Class A Rankings 12-12-10

[HShockeywatcher]

To reiterate what Karl said in his rankings, this was a short week. I used the polls from last week to separate 1 vs 2 and used my best judgment for the rest of the top 15, although it's not to say it's perfect. There are some top match ups this week, while many teams also play teams that can only hurt them in the rankings.

I have 18 teams being watched right now, as there are a handful in Class A who have separated themselves from the pack, and then a huge pack in the 6-30 range who could all make a claim for a spot above many.

1. St Thomas Academy (1-1)
Even after losing in OT to Minnetonka at home this week, the votes kept coming in for St Thomas to be #1 in last week’s rankings. With many games postponed on Sat, Dec 11, not a lot has changed in the last week.
This week: Tues vs Cretin, Sat @ Henry Sibley

2. Breck (3-0)
I was expecting Breck to continue to not allow goals and be 4-0 at this point and was planning on putting them back at #1 as they are the defending champs. Coming from behind more than once to beat Providence Academy doesn’t make the Mustangs look that great in my eyes right now. Still undefeated, they won’t drop much yet.
This week: Sat vs St Paul Academy

3. Blake (4-0-1)
Beating 3 notable teams as well as tying a usually above average AA team is a great start to the season. There should be a great battle in the Tri-Metro conference this year and in section 2A.
This week: Sat vs St Louis Park

4. Rochester Lourdes (5-0)
The Eagles’ record is great as they have played 20% of their schedule and have not lost yet, although the quality of opponent they have played and how close their games have been are keeping them here.
This week: Sat vs St Cloud Cathedral

5. Hibbing/Chisholm (5-2)
Beating Warroad never hurts. Their loss to the Skippers is by the same margin as St Thomas’. I expect them to be a force in 7A this year. The Bluejackets’ match up with the Hilltoppers this week should be a good one.
This week: Thurs vs Duluth Marshall

6. Hermantown (3-0)
Hermantown has fallen into this spot as Warroad loses. Playing Superior this week will give some comparison to other teams and their game with Rogers will either keep them undefeated or give Rogers the opportunity to show what they can do.
This week: Tues @ Superios, Sat vs Rogers

7. Warroad (3-2)
The Warriors fall with their loss to Hibbing but show they are still the team to beat in 8A…at least for now. This Friday the Green Wave will try to change that.
This week: Tues vs Bemidji, Fri @ East Grand Forks

8. Duluth Marshall (2-2)
Should be a good week of quality games for the Hilltoppers. Thus far a quality win over Mahtomedi in the mix with 4 other games that make their true ability difficult to assess.
This week: Tues @ Benilde, Thurs @ Hibbing, Sat vs Crookston

9. Little Falls (3-1-1)
While this may seem a bit high, the Flyers beat Hibbing away in their first game of the season. This week will give a good glimpse of how the season may go and show if they deserve this high of a ranking.
This week: Tues vs Fergus Fall, Thurs @ Alexandria, Sat vs Northern Lakes

10. Virginia/MI-B (2-2)
The Blue Jackets haven’t proven much yet this season but haven’t lost to any Class A opponents either. Three away games this week for Virginia
This week: Tues @ Duluth Central, Fri @International Falls, Sat @Eveleth-Gilbert

11. Duluth Central (3-2)
The Trojans have had 5 home games beating 3 teams by a combined score of 33-1 and losing to two quality AA teams. Can Central get 2 or more wins this week?
This week: Tues vs Virginia, Fri @ Hopkins, Sat @ Buffalo

12. Totino-Grace (3-0)
The Eagles are still undefeated but have not played tough opponents yet, nor does it appear they will in 2010.
This week: Thurs @ Irondale, Sat @ St Francis

13. South St. Paul (3-0)
The Packers’ win over Red Wing seems to have just gained more quality as Rochester Lourdes struggled against the Wingers. Staying undefeated this week will lead into SSP’s winter tournament well.
This week: Thurs vs North St Paul, Sat @ Tartan

14. Rogers (2-0-1)
It is hard to hold not playing against a team. Rogers will rise a lot in my rankings if they can keep a 0 in the loss column this week.
This week: Mon @ St Cloud Cathedral, Sat @ Hermantown

There are still many teams I would like to keep note of. If I am missing any, let me know.

Mahtomedi (0-4-1)
This week: Thurs vs Hill Murray, Sat @ North St Paul

Thief River Falls (3-2)
This week: Thurs @ Bemidji, Sat vs International Falls

Sartell-St. Stephen (1-2)
This week: Tues vs Sauk Rapids-Rice, Thurs @ Fergus Falls

Lake of the Woods (1-2-1)
This week: Tues vs International Falls, Sat @ Park Rapids

St. Cloud Cathedral (1-1)
This week: Mon vs Rogers, Sat @ Rochester Lourdes

Orono (1-2)
This week: Tues @ Delano, Thurs vs Waconia, Sat @ Red Wing

East Grand Forks (2-2)
This week: Fri vs Warroad

Spring Lake Park (3-1)
This week: Sat @ St Paul Academy

Mound-Westonka (1-2-1)
This week: Thurs vs St Michael-Albertville, Sat @ Fairbault

Holy Family Catholic (3-1)
This week: Tues @ Providence Academy

Litchfield (4-0)
This week: Fri vs St Peter

International Falls (1-2-1)
This week: Tues @ Lake of the Woods, Fri vs Virginia, Sat @ Thief River Falls

Delano (3-1)
This week: Tues vs Orono, Thurs @ Robbinsdale Cooper

Sauk Rapids Rice (1-3)
This week: Tues @ Sartell-St Stephen, Thurs @ Wilmar

Detroit Lakes (4-1)
This week: Tues vs Park Rapids

Fergus Falls (2-0)
This week: Tues @ Little Falls, Thurs vs Sartell-St Stephen, Sat @ Bemidji

Providence Academy (3-2)
This week: Tues vs Holy Family Catholic

New Ulm (3-0-1)
This week: Tues vs Hutchinson, Thurs @ Waseca, Sat vs Delano

Alexandria (2-1)
This week: Tues @ Brainerd, Thurs vs Little Falls

[goalieguy_14]

Id like to see class A done by section like Karl did with the AA, i don't know if you or anyone else would have the time but i just don't have the statewide knowlege to do that and would like to see how the sections look at this point.

[HShockeywatcher]

Id like to see class A done by section like Karl did with the AA, i don't know if you or anyone else would have the time but i just don't have the statewide knowlege to do that and would like to see how the sections look at this point.

What I do now takes quite a bit of time; cannot imagine how much time Karl spends.

1A
#4 Rochester Lourdes (5-0)
Mankato West (4-1)
Albert Lea (3-1)
Lourdes plays both West and Albert Lea this season. This will probably turn into a one horse race.

2A
#2 Breck (3-0)
#3 Blake (4-0-1)
Holy Family (3-1)
Delano (3-1)
Providence Academy (3-2)
With Providence Academy giving Breck a run for their money, it looks as though there will probably be two quality semi-finals games this season.

3A
Litchfield (4-0)
New Ulm (3-0-1)
Looks to be a two horse race here, with these two meeting twice during the season.

4A
#1 St Thomas (1-1)
#12 Totino-Grace (3-0)
#13 South St Paul (3-0)
#15 Mahtomedi (1-4)
St Thomas is definitely the favorite. All of these teams have match ups, with the exception of SSP/TG this season, so things will really come together come February.

5A
#6 Hermantown (3-0)
#14 Rogers (2-0-1)
Proctor (4-1)
St Cloud Cathedral (1-1)
Hermantown is the favorite here, with 3 teams who right now have the potential to compete with them.

6A
#9 Little Falls (3-1)
Fergus Falls (2-0)
Detroit Lakes (4-1)
Alexandria (2-1)
This looks to be a very even section. The two Falls teams play this week.

7A
#5 Hibbing (5-2)
#8 Duluth Marshall (2-2)
#10 Virgina (2-2)
#11 Duluth Central (3-2)
Eveleth Gilbert (4-1)
International Falls (1-2-1)
Any of 5 or 6 teams have the potential to represent 7A at state this year.

8A
#7 Warroad (3-2)
Thief River Falls (3-2)
East Grand Forks (2-2)
Lake of the Woods (1-2-1)
Warroad is the preseason favorite, but LOW has shown they have a good goalie.

[HShockeywatcher]

I'm curious who the someone else that people are voting for in the polls thus far. The same amount that think Breck is #1 also think "someone else" not on the list is.

I included everyone I thought someone may vote for; teams who have not lost to a Class A team yet and have played quality opponents.

[Teak]

You did a good job, HShockeywatcher, with the poll. It is never easy but I was glad to see that someone else considers Hibbing to be Top Ten material.

This week's game against Duluth Marshall will be a measuring stick, perhaps. Hibbing has some great, young talent, and a couple of goalies with 90% save percentages, but their lack of numbers (bench) may not bode well down the line. Winning that OT against Roseau should be a confidence booster.

[MNHockey75]

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

[drop the puck]

15. Mahtomedi (1-4)
The Zephyrs have only 1 win this far and it seems as though they will be adding no more than 1 more this week, but Mahtomedi has to have one of the toughest schedules against Class A opponents through 5 games.
This week: Thurs vs Hill Murray, Sat @ North St Paul

While I am sure they would like one win, the Zephs have NOT won yet and have a record of 0-4-1. Losing Marshall is obvious, but the Adams and Zurn scoring punch is gone too. Rose returns from that first line with only two points in five games with no goals.

[puck81]

According to the BSM web page the BSM-Duluth Marshall game will be played IN Duluth at the MARS arena on Tuesday (12/14) at 4pm.

[HShockeywatcher]

15. Mahtomedi (1-4)
The Zephyrs have only 1 win this far and it seems as though they will be adding no more than 1 more this week, but Mahtomedi has to have one of the toughest schedules against Class A opponents through 5 games.
This week: Thurs vs Hill Murray, Sat @ North St Paul

While I am sure they would like one win, the Zephs have NOT won yet and have a record of 0-4-1. Losing Marshall is obvious, but the Adams and Zurn scoring punch is gone too. Rose returns from that first line with only two points in five games with no goals.

Minnesota Scores strikes again!

While I would probably have moved TRF up ahead of them had I known this, losing to two top 10 teams by a combined 3 goals, to the #2 team and to Tartan by 1 is hardly saying they are bad.

13 of their next 15 games are away, with the Zephyrs only having 7 home games this season. Hopefully for them they can turn things around.

[fivehole628]

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

[defense]

15. Mahtomedi (1-4)
The Zephyrs have only 1 win this far and it seems as though they will be adding no more than 1 more this week, but Mahtomedi has to have one of the toughest schedules against Class A opponents through 5 games.
This week: Thurs vs Hill Murray, Sat @ North St Paul

While I am sure they would like one win, the Zephs have NOT won yet and have a record of 0-4-1. Losing Marshall is obvious, but the Adams and Zurn scoring punch is gone too. Rose returns from that first line with only two points in five games with no goals.

Minnesota Scores strikes again!

While I would probably have moved TRF up ahead of them had I known this, losing to two top 10 teams by a combined 3 goals, to the #2 team and to Tartan by 1 is hardly saying they are bad.

13 of their next 15 games are away, with the Zephyrs only having 7 home games this season. Hopefully for them they can turn things around.

The fact remains they haven't won......
0-4-1 and in the top 15?
interesting

[HShockeywatcher]

I'm curious who the "someone else" that people are voting for in the polls thus far is. The same amount that think Breck is #1 also think "someone else" not on the list is.

I included everyone I thought someone may vote for; teams who have not lost to a Class A team yet and have played quality opponents.

Breck has taken off, but "someone else" is close behind them...who are they?

[HShockeywatcher]

Rogers 2
Cathedral 1

Prov Academy 5
Holy Family 4

Little Falls 4
Fergus Falls 4

Lake of the Woods 5
International Falls 1

New Ulm 1
Hutch 0

Bemidji 1
Warroad 0

St Thomas 5
Cretin 4

Benilde 5
D Marshall 3

Proctor 5
Greenway 2

Lourdes 4
Chanhassen 0

Virginia 7
Central 3

Sartell 5
Sauk Rapids 2