Early Top 20 in Single A 12/24/17

[elliott70]

Week is not over but with Christmas and a road trip and a little break at work, I figured I may as well do it.
The big questions are:
Who is number 1? Who are the next 5?

1. Mahtomedi (6-0-1)
2. Hermantown (1-3-2)
3. Greenway (7-1-0)
4. East Grand Forks (6-4-1)
5. Sartell-St Stephen (5-2-0)
6. St. Cathedral (5-2) (5-2)
7. Virginia (7-2-0)
8. Orono (6-2-1)
9. Warroad (2-6-1)
10. Mound Westonka (5-1-1)
11. Crookston (5-3-0)
12. Delano (4-3-0)
13. Alexandria (4-4-1)
14. Minneapolis (6-5-0)
15. Breck (2-4-0)
16. Monticello (7-1-0)
17. Luverne (7-0-0)
18. River Lakes (4-4-0)
19. Fergus Falls (3-4-2)
20. Northfield (6-2-0)

Others:
Mankato East
Albert Lea
St Paul Johnson

[Stang5280]

9. Warroad (2-6-1)

12. Delano (4-3-0)

15. Breck (2-4-0)

As always, I’ll preface this by saying Class A is a bit of a mess this year and the parity makes any attempt at rankings difficult. But I do have some issues with how the three teams highlighted above are ranked.

First, Warroad has done nothing of significance outside of the recent tie with EGF. Sure, the schedule has been difficult, but it seems they are being rewarded for a bunch of semi-close losses to higher ranked opponents. At some point you have to win some games, and Warroad has not done that so far. Placing them at #9 is too high based on the results.

The other two teams are somewhat linked together. Breck has only played three Class A opponents so far, but one was Delano, whom they beat 2-1 on the road. Delano's other significant results (prior to the Thursday Mound loss) are a one goal home win over EGF in the first game of the year and the close loss to Holy Family. I can see the argument for ranking Delano higher based on overall body of work to this point, but Breck did beat them and it seems odd to have the Mustangs a full three spots lower.

[elliott70]

9. Warroad (2-6-1)

12. Delano (4-3-0)

15. Breck (2-4-0)

As always, I’ll preface this by saying Class A is a bit of a mess this year and the parity makes any attempt at rankings difficult. But I do have some issues with how the three teams highlighted above are ranked.

First, Warroad has done nothing of significance outside of the recent tie with EGF. Sure, the schedule has been difficult, but it seems they are being rewarded for a bunch of semi-close losses to higher ranked opponents. At some point you have to win some games, and Warroad has not done that so far. Placing them at #9 is too high based on the results.

The other two teams are somewhat linked together. Breck has only played three Class A opponents so far, but one was Delano, whom they beat 2-1 on the road. Delano's other significant results (prior to the Thursday Mound loss) are a one goal home win over EGF in the first game of the year and the close loss to Holy Family. I can see the argument for ranking Delano higher based on overall body of work to this point, but Breck did beat them and it seems odd to have the Mustangs a full three spots lower.

I wrote a nice long response explaining what I do and appreciate your opinion.
But deleted somehow.

Anyway, it's fun to compare thoughts.

[Mite-dad]

Wow, River Lakes came out of nowhere. I suppose if you have to put Fergus in there, that requires a RL ranking. LOL.