Early preseason Top 20 for Single A - 2021

[elliott70]

1 Hermantown
2 East Grand Forks
3 Warroad
4 Mahtomedi
5 Breck
6 Duluth Denfeld
7 Fergus Falls
8 Little Falls
9 Hibbing
10 open
10 Delano
12 open
11 Providence Academy
12 Minneapolis
13 SW Christian
14 Mankato East
15 Thief River Falls
16 Monticello
17 Alexandria
18 Hutchinson
19 Orono
20 Mankato West

[bardown27]

Great starting spot!

One little side note, both Sartell and Tartan are AA for next two year cycle.

[Goose21]

Not the strongest year in Class A. Hermantown is number 1 going away and I think the gap between them and the field is even larger than the one we saw last year with Hermantown/Gentry. I think the contenders for the 2-5 spots are not as strong as most years, but I would give Warroad and Mahtomedi with the best chances to take down the Hawks.

[elliott70]

Great starting spot!

One little side note, both Sartell and Tartan are AA for next two year cycle.

right, thanks

[ironranger2]

Agree that Hermantown is clear #1 and the gap is probably as wide has it's been in several years.

Sucks that Warroad/EGF will both be consistent top 3 teams for the foreseeable future and only one of them will make it to state each year. They both run model Single A programs. Can't forget about TRF either, they would probably have a decent chance at going to state in every section except 7 and 8.

You are a couple of years early on Hibbing, not even sure if they are a top 20 team this year.

Anyone know what the goalie situation for Denfeld is? They have some really good forwards, but some question marks at D and G to be ranked at #6 right now.

Rock Ridge (Virginia/Eveleth) should be listed. Not really sure where, but they will definitely have depth with the numbers I hear are trying out.

[TTpuckster]

I am not sure about EGF this year. Losing Ausmus is a big loss.

[BP]

Breck at 5????? That is way too high. They return little to no scoring.

[Stang5280]

Breck at 5????? That is way too high. They return little to no scoring.

Knowing Elliott, I presume he was doing it to get my attention. I don’t think they will be a terrible team by any means, but the losses of Courneya and Morgan are tough to overcome. The goaltending and defense are still solid, so expect a lot of 2-1 and 3-2 type of results.

Class A is so brutal this year after the top 3 to 5 teams. I haven’t really had the energy or anticipation to think about rankings yet. I will try to do my usual weekly write ups, but they will probably be less detailed to save me some angst.

[Stang5280]

I am not sure about EGF this year. Losing Ausmus is a big loss.

Still, who is better than the Wave? The lowest you can really put them is #4 behind Mahtomedi. EGF has a nice incoming group from Bantams, and their depth is so much better than next tier of teams.

[BP]

Breck at 5????? That is way too high. They return little to no scoring.

Knowing Elliott, I presume he was doing it to get my attention. I don’t think they will be a terrible team by any means, but the losses of Courneya and Morgan are tough to overcome. The goaltending and defense are still solid, so expect a lot of 2-1 and 3-2 type of results.

Class A is so brutal this year after the top 3 to 5 teams. I haven’t really had the energy or anticipation to think about rankings yet. I will try to do my usual weekly write ups, but they will probably be less detailed to save me some angst.

I get what you are saying and agree. Just that 5 is aggressive - I'd probably put Denfeld and Fergus ahead of them.

That said - are we seeing a decline in A for years to come? It's been slowly declining in the number of higher end teams (some of the top team and players are very good - saying the depth of teams). Section 2 and 4 are prime examples - those sections used to have 5-6 teams each year that were top 15-20 with high end talent (thinking back to the Breck's, Delano's, SPA's, Orono's, etc). I hope that isn't the case and we are having a couple of down years. Semifinal Friday afternoon and the Champ games have been great - but sadly not seeing that this year - especially with EGF or Warroad not going to state.

[Stang5280]

I get what you are saying and agree. Just that 5 is aggressive - I'd probably put Denfeld and Fergus ahead of them.

More of an inside joke between friends. I don’t think Elliott really believes Breck belongs that high, but was just poking at me by putting my alma mater there.

That said - are we seeing a decline in A for years to come?

Almost certainly. There will be a few teams with special classes and/or players break through and make runs, but the overall concentration of talent has become extreme. Say what you will about gentry, but at least they grabbed their one trophy (with a bit of a Covid asterisk) and moved on. I really only see four teams with a chance at the state title of this year, and Mahtomedi would need another amazing goaltending run.

[Stang5280]

I will take big swings on a few teams which I will probably regret a few weeks into the season.

1 Hermantown
2 Warroad
3 East Grand Forks
4 Mahtomedi
5 Fergus Falls
6 Duluth Denfeld
7 Delano
8 Northfield
9 Rock Ridge
10 Providence Academy
11 Southwest Christian
12 Little Falls
13 Monticello
14 Minneapolis
15 Breck
16 Hibbing
17 Alexandria
18 Thief River Falls
19 Orono
20 Mankato East

[BP]

I will take big swings on a few teams which I will probably regret a few weeks into the season.

1 Hermantown
2 Warroad
3 East Grand Forks
4 Mahtomedi
5 Fergus Falls
6 Duluth Denfeld
7 Delano
8 Northfield
9 Rock Ridge
10 Providence Academy
11 Southwest Christian
12 Little Falls
13 Monticello
14 Minneapolis
15 Breck
16 Hibbing
17 Alexandria
18 Thief River Falls
19 Orono
20 Mankato East

Good list! I would like Northfield that high - but their really good soph left for Des Moines U16. They do have a good returning Sr and a solid goalie returning - but might be a little thin. But you are picking hairs after 7. And in 1A - that may be enough this year. Prov will definitely surprise some teams - they return almost everyone.

State predictions:
1 - Northfield
2 - Delano
3 - Mankato East
4- Mahtomedi
5 - Monticello
6 - Fergus Falls
7 - Hermantown
8 - Warroad

[Stang5280]

Good list! I would like Northfield that high - but their really good soph left for Des Moines U16. They do have a good returning Sr and a solid goalie returning - but might be a little thin. But you are picking hairs after 7. And in 1A - that may be enough this year. Prov will definitely surprise some teams - they return almost everyone.

State predictions:
1 - Northfield
2 - Delano
3 - Mankato East
4- Mahtomedi
5 - Monticello
6 - Fergus Falls
7 - Hermantown
8 - Warroad

Thanks for the intel. I wasn’t aware of Monson’s departure. Northfield will still be a solid team, but that lowers them about five spots in my estimation. They do have a nice group of incoming Bantams, but I don’t think there are any stars in that group.

Hard to argue with your section selections. About half of those are locks, and a few others are just races between two teams. Section 2 should be deep, though lacking any great teams. Delano lost quite a bit to graduation, but I tend to trust them until proven otherwise.

[Bigcat99]

I am not sure about EGF this year. Losing Ausmus is a big loss.

he take juniors route, and if so, where he's at this year?

[TTpuckster]

I am not sure about EGF this year. Losing Ausmus is a big loss.

he take juniors route, and if so, where he's at this year?

USHL: Madison