FIRST TEST OF THE BEST BANTAM A TOURNEY BRACKETS

[royalhockey999]

North
Eden Prairie
Eagan
Rogers
Stillwater

South
Wayzata
Prior Lake
Farmington
White Bear Lake

East
Edina
Andover
Lakeville North
Osseo/Maple Grove

West
Elk River
Monticello
Minnetonka
Rochester

WHO YA GOT?????

[ahastars03]

How is Eden Prairie and Edina not in the same area. They are both section 6. Also Wayzata and OMG??

[Tenoverpar]

thank you Eden Prairie for the 7:15 am game Friday morning for the third year in a row

[Cdale]

How is Eden Prairie and Edina not in the same area. They are both section 6. Also Wayzata and OMG??

By area do you mean bracket or pairing? Probably because they see enough of one another all season.

[Bluewhitefan]

How is Eden Prairie and Edina not in the same area. They are both section 6. Also Wayzata and OMG??

By area do you mean bracket or pairing? Probably because they see enough of one another all season.

Simply a way of splitting up the teams - nothing to do with geography. Probably should have used colors, or something meaningful like "Legends" and "Leaders"

[old goalie85]

Give me a break. They just broke it down into four POOLS !!!! What a great looking event. Good luck to all the teams. Even WBL.[ Just kidding Funmom.]

[ahastars03]

I got it, for some reason I thought it was a look at regions not the EP tourney. It will be a good tourney for sure a lot of the top teams in the state at this one. Good early test for all of the teams involved.

[Royal24]

North

With updated rankings

Eden Prairie 2
Eagan. Nr
Rogers. 24
Stillwater. 16

South
Wayzata. 1
Prior Lake. 4
Farmington. 19
White Bear Lake. 6

East
Edina. 3
Andover. 8
Lakeville North. 13
Osseo/Maple Grove. 5

West
Elk River Nr
Monticello. Nr
Minnetonka 12
Rochester. Nr

WHO YA GOT?????

[CasseauCougar]

Scorekeeper, are you going to handicap 'this' tournament? And more importantly, will your son be back on the ice for this one?

[RUKidding]

Just wondering, why wouldn't you put Prior Lake, OMG, or Edina in the West bracket? Then you'd likely have a strong one coming out of each of the 4 brackets.

[buttend]

North
Eden Prairie
Eagan
Rogers
Stillwater

South
Wayzata
Prior Lake
Farmington
White Bear Lake

East
Edina
Andover
Lakeville North
Osseo/Maple Grove

West
Elk River
Monticello
Minnetonka
Rochester

WHO YA GOT?????

My Guess

Championship Pool

North/South EP vs Wayzata
East /West Edina vs Minnetonka

Champ Game Wayzata vs Edina........Wayzata!

Consolation Pool
North /South Stillwater vs Prior Lake
East /West OMG vs Elk River

Consolation Final game Prior Lake vs OMG.............OMG!

Changed my guess, Andover lost #4 to HS and #11 to an injury

[IMHO]

While they're a good squad and they still have a lot of fire power, they had a pretty important player go up to Andover Varsity.

[scorekeeper]

My Guess

Championship Pool

North/South EP vs Wayzata
East /West Edina vs Minnetonka

Champ Game Wayzata vs Edina........Wayzata!

Consolation Pool
North /South Stillwater vs Prior Lake
East /West OMG vs Elk River

Consolation Final game Prior Lake vs OMG.............OMG!

That's a pretty good prognatstkication. I would think it plays out almost exactly as you lay it out.

Interesting draw. Two of the pools are stacked while 2 of the pools are extremely soft.

South Pool

No surprise that Eden Prairie didn't put any elite teams in the "North" Pool with the Eagles. Obviously, they are the host team and want a soft path to the final 4. Nothing wrong with that. Not sure any of the other 3 teams in that pool are even top 20 teams, although a case can be made for Stillwater.

The Ponies are a hard team to get your head around as they have laid some pretty stinky eggs, but they are certainly one of those teams you can't take lightly, as they have already beaten some pretty stiff competition, with wins over Sibley, Edina and Minnetonka.

The Stillwater vs Eden Prairie game will be played for all the marbels, as both teams *should* be 2-0 when they meet, with the pool at stake. Still, I'll take the Eagles by 2 goals in that game and expect Eden Prairie to win the pool in a 3-0 sweep.

North Pool

It also seems that Tournament organizers intentionally made a tough path for both Wayzata and Edina, as both of those Pools are stacked. Ihe "South" Pool, Wayzata will face Prior Lake, Farmington and White Bear in a pool where any one of those teams can win any one of those games.

Farmington is a team maybe just on the outside of the Top 10 bubble and looking in. MyHockey has them at 17th in the State right now and they have played some pretty decent hockey, including a close game with the Irish and skating to a tie with Prior Lake.

White Bear is a threat to win any game, as they are well coached and very physical. I'm not sure their physical style is well suited to a District 6 Tournament, however, as the District is notoriously soft and penalizes physical teams. It probably doesn't help the Bears that they have already lost to Wayzata 7-2. They are a great team, but I don't think this is a good draw for them. Not their weekend.

The dark horse here is Prior Lake. Not just for the Pool but for the Tournament. We will find out this weekend just how good this team is. There is a lot of quality people associated with this team and great kids, so it's easy to root for them and it's exciting to see them do well. Especially when you consider their top scorer was scooped by Shattuck. The Lakers have played 13 games straight now without a loss and that does include wins over Lakeville (North & South), Woodbury, Rosemount, Minnetonka and ties with Edina and Farmington. I just don't know if they are "ready" to lose yet. I don't think these kids know they are supposed to. The Tournament actually opens with Prior Lake vs wayzata at 7AM on Friday morning, and while my head says Wayzata should be a 1 goal favorite (are ties allowed in this Tourney?), my heart says - GO LAKERS GO!

Bottom line here is that Wayzata (1) , Prior Lake (4) and WBL (7) are all rated in the top 7 teams in the State, making this a real Pool of Death. I wouldn't be terribly suprised to see a 3 way tie for this pool with 2-1 records. Wayzata *should* have the inside track, but don't discount those Lakers ... or wake a sleeping Bear.

East Pool

This is the other Pool of Death. Edina (2), Andover (5) and OMG (6) are three teams ranked in the top 6 teams in the State. Let's face it, when we put these pools together it's always a good bit of fun to "stick it to" a rival, and if that's what EP has done here to the Hornets, then it's all in good rivalry fun. besides, I don't think the Hornets would have it any ohter way.

Here's the thing with Edina. While a lot of Bantam A coaches try to get too fancy and over-coach at this level, the secret to the sustained success of the Cake-eaters (besides the bottomless money pit for development), is the golden rule of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and nobody does it better than the Bugs. These kids are doing basically the same thing they have been doing since they were Squirts and still nobody can stop them. They put an emphasis on individual skill development and they keep team tactics very very simple but they focus on the MASTERY of those simple things and they make it look easy. That strategy pays off especially in events like this when the stakes SEEM high, but the game is always the same for the Hornets no matter who they are playing.

Andover has quietly strung together 8 straight victories, including nice wins recently over Woodbury and Stillwater. This has certainly raised their stock in the polls and has them top 5 entering this event, however, the defection of a top player to High School has been untimely and should have the Huskies playing for pride this weekend instead of challenging for the Tournament Title. It's baptism by fire for the Huskies, as they drop the puck on this Tourney against the Hornets before matching up with a finally-healthy OMG squad. They could be facing off Saturday afternoon with Lakevill in a battle of winless teams.

OMG has done everything this season so far except beat an elite team. While their resume is impressive enough overall at 8-5-2 with a +/- of +28, they are a winless 0-5-1 and -10 against the top 7 teams in the State. Considering 3 of the 4 teams in this Pool are Top 6 teams, it's a real cause for concern. They should cruise in game 1 and they *should* get their first win over a top 5 team when they play Andover on Saturday (I give them a VERY small edge), but in a battle of undefeated teams Saturday afternoon, I don't give this team much of a chance. They *seem* to have an inferiority complex when it comes to elite competition and have shown a tendancy to implode, but the reality is, if you watch this team you will see they actually "roll lines" like a mite team does, with a fair play policy of equal ice. I'm not sure they have the depth to operate like that against top teams, which has resulted in zero success. yet they get away with rolling lines against weaker competition, as everybody joins the party and puts points on the board. It keeps players and parents happy and they will win just fine with that strategy in District 3 league play. However, that strategy will not work against elite teams in an elite Tournament and they will hit a wall against Edina (again) and possibly Andover.

Lakeville North just got a tough draw. They are currently ranked 20th in the State and would have challenged for 2nd place in the North Pool and even challenged for 1st place in the West Pool, but in this Pool I don't see any wiggle room. They have only played 2 games against Top 10 teams to date and lost both bbadly enough, getting outscored 3-11. Their best chance of success here is to catch an Andover team napping on Saturday afternoon, but I can't see a serious challenge from Lakeville against OMG or Edina.

Bottom line here is this Pool, stacked as it is, is still taylor made for Hornets success. Not that they need it, but they get the additional protection of District 6 refs, just in case teams like Andover or OMG have a physical game plan. Trust me - you don't want to spend time in the box against these guys. Edina should beat OMG, (I would guess rather convincingly) on Saturday and advance to the final 4, making OMG a co-favorite (along with South Pool #2) to compete in the Consolation Championship.

West Pool

This is an interesting pool, because 1 month ago you might have looked at this Pool and thought it was stacked. At the time, conventional wisdom had Elk River as a top 3 team, Minnetonka was an up and coming Top 10 competitor and Rochester (I am assuming this is Rochester Red) was 5th ranked 2 years ago with these kids as Pee Wee A's. Of course, it is only Thanksgiving and any/all 3 of those teams may still be late blooming Top 5 teams, but from the body of work so far this season, Minnetonka is 15th, Elk River is 16th and neither Monticello (0-1) or Rochester Red (1-2) would make the Top 50.

An earlier poster wondered on this board why a top team wasn't put in this pool, but you have to remember that these brackets weren't made last night or even last week. When they were made, both Minnetonka and Elk River were being talked about as State Championship contenders, and don't write them off either - as either or both certainly hjave the potential to win this Tournament and the State Title.

I would imagine the battle for this Pool really revolves around the Minnetonka/Elk River game on Saturday morning, with the winner facing Edina in the Championship Bracket and the loser facing OMG in the Consolation Bracket. These two teams are REALLY evenly matched, but they have played once already this season with Minnetonka securing a 3-2 decision.

Championship Bracket

I am sure at least one of the upsets will come through, the most likely being that Elk River beats Minnetonka (not much of an upset reallY), or Prior Lake beats Wayzata. Less likely but also possible that OMG beats Edina or Stillwater beats Eden Prairie. I think we will see at least one of those upsets occuring.

Other than that, predictably, I agree exactly with buttend on the matchups with slightly different outcomes.

- Eden Prairie v Wayzata - (Winner Wayzata)
- Edina v Minnetonka - (Winner Edina)

- Championship Game Edina vs Wayzata - (Winner Edina)

- Third Place Edsen Prairie v Minnetonka - (Winner Eden Prairie)

Consolation Bracket

- Stillwater v Prior Lake (Winner Prior Lake)
- OMG v Elk River (Winner OMG)

- Consolation Final OMG vs Prior Lake (Winner Prior Lake)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, good luck to all the teams and players. Wish I was there to see it!

Sorry for the long post

[ahastars03]

Edina lost 3 more players to high school so they have now lost 5 guys if you include the 2 that didn't even tryout.

Still plenty of talent and will still have a shot to win this tourney but if OMG just got healthy they might put up a better fight then the first time they played them.

[Towelie]

With Edina losing three more top players, (their best D, another top D, and another foward), it will be interesting to see if they can even squeek by with a win this weekend. Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

[Bluewhitefan]

Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

Tied #4 Prior Lake with eleven skaters last night. Glad they're not a threat anymore.

[goaliewithfoggedglasses]

With Edina losing three more top players, (their best D, another top D, and another foward), it will be interesting to see if they can even squeek by with a win this weekend. Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

I don't get it. If BSM is supposed to be so good this year what do they need with 3 freshmen?

[observer]

I don't get it. If BSM is supposed to be so good this year what do they need with 3 freshmen?

Very observant. They don't. Not sure they'll make varsity.

[Towelie]

Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

Tied #4 Prior Lake with eleven skaters last night. Glad they're not a threat anymore.

You basically proved my point as your right they are not a threat, as they just "tied" a Prior Lake team that really hasn't proved anything thus far.

let's see how they do this weekend.

[C-dad]

With Edina losing three more top players, (their best D, another top D, and another foward), it will be interesting to see if they can even squeek by with a win this weekend. Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

Who are the three? I see Lawton and Jungles left, did they lose another?

Edit: Oops, Newhouse too I see now is gone.

[goaliewithfoggedglasses]

With Edina losing three more top players, (their best D, another top D, and another foward), it will be interesting to see if they can even squeek by with a win this weekend. Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

Who are the three? I see Lawton and Jungles left, did they lose another?

Newhouse

[CasseauCougar]

Other than that, predictably, I agree exactly with buttend on the matchups with slightly different outcomes.

- Eden Prairie v Wayzata - (Winner Wayzata)
- Edina v Minnetonka - (Winner Edina)

- Championship Game Edina vs Wayzata - (Winner Edina)

- Third Place Edsen Prairie v Minnetonka - (Winner Eden Prairie)

Consolation Bracket

- Stillwater v Prior Lake (Winner Prior Lake)
- OMG v Elk River (Winner OMG)

- Consolation Final OMG vs Prior Lake (Winner Prior Lake)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyways, good luck to all the teams and players. Wish I was there to see it!

So where did the three Edina kids go? One in particular I can't imagine going to HS? Thought he'd maybe head to Holy Family if he did enter the HS ranks early.

One correction on OMG being "finally-healthy". I believe they only got one of their two players back and no one is sure how durable the one that came back is.

Finally, just an outstanding rundown of the tournament. Sleeping Bears ... Bugs ... Death Pools, you should really start your own blog. Keep up the great stuff. I know you said you wished you could be there, but I bet you slide in for a game or two.

[Bluewhitefan]

Not really a threat anymore in my opinion.

Tied #4 Prior Lake with eleven skaters last night. Glad they're not a threat anymore.

You basically proved my point as your right they are not a threat, as they just "tied" a Prior Lake team that really hasn't proved anything thus far.

let's see how they do this weekend.

Okay you win. Proved your point? You've written off a team as "no threat" before Thanksgiving? Maybe in your mind Prior Lake hasn't proved anything, but I'm not sure anyone has. A tie against a top 10 team with a short roster doesn't prove anything either.

[scorekeeper]

OK, gotta make some pre-tourney tweaks based on the new information posted on this blog.

1.) While Edina is still a top 10 team, even with the loss of CJ, BN & JL, I don't think you can count them as top 5. With these players missing, and already having MM and CW out with injuries, the whole pool is up for grabs.

These absences really shine a spotlight on the first game with Andover and also put the Hornets at a disadvantage in the rematch with OMG.

2.) OMG is not fully healthy. They played short in Duluth, missing JG (AC Joint) and NC (Concussion) to injuries and were also missing CO, though not injured. That's 3 huge losses and they still did rather well.

They will have both CO and JG back, giving them one of their top 2 d-men and top 3 fwds back on the ice, but NC is out still, which is a huge loss, as he is a high energy player who is a leader on the ice.

This really changes the dynamics of the Pool and opens it back up to a wide open 3 way race. Given these dynamics, I'll tweak my forecast ...

-----------------------------

Championship Bracket

- Eden Prairie v Wayzata - (Winner Wayzata)
- OMG v Minnetonka - (Winner OMG)

- Championship Game Edina vs Wayzata - (Winner Wayzata)

- Third Place Eden Prairie v Minnetonka - (Winner Eden Prairie)

Consolation Bracket

- Stillwater v Prior Lake (Winner Prior Lake)
- Andover v Elk River (Winner Andover)

- Consolation Final Andover vs Prior Lake (Winner Prior Lake)

[Bluewhitefan]

OK, gotta make some pre-tourney tweaks based on the new information posted on this blog.

Championship Bracket

- Eden Prairie v Wayzata - (Winner Wayzata)
- OMG v Minnetonka - (Winner OMG)

- Championship Game Edina vs Wayzata - (Winner Wayzata)

- Third Place Eden Prairie v Minnetonka - (Winner Eden Prairie)

I don't think Edina can play in the championship if they don't first play in one of the semis. Maybe in their own tourney,but not in EP!