7A Rankings: Team Name [overall record (7A record)]
1.
Hermantown [7-1-1 (2-0)] The Hawks obliterated E-G, beating them 10-0 and outshooting them 61-4! Their only blemishes are to AA teams, and they continue to look like the team to beat in 7A.
This week could be very interesting for the Hawks, as they open the Hilltopper classic by playing Delano, a team that put up 7 goals on Breck. If they win that game, they will likely cruise to the title game where Bemidji looks to be the most likely opponent. (Don't know how good Notre Dame Academy is.) Can the Hawks run the gaunlet and come out unscathed? (I hope not
)
2.
Hibbing [9-0 (2-0)] The Bluejackets beat Greenway 4-2 in a great game that gives Hibbing even more of a hold on the #2 spot. A win over Denfeld later in the season would likely seal up at least #2, even if Greenway wins the 2nd matchup.
Now that Rapids pulled out of the Perpich North-South Challenge, Hibbing will only play two teams next Mon-Tue. They start off with a great test vs Brainerd on Monday. Despite dominating and outshooting Brainerd 46-18 last year, Mick was a wall in nets as the Warriors won 2-1 in OT. Before the season I had this game penciled in as a sure win for Hibbing, but Brainerd is showing it will be anything but that. I now think these teams are probably pretty even, and I expect a tight game.
Hibbing then plays Northern Lakes on Tuesday, a team they should beat.
3.
Denfeld [5-4-1 (3-1)] The Hunters lost to St. Cloud Cathedral 3-1, a team ranked above them in most polls. From their results so far and what I saw during the Hermantown game, this team is offensively challenged. They play good defense and have a great goalie, but goals have been hard to come by.
They have an interesting opening to their own holiday tourney, as they take on St. Louis Park. This should be a good game, and if they take care of business they will likely find themselves in the title game with SPA, which would be a great test for the Hunters.
4.
Greenway [9-2 (4-2)] Even though howardst will want to choke me out for not moving them ahead of Denfeld, I'm keeping the Raiders at #4 despite them showing vs Hibbing that they are more than capable of competing. But, they lost at home by two to a top ten team, and Denfeld lost by two on the road to a team at or near the top ten. That just isn't enough of a difference for me to move the green past the maroon.
When I look at Greenway's schedule the rest of the way, the only games I see them being an underdog are vs Hibbing and Hermantown. North Shore and St. Paul Johnson may gave them a game, but the Raiders are looking at a 21 or 22 win season, which is phenomenal.
They should win the Schwan Cup open division.
5.
North Shore [8-1 (2-0)] The Storm took care of business by pounding Hayward, and thus they remain at #5. If they can continue to beat the teams below them, then they will have two chances vs Greenway and one shot vs Denfeld to move up the seeding rankings. Those three games look to be the only ones where North Shore will be tested against a possibly better team. Looking at their home holiday tourney teams, the Storm should cruise to the title.
6.
I-Falls [4-5-1 (1-3-1)] The Broncos won their only game of the week, and their 3 goal victory over Proctor keeps them ahead of the Rails. They play in the Warroad tourney next week, and if they play well they may come out 2-1 or even 3-0. They still have four games vs Greenway and North Shore, so there are chances to make some noise, but it hard to see them winning any of those games.
7.
Proctor [8-5 (2-2)] The Rails did what they needed to do vs bad teams this past week, albeit only winning by one goal in each. They still have games vs Denfeld, Hibbing, and North Shore where they can move up.
8.
Eveleth-Gilbert [3-7-1 (2--1)] The Bears got eviscerated by Hermantown, as expected. For a team that at least showed some spark early on, they are 0-5-1 in their last six and will be hard pressed to move up much.
9.
VMIB [2-6-2 (0-2-2)] Perhaps the Blue Devils are finally starting to show some of the promise I thought they would have this season, as they took AA Eagan to the limit and lost by one goal, which is the same margin Denfeld lost to Eagan by. Virginia has had a relatively tough schedule (Rapids, Cloquet, Denfeld, Eagan, Greenway), but ties to E-G and I-Falls have held them back. Perhaps playing a tougher schedule will pay off as the season moves along, and after the North-South games vs Northern Lakes and Brainerd this week, the Devils will have tons of chances to move up. (Hibbing twice, Greenway, North Shore, Cathedral, Apollo, etc.)
Where is PuckRanger? I'd sure appreciate some insight into Virgina's season so far. Their best players are sophomores, and their bantam teams appears to be very solid, so in a year or two they should be back in the top 3-4 7A teams. Come back, PuckRanger!
10.
Ely [3-3-1 (0-2)] The T-Wolves are holding steady at .500. They lost 9-1 to E-G, so I don’t see them moving up at anytime this season.
7A Game of the Week: There doesn't appear to be any 7A clashes this week, but the following games will be interesting:
Hermantown vs Delano-Can Delano show that they should belong in the very upper echelon of Single A? Can Hermantown put their foot down and send a message that Breck is the only team in their league?
Hibbing vs Brainerd-This should be the best team the Bluejackets have faced this season. Can they exorcise the demon from last year's frustrating loss to the Warriors?
