1. Hermantown (2-2-0) (LW 1)
W 5-3 vs Eden Prairie, L 2-3 vs BSM
Another week, another split against two ranked AA teams. My heart wants to bump the Hawks down to #2, but my head says that I would still favor them slightly over SCC. We’ll find out when they play at the MAC Jan. 4.
2. St. Cloud Cathedral (5-0-0) (LW 2)
W 5-3 @ Greenway, W 3-2 (OT) @ TRF
Didn’t put up the video game numbers from last week, but still took down two ranked opponents. Hung a five spot on Greenway in the 2nd, including four unanswered goals, to put the game away. Host Alex Tuesday in a huge 6A game.
3. Mahtomedi (3-1-0) (LW 4)
L 3-4 vs Hill-Murray, W 3-0 @ Owatonna
Put a scare into HM, going up 3-1 before ultimately falling. No reason to drop the Zephyrs behind the next few teams, so everyone bumps up one spot from last week.
4. Alexandria (4-0-0) (LW 5)
W 10-0 vs Sauk Rapids, W 5-1 @ River Lakes
Romped over two overmatched conference foes. Huge week looming with road games against Cathedral and EGF, which will help flesh out this area of the rankings.
5. East Grand Forks (6-1-0) (LW 6)
W 9-1 @ Park Rapids, W 4-2 vs Greenway
Finished off a weary Greenway squad in a penalty-filled affair. Cathedral blowout loss seems like an aberration, as a Wave have held other six opponents to two goals or fewer.
6. Orono (3-2-0) (LW 11)
W 7-1 @ Minneapolis, W 1-0 vs Monticello
Back up over .500 after dismantling Minneapolis and squeaking by the Moose. Big game against 2A rival Brebck on Thursday.
7. Greenway (2-3-0) (LW 3)
L 3-4 (OT) vs Denfeld, L 3-5 vs Cathedral, L 2-4 @ EGF
Just a disastrous week for the Raiders. The EGF loss was understandable given the travel schedule, but they let the Cathedral game get away and threw up a stinker against Denfeld. Something seems off with this team, and they need to figure things out soon, as the schedule is relentless. I feel like this isn’t far enough of a drop, but there just aren’t many other teams I trust.
8. Warroad (3-3-0) (LW 13)
W 6-4 vs Crookston, W 6-2 @ Virginia, L 0-3 @ Grand Rapids
Warriors continue to be all over the map, taking care of business against Crookston and dominating VMIB on the road before going down meekly against Rapids, mustering only 11 shots. Still, they move up a bit basically by default based on how poorly other teams have played.
9. Sartell-St. Stephen (3-1-0) (LW 14)
W 5-1 @ River Lakes, W 3-1 @ Chaska
A nice week for the Sabres in picking up two road wins, including one against a talented (but deeply flawed) AA team. No major Class A tests until their holiday tournament.
10. Thief River Falls (3-3-1) [LW 8]
L 0-3 vs Tartan, L 2-3 (OT) vs Cathedral
Tartan loss was a head-scratcher, but Prowlers turned around and gave Cathedral their toughest test of the year. Lacking offensive firepower, but defense and goaltending have been excellent.
11. Mankato East (3-2-0) (LW 12)
W 5-4 vs Northfield
Mounted two-goal comeback to defeat Northfield in only action of the week.
12. Duluth Denfeld (4-0-0) (LW NR)
W 4-3 (OT) @ Greenway
Greenway win feels a bit fluky, as the Hunters were outshot by more than a 2-1 ratio. Still, they did take advantage of scoring opportunities and remain undefeated. Ranking spot likely on the line right away Tuesday against Virginia.
13. Chisago Lakes (6-0-0) (LW NR)
W 3-2 @ River Falls, W 5-3 vs Monticello
Looking like the best team in 5A so far. Schedule had been soft, but passed test against Monticello with flying colors.
14. Northfield (1-1-0) (LW 9)
L 4-5 @ Mankato East
Have still only played two games. Thoroughly outshot in loss to East, so down they go. Three games this week against teams they should beat.
15. Marshall (5-1-0) (LW NR)
W 6-2 @ Luverne, W 5-2 vs New Ulm, W 6-3 @ Hutchinson
Welcome to the jungle, Tigers! After vanquishing three of their 3A nemeses with relative ease, these kitties should cruise through a pillow soft schedule over the next few weeks.
Out: Virginia-MIB (LW 7), Eveleth-Gilbert (LW 10), Monticello (LW 15)
Honorable mentions (alphabetical order):
Eveleth-Gilbert (4-2-0)
W 5-0 @ I-Falls, W 5-2 @ Northern Lakes, L 0-2 @ Princeton
Minnesota River (5-1-0)
W 11-0 @ Fairmont, W 6-4 @ Windom
Monticello (2-3-1)
W 7-6 vs Princeton, L 3-5 @ Chisago, L 0-1 @ Orono
North Branch (5-1-1)
W 5-2 @ Gentry, W 4-3 @ Princeton, T 3-3 vs North Shore
Virginia-MIB (2-3-0)
L 3-4 @ Grand Rapids, L 2-6 vs Warroad
A few notes:
- There is a big drop off after the top five at this point
- After the big dog of Hermantown, the next several teams in 7A are a toss up, and may not actually be that good
- Virginia apparently decided that they weren’t interested in playing the first two periods of their games this week
- 5A is similarly confusing, but unlike 7A may be sneaky good
- Breck and LDC dropped out of the honorable mentions for now, the former after coughing up a four goal lead to AHA and losing in OT
- Rankings are still volatile, but should soon start to stabilize to the point where one big win or loss will not be so impactful
