Class AA predictions...

[youngblood08]

Youngblood,

I understand your passion for Stillwater and your hopes of seeing your son play in a State Tourney, but I think your heart may be getting in the way of your head here. You make it sound like Hill will be rebuilding this year & Stillwater & Tartan are the clear favorites. I hope teams follow your lead and take that approach all year and overlook the Pioneers again.

I think HM will throw another solid team on the ice this year. They have a nice goalie, strong defense, and some decent forwards. The have successful coaching and bring back a group of kids who have experienced winning a section title and playing on the big stage (something no other team in their section can say). I don't think they will be an elite team, but I do think they will repeat as section champs. Teams like Stillwater & Tartan hope to win section titles, Hill's program expect it.

Hill can't choose which conference they play in but they can choose who they play outside of it. Lex does a nice job of filling his schedule with strong nonconference teams & I expect his team to play their best hockey at the end. Tough to go against a formula that has worked for decades.

So the long campaign is set to begin. There will be highs & lows & some surpises along the way. But in the end, I suspect Hill will see White Bear in the section final.

Man, Thanks for setting me straight PIONEERPRIDEGUY!!!

Your a HOMER! and nothing more. Last year and previous years I have gave credit where credit was and is due. Hill was loaded at the start of the year and Zepeda did a lot for them at the end. I also thought it was WBLs year with some of the talent they had but they let other things get in the way. I am not on here bragging up one team and one team only. I think there are a couple of different teams with a good shot. So take the blinders off and give credit where credit is due, not come on here like a few others and tell us this team has no talent and that kid is garbage. High school hockey teams change drastically year in and year out, so be a fan of high school hockey. Not just another Homer wearing green!

If I told you I had a gun pointed at me today you might say something like "Oh my gosh, were you scared??" Then if I told you it was only a BB gun you would say something like "Oh a BB gun, big deal." That is the way I look at Hill this year, not too many BIG Guns. You still have some good players but I feel they can and will be beat.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Aren't we all "homers" of our favorite programs/teams/players? Unlike most, I don't sit on here and tell people how great the pioneers are gonna be. I tend to use words like "solid", "strong", "experienced", and non-elite. Hardly sounds like bragging.

I don't think I ever wrote that Stillwater has no talent & I challenege you to find a post where I ever wrote about a specific player being garbage. Read my post, where did I say anything negative towards any team or player for this upcomming season? Little sensitive are we?

I have a ton of respect for the various high school hockey programs that have traditionally been successful, well coached, and seem to always be a factor at the end of the year. Unfortunately, Stillwater is not one of those programs.

[youngblood08]

Aren't we all "homers" of our favorite programs/teams/players? Unlike most, I don't sit on here and tell people how great the pioneers are gonna be. I tend to use words like "solid", "strong", "experienced", and non-elite. Hardly sounds like bragging.

I don't think I ever wrote that Stillwater has no talent & I challenege you to find a post where I ever wrote about a specific player being garbage. Read my post, where did I say anything negative towards any team or player for this upcomming season? Little sensitive are we?

I have a ton of respect for the various high school hockey programs that have traditionally been successful, well coached, and seem to always be a factor at the end of the year. Unfortunately, Stillwater is not one of those programs.

Never mentioned you were trashing player meant the other poster saying they are garbage and no talent.

I am not saying how great the Ponies are going to be but I do think they are " More Experienced", "Stronger", "Will have a SOLID roster" and yeah maybe they are "Non-elite" but look at the Gophers and the mess those "Elite Players" are in. Yes Hill has a shot every year to make it to the State Tournament, even with you coaching they could. But this year I am "Predicting" Section 4AA might have someone else.

Sorry if you or HShockeyz or any other Hill fan feels slighted by that prediction. But the fact is They dont make it every year and this might be one.

The guy claims they finished the season with 8th and 9th graders, well Stillwater had a 9th grader playing regular shifts all season. Leading Scorer was a Sophmore and the next 3-4 were Juniors, they also have 2 3rd year Senior Goalies and a JV goalie that only lost 1 game last year.................and they are all coming back!!! Sounds experienced to me.

Pioneerguy, How many youth games of the current Hill roster did you watch before they became Pioneers?? This year you can throw "Tradition" right out the door.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Ya lost me on the youth games & the whole tradition comment. Please xplain.

[youngblood08]

Of the kids on teh Pioneers roster did you go watch them when they were at Stillwater, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi, Cottage Grove playing Peewees or Bantams?



I have a ton of respect for the various high school hockey programs that have traditionally been successful, well coached, and seem to always be a factor at the end of the year. Unfortunately, Stillwater is not one of those programs.

Throw out the usual Tradition!

[tourneytickssince59]

Here we go on the whole "I have never heard of HM area hockey" "They are 'stealing' the players from OUR association.
God this gets old. Youth players have to play where they live (except this year). Highschool players have the freedom to chose what school they attend and try to play for.
Highschools do not own local association players nor do players owe anything to the local highschool.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Looks like you are hitting the panic button a little there, Youngblood.

This is a high school forum, not a youth forum (I believe there may be one on here, not sure). Last time I checked Hill Murray was a high school and has a pretty solid 'tradition" and seems to play in & win many section finals.

So lets try to keep on track here now. Hill Murray High School has a history of being successful, whereas, Stillwater has not. Not a shot, just factual. Hill Murray "seems to always be a factor at the end of the year" is based on how many section finals they have been in. Once again, look at the facts. Not real sure where your argument is here. The facts kinda speak for themselves.

The reality is Stillwater won't get a whole lotta love from people until they actually win something...a conference, section, state. The fact that they finally played in a section final last year may be a big deal in Stillwater, but really doesn't impress too many people outside of the area.

So if ya wanna discuss high school hockey, this is the right place, but if ya wanna talk about watching youth hockey/youth associations, ya might wanna search for another forum.

p.s. I sincerely hope your son has a wonderful season.

[youngblood08]

Looks like you are hitting the panic button a little there, Youngblood.

This is a high school forum, not a youth forum (I believe there may be one on here, not sure). Last time I checked Hill Murray was a high school and has a pretty solid 'tradition" and seems to play in & win many section finals.

So lets try to keep on track here now. Hill Murray High School has a history of being successful, whereas, Stillwater has not. Not a shot, just factual. Hill Murray "seems to always be a factor at the end of the year" is based on how many section finals they have been in. Once again, look at the facts. Not real sure where your argument is here. The facts kinda speak for themselves. and what I am PREDICTING is that will not be the case this year

The reality is Stillwater won't get a whole lotta love from people until they actually win something...a conference, section, state. The fact that they finally played in a section final last year may be a big deal in Stillwater, but really doesn't impress too many people outside of the area. so in your earlier post it was bad to "Over-look Hill" but I cant let you know the Ponies should not be over looked?

So if ya wanna discuss high school hockey, this is the right place, but if ya wanna talk about watching youth hockey/youth associations, ya might wanna search for another forum.

p.s. I sincerely hope your son has a wonderful season.

I could care less where they came from. My point is I have watched and coached some of the kids on Hills roster as well as many other schools in the east metro. Selects, Classic, AAA teams many league games. I was asking you if you have watched or knew of them before they donned the green and whatever color you have over there.

So being a person that has watched this group of kids since they were young, I DO NOT THINK HILL AS AS BIG OF A THREAT AS IN YEARS PAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I could care less if Hill bused the kids from Canada, CDH, Hill, STA just opens the door for many other kids to play High school hockey. Yeah Hill has been successful, with the help of Stillwater youth hockey. I cant change that and neither will anyone else, it is what it is. ANd if Hill wasnt around we would be talking about the great hockey tradition at STillwater and how many times they have gone, but we aren't.

I just dont like the arrogance of some of the Hill Parents and Supporters.
We gave you one hell of a game last year in the finals, 29-41 shots aside, and from what I know Tartan and STillwater have a better shot at the title this year. The roster last season had players that were at the top of their age group since they were in squirts, the kids you have now are so-so. I could careless about Advanced, Elite leagues and whatever other program they have played in. ANyone can pay to go to Hill it doesn't mean they suck or have no chance because they don't.


Last season I had HILL going all the way due to the lineup they had, You see I knew those kids too and know they were that much better then anyone else in that age group. Based on the record they had at the start I was dead on, i didnt see anyone stopping them. Not the case this year.

[Pioneerprideguy]

Since you are in the predicting mode, which is your prediction:
1). Stillwater wins a conference title. 2). Stillwater wins a section title.
3). Both. 4). Niether.

[Stealth]

Found “Follow The Puck’s” has placed his preseason rankings along with a nice analysis on the top 10 in AA.

1. Eden Prairie
2. Minnetonka
3. Hill-Murray
4. Bloomington Jefferson
5. Academy of Holy Angels
6. Benilde-St. Margaret's
7. Blaine
8. Woodbury
9. Elk River/Zimmerman
10. Roseau
11. Cretin-Derham Hall
12. Edina
13. White Bear Lake
14. Tartan
15. Andover
16. Centennial
17. Maple Grove
18. Wayzata
19. Osseo
20. Rochester Century

http://minnesota-high-school-hockey.blogspot.com/

[Pioneerprideguy]

This must be a typo because I don't see Stillwater on here. I hear they are loaded!

[youngblood08]

This must be a typo because I don't see Stillwater on here. I hear they are loaded!

Weren't ranked last year either but they gave your squad a run for thier money.

[karl(east)]

Found “Follow The Puck’s” has placed his preseason rankings along with a nice analysis on the top 10 in AA.

1. Eden Prairie
2. Minnetonka
3. Hill-Murray
4. Bloomington Jefferson
5. Academy of Holy Angels
6. Benilde-St. Margaret's
7. Blaine
8. Woodbury
9. Elk River/Zimmerman
10. Roseau
11. Cretin-Derham Hall
12. Edina
13. White Bear Lake
14. Tartan
15. Andover
16. Centennial
17. Maple Grove
18. Wayzata
19. Osseo
20. Rochester Century

http://minnesota-high-school-hockey.blogspot.com/

The top nine or so make some sense.

After that I start having problems.

[Pioneerprideguy]

This must be a typo because I don't see Stillwater on here. I hear they are loaded!

Weren't ranked last year either but they gave your squad a run for thier money.

At least it was a moral "victory".

[Just_Another_Fan]

Youngblood,

I understand your passion for Stillwater and your hopes of seeing your son play in a State Tourney, but I think your heart may be getting in the way of your head here. You make it sound like Hill will be rebuilding this year & Stillwater & Tartan are the clear favorites. I hope teams follow your lead and take that approach all year and overlook the Pioneers again.

I think HM will throw another solid team on the ice this year. They have a nice goalie, strong defense, and some decent forwards. The have successful coaching and bring back a group of kids who have experienced winning a section title and playing on the big stage (something no other team in their section can say). I don't think they will be an elite team, but I do think they will repeat as section champs. Teams like Stillwater & Tartan hope to win section titles, Hill's program expect it.

Hill can't choose which conference they play in but they can choose who they play outside of it. Lex does a nice job of filling his schedule with strong nonconference teams & I expect his team to play their best hockey at the end. Tough to go against a formula that has worked for decades.

So the long campaign is set to begin. There will be highs & lows & some surpises along the way. But in the end, I suspect Hill will see White Bear in the section final.

Man, Thanks for setting me straight PIONEERPRIDEGUY!!!

Your a HOMER! and nothing more. Last year and previous years I have gave credit where credit was and is due. Hill was loaded at the start of the year and Zepeda did a lot for them at the end. I also thought it was WBLs year with some of the talent they had but they let other things get in the way. I am not on here bragging up one team and one team only. I think there are a couple of different teams with a good shot. So take the blinders off and give credit where credit is due, not come on here like a few others and tell us this team has no talent and that kid is garbage. High school hockey teams change drastically year in and year out, so be a fan of high school hockey. Not just another Homer wearing green!

If I told you I had a gun pointed at me today you might say something like "Oh my gosh, were you scared??" Then if I told you it was only a BB gun you would say something like "Oh a BB gun, big deal." That is the way I look at Hill this year, not too many BIG Guns. You still have some good players but I feel they can and will be beat.

Really? All this over a prediction? We are TWO days into tryouts. So youngblood has confidence in his team. Stillwater DOES have a solid roster. Hill will also be quite strong being that it is basically the same team as last years state participants minus Zepeda and Westerhaus. Now do i need to remind all the hill murray fanatics how wonderful they did at state last year granted they lost to the 09 state champs. I wish both squads the best of luck but there is nothing wrong with having passion for a squad that could definitely run the table this year. You shouldn't need to patronize him. Just bite your lip and wait for the game at the Collosium.

[BodyShots]

Found “Follow The Puck’s” has placed his preseason rankings along with a nice analysis on the top 10 in AA.

1. Eden Prairie
2. Minnetonka
3. Hill-Murray
4. Bloomington Jefferson
5. Academy of Holy Angels
6. Benilde-St. Margaret's
7. Blaine
8. Woodbury
9. Elk River/Zimmerman
10. Roseau
11. Cretin-Derham Hall
12. Edina
13. White Bear Lake
14. Tartan
15. Andover
16. Centennial
17. Maple Grove
18. Wayzata
19. Osseo
20. Rochester Century

http://minnesota-high-school-hockey.blogspot.com/

Interesting reviews, but I don't think HM has both goalies returning. Not sure if he is eligible, but my sources say one of them is trying out for WBL.

[Goldfishdude]

Yes, Bodyshots. Your source is correct. WBL has a Hill-Murray transfer in camp. He basically is doing a double transfer, he left Hill, and enrolled in Madison this fall. Got cut from Madison, and didn't take his first class in WBL until Nov. 10th.

[wbmd]

Yes, Bodyshots. Your source is correct. WBL has a Hill-Murray transfer in camp. He basically is doing a double transfer, he left Hill, and enrolled in Madison this fall. Got cut from Madison, and didn't take his first class in WBL until Nov. 10th.

Is he even eligible then?

[minnesotaice]

Found “Follow The Puck’s” has placed his preseason rankings along with a nice analysis on the top 10 in AA.

1. Eden Prairie
2. Minnetonka
3. Hill-Murray
4. Bloomington Jefferson
5. Academy of Holy Angels
6. Benilde-St. Margaret's
7. Blaine
8. Woodbury
9. Elk River/Zimmerman
10. Roseau
11. Cretin-Derham Hall
12. Edina
13. White Bear Lake
14. Tartan
15. Andover
16. Centennial
17. Maple Grove
18. Wayzata
19. Osseo
20. Rochester Century

http://minnesota-high-school-hockey.blogspot.com/

Follow the puck never has good rankings

Blaine 7th? They nearly missed winning the state championship last year and returned a LOT of talent.

also, how is Elk River and Andover ahead of Centennial?I can see the Elks and the Huskies making a nice run this year but no WAY can you put them ahead of Centennial this early.

[BodyShots]

Yes, Bodyshots. Your source is correct. WBL has a Hill-Murray transfer in camp. He basically is doing a double transfer, he left Hill, and enrolled in Madison this fall. Got cut from Madison, and didn't take his first class in WBL until Nov. 10th.

Is he even eligible then?

That is the $64k question? I know there are a lot of loop holes in this transfer rule, so my guess would be that he is.

The big question is... is he good?

[formerlybackofnet]

Yes, Bodyshots. Your source is correct. WBL has a Hill-Murray transfer in camp. He basically is doing a double transfer, he left Hill, and enrolled in Madison this fall. Got cut from Madison, and didn't take his first class in WBL until Nov. 10th.

Is he even eligible then?

Forgive my ignorance, What team at Madison?

[Doglover]

Not sold on Follow the Puck's ratings. Not even sure I "follow" their analysis. I think the final rankings will be much different once the teams get through tryouts and start playing. Good luck to everyone this week. Stressful week for lots of players and families. Looking forward to karl(east) rankings

[karl(east)]

Not sold on Follow the Puck's ratings. Not even sure I "follow" their analysis. I think the final rankings will be much different once the teams get through tryouts and start playing. Good luck to everyone this week. Stressful week for lots of players and families. Looking forward to karl(east) rankings

I'd check back here sometime next Tuesday, then.

Things are mostly set in my head but I'll give it another week in case anything unexpected comes up.

[rbkhockey19]

LARSON........... Whats his record in section ship games..... 0-2 thats what i thought get ur GRABAGE outta hear terriable tender!

[bender09]

even tho i love northern hockey i feel follow the puck has roseau far to high i see them possibly at 3rd in section 8