State A seeding prediction

[12thgraders]

The field is almost set and I will go out on a limb and say Mahtomedi will advance tonight. I see seeding going like:

#1 - Hermantown
#2 - Mahtomedi
#3 - East Grand Forks
#4 - Breck
#5 - St Cloud Apollo

Draws: Spring Lake Park, New Prague, New Ulm

I know my picks look like the Let's Play Hockey poll, but this is my WAG. After Alexandria was eliminated, #5 became a wild card for me but I am confident in Apollo getting the #5 even though they were the #4 in their section.

[rainier]

The field is almost set and I will go out on a limb and say Mahtomedi will advance tonight. I see seeding going like:

#1 - Hermantown
#2 - Mahtomedi
#3 - East Grand Forks
#4 - Breck
#5 - St Cloud Apollo

Draws: Spring Lake Park, New Prague, New Ulm

I know my picks look like the Let's Play Hockey poll, but this is my WAG. After Alexandria was eliminated, #5 became a wild card for me but I am confident in Apollo getting the #5 even though they were the #4 in their section.

Agreed. Chances of a QF upset are extremely slim this year. Final four should see some excellent parity and hopefully three barnburners.

[elliott70]

Breck and Apollo in the first round should be good.

[2 for cheating]

It would not surprise me to see NP get the 5 seed.

I could see some games being played by the top teams to try and get Apollo pushed down into the draws.

When you look at the schedules I believe Apollo and NP are a toss up. NP has played a tougher schedule IMHO.

Also, don't count out SPA. They are a solid team and Mahtomedi's coach is second only to WBL in the ability to choke when all the marbles are on the line.

[curtiscurve]

I think it would be a shame if New Prague was given the 5 seed over Apollo. Section 6A was so tight. The top 4 seeds all could have been considered for the top seed. Apollo should not be penalized for a lower seed in the section. They proved they were the best team in the section by beating the #1 and #2 seeds. I think they will be able to knock off Breck and I guess that is why I would be bummed if they don't get the 5. I do not think New Prague can stay with Breck.

[hshockeyfan53]

I think it would be a shame if New Prague was given the 5 seed over Apollo. Section 6A was so tight. The top 4 seeds all could have been considered for the top seed. Apollo should not be penalized for a lower seed in the section. They proved they were the best team in the section by beating the #1 and #2 seeds. I think they will be able to knock off Breck and I guess that is why I would be bummed if they don't get the 5. I do not think New Prague can stay with Breck.

If I were you I wouldn't want the 5 seed because, if you win, the road to the state championship game would have to go likely through Hermantown which would be a daunting task.

[curtiscurve]

I think it would be a shame if New Prague was given the 5 seed over Apollo. Section 6A was so tight. The top 4 seeds all could have been considered for the top seed. Apollo should not be penalized for a lower seed in the section. They proved they were the best team in the section by beating the #1 and #2 seeds. I think they will be able to knock off Breck and I guess that is why I would be bummed if they don't get the 5. I do not think New Prague can stay with Breck.

If I were you I wouldn't want the 5 seed because, if you win, the road to the state championship game would have to go likely through Hermantown which would be a daunting task.

I am not an Apollo fan, just an observer. I just want to see the best possible 4 v 5 match-up (and the team with the best chance to beat Breck).

[urban iceman]

I back the Trojan's, but I don't see them getting seeded. Not the team they were last year but capable of beating Breck.

[ted2you]

I know everyone has conceded the tournament to Hermantown, but not so fast.

This is the most balanced top 5, I've seen in Single A.

The Best:
1. Hermantown: target firmly on their back and hasn't really been challenged for a couple months (I would imagine they have little ghosts talking in their head after 5 consecutive runner up finishes).
2. Mahtomedi: (assuming they win tonight) has probably been the most impressive Single A team this season.
3. EGF: Had to battle through sections. Defending champions with a lot of top end talent, clearly a team everyone would like someone else to take out.
4. Breck: They play a AA schedule and certainly another team nobody really wants to play.
5. Apollo: Late on the scene but has played very well down the stretch.

New Prague: Could get the #5 seed. They have played a good schedule.
New Ulm: A bit of an unknown, but they don't really look like a walk.

Spring Lake Park: The Rodney Dangerfield of the tournament. They appear to be the only team that everyone wants to play.