Section 7AA 2008-2009
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Section 7AA 2008-2009
Who will be looking good in this section next year?
Players to watch?
Which team will be playing at the "X" in March?
Players to watch?
Which team will be playing at the "X" in March?
Re: Section 7AA 2008-2009
Look for it to be the usual 3 horse race between GR, East and Cloquet with East the early favorite. GR will press them again and should fare better than Cloquet. GR will be very young and inexperienced, but will progress faster than most people think. The youngsters coming in from Bantams will most likely be some of their best players. Defense should be their strength and it starts in goal with Underwood. Defensively you have Rendle, Kleinendorst, Merritt & Horrsman returning. Merritt and Horrsman saw some late season minutes and should be ready to step in to full time roles. Returning senior Leingang should be in the mix if healthy and look for new comer Zach Dick to push for a spot. Offensively, Palki and Skrbec are the only returners of note. Schulte will help as will Hamman, and the rest will most likely be filled in by newcomers. Moore & How are two fine players that can make a difference. Should be a fun team to watch. The coaches will have their hands full early, but will have these guys ready to make a playoff push. As always, depends on how hard they're willing to work this offseason.SnowFlake wrote:Who will be looking good in this section next year?
Players to watch?
Which team will be playing at the "X" in March?
Character is who you are when no one is watching
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Assuming none of their top players bolt for juniors, Duluth East will likely be the favorite. They have some issues, like finding some linemates for Tardy, but the body of talent they return, especially on defense, is the best of any team in 7AA. This certainly doesn't mean things will be easy, though, with rivals that are more than capable of taking them down and the complete lack of success for recent 7AA favorites. It'll be a dogfight to the end as usual.
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Don't forget about Forest Lake, St. Francis and Cambridge!rapidsrapids wrote:Anyone know what the southern teams, Andover, Elk River, and Anoka will bring for competition in 08-09?

These are the top 3 forwards from each of the "southern teams" that I found on Maxsports.com that will be returning.
Elk River
Chad Hennum 16 - 18 - 34
Levi Lutz 10 - 12 - 22
Ben Jaremko 10 - 9 - 19
Anoka
Berkley Scott 24 - 27 - 51
Dustin Olson 10 - 14 - 24
Brandon Derks 5 - 5 - 10
Andover
Cal Decowski 7 - 17 - 24
Aaron Wiczek 5 - 8 - 13
Taylor Tollette 2 - 8 - 10
Forest Lake
Kyle Young 14 - 12 - 26
Derek Harrison 14 - 10 - 24
Kyle Jenson 9 - 6 - 15
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I'd guess right now, the playoffs will be:
1. Duluth East - they'll be good next year
2. Grand Rapids - solid goalie and very good defensemen, young, skilled, Forwards.
3. Elk River - Just a hunch Sars gets them on the right track
4. Anoka - wil be very competitve next year even with losses to grad.
5. Cloquet - Esse will have em ready come playoffs.
6. Andover - A program on the rise
7. Forest Lake - They never seem to improve
8. Cambridge - A very good summer team from what I hear
9. St. Franny - Just keep movin' forward, maybe in 2089 there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
1. Duluth East - they'll be good next year
2. Grand Rapids - solid goalie and very good defensemen, young, skilled, Forwards.
3. Elk River - Just a hunch Sars gets them on the right track
4. Anoka - wil be very competitve next year even with losses to grad.
5. Cloquet - Esse will have em ready come playoffs.
6. Andover - A program on the rise
7. Forest Lake - They never seem to improve
8. Cambridge - A very good summer team from what I hear
9. St. Franny - Just keep movin' forward, maybe in 2089 there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
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After three straight seasons of not making it past the 7AA semifinals, East has to prove they're the best in this section besides what people expect on paper. Past "glory" and "expected talent" aren't enough, in my mind. Besides, I still haven't heard anything conclusive about whether Arbour and Forbort are coming back. If both are, they'll be good. If both don't, it could be a tough season. They had some decent sophomore forwards this past season who need to take the next step and add to what Max Tardy should contribute. Losing Johnson and Boese could be bigger than East fans hope.
In short, they need to get back to the level of performance they had from 1991-2004.
Geez....I can't believe I'm thinking about next season and summer hasn't started yet.
Lee
In short, they need to get back to the level of performance they had from 1991-2004.
Geez....I can't believe I'm thinking about next season and summer hasn't started yet.
Lee
PageStat Guy on Bluesky
Feels like summer out west here, Lee. Only a smattering of snow on fishing opener. And Lake Bemdiji 1/2 ice still.east hockey wrote:After three straight seasons of not making it past the 7AA semifinals, East has to prove they're the best in this section besides what people expect on paper. Past "glory" and "expected talent" aren't enough, in my mind. Besides, I still haven't heard anything conclusive about whether Arbour and Forbort are coming back. If both are, they'll be good. If both don't, it could be a tough season. They had some decent sophomore forwards this past season who need to take the next step and add to what Max Tardy should contribute. Losing Johnson and Boese could be bigger than East fans hope.
In short, they need to get back to the level of performance they had from 1991-2004.
Geez....I can't believe I'm thinking about next season and summer hasn't started yet.
Lee
Snow in GR last night, I think we somehow bypassed summer, are into fall and the season is right around the corner.elliott70 wrote:Feels like summer out west here, Lee. Only a smattering of snow on fishing opener. And Lake Bemdiji 1/2 ice still.east hockey wrote:After three straight seasons of not making it past the 7AA semifinals, East has to prove they're the best in this section besides what people expect on paper. Past "glory" and "expected talent" aren't enough, in my mind. Besides, I still haven't heard anything conclusive about whether Arbour and Forbort are coming back. If both are, they'll be good. If both don't, it could be a tough season. They had some decent sophomore forwards this past season who need to take the next step and add to what Max Tardy should contribute. Losing Johnson and Boese could be bigger than East fans hope.
In short, they need to get back to the level of performance they had from 1991-2004.
Geez....I can't believe I'm thinking about next season and summer hasn't started yet.
Lee

Character is who you are when no one is watching
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I thought they called it "God's Country" up there - He must be punishing you guys for not winning the section last year...Down here in the Cities (close to HM they said) it was clear with warm southerly breezes, low of 70 I think...GR3343 wrote:Snow in GR last night, I think we somehow bypassed summer, are into fall and the season is right around the corner.

The weather is great, God makes snow, also.MNHockeyFan wrote:I thought they called it "God's Country" up there - He must be punishing you guys for not winning the section last year...Down here in the Cities (close to HM they said) it was clear with warm southerly breezes, low of 70 I think...GR3343 wrote:Snow in GR last night, I think we somehow bypassed summer, are into fall and the season is right around the corner.


I'm thinking that a few of you have Elk River up to far.. Atleast for right now, I cant see them in the top 5 as of right now.rapidsrapids wrote:I'd guess right now, the playoffs will be:
1. Duluth East - they'll be good next year
2. Grand Rapids - solid goalie and very good defensemen, young, skilled, Forwards.
3. Elk River - Just a hunch Sars gets them on the right track
4. Anoka - wil be very competitve next year even with losses to grad.
5. Cloquet - Esse will have em ready come playoffs.
6. Andover - A program on the rise
7. Forest Lake - They never seem to improve
8. Cambridge - A very good summer team from what I hear
9. St. Franny - Just keep movin' forward, maybe in 2089 there will be light at the end of the tunnel.
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I can see a few Metro teams surprising some people in this section next year.
My sleeper is Andover in this upcoming season, maybe getting even a number 3 seed..
As of right now,
1 - Duluth East
2 - Anoka
3 - Grand Rapids
4 - Andover
5 - Cloquet
6 - Elk River
7 - Forest Lake
8 - Cambridge
9 - St. Francis
My sleeper is Andover in this upcoming season, maybe getting even a number 3 seed..
As of right now,
1 - Duluth East
2 - Anoka
3 - Grand Rapids
4 - Andover
5 - Cloquet
6 - Elk River
7 - Forest Lake
8 - Cambridge
9 - St. Francis
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That is because there Mommies and Daddies paid mother nature off.MNHockeyFan wrote:I thought they called it "God's Country" up there - He must be punishing you guys for not winning the section last year...Down here in the Cities (close to HM they said) it was clear with warm southerly breezes, low of 70 I think...GR3343 wrote:Snow in GR last night, I think we somehow bypassed summer, are into fall and the season is right around the corner.



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Good one !!!Indians forever wrote:That is because there Mommies and Daddies paid mother nature off.MNHockeyFan wrote:I thought they called it "God's Country" up there - He must be punishing you guys for not winning the section last year...Down here in the Cities (close to HM they said) it was clear with warm southerly breezes, low of 70 I think...GR3343 wrote:Snow in GR last night, I think we somehow bypassed summer, are into fall and the season is right around the corner.
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