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On another thread someone listed their Top 5 for the upcoming season and the fifth spot was a take-your-pick out of a few private schools. Got me wondering, is there a definite picture of what the race looks like? Probably not. Even in St. Paul you might find argument over where Cretin, St. Thomas, and Hill-Murray fall relative to each other.

Here is my stab at it. Interested in thoughts of others.

• 1. St. Thomas Academy - seems to bounce back despite losses to graduation
  2. Cretin-Derham Hall - Gleason is outstanding and Magnuson anchors the D corps
  3. Blake - my contention is this team will be the most fun to watch
  4. Holy Family - hit hard by graduation, new players arrive
  5. Hill-Murray - still young and in a year or two should top this list
  6. Benilde-St. Margaret's - should be much improved
  7. St. Cloud Cathedral - perhaps I have them too low
  8. Totino-Grace - most improved team in the state?
  9. Holy Angels - on track to be real good in 2019-20
  10. Duluth Marshall - anything left for this season?
  11. Breck - no idea, but I think they are still off from recent highs

1a. St. Thomas Academy
1b. Cretin-Derham Hall
2. St. Cloud Cathedral
3. Hill-Murray
4. Blake
5. BSM
6. Holy Family
7. Totino-Grace
8. Holy Angels
9. Duluth Marshall
10. Breck

OOTC. Could you give us a little more info on TG improvement?

Getting backups and disgruntled public school kids and bantam coaches suddenly makes TG relevant?

Top Private Schools
1. St Thomas- some nice senior forwards
2. Benilde- really deep, lots of top young players, great D core and outstanding goaltending
3. CDH- top line will be really good
4. Hill Murray- young but talented
5. Blake- nice top line but depth lacking. Goalie can be really good but has had a average fall season
6. Holy Family- Senior transfer goalie saves the season, top line should be good, depth lacking and D core average
7. Cathedral- Big names but have not seen jump in progression, should dominate class A teams
8. Totino Grace- Couple nice transfers will help but still a rebuild
9. Holy Angels- Not deep at all, have better talent than previous seasons
10. Breck- down grades schedule will help but talent level way dow

WestMetro wrote: ↑Tue Oct 16, 2018 12:25 pmOOTC. Could you give us a little more info on TG improvement?

Word I've heard is they have added some upgrades and feel the upcoming move to AA puts them on the radar for more players looking for a private school option.

It won't take much to improve. I think they were 8-15-2 last season. I'm not calling them a contender for anything yet, just better than they were.

Thanks OOTC

MinnScout- I like BSM recruits a lot , but somewhat of a “leap of faith” to have them that high this season?

WestMetro wrote: ↑Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:43 pm Thanks OOTC

MinnScout- I like BSM recruits a lot , but somewhat of a “leap of faith” to have them that high this season?

It may take them until after Christmas but they should have good mix of younger kids and nice junior class. They will be 4 lines deep with not much drop off from 1st to 4th line.

WestMetro wrote: ↑Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:43 pm MinnScout- I like BSM recruits a lot , but somewhat of a “leap of faith” to have them that high this season?

I certainly don't have them very high. 6th for private schools which probably equates to....?

Two years ago the 6th private school was 30th in PageStat rankings. I would guess 6th private school is no higher than 25th.

Agree OOTC

I have been thinking myself that the BSM might sneak into the lower top 20

MinnScout is quite optimistic though . I am definitely going to have to get over to SLP, Haven’t been over there since their big season a few years ago

WestMetro wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 9:31 am Agree OOTC

I have been thinking myself that the BSM might sneak into the lower top 20

MinnScout is quite optimistic though . I am definitely going to have to get over to SLP, Haven’t been over there since their big season a few years ago

Not sure you all know their roster?

Can you give us their top 2 lines and d pairs?

WestMetro wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 11:54 am Can you give us their top 2 lines and d pairs?

Top 3 lines are either playing Elite league or Blades both forwards and D.

Then I’m familiar with those. Impressive list of incoming transfers . Still say one or two years away from cracking top 15 and probably top 10. But would be happy to see you prove me wrong this year.

WestMetro wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 12:09 pm Then I’m familiar with those. Impressive list of incoming transfers . Still say one or two years away from cracking top 15 and probably top 10. But would be happy to see you prove me wrong this year.

There are more but no one will know who they are. You are right they will be young and it may take a month or so to evolve.

BSM kids will have big test right away against Edina at Braemar


https://cdn2.sportngin.com/attachments/ ... hedule.pdf

WestMetro wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 12:58 pm BSM kids will have big test right away against Edina at Braemar


https://cdn2.sportngin.com/attachments/ ... hedule.pdf

Yes, they don't have many easy ones ,as usual , on the schedule.

I think Holy Family is going to be better than most are expecting in this thread.

The Vanelli's have put this senior class at STA on a pedestal for several years now. Most have skated varsity since sophomores and a couple as freshmen and at a cost of a lot of good players getting cut. This should be their year as one of the better private schools but I just don't see them completing against the upper end public schools Other than the Christy kid none of the other Seniors have developed into high end talent. The Vanelli's certainly don't coach a team approach as evident by their epic failures in the past 2 yrs at State. Making the State this year might be their biggest challenge

Don't know how Conrad can make the leap in logic that the Vannelli's don't coach a team concept because they lost the first game in the state tourney the last couple of years. Granted it was disappointing and the consolation trophy was not their objective , but not coaching a team concept????

minnscout wrote: ↑Tue Oct 16, 2018 11:06 pm

WestMetro wrote: ↑Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:43 pm Thanks OOTC

MinnScout- I like BSM recruits a lot , but somewhat of a “leap of faith” to have them that high this season?

It may take them until after Christmas but they should have good mix of younger kids and nice junior class. They will be 4 lines deep with not much drop off from 1st to 4th line.

Minnscout is right. They have a tough schedule and section, so your average viewer may not even notice it this season, but BSM is a very good team now. The future they should be as well, but with so many transfers, you just never know who will stay.

TheNightman wrote: ↑Wed Oct 17, 2018 1:42 pm I think Holy Family is going to be better than most are expecting in this thread.

Why?

No one on here ever gives Holy Family love, even though they are the only AA school with 20+ wins the last three seasons. Another 20+ win season this year and BSM won't win 18 yet people on here have them ranked higher than the fire....

With HF a member of the Wright County Conference, the opportunity for a 20 win season will always be a possibility.

As compared to the other Class AA teams on the list, HF has not won a Class AA state title.
- CDH, HM, BSM & AHA have all in the last 13 years

As compared to other Class A teams on the list, HF did not win a Class A state title when they played at that level.
- Breck, STA & TG did

As compared to all privates listed, HF has not won a section title:
All of the above listed teams, plus SCC have

That leaves HF and Blake.

HockeyonFire wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 5:40 pm No one on here ever gives Holy Family love, even though they are the only AA school with 20+ wins the last three seasons. Another 20+ win season this year and BSM won't win 18 yet people on here have them ranked higher than the fire....

Could it be a question of the schedule that each team plays? BSM plays a very tough schedule, year in and year out, even in their down years. Obviously if their schedule is comparatively difficult you would expect fewer wins.