Class A Rankings 12-5-10

[HShockeywatcher]

With no first-hand knowledge of MN hockey teams and their teams, I am starting my first rankings with the top 20 from Let’s Play Hockey and going from there the best I can objectively.

1. St Thomas Academy (1-0)
Cadets will be tested early this season with 3 home games against good AA competition. It may be difficult for the Cadets to drop for a while as they do not have a Class A opponent scheduled until January 6th (they could match up with Breck in the Schwan’s Cup).
This week: Tues vs Minnetonka, Sat vs Hill Murray

2. Breck (2-0)
With Breck in the Gold Division of Schwan’s Cup this year, the state will have an opportunity to see just how good they are before the state tournament this year. They open the season with 6 home games. They have not allowed a goal yet. We will see how much Cathedral can test them on Saturday.
This week: Tues vs Providence Academy, Sat vs St Cloud Cathedral

3. Rochester Lourdes (3-0)
This year’s version of what Breck did last year? If as good as their preseason rank says, the Eagles could easily make it to state with less than a handful of losses with not much known about their full ability. They should be tested once in their first 9 games against Cathedral.
This week: Tues vs New Prague, Thurs @ Red Wing, Sat vs Chanhassen

4. Warroad (2-0)
A close home win against Mound-Westonka? This week will tell a lot about them.
This week: Tues @ Lake of the Woods, Fri @ Hibbing, Sat @ Grand Rapids

5. Blake (3-0-1)
The bears have a substantially tougher schedule than their conference rival with 4 tough games in their first 7 games.
This week: Thurs vs Mahtomedi, Sat @ Totino-Grace

6. Hermantown (1-0)
Playing Hopkins home Friday night followed by traveling to Eden Prairie to play the Eagles? Playing them with be tough enough, but after playing a game less than 20 hours earlier? Good luck to the hawks.
This week: Tues @ Two Harbors, Fri vs Hopkins, Sat @ Eden Prairie

7. Duluth Marshall (2-2)
Staying within 4 with St Thomas is a good sign, as is beating Mahtomedi.
This week: Tues @ Ashland, Sat @ Benilde

8. Virginia/MI-B (1-1)
Beating a Little Falls team that beat Hibbing is good. Have a tough week ahead of them.
This week: Tues @ Grand Rapids, Fri vs St Francis, Sat vs Hopkins

9. Duluth Central (2-1)
Not much has happened with them yet, so I’m just going to have to trust LPH on this one. A win Tuesday would be huge for the program.
This week: Tues vs Cretin, Sat vs St Francis

10. Totino-Grace (1-0)
A quality win over TRF is a good start. Can they continue and beat the Bears this week?
This week: Tues @ Robbinsdale Cooper, Thurs vs St Louis Park, Sat vs Blake

11. Mahtomedi (1-2)
The Zephyrs have played two quality opponents and come up short both times. With two good opponents this week we’ll get an idea for how Mahtomedi is.
This week: Tues vs Tartan, Thurs @ Blake

12. Hibbing/Chisholm (3-2)
A surprising loss to Little Falls but a tight game with Minnetonka is a great start to the season.
This week: Fri vs Warroad, Sat vs Roseau

13. Rogers (2-0-1)
This is a great story following a 1-loss football season losing in the state championship. One game this week, but they will definitely be tested playing Cathedral, Hermantown and Mahtomedi after STMA.
This week: Sat @ St Michael-Albertville

14. South St. Paul (2-0)
I’m not exactly sure where to put the Packers as they won’t be playing quality Class A opponents until 2011, but they are undefeated.
This week: Tues vs Red Wing

15. Sartell-St. Stephen (1-0)
Beating St Cloud Cathedral is a great way to start a season. Staying undefeated this week will be tough.
This week: Tues vs Bemidji, Thurs @ Little Falls

16. Lake of the Woods (1-0-1)
Could LOW beat Warroad this year?
This week: Tues vs Warroad, Sat @ EGF

17. Little Falls (1-1-1)
Beating Hibbing is a great way for an unranked team to start the season. Will have a good test this Thursday at home.
This week: Tues vs Wadena-Deer Creek, Thurs vs Sartell-St Stephen

18. Thief River Falls (1-2)
Their two losses are to quality opponents.
This week: Fri vs Tartan, Sat vs St Paul Johnson

19. St. Cloud Cathedral (0-1)
Losing to Sartell? This next week should be a good test for them.
This week: Tues vs Alexandria, Sat @ Breck

20. Orono (0-2)
This week: Tues vs St Louis Park, Sat @ Owatonna

Watching…

East Grand Forks (1-2)
This week: Sat vs Lake of the Woods

Spring Lake Park (1-1)
This week: Tues vs North St Paul, Sat @ St Paul Academy

Mound-Westonka (0-2-1)
This week: Tues vs Monticello, Sat vs Providence Academy

Holy Family Catholic (2-0)
This week: Tues @ Northfield, Thurs @ New Prague

Litchfield (2-0)
This week: Tues @ River Lakes, Fri vs Prairie Center Area

International Falls (0-1-1)
This week: Tues @ Eveleth-Gilbert, Fri @ Protor

The beginning of the year is crazy before unknowns make themselves known and the usuals play a few more games. I like watching some teams that typically aren't looked at. If I missed any teams who are noteworthy, let me know.

[MNHockey75]

1. Breck
2. St. Thomas Academy
3. Hermantown
4. Warroad
5. Rochester Lourdes
6. Duluth Marshall
7. Blake
8. Virginia
9. Duluth Central
10. Totino-Grace
11. Little Falls
12. Thief River Falls
13. Hibbing
14. International Falls
15. Sartell
16. St. Cloud Cathedral
17. Delano
18. South St. Paul
19. Mahtomedi
20. Lake of the Woods

[TTpuckster]

You heard it here first....

Just remember....

They are not there yet, but, by the end of the year, East Grand Forks will be the top team in 8A and will be a top ten team in the state.

[elliott70]

You heard it here first....

Just remember....

They are not there yet, but, by the end of the year, East Grand Forks will be the top team in 8A and will be a top ten team in the state.

Yeah, I think I said it first.

[TTpuckster]

You heard it here first....

Just remember....

They are not there yet, but, by the end of the year, East Grand Forks will be the top team in 8A and will be a top ten team in the state.

Yeah, I think I said it first.

OK....then...

2nd........

[HShockeywatcher]

You heard it here first....

Just remember....

They are not there yet, but, by the end of the year, East Grand Forks will be the top team in 8A and will be a top ten team in the state.

Yeah, I think I said it first.

OK....then...

2nd........

I would love to see a Lake of the Woods/East Grand Forks 8A Final.

[fivehole628]

Orono should be nowhere near the top 20. If you lose 9-2 to someone, you're obviously not a top 20 team.

[TTpuckster]

Yeah, I think I said it first.

OK....then...

2nd........

I would love to see a Lake of the Woods/East Grand Forks 8A Final.

They play next week in EGF.
Let's see how that goes.
In fact, I thing Warroad is playing at LOW tomorrow. Or is it Thursday?

[goalieguy_14]

With no first-hand knowledge of MN hockey teams and their teams, I am starting my first rankings with the top 20 from Let’s Play Hockey and going from there the best I can objectively.

1. St Thomas Academy (1-0)
Cadets will be tested early this season with 3 home games against good AA competition. It may be difficult for the Cadets to drop for a while as they do not have a Class A opponent scheduled until January 6th (they could match up with Breck in the Schwan’s Cup).
This week: Tues vs Minnetonka, Sat vs Hill Murray

2. Breck (2-0)
With Breck in the Gold Division of Schwan’s Cup this year, the state will have an opportunity to see just how good they are before the state tournament this year. They open the season with 6 home games. They have not allowed a goal yet. We will see how much Cathedral can test them on Saturday.
This week: Tues vs Providence Academy, Sat vs St Cloud Cathedral

3. Rochester Lourdes (3-0)
This year’s version of what Breck did last year? If as good as their preseason rank says, the Eagles could easily make it to state with less than a handful of losses with not much known about their full ability. They should be tested once in their first 9 games against Cathedral.
This week: Tues vs New Prague, Thurs @ Red Wing, Sat vs Chanhassen

4. Warroad (2-0)
A close home win against Mound-Westonka? This week will tell a lot about them.
This week: Tues @ Lake of the Woods, Fri @ Hibbing, Sat @ Grand Rapids

5. Blake (3-0-1)
The bears have a substantially tougher schedule than their conference rival with 4 tough games in their first 7 games.
This week: Thurs vs Mahtomedi, Sat @ Totino-Grace

6. Hermantown (1-0)
Playing Hopkins home Friday night followed by traveling to Eden Prairie to play the Eagles? Playing them with be tough enough, but after playing a game less than 20 hours earlier? Good luck to the hawks.
This week: Tues @ Two Harbors, Fri vs Hopkins, Sat @ Eden Prairie

7. Duluth Marshall (2-2)
Staying within 4 with St Thomas is a good sign, as is beating Mahtomedi.
This week: Tues @ Ashland, Sat @ Benilde

8. Virginia/MI-B (1-1)
Beating a Little Falls team that beat Hibbing is good. Have a tough week ahead of them.
This week: Tues @ Grand Rapids, Fri vs St Francis, Sat vs Hopkins

9. Duluth Central (2-1)
Not much has happened with them yet, so I’m just going to have to trust LPH on this one. A win Tuesday would be huge for the program.
This week: Tues vs Cretin, Sat vs St Francis

10. Totino-Grace (1-0)
A quality win over TRF is a good start. Can they continue and beat the Bears this week?
This week: Tues @ Robbinsdale Cooper, Thurs vs St Louis Park, Sat vs Blake

11. Mahtomedi (1-2)
The Zephyrs have played two quality opponents and come up short both times. With two good opponents this week we’ll get an idea for how Mahtomedi is.
This week: Tues vs Tartan, Thurs @ Blake

12. Hibbing/Chisholm (3-2)
A surprising loss to Little Falls but a tight game with Minnetonka is a great start to the season.
This week: Fri vs Warroad, Sat vs Roseau

13. Rogers (2-0-1)
This is a great story following a 1-loss football season losing in the state championship. One game this week, but they will definitely be tested playing Cathedral, Hermantown and Mahtomedi after STMA.
This week: Sat @ St Michael-Albertville

14. South St. Paul (2-0)
I’m not exactly sure where to put the Packers as they won’t be playing quality Class A opponents until 2011, but they are undefeated.
This week: Tues vs Red Wing

15. Sartell-St. Stephen (1-0)
Beating St Cloud Cathedral is a great way to start a season. Staying undefeated this week will be tough.
This week: Tues vs Bemidji, Thurs @ Little Falls

16. Lake of the Woods (1-0-1)
Could LOW beat Warroad this year?
This week: Tues vs Warroad, Sat @ EGF

17. Little Falls (1-1-1)
Beating Hibbing is a great way for an unranked team to start the season. Will have a good test this Thursday at home.
This week: Tues vs Wadena-Deer Creek, Thurs vs Sartell-St Stephen

18. Thief River Falls (1-2)
Their two losses are to quality opponents.
This week: Fri vs Tartan, Sat vs St Paul Johnson

19. St. Cloud Cathedral (0-1)
Losing to Sartell? This next week should be a good test for them.
This week: Tues vs Alexandria, Sat @ Breck

20. Orono (1-1)
This week: Tues vs St Louis Park, Sat @ Owatonna

Watching…

East Grand Forks (1-2)
This week: Sat vs Lake of the Woods

Spring Lake Park (1-1)
This week: Tues vs North St Paul, Sat @ St Paul Academy

Mound-Westonka (0-2-1)
This week: Tues vs Monticello, Sat vs Providence Academy

Holy Family Catholic (2-0)
This week: Tues @ Northfield, Thurs @ New Prague

Litchfield (2-0)
This week: Tues @ River Lakes, Fri vs Prairie Center Area
International Falls (0-1-1)
This week: Tues @ Eveleth-Gilbert, Fri @ Protor

The beginning of the year is crazy before unknowns make themselves known and the usuals play a few more games. I like watching some teams that typically aren't looked at. If I missed any teams who are noteworthy, let me know.

They aren't even the favorite to win section 3A, if anyone from 3A should be being watched or in these rankings it should be new ulm who is 1-0-1 with a win over new prague (7-5) and a tie with prior lake (2-2)

[HShockeywatcher]

Orono should be nowhere near the top 20. If you lose 9-2 to someone, you're obviously not a top 20 team.

The runner up in state in 2006 lost 7-0...

I have not seen them play. They were LPH's preseason #17 and I don't know that losing to two undefeated teams to start your season can be a bad thing.

Litchfield (2-0)
This week: Tues @ River Lakes, Fri vs Prairie Center Area

They aren't even the favorite to win section 3A, if anyone from 3A should be being watched or in these rankings it should be new ulm who is 1-0-1 with a win over new prague (7-5) and a tie with prior lake (2-2)

Depending on what happens this week, New Ulm will probably be noted next week. I wasn't able to get all the undefeated teams, but I will take note of them as well.

As the season goes on, those noted will be less and the rankings will shrink to 15 teams. As stated, the beginning of the season is a mess.

[MNHockey75]

Yeah, I think I said it first.

OK....then...

2nd........

I would love to see a Lake of the Woods/East Grand Forks 8A Final.

It's looking like a four-horse race in 8A. LOW has the best goaltender (by a landslide). EGF had their struggles with Bemidji (nothing unusual there), but had two nice outings vs. Brainerd and Park Rapids. TRF beat a good (but below average) Roseau team. Then blew a 2 goal lead against Totino, and played their back-up goaltender against Blake (but out-shot them). And of course there's Warroad. Until someone knocks off Warroad they're the favorite in my book. It took heavily favored TRF 4 OT's in 2006 to beat them.

Although I could see LOW making it to the final, I doubt they have two A+ performances in them. The tourney is in TRF this year, so advantage TRF there. TRF's play at home over the years is alarmingly better then on the road. I think Coach Chupka (EGF) is highly underrated. He always had his Bantam teams and now his high school teams ready to play come playoffs. I'm looking forward to it!

[hockeyrocks]

Orono should be nowhere near the top 20. If you lose 9-2 to someone, you're obviously not a top 20 team.

Keep in mind thier backup Freshman goaile was playing and only had a Save Pct of 58%. Their starting goalie is now back from suspension so we should be able to get a better feel for wher they truly are as a team.

[MHGr8ness]

The runner up in state in 2006 lost 7-0...

I have not seen them play. They were LPH's preseason #17 and I don't know that losing to two undefeated teams to start your season can be a bad thing.


who cares about 2006? none of the current players were on that team. being undefeated at this point in the season probably means you won only one game, so being undefeated means almost nothing and if you truly are a good team, then undefeated teams will no longer be undefeated after playing you.

[HShockeywatcher]

The runner up in state in 2006 lost 7-0...

I have not seen them play. They were LPH's preseason #17 and I don't know that losing to two undefeated teams to start your season can be a bad thing.


who cares about 2006? none of the current players were on that team. being undefeated at this point in the season probably means you won only one game, so being undefeated means almost nothing and if you truly are a good team, then undefeated teams will no longer be undefeated after playing you.

Here is where you will get my opinion; a win's a win, a loss's a loss and if someone is much better than you, you may lose by a bit, but it doesn't make you much worse than thought.

We'll probably see this more throughout the season, I also don't think anyone being watched has done much to warrant being that much higher than them. If they lose this week, with who they're playing, they won't be mentioned next week, don't worry.

[HShockeywatcher]

An another post of mine in the AA rankings thread:

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32770

EP also #1 on the Hub's rankings. Right now they're rolling at 7 goals a game and 62.5% on the powerplay against two top 20 teams. Tough to argue with that.

And more people on there in the poll think Wayzata should be #1.

myFOXhockey's rankings have it:
1. Wayzata
2. Eden Prairie
3. Edina

LPH has it:
1. Wayzata
2. Edina
3. Eden Prairie

All it seems we can all agree on is that those are the top three and that Wayzata is ahead of Edina

It depends on where you put your value. Look at Class A; Breck won state last year, is undefeated with a 0.00 GAA in two games and was #2 in most preseason polls and is #2 in most polls now.

Edina won state last year and their one loss is to undefeated Wayzata. Have Eden Prairie and St Thomas acquired many youngsters, or lost less seniors, to earn this early jump?

Food for thought and discussion.

I'm open to opinions here. I'm tempted to put Breck at #1 for the time being and I'd like to hear thoughts on that.

Within a couple weeks, we'll have either enough common opponents, or a possible head to head match up in Schwan's (at the X would be awesome) to see who really should be there.

But right now, why is everyone putting the back-to-back State Champs at #2? (I have them there because that's where someone else put them to start)

[PoNd HocKey ChAmP67]

#1 STA loses to Tonka tonight in a thriller in OT.
I saw #9 Duluth Central lost to Cretin tonight.
Holy Family who is on the watch lost at Northfield tonight 4-3

[MNHockey75]

A few interesting scores:

Bemidji 7, Sartell 2 -- If only Bemidji stayed in 8A.
Breck 5, Providence Academy 3 -- Providence's program is starting to come around.
Cretin-Derham Hall 7, Duluth Central 2
Grand Rapids 7, Virginia 1 -- Rough night for 7A.
Little Falls 21, Wadena 0 -- Wow, it wasn't long ago that Wadena was the better program.
Spring Lake Park 3, North St. Paul 1 -- NSP is a pretty good team, so this is a fantastic win for SLP.
St. Cloud Cathedral 4, Alexandria 2
Tartan 2, Mahtomedi 1 -- A much better performance for the Z's.
Totino-Grace 5, Cooper 2
Warroad 1, Lake of the Woods 0 -- Lyon obviously needs to pick it up!

[Teak]

I'm open to opinions here. I'm tempted to put Breck at #1 for the time being and I'd like to hear thoughts on that.

But right now, why is everyone putting the back-to-back State Champs at #2? (I have them there because that's where someone else put them to start)

Well, since STA lost tonight, Breck probably deserves the #1 ranking. Warroad is undefeated also, but barely made it past LOW.

[flatontheice]

I'm open to opinions here. I'm tempted to put Breck at #1 for the time being and I'd like to hear thoughts on that.

But right now, why is everyone putting the back-to-back State Champs at #2? (I have them there because that's where someone else put them to start)

Well, since STA lost tonight, Breck probably deserves the #1 ranking. Warroad is undefeated also, but barely made it past LOW.

Come on Breck is way over rated right now. They barely got by Providence last night. They have one of the easiest schedules in Class A. Not deserving of a number one ranking at all.

[HShockeywatcher]

I'm open to opinions here. I'm tempted to put Breck at #1 for the time being and I'd like to hear thoughts on that.

But right now, why is everyone putting the back-to-back State Champs at #2? (I have them there because that's where someone else put them to start)

Well, since STA lost tonight, Breck probably deserves the #1 ranking. Warroad is undefeated also, but barely made it past LOW.

While I doubt I will have St Thomas at #1 next week, a team losing to Tonka in OT is not a reason to put them below a team who barely beat Providence Academy. It sure would make all of this easier if ONE of Blake, Hermantown or Warroad stays undefeated.

[hockeyrocks]

I'm open to opinions here. I'm tempted to put Breck at #1 for the time being and I'd like to hear thoughts on that.

But right now, why is everyone putting the back-to-back State Champs at #2? (I have them there because that's where someone else put them to start)

Well, since STA lost tonight, Breck probably deserves the #1 ranking. Warroad is undefeated also, but barely made it past LOW.

While I doubt I will have St Thomas at #1 next week, a team losing to Tonka in OT is not a reason to put them below a team who barely beat Providence Academy. It sure would make all of this easier if ONE of Blake, Hermantown or Warroad stays undefeated.

Breck was lucky they pulled that one out. They came from behind twice and scored a lucky goal to tie it up the first time on a penalty kill clearing knucklepuck shot from behind their own blue line that caught the goalie daydreaming. They found themselves down again with 10 minutes to go against a VERY average Providence team. They deserve to be in the top 5 for sure but they simply haven’t been tested yet since the scrimmages and have only beat 2 winless teams and a team that’s not above .500. Combined their opponents are 2-8-1 in CLASS A. Hardly championship caliber competition.
STA on the other had an overtime loss to a top tier AA school like Minnetonka that they outshot on a controversial call and they get knocked down? In my mind they are still the cream of the class A crop and should remain in the #1 spot regardless of what Blake, Hermantown, Breck do this week against middle of the road Class A teams. Until STA loses again, or these other teams put together a string of impressive wins there should be no change at the top.

[defense]

The runner up in state in 2006 lost 7-0...

I have not seen them play. They were LPH's preseason #17 and I don't know that losing to two undefeated teams to start your season can be a bad thing.


who cares about 2006? none of the current players were on that team. being undefeated at this point in the season probably means you won only one game, so being undefeated means almost nothing and if you truly are a good team, then undefeated teams will no longer be undefeated after playing you.

Here is where you will get my opinion; a win's a win, a loss's a loss and if someone is much better than you, you may lose by a bit, but it doesn't make you much worse than thought.

We'll probably see this more throughout the season, I also don't think anyone being watched has done much to warrant being that much higher than them. If they lose this week, with who they're playing, they won't be mentioned next week, don't worry.

If a "win is a win and a loss is a loss".... why does it matter if the team giving you the loss is undefeated?????
Evidently being undefeated at this point in the season didn't really matter since a lot of teams are 1-0 or 2-0..........

[low66]

A few interesting scores:

Bemidji 7, Sartell 2 -- If only Bemidji stayed in 8A.
Breck 5, Providence Academy 3 -- Providence's program is starting to come around.
Cretin-Derham Hall 7, Duluth Central 2
Grand Rapids 7, Virginia 1 -- Rough night for 7A.
Little Falls 21, Wadena 0 -- Wow, it wasn't long ago that Wadena was the better program.
Spring Lake Park 3, North St. Paul 1 -- NSP is a pretty good team, so this is a fantastic win for SLP.
St. Cloud Cathedral 4, Alexandria 2
Tartan 2, Mahtomedi 1 -- A much better performance for the Z's.
Totino-Grace 5, Cooper 2
Warroad 1, Lake of the Woods 0 -- Lyon obviously needs to pick it up!

pick it up? from the way it looks like lyon is playiing very well, top save % in the state, i think he's doin just fine

[HShockeywatcher]

The runner up in state in 2006 lost 7-0...

I have not seen them play. They were LPH's preseason #17 and I don't know that losing to two undefeated teams to start your season can be a bad thing.


who cares about 2006? none of the current players were on that team. being undefeated at this point in the season probably means you won only one game, so being undefeated means almost nothing and if you truly are a good team, then undefeated teams will no longer be undefeated after playing you.

Here is where you will get my opinion; a win's a win, a loss's a loss and if someone is much better than you, you may lose by a bit, but it doesn't make you much worse than thought.

We'll probably see this more throughout the season, I also don't think anyone being watched has done much to warrant being that much higher than them. If they lose this week, with who they're playing, they won't be mentioned next week, don't worry.

If a "win is a win and a loss is a loss".... why does it matter if the team giving you the loss is undefeated?????
Evidently being undefeated at this point in the season didn't really matter since a lot of teams are 1-0 or 2-0..........

The comment was about margin of victory/defeat, not quality of opponent.

Team A beating Team B is not the same as Team A beating Team C.

Team A beating Team B 7-1 isn't always much more telling of a team's ability than a 4-3 victory. If you go every game, you can learn a lot more about teams, but if you simply judge them by the game score (as I try to do objectively) the margin for ONE game doesn't show much imo.

Patterns are a different story.

[ssppuck]

Love to see the Packers here again. 3-0 start not bad. Tougher games comming ahead. Lets see where they stand.