Best Early Season (pre-Thansksgiving) Games

[MNHockeyFan]

The regular season is just about underway! Looking ahead, here are what I see to be some of the best early season matchups. I am including just those involving LPH's pre-season ranked AA teams and the top-ranked A teams:

Saturday November 15
White Bear Lake(9AA) 1, Hill-Murray(8AA) 5
Minnetonka(5AA) 2, Breck(3A) 1

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA) 4, Stillwater (2AA) 2
Eagan (19AA) 2, Breck (3A) 6

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA) 2, Blaine (13AA) 0
Centennial (7AA) 2, Hopkins (4AA) 8
Eden Prairie (10AA) 1, Eagan (19AA) 7

Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A) 2, Minnetonka (5AA) 1
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 5, White Bear Lake (9AA) 4
Roseau (1A) 5, Holy Angels (11AA) 1
Cloquet (18AA) 4, Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA) 2
Roseville (3AA) 5, Hibbing/Chisholm (8A) 0

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A) 8, Holy Angels (11AA) 1
Roseau (1A) 3, Minnetonka (5AA) 1
New Prague (10A) 0, Blake (2A) 10
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A) 0, White Bear Lake (9AA) 1
Roseville (3AA) 3, Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 2
Cloquet (18AA) 2, Stillwater (2AA) 5
Proctor/Hermantown/Marshall (15AA) 7, Irondale (14AA) 2

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth Northern Stars (16AA) 1, Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 3
Blaine (13AA) 4, Centennial (7AA) 3


I don't know how complete the web sites are yet so I probably missed some good ones - please suggest any others that belong and feel free to add your comments below.

Looking forward to another fun season!

[titleist]

Saturday November 22

Roseville @ Grand Rapids...should be a great game!

[MNHockeyFan]

Saturday November 22

Roseville @ Grand Rapids...should be a great game!

Thanks, you're right that should be a dandy and it's been added.

[hockeyrube7]

Sounds like a great place to start with picking winners! Here are mine with scores.

Saturday November 15
White Bear Lake (9AA)-1 vs. Hill-Murray (8AA)-4

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA)-1 vs. Stillwater (2AA)-2

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA)-5 vs. Blaine (13AA)-2

Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A)-3 vs. Minnetonka (5AA)-2
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)-4 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA)-2
Roseau (1A)-6 vs. Holy Angels (11AA)-1
Cloquet (18AA)-3 vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA)-1

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A)-4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA)-1
Roseau (1A)-5 vs. Minnetonka (5AA)-1
New Prague (10A)-0 vs. Blake (2A)-8
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A)-0 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA)-5
Roseville (3AA)-3 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)-2

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth Northern Stars (16AA)-2 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)-4
Blaine (13AA)-2 vs. Centennial (7AA)-1

[OnTheFly]

Thursday, November 20

Centennial vs. Hopkins

[MNHockeyFan]

Thursday, November 20

Centennial vs. Hopkins

Should be another great game - it's been added.

[joehockey]

Here are my guesses with scores.

Saturday November 15
White Bear Lake (9AA)- 2 vs. Hill-Murray (8AA)- 5

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA)- 3 vs. Stillwater (2AA)-2

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA)-5 vs. Blaine (13AA)-1

Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A)- 4 vs. Minnetonka (5AA)- 1
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)- 5 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA)- 3
Roseau (1A)- 4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA)- 2
Cloquet (18AA)-3 vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA)-1

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A)-4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA)-1
Roseau (1A)-5 vs. Minnetonka (5AA)-1
New Prague (10A)-1 vs. Blake (2A)- 6
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A)-0 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA)-5
Roseville (3AA)-4 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)-2

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth Northern Stars (16AA)-2 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)-4
Blaine (13AA)- 1 vs. Centennial (7AA)- 2

[MNHockeyFan]

Based on feedback I've added several other games (featuring teams that are both ranked) to the original list. I will also add the scores as these games are played.

We'll then try to do a separate list for the big games that will played starting over Thanksgiving weekend and leading up to the Holiday tournaments.

[OntheEdge]

I missed Saturday's games but here are the rest of my picks.

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA) 2 vs. Stillwater (2AA) 1

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA) 2 vs. Blaine (13AA) 1
Centennial (7AA) 1 vs. Hopkins (4AA) 4
Eden Prairie (10AA) 1 vs. Eagan (19AA) 3


Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A) 3 vs. Minnetonka (5AA) 1
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 5 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA) 1
Roseau (1A) 3 vs. Holy Angels (11AA) 1
Cloquet (18AA) 3 vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA) 1

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A) 3 vs. Holy Angels (11AA) 1
Roseau (1A) 2 vs. Minnetonka (5AA) 1
New Prague (10A) 1 vs. Blake (2A) 4
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A) 3 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA) 5
Roseville (3AA) 3 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 1
Cloquet (18AA) 1 vs. Stillwater (2AA) 3

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth N Stars (16AA) 2 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 3
Blaine (13AA) 1 vs. Centennial (7AA) 3 (Edited 11/22)

[BluelineD19]

Who is in Edina's section now if they are in 1AA? And when did this change?!

[MNHockeyFan]

Who is in Edina's section now if they are in 1AA? And when did this change?!

1AA is not their section, it is their current Let's Play Hockey ranking (#1) in Class AA.

[Melvin44]

My picks,

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA) 2 vs. Stillwater (2AA) 4

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA) 1 vs. Blaine (13AA) 5
Centennial (7AA) 1 vs. Hopkins (4AA) 3

Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A) 3 vs. Minnetonka (5AA) 1
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 3 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA) 4
Roseau (1A) 4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA) 2
Cloquet (18AA) 3 vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA) 2

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A) 4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA) 2
Roseau (1A) 3 vs. Minnetonka (5AA) 2
New Prague (10A) 1 vs. Blake (2A) 5
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A) 2 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA) 6
Roseville (3AA) 5 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 2
Cloquet (18AA) 2 vs. Stillwater (2AA) 4

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth N Stars (16AA) 2 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 4
Blaine (13AA) 1 vs. Centennial (7AA) 4

Sorry edge. I had to get you back for picking us to get whooped by GR. I think Edina will beat Blaine 5-2.

Also sorry Joe. HM is good but if a team stays out of the box (7 dumb pens for WBL including 3 or 4 PP goals allowed 2 pens for HM) and scores on their break aways (4 for WBL 0 goals) HM can be beat. Hopefully WBL will learn how to do both. 5v5 the game was even. HM was missing 2 strong players though.

And sorry everyone else I needed to vent a little. Wait one more, WBL girls did score 5 out of the 6 goals.

[joehockey]

My picks,

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA) 2 vs. Stillwater (2AA) 4

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA) 1 vs. Blaine (13AA) 5
Centennial (7AA) 1 vs. Hopkins (4AA) 3

Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A) 3 vs. Minnetonka (5AA) 1
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 3 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA) 4
Roseau (1A) 4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA) 2
Cloquet (18AA) 3 vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA) 2

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A) 4 vs. Holy Angels (11AA) 2
Roseau (1A) 3 vs. Minnetonka (5AA) 2
New Prague (10A) 1 vs. Blake (2A) 5
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A) 2 vs. White Bear Lake (9AA) 6
Roseville (3AA) 5 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 2
Cloquet (18AA) 2 vs. Stillwater (2AA) 4

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth N Stars (16AA) 2 vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) 4
Blaine (13AA) 1 vs. Centennial (7AA) 4

Sorry edge. I had to get you back for picking us to get whooped by GR. I think Edina will beat Blaine 5-2.

Also sorry Joe. HM is good but if a team stays out of the box (7 dumb pens for WBL including 3 or 4 PP goals allowed 2 pens for HM) and scores on their break aways (4 for WBL 0 goals) HM can be beat. Hopefully WBL will learn how to do both. 5v5 the game was even. HM was missing 2 strong players though.

And sorry everyone else I needed to vent a little. Wait one more, WBL girls did score 5 out of the 6 goals.

No problem - Good picks.

Totally agree WB is a very strong team and I pick them to do very well in the SEC. I was very impressed in 5-1 game on Saturday - it was much closer than score - and you might be right - HM may struggle to score this year. Always a big game between the two teams and Doyle (3) and H. Brandt (1) who played in WB youth were fired up and had 4 goals. It was unfortunate that HM was missing two top SRs (Center and D) and a key JR D (3 9th graders skated in thier place) from the line up and wnt with McKeever a new 10th grade goalie in her first game (who was the difference) - actually 4-5 players played in their first Varsity game for HM. Penalties always play a role in HS hockey and HM was lucky to stay out of the box until the 3rd. The WB player Hanson a 9th grader was very impressive and never seemed to be off the ice playing both D and C in alternating shifts - she is a great player. Marcotte, Green and Brustle also stood out with their play for WB in the game.

Stillwater (2AA) is a very good team with one of the best goalies in the state and three lines of offense...not sure anyone will be able to beat them....they have some key games coming up.

Best of luck in your upcoming games!

[Melvin44]

I was trying to justify the score. Hanson doesn't play Center she does like to take the puck up ice. I think they played her and Mudd every other shift. I don't think they'll do that every game.

HM's goalie was very good. The forwards are excellent especially on the PP. I'll say right now HM has one of the top PP units in the state. Brandt down low, Doyle is a sniper and Pendleton has a rocket at the point. I was surprised they rotated all their D evenly(probably because they were winning). I thought Pendleton was great the rest of the D were solid but got caught on the breakaways. they will get better as they sure have talent. HM is a top 5 team I just don't think they can beat Stillwater yet without the Sr's. I have been known to be wrong. ALOT!

I did say I was sorry.

Good luck to all the teams and let the games be great!

[MNHockeyFan]

Why is HM missing those seniors and won't they be back for tonight's game against Stillwater?

[OntheEdge]

My picks,

Sorry edge. I had to get you back for picking us to get whooped by GR. I think Edina will beat Blaine 5-2.

No offense taken Melvin. I did my scores rather hastily and I think 5-1 was a little much but I was tired of predicting one goal games and I think I heard that you had a rather green goalie. If your goalie plays well then I think WBL can win this game.

In regards to your pick for Blaine to beat us I have to admit I was considering picking Blaine too (but only a 1 goal difference). I think Edina will be good but I think we are struggling a little right now. We have a new system and new coaches and some new faces. I think it will take a little time to get on track.

[Melvin44]

OntheEdge you're a good man and everyone's always entitled to their opinions. If I weren’t a homer I would probably say WBL would lose by a large margin to GRG. I'm just hoping we're better than most think. Goaltending issues, she will be good after a few games JV is not Varsity hockey and hope she just needs to get caught up to the speed. Yes everyone I know 6 players on the ice and everyone needs to play better/harder.

Read lower in my post Edge I do have Edina winning against Blaine 5-2.

HM's missing there big dog D Knedjeck? Not sure how to spell it and also the Sr transfer Kaylee Summers from Mahtomedi. Still don't know how she gets to play without sitting out?

[Melvin44]

HM 4 Stillwater 2

I'll admit when I'm wrong. HM does seem to be that good! Congrats you deserve it. Looks like #1 to me.

[hockeygroupie]

1

[hockeyheaven]

HM 4 Stillwater 2

I'll admit when I'm wrong. HM does seem to be that good! Congrats you deserve it. Looks like #1 to me.

Don't beat yourself up to much Melvin. Hill is very well coached and came into these two games well prepared to win these very important Section games. The other two sure didn’t seem to take it that serious. Hat’s off to them for that…smart. Will pay high dividends down the road come seeding time. WBL played them even, but coaching, goal tending and preventable penalties contributed to the loss. Schafhauser has to feel fortunate to have won that game by that margin. My understanding is he lit into the team some what because he knew they were fortunate. If it wasn't for the play of their goalie....might have been a different outcome. Most certainly a closer affair. The Ponies game is just what we have come to expect with Stillwater. Selfish play…maybe a little over confident, and like WBL, not as prepared for this big a game as Hill was. They have too much talent not to have put more goals in. They had a 5 on 3 for almost 2 minutes and managed maybe one real scoring chance. Stillwater looked flat even after getting two quick strikes. Similar to the WBL game where Hill capitalized on two early “head scratcher” goals, Stillwater in the similar situation could not.

[joehockey]

Updated with Final Scores

Saturday November 15
White Bear Lake (9AA) vs. Hill-Murray (8AA) - Final Hill Murray 5 - WB 1
Minnetonka (5AA) vs. Breck (3A) - Final Minnetonka 2 - Breck 1

Tuesday, November 18
Hill-Murray (8AA) vs. Stillwater (2AA) Final Hill-Murray 4 - Stillwater 2

Thursday, November 20
Edina (1AA) vs. Blaine (13AA) Final Edina 2 - Blaine 0
Hopkins (4AA) vs. Centennial (7AA) Final Hopkins 8 - Centennial 2


Friday, November 21
Warroad (4A) vs. Minnetonka (5AA)
Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA) vs. White Bear Lake (9AA)
Roseau (1A) vs. Holy Angels (11AA)
Cloquet (18AA) vs. Benilde-St. Margaret's (12AA)

Saturday, November 22
Warroad (4A) vs. Holy Angels (11AA)
Roseau (1A) vs. Minnetonka (5AA)
New Prague (10A) vs. Blake (2A)
Hibbing/Chisholm (8A) vs. White Bear Lake (9AA)
Roseville (3AA) vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)
Cloquet (18AA) vs. Stillwater (2AA)

Tuesday, November 25
Duluth Northern Stars (16AA) vs. Grand Rapids/Greenway (6AA)
Blaine (13AA) vs. Centennial (7AA)

[MNHockeyFan]

Joe, you probably didn't notice but as the games are played I've been adding the scores on the original post!

[joehockey]

Joe, you probably didn't notice but as the games are played I've been adding the scores on the original post!

Yikes!! I was just trying to roll it forward to make it easy to see didn't realize you were updating sorry!!

[OntheEdge]

Rumor is that Lauren Zrust is out for a number of weeks due to a concussion in the Edina game. I hope she gets better quickly. It was a very physical game but I don't think anyone knew she was hurt and I don't think she missed any playing time during the game so hopefully it isn't too serious. Concussions are serious brain injuries. I don't know if she was or was not wearing her mouthguard but many concussions can be prevented if kids would wear their mouthguards. Watch a game some time and look at how many girls are chewing on their mouthguard instead of wearing it.

[unbelievable]

Rumor is that Lauren Zrust is out for a number of weeks due to a concussion in the Edina game. I hope she gets better quickly. It was a very physical game but I don't think anyone knew she was hurt and I don't think she missed any playing time during the game so hopefully it isn't too serious. Concussions are never good.

Best wishes to Lauren for a speedy recovery!!!