SEC 2008-2009

brookyone · Post by **brookyone** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:44 pm

Summer is winding down...not too soon to have a look at the upcoming season in the Suburban East is it?

Who took the biggest hit via graduation? I have to believe CDH is at the very least a contender in this catagory. Maybe a hands down winner.

Stillwater loses a few key players...of those who graduated, Allie Schwab is the player of most impact for the Ponies. She and Dahl worked well together...who do you replace her with on your top line with Dahl? There are a number of viable replacements for Schwab on the Dahl line IMO. The Ponies also had some talented players skating the bulk of their season's on JV last season. I'd expect a couple to become regulars on the varsity edition this season...a couple of whom need to learn to pass the puck once in awhile.

Stillwater should be solid in net with Sobczak...whose fairly extensive experience should provide an edge for the Ponies.

Hastings also graduated their top threat on offense. I'm not familiar enough with their returning bunch to speculate on their potential for 2008-2009.

Forest Lake also lost a major contributor on offense, but have what may be the top D player in the conference returning.

Roseville...I expect to be very competitive (I'm a creature of habit) even though they also lost leaders both on the blueline and up front. Plus, I know they had talented underclassmen who I expect will continue the winning tradition...and are always well coached.

How about WBL? They ended the 2007-2008 season with a strong run. Can they start fast in 2008?

I can't predict if it will be different this coming season...but it's been very tough to be in the race for an SEC title when starting slow with early conference losses. It's obvious of course, but I'll say it anyway...every conference game is huge, and I remember 2007-2008 conference leaders having some real battles with teams well behind them in the standings...more of the same would be my guess for this season.

Thoughts on Park / MV / Woodbury?

It may appear to be a homer pick...yet based on returning lineup, experience in net and large improvement in play last season by a few of those returning players, I'm picking the Ponies for conference champ in 2008-2009.

Yup...I'm ready for hockey season

hockeyrube7 · Post by **hockeyrube7** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:51 pm

EP and Alexandria, hands down! I know that's a different section, yet feel that no one will suffer near the loss those two will.

keepitreal · Post by **keepitreal** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:55 pm

Roseville will give them a run, again.

hockeywild7 · Post by **hockeywild7** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:05 pm

Interesting stat-Every team in the conference except Stillwater lost their starting goalie. A list of very good goalies some of which will be hard to replace.
Forest Lake-Frederick
Woodbury- Klatt
Cretin-Jondahl
Hastings-Alwin
Roseville-Brausen
White Bear Lake-Lenz
Park-Oneil
Mounds View-Stickney

hockeyheaven · Post by **hockeyheaven** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:45 pm

Interesting, does that give Stillwater the advantage on paper? Have to have a quality goalie to be competitive. Unless you are flat out deep like Roseville has been.

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:08 pm

hockeywild7 wrote:Interesting stat-Every team in the conference except Stillwater lost their starting goalie. A list of very good goalies some of which will be hard to replace.
Forest Lake-Frederick
Woodbury- Klatt
Cretin-Jondahl
Hastings-Alwin
Roseville-Brausen
White Bear Lake-Lenz
Park-Oneil
Mounds View-Stickney

Some have proven goalies ready to go.

Roseville's goalie split with Brausen last year I don't think this will be a drop off and should continue their strength in goal.

Cretin - two are experienced Scott and Knudson who played parts of last year and year before.

Woodbury - may have an 8th grader and a junior dualing it out? Taplin the junior played a little last year - is a very athlectic soccer player but only plays during the HS season so big step up to fill Klatt's skates - many of the recent Woodbury wins have been "goalie steals/wins". Taplin did take the U14 team to state from Woodbury a 2-3 years ago. The younger goalie is a very strong player who played U12A last year - she is very impressive so you never know.

Goal in HS is key - again Stillwater has depth a great starter and 1-2 behind her.

chickendance · Post by **chickendance** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:37 pm

Forest Lake does not have the best D player in the conference. They will struggle.

Stillwater will be disappointing for their standards.

Roseville will be the strength of the conference and will have one of the best D.

MV will probably move up a bit, but they will have to learn how to score. MV will have 2 of the best D in the conference.

WB will be right with Roseville at the end of the year.

Cretin will be very young, so they could be a surprise.

Hansonbrother · Post by **Hansonbrother** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 5:51 pm

hockeyheaven wrote:Interesting, does that give Stillwater the advantage on paper? Have to have a quality goalie to be competitive. Unless you are flat out deep like Roseville has been.

Roseville being deep is a myth. They don't have the numbers that people think they have. I was told that last year they had 38 kids trying out for 34 positions (V and JV). Of the 4 that they didn't keep, all had U-14 eligibility.

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:48 pm

chickendance wrote:
WB will be right with Roseville at the end of the year.

I know WB has Brustle and Green at F and Marcotte is strong at D but who scores goals and who will be the goalie to replace Lenz?

Are you saying it will be Roseville or White Bear who wins SEC over all others - or Stillwater?

hockeywild7 · Post by **hockeywild7** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:54 pm

There are alot of question marks with teams but I would have to say that Roseville and Stillwater will have the fewest. Roseville in my mind will still be questionable in the nets and maybe not quite as deep at forward as in the past but their defense should be the best in the conference. White Bear made a run but don't discount how much of that was attributed to their goaltending. Stillwater will be rebuilding their defense but should be the most solid in the net and could be one of the deepest teams in the state at forward. It should be interesting conference race.

hockeyheaven · Post by **hockeyheaven** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:56 pm

Hansonbrother wrote:
hockeyheaven wrote:Interesting, does that give Stillwater the advantage on paper? Have to have a quality goalie to be competitive. Unless you are flat out deep like Roseville has been.
Roseville being deep is a myth. They don't have the numbers that people think they have. I was told that last year they had 38 kids trying out for 34 positions (V and JV). Of the 4 that they didn't keep, all had U-14 eligibility.

Obviously you haven’t watched Roseville the past couple of years. Ask the teams who played them. They may not have had the top end talent but they had three very strong lines and at least five solid Defenseman. Goalie play was good but not great, but then again it was tough to conclude because as a team they really limited the shots and more importantly, the scoring chances

talkhockey · Post by **talkhockey** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:16 pm

In my opinion it’s Stillwater and Roseville again until someone proves otherwise. WBL and MV are at the next level down. WBL has talent no doubt; they will have two solid lines and two top end defensemen, but will go to battle with two inexperienced and unproven goalies. FL, Woodbury, Cretin, Hastings, Park will post similar type teams. Some good players, but also a lot of holes to fill. If you really look at it, the Conference really lost some nice players.

Hansonbrother · Post by **Hansonbrother** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:39 pm

hockeyheaven wrote:
Hansonbrother wrote:
hockeyheaven wrote:Interesting, does that give Stillwater the advantage on paper? Have to have a quality goalie to be competitive. Unless you are flat out deep like Roseville has been.
Roseville being deep is a myth. They don't have the numbers that people think they have. I was told that last year they had 38 kids trying out for 34 positions (V and JV). Of the 4 that they didn't keep, all had U-14 eligibility.
Obviously you haven’t watched Roseville the past couple of years. Ask the teams who played them. They may not have had the top end talent but they had three very strong lines and at least five solid Defenseman. Goalie play was good but not great, but then again it was tough to conclude because as a team they really limited the shots and more importantly, the scoring chances

Quite the opposite, I've actually watched them alot. They have been very fortunate that when they graduate a big class, they somehow have a couple come up from JV and a couple come from the youth program to fill the holes. This year will be no different. As far as goaltending goes, that position will be the least of Rosevilles worries. Last years split duty turned into gold as the returning 8th grader, now 9th grader is as good as they come. From the Blue line back the raiders will challenge anyones in the state.

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:56 pm

Roseville's greatest asset is the forward duo of Brausen and Capistrand - I doubt if there will be a better line in the conference regardless of who is the 3rd on the line - both can score and both selfishly move the puck very well at speed - this is a very rare skill in MN HS hockey and these two do it very well. If Roseville has a strong D & G they will get the goals/enough goals to compete against anyone in a conference of new goalies they may get a lot of goals.

chickendance · Post by **chickendance** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 9:49 pm

I don't believe Stillwater has the D to contend at the end of the season.

Passing the puck will be a problem as well.

Bensonmum · Post by **Bensonmum** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:02 pm

joehockey wrote:Roseville's greatest asset is the forward duo of Brausen and Capistrand - I doubt if there will be a better line in the conference regardless of who is the 3rd on the line - both can score and both selfishly move the puck very well at speed - this is a very rare skill in MN HS hockey and these two do it very well. If Roseville has a strong D & G they will get the goals/enough goals to compete against anyone in a conference of new goalies they may get a lot of goals.

Agreed about Brausen and Capistrant--they're very good. Duellman and Witwicke match up with any D in the conference so that shouldn't be a worry. But as far as I can tell it's going to be the returning freshman goalie (Allen) getting the bulk of the minutes and possibly sharing with another freshman (don't know which one yet). Young goalies can have success no doubt, but usually sharing time with an experienced upperclassman. If they have two freshman then I'll give the edge to Stillwater this year. No offense intended, Allen is an excellent goalie. I'm just saying.

titleist · Post by **titleist** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 1:37 pm

joehockey wrote:Roseville's greatest asset is the forward duo of Brausen and Capistrand - I doubt if there will be a better line in the conference regardless of who is the 3rd on the line - both can score and both selfishly move the puck very well at speed - this is a very rare skill in MN HS hockey and these two do it very well. If Roseville has a strong D & G they will get the goals/enough goals to compete against anyone in a conference of new goalies they may get a lot of goals.

I hope you're right, because the goal scoring is the question mark of this season. It would be nice if a few others not mentioned step up and bury a few. Can't wait for the puck to drop!!

iceit · Post by **iceit** » Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:04 pm

The thing about Roseville and Stillwater is they both know how to win, expect to win and have won. It's more of a tradition for them then some of the others. I think this gives them the edge everytime. Add in good coaching and a better than the rest "feeder system" it's up to everyone else to knock them off if they can. Goal tending is HUGE. I really liked the WBL team last year, they played with heart and hopefully will be able to push a few teams this year too. Lots of good players left in the conference should be fun to see how it all shakes up come tourney time! 4AA still the toughest in the state.

brookyone · Post by **brookyone** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 4:27 pm

chickendance wrote:Passing the puck will be a problem as well.

I find this a particularly curious statement given it's presented as an absolute. If you have the time, could you elaborate upon what observation this is based?

chickendance · Post by **chickendance** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:23 pm

Sorry, should have qualified with IMO, I guess. Is that less absolute?

Bensonmum · Post by **Bensonmum** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:52 am

Sounds like a little bit of a dig at selfishness among the Roseville players--could be right, but I've never seen any sign of that in the previous 3 years I've been watching the team. Some new additions will be coming from the State Champ U14A team who had no problem passing the puck. Not sure where this is coming from...

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 10:50 am

I think the passing statement was on Stillwater not Roseville.

chickendance · Post by **chickendance** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:25 am

Yes my comment was related to Stillwater.

This thread was about the SEC predictions for the coming year. Keep it in context. These are not "dig's" they are in the context of who wins the section and why some are positioned better than others, IMO. Seemed fairly straight forward to me.

Melvin44 · Post by **Melvin44** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:33 am

Here's my take.

Stillwater has probably most the depth at forward in the state with Hopkins and will be hard to beat with Sobczak in goal. Their D will improve as the year goes on with the great coaching. Roseville will remember last years Stillwater's cheering HARD against them in sections! That was ugly.

Roseville is always my pick to win it because they play such a team first style of hockey. Great coaching. Everyone on the same page and yes Brausen (a personal favorite) and Capistrant are very good. Their D is very solid and along with Edina probably tops in state. Don't tell the Roseville players but THEY PASS TO MUCH!

WBL has more than Green, Bruestle as Johnson, Lowell, Ness, Snidarich will also contribute and on D don't forget Hanson and Schaub returnees along with Kwapick and Dueber. In goal we'll have our state tournament goalie Dunnigan and when she's focused she can be good. See how I didn't mention my own daughter.

MV has a top D in Wedell.

Woodbury plays hard and has a solid leader in Jacobsen and top D in Shaw.

Park has a top D in Morris.

Hastings always seems to play tough.

CDH you never know what they have and somehow are always in the hunt.

FL has Audrey and she could always score a couple of goals a game.

My Pick is of course WBL from the heart. From the gut and on paper Stillwater and Roseville will be at the top. The rest of the group will all depend on effort and who plays the best with 2 lines. There will be upsets.

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Mon Sep 15, 2008 11:59 am

WBL - Wow lots of depth!

Stillwater - Will have three NDP players 2 F and a D - that would equal Cretin last year who had a pretty good run when the season was on the line. With so many talented forwards it will be fun to see if they will move the puck and share. Dahl lost her linemate Schwab to graduation who was very good at finding her big hole to fill. Dahl, Charpentier, King, Tuuri, Salomen, Philipchek....that is a very potent group of forwards for the two top lines - this group can score goals should the D breakdown. Goal is a clear advantage for Stillwater.

Woodbury - Greeley is another top defender and Moris a very good young forward. The biggest question mark has to be goal? Three with little experience will have a shot - Taplin the junior should be starter but Ahmann the 8th grader will be a name many may know before the end of the season.