1) Hill Murray
2) White Bear Lake
3) Stillwater
4) Roseville
5) Mounds View
6) North St Paul
7) Johnson Tartan
9) Como Park
Hill Murray vs Tartan Hill Murray
White Bear Lake vs Johnson White Bear Lake
Stillwater vs North St Paul North St Paul
Roseville vs Mounds View Mounds View
Hill Murray vs Mounds View Hill Murray
White Bear Lake vs North St Paul White Bear Lake
Although I think Hill Murray will be at the X come March, this could be a very intersting section tournament this year - a team ( Goalie ) getting hot is all it takes, and it could be somebody besides Hill or White Bear
formerlybackofnet wrote:If WBL doesn't start putting the puck in the net, they won't make it past the quarterfinals.
Agreed. I think this will be the start of a three year stretch where HM will be playing a different team in the section final. (Unless of couse last years "COACH OF THE YEAR" can pull a rabbit out of his hat)
He's not so crazy according to the current Hill-Murray vs. North St. Paul game.
Score is 3-3 with the third period about to start. Glaring lack of defense in front of their goaltender on the part of Hill-Murray. That, plus two 5 minute majors.
North St. Paul is a dangerous team. They are 15-8. Coach Jerry Diebel won't ever schedule any top 25 teams so it's hard to know how they match up against their neighbors WBL, Roseville & Stillwater. He'd rather play those great rivals (?) Cambridge, New Prague & St. Micheal-Albertville. George Splichal (32 goals) and the Oliver twins ( 21 & 16 goals) are real top players. Mantueffel is a real top goalie. They also have a lousy coach & no discipline. They are capable of knocking off a good team. Also capable of losing 7-0.
I would seed them this way:
1. Hill-Murray 17-6, games left - Tartan & Moorhead
2. White Bear Lake 13-9-1, MV & Hastings
3. Roseville 14-7-1, CDH & Roch. Century
4. Stillwater 11-10-2, Forest Lk & Benilde-SM
5. Mounds View 12-9-1, WBL, East Ridge & NSP
6. North St Paul 15-8, STA & Mounds View
7. Johnson 11-11-1, Providence & Como
8. Tartan 8-13-1, HM, Sibley & Duluth East
9. Como Park 4-14, Becker, Blake, Highland & Johnson
I would flip Mounds View and North if North beats them on Saturday. Stillwater has beaten Roseville twice, but Roseville has finished strong and will have a much better overall record than Stillwater.
I agree with St. Paul too. Assuming WBL beats Moundsview they should be locked in as the 2 seed. I really don't see a huge difference between the teams 2-6 though. WBL had Stillwater's number this year, but they split with Roseville and lost to Moundsview earlier in the year. I'm expecting it will be a Hill/WBL final, but I wouldn't be surprised to see WBL get knocked off by whoever they play in the semis. WBL usually is playing well towards the end of the year, but they really don't have any scoring depth, and their first line will have to carry them if they expect to make it to state. With that being said, it's Hill's section to lose in what is arguably the weakest section besides 1AA. I do expect close, lower scoring games once we get down to the final four, so it'll be fun to watch regardless.
WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:I agree with St. Paul too. Assuming WBL beats Moundsview they should be locked in as the 2 seed. I really don't see a huge difference between the teams 2-6 though. WBL had Stillwater's number this year, but they split with Roseville and lost to Moundsview earlier in the year. I'm expecting it will be a Hill/WBL final, but I wouldn't be surprised to see WBL get knocked off by whoever they play in the semis. WBL usually is playing well towards the end of the year, but they really don't have any scoring depth, and their first line will have to carry them if they expect to make it to state. With that being said, it's Hill's section to lose in what is arguably the weakest section besides 1AA. I do expect close, lower scoring games once we get down to the final four, so it'll be fun to watch regardless.
Looking forward to the section playoffs!
Agreed.
WBL has been inconsistent this season; however, they are still a threat. HM is the obvious favorite in 4AA; however, several of their section opponents can knock them off the path to St. Paul.
WBL was faster, stronger, harder-working, and more intelligent with the puck. Mounds View was completely overmatched. Mounds View did not have any organized pressure in the offensive zone other than one power play. Maybe Mounds View had an off night, but it sure looks like another Hill vs. White Bear final. I also expect North to beat Mounds View if that was a typical Mounds View performance.
What is the criteria used in formulating the sectional rankings? Are some criteria weighted? Or is this sectional seeding a subjective "gut feeling" decision?
MV played last night without their second leading scorer (senior captain), second line center and second line defensemen. They played 3 JV kids last night, 1 of the kids had no previous varsity experience. The lack of depth is hurting them.
Goalie-Dad wrote:What is the criteria used in formulating the sectional rankings? Are some criteria weighted? Or is this sectional seeding a subjective "gut feeling" decision?
MV played last night without their second leading scorer (senior captain), second line center and second line defensemen. They played 3 JV kids last night, 1 of the kids had no previous varsity experience. The lack of depth is hurting them.