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Welcome back everyone!
As always, I start the season with LPH's preseason rankings and adjust from there and typically there isn't much movement in the top until a couple weeks into the season. With the #5 and #6 teams losing early, there was a lot of moving around and a lot of early decisions to be made. I don't like dropping or raising teams too far based on one game, but that's what it looks like for the beginning of the season. Beyond the top 3, we have a jumble of 10 teams that could be put in any order without much complaint. The next couple weeks will sort a lot out though.

I always appreciate feedback on what you see in teams, the difference between teams that are close and info on the teams who play a softer schedule. Happy discussing!

1. Hermantown (1-1)
Getting second in state last year and beating Breck in the process, the Hawks are the team to beat until proven otherwise.
This week: Fri @ Hopkins, Sat @ Orono

2. Breck (2-0-1)
The frontrunner in section 2A this season, the Mustangs will play all of the top teams in the class aside from Hermantown. It’ll be interesting to see how their common opponent games go and how they battle it out in the rankings this season.
This week: Tues @ Providence Academy, Sat vs Thief River Falls

3. East Grand Forks (2-0)
Potentially the best team in the class, the Green Wave have not allowed a goal yet and have shut out Totino already. Their next couple games should be pretty easy for them and then they play both Blaine and Breck in two weeks.
This week: Tues vs Grand Forks Central, Thurs @ Grand Forks Red River

4. Delano (2-1)
Two shut outs and a loss to Breck where they scored 3 goals is a very good start to the season. The Tigers have a solid schedule and have every opportunity to prove themselves as a top team in the state.
This week: Tues @ Hutchinson, Thurs @ Chanhassen

5. Totino-Grace (1-1)
With their only loss is to a good EGF team, the Eagles have beaten TRF as well and will continue to be tested more than any team over the next couple weeks.
This week: Thurs vs Blake, Sat @ Holy Angels

6. Blake (2-1)
The Bears got shut out at Delano and followed that up with a win in Thief River Falls. With two big private school battles this week, we will learn a lot more about Blake by next Saturday.
This week: Thurs @ Totino-Grace, Sat vs Duluth Marshall

7. Thief River Falls (1-2)
The Prowlers followed up a shut out over Roseau with two home losses to a couple top teams. The next couple weeks should sort out whether they are also a top team or should be outside the top 10.
This week: Fri @ Tartan, Sat @ Breck

8. Cathedral (2-0)
The Crusaders start the season with a relatively easy schedule. If they are really a top 10 team and can get by Lourdes this week, they should end the calendar year 11-0 without proving much before they start 2014 with 5 games on the road. They play many of the top teams in the state the second half of the season, so they will be ready for sections when it comes.
This week: Tues @ New Prague, Sat vs Lourdes

9. Mankato West (0-0)
The Scarlets had 5 losses during last year’s regular season and all were by 1 goal. They graduated only a couple seniors and all of their top players last year were underclassmen so logically they will get better. They will likely be challenged in 4 games this season; Lourdes and the Hilltopper Classic. They’ll likely sit in the top 10 all season and the games at MARS will determine where.
This week: Tues vs Mankato East, Thurs vs Austin, Sat vs Austin

10. Warroad (2-0)
The Warriors have an early test against the Thunderhawks this week. Always putting together quality teams, the Warriors start the season projected third in their section, but nothing is ever as it is predicted in section 8A.
This week: Tues vs Lake of the Woods, Fri vs Virginia, Sat vs Grand Rapids

11. St Cloud Apollo (2-1)
With an early win over Duluth Marshall, the Eagles start the year showing they are the frontrunners in section 6A this season. They had a very respectable season last year and ended by scoring 4 goals in their loss to Lourdes. They return many of their top players this year that should help them continue to get better.
This week: Tues @ St Cloud Tech, Thurs vs Princeton, Fri @ Orono

12. Duluth Marshall (1-2)
The Hilltoppers lost to Apollo and St Thomas by the same score. Playing both Hibbing and Blake this week will tell us a lot.
This week: Tues vs Hibbing, Sat @ Blake

13. Rochester Lourdes (0-2)
A slow start this season, there’s not much to take away from a loss to Benilde or even Tartan. The Eagles travel to the MAC this week where will we will learn a lot about both teams.
This week: Tues @ Northfield, Thurs vs New Prague, Sat @ St Cloud Cathedral

14. Mahtomedi (1-2)
The Zephyrs have a big game this week against St Paul Academy that will likely contribute a good deal to section rankings.
This week: Tues @ St Paul Academy

15. Denfeld (1-2)
Scoring 3 in a loss to Benilde, losing by 1 to Cathedral in St Cloud and getting 4 goals by Cambridge’s goalie isn’t a bad way to start the season. They’ll likely have a winning record after this week and have a very good schedule this season.
This week: Tues vs Greenway, Fri vs South St Paul

Teams to watch:

Hibbing (2-1)
The Bluejackets started the season beating a couple unranked Class A teams and got shut out by a good AA team, but play another couple northern Class A teams this week, both in their section.
This week: Tues @ Duluth Marshall, Fri @ International Falls, Sat @ Roseau

Princeton (1-1)
The Tigers scored 2 in their loss to Hermantown; probably not a contending for the section title, but they’ll likely be in all their games. Three games this week to tell us a little more about them.
This week: Tues vs Proctor, Thurs @ Apollo, Sat vs Rogers

St Paul Academy (2-0)
The Spartans had a 17 win season last year which included both 1 and 2 goal losses to Breck. Their schedule should definitely prepare them for section play and with both of the top teams from their section on their schedule; they have the opportunity to end up ranked will. How will they do against Mahtomedi this week?
This week: Thurs vs Mahtomedi, Sat vs Simley

Thanks, HSHW.

elliott70 wrote:Thanks, HSHW.

Agreed.

Thanks.

Now, let the griping, I mean, the discussion begin.

HShockeywatcher wrote:Welcome back everyone!
As always, I start the season with LPH's preseason rankings and adjust from there and typically there isn't much movement in the top until a couple weeks into the season. With the #5 and #6 teams losing early, there was a lot of moving around and a lot of early decisions to be made. I don't like dropping or raising teams too far based on one game, but that's what it looks like for the beginning of the season. Beyond the top 3, we have a jumble of 10 teams that could be put in any order without much complaint. The next couple weeks will sort a lot out though.

I always appreciate feedback on what you see in teams, the difference between teams that are close and info on the teams who play a softer schedule. Happy discussing!

1. Hermantown (1-1)
Getting second in state last year and beating Breck in the process, the Hawks are the team to beat until proven otherwise.
This week: Fri @ Hopkins, Sat @ Orono

2. Breck (2-0-1)
The frontrunner in section 2A this season, the Mustangs will play all of the top teams in the class aside from Hermantown. It’ll be interesting to see how their common opponent games go and how they battle it out in the rankings this season.
This week: Tues @ Providence Academy, Sat vs Thief River Falls

3. East Grand Forks (2-0)
Potentially the best team in the class, the Green Wave have not allowed a goal yet and have shut out Totino already. Their next couple games should be pretty easy for them and then they play both Blaine and Breck in two weeks.
This week: Tues vs Grand Forks Central, Thurs @ Grand Forks Red River

4. Delano (2-1)
Two shut outs and a loss to Breck where they scored 3 goals is a very good start to the season. The Tigers have a solid schedule and have every opportunity to prove themselves as a top team in the state.
This week: Tues @ Hutchinson, Thurs @ Chanhassen

5. Totino-Grace (1-1)
With their only loss is to a good EGF team, the Eagles have beaten TRF as well and will continue to be tested more than any team over the next couple weeks.
This week: Thurs vs Blake, Sat @ Holy Angels

6. Blake (2-1)
The Bears got shut out at Delano and followed that up with a win in Thief River Falls. With two big private school battles this week, we will learn a lot more about Blake by next Saturday.
This week: Thurs @ Totino-Grace, Sat vs Duluth Marshall

7. Thief River Falls (1-2)
The Prowlers followed up a shut out over Roseau with two home losses to a couple top teams. The next couple weeks should sort out whether they are also a top team or should be outside the top 10.
This week: Fri @ Tartan, Sat @ Breck

8. Cathedral (2-0)
The Crusaders start the season with a relatively easy schedule. If they are really a top 10 team and can get by Lourdes this week, they should end the calendar year 11-0 without proving much before they start 2014 with 5 games on the road. They play many of the top teams in the state the second half of the season, so they will be ready for sections when it comes.
This week: Tues @ New Prague, Sat vs Lourdes

9. Mankato West (0-0)
The Scarlets had 5 losses during last year’s regular season and all were by 1 goal. They graduated only a couple seniors and all of their top players last year were underclassmen so logically they will get better. They will likely be challenged in 4 games this season; Lourdes and the Hilltopper Classic. They’ll likely sit in the top 10 all season and the games at MARS will determine where.
This week: Tues vs Mankato East, Thurs vs Austin, Sat vs Austin

10. Warroad (2-0)
The Warriors have an early test against the Thunderhawks this week. Always putting together quality teams, the Warriors start the season projected third in their section, but nothing is ever as it is predicted in section 8A.
This week: Tues vs Lake of the Woods, Fri vs Virginia, Sat vs Grand Rapids

11. St Cloud Apollo (2-1)
With an early win over Duluth Marshall, the Eagles start the year showing they are the frontrunners in section 6A this season. They had a very respectable season last year and ended by scoring 4 goals in their loss to Lourdes. They return many of their top players this year that should help them continue to get better.
This week: Tues @ St Cloud Tech, Thurs vs Princeton, Fri @ Orono

12. Duluth Marshall (1-2)
The Hilltoppers lost to Apollo and St Thomas by the same score. Playing both Hibbing and Blake this week will tell us a lot.
This week: Tues vs Hibbing, Sat @ Blake

13. Rochester Lourdes (0-2)
A slow start this season, there’s not much to take away from a loss to Benilde or even Tartan. The Eagles travel to the MAC this week where will we will learn a lot about both teams.
This week: Tues @ Northfield, Thurs vs New Prague, Sat @ St Cloud Cathedral

14. Mahtomedi (1-2)
The Zephyrs have a big game this week against St Paul Academy that will likely contribute a good deal to section rankings.
This week: Tues @ St Paul Academy

15. Denfeld (1-2)
Scoring 3 in a loss to Benilde, losing by 1 to Cathedral in St Cloud and getting 4 goals by Cambridge’s goalie isn’t a bad way to start the season. They’ll likely have a winning record after this week and have a very good schedule this season.
This week: Tues vs Greenway, Fri vs South St Paul

Teams to watch:

Hibbing (2-1)
The Bluejackets started the season beating a couple unranked Class A teams and got shut out by a good AA team, but play another couple northern Class A teams this week, both in their section.
This week: Tues @ Duluth Marshall, Fri @ International Falls, Sat @ Roseau

Princeton (1-1)
The Tigers scored 2 in their loss to Hermantown; probably not a contending for the section title, but they’ll likely be in all their games. Three games this week to tell us a little more about them.
This week: Tues vs Proctor, Thurs @ Apollo, Sat vs Rogers

St Paul Academy (2-0)
The Spartans had a 17 win season last year which included both 1 and 2 goal losses to Breck. Their schedule should definitely prepare them for section play and with both of the top teams from their section on their schedule; they have the opportunity to end up ranked will. How will they do against Mahtomedi this week?
This week: Thurs vs Mahtomedi, Sat vs Simley

you say within your rankings that St. Cloud Apollo is the frontrunner in Section 6A this season but have them ranked a few spots behind St. Cloud Cathedral in the rankings. Curious to know who you think is the better team right now?

I dont think he knows the new sections...

Princeton is in 5A but Hermantown is now in 7A... Both Apollo and Cathedral are in 6A now.

hope that helps

hockey9011 wrote:you say within your rankings that St. Cloud Apollo is the frontrunner in Section 6A this season but have them ranked a few spots behind St. Cloud Cathedral in the rankings. Curious to know who you think is the better team right now?

Guess I hadn't taken a look at the new sections in my prep...
Appears that Princeton may be the frontrunner in their section and that Apollo is top 2 in their section...

Thanks for the feedback.

hockey9011 wrote:you say within your rankings that St. Cloud Apollo is the frontrunner in Section 6A this season but have them ranked a few spots behind St. Cloud Cathedral in the rankings. Curious to know who you think is the better team right now?

One week in I'd say that Apollo has proven more, but one game is not enough to make a huge conclusion from. Apollo wasn't even in the preseason top 20, so them being this high one week in is tough. Where those two (and others) are right now is more of not being willing to move either too much one week in than a testament of one being better than the other.

Curious to know what people think of teams like Apollo, Cathedral, Princeton, SPA, West, EGF and others. There are many teams this year that don't have that tough of a schedule and will probably be on this list all season. Mankato West will probably be the toughest team to rank all season for example.

HShockeywatcher wrote:

hockey9011 wrote:you say within your rankings that St. Cloud Apollo is the frontrunner in Section 6A this season but have them ranked a few spots behind St. Cloud Cathedral in the rankings. Curious to know who you think is the better team right now?

One week in I'd say that Apollo has proven more, but one game is not enough to make a huge conclusion from. Apollo wasn't even in the preseason top 20, so them being this high one week in is tough. Where those two (and others) are right now is more of not being willing to move either too much one week in than a testament of one being better than the other.

Curious to know what people think of teams like Apollo, Cathedral, Princeton, SPA, West, EGF and others. There are many teams this year that don't have that tough of a schedule and will probably be on this list all season. Mankato West will probably be the toughest team to rank all season for example.

I agree completely. Apollo has a very strong first line but will need production out of the other lines if they want to beat a team like cathedral. Thanks for the feedback though, I was just curious to who you had so far.

HShockeywatcher wrote:

hockey9011 wrote:you say within your rankings that St. Cloud Apollo is the frontrunner in Section 6A this season but have them ranked a few spots behind St. Cloud Cathedral in the rankings. Curious to know who you think is the better team right now?

One week in I'd say that Apollo has proven more, but one game is not enough to make a huge conclusion from. Apollo wasn't even in the preseason top 20, so them being this high one week in is tough. Where those two (and others) are right now is more of not being willing to move either too much one week in than a testament of one being better than the other.

Curious to know what people think of teams like Apollo, Cathedral, Princeton, SPA, West, EGF and others. There are many teams this year that don't have that tough of a schedule and will probably be on this list all season. Mankato West will probably be the toughest team to rank all season for example.

I think that EGF has a pretty good shot this year.
They were very young last year and almost everybody is back except their leading scorer = Hajicek.
All of their starting defense are back.

They have already shut out Totino and in mid-December will come to the cities to play both Blaine and Breck. We'll see after that where they stand.

EGF is 1
Hermantown back a bit is 2

elliott70 wrote:EGF is 1
Hermantown back a bit is 2

Breck ?

elliott70 wrote:EGF is 1
Hermantown back a bit is 2

1. EGF
2. Breck
3.Hermantown

puckbreath wrote:

elliott70 wrote:EGF is 1
Hermantown back a bit is 2

Breck ?

Just a tic off town,
But EGF is 1

elliott70 wrote:

puckbreath wrote:

elliott70 wrote:EGF is 1
Hermantown back a bit is 2

Breck ?

Just a tic off town,
But EGF is 1

I'll take Breck, or even H-town myself.

We should host a tournament.

First part of March, host it at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, unless you can think of a better place.

elliott70 wrote:We should host a tournament.

First part of March, host it at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, unless you can think of a better place.

Have it here in Duluth at the Amsoil Arena. That way we get to hear Cidiots complain about Hermantown's "home ice advantage"

Lee

east hockey wrote:

elliott70 wrote:We should host a tournament.

First part of March, host it at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, unless you can think of a better place.

Have it here in Duluth at the Amsoil Arena. That way we get to hear Cidiots complain about Hermantown's "home ice advantage"

Lee

Yes, but...

The Sanford Center is nicer and we can drink beer.

elliott70 wrote:

east hockey wrote:

elliott70 wrote:We should host a tournament.

First part of March, host it at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, unless you can think of a better place.

Have it here in Duluth at the Amsoil Arena. That way we get to hear Cidiots complain about Hermantown's "home ice advantage"

Lee

Yes, but...

The Sanford Center is nicer and we can drink beer.

And no one would have home ice advantage and we can sell hotel rooms in all our new hotels and the drive would be very easy for me....
something in my advanced age is important.

elliott70 wrote:

east hockey wrote:

elliott70 wrote:We should host a tournament.

First part of March, host it at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, unless you can think of a better place.

Have it here in Duluth at the Amsoil Arena. That way we get to hear Cidiots complain about Hermantown's "home ice advantage"

Lee

Yes, but...

The Sanford Center is nicer and we can drink beer.

Game, set, match

St. Cloud Cathedral-5 New Prague- 4 OT
Very good game

Games from Thursday:

SPA 3-2 over Maht
TG 3-1 over Blake
Apollo 4-3 over Princeton
N. Prague 4-3 over Lourdes

There will be some changes this week...

Any other big surprises or teams people think I'm missing that should be mentioned?

Team to watch: Alexandria

Mite-dad wrote:Team to watch: Alexandria

Agree completely. Out worked and defeated a very good Brainerd team earlier this week. Does anybody know if brainerd was still missing all of their football players during that game?

Any last minute comments about teams that you'd like me to know before tomorrow?

I hope I'm not a jinx but I think New Prague deserves a little love. They have started out better this year than last with a new goalie and a fairly young and inexpirenced D core. Tied CEC (I know they are down this year but they still play a good system of hockey), Beat Lourdes for the first time in forever' and took Cathedral to overtime in a game that the Trojan's controlled until the parade to the box including a 5 0n 3. Defending Missota Champs!!