Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:50 pm
Greetings Section 3A Followers,
Another week past and I think we are starting to see some more clarity as far as the Top of Section 3A goes for seeds. The Race for Seed #8 continues to heat up!
Section 3A Power Rankings (1-26-14)
1. Luverne (18-0-1)
2. Willmar (8-9-0)
3. New Ulm Area (10-9-0)
4. Hutchinson (8-8-1)
5. Marshall (10-8-0)
6. LDC (5-11-0)
7. Windom (7-12-0)
8. Fairmont (2-12-0)
9. Morris-Benson (2-14-1)
10. Worthington (2-13-0)
11. Redwood Valley (2-9-0)
Luverne- Only played once this past week but it was against a Section 3A Team in Morris-Benson. With the 10-4 win over the Storm the Cards move improved their Section 3A Record to (12-0-0). They have a Section 3A and SW Conference game on the road Tuesday @Worthington. Then a rematch with a team that almost upset earlier this year, however this time they are on the road @ Dodge County.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/28 @ Worthington, 2/3 @ Windom, 2/7 @Hutch
Section 3A Seed Projection: #1 Seed- Have beaten every team in the Section so far. Only questions mark will be what if they slip up against Hutch would that even drop them?
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Willmar- Had a big win this past Tuesday night over NU/SE. That improved their Section 3A Record to (4-1-0). They have the Big Cream Can Rivalry game this Monday night @LDC. Then they Play Section 6A Powers Alex & Apollo to round out their week.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/27 @LDC, 2/8 Windom
Section 3A Seed Projection: #2 Seed- If they take care of business tomorrow night they will be a Lock at the 2 seed regardless of overall record.
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New Ulm Area: Up and down week for the New Ulm/Sleepy Eye hockey team. Lost a crucial Section 3A game @ Willmar to drop their perfect Section 3A Record to (4-1-0). Then responded with a Nice win over Providence Academy on the road only to then blow a lead and lose to Chaska the following night. Have big week playing Waseca at home then going back on the road to play Marshall and Mound Westonka.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/30 @ Marshall, 2/8 @ LDC, 2/13 Fairmont
Section 3A Seed Projection: #3 Seed- They lost a crucial game to Willmar and then add in they refuse to play Luverne that kills them. I can’t believe they refuse to play Luverne when they had to know how crucial it was for seeding purposes. They deserve the 3 seed for that fact alone.
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Hutchinson- I know they lost 3 in a row this past week but I really feel like they got better. After a bad loss to a down Waconia they played right with both Holy Family and Orono. They also got a decent performance from both of their struggling tenders. Hutch is a dangerous club with a decent Section 3A Record (4-2-0). They have a big one this week at LDC then they will play top end programs Delano and Holy Family to finish the week.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/28 @ LDC, 2/7 Luverne
Section 3A Seed Projection: #4 Seed- They need to beat the Dragons on Tuesday to lock up the 4 seed then if they can knock off Luverne they could make a potential mess for the top 4. They are very capable of doing that. However, they have lost to the other two teams ahead of them.
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Marshall- The Defending Section 3A Champions are starting to find their stride as of late. They are getting some goal scoring and as always steady defense. They got 3 section 3A wins, the biggest being the LDC win, to improve their Section 3A Record to (9-5-0). Another week more Section 3A opponents on tap the play two home games vs. Morris Benson then a HUGE one NU/SE. The Tigers are looking to stay on a roll.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/28 Morris Benson, 1/30 NU/SE, 2/8 @ Fairmont
Section 3A Seed Projection: #5 Seed- They should be your 5 seed if they take care of business vs. Morris Benson and Fairmont they are lock at Number 5.
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LDC- A tough week for the Dragons as they dropped a bad on in Marshall and then were shut out by Mound Westonka. However, this is a big week for the Dragons to Bounce back. They get Willmar on Monday and Hutch on Tuesday in their Barn. Big Rivarly games. Right now they sit with a Section 3A Record of (3-4). They will need to win one or possibly both of the two games this week to get back in conversation for anything better then a #6 seed.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/27 Willmar, 1/28 Hutch, 2/8 NU/SE
Section 3A Seed Projection: #6 Seed- The Dragons have beaten 3 of the 5 teams beneath them handily and have lost to all the teams above them. They will need to win 2 or possibly all of the remaining 3 games to move their position in Section 3A Playoff Bracket.
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Windom- The Eagles only played one game last week hammering Worthington to improve their Section 3A Record to (6-6). They only have one game this week vs non section foe Waseca at home. Then next week they have a big 3 game slate of Section 3A Games.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 2/3 Luverne, 2/6 Fairmont, 2/8 Willmar
Section 3A Seed Projection: #7 Seed- They seem to be a lock for this position as long as they take care of Fairmont at home next week.
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The Race for the 8 Seed
#8 Seed as of Today
In the Driver Seat
Fairmont- They only have 2 wins but they were big ones. They own the All Important 2nd meeting win over Worthington and they have the head to head win over the fast rising Morris-Benson Storm.
The week ahead: Two huge games with Redwood Valley if they can sweep they lock up the 8 seed. If they don’t or get swept we will have interesting mess at the bottom.
The contenders for the 8 Seed
Morris Benson- Own a big win over Windom and won a big one over
Worthington. They still one left with Worthington and two with Redwood Valley. If they win those 3 games and Fairmont falters vs. Redwood this week. Look for the Storm to be the 8 seed.
Worthington- was a tough week for the Trojans. They dropped a tough one to Morris Benson. They rematch with the Storm and they have a home game vs. Redwood Valley. If they win both those games they will be in the discussion for the 8 seed.
Redwood Valley- Still do not have a Section win but have the most ability to move up. They still have 2 games with Morris Benson, 2 games with Fairmont and one with Worthington left. If Redwood could get hot they could move from the 11 seed to the 8 seed. However, for the time being because they have no Section 3A Wins they are the 11 seed.
So many Great Matchups this week. At the top, middle and bottom of the section. I have games to go to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday!!
I hope the weather will cooperate!
Another week past and I think we are starting to see some more clarity as far as the Top of Section 3A goes for seeds. The Race for Seed #8 continues to heat up!
Section 3A Power Rankings (1-26-14)
1. Luverne (18-0-1)
2. Willmar (8-9-0)
3. New Ulm Area (10-9-0)
4. Hutchinson (8-8-1)
5. Marshall (10-8-0)
6. LDC (5-11-0)
7. Windom (7-12-0)
8. Fairmont (2-12-0)
9. Morris-Benson (2-14-1)
10. Worthington (2-13-0)
11. Redwood Valley (2-9-0)
Luverne- Only played once this past week but it was against a Section 3A Team in Morris-Benson. With the 10-4 win over the Storm the Cards move improved their Section 3A Record to (12-0-0). They have a Section 3A and SW Conference game on the road Tuesday @Worthington. Then a rematch with a team that almost upset earlier this year, however this time they are on the road @ Dodge County.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/28 @ Worthington, 2/3 @ Windom, 2/7 @Hutch
Section 3A Seed Projection: #1 Seed- Have beaten every team in the Section so far. Only questions mark will be what if they slip up against Hutch would that even drop them?
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Willmar- Had a big win this past Tuesday night over NU/SE. That improved their Section 3A Record to (4-1-0). They have the Big Cream Can Rivalry game this Monday night @LDC. Then they Play Section 6A Powers Alex & Apollo to round out their week.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/27 @LDC, 2/8 Windom
Section 3A Seed Projection: #2 Seed- If they take care of business tomorrow night they will be a Lock at the 2 seed regardless of overall record.
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New Ulm Area: Up and down week for the New Ulm/Sleepy Eye hockey team. Lost a crucial Section 3A game @ Willmar to drop their perfect Section 3A Record to (4-1-0). Then responded with a Nice win over Providence Academy on the road only to then blow a lead and lose to Chaska the following night. Have big week playing Waseca at home then going back on the road to play Marshall and Mound Westonka.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/30 @ Marshall, 2/8 @ LDC, 2/13 Fairmont
Section 3A Seed Projection: #3 Seed- They lost a crucial game to Willmar and then add in they refuse to play Luverne that kills them. I can’t believe they refuse to play Luverne when they had to know how crucial it was for seeding purposes. They deserve the 3 seed for that fact alone.
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Hutchinson- I know they lost 3 in a row this past week but I really feel like they got better. After a bad loss to a down Waconia they played right with both Holy Family and Orono. They also got a decent performance from both of their struggling tenders. Hutch is a dangerous club with a decent Section 3A Record (4-2-0). They have a big one this week at LDC then they will play top end programs Delano and Holy Family to finish the week.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/28 @ LDC, 2/7 Luverne
Section 3A Seed Projection: #4 Seed- They need to beat the Dragons on Tuesday to lock up the 4 seed then if they can knock off Luverne they could make a potential mess for the top 4. They are very capable of doing that. However, they have lost to the other two teams ahead of them.
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Marshall- The Defending Section 3A Champions are starting to find their stride as of late. They are getting some goal scoring and as always steady defense. They got 3 section 3A wins, the biggest being the LDC win, to improve their Section 3A Record to (9-5-0). Another week more Section 3A opponents on tap the play two home games vs. Morris Benson then a HUGE one NU/SE. The Tigers are looking to stay on a roll.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/28 Morris Benson, 1/30 NU/SE, 2/8 @ Fairmont
Section 3A Seed Projection: #5 Seed- They should be your 5 seed if they take care of business vs. Morris Benson and Fairmont they are lock at Number 5.
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LDC- A tough week for the Dragons as they dropped a bad on in Marshall and then were shut out by Mound Westonka. However, this is a big week for the Dragons to Bounce back. They get Willmar on Monday and Hutch on Tuesday in their Barn. Big Rivarly games. Right now they sit with a Section 3A Record of (3-4). They will need to win one or possibly both of the two games this week to get back in conversation for anything better then a #6 seed.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 1/27 Willmar, 1/28 Hutch, 2/8 NU/SE
Section 3A Seed Projection: #6 Seed- The Dragons have beaten 3 of the 5 teams beneath them handily and have lost to all the teams above them. They will need to win 2 or possibly all of the remaining 3 games to move their position in Section 3A Playoff Bracket.
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Windom- The Eagles only played one game last week hammering Worthington to improve their Section 3A Record to (6-6). They only have one game this week vs non section foe Waseca at home. Then next week they have a big 3 game slate of Section 3A Games.
Remaining Section 3A Games: 2/3 Luverne, 2/6 Fairmont, 2/8 Willmar
Section 3A Seed Projection: #7 Seed- They seem to be a lock for this position as long as they take care of Fairmont at home next week.
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The Race for the 8 Seed
#8 Seed as of Today
In the Driver Seat
Fairmont- They only have 2 wins but they were big ones. They own the All Important 2nd meeting win over Worthington and they have the head to head win over the fast rising Morris-Benson Storm.
The week ahead: Two huge games with Redwood Valley if they can sweep they lock up the 8 seed. If they don’t or get swept we will have interesting mess at the bottom.
The contenders for the 8 Seed
Morris Benson- Own a big win over Windom and won a big one over
Worthington. They still one left with Worthington and two with Redwood Valley. If they win those 3 games and Fairmont falters vs. Redwood this week. Look for the Storm to be the 8 seed.
Worthington- was a tough week for the Trojans. They dropped a tough one to Morris Benson. They rematch with the Storm and they have a home game vs. Redwood Valley. If they win both those games they will be in the discussion for the 8 seed.
Redwood Valley- Still do not have a Section win but have the most ability to move up. They still have 2 games with Morris Benson, 2 games with Fairmont and one with Worthington left. If Redwood could get hot they could move from the 11 seed to the 8 seed. However, for the time being because they have no Section 3A Wins they are the 11 seed.
So many Great Matchups this week. At the top, middle and bottom of the section. I have games to go to Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday!!
I hope the weather will cooperate!