Section 3AA 2006-7

[ghshockeyfan]

SEC # RK PV TEAM RATING RK RATING GP W L T
3 1 1 Stillwater 924.061 6 32.129 31 27 4 0
3 2 2 North St. Paul Polars 476.892 19 38.679 28 23 4 1
3 3 3 Centennial 174.763 27 41.222 27 19 6 2
3 4 4 White Bear Lake 43.511 8 33.808 26 10 12 4
3 5 5 Blaine 42.835 15 37.111 27 12 14 1
3 6 6 Irondale 14.924 66 63.885 26 15 11 0
3 7 7 Mounds View 8.659 9 34.269 26 5 20 1
3 8 8 Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 6.342 65 63.444 27 12 15 0
3 9 9 Tri-City 0.196 106 82.520 26 3 21 2

[GuestPony1976]

I dunno...I think both NSP & Stillwater are going to be hard pressed to duplicate their past two / three seasons success. Both are losing the bulk of their scoring. I don't recall seeing much scoring from anyone other than the dynamic duo last season for the Polars. Someone can correct me of course...if I'm mistaken 'bout that. Stillwater may have slightly better chances with Dahl returning. They're gonna have to find her some linemates. I think the Ponies have some players who can become bigger scoring threats than they've been, or needed to be in the past. Charpentier & King are two that come to mind. For the Ponies, it will definitely be a season when several will need to step into bigger, more productive roles. Who might fill those roles for the Polars?

TIFKAb
The "Im"poster Formerly Known As brookyone.

[ghshockeyfan]

For the Ponies, it will definitely be a season when several will need to step into bigger, more productive roles. Who might fill those roles for the Polars?

Not sure on the Polars, but I know they had a decent group of younger kids, some moving up from youth. It's tough to replace a Jones/Zilles or Hogan/Thunstrom. NSP also lost their goaltender in Scavo - and she was underrated I thought. I'm sure someone will step up in both these programs.

Blaine has an amazing goaltender, and that will help them. Should be interesting to see what they can do.

I don't know much about Centennial. McCready (G) graduating (Wisconsin) hurts, and they may have lost some others too? Still likely a good core there I would bet.

[Pony1976]

Just wanted to correct an omission in my earlier post. I think Katie Polanski can also become a bigger contributor for the Ponies, even as a defender. She may be the best D the Stillwater girls hockey team has ever seen.

So, just to attempt to be a little more precise on what I expect in 3AA next season, I'm just doubtful either the Ponies or the Polars will be clear favorites next time around. I can really see votes for Blaine and Centennial as perfectly legit.

Posted in part as a test post.

[ghshockeyfan]

I guess I could see as amny as 4 teams getting looked at as "frontrunners" in this sect. Much more parity at the top and overall.

Throughout the state - that '88' class of kids was amazing in general... The 89's are made up of a ton of strong D, but not as many top F's...

[trilogy]

this will be a really interesting section. My gut is NSP and WBL will drop, Blaine will be stronger, Centennial about the same and the Ponies will dominate. Too many graduations to really tell though. Youth programs in WBL and Centennial are very strong but the talent is not quite old enough yet to hit the varsity scene.

[GUEST]

I got to go with Blaine, many 1 goal games last year in a tough conference..With Stillwater, Jones was a difference maker..able to take games into her own hands...and they will miss her.

[ghshockeyfan]

this will be a really interesting section. My gut is NSP and WBL will drop, Blaine will be stronger, Centennial about the same and the Ponies will dominate. Too many graduations to really tell though. Youth programs in WBL and Centennial are very strong but the talent is not quite old enough yet to hit the varsity scene.

I don't know centennial well. They lost a lot in McCready, Zewers, Nelson, Sandell, and Chmielewski... Maybe this is where the youth program comes in & there are some strong returning players.


Player Stats G A Pts.
Lisa Zewers 19 19 38 (Grad)
Kellye Nelson 19 18 37 (Grad)
Justina Debruzzi 11 17 28
Keeta Koalska 10 17 27
Megan Sandell 7 13 20 (Grad)
Kayla Chilstrom 7 11 18
Kelsey Swangstue 7 8 15
Melissa Chmielewski 3 8 11 (Grad)


Goaltending Stats MIN GA GAA
Kathrine Adams 355 9 1.29
Alannah McCready 988 26 1.34 (Grad)
Team Season Totals: 1379 36 1.33

[SEhockeyDAD]

From the limited knowledge I have of girls hockey at the youth level, I believe that Centennial's program is like a machine. They should keep reloading for years. And if I'm not mistaken, NSP has some really good players at the youth level, perhaps even playing with the boys. While the future bodes well or these schools, I'm of the opinion that Stillwater still has a lot coming back. Does anyone else remember Callie Dahl's rushes coming right off the face-off at center ice? They'll still be scary.

[trilogy]

Are any of these teams in the fall leagues going on right now? Wonder how their high school teams are shaping up now that school has started. Especially white bear lake and stillwater.

[gopher25]

White bear lake is going to be better than last year even though they lost toupal. They challenge more teams than they did last year. They had a great U14 team last year that could have won state might give them some key additions.
Stillwater had a great player in Jones and it will take them a while to get over the "hangover" of not having a go to goal scorer, Dahl won't be able to take a game over by herself like jones did so they will have to find her a linemate or two. She is deadly from the slot though. Does anyone know who else they have up front besides Dahl?
My pick for the section will be between Centennial or Blaine. Both had great youth programs the last couple of years, Blaine was really young last year but impressed me at times and they have the goaltending. Centennial's U14 program was 'the state champions last year and a joy to watch, I think it will start to pay off in how they have really invested in their U14 program the past 4 seasons.

[hockeywild7]

Stillwater returns some goal scorers and players who will take up some of the slack missing from the departed offense. Their defense is all back and will be the best in the section. Goaltending is back and is very strong. Time will tell how they adjust but Stillwater is three lines deep and skilled in my opinion. I think the section will be between Stillwater and Blaine.

[Davis12D]

I think Centennial will come out on top with WBL second best. The Ponies will be deep again this year, but with Dahl being a little smaller, I don't think she will be able to pick up the scoring load when she gets a lot of attention from the other teams. Schlisting is a strong defender, but the rest of the D is suspect. NSP will have some good young players, and solid experienced D, but not enough fire power to win the tight games.

[hockeywild7]

Not sure where you get your information but if you follow them, Stillwaters Defense has 3 returning seniors that are 3 year starters and the other a junior with 2 years experience. They have more experience in defense than any team in the section. I would put Stillwaters defense as among the best in the state. They were very strong last year and are all back. The strength of Stillwater should be on defense and goaltending. Blaine and Stillwater should both be very strong defensively with Blaine probably getting the edge because of goaltending. I would say NSP has probably the least experience. NSP has graduated almost all their D the past couple of seasons and about 85% of their scoring. I think it will take NSP a couple years to possibly get back to contending. White Bear and Centennial should also both be contenders but have question marks on scoring as well. Centennial loses a huge part of their defense with the graduation of their goaltender. I think it will be a close contest between Blaine, Stillwater and Centennial. If you look at returning scoring Blaine returns the most with about 60% coming back. Centennial and Stillwater return close to half of their goal scoring. Hard to believe with Stillwater considering who they lost but its true. NSP loses the most returning only 15%. Got my stats from Sportshuddle.

[PondHock07]

My prediction for the section final game will be Centennial vs. Stillwater. I'm going to say that Centennial will come out with the victory as well. I'm also happ to see that the site for the game has been moved to Aldrich now. It's not fair that Stillwater get's home-ice advantage

[ghshockeyfan]

Didn't know the final game got moved, but that makes sense especially after they packed SCVRC last year...

Re: this section - I can't count out a half-dozen teams. To name a few, Blaine has likely Ms. Goalie in Nixon and some young talent that may put the puck in the net enough to get it done. WBL had a great U14 (& U12...) last year and the U14-to-HS Marcotte D is pretty amazing (along with some others I'm sure, but she's the only one that I've seen firsthand). Losing Toupal to graduation hurts though. Otherwise, the WBL program is an unknown to me. Centennial, again, some big losses to graduation, but I worked this fall in a league with some of those remaining players, and if their youth program provides what it should - WOW...

Irondale has some great young talent that last year showcased the younger McDonald girl & a younger Lorence gal, as well as Udvig... Tri-city is gone into the North Metro Stars co-op, and I don't know as much about SpLP & MV as I should... and NSP is an unknown with some new players from a solid youth program as well. I never count them out...

Note I haven't even yet mentioned Stillwater - and there are some great younger players there too as well as the strong upperclassmen D & others that I'm not as familiar with.

This is no section 6AA, and isn't what it was these last few years, but it's still no easy section (well, really, no section is!)...

[PondHock07]

Blaine will be good this year, but i think they will be the team to beat next year and the year after they have a lot of younger girls. Nixon won't be able to do it all herself.

I think too many people write Irondale off, they'll be tough to beat.

Who were the girls from Centennial in the fall league? I want to see how that team does without Mcready, Zewers, & Nelson

[brookyone]

My prediction for the section final game will be Centennial vs. Stillwater. I'm going to say that Centennial will come out with the victory as well. I'm also happ to see that the site for the game has been moved to Aldrich now. It's not fair that Stillwater get's home-ice advantage

Watching the section 3AA play at various rinks including St. Croix Rec Center I've never really noticed any home ice advantage. Last years NSP / Stillwater final was a classic and outstanding hockey game, but there was no home ice edge for Stillwater IMO. When it gets to this stage...quarter, semi or finals I don't think teams are fazed by playing on anothers home ice, and teams certainly bring their equal share of fan support. I don't have any problem with neutral sites tho...that's quite all right too.

[PondHock07]

That's true, but you have to consider the fact that they get to dress in their own locker room, they play on a rink that they got to play games on and practice on for a little over 3 months. I agree with you that they bring fans with them but there are definetly more advantages for the team that gets to play at home

[ghshockeyfan]

Who were the girls from Centennial in the fall league? I want to see how that team does without Mcready, Zewers, & Nelson

G will be key. I don't know who will fill this role as I don't know the team well enough. Armstrong, Conrad, Chilstrom, & DeBruzzi skated this Fall as I'm sure did many others.

[ghshockeyfan]

That's true, but you have to consider the fact that they get to dress in their own locker room, they play on a rink that they got to play games on and practice on for a little over 3 months. I agree with you that they bring fans with them but there are definetly more advantages for the team that gets to play at home

IMHO - playing on home ice for anything beyond a QF or playin/prelim is wrong. It's an advantage I believe to play where you practice every day, etc. - although I suppose some could argue that the SW teams practice on the 2nd rink sometimes too and not always on the main rink, but the point is still the same...

[ghshockeyfan]

KRACH SAYS:

PV TEAM RATING SOSRK SOSRATING GP W L T PTS GF AVG GA AVG PCT
1 Irondale 207.753 49 52.067 15 13 2 0 26 61 4.07 25 1.67 0.867
2 Stillwater 105.309 2 28.333 15 8 5 2 18 49 3.27 30 2.00 0.600
3 Blaine 81.988 30 43.933 15 11 4 0 22 53 3.53 21 1.40 0.733
4 Centennial 71.950 17 40.571 14 10 4 0 20 48 3.43 27 1.93 0.714
5 Spring Lake Park/St. Anthony 24.927 63 60.933 15 9 4 2 20 65 4.33 39 2.60 0.667
6 Mounds View 23.900 16 40.067 15 7 8 0 14 36 2.40 49 3.27 0.467
7 White Bear Lake 19.479 4 31.750 16 5 10 1 11 37 2.31 50 3.13 0.344
8 North St. Paul Polars 15.551 43 49.533 15 7 8 0 14 29 1.93 40 2.67 0.467

[hockeyman31]

i think irondale could pull an upset in this section

[MNHockeyFan]

i think irondale could pull an upset in this section

According to the KRACH ratings, at least as of now, they are more than 2-1 favorites, so you couldn't exactly call their winning their section an upset. They've played extremely well so far, with the lone exception being an 8-0 thrashing by BSM. In that game their whole game was off and their goaltender had an off game as well.

[taz91]

[quote="MNHockeyFan"][quote="hockeyman31"]i think irondale could pull an upset in this section[/quote]

According to the KRACH ratings, at least as of now, they are more than 2-1 favorites, so you couldn't exactly call their winning their section an upset. They've played extremely well so far, with the lone exception being an 8-0 thrashing by BSM. In that game their whole game was off and their goaltender had an off game as well.[/quote]
You always see people talking about NSP, Stillwater, Centennial and Blaine. Other than a quick posting about Meghan Lorence on here there is no mention of Irondale. I would call it an upset in the same way that Pittsburgh winning the Super Bowl last year was an upset. Nobody expected anything out of them. Despite the numbers they are still an underdog.