AA Rankings for 3/1

[karl(east)]

Happy March! Just because we're in the playoffs doesn't mean the rankings will end.

This one has a slightly different tilt, though. I am only ranking the 20 remaining teams, for somewhat obvious reasons. While there are clearly better teams out there who have already lost, their seasons are over, and it's time to focus on who's left.

1. Edina
-Took care of business today against AHA, thereby hanging on to the top spot. Thursday's game should be epic, as the Hornets aim for their 3rd consecutive state berth.
This week: 2AA championship vs. #2 Bloomington Jefferson Thurs

2. Bloomington Jefferson
-I'm moving them up a slot because of the way in which they rolled through Burnsville. Have not given up a goal in 2 playoff games. Also, the allure of a 1-v-2 matchup was too big.
This week: 2AA championship vs. #1 Edina Thurs

3. Eden Prairie
-Survived a strong effort by Benilde and will continue their battle through 6AA Thursday night.
This week: 6AA championship vs. #6 Minnetonka Thurs

4. Blaine
-Dispatched of their first round opponent handily, as expected.
This week: 5AA SF vs. #15 Osseo Tues [championship for section is Fri]

5. Duluth East
-It wasn't pretty, but they're through to the final for the first time in 4 years. They have a chance to erase a lot of bad memories this week.
This week: 7AA championship vs. #11 Elk River Thurs

6. Minnetonka
-Got past Wayzata without too much trouble. Now, the real test.
This week: 6AA championshio vs. #3 Eden Prairie

7. Maple Grove
-A large group of teams went missing from this part of last week's standings, so they make the jump. Time for their feel-good season to face its biggest test.
This week: 5AA SF vs. #8 Centennial Tues [championship for section is Fri]

8. Centennial
-Like Blaine and MG, they rolled through their first round game. Time to see if they can pull it all together after a rough end to the regular season.
This week: 5AA SF vs. #7 Maple Grove Tues [championship for section is Fri]

9. Moorhead
-Methodically moved through the first two rounds and now have a chance to avenge recent section title game losses to Roseau. Have not allowed a goal in 2 playoff games, but then, the section is rather weak.
This week: 8AA championship vs. #14 Roseau Wed

10. Cretin-Derham Hall
-A team that is peaking at the right time and looks quite hot going into the 3AA final. If I were a top seed, this is the one team I would not want to draw in the tourney. With enough upsets, they even have an outside shot at a seed, though I find that doubtful.
This week: 3AA championship vs. #16 Apple Valley Thurs

11. Elk River
-Coasted through two relatively easy matchups and now face their big test up at the DECC on Thursday. Very capable of pulling off the upset.
This week: 7AA championship vs. #5 Duluth East Thurs

--drop-off---
12. White Bear Lake
-Have the ultimate shot at revenge on Wednesday, and a serious shot at the state tourney. It's there for the Bears to take if they can rise to the occasion.
This week: 4AA SF vs. #13 Hill-Murray Wed [championship for section is Fri]

13. Hill-Murray
-Not a particularly convincing first round win, but they know they've had the edge against WBL in recent years and will look to extend that this week. Will have to rely on coaching and experience to slip through.
This week: 4AA SF vs. #12 White Bear Lake Wed [championship for section is Fri]

14. Roseau
-Got the job done, barely, against St. Cloud Tech. Now we'll see if they can sneak one more year out of this dynasty over 8AA.
This week: 8AA championship vs. #9 Moorhead Wed

15. Osseo
-Dispatched of Champlin Park and now look to try and play spoiler vs. Blaine. It's something they're capable of if enough goes right.
This week: 5AA SF vs. #4 Blaine Tues [championship for section is Fri]

16. Apple Valley
-Also peaking at the right time and solidly knocked off a 1-seed in Woodbury. They have an uphill task against Cretin, but it's not beyond them to return to the tourney for the first time since that 1996 championship.
This week: 3AA championship vs. #10 Cretin-Derham Hall

17. Stillwater
-The Ponies knocked off Roseville in double-OT and, with a fortuitous semifinal draw, have seen their shot at state dramatically increase. Have shown flashes of quality this year.
This week: 4AA SF vs. #20 St. Paul Johnson [championship for section is Fri]

18. Rochester Century
-I'm giving them the bump over North for knocking off the top seed and a somewhat more impressive regular season. 1AA could do a lot worse than sending them to state.
This week: 1AA championship vs. #19 Lakeville North Fri

19. Lakeville North
-Beat their intra-city rivals for the third time to earn a shot at a section title.
This week: 1AA championship vs. #18 Rochester Century

20. St. Paul Johnson
-That they make it into these rankings is an incredible accomplisment. Props to the Governors for knocking off Tartan, and with the weakness of their section, who knows?
This week: 4AA SF vs. #17 Stillwater [championship for section is Fri]
-----------------------
Throughout this season, I have refrained from making much of any predictions, except for in a few select 7AA games. Now that we're at this point in the season, I think I will do so. Please understand that these are done in the spirit of fun and in all but one case do not reflect any sort of personal bias (and you all know which one is the exception, I'd hope). I'm sure I'll be horribly wrong with a few of them, but it'll be interesting to see how I do.

1AA
I forsee Century continuing its run through the section and moving on to represent the south at the X.

2AA
One of the toughest calls. Jefferson supporters tout their team's defense and depth, two qualities which I value greatly in any team. However, I do not think they have a decided edge in either in this game, particularly in terms of depth. Edina's lower lines are capable of doing a lot of good things. This leaves me with a dead-even matchup that should come down to the wire. In that situation, I like Edina, as they have shown they know how to win the big, close game over the past 2 years. Regardless, this game should be a thriller and the winner should almost certainly get the #1 seed at state.

3AA
An intriguing matchup, and not one that many would have expected. As much as I would love to see AV advance and face Duluth East in the first round at state, CDH's recent streak makes me doubt they can pull it off. I'm very impressed with what CDH has done recently.

4AA
By far the hardest call to make. Rivalries are always destined to be incredibly close games, and with the unusual seasons both WBL and Hill have had, it's almost impossible to call this one. Though they are better than the other 2 remaining teams, the winner of this one could easily overlook the next opponent, too. But I'll go out on a limb and say WBL finally figures it out. Time for a changing of the guard in 4AA. But I won't be remotely shocked by any result to the contrary.

5AA
For whatever reason, MG seems to match up well against Centennial and poorly against Blaine. By that reasoning, I'm taking MG over Centennial, but Blaine in the 'ship. If Centennial figures things out against MG, though, I forsee Blaine's run ending.

6AA
In an upset, I will take Minnetonka. Should be a thrilling night in Mariucci.

7AA
Duluth East. Surprised?

8AA
Roseau played well enough against Moorhead the second time around to win, and with Oliver back and the experience that they have, I'll go for an upset here too.

Enjoy the title games, and best of luck to all teams involved.

[youngblood08]

4AA
By far the hardest call to make. Rivalries are always destined to be incredibly close games, and with the unusual seasons both WBL and Hill have had, it's almost impossible to call this one. Though they are better than the other 2 remaining teams, the winner of this one could easily overlook the next opponent, too. But I'll go out on a limb and say WBL finally figures it out. Time for a changing of the guard in 4AA. But I won't be remotely shocked by any result to the contrary.


Stillwater beat and tied WBL so this will be closer then you exspect. also Stillwater is in the 4AA SF. I know just a typo.

[karl(east)]

Nice catch; I was bound to mess up one of those.

And Stillwater can definitely beat one of those two teams; I just feel that they haven't looked as good, overall, as the other 2. I am rooting for the Ponies, remember?

[WBLHockeyfan04]

Youngblood- I understand you're a Stillwater fan, and I'm a WBL fan. But you constantly keep making the argument that Stillwater is 1-0-1 against WBL this season, and it's getting old. WBL has been playing so much better since that loss to Stillwater it's not even funny. WBL was the better team in the second meeting, even though it resulted in a tie. They were pressuring throughout the 2nd, and controlled the 3rd period of that game.

Just because you beat a team by a goal, and tie them in another game. Doesn't mean you are the better team. (Also WBL has EVERYONE back now) I have absolutely nothing against Stillwater by no means, and I expect them to beat Johnson on Wednesday. It just always seems like you use WBL as an escape goat to defend Stillwater? Anyways, I hope these two teams meet for the section championship, because I don't see WBL going three in a row without a victory! Just how your Ponies didn't go three in a row against the Raiders.

[D#9]

Y say that johnson is gonna such an easy game?? johnson is a physical team and after watching what happend to stillwater when roseville was playin the body they can break down. This is a winable game for johnson. give the team some credit where its due.

[WBLHockeyfan04]

I never said it was going to be an easy game, but you get the 8th seed for a reason. Right? I'll admit, I don't see alot of Johnson hockey, but is an 8th seed going to come out of this section? No. I think it was a combination of Tartan being overranked, and overrated. Like I've said on other threads. Tartan plays in a weaker conference, and it's only credible victory was over Hill. In a game that they were outshot badly.

[youngblood08]

FACTS are FACTS aren't they? Wasn't the majority picking Roseville to win, I believe one post was"Anytime anywhere" or something like that? My point to karl was that he shouldn't over-look the Ponies both games vs WBL were good games and you have nothing but excuses for the outcome of those games. We also had players banged up so what's your point?

This topic karl made refference that it was WBL or Hills title too lose, Stillwater seems to have played WBL well no matter what the situation.

Enough of the bears talk we have to concentrate on Johnson, as Moose and the gang had about 5 periods to scout the team, hopefully the Ponies staff took a look see on the Tartan-Govs game and took notes otherwise I will have to slip into the old EastSide disguise and sneak into a practice Monday or Tuesday.

[MNHockey75]

3/1

1. Bloomington Jefferson 26-1
2. Edina 23-4
3. Eden Prairie 24-3
4. Minnetonka 20-7
5. Blaine 22-3-1
6. Duluth East 23-3-1
7. Centennial 18-4-4
8. Maple Grove 20-3-3
9. Cretin-Derham Hall 19-7-1
10. Elk River 17-9-1
11. Moorhead 14-9-3
12. Hill-Murray 16-9-1
13. White Bear Lake 14-10-2
14. Roseau 15-9-3
15. Apple Valley 14-12-1
16. Osseo 14-12
17. Stillwater 12-11-3
18. Lakeville North 9-18
19. Rochester Century 14-11-2
20. St. Paul Johnson 15-12

PREDICTIONS:
1aa - Lakeville North 4, Century 3
2aa - Edina 4, Jefferson 3, 2 OT
3aa - CDH 5, Apple Valley 2
4aa - Hill 5, Stillwater 3
5aa - Centennial 3, Blaine 2, OT
6aa - Minnetonka 4, Eden Prairie 2
7aa - East 3, Elk River 2
8aa - Moorhead 6, Roseau 4

[MedleyWR]

It just always seems like you use WBL as an escape goat to defend Stillwater?

Sorry, I just had to do it....

[O-townClown]

Medley, great pull there! Too funny.

[Goldfishdude]

Medley???? If you could only see that I am standing while doing this..

[MedleyWR]

Medley???? If you could only see that I am standing while doing this..

Well, I can't match Karl for quality, indepth analysis. So, if I am to add anything of value to this board, maybe it's cheap humor.