Section 1a Preview

[nickel slots]

I guess it's that time again.

My early favorites and reasons why:

1. Rochester Lourdes - Voigt, Peterson, Funk, Spratte and Hexum are all playing in the Elite League. Goaltending is the big question mark for these guys. Can Coach Gill get them up for the big game?
2. Albert Lea - Lost some big time players is Bowman, Woodside and Royce, but Roy and his staff always seem to have the boys ready down the stretch. Goaltending is an unkown.
3. Red Wing - Schammel and Noesen will lead these guys up front, Mitchell on the blue line, and a good battle between the pipes. Always well coached.
4. New Prague - Lost Ambroz to the USHL and one of their top defensemen to Canadian Juniors. New coach in Lonke. Unproven goaltending. Return 3 of top 4 scorers in Tyler Lapic, Schyler Adams, Darren Lapic.
5. Mankato West - Lost a ton of scoring in 2008's graduating class and a top notch goaltender in Tyler Bruggeman. Andrew Bruggeman and Soup will be relied on heavily. Breakout year for Weber?
6. Faribault - Doesn't return any huge scoring threats, but deep sophomore class will add plenty in that department. New coach in Ryan who has a good track record come sectionals.
7. Northfield - Loses some quality players in last year's senior class. Can they fill the pipeline?
8. Mankato East - Looking to improve on miserable 07-08 campaign. New coach to invigorate players. Billiar and Willaert will have to have huge seasons for this group to compete at section level.
9. LeSueur/St. Peter - good group of hard working seniors.
10. Waseca - New coach. Lost majority of scoring to graduation. Will need Atkinson and Kingston to step up big.
11. What can you say? Lost Kirby to Russell Stover. Ouch.

[darkdemon]

I guess it's that time again.

My early favorites and reasons why:

1. Rochester Lourdes - Voigt, Peterson, Funk, Spratte and Hexum are all playing in the Elite League. Goaltending is the big question mark for these guys. Can Coach Gill get them up for the big game?
2. Albert Lea - Lost some big time players is Bowman, Woodside and Royce, but Roy and his staff always seem to have the boys ready down the stretch. Goaltending is an unkown.
3. Red Wing - Schammel and Noesen will lead these guys up front, Mitchell on the blue line, and a good battle between the pipes. Always well coached.
4. New Prague - Lost Ambroz to the USHL and one of their top defensemen to Canadian Juniors. New coach in Lonke. Unproven goaltending. Return 3 of top 4 scorers in Tyler Lapic, Schyler Adams, Darren Lapic.
5. Mankato West - Lost a ton of scoring in 2008's graduating class and a top notch goaltender in Tyler Bruggeman. Andrew Bruggeman and Soup will be relied on heavily. Breakout year for Weber?
6. Faribault - Doesn't return any huge scoring threats, but deep sophomore class will add plenty in that department. New coach in Ryan who has a good track record come sectionals.
7. Northfield - Loses some quality players in last year's senior class. Can they fill the pipeline?
8. Mankato East - Looking to improve on miserable 07-08 campaign. New coach to invigorate players. Billiar and Willaert will have to have huge seasons for this group to compete at section level.
9. LeSueur/St. Peter - good group of hard working seniors.
10. Waseca - New coach. Lost majority of scoring to graduation. Will need Atkinson and Kingston to step up big.
11. What can you say? Lost Kirby to Russell Stover. Ouch.

I agree with the Roch Lourdes pick they looked good last year and didn't lose much if i remember correct. Albert Lea will be there and the Scarlet Skaters have fallen off the map. Sorry west but you weren't ever on the map.

[backcheck101]

1 Rochester Lourdes
2 Red Wing
3 New Prague
4 Albert Lea
5 Mankato West
6 Northfield
7 Faribault
8 Mankato East
9 Waseca
10 LeSueur/St. Peter

The top three could go in any order.

[Hotel.Hockey]

1 Rochester Lourdes
2 Faribault
3 New Prague
4 Red Wing
5 Albert Lea
6 Mankato West
7 Northfield
8 Mankato East
9 Waseca
10 LeSueur/St. Peter

[High_Plains_Dangler]

1 Red Wing
2 Rochester Lourdes
3 New Prague
4 Fairbault
5 Mankato West
6 Albert Lea
7 Northfield
8 Mankato East
9 Waseca
10 LeSueur/St. Peter

[hit the ice]

This section will be a battle between lourdes, red wing and new prague.

Lourdes: very talented up front with loads of scoring power..goalie could be a problem.

Red Wing: Strong up front...good depth at defense and a goalie with experince

New Prague: One dominate like..overall defense with be down with goalie problems..

AL: you just never know what they will come up with

West: practically lost everything besides goalie

Its going to be a fun year..lots of battles

[GopherPuck15]

I guess it's that time again.

My early favorites and reasons why:

1. Rochester Lourdes - Voigt, Peterson, Funk, Spratte and Hexum are all playing in the Elite League. Goaltending is the big question mark for these guys. Can Coach Gill get them up for the big game?
2. Albert Lea - Lost some big time players is Bowman, Woodside and Royce, but Roy and his staff always seem to have the boys ready down the stretch. Goaltending is an unkown.
3. Red Wing - Schammel and Noesen will lead these guys up front, Mitchell on the blue line, and a good battle between the pipes. Always well coached.
4. New Prague - Lost Ambroz to the USHL and one of their top defensemen to Canadian Juniors. New coach in Lonke. Unproven goaltending. Return 3 of top 4 scorers in Tyler Lapic, Schyler Adams, Darren Lapic.
5. Mankato West - Lost a ton of scoring in 2008's graduating class and a top notch goaltender in Tyler Bruggeman. Andrew Bruggeman and Soup will be relied on heavily. Breakout year for Weber?
6. Faribault - Doesn't return any huge scoring threats, but deep sophomore class will add plenty in that department. New coach in Ryan who has a good track record come sectionals.
7. Northfield - Loses some quality players in last year's senior class. Can they fill the pipeline?
8. Mankato East - Looking to improve on miserable 07-08 campaign. New coach to invigorate players. Billiar and Willaert will have to have huge seasons for this group to compete at section level.
9. LeSueur/St. Peter - good group of hard working seniors.
10. Waseca - New coach. Lost majority of scoring to graduation. Will need Atkinson and Kingston to step up big.
11. What can you say? Lost Kirby to Russell Stover. Ouch.

Who will Albert Lea start in net?

[chillin]

I would suggest to all in 1a not to take Faribault too lightly. They may not be the best team, but you can bet, Ryan will have them all ready. This guy is a real coach!

[karl(east)]

[quote="chillin"]I would suggest to all in 1a not to take Faribault too lightly. They may not be the best team, but you can bet, Ryan will have them all ready. This guy is a real coach![/quote]

As opposed to the other coaches in 1A who are, in fact, not real coaches, but cardboard cutouts.

[fan2007]

I am glad to see coach ryan is back posting on the board.

[pioneerhockey12]

i like new prague in this section. They have too much offensive talent to not be the favorite in my opinion

[maverickshockey33]

Lourdes was very talented last year, and with last year's loss in the section championship, I'm sure they'll be prepared to win it this year. Albert Lea can never be counted out no matter who they lose from graduation. They have a stellar program down there and they always seem to plug in new players who flourish under the system. I don't know much about Red Wing all I know is they destroyed teams in the opening rounds of sections last year. Mankato West will be rebuilding even if they don't want to admit it. It's hard to be competitive when you only have 3 legit players on the team, plus a new goalie whoever that will be. I don't know if the kids from Mankato East even know how to win to be honest. Most of the kids have been on varsity for 2 years now, and they haven't shown much improvement other than Billiar and Willaert. They also have a new goalie as well so we'll see if the new coach can teach them how to win.

[What's Hockey?]

Lourdes was very talented last year, and with last year's loss in the section championship, I'm sure they'll be prepared to win it this year. Albert Lea can never be counted out no matter who they lose from graduation. They have a stellar program down there and they always seem to plug in new players who flourish under the system. I don't know much about Red Wing all I know is they destroyed teams in the opening rounds of sections last year. Mankato West will be rebuilding even if they don't want to admit it. It's hard to be competitive when you only have 3 legit players on the team, plus a new goalie whoever that will be. I don't know if the kids from Mankato East even know how to win to be honest. Most of the kids have been on varsity for 2 years now, and they haven't shown much improvement other than Billiar and Willaert. They also have a new goalie as well so we'll see if the new coach can teach them how to win.

Lourdes will be good judging by their performance last year and the group they lost.
Albert Lea is always a contender. Great Coach
New Prague is gonna be a huge factor. Talented bunch of returners.
West is kinda questionable. Lost their goalie to the USHL i see and i don't really remember any of the players that will still be around (apparently three "legit players". Who are??)
Red Wing could turn a few heads. Couple very solid players.
The rest of the pack I have no idea on.

[maverickshockey33]

The 3 legit players on West would be the other Bruggeman forward, defenseman Nick Campbell, and forward Drew Weber. But those kids will realize it's hard to carry a team on their backs when they have limited talent along side them.

[hockeydad]

Take Le Sueur-St. Peter out of this section. Their three school coop added a four school, Montgomery-Lonsdale, for this season. They are now in Section 1AA.

That leaves only 11 teams in the section, with five teams getting first round byes.

[hockeyblitz]

This section will come down to Lourdes, New Prague or Red Wing. Albert Lea lost to much from last year and they will have only one line worth talking about. Not enough to stay competitive in the section. West also lost alot of talent and cannot fill the holes.

[THEDOMINATOR39]

roch will win, does anyone know who will be in the pipes for new prague

[dipseydoodle17]

roch will win, does anyone know who will be in the pipes for new prague

Hello Mr Dominator. From what I heard, probably Cassidy, otherwise the young gun, Joe Morris may have a shot.

New Prague will have one of the top lines in state with the two Lapics and Adams, and second line will be decent. Goaltending and defense will determine how they do this year. If the goaltending and defense rise to the occasion then they have a good chance at winning the section, but if their performance is sub par then dont look for them to win the section. It will be pretty interesting to see how it plays out for them this year.

[DmanDad1980]

roch will win, does anyone know who will be in the pipes for new prague

Hello Mr Dominator. From what I heard, probably Cassidy, otherwise the young gun, Joe Morris may have a shot.

New Prague will have one of the top lines in state with the two Lapics and Adams, and second line will be decent. Goaltending and defense will determine how they do this year. If the goaltending and defense rise to the occasion then they have a good chance at winning the section, but if their performance is sub par then dont look for them to win the section. It will be pretty interesting to see how it plays out for them this year.

Agree on the Dman assessment... always have had a soft spot for the Dman...
From your comments on NP forwards, a top line in the state is always a major plus, but from watching hockey for too many years, the good teams have three lines...

I will take the team w/ 3 solid lines over the team w/ 2 solid lines... Stamina, and the ability to win third periods...

[universaldegreaser]

Who does Lourdes have in net? they have to be the favorite in the section right now. They were a great team last year and the only two players that come to mind that graduated are the goalie and the forward campbell, did they lose any other major contributors?

[EricBlair]

does no one seem to remember that la crescent is in this section?

[Herbie Jr.]

When looking at the numbers, Lourdes has the target on their back this year, with new prague and redwing following behind. when looking at the numbers albert lea and west have no shot. that is when looking at the numbers. but then again... when has albert lea let the numbers get in their way. Up until high school, they rarely compete with teams. however they've been to the state tourney more times in the past couple years than any other team in the section. then again... when has west let the numbers get in their way. they were beat by both albert lea and lourdes in the regular season last year and out shot by lourdes in the section championship. yet they still found a way to defeat both teams in sections and go on to the state tourney. Predictions are nice and sometimes right, but when it's all said and done, all that matters is who's name is being called up on the big screen come tourney time.

Impossible is Nothing

[THEDOMINATOR39]

does no one seem to remember that la crescent is in this section?

Why should anyone care?

[EricBlair]

well if this is supposed to be ranking of the section, shouldn't all teams IN THE SECTION be included....see to me..that makes sense

[GinosAreGood]

1 Lourdes
2 NP
3 Red Wing
4 Fairbault
5 Mankato West
6 Albert Lea
7 Northfield
8 Mankato East
9 LaCrescent
10 Waseca

Lourdes reminds me of west last year. Jr heavy teams get upset in sections (West - New Ulm; Lourdes - West), Both lose their Sr. goalies (Trembley/Blasing; Scuds), but return basically their whole team the next year. West Sr's were on a mission last year and Lourdes is in the same boat this year. Goalie is unknown. West had question marks at goalie, but Bruggeman emerged as one of the best goalies in the state last year. If Lourdes get a pleasant suprise like that I think they'll not only walk to state, but also have a good run in the state tourney. New Prague will be up there with them. NP/Lourdes final would be sick