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hadenuf wrote:Yes the first one hit the d-man in the hip but he was on the shooter so the goalie still had time after the deflection. I agree on the offense, Rapids should have scored multiple goals in the 3rd.

Nope, that D was way back off of the shooter and the goalie had no time to adjust. Makes no differnce but sort of sums up their season too. D break downs, lots and lots of shots that were either wide of net, missed an open net or not taken when they should have because the forwards wanted one last pass. And a goalie who came out of a 3 goalie rotation halfway through his first and only varsity season to be put behind a team that pretty consistantly got out shot by large margins. Even in his best games that he has shut outs in he was out shot most of the time.

Like I said, it does not matter now but there is plenty of issues for Rapids fans to look forward to looking at next year.

alcloseshaver wrote:If it didn't matter why is Rapids playing less A schools? Top A teams can compete, no question. Just used The expression that they are transitioning to full time AA.

I wouldn't say it is about playing less A competition, it's about playing less bad teams. Virginia, Hibbing, I Falls, etc would remain on the schedule if they were competitive. I haven't seen the schedule yet, but I'd be surprised if Hermantown was dropped. I think Rapids would like to repay them for that game last year. Besides the point that the Hawks are just as good as Elk River pretty much every season. Again, a team is either good or bad, and the players don't shoot with less accuracy, or skate half assed because, "oh, we're single A, so we aren't supposed to be good".

Two words....lift weights.

With all the returning talent and the upcoming fresh talent and their tougher schedule for "seasoning" next year, Ive got GR ranked 7th in the state and the odds on Section 7 favorite to go to state tourney next year.

Im assuming/hoping Mattson, Adams, Bischoff will all return for their senior season to make a run to the state tournament.

As I understand from others who saw the Section 7 Duluth East loss a month ago, it was a close game with Rapids outplaying East for much of the game, but Randolph and the Hounds found a way to win when it counts.

Although East is also returning most of its key talent, Rapids has more overall higher caliber talent and should be able to find a way to win a trip to state next year.

I look forward to seeing them in the Elite League and at the Braemar tourney. And I hope I dont have to bump the Hawks down out of the top 10 as next year's season progresses!

WestMetro wrote:With all the returning talent and the upcoming fresh talent and their tougher schedule for "seasoning" next year, Ive got GR ranked 7th in the state and the odds on Section 7 favorite to go to state tourney next year.

Im assuming/hoping Mattson, Adams, Bischoff will all return for their senior season to make a run to the state tournament.

As I understand from others who saw the Section 7 Duluth East loss a month ago, it was a close game with Rapids outplaying East for much of the game, but Randolph and the Hounds found a way to win when it counts.

Although East is also returning most of its key talent, Rapids has more overall higher caliber talent and should be able to find a way to win a trip to state next year.

I look forward to seeing them in the Elite League and at the Braemar tourney. And I hope I dont have to bump the Hawks down out of the top 10 as next year's season progresses!

It has been a season we've been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

WestMetro wrote:With all the returning talent and the upcoming fresh talent and their tougher schedule for "seasoning" next year, Ive got GR ranked 7th in the state and the odds on Section 7 favorite to go to state tourney next year.

Im assuming/hoping Mattson, Adams, Bischoff will all return for their senior season to make a run to the state tournament.

As I understand from others who saw the Section 7 Duluth East loss a month ago, it was a close game with Rapids outplaying East for much of the game, but Randolph and the Hounds found a way to win when it counts.

Although East is also returning most of its key talent, Rapids has more overall higher caliber talent and should be able to find a way to win a trip to state next year.

I look forward to seeing them in the Elite League and at the Braemar tourney. And I hope I dont have to bump the Hawks down out of the top 10 as next year's season progresses!

It has been a season you have been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

Why don't you give up on hyping every year and just let the season play out? They might be 3rd or 4th best in section 7AA, you just never know if or how it will all come together. Elk River and Duluth East will be very good.

edited (message posted twice)

northwoods oldtimer wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

WestMetro wrote:With all the returning talent and the upcoming fresh talent and their tougher schedule for "seasoning" next year, Ive got GR ranked 7th in the state and the odds on Section 7 favorite to go to state tourney next year.

Im assuming/hoping Mattson, Adams, Bischoff will all return for their senior season to make a run to the state tournament.

As I understand from others who saw the Section 7 Duluth East loss a month ago, it was a close game with Rapids outplaying East for much of the game, but Randolph and the Hounds found a way to win when it counts.

Although East is also returning most of its key talent, Rapids has more overall higher caliber talent and should be able to find a way to win a trip to state next year.

I look forward to seeing them in the Elite League and at the Braemar tourney. And I hope I dont have to bump the Hawks down out of the top 10 as next year's season progresses!

It has been a season you have been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

Why don't you give up on hyping every year and just let the season play out? They might be 3rd or 4th best in section 7AA, you just never know if or how it will all come together. Elk River and Duluth East will be very good.

What West Metro wrote. Read again. Or maybe you should find Chris Dilks web site (College Hockey and MN HS Hockey writer) who has GR pegged with 8-9 future D1 players on the roster next year. By the way, how did your "too easy" pick of Elk River work out the last two seasons? And I wasn't wrong for "hyping" or believing GR would be good last season, Howg played a great game, but GR controlled that game. Why don't you change your username to "IHateEverythingGrandRapidsHockey"? What is really telling Northwoods, is that you only come on here to post in reply to others posts that you don't like but you aren't intelligent enough to ever contribute anything of substantial interest to this forum or of your own originality.

Hey DJ, I doubt that any player, coach, fan cares much for your over hyped opinion of one team year in and year out. Its quite annoying. You should give it a rest. Find some hobbies. Elk River and East will crank out more D1 talent year in and year out that is a fact you tend to overlook.

northwoods oldtimer wrote:Hey DJ, I doubt that any player, coach, fan cares much for your over hyped opinion of one team year in and year out. Its quite annoying. You should give it a rest. Find some hobbies. Elk River and East will crank out more D1 talent year in and year out that is a fact you tend to overlook.

WHAT THEY SAID!!!
Fact is, there are a few good players but after that they are nothing special.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

WestMetro wrote:With all the returning talent and the upcoming fresh talent and their tougher schedule for "seasoning" next year, Ive got GR ranked 7th in the state and the odds on Section 7 favorite to go to state tourney next year.

Im assuming/hoping Mattson, Adams, Bischoff will all return for their senior season to make a run to the state tournament.

As I understand from others who saw the Section 7 Duluth East loss a month ago, it was a close game with Rapids outplaying East for much of the game, but Randolph and the Hounds found a way to win when it counts.

Although East is also returning most of its key talent, Rapids has more overall higher caliber talent and should be able to find a way to win a trip to state next year.

I look forward to seeing them in the Elite League and at the Braemar tourney. And I hope I dont have to bump the Hawks down out of the top 10 as next year's season progresses!

It has been a season we've been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

I think that some Rapids fans are in danger of over looking one important fact. You are hanging your season on a goalie who is coming up from BN and who has no varsity experience. Granted he is a good goalie (I saw him play a couple of times and then he did OK) but the leap from BN where everybody is at about the same stage and has about the same experience to that varsity level where he will be working against those crafty veterans is huge. I know that Rapids is going to have some great forwards who will contribute assuming they start to shoot the puck and hit the net with their shots. Their D will be better with a year under their belts but they are going to need that kid between the pipes to be able to consistantly come up big when needed and that is a lot to put onto a 10th grader with no varsity experience. Granted as the season goes on he will improve but my thinking is that he is a year or so away from being able to backstop a team going up against the likes of East, Edina, Lakeville and etc. If he can do it they have a chance but if not East for sure and probalby Elk River will be vying for the 7AA ticket south.

Good point, see Elk River goaltending this year, good but not elite yet. Have to have the ability to steal one every now and then. The potential for GR tender is there though.

alcloseshaver wrote:Good point, see Elk River goaltending this year, good but not elite yet. Have to have the ability to steal one every now and then. The potential for GR tender is there though.

Exactly. Potentially he is very good and probably will turn out to be a very good goalie when he is a 12th grader. Will probably be that goalie who can steal a few and can come up big when he needs to as an 11th grader but that leap into varsity as a 10th grader is huge for a kid at any position but at the goalie position it is very difficult.

Wet Paint wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

WestMetro wrote:With all the returning talent and the upcoming fresh talent and their tougher schedule for "seasoning" next year, Ive got GR ranked 7th in the state and the odds on Section 7 favorite to go to state tourney next year.

Im assuming/hoping Mattson, Adams, Bischoff will all return for their senior season to make a run to the state tournament.

As I understand from others who saw the Section 7 Duluth East loss a month ago, it was a close game with Rapids outplaying East for much of the game, but Randolph and the Hounds found a way to win when it counts.

Although East is also returning most of its key talent, Rapids has more overall higher caliber talent and should be able to find a way to win a trip to state next year.

I look forward to seeing them in the Elite League and at the Braemar tourney. And I hope I dont have to bump the Hawks down out of the top 10 as next year's season progresses!

It has been a season we've been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

I think that some Rapids fans are in danger of over looking one important fact. You are hanging your season on a goalie who is coming up from BN and who has no varsity experience. Granted he is a good goalie (I saw him play a couple of times and then he did OK) but the leap from BN where everybody is at about the same stage and has about the same experience to that varsity level where he will be working against those crafty veterans is huge. I know that Rapids is going to have some great forwards who will contribute assuming they start to shoot the puck and hit the net with their shots. Their D will be better with a year under their belts but they are going to need that kid between the pipes to be able to consistantly come up big when needed and that is a lot to put onto a 10th grader with no varsity experience. Granted as the season goes on he will improve but my thinking is that he is a year or so away from being able to backstop a team going up against the likes of East, Edina, Lakeville and etc. If he can do it they have a chance but if not East for sure and probalby Elk River will be vying for the 7AA ticket south.

Appreciate the input from a fan with a lot of class. I agree that there is a jump from bantams to varsity, but I think that is easier for goalies than the other positions, IMHO. The concern I would have would be the defensemen spots at 4, 5. Anderson, Dunnell, and Stampohar are a solid top 3 D. My hope is that they keep the top 3 lines in tact and have a lot of talent to choose from at bantam for a 4th line, maybe Hain, McGlaughlin, and Brazerol? I think the East game will serve as a learning experience that you have to pressure early and often.
This will be a good team, but so will East. Elk River will be decent, I just think they drop a notch without Kierstad, Jaremko, and Lutz. Those are 3 very good players. Marshall is the wild card here, I really don't know about them going into next season.

Anyways, for what it is worth, Chris Dilks of sbncollegehockey.com has his top 5 in Class AA next year as Edina, Hill-Murray, St. Thomas, Grand Rapids, Duluth East. He's been around a while and is very knowledgeable about MNHS puck and of course NCAA hockey.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

Wet Paint wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote: It has been a season we've been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

I think that some Rapids fans are in danger of over looking one important fact. You are hanging your season on a goalie who is coming up from BN and who has no varsity experience. Granted he is a good goalie (I saw him play a couple of times and then he did OK) but the leap from BN where everybody is at about the same stage and has about the same experience to that varsity level where he will be working against those crafty veterans is huge. I know that Rapids is going to have some great forwards who will contribute assuming they start to shoot the puck and hit the net with their shots. Their D will be better with a year under their belts but they are going to need that kid between the pipes to be able to consistantly come up big when needed and that is a lot to put onto a 10th grader with no varsity experience. Granted as the season goes on he will improve but my thinking is that he is a year or so away from being able to backstop a team going up against the likes of East, Edina, Lakeville and etc. If he can do it they have a chance but if not East for sure and probalby Elk River will be vying for the 7AA ticket south.

Appreciate the input from a fan with a lot of class. I agree that there is a jump from bantams to varsity, but I think that is easier for goalies than the other positions, IMHO. The concern I would have would be the defensemen spots at 4, 5. Anderson, Dunnell, and Stampohar are a solid top 3 D. My hope is that they keep the top 3 lines in tact and have a lot of talent to choose from at bantam for a 4th line, maybe Hain, McGlaughlin, and Brazerol? I think the East game will serve as a learning experience that you have to pressure early and often.
This will be a good team, but so will East. Elk River will be decent, I just think they drop a notch without Kierstad, Jaremko, and Lutz. Those are 3 very good players. Marshall is the wild card here, I really don't know about them going into next season.

Anyways, for what it is worth, Chris Dilks of sbncollegehockey.com has his top 5 in Class AA next year as Edina, Hill-Murray, St. Thomas, Grand Rapids, Duluth East. He's been around a while and is very knowledgeable about MNHS puck and of course NCAA hockey.

Pretty rare that a group who has state championship success in Bantams ends up carrying that over into HS. After this past section tourney, I wouldn't bet against Randolph in 7AA ever again, regardless of who has more talent.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

Wet Paint wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote: It has been a season we've been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

I think that some Rapids fans are in danger of over looking one important fact. You are hanging your season on a goalie who is coming up from BN and who has no varsity experience. Granted he is a good goalie (I saw him play a couple of times and then he did OK) but the leap from BN where everybody is at about the same stage and has about the same experience to that varsity level where he will be working against those crafty veterans is huge. I know that Rapids is going to have some great forwards who will contribute assuming they start to shoot the puck and hit the net with their shots. Their D will be better with a year under their belts but they are going to need that kid between the pipes to be able to consistantly come up big when needed and that is a lot to put onto a 10th grader with no varsity experience. Granted as the season goes on he will improve but my thinking is that he is a year or so away from being able to backstop a team going up against the likes of East, Edina, Lakeville and etc. If he can do it they have a chance but if not East for sure and probalby Elk River will be vying for the 7AA ticket south.

Appreciate the input from a fan with a lot of class. I agree that there is a jump from bantams to varsity, but I think that is easier for goalies than the other positions, IMHO. The concern I would have would be the defensemen spots at 4, 5. Anderson, Dunnell, and Stampohar are a solid top 3 D. My hope is that they keep the top 3 lines in tact and have a lot of talent to choose from at bantam for a 4th line, maybe Hain, McGlaughlin, and Brazerol? I think the East game will serve as a learning experience that you have to pressure early and often.
This will be a good team, but so will East. Elk River will be decent, I just think they drop a notch without Kierstad, Jaremko, and Lutz. Those are 3 very good players. Marshall is the wild card here, I really don't know about them going into next season.

Anyways, for what it is worth, Chris Dilks of sbncollegehockey.com has his top 5 in Class AA next year as Edina, Hill-Murray, St. Thomas, Grand Rapids, Duluth East. He's been around a while and is very knowledgeable about MNHS puck and of course NCAA hockey.

I could be wrong here. I have always figured that it was harder for a goalie than for anybody else. When a forward screws up his D can catch it and help him out. Forwards miss passes, miss shots, make bad passes and etc all the time. Nothing really major happens other than possibly a scoring chance falls through. D mess up and are helped out by other D or their goalie. D get beat around the corner, make bad outlet passes and turn loose a shooter on the goalie's front door so he has to be able to react and etc and their is always that other D or that goalie to help him out. However, when a goalie screws up the lights go off and sirens sound. Not good. He has no place to hide. Everybody in the building is an expert on his position and can and will tear him up when he goofs (or appears to goof up). Physically the pressure on the kid to be able to move, cut off angles, and to take the contact at the position (yes there is lots of contact) and etc requires a kid to be tough. BUT, mentally and emotionally it is has to be a nightmare. He has to be able to remember shooters and their tendancies, understand and be able to predict the game flow, handle those blow out games tonight and bounce back against an archrival 2 nights later with no doubt in his mind that it was a fluke the other night, understand when to handle the puck and what to do with it and stuff like that. And then, when the crowd is on it's feet screaming and yelling and the other team pops in a goal from behind a screen, over a glove, off of a bad rebound (even though he has made 25 saves earlier in the game) be able to walk out of there and not go out back with a rope. Goalie is harder, way harder. I have watched a lot of hockey over the years and have to admit that I don't understand the kid who can crawl into that net night after night and do that job without cracking up.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

Wet Paint wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote: It has been a season we've been anticipating since Rapids had both Avery Peterson and Jake Bischoff on the roster. There is a lot of talent coming up, but with all the forwards returning it will be interesting to see who can knock down the door from the bantam team and find a spot on the varsity. Some might have to play defense to get a spot on the squad.

I think that some Rapids fans are in danger of over looking one important fact. You are hanging your season on a goalie who is coming up from BN and who has no varsity experience. Granted he is a good goalie (I saw him play a couple of times and then he did OK) but the leap from BN where everybody is at about the same stage and has about the same experience to that varsity level where he will be working against those crafty veterans is huge. I know that Rapids is going to have some great forwards who will contribute assuming they start to shoot the puck and hit the net with their shots. Their D will be better with a year under their belts but they are going to need that kid between the pipes to be able to consistantly come up big when needed and that is a lot to put onto a 10th grader with no varsity experience. Granted as the season goes on he will improve but my thinking is that he is a year or so away from being able to backstop a team going up against the likes of East, Edina, Lakeville and etc. If he can do it they have a chance but if not East for sure and probalby Elk River will be vying for the 7AA ticket south.

Appreciate the input from a fan with a lot of class. I agree that there is a jump from bantams to varsity, but I think that is easier for goalies than the other positions, IMHO. The concern I would have would be the defensemen spots at 4, 5. Anderson, Dunnell, and Stampohar are a solid top 3 D. My hope is that they keep the top 3 lines in tact and have a lot of talent to choose from at bantam for a 4th line, maybe Hain, McGlaughlin, and Brazerol? I think the East game will serve as a learning experience that you have to pressure early and often.
This will be a good team, but so will East. Elk River will be decent, I just think they drop a notch without Kierstad, Jaremko, and Lutz. Those are 3 very good players. Marshall is the wild card here, I really don't know about them going into next season.

Anyways, for what it is worth, Chris Dilks of sbncollegehockey.com has his top 5 in Class AA next year as Edina, Hill-Murray, St. Thomas, Grand Rapids, Duluth East. He's been around a while and is very knowledgeable about MNHS puck and of course NCAA hockey.

I think Hill-Murray's Begley is a good comparison. A high regarded young sophomore goalie who had a decent season, but at the start of the year he struggled a bit and he did not play as much. He eventually became the starter and finished off well, but there was a period where he had to adjust. Some goalies might step right in and be fine, some might take even longer than a season. It can be a big question mark.

How many teams roll 4 lines? From what I see the 4th line plays JV. Should make for some good competition. As Lou Nanne once said about the North Stars " to much talent".

alcloseshaver wrote:How many teams roll 4 lines? From what I see the 4th line plays JV. Should make for some good competition. As Lou Nanne once said about the North Stars " to much talent".

I believe Randolph has rolled 4 lines a lot in the past. Karl? By having 4 lines doesnt imply you have to "roll" them. Can roll 3 lines and sprinkle the 4th line in here and there while they are getting a lot of JV time

Wet Paint, what about just the x's and o's. A goalie has a single job of stopping the puck. But what about the systems the skaters have to learn whether a 2-3 or 1-2-2, then there are special team assignments. That seems like a steeper learning curve to me. Though I understand what you mean about the pressure on goalies.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

alcloseshaver wrote:How many teams roll 4 lines? From what I see the 4th line plays JV. Should make for some good competition. As Lou Nanne once said about the North Stars " to much talent".

I believe Randolph has rolled 4 lines a lot in the past. Karl? By having 4 lines doesnt imply you have to "roll" them. Can roll 3 lines and sprinkle the 4th line in here and there while they are getting a lot of JV time

I wouldn't say "a lot," but he has done it from time to time, usually on the teams where he does not have an overwhelming top line. Something he will do with more regularity, though (nearly every year, I think) is have an offense-defense substitution, where a forward or two on the 2nd and 3rd lines (usually younger/less physically mature players) will be subbed out for a grinding upperclassman if they have a lead late.

With next year's GR team, you don't want to eat into the ice time of those top couple forwards. I also don't think you want some of those top upcoming sophomores rotting on the bench playing two shifts a period. Give them a top-9 spot and let them grow, as East usually does; if that isn't paying off, have them play JV.

As for the broader debate here, I think both East and Rapids have the talent to compete with more or less anyone in the state, especially since hardly anyone in this past year's top 5-10 (excepting maybe EP) returns most of their talent. I would hardly ink either one is a top-5 preseason squad right now, though. Both had some substantial struggles during the regular season. East had a lot go right at the right time, and Rapids still has plenty to prove in addition to some of the other things mentioned on this thread.

I also think quite a few people are conveniently forgetting the first two periods of the East-Rapids playoff game, but, believe whatever you like about how that one played out, I won't complain.

karl(east) wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

alcloseshaver wrote:How many teams roll 4 lines? From what I see the 4th line plays JV. Should make for some good competition. As Lou Nanne once said about the North Stars " to much talent".

I believe Randolph has rolled 4 lines a lot in the past. Karl? By having 4 lines doesnt imply you have to "roll" them. Can roll 3 lines and sprinkle the 4th line in here and there while they are getting a lot of JV time

I wouldn't say "a lot," but he has done it from time to time, usually on the teams where he does not have an overwhelming top line. Something he will do with more regularity, though (nearly every year, I think) is have an offense-defense substitution, where a forward or two on the 2nd and 3rd lines (usually younger/less physically mature players) will be subbed out for a grinding upperclassman if they have a lead late.

With next year's GR team, you don't want to eat into the ice time of those top couple forwards. I also don't think you want some of those top upcoming sophomores rotting on the bench playing two shifts a period. Give them a top-9 spot and let them grow, as East usually does; if that isn't paying off, have them play JV.

As for the broader debate here, I think both East and Rapids have the talent to compete with more or less anyone in the state, especially since hardly anyone in this past year's top 5-10 (excepting maybe EP) returns most of their talent. I would hardly ink either one is a top-5 preseason squad right now, though. Both had some substantial struggles during the regular season. East had a lot go right at the right time, and Rapids still has plenty to prove in addition to some of the other things mentioned on this thread.

I also think quite a few people are conveniently forgetting the first two periods of the East-Rapids playoff game, but, believe whatever you like about how that one played out, I won't complain.

Was thinking the same thing. East was firmly in control the first if not the first 2 periods of that game.

Dilks is wrong about his rankings.

I had posted my initial rankings in the Early Ranking thread a while back, and still stand by them, reposted below. I recall there were several people in that thread who correlated pretty closely with that cluster of teams.

As far as Duluth East, yes Randolph gets a plus one ranking and a plus one goal in any playoff game; but Rapids' supply of talented forwards next year makes them a clear Section 7 favorite. Their goaltending will be just fine if their Dmen protect him which they should be able to do with good coaching.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 3:00 pm

TOP 10 2015-2016 AA teams with returning high level talent

EP---Graham* ,Johannes, Leivermann, Middlestadt* , Sullivan, Durocher


Lakeville North---Poehling* , Enebek, Johnson, Klans, Schneider, Edquist*


STA--- Jerry, Hurley, McDonald, Reim, Smallidge, Stucker, Goalie: Kelly?

Edina--- Dornbach, Copeland, Foley, Sheerer, Phillips, Walker, Tabor?


BSM--Austin,,Calengor, Gleekel, Heimbold, Moore,Risteau,Mayer, Bischel


Prior Lake---Clemens, Denman, Fellows, Gackle, Hansen, Harris?,Scites
(since March 8 there has been some discussion about disruption at P.L)


Gr Rapids-- Adams, Bischoff*, Koehn, Mattson*,Miller Stampohar, Bantams


Hill Murray--Anderson*, Ranello, Staum, Reffenberger*, Yeo, Mills, Begley*


Wayzata---Duma, Pattersen, Senden*, Sorenson*,Zimmer*,Schilling


Blaine---Penn, Noterman, Tufte*, ,Goalie Kallestad


*Potential early depart for USHL or Ann Arbor NTDP

green4 wrote:

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

Wet Paint wrote: I think that some Rapids fans are in danger of over looking one important fact. You are hanging your season on a goalie who is coming up from BN and who has no varsity experience. Granted he is a good goalie (I saw him play a couple of times and then he did OK) but the leap from BN where everybody is at about the same stage and has about the same experience to that varsity level where he will be working against those crafty veterans is huge. I know that Rapids is going to have some great forwards who will contribute assuming they start to shoot the puck and hit the net with their shots. Their D will be better with a year under their belts but they are going to need that kid between the pipes to be able to consistantly come up big when needed and that is a lot to put onto a 10th grader with no varsity experience. Granted as the season goes on he will improve but my thinking is that he is a year or so away from being able to backstop a team going up against the likes of East, Edina, Lakeville and etc. If he can do it they have a chance but if not East for sure and probalby Elk River will be vying for the 7AA ticket south.

Appreciate the input from a fan with a lot of class. I agree that there is a jump from bantams to varsity, but I think that is easier for goalies than the other positions, IMHO. The concern I would have would be the defensemen spots at 4, 5. Anderson, Dunnell, and Stampohar are a solid top 3 D. My hope is that they keep the top 3 lines in tact and have a lot of talent to choose from at bantam for a 4th line, maybe Hain, McGlaughlin, and Brazerol? I think the East game will serve as a learning experience that you have to pressure early and often.
This will be a good team, but so will East. Elk River will be decent, I just think they drop a notch without Kierstad, Jaremko, and Lutz. Those are 3 very good players. Marshall is the wild card here, I really don't know about them going into next season.

Anyways, for what it is worth, Chris Dilks of sbncollegehockey.com has his top 5 in Class AA next year as Edina, Hill-Murray, St. Thomas, Grand Rapids, Duluth East. He's been around a while and is very knowledgeable about MNHS puck and of course NCAA hockey.

I think Hill-Murray's Begley is a good comparison. A high regarded young sophomore goalie who had a decent season, but at the start of the year he struggled a bit and he did not play as much. He eventually became the starter and finished off well, but there was a period where he had to adjust. Some goalies might step right in and be fine, some might take even longer than a season. It can be a big question mark.

Perfect example. Its a mental game. You have to bring along a young/green goalie slow...you throw too much too fast and you wreck confidence. Give them just enough for a little taste of success and you have a winner. You take Begley (or insert most rookie goalies) into the Edina classic with a yound D and you are going to have some confidence building to do. Unfortunately most people (incl coaches) dont get this (unless they have played the position)The untelenting pressure and expectations are immense for these young guys. Stejskal will come in with a good deal of confidence from being "the guy" at bantams. The trick will be protecting him enough to get some confidence at the next level. Or just blame the defense....