The PIONEER Press has it going on...

Sparlimb · Post by **Sparlimb** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:09 pm

They know a top team when they see them...

Check out their Metro Top 10 for 2007-2008:

PIONEER PRESS METRO POWER RANKINGS

1. Hill-Murray: The Pioneers return experience and talent from their state tournament team.

2. Edina: A state tournament run fell short last season. Can these Hornets avoid the same fate?

3. St. Thomas Academy: STA looks poised to take a run at Class A title.

4. Centennial: Solid forwards will carry Cougars' hopes.

5. Holy Angels: Payback on Stars' minds after too-early postseason exit last season.

6. Eden Prairie: The Eagles have outstanding defensemen and depth.

7. Burnsville: Thirteen returning letter-winners return from last season's upstart state tournament team.

8. Blaine: The Bengals can score, but can the goalies protect leads?

9. White Bear Lake: The Bears will be difficult to score on.

10. Benilde-St. Margaret's: Tough early-season schedule will reveal where Red Knights stand.

http://www.twincities.com/prep/ci_75200 ... ck_check=1

BIAFP · Post by **BIAFP** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:13 pm

No wonder I don't read that rag

newsguy35 · Post by **newsguy35** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:14 pm

Not so sure about that Centennial team... Ranked a little high for my liking but then again, it is just a PRESEASON guess...

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:18 pm

The only reason the PP put the Pioneers on top is because they don't have Johnson on the schedule this year - they must figure that's one less loss that they'll have to take!

pioneers · Post by **pioneers** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:22 pm

Yes I agree that is probably the reason. Johnson has been a thorn in our side for years. With them off of the schedule now we should be able to win it all

sicknasty7722 · Post by **sicknasty7722** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:05 pm

Is Anoka not the Metro area? Or does the Press (being idiots) just not think that Anoka is a "power" team?

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:15 pm

The Pioneer Press is a much better paper than the Red Star but they are going to favor St Paul and suburb teams and promote them with this stuff.

Who buys their paper, after all?

AngusYoung · Post by **AngusYoung** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:35 pm

Good to see our old pal Ankles Pierre, Jr. found some employment as a "scoop" reporter for the Pioneer Press. Hill will be tough, but the Hornets should be tougher.

AY

BIAFP · Post by **BIAFP** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:36 pm

The Hornets would kick the ship out of Hill in running time

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 2:47 pm

Maybe , but the people in Edina dont buy the Pioneer Press.

And I have seen HM in a scrimmage. Nobody is going to beat them in running time.

Pioneerprideguy · Post by **Pioneerprideguy** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 3:14 pm

Gee, thanks for the larger target "Pioneer" Press. The kids realize they have a talented club & I'm sure the parents are excited to share with coworkers that their kid plays on the Preseason #1 ranked team in the metro. However, it all means very little. We'll know more about this team (and others) by the end of December. To all the players (varsity & JV), congrats on making the team, have fun, good luck this season, and make us alumni proud.

HOFam'r · Post by **HOFam'r** » Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:02 pm

Hmm..wonder if ranking Hill #1 has anything to do with the paper and the school being in St Paul? My opinion has BSM in the top five...better watch out for this team and believe I am not a homer by any means...actually dislike any recruiter school...but this team is solid...watxh out.

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:27 am

Sadly this ignorance isn't limited to hockey preps, the Pioneer Press has a long history of being providing terrible sports coverage for high schools. The Star Tribune does a much better, actually balanced job.

Problems:
1. Edina is not #1 in the Metro.
2. STA is #3, AHA, Burnsville, Centennial, and maybe WBL should be above them, at least.
and finally...
3. Metro rankings are useless considering both state champs came from up north. So either do state wide rankings or don't print anything.

sicknasty7722 · Post by **sicknasty7722** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 12:30 am

thestickler07 wrote:Sadly this ignorance isn't limited to hockey preps, the Pioneer Press has a long history of being providing terrible sports coverage for high schools. The Star Tribune does a much better, actually balanced job.

Problems:
1. Edina is not #1 in the Metro.
2. STA is #3, AHA, Burnsville, Centennial, and maybe WBL should be above them, at least.
and finally...
3. Metro rankings are useless considering both state champs came from up north. So either do state wide rankings or don't print anything.

Well stated

warrior2132 · Post by **warrior2132** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 1:48 pm

Not sure on Anoka yet they just lost oneil.... i think he broke his arm might be hand or wrist in scrimages last weekend in South Saint Paul. Anoka went 2-1 loosing to South Saint Paul 3-2 they also played Hastings and Bloomington kennedy which i believe they handled those teams pretty well

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 2:53 pm

thestickler07 wrote:3. Metro rankings are useless considering both state champs came from up north. So either do state wide rankings or don't print anything.

One of the stupidest comments I've read. Exactly what do METRO rankings have to do with who was champion last year? When the Metro wins the state championship, should we exclude northern teams from the next years STATE rankings?

Does anybody complain in the best in Duluth thread that there are no metro teams?

How loose is that!

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 3:34 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:
thestickler07 wrote:3. Metro rankings are useless considering both state champs came from up north. So either do state wide rankings or don't print anything.
One of the stupidest comments I've read. Exactly what do METRO rankings have to do with who was champion last year? When the Metro wins the state championship, should we exclude northern teams from the next years STATE rankings?

Does anybody complain in the best in Duluth thread that there are no metro teams?

How loose is that!

Probably the stupidest response I've ever read. I get you don't like STA fans Neutron, we all get it. Believe me, you go out of your way to let everyone on the board know. But you try WAY to hard to harass us at every opportunity, instead of looking witty and smart, this time you've managed to make an ass of yourself. Metro rankings are stupid in general because they only give a small snapshot of the bigger picture, and are doubly useless when they aren't even done well. What rankings TRY to do is give us an idea of who will be competing for the state championship later in the season. But when you try to represent who the best teams are, by excluding alot of the elite programs, you lose credibility. That's like saying UMD is the best team in the WCHA, if you don't include all Colorado schools.(The top two as of now)

You tried to make a point about excluding northern teams from STATE rankings if a metro team won the title, but the rankings are "metro area" only, so you kinda dropped the ball on that one.

I never talked about excluding northern teams from the ranks, actually if you'll read my post instead of just mindless responding to it, you'll realize I argue FOR STATEWIDE rankings that INCLUDE everyone. Why would I want essentially a "Top 10" for that is biased towards the East Metro? Honestly, they aren't playing for a East Metro title. I don't like rankings that aren't in a functional region of competition. Do Section/State/Conference rankings because they mean something, but to take such a small microcosm of the hockey playing population in Minnesota and rate them is useless.

Who cares who the best teams in the Metro are? I want to know who the best teams in the state of Minnesota are. The state title isn't only metro schools, obviously, so why would I care who the best schools there only are? Maybe if the state championship always pitted a Northern school vs a Southern school I would care, but otherwise, what's the point?

As for not liking STA/privates, its way overdone, we get it. Just chill out, they aren't going anywhere, so get used to it. But please don't comeback with a cute financial aid/recruiting/class "A" quip followed by a "

" or something of that nature, because it is terribly cliche.

Happy Thanksgiving! And good luck to all the teams in the STATE!

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 4:38 pm

The length of your post doesn't make it any more legitimate, nor do you make any more sense. What does STA have to do with anything? You think my post was about YOU and where YOU went to school? I wouldn't waste my time. Stay on topic.

The St. Paul paper caters to its readers the same way the Grand Rapids Herald caters to their readership. Its business. Don't like that Hill is rated over Edina? Both teams are very good, I would give Edina a slight edge but who knows?

Its METRO rankings, which has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENTIRE STATE! You personally do not get to decide what rankings are worthwhile to the readers of the St. Paul paper.

Goldy Gopher · Post by **Goldy Gopher** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:30 pm

thestickler07 wrote:
Neutron 14 wrote:
thestickler07 wrote:3. Metro rankings are useless considering both state champs came from up north. So either do state wide rankings or don't print anything.
One of the stupidest comments I've read. Exactly what do METRO rankings have to do with who was champion last year? When the Metro wins the state championship, should we exclude northern teams from the next years STATE rankings?

Does anybody complain in the best in Duluth thread that there are no metro teams?

How loose is that!
Probably the stupidest response I've ever read. I get you don't like STA fans Neutron, we all get it. Believe me, you go out of your way to let everyone on the board know. But you try WAY to hard to harass us at every opportunity, instead of looking witty and smart, this time you've managed to make an ass of yourself. Metro rankings are stupid in general because they only give a small snapshot of the bigger picture, and are doubly useless when they aren't even done well. What rankings TRY to do is give us an idea of who will be competing for the state championship later in the season. But when you try to represent who the best teams are, by excluding alot of the elite programs, you lose credibility. That's like saying UMD is the best team in the WCHA, if you don't include all Colorado schools.(The top two as of now)

You tried to make a point about excluding northern teams from STATE rankings if a metro team won the title, but the rankings are "metro area" only, so you kinda dropped the ball on that one.

I never talked about excluding northern teams from the ranks, actually if you'll read my post instead of just mindless responding to it, you'll realize I argue FOR STATEWIDE rankings that INCLUDE everyone. Why would I want essentially a "Top 10" for that is biased towards the East Metro? Honestly, they aren't playing for a East Metro title. I don't like rankings that aren't in a functional region of competition. Do Section/State/Conference rankings because they mean something, but to take such a small microcosm of the hockey playing population in Minnesota and rate them is useless.

Who cares who the best teams in the Metro are? I want to know who the best teams in the state of Minnesota are. The state title isn't only metro schools, obviously, so why would I care who the best schools there only are? Maybe if the state championship always pitted a Northern school vs a Southern school I would care, but otherwise, what's the point?

As for not liking STA/privates, its way overdone, we get it. Just chill out, they aren't going anywhere, so get used to it. But please don't comeback with a cute financial aid/recruiting/class "A" quip followed by a " " or something of that nature, because it is terribly cliche.

Happy Thanksgiving! And good luck to all the teams in the STATE!

These METRO rankings did exactly what they were supposed to. They ranked the best teams in the METRO (although I disagree), not the rest of the state.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:38 pm

Goldy Gopher wrote: These METRO rankings did exactly what they were supposed to. They ranked the best teams in the METRO (although I disagree), not the rest of the state.

You obviously hate STA guys.

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:39 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:The length of your post doesn't make it any more legitimate, nor do you make any more sense. What does STA have to do with anything? You think my post was about YOU and where YOU went to school? I wouldn't waste my time. Stay on topic.

The St. Paul paper caters to its readers the same way the Grand Rapids Herald caters to their readership. Its business. Don't like that Hill is rated over Edina? Both teams are very good, I would give Edina a slight edge but who knows?

Its METRO rankings, which has NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENTIRE STATE! You personally do not get to decide what rankings are worthwhile to the readers of the St. Paul paper.

I never implied that length correlated to legitimacy. I just had a lot to say in this instance. I bring up STA/private hating because I have an issue with you jumping on ANY STA poster for ANY reason, just to be a jerk. The fact is you DO waste your time by posting meaningless comments in threads unrelated to you, with the intention of harassing other people. You "poke fun" way to much, we understand that you're opinionated, but please by respectful.

I think you missed the point of the whole post, so I'll rephrase it if you had difficulty understanding it. My point is rankings that are from a formal region are useless, and misleading, and therefore should not be printed. Its bad journalism, you're implying they should leave out parts of the bigger picture to make a group (metro teams) feel better about themselves. Functional region rankings (rankings from competitive sections/conferences/state tournament) are all that matters because there actually is a competition to see who the best is.

So yes, Metro/Best in Duluth/Best Iron Range rankings are dumb. Because who cares if you are the best in the metro if you aren't the best in state? No one is playing hockey for a "metro", or "northern" championship.

I gave my opinion on the rankings, I was respectful, (unless you work for the Pioneer Press I guess) and then you decided to come in and be denigrating for really no apparent reason, other than to argue a statement I made about my preference for statewide instead of metro rankings. You don't even disagree with my assessment of the rankings so far. I mean, honestly, why did you even post?

What is it a matter of? Do you work for the Press? If you do, tell your sports editor to stop telling half the story and get the northern, and southern teams in the poll. Otherwise I keep reading the Tribune for my prep sports coverage.

Goldy Gopher · Post by **Goldy Gopher** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:40 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:
Goldy Gopher wrote: These METRO rankings did exactly what they were supposed to. They ranked the best teams in the METRO (although I disagree), not the rest of the state.
You obviously hate STA guys.

Apparently I didn't do a good enough job of hiding it.

Oh well, everyone gets a second chance, right?

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:40 pm

Neutron 14 wrote:
Goldy Gopher wrote: These METRO rankings did exactly what they were supposed to. They ranked the best teams in the METRO (although I disagree), not the rest of the state.
You obviously hate STA guys.

Well, you lasted one post Neutron....

Keep trying though, your humor isn't lost on us yet!

Govs93 · Post by **Govs93** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:51 pm

Sounds to me like the STA folks have kind of a thin skin.

Still sore from Anders Lee jumping ship I guess.

Neutron 14 · Post by **Neutron 14** » Thu Nov 22, 2007 5:55 pm

More persecution complex. Were getting more and more of that. Don't tell Stickler, but I never even knew he was an STA fan.