Class A Rankings 12-31-17

[HShockeywatcher]

Lots of good holiday action this last week with lots of moves in the rankings.
There were such upsets as Minneapolis over Mahtomedi and Alexandria over Greenway, along with Hermantown, Cathedral, Simley and Warroad going 3-0 this week.
There are a couple teams ranked below teams they've beaten for the first time this year and there's really no way to avoid that from here on out.
I didn't see anything that justified dropping anyone ranked last week, but there's a couple games this week where that could happen.

I mentioned a few more unranked teams, in alphabetical order, as they all seem to be doing the right things right now.

Happy New Year!

1. [2] Hermantown (5-3-2) (1-0)
The Hawks won the Hilltopper Classic with a shut out and wins over two teams they had previously lost and tied to. This week they host a good Cathedral team.
This week: Fri vs Cathedral

2. [1] Mahtomedi (8-1-1) (5-1)
The Zephyrs picked up their first lost to an up and down Minneapolis team, but also beat Breck by 2. Two conference games this week; can they win on the road?
This week: Thurs vs Henry Sibley, Sat @ St Thomas Academy

3. [4] Mound Westonka (8-2-1) (6-1-1)
The White Hawks didn't play any Class A teams and they picked up a loss to Park in the Duluth Heritage Sports Center Classic. With their schedule there isn't much room for error going forward.
This week: Tues @ Providence Academy, Thurs vs Minnehaha Academy, Fri vs Hutchinson

4. [3] Greenway (9-3) (8-2)
The Raiders lost a close game to Alexandria and crushed Delano. They have 3 games this week; how will they do hosting the Fire on Friday?
This week: Thurs @ Hibbing, Fri vs Holy Family, Sat @ St Francis

5. [5] Orono (6-3-1) (6-1)
The Spartans got shut out in their one game this week. They host one of the best teams in the state this week along with a good section opponent.
This week: Tues vs Minnetonka, Fri @ Delano

6. [6] Breck (3-6) (2-2)
The Mustangs have only lost to good teams and this week has been no different. A couple of conference games this week; can they beat a good Blake team on the road?
This week: Tues @ Blake, Thurs vs Providence Academy

7. [7] Delano (6-5) (6-3)
The Tigers lost to Greenway, but picked up 2 quality road wins.
This week: Fri vs Orono

8. [8] Virginia (8-2) (6-1)
The Blue Devils' lone win this week was shutting out Alexandria. 4 of their next 5 games are against section opponents; it seems like all is lining up for a section semifinal with Greenway.
This week: Fri @ Proctor, Sat vs Cathedral

9. [14] Minneapolis (8-6) (5-4)
In their last 4 games Minneapolis has beaten Orono, Mahtomedi, St Cloud and scored two goals in a loss to Cretin. Before that there was a 5 game losing streak, which makes them hard to place.
This week: Sat vs Robbinsdale

10. [9] East Grand Forks (6-4-1) (5-3-1)
The Green Wave played no games last week and have two North Dakota opponents on the docket this week.
This week: Tues vs Grand Forks Central, Sat @ Grand Forks Red River

11. [10] Cathedral (10-2) (10-2)
Cathedral is the first Class A team in the state to hit double digit wins. With early losses to EGF and Greenway allowing 5 goals each and no other games to teams higher than them, it'd be difficult to rank them higher up to this point. If the Crusaders are really a top team we've hit the part in their schedule where we'll see it. Two road games this week, both against teams ranked higher than them currently.
This week: Fri @ Hermantown, Sat @ Virginia

12. [11] Alexandria (5-6-1) (5-4-1)
The Cardinals beat Greenway then lost to Virginia and Hibbing the next 2 days which put them just under .500. They have one game this week, which is a section and conference opponent.
This week: Thurs @ Sartell-St Stephen

13. [13] Sartell-St Stephen (8-3) (6-1)
The Sabres picked up their first Class A loss of the season to a good Cathedral team. They seem to be either the 2 or 3 seed in the section and Alexandria is likely the other; can they beat the Cardinals?
This week: Thurs vs Alexandria, Sat @ Bemidji

14. [12] Monticello (9-1-1) (8-1)
The Moose picked up 2 more Class A wins, but the tie with Holy Angels is unimpressive. Two conference games this week; can they hold off Buffalo?
This week: Thurs vs Buffalo, Sat @ Princeton

15. [15] Crookston (7-4) (5-3)
Not much was learned about the Pirates this week with a ND and a WI game, but they have two road games this week that need to be won to stay in the conversation.
This wee: Fri @ Fergus Falls, Sat @ Detroit Lakes


Other noteworthy teams:

Fergus Falls (5-4-3) (4-3-3)
This week: Fri vs Crookston, Sat vs Warroad

Hibbing (3-6) (2-2)
This week: Thurs vs Greenway, Friday vs Rochester Mayo

Lake of the Woods (6-1-1) (5-0)
This week: Fri @ Moose Lake, Sat @ Ely

Little Falls (7-3-2) (7-2-2)
This week: Tues @ Becker, Thurs @ Cambridge-Isanti

Providence Academy (7-4-2) (5-2-1)
This week: Tues vs Mound Westonka, Thurs @ Breck

Simley (9-2-1) (4-1-1)
This week: Thurs @ Tartan, Sat vs Shakopee

Totino-Grace (4-7-1) (1-3)
This week: Sat vs Spring Lake Park

Warroad (5-6-1) (3-4-1)
This week: Fri @ Detroit Lakes, Sat @ Fergus Falls

[HShockeywatcher]

PageStat Class A Top 15 through 12/30/17

(19) 1. Mahtomedi
(22) 2. Hermantown
(28) 3. Greenway
(29) 4. Cathedral
(35) 5. Sartell
(39) 6. East Grand Forks
(42) 7. Orono
(43) 8. Delano
(44) 9. Mound Westonka
(49) 10. Virginia
(50) 11. Breck
(53) 12. Minneapolis
(54) 13. South St Paul
(59) 14. Thief River Falls
(60) 15. Simley

[elliott70]

QRF at 12/29/17

1 Mahtomedi (8-1-1) 67.7
T-2 Greenway/Nash-Kee (9-2) 64.7
T-2 Mound Westonka/Watertown-Mayer (8-1-1) 64.7
4 Monticello (8-1) 59.5
5 Simley (9-2-1) 55.8
6 North Branch (9-2) 55.2
7 Sartell-St. Stephen (7-2) 54.8
8 Orono (6-2-1) 53.4
9 Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl (9-3) 52.8
T-10 Crookston (6-4) 49.2
T-10 Minneapolis (8-6) 49.2
12 St. Cloud Cathedral (8-2) 49.0
13 Marshall (9-4) 48.7
14 Luverne (7-2) 48.6
15 South St. Paul (5-4) 47.9
16 Hermantown (4-3-2) 47.6
T-17 Northfield (8-3) 46.9
T-17 Minnehaha Academy (7-3-1) 46.9
19 East Grand Forks (6-4-1) 46.6
20 Albert Lea (5-3)

[east hockey]

QRF at 12/29/17

1 Mahtomedi (8-1-1) 67.7
T-2 Greenway/Nash-Kee (9-2) 64.7
T-2 Mound Westonka/Watertown-Mayer (8-1-1) 64.7
4 Monticello (8-1) 59.5
5 Simley (9-2-1) 55.8
6 North Branch (9-2) 55.2
7 Sartell-St. Stephen (7-2) 54.8
8 Orono (6-2-1) 53.4
9 Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl (9-3) 52.8
T-10 Crookston (6-4) 49.2
T-10 Minneapolis (8-6) 49.2
12 St. Cloud Cathedral (8-2) 49.0
13 Marshall (9-4) 48.7
14 Luverne (7-2) 48.6
15 South St. Paul (5-4) 47.9
16 Hermantown (4-3-2) 47.6
T-17 Northfield (8-3) 46.9
T-17 Minnehaha Academy (7-3-1) 46.9
19 East Grand Forks (6-4-1) 46.6
20 Albert Lea (5-3)

North Branch ten places ahead of Hermantown--how funny is this?

Lee

[elliott70]

QRF at 12/29/17

1 Mahtomedi (8-1-1) 67.7
T-2 Greenway/Nash-Kee (9-2) 64.7
T-2 Mound Westonka/Watertown-Mayer (8-1-1) 64.7
4 Monticello (8-1) 59.5
5 Simley (9-2-1) 55.8
6 North Branch (9-2) 55.2
7 Sartell-St. Stephen (7-2) 54.8
8 Orono (6-2-1) 53.4
9 Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl (9-3) 52.8
T-10 Crookston (6-4) 49.2
T-10 Minneapolis (8-6) 49.2
12 St. Cloud Cathedral (8-2) 49.0
13 Marshall (9-4) 48.7
14 Luverne (7-2) 48.6
15 South St. Paul (5-4) 47.9
16 Hermantown (4-3-2) 47.6
T-17 Northfield (8-3) 46.9
T-17 Minnehaha Academy (7-3-1) 46.9
19 East Grand Forks (6-4-1) 46.6
20 Albert Lea (5-3)

North Branch ten places ahead of Hermantown--how funny is this?

Lee

QRF, not much better than page stat.

J/K

[HShockeywatcher]

QRF at 12/29/17

I've had reservations about QRF for years. There are few situations where the things they do make sense. It's mostly fine for football seedings, but, with only 8 game seasons, record would be just as good in most cases. In continues to boggles my mind that the mshsl has it as an option for something to use.

[Duluthguy]

QRF at 12/29/17

1 Mahtomedi (8-1-1) 67.7
T-2 Greenway/Nash-Kee (9-2) 64.7
T-2 Mound Westonka/Watertown-Mayer (8-1-1) 64.7
4 Monticello (8-1) 59.5
5 Simley (9-2-1) 55.8
6 North Branch (9-2) 55.2
7 Sartell-St. Stephen (7-2) 54.8
8 Orono (6-2-1) 53.4
9 Virginia/Mt. Iron-Buhl (9-3) 52.8
T-10 Crookston (6-4) 49.2
T-10 Minneapolis (8-6) 49.2
12 St. Cloud Cathedral (8-2) 49.0
13 Marshall (9-4) 48.7
14 Luverne (7-2) 48.6
15 South St. Paul (5-4) 47.9
16 Hermantown (4-3-2) 47.6
T-17 Northfield (8-3) 46.9
T-17 Minnehaha Academy (7-3-1) 46.9
19 East Grand Forks (6-4-1) 46.6
20 Albert Lea (5-3)

It has been mentioned that 7AA will begin using QRF for section seeding this year. So, how does 7A seed? By QRF, coaches' vote, or another method? If the season ended today and 7A used QRF, Hermantown would be seeded 3rd behind Greenway and Virginia, correct?

[elliott70]

Mine at 1/1/18

1 Hermantown 5-3-2
2 Mahtomedi 8-1-1
3 Greenway 9-3-0
4 East Grand Forks 6-4-1
5 St Cloud Cathedral 10-2-0
6 Mound 8-2-1
7 Sartell 8-3-0
8 Virginia 9-4-0
9 Orono 6-3-1
10 Minneapolis 8-6-0
11 Delano 6-5-0
12 Warroad 5-6-1
13 Breck 3-6-0
14 So St Paul 7-4-0
15 Alexandria 5-6-1
16 Crookston 7-4-0
17 Thief River Falls 4-7-2
18 Simley 9-2-1
19 Monticello 9-1-1
20 Luverne 8-3-0

[TTpuckster]

Mine at 1/1/18

1 Hermantown 5-3-2
2 Mahtomedi 8-1-1
3 Greenway 9-3-0
4 East Grand Forks 6-4-1
5 St Cloud Cathedral 10-2-0
6 Mound 8-2-1
7 Sartell 8-3-0
8 Virginia 9-4-0
9 Orono 6-3-1
10 Minneapolis 8-6-0
11 Delano 6-5-0
12 Warroad 5-6-1
13 Breck 3-6-0
14 So St Paul 7-4-0
15 Alexandria 5-6-1
16 Crookston 7-4-0
17 Thief River Falls 4-7-2
18 Simley 9-2-1
19 Monticello 9-1-1
20 Luverne 8-3-0

Giving EGF way too much credit.
And they will likely be 6 - 7 - 1 by the middle of next week.

[elliott70]

Mine at 1/1/18

1 Hermantown 5-3-2
2 Mahtomedi 8-1-1
3 Greenway 9-3-0
4 East Grand Forks 6-4-1
5 St Cloud Cathedral 10-2-0
6 Mound 8-2-1
7 Sartell 8-3-0
8 Virginia 9-4-0
9 Orono 6-3-1
10 Minneapolis 8-6-0
11 Delano 6-5-0
12 Warroad 5-6-1
13 Breck 3-6-0
14 So St Paul 7-4-0
15 Alexandria 5-6-1
16 Crookston 7-4-0
17 Thief River Falls 4-7-2
18 Simley 9-2-1
19 Monticello 9-1-1
20 Luverne 8-3-0

Giving EGF way too much credit.
And they will likely be 6 - 7 - 1 by the middle of next week.

They play the big and maybe best teams in North Dakota.
The question is can they beat MN class A teams.

[TTpuckster]

Mine at 1/1/18

1 Hermantown 5-3-2
2 Mahtomedi 8-1-1
3 Greenway 9-3-0
4 East Grand Forks 6-4-1
5 St Cloud Cathedral 10-2-0
6 Mound 8-2-1
7 Sartell 8-3-0
8 Virginia 9-4-0
9 Orono 6-3-1
10 Minneapolis 8-6-0
11 Delano 6-5-0
12 Warroad 5-6-1
13 Breck 3-6-0
14 So St Paul 7-4-0
15 Alexandria 5-6-1
16 Crookston 7-4-0
17 Thief River Falls 4-7-2
18 Simley 9-2-1
19 Monticello 9-1-1
20 Luverne 8-3-0

Giving EGF way too much credit.
And they will likely be 6 - 7 - 1 by the middle of next week.

They play the big and maybe best teams in North Dakota.
The question is can they beat MN class A teams.

So, my bad, EGF is up on Grand Forks Central 5 - 1 in the 3rd. Hmmmm.

[tezer13]

In all fairness to computer rankings, they can't see the game. They only evaluate scores. I have not seen Hermantown this year, so I don't know if their performances have been better than the results.

The computer sees losses to a sub par Benilde, losses to EP and Wayzata which are both at or below .500, a tie with New Prague. Marshall may be their only true quality win so far.

They have these games as tougher ones left:
Minnetonka
CEC
Mahtomedi
Greenway
SC Cathedral
Virginia

My assumption is they will kick it into gear, win a bunch of those and steam roll the rest and be where they always are in terms of A. But with the sub-par showing so far, I am not sure how high they can climb. That would change of course if they beat Tonka and run the table.

[HShockeywatcher]

In all fairness to computer rankings, they can't see the game. They only evaluate scores. I have not seen Hermantown this year, so I don't know if their performances have been better than the results.

The computer sees losses to a sub par Benilde, losses to EP and Wayzata which are both at or below .500, a tie with New Prague. Marshall may be their only true quality win so far.

They have these games as tougher ones left:
Minnetonka
CEC
Mahtomedi
Greenway
SC Cathedral
Virginia

My assumption is they will kick it into gear, win a bunch of those and steam roll the rest and be where they always are in terms of A. But with the sub-par showing so far, I am not sure how high they can climb. That would change of course if they beat Tonka and run the table.

They are the #1 ranked team here (as low as #2 elsewhere), what climbing do they have to do? The only direction they can go is down...

They have 8 games remaining against Class A teams, all of whom you listed are top 10 teams on my list. My guess is they lose 3 or less remaining games and are the 1 or 2 seed at state, playing someone in the final they played during the regular season...

[HShockeywatcher]

2 Sartell
1 Alexandria

6 Mound Westonka
0 Minnehaha Academy

3 Buffalo
0 Monticello

3 Tartan
2 Simley

7 Providence Academy
1 Breck

Providence Academy is an interesting story now. At 8-5-2 now, their Class A losses are all section losses. They lost to Minneapolis 6-1 and Orono 6-2, but two days ago lost to Mound Westonka by 1 and now beat Breck 7-1. They also have no more section games.
2A should be a crazy tournament!