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Most teams have a few games under their belts now, which means we can start moving away from guesswork as a basis for the rankings and into what actually has happened. And some pretty significant things happened in this past week. Most notably at the top of the standings.

1. Minnetonka
-I don’t think it’s possible to get off to a better start than the Skippers did, as they summarily destroyed three pretty good 7A teams and a top AA team. It’s pretty hard to argue with a 30-1 goal differential. They get a week to rest on their laurels now as they gear up for some big games later in the month.
This week: Idle

2. Eden Prairie
-The fall from the top isn’t due to anything they did wrong, it’s just that I’m not afraid to move teams around even if they don’t lose. This is where their easier schedule causes a problem, as their early-season blowouts don’t look nearly as impressive as Minnetonka’s. But they’ll have their opportunities to get back on top.
This week: Thurs. at Chaska, Sat. at Lakeville North

3. Bloomington Jefferson
-Two strong opening wins and then a demolition of Centennial almost made me push them ahead of EP. Looks as if they’re out for revenge after the way last season ended. Have another game against a quality opponent on Saturday.
This week: Thurs. at Lakeville South, Sat. vs. Apple Valley

4. Benilde-St. Margaret’s
-I was doubting myself for putting them up this high last week, but they reminded me why I did that with a strong win over Stillwater. They face a much tougher 4AA opponent on Tuesday in what should be the game of the week.
This week: Tues. at #6 Hill-Murray, Sat. vs. Irondale

5. Blaine
-Survived a dangerous trip to the far north and started the season with a W. Potentially dangerous game on Thursday; with a convincing win, they can really take control of 5AA.
This week: Thurs. at Osseo, Sat vs. Coon Rapids

6. Hill-Murray
-Two unremarkable wins to open the season. Busy week as they face a big challenge Tuesday against Benilde, then after they clean up on Sibley they have to deal with a minor upset threat in Adam Wilcox and SSP.
This week: Tues vs. #4 Benilde, Thurs. at Henry Sibley, Sat. vs. South St. Paul

7. Academy of Holy Angels
-Their ranking is at the mercy of the teams around them for the first few weeks until they get into the real meat of the schedule. Kick off their season on Friday with the first of three Missota games before the real challenges start.
This week: Fri. vs. Shakopee

8. Wayzata
-At the end of last season I was putting them around #9 in the preseason poll in my head. For reasons I can’t remember now, I dropped them to #15 when I put the rankings out. After three big wins, they’ve reminded me why I should go with my first instincts. Knocked off Edina and Centennial convincingly and snuck out of Duluth with a win as well. The road doesn’t get much easier, with another quality opponent on the docket Tuesday.
This week: Tues. vs. Osseo

9. Elk River
-Took care of business against Andover to assert their position atop 7AA. This week they get to feast on the basement of the NWSC before gearing up for a huge test in the Edina Holiday Classic.
This week: Thurs. at Anoka, Sat. vs. North Metro

10. Cretin-Derham Hall
-It wasn’t flashy, but they got two wins against above-average teams and have a pretty easy week ahead of them. Appear to be a very strong defensive team.
This week: Thurs. vs. Mounds View, Sat. at Park (Cottage Grove)

11. Duluth East
-To be honest, I was thrilled to see them nearly slip by Wayzata; they’re mildly exceeding my expectations so far despite missing a couple key players. The White Bear game on Friday could be a dangerous one if they’re not careful.
This week: Tues. at Anoka, Fri. vs. White Bear Lake, Sat. vs. Princeton

12. Woodbury
-The loss to Minnetonka was a big blow, but they did manage three other wins that make me think they should fall in about here in the rankings. They need to prove they can win big games against teams outside the SEC, and the contest against Edina on Tuesday is a great chance. If they don’t take advantage of it, they’re going to be out of the statewide picture in a hurry.
This week: Tues. vs. #15 Edina, Thurs. vs. Park (Cottage Grove), Sat. at Stillwater

13. Moorhead
-Took care of business against Rapids, though that win looks a lot less impressive than it did at the time after Rapids’ loss to Forest Lake. It doesn’t seem like anyone has a very good handle on this team yet; two 8AA matchups this week might help.
This week: Thurs. at Bemidji, Sat. at Buffalo

14. Roseau
-Couldn’t hold on against Blaine, but certainly gave them a run, and have definitely proved their ability to score with 19 goals in 3 games, two of them against two of the state’s top goalies. Play a couple of northern A teams this week to get ready for the showdown with Moorhead next week.
This week: Thurs vs. East Grand Forks, Sat. vs. Hibbing

15. Edina
-The loss to Wayzata was a setback, but they sure took out their frustration on poor St. Louis Park. Only one game this week, but it’s a big one to help figure out where they really belong.
This week: Tues. at #12 Woodbury

Other Teams Worthy of Note
-Apple Valley. They won their first three, but not with quite enough authority to get the bump into the top 15. Huge opportunity this week against Jefferson.
-Osseo. Scored a rout in their only game so far, but have a big week ahead of them with games against Wayzata and Blaine.
-Andover. Shouldn’t be counted out of 7AA despite the loss to ER, but they have a ways to climb.
-White Bear Lake. Hovering on the edge of the picture as they always seem to do. Important trip up north this weekend.
-Maple Grove. A pair of close losses to a pair of good teams means no one should take them for granted.
-Centennial. Fell flat out of the gates; have a good chance to recuperate this week before traveling up to face Duluth East next week.

Not quite as many big games this week, but there are a few intriguing ones out there. All in all things fell into place pretty easily--no ranking nightmares yet.

15. Edina
-The loss to Wayzata was a setback, but they sure took out their frustration on poor Spring Lake Park. Only one game this week, but it’s a big one to help figure out where they really belong.
This week: Tues. at #12 Woodbury



St. Louis Park*

Seriously......

Why does Let's Play Hockey even exist??

Impeccable as always, Karl.

RBKhockey77 wrote:15. Edina
-The loss to Wayzata was a setback, but they sure took out their frustration on poor Spring Lake Park. Only one game this week, but it’s a big one to help figure out where they really belong.
This week: Tues. at #12 Woodbury



St. Louis Park*

Whoops--one of those SLPs. I'll fix it. Thanks.

Just keeping this from falling too far off the back end of the page.

Looks good to me Karl thats what i like about sunday's haha

Well done again karl

All I gotta say is ....All right All right All Right. Thanks...Super Job!

Excellent summary, have to agree with most of them, but CDH, (I found myself at a nephews pee wee game in highland and surprise surprise, i got to watch some of this one) i was really unimpressed. CDH has a few skilled players, that's it, their defense is big, but they also had a very large and slow player on the power play with some of the not so skilled???? I was told it was a football player, so he hasn't had the skates on, why on the power play in a close game, this is when it was 1-0. Maybe its early and they will put it together, but the basic skills weren't there that you see with Tonka, Edina, HM, etc... however more unimpressive was Stillwater. I heard so much hype about them and all the experience they have back. Maybe it was two good teams early in the season? CDH does have a couple seriously large defensemen, and that might make them a good team like a few years ago, smother the opponents and score a few, but I was expecting more skilled skaters up front, they have few, then it drops off quite a bit.

6 NWSC teams wow its been a but since thats happend love to see it

hockey99vs87 wrote:Excellent summary, have to agree with most of them, but CDH, (I found myself at a nephews pee wee game in highland and surprise surprise, i got to watch some of this one) i was really unimpressed. CDH has a few skilled players, that's it, their defense is big, but they also had a very large and slow player on the power play with some of the not so skilled???? I was told it was a football player, so he hasn't had the skates on, why on the power play in a close game, this is when it was 1-0. Maybe its early and they will put it together, but the basic skills weren't there that you see with Tonka, Edina, HM, etc... however more unimpressive was Stillwater. I heard so much hype about them and all the experience they have back. Maybe it was two good teams early in the season? CDH does have a couple seriously large defensemen, and that might make them a good team like a few years ago, smother the opponents and score a few, but I was expecting more skilled skaters up front, they have few, then it drops off quite a bit.

I agree with the fact that CDH did not look on top of their game this weekend but what really impressed me about them was there defense and goaltending. Without Alt Cretin's D is pretty one dimensional with a "stay at home" philosophy which is working great for them. Also tender schnieder came up with a huge save in the 2nd period against stillwater which broke the ponies spirits and sparked a two goal minute for Bob Kinne. As for the large man on the power play he does his job and takes up space in front of the net. It obviously is not a bad thing cause cretin was 1 for 1 on the pp.

oldmansundays123 wrote:

hockey99vs87 wrote:Excellent summary, have to agree with most of them, but CDH, (I found myself at a nephews pee wee game in highland and surprise surprise, i got to watch some of this one) i was really unimpressed. CDH has a few skilled players, that's it, their defense is big, but they also had a very large and slow player on the power play with some of the not so skilled???? I was told it was a football player, so he hasn't had the skates on, why on the power play in a close game, this is when it was 1-0. Maybe its early and they will put it together, but the basic skills weren't there that you see with Tonka, Edina, HM, etc... however more unimpressive was Stillwater. I heard so much hype about them and all the experience they have back. Maybe it was two good teams early in the season? CDH does have a couple seriously large defensemen, and that might make them a good team like a few years ago, smother the opponents and score a few, but I was expecting more skilled skaters up front, they have few, then it drops off quite a bit.

I agree with the fact that CDH did not look on top of their game this weekend but what really impressed me about them was there defense and goaltending. Without Alt Cretin's D is pretty one dimensional with a "stay at home" philosophy which is working great for them. Also tender schnieder came up with a huge save in the 2nd period against stillwater which broke the ponies spirits and sparked a two goal minute for Bob Kinne. As for the large man on the power play he does his job and takes up space in front of the net. It obviously is not a bad thing cause cretin was 1 for 1 on the pp.

I didn't see the whole game but pretty sure that pp went without as much as a shot or at least no good one's. towards the end of the 1st period, and it was 1 zip before and after the period. Looks like they wasted it to me, didn't look like a pp unit. Unless i missed something?