Paul Bunyan Peewee A Tournament Preview/Predictions

[Ron Hextall]

North Division

Bemidji (D16) - Top 3 team from D16, two tough losses to Roseau in the last week. Looking to rebound and take their home tourney.

Grand Forks Greyhounds – One of two teams from Grand Forks area (the other is the Seawolves). Only score from them is an 8-2 loss to East Grand Forks earlier this year.

Armstrong (D3) – 9-6-1 record, respectable team from one of toughest districts, will be tested by Superior and Bemidji.

Superior (D11) – 3rd place finisher in Grand Rapids Tourney, beating D3 Orono and D12 Grand Rapids, but lost to D11 rival Cloquet and will be playing them again this week.

South Division

Crookston (D16) – Would have a little better read if more scores were posted for this team. They seem to be able to score in bunches, but they give up a lot too.

St. Cloud (D10) – 12-6-2 overall record, seems to have stalled a little bit if not going backwards. Followed up a 6-0 win over Brainerd with a 3-3 tie, a 3-0 loss to Elk River became a 9-0 loss two weeks later. 3-4-2 record in December so far.

St. Vital – Team from Winnipeg, don’t know if it is the same team that played in the East Grand Forks tournament. That team went 2-2 in that tournament, they found ways to score but also found ways to get scored on.

Virginia (D12) – 3-9-1 overall record, seems to hang close with everybody, little over 2 goal per game difference in all 9 losses. They should challenge St. Cloud for the division.

East Division

Cloquet (D11) – Top team from D11, coming off Star of the North Championship, playing a lot of games in the last two weeks, 9 games in 11 days by the time this tourney is over. Will they have the legs to win it all remains to be seen.

Fort Frances – ‘AA’ team from Canada, one of only two teams from Fort Frances. Have not come across any info on them other than some last year scores, hung close with the likes of Warroad and Fergus Falls, not so much with Roseau and St Cloud.

Park Rapids (D15) – First year peewee ‘A’ team has yet to win a game. Giving up a lot of goals, but they are just getting going.

Warroad (D16) – Don’t know a lot about this squad yet, but a 10-0 loss to East Grand Forks and a 8-1 loss to Thief River. Park Rapids could be looking for its first victory here Sunday morning.

West Division

Hastings (D8) – 7-10-1 record, had a successful trip to the range earlier this year going 3-1 on a swing through Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, and Cloquet. Small, young defense will be tested.

Keweenaw (Michigan AA) – 6-11-3 record overall, 150th team in nation for 96 AA, if that is the right team.

Grand Rapids (D11) – 6-10-0 record, fresh off a 4th place finish in their home tourney. Don’t seem to be scoring a lot with just over 2 goals scored per game. Their rematch with Hastings should be for the division.

Lake of the Woods (D16) – Giving up almost 10 goals per game, will find things difficult in this pool.

BOLD is predicted winners

Semi-Finals Predictions
Cloquet vs. Hastings
Bemidji vs. St. Cloud

Championship
Cloquet vs Bemidji

[Bronc]

North Division

Bemidji (D16) - Top 3 team from D16, two tough losses to Roseau in the last week. Looking to rebound and take their home tourney.

Grand Forks Greyhounds – One of two teams from Grand Forks area (the other is the Seawolves). Only score from them is an 8-2 loss to East Grand Forks earlier this year.

Armstrong (D3) – 9-6-1 record, respectable team from one of toughest districts, will be tested by Superior and Bemidji.

Superior (D11) – 3rd place finisher in Grand Rapids Tourney, beating D3 Orono and D12 Grand Rapids, but lost to D11 rival Cloquet and will be playing them again this week.

South Division

Crookston (D16) – Would have a little better read if more scores were posted for this team. They seem to be able to score in bunches, but they give up a lot too.

St. Cloud (D10) – 12-6-2 overall record, seems to have stalled a little bit if not going backwards. Followed up a 6-0 win over Brainerd with a 3-3 tie, a 3-0 loss to Elk River became a 9-0 loss two weeks later. 3-4-2 record in December so far.

St. Vital – Team from Winnipeg, don’t know if it is the same team that played in the East Grand Forks tournament. That team went 2-2 in that tournament, they found ways to score but also found ways to get scored on.

Virginia (D12) – 3-9-1 overall record, seems to hang close with everybody, little over 2 goal per game difference in all 9 losses. They should challenge St. Cloud for the division.

East Division

Cloquet (D11) – Top team from D11, coming off Star of the North Championship, playing a lot of games in the last two weeks, 9 games in 11 days by the time this tourney is over. Will they have the legs to win it all remains to be seen.

Fort Frances – ‘AA’ team from Canada, one of only two teams from Fort Frances. Have not come across any info on them other than some last year scores, hung close with the likes of Warroad and Fergus Falls, not so much with Roseau and St Cloud.

Park Rapids (D15) – First year peewee ‘A’ team has yet to win a game. Giving up a lot of goals, but they are just getting going.

Warroad (D16) – Don’t know a lot about this squad yet, but a 10-0 loss to East Grand Forks and a 8-1 loss to Thief River. Park Rapids could be looking for its first victory here Sunday morning.

West Division

Hastings (D8) – 7-10-1 record, had a successful trip to the range earlier this year going 3-1 on a swing through Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, and Cloquet. Small, young defense will be tested.

Keweenaw (Michigan AA) – 6-11-3 record overall, 150th team in nation for 96 AA, if that is the right team.

Grand Rapids (D11) – 6-10-0 record, fresh off a 4th place finish in their home tourney. Don’t seem to be scoring a lot with just over 2 goals scored per game. Their rematch with Hastings should be for the division.

Lake of the Woods (D16) – Giving up almost 10 goals per game, will find things difficult in this pool.

BOLD is predicted winners

Semi-Finals Predictions
Cloquet vs. Hastings
Bemidji vs. St. Cloud

Championship
Cloquet vs Bemidji

I believe St Cloud will beat Bemidji and from there it is a toss up with Cloquet, but to be contrary will give them the vote of confidence.

[Bronc]

North Division

Bemidji (D16) - Top 3 team from D16, two tough losses to Roseau in the last week. Looking to rebound and take their home tourney.

Grand Forks Greyhounds – One of two teams from Grand Forks area (the other is the Seawolves). Only score from them is an 8-2 loss to East Grand Forks earlier this year.

Armstrong (D3) – 9-6-1 record, respectable team from one of toughest districts, will be tested by Superior and Bemidji.

Superior (D11) – 3rd place finisher in Grand Rapids Tourney, beating D3 Orono and D12 Grand Rapids, but lost to D11 rival Cloquet and will be playing them again this week.

South Division

Crookston (D16) – Would have a little better read if more scores were posted for this team. They seem to be able to score in bunches, but they give up a lot too.

St. Cloud (D10) – 12-6-2 overall record, seems to have stalled a little bit if not going backwards. Followed up a 6-0 win over Brainerd with a 3-3 tie, a 3-0 loss to Elk River became a 9-0 loss two weeks later. 3-4-2 record in December so far.

St. Vital – Team from Winnipeg, don’t know if it is the same team that played in the East Grand Forks tournament. That team went 2-2 in that tournament, they found ways to score but also found ways to get scored on.

Virginia (D12) – 3-9-1 overall record, seems to hang close with everybody, little over 2 goal per game difference in all 9 losses. They should challenge St. Cloud for the division.

East Division

Cloquet (D11) – Top team from D11, coming off Star of the North Championship, playing a lot of games in the last two weeks, 9 games in 11 days by the time this tourney is over. Will they have the legs to win it all remains to be seen.

Fort Frances – ‘AA’ team from Canada, one of only two teams from Fort Frances. Have not come across any info on them other than some last year scores, hung close with the likes of Warroad and Fergus Falls, not so much with Roseau and St Cloud.

Park Rapids (D15) – First year peewee ‘A’ team has yet to win a game. Giving up a lot of goals, but they are just getting going.

Warroad (D16) – Don’t know a lot about this squad yet, but a 10-0 loss to East Grand Forks and a 8-1 loss to Thief River. Park Rapids could be looking for its first victory here Sunday morning.

West Division

Hastings (D8) – 7-10-1 record, had a successful trip to the range earlier this year going 3-1 on a swing through Virginia, Hibbing, Grand Rapids, and Cloquet. Small, young defense will be tested.

Keweenaw (Michigan AA) – 6-11-3 record overall, 150th team in nation for 96 AA, if that is the right team.

Grand Rapids (D11) – 6-10-0 record, fresh off a 4th place finish in their home tourney. Don’t seem to be scoring a lot with just over 2 goals scored per game. Their rematch with Hastings should be for the division.

Lake of the Woods (D16) – Giving up almost 10 goals per game, will find things difficult in this pool.

BOLD is predicted winners

Semi-Finals Predictions
Cloquet vs. Hastings
Bemidji vs. St. Cloud

Championship
Cloquet vs Bemidji

I believe St Cloud will beat Bemidji and from there it is a toss up with Cloquet, but to be contrary will give them the vote of confidence.

How did it turn out?