Let's Play Hockey Rankings

[SportsMa]

Really looking forward to watching some of these young teams next season! Like Roseau they lost ONE senior! Interesting to see how the rankings played out.

[hockeyrube7]

To be honest, I thought Roseau was maybe the best well rounded "Team" in either tourney, just a tad short on depth.

[MNHockeyFan]

To be honest, I thought Roseau was maybe the best well rounded "Team" in either tourney, just a tad short on depth.

Maybe they should make the move up to AA like their boys' team!

[hockeyrube7]

To be honest, I thought Roseau was maybe the best well rounded "Team" in either tourney, just a tad short on depth.

Maybe they should make the move up to AA like their boys' team!

Maybe, and they may do well. Unfortunately time seems to be short for girls team's to be good and stay there, and I don't know the rule, but if they go AA don't they have to stay there for at least 4 years? My bet with all the seniors on the top 5 or 6 teams in A this year, I'd have to guess all will slide except maybe Blake and Roseau. We'll see I guess, but just my opinion, and even those two will slide the following year I'd imagine. Does anyone know why is there not one class in girls anyway? That is what made the boys such a draw in the first place, is it not, when the were one class I mean?

[boblee]

To be honest, I thought Roseau was maybe the best well rounded "Team" in either tourney, just a tad short on depth.

Maybe they should make the move up to AA like their boys' team!

I firmly believe they would have won section 8AA this year.

[eastsidehockey]

If they had another line they prob would have won state as well...in AA.

Their top 6 forwards are the best i have seen for any team in the state (alright, one of the best )

[keepitreal]

Really looking forward to watching some of these young teams next season! Like Roseau they lost ONE senior! Interesting to see how the rankings played out.

Watching Roseau and what they have returning gave me the same thought. With this observation, I have been meaning to start a thread on which leading teams in both classes might be tough again next year based on losing few players against the graduation losses of their rivals, but I haven't had enough time to do the research to offer an intelligent opinion beyond a couple of teams. As others have noted, teams in class A don't have the depth of the big schools and feel the loss of their talented seniors more acutely.

Certainly in class A, this team will be formidable in 08-09. Warroad will still have Brook Story and a couple of promising players, but it remains to be seen if they can replace Pieper. Crookston will be down one Wheelhouse, several other seniors and their goalie as well. EGF should be improved.

[hockeyheaven]

A common theme that passes through the forum from time to time is the critiquing of the LPH rankings (or any other ranking process for that matter), and then the subsequent criticism, or applause (depending on your self interest) I generally find the debate that goes on very entertaining and see it as appropriate of any thread that is discussed. For this medium if it’s anything, it's all about expressing your opinions and passions for the great game of hockey. I my self don’t put to much stock in the rankings (because of the natural bias that goes with it), I prefer the computerized model even though I will admit that process is also flawed. Given this I have to bring to light this phenomenon that seems to happen every year with the final LPH ranking. How the rankers seem to get swept up in the moment and how drastic the change in their perception gets during the three weeks from Sections to State. If you look at the 2/7 list and compare it with the 2/24 list it’s almost magical the shift in power. For some it’s a dramatic drop, but for other teams you can actually come out of no where with a single win no matter how significant. Take for example: the big losers. Edina, started the year in the third spot, was around 5 all year and then loses to the eventual State Champs by 1 and then drops all the way to ninth. WBL loses in 2ot to CDH who goes on to then beat Stillwater (#3), Roseville(#4) and BSM (#6) (and a lucky break away from the championship game) and they drop 7 spots. Hopkins, top 10 all year, as high as # 3 loses to BSM (#6) and then plummet out of the top ten. Now for the big gainers, Eagan after getting to State by beating no ranked teams lose to Centennial and gasp… Farmington, climbs from 11th to 8th. (ahead of Edina) Elk River, again doesn’t face a ranked team in Sections, loses (big) both games in State and moves from 19th to 10th (ahead of Hopkins who beat them by 3 goals). Last but certainly not least, the little club who could, the darlings of the tournament (at least their 8th grade goalie) I’ll even give them their “Do you believe in miracles...YES!” win over Eagan, but didn’t beat a ranked team all year, is listed as the 11 best team in the State according to LPH. Ahead of HA, Hopkins, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Duluth, PH, WBL..etc. For those who may take offense, believe me I do this with tongue placed squarely in cheek. I just had time to kill and continue to find this interesting, LPH keep up the good work, love the controversy.

[Silent But Deadly]

A common theme that passes through the forum from time to time is the critiquing of the LPH rankings (or any other ranking process for that matter), and then the subsequent criticism, or applause (depending on your self interest) I generally find the debate that goes on very entertaining and see it as appropriate of any thread that is discussed. For this medium if it’s anything, it's all about expressing your opinions and passions for the great game of hockey. I my self don’t put to much stock in the rankings (because of the natural bias that goes with it), I prefer the computerized model even though I will admit that process is also flawed. Given this I have to bring to light this phenomenon that seems to happen every year with the final LPH ranking. How the rankers seem to get swept up in the moment and how drastic the change in their perception gets during the three weeks from Sections to State. If you look at the 2/7 list and compare it with the 2/24 list it’s almost magical the shift in power. For some it’s a dramatic drop, but for other teams you can actually come out of no where with a single win no matter how significant. Take for example: the big losers. Edina, started the year in the third spot, was around 5 all year and then loses to the eventual State Champs by 1 and then drops all the way to ninth. WBL loses in 2ot to CDH who goes on to then beat Stillwater (#3), Roseville(#4) and BSM (#6) (and a lucky break away from the championship game) and they drop 7 spots. Hopkins, top 10 all year, as high as # 3 loses to BSM (#6) and then plummet out of the top ten. Now for the big gainers, Eagan after getting to State by beating no ranked teams lose to Centennial and gasp… Farmington, climbs from 11th to 8th. (ahead of Edina) Elk River, again doesn’t face a ranked team in Sections, loses (big) both games in State and moves from 19th to 10th (ahead of Hopkins who beat them by 3 goals). Last but certainly not least, the little club who could, the darlings of the tournament (at least their 8th grade goalie) I’ll even give them their “Do you believe in miracles...YES!” win over Eagan, but didn’t beat a ranked team all year, is listed as the 11 best team in the State according to LPH. Ahead of HA, Hopkins, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Duluth, PH, WBL..etc. For those who may take offense, believe me I do this with tongue placed squarely in cheek. I just had time to kill and continue to find this interesting, LPH keep up the good work, love the controversy.

Great observations hockeyheaven!

[GOCARDS1]

Boblee, yes, I'm sure they could have won 8AA, after beating Bemidji close and Moorhead twice. They never played Elk River, but I think it would have been close. Alexandria hasnt lost a game to a 8AA team the last two years.

[State Champ 97]

Boblee, yes, I'm sure they could have won 8AA, after beating Bemidji close and Moorhead twice. They never played Elk River, but I think it would have been close. Alexandria hasnt lost a game to a 8AA team the last two years.

With the loss of a group of very talented and hard working seniors that is about to change.

[GOCARDS1]

haha of course it is. I'm sure most teams and fans have realized that. I was just saying that top A teams could do just fine in AA sections.

[State Champ 97]

haha of course it is. I'm sure most teams and fans have realized that. I was just saying that top A teams could do just fine in AA sections.

I won't argue that. I even supported it in another thread.

[GOCARDS1]

ya. Bemidji will have a hard time replacing Erickson next year, and same goes to Elk river with the loss of some talented seniors. Moorhead the team to beat next year or no?

[State Champ 97]

ya. Bemidji will have a hard time replacing Erickson next year, and same goes to Elk river with the loss of some talented seniors. Moorhead the team to beat next year or no?

Bemidji won't, and can't replace Erickson next year. Nobody could. But there are some talented players coming up to fill in for the rest of the departing senoirs and a lot of players in the junior class that will try to collectively fill the Ms. Hockey void. Elk River has a couple of young players that are very good. Johnna Curtis is an 8th grader that I compare to the female Zach Lehrke (Small and smooth with a knack for putting the puck in the net). Moorhead will be tough, but need to replace some good players on defense. They still have Ashley Stenerson that is a very gifted offensive player. NWC will be better. Tech is going to have to rebuild. The Icebreakers and River Lakes have decent goaltending. Sartell/Sauk Rapids-no. The interesting team will be Brainerd if they co-op with Little Falls. I don't know what that will mean if anything.

[chickendance]

Bemidji doesn't need to replace Erickson. They need to find some D.

[State Champ 97]

Bemidji's D were all sophomores with the exception of two. One senior and one junior. They will be better next year as will the goaltending.