Class A Rankings 1-13-19

[HShockeywatcher]

Lots of games, but no upsets last week. The top 15 had one change at #15, but nothing else.
If you disagree, think something should be different, or have some thoughts, let me know.

1. [1] Hermantown (10-3-1) (3-0)
The Hawks are the first team to score 3 goals against Minnetonka.
This week: Tues vs Greenway, Sat vs St Cloud

2. [2] Cathedral (14-1) (14-1)
The Crusaders allowed 6 goals to Orono, but they also scored 9. Only 3 home games left this season, none this week.
This week: Tues @ Delano, Fri @ Virginia

3. [3] Mahtomedi (11-2-1) (7-0)
The Zephyrs tied a Hill-Murray team they lost to the first time around.
This week: Tues vs Hudson, Thurs vs North St Paul

4. [4] East Grand Forks (13-3) (9-1)
The Green Wave shut out Detroit Lakes last week and travel to play a Roseau team who's on a 10 game winning streak this week.
This week: Tues @ Roseau

5. [5] Orono (9-5) (8-2)
The Spartans scored 6 goals on Cathedral picking up just their second Class A loss of the season.
This week: Tues vs Mound Westonka, Fri vs Waconia

6. [6] Thief River Falls (9-4-2) (8-1-1)
The Prowlers can lock up a top 2 seed in the section with a win in Warroad this week.
This week: Tues vs Kittson Central, Thurs @ Warroad

7. [7] Totino-Grace (11-4) (1-2)
The Eagles keep winning conference games and raking up wins. They play two games this week against teams they've already beaten.
This week: Thurs vs Armstrong/Cooper, Sat @ Champlin Park

8. [8] Monticello (10-4-1) (7-2-1)
The Magic made it to 10 wins this week with a section win over North Branch.
This week: Tues vs St Michael-Albertville, Thurs @ St Francis, Sat vs Cambridge-Isanti

9. [9] Sartell (10-4) (6-3)
The Sabres picked up a section win then were crushed by Cathedral.
This week: Tues vs River Lakes, Sat @ Virginia

10. [10] Duluth Denfeld (8-5-1) (6-2-1)
The Hunters went to OT with East, then got beat by Hermantown. Can they hold off Cloquet this week?
This week: Thurs vs Cloquet, Sat vs International Falls

11. [11] Greenway (6-11) (4-6)
The Raiders have 2 road games in what are probably their last losable games this season. Can they keep up with the Hawks?
This week: Tues @ Hermantown, Sat @ Bemidji

12. [12] Alexandria (11-4) (8-4)
The Cardinals have 2 more Class A games where they'll be tested and those aren't until February.
This week: Thurs @ Sauk Rapids-Rice, Fri @ Mankato West

13. [13] Warroad (9-6) (7-3)
The Warriors are the 3 seed if the season ended today, but played both TRF and EGF close in the first two games. Can they beat the Prowlers this week?
This week: Thurs vs Thief River Falls, Sat @ Grand Forks Red River

14. [14] Mankato East (9-6-1) (7-4)
The Cougars picked up 3 section wins. Their only opponent this week has 12 wins
This week: Fri @ Rochester Century

15. [-] Northfield (10-4) (8-2)
The Raiders are on a 6 game winning streak that doesn't seem like it'll be ending this week.
This week: Tues vs SPA, Thurs vs Winona, Sat @ St Paul Johnson


Others to watch:

Marshall (14-2) (14-1)
This week: Mon @ Windom, Thurs vs Fairmont

[15] North Branch (11-3-1) (10-2-1)
The Vikings
This week: Mon vs Pine City, Sat vs Buffalo


Games between noted teams
Tuesday
Greenway @ Hermantown
Hudson @ Mahtomedi

Thursday
Thief River Falls @ Warroad


Section Analysis

1A
Mankato East beat Minnesota River in OT; they look to be 1 and 2, with Lourdes looking to be a mighty challenger but does not play either team this season. Albert Lea has had a couple good games and should be the 4 seed.

2A
It seems like this is Orono's section to lose. With conference play just getting underway, they have 2 games against each of Delano, Mound Westonka, and Waconia, with Delano seeming to be the most likely challenger.

3A
Marshall is coming off a 1 goal win over New Ulm and Litchfield also has a 1 goal win over New Ulm. The winner of Marshall/Litchfield next week is likely the 1 seed, but any of these 3 could represent the section at state.

4A
Mahtomedi is the expected winner here, as they beat likely 2 or 3 seed Northfield 7-1 earlier this season. Totino-Grace is the dark-horse here; the two play next Tuesday.

5A
Monticello, Chisago Lakes, North Branch and Princeton are the 4 teams in this mess. Monticello looks like the likely 1 seed, but when they play anything can happen.

6A
This is Cathedral's section to lose, but Alexandria will be the 2 seed and they went to OT the first time they met.

7A
Hermantown

8A
On paper, this is East Grand Forks' section to lose, but they, Warroad and Thief River Falls all play each other tight every year. EGF just beat Warroad 2-1 recently and still has two games with TRF left.

[MNFinn]

1. Hermantown
2. St. Cloud Catherdral
3. Mahtomedi
4. East Grand Forks
5. Thief River Falls
6. Orono
7. Warroad
8. Totino Grace
9. Alexandria
10. Monticello
11. Sartell
12. Duluth Denfield
13. Greenway
14. North Branch
15.MN River
16. Marshall
17. Mankato East
18. Northfield
19. Princeton
20. Eveleth