AA Section-by-Section Analysis

[karl(east)]

For fun, I decided to analyze all eight AA sections to develop a general status quo. I've listed everyone I think is a realistic contender for the section, along with my own rankings (top 20). Feel free to question/criticize/come up with your own.

1AA:
Owatonna, Lakeville North, Lakeville South.

Anything other than a 2-and-out at the state tournament from a team in this section would be an achievement. My pick: Owatanna.

2AA:
Bloomington Jefferson ( 8 ), Edina (4), Burnsville (7), Holy Angels?

The three at the top make this an extremely difficult section to get out of. Holy Angels may not be doing very well so far, but they'll still be one of the most dangerous #4 seeds you'll ever see. Though Edina has been proven mortal, I still think they have more talent than anyone else out there. Pick: Edina.

3AA:
Cretin-Derham Hall (13), Woodbury (9), Rosemount (19), Eastview (15)

I don't really know much about this section, and the MSHSL pages on Rosemount and Eastview are quite deficient, so they may be erroneously ranked. Cretin and Woodbury are having decent years, and I'd expect them in the section championship at this point. Pick: Woodbury.
4AA:
Hill-Murray (3), White Bear Lake (10), Roseville (11)

Quality second tier of teams including Stillwater, Tartan, and maybe Mounds View. A reasonably deep section with some upset potential. WBL and Roseville are quite good, but not Hill-Murray good. Though they lost in the Schwan Cup finale, I'd say Hill is just a tiny bit short of Edina in terms of overall talent. Pick: Hill.

5AA:
Blaine (14), Centennial (17)

Though there are a few teams that could make some noise such as Maple Grove, this is essentially a two-team race. Centennial has shown a lot of inconsistency, but I'll go on a whim and say they'll figure it out enough to get by Blaine in what should be a good section final game. Pick: Centennial.

6AA:
Benilde-St. Margaret's (5), Minnetonka (2), Eden Prairie (6), Wayzata?, Hopkins?

This is arguably the best section in the state right now, even better than 2AA. It's very deep and its top teams turned heads at the Schwan Cup. Eden Prairie is another excellent team that's flying under the radar a bit. Wayzata has a bunch of losses but has played a very hard schedule, and there ae a couple of other teams that could cause problems, though have no real shot at the section. Pick: Minnetonka.

7AA:
Duluth East (12), Cloquet ( 18 ), Grand Rapids (20), Anoka?

This might be the most muddled section. East looked like they'd be a serious threat at the state level before a very disappointing Schwan Cup. Cloquet has looked great beating White Bear and East, yet bad in a loss to S. St. Paul and tying Andover. Grand Rapids is playing decently but has yet to beat a significant opponent. Anoka did not play East well at all but has the talent to be a factor. Key stat: Duluth East is 4-0 at the DECC, 1-5-1 everywhere else. And that just happens to be where the section tournament is. Pick: East.

8AA:
Roseau (1), Moorhead? (16)

Roseau's easy win over Moorhead earlier this season makes this as close to a sure thing as is possible in high school hockey this year. We'll see if they can pull off a perfect season, though I wonder if their weak schedule will lead to a lack of experience and come back to haunt Roseau at State. Pick: Roseau.

[wbmd]

What about Hopkins in section 6? They are 11-0 at this point, just one win short of tying last years 12 victories.

[Govs93]

What about Hopkins in section 6? They are 11-0 at this point.

I think he's got the top 2 correct there, but Wayzata is ridiculous, and Eden Prairie should be considered on par with Hopkins IMO, and certainly not not better.

[wbmd]

What about Hopkins in section 6? They are 11-0 at this point.

I think he's got the top 2 correct there, but Wayzata is ridiculous, and Eden Prairie should be considered on par with Hopkins IMO, and certainly not not better.

True. Wayzata is 4-6-3 right now.

[minnhock1228]

Hopkins come on who have they even played?
Tonka or Benilde will win that section, benilde won last year against tonka 8-3 when tonka had pauly. Now bsm has pauly and i am sure he doesn't want to lose to tonka. Pick:benilde

[wbmd]

Hopkins come on who have they even played?
Tonka or Benilde will win that section, benilde won last year against tonka 8-3 when tonka had pauly. Now bsm has pauly and i am sure he doesn't want to lose to tonka. Pick:benilde

They beat Woodbury 7-4 last night in the finals of the South St. Paul Premier Tournament.

[Govs93]

Hopkins come on who have they even played?

Again, I don't think anybody is willing to put them ahead of Tonka or Benilde at this point, but they beat Woodbury, they beat the defending class A champs, they beat Anoka (who is vastly overrated IMO, but they do have a solid record anyway).

We'll get a better read on how good they really are starting this week when they get into the conference schedule, but if they do jump up and bite an Edina or Minnetonka, I wouldn't be completely surprised by it.

[karl(east)]

OK, I've added Hopkins as a possibility; I'd completely overlooked them and don't know much about them. The win over Woodbury probably should get them in the 16-25 range in rankings. The only other quality win they have is Anoka (Hermantown is too far down this year to be considered a serious threat for a AA contender). We should be able to pin them down a lot better a week from now, after they've played Minnetonka.

[Lucia4President]

AA
1- Mayo
2- Edina
3- Eastview
4- Hill-Murray
5- Centennial
6- Benilde
7- Duluth East
8- Roseau

A
1- Mankato West
2- Mound-Westonka!
3- New Ulm?
4- St. Thomas Academy
5- St. Cloud Cathedral
6- Little Falls
7- Jake Youso
8- Warroad

[grindiangrad-80]

As of 1-1-08 my picks are:

1AA-Owatonna
2AA-Holy Angels
3AA-Woodbury
4AA-Hill-Murray
5AA-Centennial
6AA-BSM
7AA-Grand Rapids
8AA-Roseau

[STC18]

My picks

1-Rochester Mayo
2-Edina
3-Woodbury
4-Hill-Murray
5-Centennial
6-Benilde
7-Duluth East
8-Roseau

[IrishStiff]

1 Mayo
2 Jefferson
3 Eastview
4 Hill Murray
5 Centennial
6 Minnetonka
7 Duluth East
8 Roseau

[goldenhockey20]

1AA- Mayo
2AA- Bloomington Jefferson
3AA- Rosemount
4AA- Hill-Murray
5AA- Centennial
6AA- Minnetonka
7AA- Duluth East
8AA- Roseau

[royals0951]

Hopkins come on who have they even played?
Tonka or Benilde will win that section, benilde won last year against tonka 8-3 when tonka had pauly. Now bsm has pauly and i am sure he doesn't want to lose to tonka. Pick:benilde

They beat Woodbury 7-4 last night in the finals of the South St. Paul Premier Tournament.

Although a win is a win, this one is a bit distorted. Woodbury was withtout arguably their 3 best players in David Eddy (game misconduct the game before-it was a terrrible call though), Dane Erickson (broken hand), and Adam Kopp (broken thumb).

[wbmd]

Hopkins come on who have they even played?
Tonka or Benilde will win that section, benilde won last year against tonka 8-3 when tonka had pauly. Now bsm has pauly and i am sure he doesn't want to lose to tonka. Pick:benilde

They beat Woodbury 7-4 last night in the finals of the South St. Paul Premier Tournament.

Although a win is a win, this one is a bit distorted. Woodbury was withtout arguably their 3 best players in David Eddy (game misconduct the game before-it was a terrrible call though), Dane Erickson (broken hand), and Adam Kopp (broken thumb).

Unfortunately, that is part of the game. You have to learn to play strong without the injured players and benched players - even if they are the top players on the team.

[royals0951]

They beat Woodbury 7-4 last night in the finals of the South St. Paul Premier Tournament.

Although a win is a win, this one is a bit distorted. Woodbury was withtout arguably their 3 best players in David Eddy (game misconduct the game before-it was a terrrible call though), Dane Erickson (broken hand), and Adam Kopp (broken thumb).

Unfortunately, that is part of the game. You have to learn to play strong without the injured players and benched players - even if they are the top players on the team.

very true