Class A Rankings 12-4-16

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Sat Dec 03, 2016 11:36 pm

What an amazing two weeks! A whole bunch of ties this week along with many teams not having any common opponents make this beginning of the season very interesting to rank.

As always, I start with LPH's rankings and mold them from there. With all the mix ups, lots of ties and lack of common opponents, there are lots of teams that will need to be sorted out over the coming months. The team who I predicted would be dominate again this season hasn't won yet, there's another handful that could be top 3 teams, and 15-20 teams who could end up in the top 10 but there really isn't enough info yet.

This will be an exciting season and the next couple weeks will help solidify a lot of the teams that are in limbo. Enjoy!

1. Delano/Rockford (2-0-0)
It'd be hard to expect anything more than shutting out Blake on the road and beat Breck by 3 on the road to start the season. With a Wright County schedule, and not many top non-conference opponents, it will be interesting to see how the Tigers are viewed throughout the season.

2. Hermantown (0-1-1)
Last year there was some uncertainty about how Hermantown would do in the state finals and they silenced everyone by winning with a shut out. Many of the top players are returning, more than most other programs. It is completely possible they'll be in a league of their own this season; time will tell. With their first 5 games against AA teams and only 3 games this season against the Top 15 Class A teams, it may be difficult to assess any stumbles along the way. Their first game was a pretty convincing loss to Wayzata team that wasn't ranked in the top 10 to start the season. This isn't a great sign, but one game doesn't define a team and definitely not the first game of the season.

3. St. Paul Academy (2-1-0)
It doesn't get much better than starting the season with a win over the other top 2 team in the section. After Cathedral next weekend, they don't play another top team for 4 weeks.

4. Mahtomedi (1-1-0)
Starting the year with a loss to SPA isn't what the Zephyrs want to be doing, but an OT loss is good and shouldn't be the thing that holds them back going forward. Mahtomedi graduated a lot of seniors last year, but they seem to have rebuilt just fine.

5. St. Cloud Cathedral (3-0-1)
Two shut outs, a home Warroad win followed by tying East Grand Forks is quite the way to start the season. The Crusaders are really in the driver's seat in their section and the state.

6. Breck (1-2-0)
A loss to Delano isn't a great way to start the season; can they rebound with Wayzata at home this week?

7. East Grand Forks (2-0-1)
The Green Wave played their first 3 on the road and haven't lost yet.

8. Greenway (3-0-0)
With only 3 of their top 10 and 1 of their top 5 scorers last year graduating, on paper one would think that they are right up there with Hermantown in the section and capable of the upset. Greenway's schedule has been beefed up quite a bit from last year, so there will be less uncertainty about their ranking.

9. Monticello (3-0-0)
This is Monticello's second year in Class A and they lost in the 5A second finals last year. While they graduated their starting goalie and half of the their players with double digit points last year were seniors, their top 2 scorers are returning. With a 5A schedule, it may be hard to tell how they are doing relative to the state, but they are the favorite for the second. They've started the year with 3 wins, including a shut out over Orono on the road.

10. Luverne (3-0-0)
The Cardinals are always hard to rank because of their schedule. They lost two of their top players from last year in addition to one that graduated, but still seem to be the team to beat in the section.

11. Orono 1-2-0
The Spartans have had an interesting start for a team ranked in the top 10 before the season. Going to OT, getting shut out, then losing by 1, all by teams not ranked to start the season isn't super positive. It's possible this is more of an indication of the teams they've played than it is of them...we'll see.

12. Alexandria (2-0-0)
The Cardinals start the season with two solid wins. How can they do with hosting St Cloud this week?

13. Warroad 0-2-1
The Warriors lost to a ND team and Cathedral on the road by 1 and tied Sartell. You hope to have a number other than 0 in the win column at this point, but this isn't a bad start. The next week should tell a lot.

14. Sartell (2-0-1)
Allowing 1 goal in their first 2 games and then tying Warroad at home is a solid way to start the season.

15. New Prague (3-0)
The Trojans were unranked to start the season, beat a Kennedy team that has been respectable recently and followed that up by beating 2 section teams that were ranked. They are in the 1A driver's seat at the moment.

16. Blake (3-1-0)
A 0-9 drumming by Delano doesn't look good, but the Bears have rebounded with 3 wins since. 3 roads games this week will give us a much better picture of where they should be.

17. Totino-Grace 1-2-0
A 1 goal loss to EGF and a win over TRF.

18. Minnehaha Academy 3-0-0
Shutting out Denfeld is a quality win to open the season. Can they keep on rolling in the coming weeks?

19. Hibbing/Chisholm 2-0-0
Two 4-1 wins to start the season.

20. Thief River Falls 1-2-0
Road losses to Blake and Totino-Grace aren't bad to start the season.

goldy313 · Post by **goldy313** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 12:56 am

It is early.
3A is better than most think, they aren't in the league of 7A, 8A etc. but are improving. Watch for Redwood Falls to break into the top 20.
New Prague will contend for their section.
Austin is vastly improved, Mankato East is the early favorite in 1A. (New Prague is in 2A)

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 6:54 pm

I eluded to this in my rankings; with how good they clearly were last year and the few losses they had, I figured Hermantown would be 2-0 at this point and remain at the top of Class A all season. I was wrong.

The tied a team Breck lost to, so that's a measuring stick. But, aside from that, there isn't much to compare to and they won't be playing a top 10 Class A team until January. What are your thoughts on comparing them to the rest of Class A between now and then?

Teak · Post by **Teak** » Sun Dec 04, 2016 7:57 pm

What?! You put a 3A team in the Top 20 ranking? Do you realize that you are attracting the haters by doing that? And Luverne, no less.

Just warning you.

hockeydad · Post by **hockeydad** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 2:10 am

Sorry to report, but New Prague is in Section 2A as of last season.

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:17 am

hockeydad wrote:Sorry to report, but New Prague is in Section 2A as of last season.

Is this wrong?
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/page/show/27 ... son=317781

bardown27 · Post by **bardown27** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 7:23 am

HShockeywatcher wrote:
hockeydad wrote:Sorry to report, but New Prague is in Section 2A as of last season.
Is this wrong?
http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/page/show/27 ... son=317781

Yes.

http://mshsl.org/mshsl/SectionAssignments.asp

blueblood · Post by **blueblood** » Mon Dec 05, 2016 9:20 am

This is the second year New Prague has been in 2A

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Tue Dec 06, 2016 6:45 am

BIG games tonight:

Delano vs Kennedy

Minnehaha Academy vs Chaska

Monticello vs St Michael

Northfield vs Mankato West

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Post by **My_Kid_Loves_Hockey** » Wed Dec 07, 2016 2:29 pm

Delano vs Kennedy 10-1

Minnehaha Academy vs Chaska 0-2

Monticello vs St Michael 2-10

Northfield vs Mankato West 3-1

HShockeywatcher · Post by **HShockeywatcher** » Fri Dec 09, 2016 6:54 pm

Lots going on. What are your thoughts about the teams you have seen play this year?

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Class A Rankings 12-4-16

Who is the top team in Class A right now?

Class A Rankings 12-4-16

2A