Section predictions

[rangefan]

Hell its only August but the season will come up fast, lets just hear some early predictions for each section and explain why your pick is right

[dueling21]

Hell its only August but the season will come up fast, lets just hear some early predictions for each section and explain why your pick is right

All right, I'll take a stab at this one:

1AA - Lakeville South (upset last year by North, will be back strong with the "Penguin" line, even if it's missing a member)
2AA - Edina (defending champs are loaded)
3AA - Apple Valley (great young players are a year more mature now)
4AA - Hill-Murray (great balance and depth and experienced goaltender)
5AA - Maple Grove (calling an upset over perennial champ Blaine and runner-up Centennial, Crimson have built up some great talent)
6AA - Eden Prairie (the "super sophs" are all seniors now...Kyle Rau is Mr. Hockey)
7AA - Duluth East (too deep and talented for the rest of the section)
8AA - Roseau (it was either them or Moorhead, right?)

1A - Rochester Lourdes (got it done with freshmen last year)
2A - Blake (yep, calling for the upset of Breck)
3A - New Ulm (return many of the guys who got the Eagles to the X last year)
4A - St. Thomas Academy (Mahtomedi won't stand in the Cadets way this time)
5A - Hermantown (great defense and just enough scoring)
6A - Willmar (wow, this one was TOUGH to figure. Many teams lost great players, but Willmar brings all of its top players back as seniors)
7A - Virginia/MIB (third straight title for the Blue Devils, although it's the toughest section in Class A with Duluth Denfeld/Central on board now)
8A - Warroad (lost a ton, but never has to rebuild)

[starmvp]

Hell its only August but the season will come up fast, lets just hear some early predictions for each section and explain why your pick is right

All right, I'll take a stab at this one:

1AA - Lakeville South (upset last year by North, will be back strong with the "Penguin" line, even if it's missing a member)
2AA - Edina (defending champs are loaded)
3AA - Apple Valley (great young players are a year more mature now)
4AA - Hill-Murray (great balance and depth and experienced goaltender)
5AA - Maple Grove (calling an upset over perennial champ Blaine and runner-up Centennial, Crimson have built up some great talent)
6AA - Eden Prairie (the "super sophs" are all seniors now...Kyle Rau is Mr. Hockey)
7AA - Duluth East (too deep and talented for the rest of the section)
8AA - Roseau (it was either them or Moorhead, right?)

1A - Rochester Lourdes (got it done with freshmen last year)
2A - Blake (yep, calling for the upset of Breck)
3A - New Ulm (return many of the guys who got the Eagles to the X last year)
4A - St. Thomas Academy (Mahtomedi won't stand in the Cadets way this time)
5A - Hermantown (great defense and just enough scoring)
6A - Willmar (wow, this one was TOUGH to figure. Many teams lost great players, but Willmar brings all of its top players back as seniors)
7A - Virginia/MIB (third straight title for the Blue Devils, although it's the toughest section in Class A with Duluth Denfeld/Central on board now)
8A - Warroad (lost a ton, but never has to rebuild)

I think section 3AA will be a battle. Also, I have a feeling that Blake beating Breck won't be an "upset". Blake will win that section because Breck will be way down this year.

[Mite-dad]

In 6A, Little Falls will be much better but might be a year away with their young talent. They might be a surprise.

[grandmeadowhockeyfan]

Originally I would have said Roch Century then I say the note about them losing three big players for their team including the goalie. This eliminates them. Then Roch JM, Roch Mayo, Farmington are not factors. Winona lost six or so players and that also includes their goalie. So it comes down to Lakeville North and South. I will go with the team from last year Lakeville North. I understand they also lost a couple players, but they will have enough to win the mediocre section. This section is the reason I drive to the Cities five or six times a year to watch more entertaining hockey. During the season I drive up for regular season games and then once the playoffs start i end up in the cities for playoff games and of course the Xcel is where the season ends and that is the place to be.

[wingman]

Don't count Mahtomedi out...so soon...the group that is coming back without Marshall as bantams beat very good AA talent like White Bear Lake, Tartan, & Forest Lake...without Marshall...They have a very good core...some problems and if corrected and maintained they will be very very hard to beat...especially since they are the Section repeats for the last 2 years....All I know is St. Thomas will be sweating bullets each time they play them!!!!

[chester1991]

Sec. 1) Lakeville South
Sec. 2) Edina #3 seed
Sec. 3) Eagan #4 seed
Sec. 4) Hill-Murray #2 seed
Sec. 5) Centennial
Sec. 6) Eden Prairie #1 seed
Sec 7) Duluth East
Sec Roseau

[blueblood]

blue's pre-season picks:

1 - Lakeville South - best of the least? Another two and done for 1AA at state
2 - Edina - defending AA champs will outlast jefferson, but no repeat this year
3 - Apple Valley - just may win state this year. Sorry, HHH
4 - Hill - Rah, Rah, Rah Pioneers!
5 - Blaine - hard to pick against the Bengals
6 - EP - will the senior nucleus (or is that the Nexus for you WWE wrestling fans) get their 5th title in 6 years?
7 - Elk River - over East in OT
8 - heads for Roseau; tails for Moorhead. Anyone got any better ideas?

Top 4 seeds for AA:

1) EP
2) AV
3) Blaine
4) Hill

Championship Game:

EP - 4 (en) - Kyle Rau with 2G's
AV - 2 - Hudson Fasching with 1G and 1A