Preseason Top 10

demongoed · Post by **demongoed** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:38 am

I wonder if there is a relationship between the lack if depth in the EP roster and the fact that the team has not, in the recent past, really been a team made up of players living in EP. Is is possible that the high school coach's encouraging players from the outside to take spots from long-time players from the commuinty is hurting participation at the younger levels?

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:47 am

EP has had very strong youth hockey. It appears some of their top young players have gone to other schools BSM has a few I think.

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:50 am

and The Blake School.

Anyways it should be a interesting year for all teams.

ExecutionTrumpsStrategy · Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:53 am

SuperStar wrote:and The Blake School.

Anyways it should be a interesting year for all teams.

And then EP is lucky to have imports like SuperStar's daughter!

demongoed · Post by **demongoed** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:55 am

On another note, I noticed that tryouts for the Edina girls' U10 and U12 teams are in October, but I heard from a parent outside the association that the A teams at least are already determined and practicing. Is this true? If so, what is the point of holding a tryout?

Bensonmum · Post by **Bensonmum** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:56 am

joehockey wrote:EP has had very strong youth hockey. It appears some of their top young players have gone to other schools BSM has a few I think.

I'll disagree with you there. Considering the population of EP, their numbers in girls youth hockey are surprisingly low, and the last few years their 12A and 14A teams have been middle of the road or below average talent-wise. The only thing 'special' about their girls' hockey program has been the varsity, with many players from outside the town of EP.

OntheEdge · Post by **OntheEdge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:57 am

hockeyrube7 wrote:Edge, agree with all there. Didn't mean to offend Edina, just watched that team for at least 5 years now, and they tend to always have the deepest team in the state, but never seem to be able to push it over the top, why is that? Maybe the new coach will help that, maybe this is their year. And I was wrong on the goalies, just know they have some young but very talented goalies.

Like your take on White Bear, they may be the interesting tell this year. Them and Minnetonka will be interesting to see how they fair. I think the northern teams may surprise this year also. Unfortunately some of the best northern teams and maybe the best in the state over all, are playing A.

SuperStar, not throwing shots at EP at all, just stating facts, nearly every kid that played and contibuted left now, other than those already stated. I'm sure they will be a good team, but top 10. Maybe they will surprise? Please explain what makes them a top 10 team, I'd be glad to read it. My team, I just enjoy watching all hockey when ever and where ever I can. My favorites to watch from last year were GRG and Roseau! This year will have to be seen. And just for Edge, Edina was may favorite a few years back, and they ran in to an exremely tough draw with EP in section.

I'm glad you mentioned Minnetonka. I think they are going to be better than people think. Minnetonka has a very good youth program and I think they are starting to see some of the benefits of it at the Varsity level. They have excellent goaltending talent, Rachel Ramsey, and a host of players that may not be superstars but are very good hockey players. If their goalies play like I think they can I think Minnetonka will win a lot of games.

I really don't know enough about the Northern teams. Grand Rapids was a top team last year and has some very good players returning but I wonder how much losing Erickson will effect them. People will disagree but I thought Erickson was the best forward in the State last year, and someone who could dominate games all by herself.

I've seen Duluth and Cloquet play and they are very good teams but I didn't think they were in the top 10 last year but maybe this year they will be. Its too early to tell.

I think one of the best teams will be Blake. Just about their entire team is returning and they added a couple of good young players. I know that they are concerned with the fact that they only have one goalie. If I were them I would put her in a bubble between games so that she doesn't get sick or hurt.

As far as Breck, I think they will be good but they lost some very good players so I think they lost ground to Blake this year. I think that losing McMillan and Swiontowski will hurt but they should still be one of the better single A teams.

I hear that Hopkins is hoping that this is their year. They have standouts Kortum, Johnson and Billadeau and other solid players this year but next year they will lose some very good seniors, most importantly will be the loss of Kortum and I hear the pipeline of talent is thin at the youth level.

As far as Edina, they didn't lose too much and some of their most talented players are now playing. These next 2-3 years should be their heyday. It will be interesting to see how they adjust to the new coach.

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:57 am

ETS - Your making me Blush!

I owe you a Beer or two for that one!

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:02 am

OntheEdge wrote:
hockeyrube7 wrote:
As far as Breck, I think they will be good but they lost some very good players so I think they lost ground to Blake this year. I think that losing McMillan and Swiontowski will hurt but they should still be one of the better single A teams.
Where did McMillan go I understood she was still there and is only a 9th grader or did she go out east somewhere?

OntheEdge · Post by **OntheEdge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:10 am

Bensonmum wrote:
joehockey wrote:EP has had very strong youth hockey. It appears some of their top young players have gone to other schools BSM has a few I think.
I'll disagree with you there. Considering the population of EP, their numbers in girls youth hockey are surprisingly low, and the last few years their 12A and 14A teams have been middle of the road or below average talent-wise. The only thing 'special' about their girls' hockey program has been the varsity, with many players from outside the town of EP.

I don't totally agree Bensonmum even though I agree that the current numbers are low considering the size of the community. Previous to this year I think EP's youth program has been pretty good the last few years however EP lost too many of there top youth players to private schools. Bergh, Viel, Lund, Crowe just to name a few were top players at the youth level (I think Komarek and Baumgartner are from EP too but I'm not sure). I know that some of these players attended private school from the beginning but I think some left due to the past transfer issues. They will have to rebuild at the youth level but I think EP's program will rebound eventually but it may take a while.

OntheEdge · Post by **OntheEdge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:13 am

joehockey wrote:
OntheEdge wrote:
hockeyrube7 wrote:
As far as Breck, I think they will be good but they lost some very good players so I think they lost ground to Blake this year. I think that losing McMillan and Swiontowski will hurt but they should still be one of the better single A teams.
Where did McMillan go I understood she was still there and is only a 9th grader or did she go out east somewhere?
I heard that she left Breck and returned to Highlands. I also hear that she was going to be a practice player with the Thoroughbreds but I heard that prior to the start of the school year so its possible she changed her mind and either stayed at Breck or possibly decided to play for the Blades.

Silent But Deadly · Post by **Silent But Deadly** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:18 am

OntheEdge wrote:I think Komarek and Baumgartner are from EP too but I'm not sure.

Pretty sure Baumgartner is from Plymouth and played her youth at Armstrong.

Bensonmum · Post by **Bensonmum** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:34 am

OntheEdge wrote:
joehockey wrote:
OntheEdge wrote: Where did McMillan go I understood she was still there and is only a 9th grader or did she go out east somewhere?
I heard that she left Breck and returned to Highlands. I also hear that she was going to be a practice player with the Thoroughbreds but I heard that prior to the start of the school year so its possible she changed her mind and either stayed at Breck or possibly decided to play for the Blades.
Word in the arena is that she has returned to Breck.

OntheEdge · Post by **OntheEdge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:43 am

demongoed wrote:On another note, I noticed that tryouts for the Edina girls' U10 and U12 teams are in October, but I heard from a parent outside the association that the A teams at least are already determined and practicing. Is this true? If so, what is the point of holding a tryout?

As with any program people know most of the favorites to make the "A" team but the teams are not picked until tryouts. "A" coaches typically set up summer and fall development programs that are open to anyone eligible for their level. Because there are so many players space is limited (3 U14 teams and 4 U12 teams last year. Generally most of the dedicated players are first to sign up and/or a coach might reserve spots for the returning A players at a level so there is always a feeling by some parents that the coaches are picking their team at the development camp which is not true (obviously smart players and parents see it as an opportunity to get more face time in front of the coach). Tryouts at Edina are very systematic. There are teams of evaluators that are supervised by EHA board members. Coaches get final say on players but it is a collaborative process involving many people. If the coach is a parent coach then independent evaluators have final say on picking the team.

The interesting experiment in Edina is that they will have A1 and A2 teams at the U12 and U14 levels. This type of experiment was attempted years ago to a disasterous result but the new Board is willing to give it another try. The idea is that it will better develop the second tier of players by letting them play with better players but a byproduct of helping the second tier players will be the reduced competitiveness of the Edina B teams. A number of years ago at the U12 level Edina created a B1 and B2 team. The parents and girls on the B1 team loved it and dominated but the kids on the B2 team had a miserable season (I think they lost all of their games by a large margin) and most if not all quit hockey. It will be interesting to see if this experiment works this time. My prediction is: (1) the U12 and U14 A1 teams will be good (U14 has to find a goalie); (2) the A2 team at U12 will struggle to be competitive; (3) the A2 team at U14 will be competitive (if they can find a goalie); and (4) the B teams (U12 and U14) will struggle to be competitive.

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:47 am

Bensonmum wrote:
OntheEdge wrote:
joehockey wrote: I heard that she left Breck and returned to Highlands. I also hear that she was going to be a practice player with the Thoroughbreds but I heard that prior to the start of the school year so its possible she changed her mind and either stayed at Breck or possibly decided to play for the Blades.
Word in the arena is that she has returned to Breck.
Thanks I know T-Breds wanted her but she was 7 days to young.

OntheEdge · Post by **OntheEdge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:53 am

Bensonmum wrote:
Word in the arena is that she has returned to Breck.

I didn't know that but that makes sense especially with Vanelli being named coach.

Stinkin Rootbeer · Post by **Stinkin Rootbeer** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:30 pm

Hockey Rube 7

How can you not put Alex on the list over some of the teams listed..they still have a lot of girls that have experienced the state tournament and what it is like to win to get there...just saying you can't count them out....

hockeyrube7 · Post by **hockeyrube7** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:39 pm

That may be just enough to push Breck in to the top 10, especially in A, you can get away with one super star. Don't think they can compete with Blake though, not this year, not many will I don't think. Aren't they in the same section still? In my opinion, A is a toss up of Blake and Roseau, let us see who can form better as a team. If a team can knock either of them off, that will be something.

hockeyrube7 · Post by **hockeyrube7** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:43 pm

Stinkin Rootbeer wrote:Hockey Rube 7

How can you not put Alex on the list over some of the teams listed..they still have a lot of girls that have experienced the state tournament and what it is like to win to get there...just saying you can't count them out....

I agree, and no one is counted out until tourney time. Look at some of the teams that played in the state tourney, who would have guessed that at the beginning of the year. Just sharing an opinion, and in my opinion, I don't see them beating any on that least. Could be wrong.

OntheEdge · Post by **OntheEdge** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 2:04 pm

hockeyrube7 wrote:That may be just enough to push Breck in to the top 10, especially in A, you can get away with one super star. Don't think they can compete with Blake though, not this year, not many will I don't think. Aren't they in the same section still? In my opinion, A is a toss up of Blake and Roseau, let us see who can form better as a team. If a team can knock either of them off, that will be something.

I agree Rube. I haven't seen Roseau but they must be very good if you put them even with Blake. Blake didn't lose any of their top skaters from last year and last year they dominated (they beat good AA teams too). Blake did lose a very good goalie but Billadeau shared time last year and is ready to be the full time goalie. Like I said before I was told that they don't have a backup goalie so I would say that as long as their goalie is healthy I think they will win the State A Tourney. I may change my mind once the season starts and/or after I see Roseau.

State Champ 97 · Post by **State Champ 97** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 3:28 pm

Stinkin Rootbeer wrote:Hockey Rube 7

How can you not put Alex on the list over some of the teams listed..they still have a lot of girls that have experienced the state tournament and what it is like to win to get there...just saying you can't count them out....

I wouldn't put them there either. Alex had a great run with a senior class that was special. The rest that "experienced the state tournament" have some very big shoes to fill. One thing they have going for them is they play in a very weak section.

justavoicetohear · Post by **justavoicetohear** » Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:54 pm

OntheEdge wrote:
I think Komarek and Baumgartner are from EP too but I'm not sure.
sally komarek played for wayzata not EP and Baumgartner didnt play for ep either

hockeyrube7 · Post by **hockeyrube7** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:31 pm

Most Captain Practices are starting. Any word around the state on how the teams are shaping up? Any teams looking better than expected?

SuperStar · Post by **SuperStar** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:51 pm

Yeah.....EP is going re-peat!!

hockeya1a · Post by **hockeya1a** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:29 pm

SuperStar wrote:Yeah.....EP is going re-peat!!

What ever your on I want some!