it to state without winning all of their playoff games.

Aren't the bantam coaches in continual contact with the high school coach? Didn't they used to play for him?

Irish and Mighty...believe whatever you want to believe...but the facts speak differently...Karl gets every bit of ability and team effort out of his players through superior motivation and coaching (I'll throw in that it helps having them for 60-70 games)...EA simply does not. Nuff said.

The facts say that Centennial is the only team to win a State High School tourney out of every bantam state finalist since 01. With the way some of you rip the high school coach you must use the same logic to give him credit. If I remember that 04 team was very well coached and played awesome team defense.

[MNHockey75]

my 2008-2009 state participants prediction as of 3/16/08

A
1 - New Prague
2 - Breck
3 - New Ulm
4 - St. Thomas Academy
5 - St. Cloud Cathedral
6 - Little Falls
7 - Duluth Marshall
8 - Thief River Falls

AA
1 - Rochester Mayo
2 - Edina
3 - Woodbury
4 - Hill-Murray
5 - Centennial
6 - Hopkins
7 - Duluth East
8 - Roseau

[Neutron 14]

The facts say that Centennial is the only team to win a State High School tourney out of every bantam state finalist since 01. With the way some of you rip the high school coach you must use the same logic to give him credit. If I remember that 04 team was very well coached and played awesome team defense.

Listen "Stiff", Eric is a great person and a class act. But one trip to state with all the PROVEN talent Karl has put forth labels Centennial as underachievers year after year. Privates haven't been an issue with the Cougars, nor has Open Enrollment. Those are the facts, draw your own conclusions. Nobody has ripped Coach Aus.

[pistol]

Centennial gets lucky only once every hundred years... turning Neut into WBMD!

Those sheep and insects sure had a lot of talent in State this year, too!

[IrishStiff]

The facts say that Centennial is the only team to win a State High School tourney out of every bantam state finalist since 01. With the way some of you rip the high school coach you must use the same logic to give him credit. If I remember that 04 team was very well coached and played awesome team defense.

Listen "Stiff", Eric is a great person and a class act. But one trip to state with all the PROVEN talent Karl has put forth labels Centennial as underachievers year after year. Privates haven't been an issue with the Cougars, nor has Open Enrollment. Those are the facts, draw your own conclusions. Nobody has ripped Coach Aus.

Open enrollment and privates have a direct impact on all teams. These are kids that are put together to form all star teams. Plus you are dealing with 4 age groups instead of 2. In youth you don't have to worry about that. All I'm saying is that it's impossible to compare bantams to high school. The fact is that Centennial is the only bantam finalist since 01 to win a state high school title.

[fivehole628]

My 2008-2009 state participant predictions

A
1 - New Prague
2 - Breck
3 - Hutchinson
4 - St. Thomas Academy
5 - St. Cloud Cathedral
6 - Little Falls
7 - Hibbing
8 - Warroad

AA
1 - Rochester Mayo
2 - Edina
3 - Woodbury
4 - Hill-Murray
5 - Blaine
6 - Hopkins
7 - Duluth East
8 - Roseau

[cajones18]

International Falls might be a cinderella team next year. They have a lot of young talent still coming..

[pistol]

The fact is that Centennial is the only bantam finalist since 01 to win a state high school title.

Then let's be conservative and keep every thing as it is now.