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Since this forum doesn't have its own Class A preseason rankings, here's Let's Play Hockey's effort:

1 HERMANTOWN
2 Breck
3 East Grand Forks
4 Totino-Grace
5 Duluth Marshall
6 Thief River Falls
7 St. Cloud Cathedral
8 Mankato West
9 Warroad
10 Rochester Lourdes
11 Mahtomedi
12 Duluth Denfeld
13 Blake
14 Delano/Rockford
15 Princeton
16 Little Falls
17 Mound Westonka
18 Hibbing/Chisholm
19 New Prague
20 Orono

I don't know half as much about these teams as I do about AA, but I'd hazard to guess that Totino is too high at #4, and that Warroad is too low at #9. I'd probably have them at #5 or so. Blake could probably be higher, too.

STA is not ranked #1.

Apparently, everyone is happy.

elliott70 wrote:STA is not ranked #1.

Apparently, everyone is happy.

Especially one guy named Bruce.

karl(east) wrote:Since this forum doesn't have its own Class A preseason rankings, here's Let's Play Hockey's effort:

1 HERMANTOWN
2 Breck
3 East Grand Forks
4 Totino-Grace
5 Duluth Marshall
6 Thief River Falls
7 St. Cloud Cathedral
8 Mankato West
9 Warroad
10 Rochester Lourdes
11 Mahtomedi
12 Duluth Denfeld
13 Blake
14 Delano/Rockford
15 Princeton
16 Little Falls
17 Mound Westonka
18 Hibbing/Chisholm
19 New Prague
20 Orono

I don't know half as much about these teams as I do about AA, but I'd hazard to guess that Totino is too high at #4, and that Warroad is too low at #9. I'd probably have them at #5 or so. Blake could probably be higher, too.

I'd say Warroad is where they should be. Maybe ahead of West, but certainly not the others in the top ten.

I was also amused by the egf #1 rating in the book, as as listed here, I'd expect Hermantown and Breck to be battling for that.

puckbreath wrote:

karl(east) wrote:Since this forum doesn't have its own Class A preseason rankings, here's Let's Play Hockey's effort:

1 HERMANTOWN
2 Breck
3 East Grand Forks
4 Totino-Grace
5 Duluth Marshall
6 Thief River Falls
7 St. Cloud Cathedral
8 Mankato West
9 Warroad
10 Rochester Lourdes
11 Mahtomedi
12 Duluth Denfeld
13 Blake
14 Delano/Rockford
15 Princeton
16 Little Falls
17 Mound Westonka
18 Hibbing/Chisholm
19 New Prague
20 Orono

I don't know half as much about these teams as I do about AA, but I'd hazard to guess that Totino is too high at #4, and that Warroad is too low at #9. I'd probably have them at #5 or so. Blake could probably be higher, too.

I'd say Warroad is where they should be. Maybe ahead of West, but certainly not the others in the top ten.

I was also amused by the egf #1 rating in the book, as as listed here, I'd expect Hermantown and Breck to be battling for that.

EGF is coming back with all of it's Defensmen that were pretty good.
Hermantown and Breck both lost some pretty good players.

So, I could see how the book might pick EGF.
That being said, I would have to agree, at this point that Hermy and Breck should be 1 and 2 respectively.
Just by the nature of their succssful programs.

Right away, with the first few games, EGF will be playing Totino, Blaine, and Breck.
We may have a little better perspective afterwards.

Based on my count 5 of the top 10 are privates also meaning they are not from a single zip code!

TTpuckster wrote:

puckbreath wrote:

karl(east) wrote:Since this forum doesn't have its own Class A preseason rankings, here's Let's Play Hockey's effort:

1 HERMANTOWN
2 Breck
3 East Grand Forks
4 Totino-Grace
5 Duluth Marshall
6 Thief River Falls
7 St. Cloud Cathedral
8 Mankato West
9 Warroad
10 Rochester Lourdes
11 Mahtomedi
12 Duluth Denfeld
13 Blake
14 Delano/Rockford
15 Princeton
16 Little Falls
17 Mound Westonka
18 Hibbing/Chisholm
19 New Prague
20 Orono

I don't know half as much about these teams as I do about AA, but I'd hazard to guess that Totino is too high at #4, and that Warroad is too low at #9. I'd probably have them at #5 or so. Blake could probably be higher, too.

I'd say Warroad is where they should be. Maybe ahead of West, but certainly not the others in the top ten.

I was also amused by the egf #1 rating in the book, as as listed here, I'd expect Hermantown and Breck to be battling for that.

EGF is coming back with all of it's Defensmen that were pretty good.
Hermantown and Breck both lost some pretty good players.

So, I could see how the book might pick EGF.
That being said, I would have to agree, at this point that Hermy and Breck should be 1 and 2 respectively.
Just by the nature of their succssful programs.

Right away, with the first few games, EGF will be playing Totino, Blaine, and Breck.
We may have a little better perspective afterwards.

Doesn't matter if Breck, or any private, loses an entire team........

I expect egf to be a very good team.

I do not expect, at all, for them to be the top team is all.

If Little Falls wins half their games this year it would be a good year for them. #16? Don't think so.

what about spa.they beat blake twice and battled breck to one goal losses.

Did Spring Lake Park move to AA? How is it possible for them to not be on there.. if not? I know they lost Heid, but?

The deal is the HS coaches do the voting and they don't really do their homework. Look at the rankings at the end of the season and they'll look relatively the same, except the top few teams schuffle a bit. But the teams that are 13-20 usually stay the same.

Whopper2 wrote:what about spa.they beat blake twice and battled breck to one goal losses.

SPA should be relevant now. They were beating teams like Orono, Blake, and hanging around with Breck last year. Heard they have a few good players coming in from Rosemount and maybe Prior lake this year. Now with STA in 2A they will have their chance to make a run in sections.

Saw SPA this past weekend in scrimmages v Mankato West, Northfield, and Waconia. SPA looked good. They had a lot of hustle, and G Noah Parker played really well. Don't know if I would rank them ahead of Totino, tho.

If you take away the private schools in "A" what is left over ?

Hermantown and Warroad ?

Those schools can no longer win a state title unless the privates move up?

I give them more credit than that.

Marty wrote:If you take away the private schools in "A" what is left over ?

Hermantown and Warroad ?

Those schools can no longer win a state title unless the privates move up?

I give them more credit than that.

East Grand Forks has a chance to be state champs.

elliott70 wrote:
East Grand Forks has a chance to be state champs.

So does everyone else, great thing about a new season!

Realistically, what teams have a shot at the state title, without
1. major improvements
2. competition injury
3. recr... er, I mean transfers
4. hot goaltender... upsets


??????

My list:
Hermantown, Breck, East Grand Forks, Totino-Grace

possibly
Thief River, St Cloud Cathedral, Duluith Marshall

outside possibilities
Mahtomedia, Duluth Denfeld, Blake

elliott70 wrote:My list:
Hermantown, Breck, East Grand Forks, Totino-Grace

possibly
Thief River, St Cloud Cathedral, Duluith Marshall

outside possibilities
Mahtomedia, Duluth Denfeld, Blake

You listed 1-7 and 11-13 from the preseason rankings. Any reason why you think 8,9 and 10 couldn't win?

I think it's egf, h-town, and breck at the top. After that it's which team can step up and rise to the top.

I think it is a breath of fresh air not having STA on top of the class "A" rankings.

List gets really short without the private schools and that is my point.

Go to sections or to state and take the trophy by beating top shelf competition, not by whining to the point that half of the real competition leaves the Division.

Chalk_Talk wrote:

elliott70 wrote:My list:
Hermantown, Breck, East Grand Forks, Totino-Grace

possibly
Thief River, St Cloud Cathedral, Duluith Marshall

outside possibilities
Mahtomedia, Duluth Denfeld, Blake

You listed 1-7 and 11-13 from the preseason rankings. Any reason why you think 8,9 and 10 couldn't win?

I think it's egf, h-town, and breck at the top. After that it's which team can step up and rise to the top.

I think it is a breath of fresh air not having STA on top of the class "A" rankings.

Lourdes and MWest are section 1 teams, not a very strong record. 2001 was a good year. 2002 2003 won in the first round but lost next two games.
In the late 1990's Red Wing had some strong teams, And 1997 were the champs. In about 20 years they are a few wins and a lot of losses.
I don't see it changing.

Warroad is the third team in 8A. They need two upsets to get to state and then will have to beat at least 2 other teams that should be better.


Of course, no games have been played yet, so I could look the complete fool, and not for the first time.

But it is fun and that is why we are here, right?

Marty wrote:List gets really short without the private schools and that is my point.

Go to sections or to state and take the trophy by beating top shelf competition, not by whining to the point that half of the real competition leaves the Division.

I picked ten teams with a chance, half are public.
Yes, the privates (relatively) have a good hold on A even without the hated STA.

But 2 of the 3 favorites are public.

Gee Marty... I'm really sorry you can't afford to send your son to private school.
It's amazing how many non-hockey playing kids attend these schools. Could it be because of ACADEMICS and the chance to write their ticket to the college of their choice with or without hockey?

Nevertoomuchhockey wrote:Gee Marty... I'm really sorry you can't afford to send your son to private school.
It's amazing how many non-hockey playing kids attend these schools. Could it be because of ACADEMICS and the chance to write their ticket to the college of their choice with or without hockey?

Quite the opposite, no hate at all. Reread my posts and maybe you can comprehend what I said. I argue that A should keep the Private schools and without them, the talent pool becomes so diluted that the A title indeed starts to become relatively worthless.

Make it easy for ya. I will put them right here so you do not have to scroll up. Don't want you to work that hard.

If you take away the private schools in "A" what is left over ?

Hermantown and Warroad ?

Those schools can no longer win a state title unless the privates move up?

I give them more credit than that.

List gets really short without the private schools and that is my point.

Go to sections or to state and take the trophy by beating top shelf competition, not by whining to the point that half of the real competition leaves the Division.

Let 'em play A.

St. Cloud Cathedral is extremely overrated in this ranking. I saw EGF beat them 9-0 in a scrimmage this weekend.