AA Rankings for 1/8/23
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2023 8:18 am
We’ve now eased our way to the midway point of the season, with more good hockey and also more snow being the central themes. After the top few, who have been pretty stable for a little while now, it gets challenging, as I try to weigh overall body of work against who’s doing well right now and who isn’t. So, my effort:
1. Wayzata (10-1-1)
-The Trojans’ hiatus out of the top spot lasted just one week before Will Ingemann’s stellar goaltending performance puts them right back in the top spot. They may not be able to bury teams like Minnetonka, but they just keep on doing their thing. The week ahead offers a bit of a reprieve, so I don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon.
This week: Thurs vs. St. Michael-Albertville, Sat at Hopkins
2. Maple Grove (11-2)
-The win streak has hit nine for the Crimson, who pushed past Andover to gain partial revenge for last year’s state championship game and showed they can smother another team’s elite line; I’m sliding them up because I like the quality of their wins a little more than I like Minnetonka’s. It should reach ten this week before they tangle with Rogers in a big Northwest Suburban showdown.
This week: Thurs at Armstrong/Copper, Sat vs. #8 Rogers
3. Minnetonka (9-2)
-The Skippers continue to show they can control a game against anyone, but have lost both of their games with current top five teams now. The week ahead includes two East-ish teams who have shown flashes of quality this season.
This week: Tues at Eastview, Thurs at Buffalo, Sat vs. #14 Duluth East
4. Chanhassen (12-1)
-The Storm handled Waconia and St. Louis Park, and while it is hard to move up against that competition when the top three are playing front-line opponents, they are further solidifying their positioning. That won’t change this week, though neither game is a total free pass, as they get one of Class A’s better offerings and a Prior Lake team that has proven competitive.
This week: Tues vs. Orono, Thurs at Prior Lake
5. Edina (8-3-1)
-The Hornets’ heater slowed some this past week when they coughed up a lead against Lakeville South and settled for a tie; since Chanhassen has beaten South, they slide behind the Storm. They now aim to beat St. Thomas for a second time this season.
This week: Fri vs. #11 St. Thomas Academy, Sat vs. Buffalo
6. Andover (8-5-1)
-Lost to Maple Grove, but they fall upward after St. Thomas dropped one to a Benilde team the Huskies just toasted. The narrative here is becoming clear: they’re a team with a top line that can go off and wreck just about anyone, but if those three get shut down, wins are there for the taking. We’ll see what they
This week: Thurs vs. #12 Centennial, Sat at Totino-Grace
7. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (8-4)
-The Red Knights had their best week of the season, beating two top fifteen teams in St. Thomas and Moorhead, and containing both of them pretty well, too. In a chaotic ranking week, that earns them a little boost. A home-and-home with Chaska is next.
This week: Tues vs. Chaska, Sat at Chaska
8. Rogers (8-2-2)
-Sliding back up as they get wins while others lose. The week ahead is a huge one, with two of their chief section rivals leading the way. Does this team belong in the conversation at the top of the rankings, as they were a few weeks ago, or are they further back in the chase pack.
This week: Thurs vs. #15 Champlin Park, Sat at #2 Maple Grove
9. Lakeville South (5-3-1)
-The Edina tie changes the narrative a bit for a team that had still been finding its way; all of their losses are to teams above them, and they now have that quality result, too. They now dive into conference play and will go a few weeks before they play another ranked opponent.
This week: Tues vs. Farmington, Thurs at Rosemount
10. Cretin-Derham Hall (9-4-1)
-The Raiders were comeback kids this past week, battling back to beat Stillwater (which is solid), then salvaged a tie with Roseville (which is less so). They now enter a somewhat more forgiving stretch of the schedule, with Mahtomedi posing this week’s bigger test.
This week: Tues at Mahtomedi, Thurs at Mounds View
11. St. Thomas Academy (9-4-1)
-The Cadets are sliding backward after losses to Benilde and Mahtomedi, which were not the sorts of games they were dropping last month. A couple of bluebloods that have been going in opposite directions are up this week.
This week: Thurs vs. Hill-Murray, Sat at #5 Edina
12. Centennial (6-3-1)
-The Cougars took care of business against Spring Lake Park and Coon Rapids. The week ahead is a huge one, as they duel with Champlin for 5AA positioning and try to make a rankings statement against Andover.
This week: Mon vs. #15 Champlin Park, Thurs at #6 Andover, Sat at Blaine
13. Stillwater (6-2-1)
-The Ponies can certainly score goals, as they proved by hanging five on both Cretin and Duluth East; they can also give them up, as they lost to Cretin and needed a late goal to pull out the East tie. They’re fun to watch, but how will that style hold up in the playoffs? They’ve got a four-game week now, and while on paper they should win them all, all of them have at least some chance to be interesting if the schedule takes any toll.
This week: Mon vs. Cloquet, Tues at Lakeville North, Thurs at Roseville, Sat vs. Mounds View
14. Duluth East (7-5-1)
-The Hounds surge back into the top 15 after a three-year hiatus following a convincing win over Grand Rapids and a strong tie with Stillwater. They’ve shown they can be potent and are atoning for some of those early losses; the question this week is just how well their depth can hold up against Minnetonka.
This week: Thurs vs. Brainerd, Sat at #3 Minnetonka
15. Champlin Park (9-2)
-Like White Bear, the Rebels are winning games they should win, and usually with authority; I decided to reward that instead of one of the teams puttering along just below them. They roll into this week’s 5AA rumbles with Centennial and Rogers looking like they can give them serious games, but now it’s time to really put them to the test.
This week: Mon at #12 Centennial, Thurs at #8 Rogers, Sat vs. Elk River
The Next Ten
Moorhead (6-6)
-The losses are starting to mount here as the Spuds remain competitive but fail to beat many of the top teams. The schedule eases up some now, though it isn’t exactly easy, and this week includes a section game with St. Cloud and a visit from Grand Rapids.
Eastview (7-3)
-A clunker against Rosemount is the Lightning’s first real negative result on the season and could trouble them in the 3AA seeding discussion, too. They have the joy of playing Minnetonka next.
White Bear Lake (9-2)
-Beating teams they should beat, albeit with some trouble against Tartan. They now plow deep into the middle tier of the Suburban East, with East Ridge and Park up this week.
Shakopee (6-3)
-The Sabers got a solid win over Prior Lake to further solidify their spot around here in the rankings. A three-game week ahead includes a Rosemount team fresh off a win over Eastview.
Blake (7-4)
-Putting together a decent season and not doing anything shocking, beating teams they should beat and occasionally being competitive with the better ones out there. Providence headlines their upcoming run of private school opponents.
Eden Prairie (5-7-1)
-Continue to do some quality things, but the losses are mounting. They’ll try to right the ship this week against Holy Family (a significant section game) and St. Michael-Albertville.
Grand Rapids (8-5)
-Suddenly there are some alarm bells here: the loss to Duluth East was ugly, and their only real quality win, besides East early on, is over Roseau, plus they have a loss to Elk River. With this team’s offense, they’re not one likely to come back if they fall behind. Moorhead gives them a chance to prove something this week.
Roseau (9-4)
-Handled Sartell to further solidify their hold on a top two seed in 8AA. Rival Warroad is up next, followed by a Brainerd team that has been on the upswing a bit, too.
Holy Family (8-5)
-Had a rough road trip northwest, losing to Grand Forks Red River and East Grand Forks; PageStat has loved this team so far, but I’m guessing they’ll come back to earth some now. The Eden Prairie game this week will be significant in this part of the rankings.
Hill-Murray (4-7)
-Broke their losing streak against Two Rivers, but the Minnetonka affair was not pretty for a team that had otherwise been pretty competitive in its losses. I still have some faith that they are better than the likes of mostly-untested Cloquet or four-wins-with-worse-losses Rosemount or a very okay Prior Lake, who are the first teams out, but they need to prove it soon. St. Thomas this week provides an opportunity.
1. Wayzata (10-1-1)
-The Trojans’ hiatus out of the top spot lasted just one week before Will Ingemann’s stellar goaltending performance puts them right back in the top spot. They may not be able to bury teams like Minnetonka, but they just keep on doing their thing. The week ahead offers a bit of a reprieve, so I don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon.
This week: Thurs vs. St. Michael-Albertville, Sat at Hopkins
2. Maple Grove (11-2)
-The win streak has hit nine for the Crimson, who pushed past Andover to gain partial revenge for last year’s state championship game and showed they can smother another team’s elite line; I’m sliding them up because I like the quality of their wins a little more than I like Minnetonka’s. It should reach ten this week before they tangle with Rogers in a big Northwest Suburban showdown.
This week: Thurs at Armstrong/Copper, Sat vs. #8 Rogers
3. Minnetonka (9-2)
-The Skippers continue to show they can control a game against anyone, but have lost both of their games with current top five teams now. The week ahead includes two East-ish teams who have shown flashes of quality this season.
This week: Tues at Eastview, Thurs at Buffalo, Sat vs. #14 Duluth East
4. Chanhassen (12-1)
-The Storm handled Waconia and St. Louis Park, and while it is hard to move up against that competition when the top three are playing front-line opponents, they are further solidifying their positioning. That won’t change this week, though neither game is a total free pass, as they get one of Class A’s better offerings and a Prior Lake team that has proven competitive.
This week: Tues vs. Orono, Thurs at Prior Lake
5. Edina (8-3-1)
-The Hornets’ heater slowed some this past week when they coughed up a lead against Lakeville South and settled for a tie; since Chanhassen has beaten South, they slide behind the Storm. They now aim to beat St. Thomas for a second time this season.
This week: Fri vs. #11 St. Thomas Academy, Sat vs. Buffalo
6. Andover (8-5-1)
-Lost to Maple Grove, but they fall upward after St. Thomas dropped one to a Benilde team the Huskies just toasted. The narrative here is becoming clear: they’re a team with a top line that can go off and wreck just about anyone, but if those three get shut down, wins are there for the taking. We’ll see what they
This week: Thurs vs. #12 Centennial, Sat at Totino-Grace
7. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (8-4)
-The Red Knights had their best week of the season, beating two top fifteen teams in St. Thomas and Moorhead, and containing both of them pretty well, too. In a chaotic ranking week, that earns them a little boost. A home-and-home with Chaska is next.
This week: Tues vs. Chaska, Sat at Chaska
8. Rogers (8-2-2)
-Sliding back up as they get wins while others lose. The week ahead is a huge one, with two of their chief section rivals leading the way. Does this team belong in the conversation at the top of the rankings, as they were a few weeks ago, or are they further back in the chase pack.
This week: Thurs vs. #15 Champlin Park, Sat at #2 Maple Grove
9. Lakeville South (5-3-1)
-The Edina tie changes the narrative a bit for a team that had still been finding its way; all of their losses are to teams above them, and they now have that quality result, too. They now dive into conference play and will go a few weeks before they play another ranked opponent.
This week: Tues vs. Farmington, Thurs at Rosemount
10. Cretin-Derham Hall (9-4-1)
-The Raiders were comeback kids this past week, battling back to beat Stillwater (which is solid), then salvaged a tie with Roseville (which is less so). They now enter a somewhat more forgiving stretch of the schedule, with Mahtomedi posing this week’s bigger test.
This week: Tues at Mahtomedi, Thurs at Mounds View
11. St. Thomas Academy (9-4-1)
-The Cadets are sliding backward after losses to Benilde and Mahtomedi, which were not the sorts of games they were dropping last month. A couple of bluebloods that have been going in opposite directions are up this week.
This week: Thurs vs. Hill-Murray, Sat at #5 Edina
12. Centennial (6-3-1)
-The Cougars took care of business against Spring Lake Park and Coon Rapids. The week ahead is a huge one, as they duel with Champlin for 5AA positioning and try to make a rankings statement against Andover.
This week: Mon vs. #15 Champlin Park, Thurs at #6 Andover, Sat at Blaine
13. Stillwater (6-2-1)
-The Ponies can certainly score goals, as they proved by hanging five on both Cretin and Duluth East; they can also give them up, as they lost to Cretin and needed a late goal to pull out the East tie. They’re fun to watch, but how will that style hold up in the playoffs? They’ve got a four-game week now, and while on paper they should win them all, all of them have at least some chance to be interesting if the schedule takes any toll.
This week: Mon vs. Cloquet, Tues at Lakeville North, Thurs at Roseville, Sat vs. Mounds View
14. Duluth East (7-5-1)
-The Hounds surge back into the top 15 after a three-year hiatus following a convincing win over Grand Rapids and a strong tie with Stillwater. They’ve shown they can be potent and are atoning for some of those early losses; the question this week is just how well their depth can hold up against Minnetonka.
This week: Thurs vs. Brainerd, Sat at #3 Minnetonka
15. Champlin Park (9-2)
-Like White Bear, the Rebels are winning games they should win, and usually with authority; I decided to reward that instead of one of the teams puttering along just below them. They roll into this week’s 5AA rumbles with Centennial and Rogers looking like they can give them serious games, but now it’s time to really put them to the test.
This week: Mon at #12 Centennial, Thurs at #8 Rogers, Sat vs. Elk River
The Next Ten
Moorhead (6-6)
-The losses are starting to mount here as the Spuds remain competitive but fail to beat many of the top teams. The schedule eases up some now, though it isn’t exactly easy, and this week includes a section game with St. Cloud and a visit from Grand Rapids.
Eastview (7-3)
-A clunker against Rosemount is the Lightning’s first real negative result on the season and could trouble them in the 3AA seeding discussion, too. They have the joy of playing Minnetonka next.
White Bear Lake (9-2)
-Beating teams they should beat, albeit with some trouble against Tartan. They now plow deep into the middle tier of the Suburban East, with East Ridge and Park up this week.
Shakopee (6-3)
-The Sabers got a solid win over Prior Lake to further solidify their spot around here in the rankings. A three-game week ahead includes a Rosemount team fresh off a win over Eastview.
Blake (7-4)
-Putting together a decent season and not doing anything shocking, beating teams they should beat and occasionally being competitive with the better ones out there. Providence headlines their upcoming run of private school opponents.
Eden Prairie (5-7-1)
-Continue to do some quality things, but the losses are mounting. They’ll try to right the ship this week against Holy Family (a significant section game) and St. Michael-Albertville.
Grand Rapids (8-5)
-Suddenly there are some alarm bells here: the loss to Duluth East was ugly, and their only real quality win, besides East early on, is over Roseau, plus they have a loss to Elk River. With this team’s offense, they’re not one likely to come back if they fall behind. Moorhead gives them a chance to prove something this week.
Roseau (9-4)
-Handled Sartell to further solidify their hold on a top two seed in 8AA. Rival Warroad is up next, followed by a Brainerd team that has been on the upswing a bit, too.
Holy Family (8-5)
-Had a rough road trip northwest, losing to Grand Forks Red River and East Grand Forks; PageStat has loved this team so far, but I’m guessing they’ll come back to earth some now. The Eden Prairie game this week will be significant in this part of the rankings.
Hill-Murray (4-7)
-Broke their losing streak against Two Rivers, but the Minnetonka affair was not pretty for a team that had otherwise been pretty competitive in its losses. I still have some faith that they are better than the likes of mostly-untested Cloquet or four-wins-with-worse-losses Rosemount or a very okay Prior Lake, who are the first teams out, but they need to prove it soon. St. Thomas this week provides an opportunity.
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