AA Rankings by Tier Level

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

ep gets their shot to see if they are a top contender next week at tonka. w/o gardiner, i would rate the game as follows:

forwards - advantage ep
defense - advantage tonka
special teams - toss-up
goaltending - toss-up
home crowd - advantage tonka

my prediction: low scoring game with an over/under of 5.

Should be a good game, but how do you think the Eagan Puttycats would do against Tonka.......you know, the true #1 team in the state.....

[shakey]

Message to HappyHockeyFan from all of Eagan Hockey.....Get off of our side!

[blueblood]

Tonka would roll over Eagan by a 3 goal margin....

[HappyHockeyFan]

Message to HappyHockeyFan from all of Eagan Hockey.....Get off of our side!

Free speech and a forum to do so I will continue to give my opinion regardless of your wishes. As for Northwoods Oldtimer, I NEVER said Eagan should be ranked ahead of Jefferson and to all of you I NEVER claimed Eagan was better or should be ranked higher than EP. I only said it using NO's reasoning that EP deserved tier #2 because they were 5 - 1. So please, before you rip my opinions apart at least have your facts straight. And how can anyone disagree that Wayzata shouldnt be ahead of EP, all seven of their wins have come against top twenty ranked teams and a tie. I am sure EP will have many chances as the season goes on to play better competition to prove them selves worthy of a top 5 or top tier ranking, but to this date and thats what rankings are based on they have not played enough good competition or enough games in general to prove that. And they will have two chances to play Eagan and see if they can do better than Jefferson did the first time they played them. And last of all, why are you all so angry, because my opinion differs from you, thats what a forum is for, to debate differing opinions on a subject. But you are all angry, I mean NO called me an idiot, is that really called for. And those of you who dont like me cheering for Eagan, I am sorry but I will continue to post my support, what are you afraid the boys will see this and get to overconfident or feel to much pressure? Believe me that will happen on its own if its going to happen, not because of some forum. And besides if they are going to continue to play at this level they will need to learn about playing under pressure as teams will start gunning for them. So please everyone, lets just settle down. NUFF SAID... GO WILDCATS!!

[northwoods oldtimer]

Code: Select all

why are you all so angry, because my opinion differs from you

You are the only cat that is angry on this thread. You simply cannot read a post. I never called YOU an idiot. Suggested the thread be retitled "arguing with idiots" which does not single anybody out. Hill has a shot at T-2 if they continue winning which it surely looks like they will, time will tell.

[blueline1]

Seriously people- chill and quit taking yourselves and your teams so seriously. We are all biased towards our favorite teams, just as it should be. What really matters will be determined on the ice. Let the records and the stats speak for themselves. I do enjoy the banter, but the personal attacks really aren't necessary.

[HockeyMN1]

Wayzata needs to move up into tier 2 and Eden Prairie at least down to tier 3. This is a new season, Eden Prairie is not the same team as last year. With the loss of so many good players you cannot even call the team defending champs. Maybe the school but not the actual team. So they need to re earn the respect and not be given this free ride just because they were good last year and won it all.

I doubt you can name one player they lost besides Leddy. They returned 15 players from last year's team which won the state championship. They have star power in Rau, Molennar, and Ford (Rau and Molennar played on US U17 teams and Molennar captianed a team that went to Munich) and this group of players has now won FOUR state championships in a row. Next time try actually knowing something about a team before you rip them.

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

Tonka would roll over Eagan by a 3 goal margin....

I think you are quite modest. I watched Tonka pepper Blaine, and if it wasn't for Blaines goalie.......well lets just say it could have hit double digits, and I look at Blaine as a solid hockey team.

[HappyHockeyFan]

Wayzata needs to move up into tier 2 and Eden Prairie at least down to tier 3. This is a new season, Eden Prairie is not the same team as last year. With the loss of so many good players you cannot even call the team defending champs. Maybe the school but not the actual team. So they need to re earn the respect and not be given this free ride just because they were good last year and won it all.

I doubt you can name one player they lost besides Leddy. They returned 15 players from last year's team which won the state championship. They have star power in Rau, Molennar, and Ford (Rau and Molennar played on US U17 teams and Molennar captianed a team that went to Munich) and this group of players has now won FOUR state championships in a row. Next time try actually knowing something about a team before you rip them.

Once again I will repeat, please get your facts straight before you reply to me. I NEVER ripped EP, I just dont think at this point in the season they have done anything to earn their high ranking. Yes I am sure they are a very good team and by seasons end they will have proven that. But right now other teams schedules have have been more condusive to earning them a higher ranking, wayzata for example. And also once again, I have never said Eagan is better than EP or should be ranked ahead of them or that Eagan will be better at any point this season. Maybe they will maybe they wont, but I am not claiming that right now. My only claims all along are that Eagan should be top 15, Wayzata should be ahead EP based on their schedules and wins against ranked teams. I am not angry at all, a little annoyed that I get attacked and called names for having an opinion but other than that just a very Happy Hockey Fan.

Happy New Year Everyone !!

[HappyHockeyFan]

Message to HappyHockeyFan from all of Eagan Hockey.....Get off of our side!

Sorry Shakey, I wont get off your side, because its my side too. I live in Eagan, My son goes to Eagan High School, My son plays in the Eagan hockey program and I attend most of the Eagan Varsity games. I am proud of our teams accomplishments thus far and will continue to promote them. If you are afraid to, then thats your problem. NUFF SAID

[HockeyMN1]

Wayzata needs to move up into tier 2 and Eden Prairie at least down to tier 3. This is a new season, Eden Prairie is not the same team as last year. With the loss of so many good players you cannot even call the team defending champs. Maybe the school but not the actual team. So they need to re earn the respect and not be given this free ride just because they were good last year and won it all.

I doubt you can name one player they lost besides Leddy. They returned 15 players from last year's team which won the state championship. They have star power in Rau, Molennar, and Ford (Rau and Molennar played on US U17 teams and Molennar captianed a team that went to Munich) and this group of players has now won FOUR state championships in a row. Next time try actually knowing something about a team before you rip them.

Once again I will repeat, please get your facts straight before you reply to me. I NEVER ripped EP, I just dont think at this point in the season they have done anything to earn their high ranking. Yes I am sure they are a very good team and by seasons end they will have proven that. But right now other teams schedules have have been more condusive to earning them a higher ranking, wayzata for example. And also once again, I have never said Eagan is better than EP or should be ranked ahead of them or that Eagan will be better at any point this season. Maybe they will maybe they wont, but I am not claiming that right now. My only claims all along are that Eagan should be top 15, Wayzata should be ahead EP based on their schedules and wins against ranked teams. I am not angry at all, a little annoyed that I get attacked and called names for having an opinion but other than that just a very Happy Hockey Fan.

Happy New Year Everyone !!

Well, you did rip EP initially and there is no denying that. Your exact words: "With the loss of so many good players you cannot even call the team defending champs" and "they need to re earn the respect and not be given this free ride just because they were good last year and won it all."

Right there you explicitly stated that you think the talent level is not there and everyone is just handing them a ranking they don't at all deserve. So yes, you DID rip EP and then tried to deny it. That is why everybody is now ripping you.

[HShockeywatcher]

St Thomas and Breck should be in the second tier...

[east hockey]

St Thomas and Breck should be in the second tier...

If they were Class AA schools. Check the topic title.

Lee

[scoreboard33]

St Thomas and Breck should be in the second tier...

1) This is a AA tier system.

2) St. Thomas and Breck are not as good as Edina, EP or Blaine.

St. Thomas has 2 three goal losses to Tonka and one to Blaine and frankly is not that impressive if you compare them to top AA teams. Breck is in the same boat. They can definitely play with the top teams but if you put them in a league with all the top teams, they would be bellow .500.

[HappyHockeyFan]

I doubt you can name one player they lost besides Leddy. They returned 15 players from last year's team which won the state championship. They have star power in Rau, Molennar, and Ford (Rau and Molennar played on US U17 teams and Molennar captianed a team that went to Munich) and this group of players has now won FOUR state championships in a row. Next time try actually knowing something about a team before you rip them.

Once again I will repeat, please get your facts straight before you reply to me. I NEVER ripped EP, I just dont think at this point in the season they have done anything to earn their high ranking. Yes I am sure they are a very good team and by seasons end they will have proven that. But right now other teams schedules have have been more condusive to earning them a higher ranking, wayzata for example. And also once again, I have never said Eagan is better than EP or should be ranked ahead of them or that Eagan will be better at any point this season. Maybe they will maybe they wont, but I am not claiming that right now. My only claims all along are that Eagan should be top 15, Wayzata should be ahead EP based on their schedules and wins against ranked teams. I am not angry at all, a little annoyed that I get attacked and called names for having an opinion but other than that just a very Happy Hockey Fan.

Happy New Year Everyone !!

Well, you did rip EP initially and there is no denying that. Your exact words: "With the loss of so many good players you cannot even call the team defending champs" and "they need to re earn the respect and not be given this free ride just because they were good last year and won it all."

Right there you explicitly stated that you think the talent level is not there and everyone is just handing them a ranking they don't at all deserve. So yes, you DID rip EP and then tried to deny it. That is why everybody is now ripping you.

1/16/2010 and 1/26/2010

[HShockeywatcher]

Ha, Lee, I totally missed that.

scoreboard33, yes, if the top two tiers only have 4 teams total in them, you are right. I would personally have Hill currently in that second tier.

Guess we'll see the rest of the way.

[besthockeyfan]

After watching that game tonight I think we can put both Edina and Tonka in Tier 1. That was an even game that either team could have won. Fun to watch and I'm glad it lived up to its billing.

[wingmaster]

After watching that game tonight I think we can put both Edina and Tonka in Tier 1. That was an even game that either team could have won. Fun to watch and I'm glad it lived up to its billing.

if it ended in a tie it would have been a game either team could have won, did it?

[besthockeyfan]

After watching that game tonight I think we can put both Edina and Tonka in Tier 1. That was an even game that either team could have won. Fun to watch and I'm glad it lived up to its billing.

if it ended in a tie it would have been a game either team could have won, did it?

Imagine that, wingmaster is from Minnetonka. I think most unbiased hockey fans know what I meant. Two good teams very evenly matched! Minnetonka isn't "in a league by its own" as some may have thought. I know its hard for you to give credit to another team wingmaster but I'm quite sure you would have thought my comment was fine had Edina won, as I would have posted the same thing had that been the case.

[wingmaster]

After watching that game tonight I think we can put both Edina and Tonka in Tier 1. That was an even game that either team could have won. Fun to watch and I'm glad it lived up to its billing.

if it ended in a tie it would have been a game either team could have won, did it?

Imagine that, wingmaster is from Minnetonka. I think most unbiased hockey fans know what I meant. Two good teams very evenly matched! Minnetonka isn't "in a league by its own" as some may have thought. I know its hard for you to give credit to another team wingmaster but I'm quite sure you would have thought my comment was fine had Edina won, as I would have posted the same thing had that been the case.

No, it still would not make sense. And i am not from Minnetonka.

[Goldfishdude]

After watching that game tonight I think we can put both Edina and Tonka in Tier 1. That was an even game that either team could have won. Fun to watch and I'm glad it lived up to its billing.

if it ended in a tie it would have been a game either team could have won, did it?

Imagine that, wingmaster is from Minnetonka. I think most unbiased hockey fans know what I meant. Two good teams very evenly matched! Minnetonka isn't "in a league by its own" as some may have thought. I know its hard for you to give credit to another team wingmaster but I'm quite sure you would have thought my comment was fine had Edina won, as I would have posted the same thing had that been the case.

In a way, I feel it is accurate to say this is a good matchup, but I think overall, Tonka is just a deeper team, even without Gardiner, and if they played 10 times, Tonka would win 7 or 8... Edina is capable of winning a game now and then, solely because I think Ankeny in nets has a better chance of taking over a game than Tonka's Kruger - who is an awfully disciplined goalie. I agree I wouldn't put Tonka in a class of it's own, but it still seems to be the best of the best.

I don't think Tonka is capable of a 5-1 route.... Edina's defense does a great job of blocking shots and clearing rebounds, but does get caught pinching a bit. I would guess each game would be a 2-goal game..

[scoreboard33]

It is very legitimite to say a game that either team could have won, but Tonka found a way and they deserve credit.

A few points:

Tonka is not a deeper team than Edina, they are more talented. Hornets rotate four fairly even lines, especially the top 3. Hard to be deeper than that.

The biggest missing Max was not Gardiner, it was Everson from Edina. One of the top junior defensemen in the state and perhaps Edina's best player would have helped stabilize the defense and hopefully take away some of the careless errors.

Gardiner is the best forward on either team and possibly in the state but his absence does not have the top down effect that Everson's does.

The six hornets penalties were definitely not good for Edina. Perhaps Tonka's speed caused the holdings and interference but to beat Tonka you can't take too many men on the ice and roughing penalties.

Holl's gonna be a good player for the Gophs in years to come.

Coatta's good, being on Gardiner's line makes him great.

Tonka came to play in the third and outshot Edina pretty close to 2 to 1.

[Doglover]

Max Gardiner's absence was very apparent in my opinion - easily could've been a bit bigger margin victory with his offensive power. He's an amazing player and a great kid. Hope he recovers quickly. Holl and Schutt both had a really great game.

Not sure I agree with your comments on the other Max - I'm sure Edina misses his big size on defense but with the exception of some immature defensive errors, Edina played better defensively than I expected and they did beat Blaine without Everson. I'm sure they hope he's back on the ice soon though - just not sure it had much impact on the final outcome of the game. Ankeny is playing very, very well.

I think the key was that Mtka effectively shut down Edina's strong first line with their very skilled defense. Edina rolled 4 lines regardless of who Mtka had on the ice. Great depth but maybe not always the best coaching choices and hard for the first line to create much momentum with so much down time - they have to find that frustrating with so little ice time. Some stupid penalties by Edina - including a dumb too many men on the ice - but overall a good game by both teams. I was impressed with Edina's effort and speed and Minnetonka's ability to play so well the last two periods. Definitely the top two teams in MN right now.

[Goldfishdude]

It is very legitimite to say a game that either team could have won, but Tonka found a way and they deserve credit.

A few points:

Tonka is not a deeper team than Edina, they are more talented. Hornets rotate four fairly even lines, especially the top 3. Hard to be deeper than that.

The biggest missing Max was not Gardiner, it was Everson from Edina. One of the top junior defensemen in the state and perhaps Edina's best player would have helped stabilize the defense and hopefully take away some of the careless errors.

Gardiner is the best forward on either team and possibly in the state but his absence does not have the top down effect that Everson's does.

The six hornets penalties were definitely not good for Edina. Perhaps Tonka's speed caused the holdings and interference but to beat Tonka you can't take too many men on the ice and roughing penalties.

Holl's gonna be a good player for the Gophs in years to come.

Coatta's good, being on Gardiner's line makes him great.

Tonka came to play in the third and outshot Edina pretty close to 2 to 1.

You know, I THOUGHT something was missing with Edina - it was Everson.. what was he out from?? I didn't have a program, as to why I thought Charlie Taft's line was neutralized. Yes, I can see where he would have moved some of the depth around. Good call... Because I am not familar with either team, I didn't realize Edina ran 4 lines, so I will altar my opinion about their depth.

On one of the other threads, I mentioned how it seemed like Coatta barely had possession of the puck, as Edina's D was pretty tight..

What did you guys think of Hesketh's play tonight??? It looked like he had his head on a swivel tonight, looking to just nail someone... In fact, after one of his shifts early one, he was involved with some extra-curricular hands and stick-work after a whistle, and when he got to the bench, Coach Urick didn't hesitate to get in his cage, as it didn't look like he was happy...

[HShockeywatcher]

Only beat Blaine by 1 as well. With Tonka getting the edge, I'd say we could probably combine the first two tiers into one. I'd also add Wayzata and Hill at the moment to make it:
Tonka
Edina
Blaine
Eden Prairie
Hill Murray
Wayzata

Wayzata plays each of Tonka and Edina twice, while Hill Murray just plays Holy Angels, Tartan, Moorhead and St Thomas. They will be harder to tell with.