Section 8 guy wrote: ↑Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:52 pm
Some tough calls but here goes.
1) Moorhead - Deep up front and goaltending should be a strength. Took Bantam state championship game to 2OTs.. Tough schedule.
2). Brainerd - Strong senior class and solid nucleus back from a good team. Could this be their year?
3) Roseau. Huglen will be a handful at the high school level and some nice parts to a supporting cast. Will be a factor.
4) Buffalo. Junior class made a lot of noise in Bantams but with a fairly short bench. Braccini(s?) will also be a handful. Solid goaltending. Could they climb into the top 3?
5) STMA. Flammang and Laylin will be a great duo and will carry a lot of water. Just not sure there’s enough else to get any higher.
6) St Cloud. Seems like they have enough back to avoid dropping into the bottom two.
7) Bemidji. Not much scoring back and will probably have to adjust a bit style wise without Fitzgerald back there. May be selling them short a bit.
8.) Rogers. A departure or two along the way haven’t helped.
Bemidji has two new players move in to the District. They are projected as 1st and 2nd liners.
Goal tending will not be as good as last year but will be more than adequate.
Section 8 guy wrote: ↑Wed Oct 31, 2018 10:52 pm
Some tough calls but here goes.
1) Moorhead - Deep up front and goaltending should be a strength. Took Bantam state championship game to 2OTs.. Tough schedule.
2). Brainerd - Strong senior class and solid nucleus back from a good team. Could this be their year?
3) Roseau. Huglen will be a handful at the high school level and some nice parts to a supporting cast. Will be a factor.
4) Buffalo. Junior class made a lot of noise in Bantams but with a fairly short bench. Braccini(s?) will also be a handful. Solid goaltending. Could they climb into the top 3?
5) STMA. Flammang and Laylin will be a great duo and will carry a lot of water. Just not sure there’s enough else to get any higher.
6) St Cloud. Seems like they have enough back to avoid dropping into the bottom two.
7) Bemidji. Not much scoring back and will probably have to adjust a bit style wise without Fitzgerald back there. May be selling them short a bit.
8.) Rogers. A departure or two along the way haven’t helped.
Bemidji has two new players move in to the District. They are projected as 1st and 2nd liners.
Goal tending will not be as good as last year but will be more than adequate.
Bemidji returns 6 Fs from the top 3 lines, while adding the two move-ins. Although, the forwards that did graduate were first and second liners.
They only return 2 defensemen, but they were two of the better ones from last years team and should see an upgrade in the D core from Bantams and younger players moving up.
The biggest loss and question mark will be in goal, replacing a 3 year starter and one of the better goalies in state. Senior leadership might be missed as well as a few were a part of the state team a few years ago. Ultimately, Bemidji is an opt-up who will likely be closer to competing for a home playoff game than a section title.
Section 8 guy wrote: ↑Fri Nov 02, 2018 6:11 pm
Good local knowledge Goose. Great in depth stuff. Anyone have any in depth knowledge on Rogers, St Cloud, Moorhead or Brainerd?
As self-proclaimed "Section 8 guy," shouldn't we be asking you?
Should be an exciting year.
My predictions
1. Moorhead (2nd in state as bantams and they play defense first which usually win at tourney time
2.Brainerd ( Seniors are hard to beat. Much like STMA last year.
3. Buffalo ( Might be a year away but the junior class was very good at bantams)
4. STMA ( Did lose quite a few kids but once you have been to the big show it makes a difference.
5.St. Cloud ( Lost some seniors but have some returning could be a dark horse.
6. Roseau ( Maybe a dark horse also if one player can carry a team.
7. Bemidji ( Unknown
8. Rogers ( what can I say
elliott70 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 22, 2018 11:20 amBoy people will be surprised when the state champ comes from this section
Considering the traction at many of the private schools in the Twin Cities and the engines at mega youth associations like Maple Grove feeding a few metro HS teams, yes. Love the variety and it is never easy to win it all, but that's a bold prediction for Section 8 to win at AA in the coming years!
elliott70 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 25, 2018 10:43 am
Moorhead started the season with taking highly ranked Andover to OT.
I am feeling more confident all the time.
Was anybody at this game that can provide some perspective? The shots ended 43-27 according to the hub. Was this roughly indicitive of play? I am assuming the new Moorhead goalie played well?
elliott70 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 22, 2018 11:20 am
Boy people will be surprised when the state champ comes from this section
Combined with the Jacks dispatching Warroad rather easily, that Thursday game is shaping up to be very interesting.
Bemidji 1 2 lines looked really good as did the 5 dman.
3rd line gave up little and G Waldhausen was more than solid.
Bemidji - Brainerd game should be telling, but the Jacks will be in the battle for home ice come playoff - long ways to go though.
I’m not sure how I ended up quoting your earlier post about the state champs, I meant to quote the Bemidji final from last night. In any event, thanks for your analysis of the Warroad game and Thursday should be a good one.
elliott70 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 4:40 pm
Be good to hear from Rogers and Buffalo people
On those teams.
I’m probably the closest thing to a Buffalo fan on this board, which is pretty sad given that my connections are: a) my parents live in the district; and b) a friend teaches at BHS and has a son in the youth system.
Apparently the preseason hype around town was nearly unbearable, but it looks like the same old song and dance with the Bison unable to compete with the top teams and hoping for a section semi appearance. Even with essentially the whole team back, there just doesn’t seem to be enough depth after the top line.
I would concur with that assessment of Buffalo. They simply couldn't hang with a Moorhead team that is not nearly as good as it has been in the past. That said, the Spuds looked much better against Bemidji tonight and have a pretty good shot at the section if the new goalies continue to be good and the 2nd-4th lines can produce. Game-winner tonight was from the 3rd line against Bemidji's top group.
TheNightman wrote: ↑Wed Dec 05, 2018 12:30 am
Moorhead is better than expected but I still think the Brainerd Fightin' Andreses pull it out.
I would like to join that bandwagon Elliot but I think the Worriors will struggle to find consistency. At 2-3 can the Aus rally the boys
to the Saintly city?
Placing a sell on my Worrior stock
