scarlethockey33 wrote:Early Season Section Rankings
1. Lourdes, Independent 6-0
Undoubtedly the number one, in the section thus far, yet to record a lost, even though I thought they were going to lose to STA, but the game was postponed due to weather. Has a strong schedule that will definitely get them section ready with games vs. Breck and STA. Also plays a good number of Section 1A teams, which will give us a clearer view for the future.
The same guys doing it for Lourdes this year with a great goalie in Heimer (.903 SV% and 1.95 GAA) who is arguably the best goalie in the section, but he's getting the the goal support from Funk and Samuleson along with strong defense led by defensemen Rory Vessel.
Had a scare in the Red Wing game, and certainly Spaniol is gonna remind them that in this section there are no easy games.
Last Game: 4-0 Win vs. Chanhassen
Next Three Games: St. Cloud Cathedral Dec. 18, Northfield Dec. 21, Holy Family Dec. 23
2. Albert Lea, Big 9 4-1
How do you start a talk about Albert Lea without mentioning Roy Nystrom? He's a great coach, and a man whose been with the game long enough to understand how to utilize the players he has to become competitive and win games. AL plays a schedule rich of Big 9 teams, but has the nonconference games vs. some top teams like Hibbing and Virginia/MIB.
Albert Lea has a good set of players with Carlson, who maybe one of the best players in the section along with Hacker and Stolt. Goaltending has been an issue for Albert Lea, after splitting the first five games, it seems like Wangen's game with New Prague may be enough to win him the starting job.
Wins over Northfield and New Prague, were big wins in terms of their ranking. Nystrom's teams' typically seem to get better as the season continues to get closer to section time.
Last Game: 2-1 Win vs. New Prague
Next Three Games: Winona Dec. 16, Austin Dec. 21, Richfield Dec. 28
3. Mankato West, Big 9 4-2
One of the highest scoring teams in the Section so far with an average of 6 goals per game. Mainly a Big 9 Schedule for the Scarlets, but with the addition of games vs. Fergus Falls, St. Francis and Shakopee, and section opponents also including Lourdes and Northfield.
The Scarlets are led by the top scorer in the state Rantanen along with Weber and Frentz. On defense, the Scarlets are young with sophomore Bigham and freshmen Mckissick leading the blue line. Goalie Kaufman has been able to play well enough to put the Scarlets in position to win every game.
Early OT lost (4-5) vs. a declining New Prague team is starting to look like an after thought. The win vs. Faribault (6-3) was huge, but the next game vs. Marshall (1-2 L), a team with less skill than the Scarlets may have lowered their ranking. I think the lesson needed to be learned for the Scarlets is that "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
Last Game: 1-2 Lost vs. Marshall
Next Three Games: JM Dec. 16, Mankato East Dec. 18, Fergus Falls Dec. 28
4. Faribault, Big 9 2-2
A slow start for a Faribault team expected to compete in the section this year. The Falcons schedule includes some top ranked teams such as games vs. Breck, Warroad and Orono also along with the regular Big 9 schedule.
The Falcons are led by their senior Lipinski, who indivdually is one of the top players in the section along with Helgeson, and watching over the blue line is Brandon Teske. They have some depth on the scoring including a total of nine players with goals this season. Goaltending issues has plagued the Falcons, and the lack of having Forgaard is starting to make holes in this team.
Losing to a growing Providence Academy team (6-0) and Mankato West (6-3). No eye popping wins yet this season vs. Northfield (4-2) and Dodge County (5-3).
Last Game: 6-3 Lost vs. Mankato West
Next Three Games: Owatonna Dec. 16, Mound-Westonka Dec. 18, New Prague Dec. 21
5. Northfield, Missota 1-2
Northfield is seemingly always in the middle of the talk for the Section. Plays an average schedule staying with many Missota games, and many other games with games vs. section teams.
Return some good offense with Andrew Scofield being amongst the top of them all. Their top goal scorer is Vogel with 5 goals. Docken is probably one of their top defensemen. Goaltending is still too early to call for who is going to start. The Raiders have split between Finger and Tjaden, and with Tjaden's first start he's shown the better numbers so far.
Still really early to call for Northfield because they've only played three games after all. Big win over Holy Family Catholic which was getting some consideration to be a top team, but early losses to Albert Lea and Faribault were big hits in terms of their ranking, but again it's still too early to say for the Raiders.
Last Game: 4-3 Win vs. Holy Family Catholic
Next Three Games: Red Wing Dec. 16, Lourdes Dec. 21, Bloomington Kennedy Dec. 23
6. Red Wing, Missota 0-4
Despite Red Wing's winless record, the Wingers plays one of the hardest schedules, if not the hardest schedule in the whole section. They have a stock full of games vs. possible top teams like Breck, Hermantown, Lourdes, South St. Paul, Orono, Totino Grace, Holy Angels and Mahtomedi.
Not much to say about the Wingers, they are showing some depth with seven total goal scorers so far this season. Goalie Amendolar has had a rough time especially after losing to Breck 7-0.
I don't know what to take out of the Lourdes game, does playing the Lourdes close and eventually bring them to OT only to lose it put them higher or does the fact that the Wingers lose a two goal lead with 30 seconds left drop them down? Regardless the Wingers will be interesting to watch because of their challenging schedule.
Last Game: 5-6 Lost vs. Lourdes
Next Three Games: Northfield Dec. 16, Orono Dec. 18, Totino Grace Dec. 21
7. New Prague, Missota 1-4
New Prague's schedule is mainly games vs. Missota opponents along with games vs. the section. The only non-conference, non-section notable games Hermantown and Duluth Central.
Brezina is rising as their top goal scorer (5). Zach Adams is a solid defensemen for New Prague despite his lack of point production and Joe Morris is having a slow start after showing a glimpse of being a great goalie late last season.
Showed some promise with an opening OT win over Mankato West (5-4). But since the Trojans have declined losing vs. the top team in 3A New Ulm (7-5), Lourdes (3-1), Holy Family (6-2) and Albert Lea (2-1).
Last Game: 1-2 Lost vs. Albert Lea
Next Three Games: Chaska Dec. 17, Faribault Dec. 21, Duluth Central Dec. 28
Bottom Four
8. La Crescent
9. Wascea
10. Austin
11. Mankato East
Most of the top seven tops will likely beat any of the bottom four. La Crescent seems interesting although its hard to know where to place them with the teams they play. Good win vs. Winona early on I expect a good season out of the Lancers.
Wascea, East and Austin are going to have the troubles that they've always had being at the bottom. My logic for their places, Wascea beat East with the shutout. Austin beat East 6-4. Their problem is mainly the lack the speed and talent of any of the top teams.
Give some input, I know there's going to be some other opinions about the rankings, but above all I think it's important to note that it's still extremely early in the season and these rankings are going to fluctuate as they always do in Section 1A.
You mean over the last 4 seasons. In 2006 Austin was a #1 seed and played #4 seed East in the semi-finals, with East later advancing to state.
