AA Rankings for 12/1/24

[karl(east)]

A week and a half in, this season already looks very different from last season: is anyone really confident in the ordering of the top teams? This is only the start of the tumult.

1. St. Thomas Academy (3-0)
-The Cadets came firing out of the gates, piling up the goals against weaker competition and then burying the team that had been in line for the number one ranking on Friday Night Ice. The jump to #1 feels abrupt, but the others in the top seven all have blemishes or don’t have a win of the Rogers game caliber, so here we are. It’s an exciting start to the Strobel era in Mendota Heights, and given their schedule over the next couple weeks, they should be able to cruise into the all-important meeting with Cretin just before Christmas.
This week: Thurs vs. Simley, Sat vs. Centennial

2. Edina (1-1)
-The Hornets looked every bit the top team we thought they were in their opener against Maple Grove, but they turned around and lost to Moorhead, kicking off the confusion at the top of the rankings in these first few weeks. I don’t find much to say about that, but I should have a stronger opinion after a week that includes a state championship rematch and one of their biggest section games of the year.
This week: Mon at Chanhassen, Sat at #9 Benilde-St. Margaret’s

3. Rogers (3-1)
-The Royals looked like the early standard-bearers in the state with quality wins over Andover, Shakopee, and White Bear Lake, coming in waves and smothering their opponents. They followed all of this with a clunker against St. Thomas, which sets them back. It’s too early for strong conclusions from that, but on the balance they look like a force, and they get an easier week now.
This week: Thurs at Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper

4. Hill-Murray (2-0)
-The sample isn’t large, but the Pioneers’ early returns are quite good, as they thumped a couple of Class A powers, including a Hermantown team that tied Cretin. Their opponents this week are just outside the top 15, so more convincing wins would start to make a statement.
This week: Thurs vs. Holy Family, Sat at Maple Grove

5. Moorhead (2-1)
-The Spuds have the best win of anyone on the young season, showing their great potential by knocking off Edina. Their two tight games with Wayzata and Grand Rapids, one an eventual success and the other not, show the next steps this group needs to take to be a serious frontrunner. They have the talent to do it, but can they finish off good defensive, upset-minded foes regularly? A trip south this weekend gives them a few more opponents of that same cloth.
This week: Fri at Andover, Sat at #15 Minnetonka

6. Cretin-Derham Hall (1-0-1)
-A tie with Hermantown isn’t a bad result, but after what Hill did to the Hawks, it does give us a data point for separation; the rebound against interesting-but-inconsistent Hibbing is solid but doesn’t say a ton, either. A couple bubble-ish teams are up this week.
This week: Thurs at Woodbury, Sat vs. Lakeville South

7. Shakopee (2-1)
-The Sabers thumped two of their first three opponents, including a decent Gentry team, but did not pass their first big test against Rogers, who overwhelmed them with depth and puck control to limit their stars’ chances; they get a perhaps harsh drop here because of it. A busy week ahead includes a couple of opponents who could give them a game.
This week: Tues at Prior Lake, Thurs at Apple Valley/Burnsville, Sat at Holy Family

8. Stillwater (3-0)
-The Ponies are certainly going to be entertaining to watch this season, as they’re averaging seven points per game so far—while also averaging four given up. That said, they have three wins, including two over West Metro powers that, while down a little, are still plenty potent. They’ve got another team in that category this week.
This week: Tues vs. Eden Prairie, Sat vs. Mounds View

9. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (1-0)
-The Red Knights, despite being down two of their stars, handled Gentry in their opener. We’ll learn a lot more when they host the Hornets on Saturday.
This week: Tues at Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper, Sat vs. #2 Edina

10. Wayzata (3-1)
-The Trojans scored an early quality win by knocking off a Moorhead team that looks very good, but followed up with a loss to a Maple Grove team whose other two games so far haven’t impressed much. The road trip north on the second weekend of the season had a tight game with Rock Ridge, but went as expected in the end. Conclusion: this is the Wayzata we know well, logging plenty of close games, capable of great upsets and head-scratchers. They face two of the best goaltenders in the state this week, which could be a challenge for their formula.
This week: Tues vs. Centennial, Sat at #14 White Bear Lake

11. Holy Angels (2-0)
-The Stars did what they had to do on a road trip north, scoring plenty of goals on the way, and I don’t read too much into the close Bemidji score. The Woodbury game this week is mildly interesting.
This week: Thurs at St. Paul Academy, Sat vs. Woodbury

12. Rosemount (4-0)
-The Irish are one of the quiet early winners, with three solid wins preceding a victory over Minnetonka. They don’t play any currently ranked teams until after Christmas, so they have the opportunity to run up a decent record in the early going.
This week: Tues vs. Apple Valley/Burnsville, Fri at Lakeville North

13. Grand Rapids (2-1)
-The Thunderhawks hung in there with Moorhead and gave them a push, but came away with an overtime loss. Otherwise, they took care of two 7AA opponents, albeit having a tight one with Forest Lake. This is what to expect here: tight games, great goaltending, and the question being how much they can produce. They have three games this week, including their usual visit from northwestern powers.
This week: Tues at Proctor, Fri vs. Roseau, Sat vs. Warroad

14. White Bear Lake (1-1)
-The Bears’ early results did little to change my assumptions coming into the season, as they marched past Duluth East but couldn’t keep pace with Rogers. Their first opponent this week, Forest Lake, has been off to an alright start, and after that a meeting with Wayzata gives them a chance to show something here.
This week: Thurs vs. Forest Lake, Sat #10 Wayzata

15. Minnetonka (1-2)
-The Skippers had a mixed bag to start things off; the Andover win is a decent result and they were competitive with Stillwater, but the loss to Rosemount drops them from the top 15. Such growing pains are to be expected. They get a chance to avenge last season’s killer playoff loss this week, and they get a crack at Moorhead, too.
This week: Thurs at Chanhassen, Sat vs. #5 Moorhead

The Next Ten

Maple Grove (1-2)
-The Crimson got a nice win over Wayzata, but the losses to Edina and Stillwater were a bit lopsided, showing they have some work to do to be a serious contender here. They get a crack at another top team this week, when Hill comes to pay a visit.

Lakeville South (1-0)
-Not much to report here as the Cougars took care of Apple Valley/Burnsville. Things dial up a bit this week as they face section rival North for the first time on the season and get a shot at Cretin.

Eden Prairie (1-0)
-The Eagles cruised against Chaska in their only early action. Like South, they get a little more excitement this week when they pay a visit to Stillwater.

Champlin Park (2-0)
-The Rebels won a four-team tournament with victories over Woodbury and St. Louis Park, which gives them a slight boost here. A couple of winless 7AA opponents, Duluth East and Andover, are up next.

Prior Lake (2-0)
-The Lakers opened with twin 4-2 wins over Centennial and Farmington, keeping them on track here. A three-game week ahead kicks off with high-flying Shakopee.

Rock Ridge (3-1)
-The Wolverines had a lively start to the season, picking up a useful section win over Forest Lake and hanging in there against Wayzata. In this season’s 7AA, that’s enough to make them a contender. Class A power Warroad is up this week, which may or may not tell us much.

Gentry Academy (3-2)
-A busy start to the season for the Stars included a quality win over East Grand Forks, but they couldn’t score against a shorthanded Benilde and got put in running time by Shakopee, so this still feels about right. They get a crack at St. Cloud Cathedral next.

Bemidji (2-1)
-The Lumberjacks gave Holy Angels a good fight and coasted against a couple of 6A opponents, strengthening their case as the closest thing Moorhead has to competition in 8AA. They host Thief River Falls and Grand Forks Central this coming week.

Andover (0-3)
-Three goals in three games is not going to get it done for the Huskies; losing to Rogers and Minnetonka is understandable, but the Chanhassen shutout loss sends the red flag up the pole. Champlin is an interesting opponent for this part of the rankings, and Moorhead to follow also gives them a chance to do something.

Centennial (2-1)
-Lost to Prior Lake, so the ceiling isn’t looking particularly high at this point, but they took care of Mahtomedi and Eastview. Wayzata and St. Thomas make for a tough week ahead.

[ClassAGuy]

Excellent work as always Karl

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Looks like we're in for some weekly drama, which should make this season more interesting than last season.

Now, in the Department of First World Problems, do we really need weekly individual threads on every Class A section? Seriously, the Kittson County Bearcats? I think one post about Class A in general, such as Karl does here, would cover it just fine. It's just more posts that make it harder to find the new posts/threads I'm interested in.

[SEC Scotty]

Looks like we're in for some weekly drama, which should make this season more interesting than last season.

Now, in the Department of First World Problems, do we really need weekly individual threads on every Class A section? Seriously, the Kittson County Bearcats? I think one post about Class A in general, such as Karl does here, would cover it just fine. It's just more posts that make it harder to find the new posts/threads I'm interested in.

Maybe start a Hill Murray thread and Kittson County Bearcat fans won’t have read your posts.
Give the ClassA guy credit for putting in the work he does.
Thanks for the great job you do as well Karl.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Looks like we're in for some weekly drama, which should make this season more interesting than last season.

Now, in the Department of First World Problems, do we really need weekly individual threads on every Class A section? Seriously, the Kittson County Bearcats? I think one post about Class A in general, such as Karl does here, would cover it just fine. It's just more posts that make it harder to find the new posts/threads I'm interested in.

Maybe start a Hill Murray thread and Kittson County Bearcat fans won’t have read your posts.
Give the ClassA guy credit for putting in the work he does.
Thanks for the great job you do as well Karl.

Well, if I were to get snarky this early in the season, I'd say to get back to me when the SEC has as many banners as the Tradition Rich Metro East. But during this weekend of thanks, I'll let that pass.

Parse my words carefully, grass hopper. I said I'm good with Class A getting a regular update every week, just not 9 of them, one statewide and one for each section. It's been a long time lament here that there is never any drama in the quarterfinals of the A tournament, so it stands to reason that there are 4 milquetoast sections, and not necessarily much depth to speak of in some of the other four. I'm good with the A quarters being held on Monday at the higher seed's rink and then have a final four at the X Fri & Sat. I know, I know, we're two generations into Everybody Deserves a Trophy, and I'm out of touch with modern times, & it wouldn't be fair to deny the kids an 8-1 drubbing at the hands of Warroad on Wed afternoon in front of a spartan TV audience of retired & unemployed men*.

As if anyone here was even aware Kittson County has a team. Uh-huh.

*I've been an unemployed man in March, I know of what I write

[Joe2015]

Looks like we're in for some weekly drama, which should make this season more interesting than last season.

Now, in the Department of First World Problems, do we really need weekly individual threads on every Class A section? Seriously, the Kittson County Bearcats? I think one post about Class A in general, such as Karl does here, would cover it just fine. It's just more posts that make it harder to find the new posts/threads I'm interested in.

Class A Guy, don't listen to this guy! Keep doing what you are doing! Some of us appreciate the in depth look at sections/teams/players that don't normally get a lot of attention.

[hockey9011]

Agreed. I don’t get to keep up with class A as much now that I live in the cities and his work lets me feel like I’m up to date with teams all over the state

[kgeithman]

Personally I love Class A guys in depth analysis and updates on Class A hockey. As a high school hockey enthusiast, I read them all and really appreciate all the time he puts into it! Keep up the good work. Thanks.