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Classification for 2027-2029

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Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2026 2:58 pm
by BSUBeaver
The MSHSL has bumped up the timeline for classifications this year. Today, they came out with their numbers.

MSHSL Timeline:
https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/fil ... meline.pdf

MSHSL Enrollment Numbers:
https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/fil ... 8-2029.pdf

MSHSL Activity Classification:
https://www.mshsl.org/sites/default/fil ... 8-2029.pdf

For Girls Hockey, 1634 and above is AA, 1633 and below is A.

Placement Appeals close on 09/25/2026.

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2026 4:47 pm
by Eagles93
Bravo for (finally!) raising the classification for girls. 1634 means the top 32 enrollments for AA. There will likely be more than 32 teams with opt-ups and co-ops but this is a great step to balance girls HS hockey. This should result in about 6 teams in each AA section which will eliminate first round section blowouts.

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2026 6:11 pm
by BSUBeaver
I agree. I thought I had read earlier that the coaches were pushing for a 50/50 split between AA and A. This looks like it should get close to that. For some reason the number 42 is sticking in my head as the split they were looking at (I honestly am not sure how many girls programs there are).

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2026 8:26 pm
by Eagles93
Quick math tells me there should be about 45 teams in AA next year. There were 107 AA & A teams last year.

AA teams that drop to A due to the new classification: Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Mayo, Winona, New Prague, Hastings, Jefferson, Grand Rapids/GW, Elk River, Bemidji, Alexandria, Buffalo.
Also assume they make Roch Cent/JM, St Paul/Two Rivers, Robbinsdale A/C, and Hopkins/SLP stay in AA?
Assume these opt up: Holy Family, Cretin, Hill Murray, Gentry, Benilde, Roseau

That leaves, teams by section:
1AA = 3
2AA = 6
3AA = 7
4AA = 7
5AA = 8
6AA = 5
7AA = 6
8AA = 3

Obviously going to need to do some re-sectioning, this could massively change the sections/rivalries we've been used to for the last several years.

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 8:16 am
by BSUBeaver
Eagles93 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2026 8:26 pm Quick math tells me there should be about 45 teams in AA next year. There were 107 AA & A teams last year.

AA teams that drop to A due to the new classification: Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Mayo, Winona, New Prague, Hastings, Jefferson, Grand Rapids/GW, Elk River, Bemidji, Alexandria, Buffalo.
Also assume they make Roch Cent/JM, St Paul/Two Rivers, Robbinsdale A/C, and Hopkins/SLP stay in AA?
Assume these opt up: Holy Family, Cretin, Hill Murray, Gentry, Benilde, Roseau

That leaves, teams by section:
1AA = 3
2AA = 6
3AA = 7
4AA = 7
5AA = 8
6AA = 5
7AA = 6
8AA = 3

Obviously going to need to do some re-sectioning, this could massively change the sections/rivalries we've been used to for the last several years.
48 would be a decent number, and then find a way to get six teams in each section. 1 and 2 would have byes, 3 plays 6, 4 plays 5, in the openers.

Section 7 and Section 8 could end up even more spread out than they already are.

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 12:42 pm
by Eagles93
BSUBeaver wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 8:16 am 48 would be a decent number, and then find a way to get six teams in each section. 1 and 2 would have byes, 3 plays 6, 4 plays 5, in the openers.

Section 7 and Section 8 could end up even more spread out than they already are.
Section 7 and 8 would likely be merged as there are only 5 "northern" AA teams left. These sections would make sense geographically but doubt we'd see exactly this.

1 = (5) Farmington, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Prior Lake, Rochester Cent/JM
2 = (6) Holy Family, Chaska/Chan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Shakopee
3 = (6) Apple Valley, Cretin, Eagan, Eastview, Rosemount, St Paul/Two Rivers
4 = (6) Hill-Murray, East Ridge, Gentry, Park Cottage Grove, Stillwater, Woodbury
5 = (6) Andover, Anoka, Blaine, North Wright Co, River Cities, Rogers
6 = (6) Benilde, Hopkins/SLP, Maple Grove, Osseo/Park Center, Robbinsdale, Wayzata
7 = (5) Centennial/SLP, Forest Lake, Mounds View/Irondale, Roseville/Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake
8 = (5) Moorhead, Brainerd/Little Falls, Duluth, Norther Tier, Roseau

Section 2 = Section of Death :twisted:

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 1:41 pm
by BSUBeaver
Eagles93 wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 12:42 pm
BSUBeaver wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 8:16 am 48 would be a decent number, and then find a way to get six teams in each section. 1 and 2 would have byes, 3 plays 6, 4 plays 5, in the openers.

Section 7 and Section 8 could end up even more spread out than they already are.
Section 7 and 8 would likely be merged as there are only 5 "northern" AA teams left. These sections would make sense geographically but doubt we'd see exactly this.

1 = (5) Farmington, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Prior Lake, Rochester Cent/JM
2 = (6) Holy Family, Chaska/Chan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka, Shakopee
3 = (6) Apple Valley, Cretin, Eagan, Eastview, Rosemount, St Paul/Two Rivers
4 = (6) Hill-Murray, East Ridge, Gentry, Park Cottage Grove, Stillwater, Woodbury
5 = (6) Andover, Anoka, Blaine, North Wright Co, River Cities, Rogers
6 = (6) Benilde, Hopkins/SLP, Maple Grove, Osseo/Park Center, Robbinsdale, Wayzata
7 = (5) Centennial/SLP, Forest Lake, Mounds View/Irondale, Roseville/Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake
8 = (5) Moorhead, Brainerd/Little Falls, Duluth, Norther Tier, Roseau

Section 2 = Section of Death :twisted:
That is probably the best set up. Sucks to lose one outstate section, but it is the nature of the beast right now.

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 1:53 pm
by goaline
Eagles93 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2026 8:26 pm Quick math tells me there should be about 45 teams in AA next year. There were 107 AA & A teams last year.

AA teams that drop to A due to the new classification: Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Mayo, Winona, New Prague, Hastings, Jefferson, Grand Rapids/GW, Elk River, Bemidji, Alexandria, Buffalo.
Also assume they make Roch Cent/JM, St Paul/Two Rivers, Robbinsdale A/C, and Hopkins/SLP stay in AA?
Assume these opt up: Holy Family, Cretin, Hill Murray, Gentry, Benilde, Roseau

That leaves, teams by section:
1AA = 3
2AA = 6
3AA = 7
4AA = 7
5AA = 8
6AA = 5
7AA = 6
8AA = 3

Obviously going to need to do some re-sectioning, this could massively change the sections/rivalries we've been used to for the last several years.
Your analysis is good but forgets that Elk River is combined with Zimmerman and is over 1633 and the Bloomingtons together also push that number above the A/AA threshold -- there might be others as well

Re: Classification for 2027-2029

Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2026 2:36 pm
by Eagles93
goaline wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2026 1:53 pm Your analysis is good but forgets that Elk River is combined with Zimmerman and is over 1633 and the Bloomingtons together also push that number above the A/AA threshold -- there might be others as well
Good catch. The MSHSL https://www.mshsl.org/schools/activitie ... 133&page=0 lists the combined enrollment for some teams but not all unfortunately. These teams would NOT drop due to co-ops: Buffalo, Jefferson, Roch Mayo, and Elk River.

Adding those four shouldn't change my section projections above too much, adding Jefferson will be what helps them magically keep Edina out of 2AA.
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