AA Rankings for 2/9/14

[karl(east)]

We have one week to go until sections. Once again the top spots are fairly stable, but there’s some movement beyond that. Your last in-season rankings:

1. Lakeville North (20-3-1)
-The Panthers were pushed to the limit twice this past week, but managed to pull out an overtime win over Duluth East and hold on against Eagan. They’re the first signs of stress they’ve shown during this unbeaten streak that has now reached 18, but they’ve found a way in the end, so they retain the top spot. Their sole opponent this coming week is a respectable Prior Lake team.
This week: Tues at Prior Lake

2. Hill-Murray (20-3)
-Edged Blaine in their last big game of the regular season. The shot margin and the parade to the penalty box aren’t encouraging heading into sections, but the fact that they had a comfortable lead for most of the game in spite of that keeps them from dropping. They face a mild upset threat against Moorhead, but should be able to wrap up the regular season with the most wins of any AA team for a second straight year.
This week: Thurs at Tartan, Sat vs. Moorhead

3. Edina (18-4-1)
-The Hornets pulled out a hard-fought win against Wayzata to all but assure themselves of a Lake Conference title. There’s an argument to be made that they’re playing the best of any top team down the stretch, and there’s no doubting the depth of the defending champs. Still, I’m going to want another win over Eden Prairie before I consider moving them any higher. They’re on the road for their last two Lake games this week.
This week: Thurs at Minnetonka, Sat at #7 Eden Prairie

4. Wayzata (17-5-1)
-Played well in a loss to Edina, but in the end couldn’t get more than one on the board against the Hornets, and are 0-2-1 against them. Totino-Grace, fresh off an upset of Benilde, could give them a good game this week, but they’ll be favored in both.
This week: Tues vs. Totino-Grace, Sat vs. Hopkins

5. Blaine (18-4-1)
-The Bengals have settled into a pocket right behind the clear top teams, but ahead of everyone else, and the results from this past week only confirmed that. Despite controlling play, they struggled to get much past Hill; after that, they took down an Elk River team that had beaten them earlier in the year. Their final week is not an easy one, with surging Andover and 5AA foe Maple Grove awaiting them.
This week: Tues vs. #9 Andover, Sat vs. #11 Maple Grove

6. Burnsville (16-6-1)
-A surprise stumble against Bloomington Jefferson stems the Blaze’s momentum down the stretch, and costs them any chance they had at the top seed in 2AA. They’re more reliant on their top few players than anyone else in the top tier of teams, but those players are good enough that they can beat anyone on any given night. They should be able to handle their last two opponents of the regular season.
This week: Tues at Bloomington Kennedy, Sat vs. Lakeville South

7. Eden Prairie (14-7-2)
-The Eagles had a strong week, earning twin 5-2 wins over Minnetonka and Benilde-St. Margaret’s and likely locking up the 2-seed in 6AA in the process. They’ve had their ups and downs, but at the end of the day, they have the best shot at Wayzata of anyone in 6AA. A home game against Edina on the season’s final day gives them a shot at an exclamation point for a strong finish to their season.
This week: Thurs at Hopkins, Sat vs. #3 Edina

8. St. Thomas Academy (16-6-1)
-The Cadets found their stride again with a solid win over Holy Family, and with a whole bunch of teams who were ahead of them dropping games, they fill the void and climb back up into the top ten. A few iffy results keep them out of the top tier, but they’re still about as dangerous as anyone when they’re on. They get to do some stat-padding this week before they learn their seeding fate in a messy 3AA.
This week: Thurs at North St. Paul, Sat vs. Richfield

9. Andover (16-7)
-The beat goes on for the Huskies, as they beat a quality Maple Grove team and ran their winning streak to eleven. The Anoka win was a bit tight for comfort, but they’ll have a good chance to show just how relevant they can be when they face Blaine on Tuesday. While their odds at a top-2 seed in 7AA may be low due to their section losses, a win would probably make them the team to beat.
This week: Tues at #5 Blaine, Thurs at Osseo

10. Elk River (15-6)
-The Elks had a decent week, rebounding from their recent struggles to give Blaine a good game in a loss and edge a quality Centennial team. Their offense has lost some of its punch since the Zerban departure, but no one in 7AA has an overwhelmingly deep offense, so they still have as good a chance as anyone. They have three games this week, including one against an Anoka team that is suddenly making some noise, but they should win all three.
This week: Tues at Anoka, Thurs vs. Champlin Park, Sat at Armstrong

11. Maple Grove (13-7-3)
-It wasn’t a banner week for the Crimson, as they dropped a tight affair against Andover and could only tie likely section semifinal opponent Centennial. Still, they’re playing relatively good defense, and the Centennial tie should be enough to lock them in as the 2-seed in 5AA. They close their regular season with another possible section preview against Blaine, and will look to improve on the lopsided scoreline from their first meeting.
This week: Tues vs. Coon Rapids, Sat at #5 Blaine

12. Duluth East (15-6-1)
-The Hounds drop after an upset loss to Cloquet, though they did respond by taking top-ranked North to overtime before losing. The results confirm what we’ve known about the Hounds all along: their defense allows them to play with anyone, but also means other teams can stick around and knock them off. Their final week is a busy one due to make-ups, and not a sure thing; Pagel has not been kind to the Hounds over the years, and with their middling offense, their other opponents this week could hang in there and give them a run.
This week: Tues at Minnetonka, Thurs at Superior (WI), Sat vs. Tartan

13. Eastview (17-5-1)
-The Lightning tied Rosemount on Saturday, giving them a rare disappointing result against a lesser opponent. Like Duluth East, they’re a tough defensive squad, but their offense can abandon them at times, and leave them with games that are closer than they should be. They have a tough final week; the Eagan game could make a huge difference for their 3AA placement, and Prior Lake beat them the first time around.
This week: Tues at Eagan, Thurs vs. Prior Lake

14. White Bear Lake (17-5-1)
-The Bears are playing well down the stretch, cruising to big wins over decent Suburban East teams. They’ve won eight straight, and if they can take care of two teams they failed to beat the first time around, they’ll have some good momentum headed into the 4AA playoffs.
This week: Tues at Forest Lake, Thurs vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

15. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (12-8-2)
-It was a rough week for the Red Knights, who blew a 4-0 lead over Totino-Grace and then lost by three to section rival Eden Prairie. They’ve lost four straight, and while they have the talent to be dangerous in sections, they’re giving up way too many goals and trending in the wrong direction. They play a couple of above average Suburban East teams this week, neither of which is a sure bet.
This week: Tues vs. Cretin-Derham Hall, Sat vs. Stillwater

The Next Ten

Holy Family (16-5-1)
-The St. Thomas loss was a setback for a team to trying to prove they belong among the state’s elite, as they committed far too many turnovers in their own zone. They need to get healthy now that they’ve wrapped up the Wright County Conference title, though they can’t coast too much, as they play a quality Moorhead team on Friday. Benilde’s struggles down the stretch give them a good shot at the 3-seed in 6AA.

Eagan (13-9-1)
-While the Wildcats came up short against Lakeville North, the close call is a good sign as they head toward the playoffs. With their defensive style, they’re a very dangerous team when they’re on, though they’ll have to beat Eastview this week to have any hope of anything more than a 4-seed in 3AA.

Grand Rapids (17-7)
-After looking rather lost for the better part of a month, the Thunderhawks finally acted like a serious threat again this past week in a solid win over Hermantown. It’s just one game, but it does boost the confidence of a team that has the talent to win 7AA. They wrap up their season on Tuesday against a reasonably good Duluth Denfeld team.

Roseau (15-7-1)
-Beat a Thief River Falls team that had beaten them at the beginning of the year, though they once again didn’t get much going against East Grand Forks. Their final week should not be overly difficult, as they play International Falls and Crookston.

Cretin-Derham Hall (16-5-2)
-For a fourth straight week, the Raiders had a stumble against an SEC team, this time losing to Roseville. Their section wins coupled with Eastview’s tie against Rosemount means they still have a good shot at the 3AA top seed, but a win during a tough week this week, which features games against Benilde and White Bear Lake, would really solidify that position.

Centennial (11-10-1)
-The Cougars got a quality tie against Maple Grove and played decently against Elk River, but also had a head-scratching 5-1 loss to Anoka, which drops them out of the top 20. They have a 3-game final week, but should win all three.

Bloomington Jefferson (11-10-2)
-The Jaguars are back in the top 25 after a brief dip out, and the win over Burnsville shows they can be dangerous in the 2AA playoffs. Few teams are as reliant on a handful of top players, but they get the job done. They face two middling SSC teams this week.

Moorhead (11-10-1)
-The Spuds add to our run of 11-10 teams in this part of the rankings; they shut out Thief River Falls this past week to pick up a decent win. They have a tough final week, as they head south to face Holy Family and Hill-Murray.

Brainerd (14-7)
-Lost to Hermantown but kept it fairly close, so we’ll keep the Warriors a tiny bit ahead of the various Suburban East teams contending for the bottom spots in the top 25. They play 8AA rival Bemidji this week, but have probably done enough to claim the 3-seed even if they lose.

Forest Lake (13-6-4)
-Stillwater, Roseville, and Lakeville South all have arguments for this spot, but the Rangers grab it since they are, at least, beating the teams that are clearly behind them, and have a pretty good record. A tough one against White Bear looms this week.

I’ll have a section preview next Sunday. Thanks for reading.

[almostashappy]

1. Lakeville North (20-3-1)
-The Panthers were pushed to the limit twice this past week, but managed to pull out an overtime win over Duluth East and hold on against Eagan. They’re the first signs of stress they’ve shown during this unbeaten streak that has now reached 18, but they’ve found a way in the end, so they retain the top spot.

That "way" included a blown waved-off game-tying goal, and some coaching by the Italian men's soccer team.

If you're going to flop every time the other team's top defenseman breaths on you, and lay motionless on the ice until you've drawn a call, the least you can then do is extend the charade long enough to skip your next shift.

[falconeer]

Or another more practical way to look at it!


Edina
Record 18-4-1
Average ranking of competition: 19
Goals For and Against 90-44

Lake Ville North
Record 21-4
Average Ranking of Competition: 27
Goal For Against 117-49


Hill Murray
Record 20 - 3
Average ranking of competition: 39
Goals For Against 122-48

There is no comparison between these schedules. There are 10 other AA teams with schedules more difficult than Hill Murray's. Seriously - 4 single A teams on the schedulle. Must be great for players stats.

[alcloseshaver]

Hill Murray is getting way to much credit this year for just being Hill Murray. Even in talking to some of the parents from Hill they even agree with this. With that said someone has to be ranked in that spot in this year of parity.

[stpaul]

How about we look at it this way:

Number of games and record vs. Karl's top 15

1. Edina, 13 games, 9-3-1, .731
2. HM, 11 games, 8-3, .727
3. LN, 9 games, 6-2-1, .722

Clearly it should be #1 Edina, #2 HM, #3 LN

"There is no comparison between these schedules"

[BlueLineSpecial]

Hill Murray is getting way to much credit this year for just being Hill Murray. Even in talking to some of the parents from Hill they even agree with this. With that said someone has to be ranked in that spot in this year of parity.

While I agree that this Hill team isn't as strong as previous years, they are still a formidable team. You don't beat Edina, Wayzata, Blaine, Duluth East, St. Thomas, Burnsville, WBL, and Benilde without being pretty darn good.

As far as schedule, Falconeer, there isn't much you can do with the conference they're in. You play the games on the conference schedule, try to mix in some young guys, and do your best to create a challenging schedule otherwise. Which they do a terrific job of each year.

[alcloseshaver]

Hill Murray is getting way to much credit this year for just being Hill Murray. Even in talking to some of the parents from Hill they even agree with this. With that said someone has to be ranked in that spot in this year of parity.

While I agree that this Hill team isn't as strong as previous years, they are still a formidable team. You don't beat Edina, Wayzata, Blaine, Duluth East, St. Thomas, Burnsville, WBL, and Benilde without being pretty darn good.

As far as schedule, Falconeer, there isn't much you can do with the conference they're in. You play the games on the conference schedule, try to mix in some young guys, and do your best to create a challenging schedule otherwise. Which they do a terrific job of each year.

Their schedule is fine, unless you are in the Lake conference your going to have some patsies on the docket.

[HShockeywatcher]

There is no comparison between these schedules. There are 10 other AA teams with schedules more difficult than Hill Murray's. Seriously - 4 single A teams on the schedulle. Must be great for players stats.

I'd be curious to see a comparison of the teams' non-conference schedules.
Edina/EP/Wayzata/Tonka have an 8 game conference schedule and 4 to 6 of those games are against top teams. Hill/STA have a 13 game conference schedule and are challenged in 2 of those games. Usually it's 4-6 of them, but regardless, it's much different.

North started the year 2-3 and have gone 18-0-1 since. If you want to hold games they lost in November and the first week of December against them, then there's a case for putting Edina ahead of them, but still no one else considering the 3-0 shut out of Hill.

[GOPHERFAN119]

There is no comparison between these schedules. There are 10 other AA teams with schedules more difficult than Hill Murray's. Seriously - 4 single A teams on the schedulle. Must be great for players stats.

I'd be curious to see a comparison of the teams' non-conference schedules.
Edina/EP/Wayzata/Tonka have an 8 game conference schedule and 4 to 6 of those games are against top teams. Hill/STA have a 13 game conference schedule and are challenged in 2 of those games. Usually it's 4-6 of them, but regardless, it's much different.

North started the year 2-3 and have gone 18-0-1 since. If you want to hold games they lost in November and the first week of December against them, then there's a case for putting Edina ahead of them, but still no one else considering the 3-0 shut out of Hill.

Wayzata's non conference schedule included Maple Grove, Duluth East,Hermantown, Burnsville, Benilde, Blaine, Jefferson, Holy Family, Moorhead, Apple Valley, Totino Grace, Prior Lake and a couple of more.

[GOPHERFAN119]

My bad, and Hill Murray

[bemused]

We have one week to go until sections. Once again the top spots are fairly stable, but there’s some movement beyond that. Your last in-season rankings:

1. Lakeville North (20-3-1)
-The Panthers were pushed to the limit twice this past week, but managed to pull out an overtime win over Duluth East and hold on against Eagan. They’re the first signs of stress they’ve shown during this unbeaten streak that has now reached 18, but they’ve found a way in the end, so they retain the top spot. Their sole opponent this coming week is a respectable Prior Lake team.
This week: Tues at Prior Lake

2. Hill-Murray (20-3)
-Edged Blaine in their last big game of the regular season. The shot margin and the parade to the penalty box aren’t encouraging heading into sections, but the fact that they had a comfortable lead for most of the game in spite of that keeps them from dropping. They face a mild upset threat against Moorhead, but should be able to wrap up the regular season with the most wins of any AA team for a second straight year.
This week: Thurs at Tartan, Sat vs. Moorhead

3. Edina (18-4-1)
-The Hornets pulled out a hard-fought win against Wayzata to all but assure themselves of a Lake Conference title. There’s an argument to be made that they’re playing the best of any top team down the stretch, and there’s no doubting the depth of the defending champs. Still, I’m going to want another win over Eden Prairie before I consider moving them any higher. They’re on the road for their last two Lake games this week.
This week: Thurs at Minnetonka, Sat at #7 Eden Prairie

4. Wayzata (17-5-1)
-Played well in a loss to Edina, but in the end couldn’t get more than one on the board against the Hornets, and are 0-2-1 against them. Totino-Grace, fresh off an upset of Benilde, could give them a good game this week, but they’ll be favored in both.
This week: Tues vs. Totino-Grace, Sat vs. Hopkins

5. Blaine (18-4-1)
-The Bengals have settled into a pocket right behind the clear top teams, but ahead of everyone else, and the results from this past week only confirmed that. Despite controlling play, they struggled to get much past Hill; after that, they took down an Elk River team that had beaten them earlier in the year. Their final week is not an easy one, with surging Andover and 5AA foe Maple Grove awaiting them.
This week: Tues vs. #9 Andover, Sat vs. #11 Maple Grove

6. Burnsville (16-6-1)
-A surprise stumble against Bloomington Jefferson stems the Blaze’s momentum down the stretch, and costs them any chance they had at the top seed in 2AA. They’re more reliant on their top few players than anyone else in the top tier of teams, but those players are good enough that they can beat anyone on any given night. They should be able to handle their last two opponents of the regular season.
This week: Tues at Bloomington Kennedy, Sat vs. Lakeville South

7. Eden Prairie (14-7-2)
-The Eagles had a strong week, earning twin 5-2 wins over Minnetonka and Benilde-St. Margaret’s and likely locking up the 2-seed in 6AA in the process. They’ve had their ups and downs, but at the end of the day, they have the best shot at Wayzata of anyone in 6AA. A home game against Edina on the season’s final day gives them a shot at an exclamation point for a strong finish to their season.
This week: Thurs at Hopkins, Sat vs. #3 Edina

8. St. Thomas Academy (16-6-1)
-The Cadets found their stride again with a solid win over Holy Family, and with a whole bunch of teams who were ahead of them dropping games, they fill the void and climb back up into the top ten. A few iffy results keep them out of the top tier, but they’re still about as dangerous as anyone when they’re on. They get to do some stat-padding this week before they learn their seeding fate in a messy 3AA.
This week: Thurs at North St. Paul, Sat vs. Richfield

9. Andover (16-7)
-The beat goes on for the Huskies, as they beat a quality Maple Grove team and ran their winning streak to eleven. The Anoka win was a bit tight for comfort, but they’ll have a good chance to show just how relevant they can be when they face Blaine on Tuesday. While their odds at a top-2 seed in 7AA may be low due to their section losses, a win would probably make them the team to beat.
This week: Tues at #5 Blaine, Thurs at Osseo

10. Elk River (15-6)
-The Elks had a decent week, rebounding from their recent struggles to give Blaine a good game in a loss and edge a quality Centennial team. Their offense has lost some of its punch since the Zerban departure, but no one in 7AA has an overwhelmingly deep offense, so they still have as good a chance as anyone. They have three games this week, including one against an Anoka team that is suddenly making some noise, but they should win all three.
This week: Tues at Anoka, Thurs vs. Champlin Park, Sat at Armstrong

11. Maple Grove (13-7-3)
-It wasn’t a banner week for the Crimson, as they dropped a tight affair against Andover and could only tie likely section semifinal opponent Centennial. Still, they’re playing relatively good defense, and the Centennial tie should be enough to lock them in as the 2-seed in 5AA. They close their regular season with another possible section preview against Blaine, and will look to improve on the lopsided scoreline from their first meeting.
This week: Tues vs. Coon Rapids, Sat at #5 Blaine

12. Duluth East (15-6-1)
-The Hounds drop after an upset loss to Cloquet, though they did respond by taking top-ranked North to overtime before losing. The results confirm what we’ve known about the Hounds all along: their defense allows them to play with anyone, but also means other teams can stick around and knock them off. Their final week is a busy one due to make-ups, and not a sure thing; Pagel has not been kind to the Hounds over the years, and with their middling offense, their other opponents this week could hang in there and give them a run.
This week: Tues at Minnetonka, Thurs at Superior (WI), Sat vs. Tartan

13. Eastview (17-5-1)
-The Lightning tied Rosemount on Saturday, giving them a rare disappointing result against a lesser opponent. Like Duluth East, they’re a tough defensive squad, but their offense can abandon them at times, and leave them with games that are closer than they should be. They have a tough final week; the Eagan game could make a huge difference for their 3AA placement, and Prior Lake beat them the first time around.
This week: Tues at Eagan, Thurs vs. Prior Lake

14. White Bear Lake (17-5-1)
-The Bears are playing well down the stretch, cruising to big wins over decent Suburban East teams. They’ve won eight straight, and if they can take care of two teams they failed to beat the first time around, they’ll have some good momentum headed into the 4AA playoffs.
This week: Tues at Forest Lake, Thurs vs. Cretin-Derham Hall

15. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (12-8-2)
-It was a rough week for the Red Knights, who blew a 4-0 lead over Totino-Grace and then lost by three to section rival Eden Prairie. They’ve lost four straight, and while they have the talent to be dangerous in sections, they’re giving up way too many goals and trending in the wrong direction. They play a couple of above average Suburban East teams this week, neither of which is a sure bet.
This week: Tues vs. Cretin-Derham Hall, Sat vs. Stillwater

The Next Ten

Holy Family (16-5-1)
-The St. Thomas loss was a setback for a team to trying to prove they belong among the state’s elite, as they committed far too many turnovers in their own zone. They need to get healthy now that they’ve wrapped up the Wright County Conference title, though they can’t coast too much, as they play a quality Moorhead team on Friday. Benilde’s struggles down the stretch give them a good shot at the 3-seed in 6AA.

Eagan (13-9-1)
-While the Wildcats came up short against Lakeville North, the close call is a good sign as they head toward the playoffs. With their defensive style, they’re a very dangerous team when they’re on, though they’ll have to beat Eastview this week to have any hope of anything more than a 4-seed in 3AA.

Grand Rapids (17-7)
-After looking rather lost for the better part of a month, the Thunderhawks finally acted like a serious threat again this past week in a solid win over Hermantown. It’s just one game, but it does boost the confidence of a team that has the talent to win 7AA. They wrap up their season on Tuesday against a reasonably good Duluth Denfeld team.

Roseau (15-7-1)
-Beat a Thief River Falls team that had beaten them at the beginning of the year, though they once again didn’t get much going against East Grand Forks. Their final week should not be overly difficult, as they play International Falls and Crookston.

Cretin-Derham Hall (16-5-2)
-For a fourth straight week, the Raiders had a stumble against an SEC team, this time losing to Roseville. Their section wins coupled with Eastview’s tie against Rosemount means they still have a good shot at the 3AA top seed, but a win during a tough week this week, which features games against Benilde and White Bear Lake, would really solidify that position.

Centennial (11-10-1)
-The Cougars got a quality tie against Maple Grove and played decently against Elk River, but also had a head-scratching 5-1 loss to Anoka, which drops them out of the top 20. They have a 3-game final week, but should win all three.

Bloomington Jefferson (11-10-2)
-The Jaguars are back in the top 25 after a brief dip out, and the win over Burnsville shows they can be dangerous in the 2AA playoffs. Few teams are as reliant on a handful of top players, but they get the job done. They face two middling SSC teams this week.

Moorhead (11-10-1)
-The Spuds add to our run of 11-10 teams in this part of the rankings; they shut out Thief River Falls this past week to pick up a decent win. They have a tough final week, as they head south to face Holy Family and Hill-Murray.

Brainerd (14-7)
-Lost to Hermantown but kept it fairly close, so we’ll keep the Warriors a tiny bit ahead of the various Suburban East teams contending for the bottom spots in the top 25. They play 8AA rival Bemidji this week, but have probably done enough to claim the 3-seed even if they lose.

Forest Lake (13-6-4)
-Stillwater, Roseville, and Lakeville South all have arguments for this spot, but the Rangers grab it since they are, at least, beating the teams that are clearly behind them, and have a pretty good record. A tough one against White Bear looms this week.

I’ll have a section preview next Sunday. Thanks for reading.

DE at #12? Ouch! well, no home cookin' there...

[Traxler]

I laughed out loud when you ranked Andover at 9 above both Elk River and Duluth East. Not because I disagree with it, but because of how much fodder that can give to the 7AA thread.

[alcloseshaver]

I laughed out loud when you ranked Andover at 9 above both Elk River and Duluth East. Not because I disagree with it, but because of how much fodder that can give to the 7AA thread.

Makes sense with how they are playing but won't help them in 7AA unless they beat Blaine.

[urban iceman]

Wondering why a team like Farmington gets no sniff in even top 20? Good record. Maybe because they didn't play everyone in they're section like LN AND LS?

[Traxler]

Wondering why a team like Farmington gets no sniff in even top 20? Good record. Maybe because they didn't play everyone in they're section like LN AND LS?

Since they only played one "good" team in Eagan and lost that game 2-0 I don't think it's much of a surprise that they aren't in the top 20. They lost 8-2 to Rosemount and even lost to Hastings. They do have an 8-0-1 record against south eastern Minnesota Class A teams, but that's not enough to help.

[Doc Holliday]

Good job, as always.

One request: along with section previews, perhaps a prediction regarding how you think state seeds will play out....both if things in sections go chalk, or if a few upsets happen if it will make anything different.

[nahc]

Farmington has plenty of opportunity during sections to make a statement concerning their team......... Just sayin!

[Traxler]

Farmington has plenty of opportunity during sections to make a statement concerning their team......... Just sayin!

I wouldn't be surprised if Farmington ends up in the finals against Lakeville North (assuming they're seeded #3). But I would be very surprised if they are competitive in that game.

[Traxler]

Farmington has plenty of opportunity during sections to make a statement concerning their team......... Just sayin!

I wouldn't be surprised if Farmington ends up in the finals against Lakeville North (assuming they're seeded #3). But I would be very surprised if they are competitive in that game.

And, if that game happens, do we get to see which Farmington goalie is better?

[Sats81]

Farmington has plenty of opportunity during sections to make a statement concerning their team......... Just sayin!

I wouldn't be surprised if Farmington ends up in the finals against Lakeville North (assuming they're seeded #3). But I would be very surprised if they are competitive in that game.

And, if that game happens, do we get to see which Farmington goalie is better?

Lol

[karl(east)]

Wondering why a team like Farmington gets no sniff in even top 20? Good record. Maybe because they didn't play everyone in they're section like LN AND LS?

Since they only played one "good" team in Eagan and lost that game 2-0 I don't think it's much of a surprise that they aren't in the top 20. They lost 8-2 to Rosemount and even lost to Hastings. They do have an 8-0-1 record against south eastern Minnesota Class A teams, but that's not enough to help.

This is about right...I've been tracking them all year and would give them the 2-seed in 1AA based on their record, but as I said last week, results against common opponents don't suggest there's much separation between them and Lakeville South. That would land them around #30 or so. Their highest-quality win is probably New Prague.

South did stick around with North for 2 periods in their last game, so because of that there is at least some reason to think they could hang in there against North. But when it comes to rankings we have to go with what we know, and with Farmington, we don't know of anything that really proclaims them as a top 25 team.

One request: along with section previews, perhaps a prediction regarding how you think state seeds will play out....both if things in sections go chalk, or if a few upsets happen if it will make anything different.

I can try to talk about this some, sure. I'll probably do even more on it the next weekend, when we're down to about 20 teams and can predict things with a little more clarity.

[Skatesharpener]

There is no comparison between these schedules. There are 10 other AA teams with schedules more difficult than Hill Murray's. Seriously - 4 single A teams on the schedulle. Must be great for players stats.

I'd be curious to see a comparison of the teams' non-conference schedules.
Edina/EP/Wayzata/Tonka have an 8 game conference schedule and 4 to 6 of those games are against top teams. Hill/STA have a 13 game conference schedule and are challenged in 2 of those games. Usually it's 4-6 of them, but regardless, it's much different.

North started the year 2-3 and have gone 18-0-1 since. If you want to hold games they lost in November and the first week of December against them, then there's a case for putting Edina ahead of them, but still no one else considering the 3-0 shut out of Hill.

By the Freshman LN Goaltender no less...just sayin'. The way all these teams are playing however, the state title is up for grabs..it's all about whoever shows up at this point. May the best team win! And hopefully it's the one I am cheering for!

[summer]

Wondering why a team like Farmington gets no sniff in even top 20? Good record. Maybe because they didn't play everyone in they're section like LN AND LS?

Farmington plays more teams in the section than the Lakevilles, but those teams don't really matter like the Missota conference teams they play, it's the South Suburban Conference Schedule that gives Lakeville's records more meaning.

[nahc]

And of course North's non-conference schedule with included Hill, Duluth East, Blaine, etc.

[min-091]

And of course North's non-conference schedule with included Hill, Duluth East, Blaine, etc.

Which of course you know given your previous ties to Lakeville North...