East Ridge

[PoniesDad45]

This coming year East Ridge will finally receive their full compliment of players from their school district. They will even have seniors! How do you folks see them doing in their conference? I think they maybe a few years away from where I think they will be, which is on the top of the conference, maybe not even a few, just a year or two.

There is a TON of young talent in that neighborhood. Now Woodbury HS is one I am worried about. They kind of got screwed on this split.

[Just_Another_Fan]

I have a feeling multiple teams will take ER for granted. They are a talented team and now all have varsity experience. Plus a majority of the state championship winning bantam A boys will be heading to ER, creating more competition for spots. If they have a hot goalie at the right time i think they can do well during sections. Definitely a sleeper team.

As for woodbury, yes they did get screwed but not just with hockey, with almost every sport. Woodbury will have a very good goaltender in Zach Moore and will rely on him to keep them in games. Evan Erickson, Blake Kelley, and Chase Myers-Beck were IMO the best forwards on the JV team last year and saw some varsity playing time. They are very good forwards, Erickson and Myers-Beck competed in the advanced 16 program. The big question mark is defense. Tyler Tuneburg was the sole defender to compete in the advanced program. Next years woodbury team will not be the high scoring, high offense team we have seen of late. They will have to take care of the D zone first and keep the games low scoring. Also Christian Turner will be back from his back injury. bringing some leadership to the young team.

[PoniesDad45]

I have a feeling multiple teams will take ER for granted. They are a talented team and now all have varsity experience. Plus a majority of the state championship winning bantam A boys will be heading to ER, creating more competition for spots. If they have a hot goalie at the right time i think they can do well during sections. Definitely a sleeper team.

As for woodbury, yes they did get screwed but not just with hockey, with almost every sport. Woodbury will have a very good goaltender in Zach Moore and will rely on him to keep them in games. Evan Erickson, Blake Kelley, and Chase Myers-Beck were IMO the best forwards on the JV team last year and saw some varsity playing time. They are very good forwards, Erickson and Myers-Beck competed in the advanced 16 program. The big question mark is defense. Tyler Tuneburg was the sole defender to compete in the advanced program. Next years woodbury team will not be the high scoring, high offense team we have seen of late. They will have to take care of the D zone first and keep the games low scoring. Also Christian Turner will be back from his back injury. bringing some leadership to the young team.

Good points all. To be honest, I think people are going to be shocked at just how good ER will be. Andrew McDonough (G)is an unsung hero on a team that routinely got out shot by 30+ goals a game. Next year he will be a seasoned vet as a junior and with a solid team in front of them they cold make some noise.

Tuneburg will be a good Dman for WB, I'm trying to remember where Matt LaForte will end up? ER or WB? Another excellent Dman.

[Just_Another_Fan]

LaForte is actually playing forward for ER. He was on varsity this season. Another big, and i mean big, pick up for woodbury is Ryan Winter. He played for the Bantam A team this year.

McDonough is a great goalie. He had a few off games but what goalie doesn't. He is now experienced and matured for the varsity level. It's hard for a goalie to go from bantam A to varsity and he made the transition nicely. ER really has everything to be a successful hockey team. Solid goaltending, good, big defenders, and have a forward core that can produce. Hopefully over the summer during camps and what not they can really find their stride.

[brandy38]

LaForte is actually playing forward for ER. He was on varsity this season. Another big, and i mean big, pick up for woodbury is Ryan Winter. He played for the Bantam A team this year.

So does that mean he was supposed to go to East Ridge but decided to go to Woodbury instead?

[Just_Another_Fan]

No i didn't mean it like that. However, if the family was considering sending him to ER (I'm not 100 percent but i am pretty sure they live very close to the border) he would have to sit out a year of athletics. He suited up for Woodbury's varsity football team this season.

[dueling21]

Is East Ridge still going to be in Section 4A, or are they getting moved up now that they have a full contingent?

[flakehockey12]

i could see ER being in the middle of the SEC next year. there are teams with much better returning tallent. Flake, WBL, and cretin will still be at the top next year.

[karl(east)]

Is East Ridge still going to be in Section 4A, or are they getting moved up now that they have a full contingent?

99% sure they'll be in 3AA next year.

[netminder.net]

99% sure they'll be in 3AA next year

I have heard the same

ER will be a better team than some think, they had a group of kids that were not preparred to play varsity last season, but now will ready to contribute. They also will not be loosing anyone, the entire varsity team will be intact (there may be a couple of the bantam kids that come in and take spots). It will be interseting to watch what happens with the JV team, there are some players that played thier only year of high school hockey on the JV team this past season, with a talanted group coming in from a very good bantam A team, those spots will be fought for. The ninth grade group in the ER program is very good, with a nice mix of forwards and Dmen. I was very impressed with the play of the goalie last season, he really played well against some tough competition, and on many nights faced more than 30 shots.
I do agree that the teams to beat will be FL (very good, and young), as well as Cretin. If the goalie continues to play well, and these kids start to "gel" ER could make some noise.

As for woodbury, yes they did get screwed but not just with hockey, with almost every sport

I'm not sure this is true for all sports, the Woodbury/ER rivalry is just starting to heat up, and I think Woodbury will be more than competitve in a many sports. Woodbury does have a very talented sophomore class in football, baseball, and hoops. Sorry, I am not familiar with the girls program.
But this is a hockey site, so here goes; Woodbury will be young, with 17 seniors graduating they will have a lot of kids with zero varsity experience required to play some big minutes ( a problem they will revisit in 2 years). The goalie (Moore?) is a stud, he kept the JV team in many games (57 saves versus Edina, 45+ versus Minnetonka). The Dmen are talented but not big, forwards are quick and can score but not big. They did get the most varsity ready kid off the bantam A team (notice I did not say the best, I said the most varsity ready) which will help a great deal, and he is big. Coach Bolin has had 5 very good years, 2 years of David Eddy and 3 years of Max Gaede will help with that, this season will be a tough coaching job, will he be up to the task?
I do think that ER will be better than some expect, but I also think Woodbury will as well, the second time these teams play will be a very good game.

[dueling21]

Is East Ridge still going to be in Section 4A, or are they getting moved up now that they have a full contingent?

99% sure they'll be in 3AA next year.

Thanks, Karl! Does that mean someone is shifting out of 3AA, too?

As far as I can tell, there might be just a handful of small section moves. I'm guessing that the new Minneapolis co-op will stay in 6AA. Duluth Central/Denfeld (or whatever its going to be called) will shift over to 7A. Do Chaska and Chanhassen both stay in 2AA now that they're split? Or does one/both drop down?

Oh, and that reminds me of one more thing. Any early ideas on where the Central hockey players are going to end up? Are most headed to Denfeld? Or are they splitting up?

[dueling21]

99% sure they'll be in 3AA next year

I have heard the same

ER will be a better team than some think, they had a group of kids that were not preparred to play varsity last season, but now will ready to contribute. They also will not be loosing anyone, the entire varsity team will be intact (there may be a couple of the bantam kids that come in and take spots). It will be interseting to watch what happens with the JV team, there are some players that played thier only year of high school hockey on the JV team this past season, with a talanted group coming in from a very good bantam A team, those spots will be fought for. The ninth grade group in the ER program is very good, with a nice mix of forwards and Dmen. I was very impressed with the play of the goalie last season, he really played well against some tough competition, and on many nights faced more than 30 shots.
I do agree that the teams to beat will be FL (very good, and young), as well as Cretin. If the goalie continues to play well, and these kids start to "gel" ER could make some noise.

As for woodbury, yes they did get screwed but not just with hockey, with almost every sport

I'm not sure this is true for all sports, the Woodbury/ER rivalry is just starting to heat up, and I think Woodbury will be more than competitve in a many sports. Woodbury does have a very talented sophomore class in football, baseball, and hoops. Sorry, I am not familiar with the girls program.
But this is a hockey site, so here goes; Woodbury will be young, with 17 seniors graduating they will have a lot of kids with zero varsity experience required to play some big minutes ( a problem they will revisit in 2 years). The goalie (Moore?) is a stud, he kept the JV team in many games (57 saves versus Edina, 45+ versus Minnetonka). The Dmen are talented but not big, forwards are quick and can score but not big. They did get the most varsity ready kid off the bantam A team (notice I did not say the best, I said the most varsity ready) which will help a great deal, and he is big. Coach Bolin has had 5 very good years, 2 years of David Eddy and 3 years of Max Gaede will help with that, this season will be a tough coaching job, will he be up to the task?
I do think that ER will be better than some expect, but I also think Woodbury will as well, the second time these teams play will be a very good game.

Is the Guentzel kid going to be at Woodbury next year? Or is he on his way elsewhere?

[Just_Another_Fan]

Guentzel is headed to Hill.

[best97]

This coming year East Ridge will finally receive their full compliment of players from their school district. They will even have seniors! How do you folks see them doing in their conference? I think they maybe a few years away from where I think they will be, which is on the top of the conference, maybe not even a few, just a year or two.

There is a TON of young talent in that neighborhood. Now Woodbury HS is one I am worried about. They kind of got screwed on this split.

Rumor has it that the kid from Cottage Grove A Bantam is going to ER

[old goalie85]

Is Steve Chech still on the Eastveiw staff ? Is his brother joining them[ Matt]? I heard they were both coaching somewhere together this year. Great kids, great coaches!

[netminder.net]

Rumor has it that the kid from Cottage Grove A Bantam is going to ER

Yes, that is a possibility. Many players in the Cottage Grove Hockey assoc. will go to East Ridge. As Cottage Grove is part of the boundries for East Ridge High School. Not sure it is the kid you are talking about. I can only assume there is more than one kid on that roster?

[karl(east)]

Is East Ridge still going to be in Section 4A, or are they getting moved up now that they have a full contingent?

99% sure they'll be in 3AA next year.

Thanks, Karl! Does that mean someone is shifting out of 3AA, too?

As far as I can tell, there might be just a handful of small section moves. I'm guessing that the new Minneapolis co-op will stay in 6AA. Duluth Central/Denfeld (or whatever its going to be called) will shift over to 7A. Do Chaska and Chanhassen both stay in 2AA now that they're split? Or does one/both drop down?

Oh, and that reminds me of one more thing. Any early ideas on where the Central hockey players are going to end up? Are most headed to Denfeld? Or are they splitting up?

Assuming they handle it the way they have in the past, there will just be one extra team in 3AA this upcoming year. When they realign sections after the season all bets are off, though.

The MSHSL lists the Chanhassen enrollment as 1,000, so if that were to stay the same, they'd be in A (2A, presumably?). But I don't know anything about that situation...is Chanhassen adding more kids next year? If so, then they're probably in 2AA (which already had one less team than all the other AA sections anyway).

I'd agree that the Minneapolis team will probably be in 6AA.

As for the Duluth situation, most Central kids will be going to "Central/Denfeld" (they're calling it that this year, but after that, when the renovated Denfeld opens as the western Duluth high school, it will go back to just being "Denfeld"). If my math is right, only about 100-200 kids are being added to the East district, and then another 70 who would have gone to Central are open enrolling at East.

My suspicion, though, is that any Central hockey player who wants to get any playing time will end up at Central/Denfeld...I don't mean to slight Central hockey, but few to none of their players could crack the East lineup. That's especially true this upcoming year, particularly at forward, where East graduated only a handful of kids and has a loaded bantam squad moving up.

Marshall might stand to gain too, though I haven't heard anything about that...though of course I'm not the person to ask about such rumors since I'm not in Duluth right now. Hermantown is full, so no one will be open enrolling there.

[goldy313]

The MSHSL has a rule about sections having no more than a 2 team spead per class when compared to other sections. All AA sections have 8 or 9 teams while all A sections have 10 -12 teams. 3AA has 9 teams, Eastridge would make 10 and still keep 3AA within the 2 team difference threshold.

[hockeydad]

The MSHSL has a rule about sections having no more than a 2 team spead per class when compared to other sections. All AA sections have 8 or 9 teams while all A sections have 10 -12 teams. 3AA has 9 teams, Eastridge would make 10 and still keep 3AA within the 2 team difference threshold.

Goldy, you're right about the rule, but that is for the first year of the two-year cycle... they give a little leeway in the second year... they will go to three teams spread in the second year to avoid wholesale changes.

As for Denfeld - another thread reported that they will stay in Class A even with all the new Central kids.... the total enrollment will be close to the cutoff point and the free/reduced lunch brings it below the threshold