Class AA predictions...

[Just_Another_Fan]

Well i'm not going to go indepth with sections i don't really know but my predictions:



1AA: Rochester Century over Lakeville North
2AA: Jefferson over Holy Angels
3AA: Woodbury over Apple Valley (I don't see the same slip up as last year. As stated in a previous topic the locker problems have graduated and will have strong leadership this year.)
4AA: Hill-Murray over Stillwater (Due to the seniors that were suspended, they basically have the same team as last years state participants minus Zepeda)
5AA: Blaine over Centennial
6AA: Eden Prairie over Minnetonka
7AA: Duluth East over Elk River
8AA: Moorhead over Roseau (Looking forward to this match up the most. In my opinion best rivalry in minnesota hockey next to WBL and Hill when both have a good team)

[Rookie19]

Is Breck AA if not why are you posting in AA. Go back to JV Forum

[starmvp]

1AA: Rochester Century over Lakeville North
2AA: Holy Angels over Jefferson
3AA: Woodbury over Apple Valley
4AA: Hill-Murray over Stillwater
5AA: Blaine over Centennial
6AA: Minnetonka over Eden Prairie
7AA: Duluth East over Elk River
8AA: Roseau over Moorhead

[HShockeyz]

Doubt it. They are small and not very deep with less than average tender, they do have the benefit of playing a very weak final. WBL might be good this year, Stillwater probably not, wasn't very good last year but got lucky. Almost made it on about 10 shots in the final. Not likely to get that lucky again, but Hill's goalie might give up five on ten again. WBL has some great talent in juniors and might be a threat. Might not be deep, will see? It only takes one line and a little luck so I suppose either wbl or hill, one of them has to go. Stillwater??? not unless crosby transferred there? they have no talent.

[Factsmatter1]

1AA: Rochester Century over Lakeville North
2AA: Holy Angels over Jefferson
3AA: Woodbury over Apple Valley
4AA: Hill-Murray over Stillwater
5AA: Blaine over Centennial
6AA: Minnetonka over Eden Prairie
7AA: Duluth East over Elk River
8AA: Roseau over Moorhead

Starmvp,
You are the only one who has voted Tonka over EP. Why? I happen to agree with you by the way.

[GreekChurch]

Doubt it. They are small and not very deep with less than average tender, they do have the benefit of playing a very weak final. WBL might be good this year, Stillwater probably not, wasn't very good last year but got lucky. Almost made it on about 10 shots in the final. Not likely to get that lucky again, but Hill's goalie might give up five on ten again. WBL has some great talent in juniors and might be a threat. Might not be deep, will see? It only takes one line and a little luck so I suppose either wbl or hill, one of them has to go. Stillwater??? not unless crosby transferred there? they have no talent.

Hill will be there again - it is basically the same team as last year. Actually, Stillwater scored 4 goals on 29 shots in the section final. The Pioneers had 5 on 41 shots.

[heresaymatters]

I also agree with Starmvp on Tonka over EP. Tonka probably has the most loaded team since Jefferson in the 90's. Only lost 2 players from last year's team; 4 committed D1 players (3D & 1 F); returning a goalie with 2 years of varsity experience; and they have at least 2 other forwards with bona fide D1 potential (Schutt and Frawley). IMO, the state title is theirs to lose this year.

[Doglover]

Agree with heresaymatters. Mtka is loaded with talent. It will be fun to watch them this year. I don't think they'll have any trouble with EP. Would love to see Stillwater over Hill.

[Just_Another_Fan]

Agree with heresaymatters. Mtka is loaded with talent. It will be fun to watch them this year. I don't think they'll have any trouble with EP. Would love to see Stillwater over Hill.

I think every public east side school would love to see stillwater over hill.

[karl(east)]

Agree with heresaymatters. Mtka is loaded with talent. It will be fun to watch them this year. I don't think they'll have any trouble with EP. Would love to see Stillwater over Hill.

In my mind, Minnetonka is the most talented team in the state. Being the most talented team in the state, however, does not necessarily mean they'll win the section, particularly one as difficult as 6AA. (Ask Edina how that worked out for them the past few years...)

[HShockeyz]

Hill will be there again - it is basically the same team as last year. Actually, Stillwater scored 4 goals on 29 shots in the section final. The Pioneers had 5 on 41 shots.[/quote]

Ok, but 29 shots if you count some of their icing attempts that hit the net. 4 goals by stillwtr on just a few quality shots. This was a bunch of 8, 9, 10 graders for hill, not bad but not very good they looked like jv compared to edina in the tourney. Still gave them everything they had, and it wasn't much. They reached finals on shear luck. If not for a couple very weak goals it never would have went ot.

Stillwtr really doesn't have any talent, most of it is at Hill. So it will probably be WBL and Hill again. The only chance Stillwtr has is a hot goalie. Not sure who that will be but they are better than the one that left for hill so they do have that going for them. Hill's youth does have one more year of experience.

WBL has two juniors that made some all star tourney team off elite I. with a couple other talented players they could carry this team a bit further than the State Fair.

[Doglover]

Agree with heresaymatters. Mtka is loaded with talent. It will be fun to watch them this year. I don't think they'll have any trouble with EP. Would love to see Stillwater over Hill.

In my mind, Minnetonka is the most talented team in the state. Being the most talented team in the state, however, does not necessarily mean they'll win the section, particularly one as difficult as 6AA. (Ask Edina how that worked out for them the past few years...)

Good point as usual! Maybe that's where coaching and team chemistry will play into the formula. If the players work together instead of individually shooting for hs hockey awards, a state tournament may not allude them. It will be fun to watch.

[shakey]

I also agree with Starmvp on Tonka over EP. Tonka probably has the most loaded team since Jefferson in the 90's. Only lost 2 players from last year's team; 4 committed D1 players (3D & 1 F); returning a goalie with 2 years of varsity experience; and they have at least 2 other forwards with bona fide D1 potential (Schutt and Frawley). IMO, the state title is theirs to lose this year.

Very impressive! How could they possibly have lost twice to EP last year with virtually the same line up? Wait, I know....Leddy.

[youngblood08]

Hill will be there again - it is basically the same team as last year. Actually, Stillwater scored 4 goals on 29 shots in the section final. The Pioneers had 5 on 41 shots.

Ok, but 29 shots if you count some of their icing attempts that hit the net. 4 goals by stillwtr on just a few quality shots. This was a bunch of 8, 9, 10 graders for hill, not bad but not very good they looked like jv compared to edina in the tourney. Still gave them everything they had, and it wasn't much. They reached finals on shear luck. If not for a couple very weak goals it never would have went ot.

Stillwtr really doesn't have any talent, most of it is at Hill. So it will probably be WBL and Hill again. The only chance Stillwtr has is a hot goalie. Not sure who that will be but they are better than the one that left for hill so they do have that going for them. Hill's youth does have one more year of experience.

WBL has two juniors that made some all star tourney team off elite I. with a couple other talented players they could carry this team a bit further than the State Fair.[/quote]

Here are the holes in your thinking.

Hill was 8-2 before the loss of players, not including the playoffs, they were 3-5-1 with losses to Mahto, Tartan, RICHFIELD and Moorhead.

The players that were lost in the first 10 games did 90% of the scoring after crunching some numbers and including the seniors that finished out the season that would have totaled around 195 pts. I took the top 8 seniors from the roster.

I took the returning top 8 and came up with 127 pts with 4 of those being defensemen.

Your fill in players were mostly Jrs and a couple of sophmores not 8th graders, you had 1 get a couple of games thrown at him. Overall you are looking pretty average over at Hill this season and Stillwater and Tartan will be ready.

As for WBL sure they had a couple of players skate around in the Elite league but it doesn't look like they did very much based on the stat sheet...except for the 10 minute GMC for facewashing, they lived off the seniors and feasted on teams second and third lines last year this year they will have to go against teams top lines which will not bode well.

Stillwater returns 2 3rd year Goalies and has 2 JV goalies that will be very good. They also return 10 Seniors with 5 being the top scorers from last season.

Tartan returns almost the same team from last year minus 2-3 seniors they will be very tough.

The only thing Hill has going is that besides STA the rest of the conference is weak as usual so you can build up your stats before the real games start.

[GreekChurch]

The Pioneers have possibly a dozen skaters, and two goalies returning from last years team. They know how to win - something Tartan, and Stillwater haven't proved they can do yet. White Bear is always tough come region time. I think you have to look for another Hill -White Bear region final this year -maybe Tartan if they can get by Johnson

[Pioneerprideguy]

Youngblood,

I understand your passion for Stillwater and your hopes of seeing your son play in a State Tourney, but I think your heart may be getting in the way of your head here. You make it sound like Hill will be rebuilding this year & Stillwater & Tartan are the clear favorites. I hope teams follow your lead and take that approach all year and overlook the Pioneers again.

I think HM will throw another solid team on the ice this year. They have a nice goalie, strong defense, and some decent forwards. The have successful coaching and bring back a group of kids who have experienced winning a section title and playing on the big stage (something no other team in their section can say). I don't think they will be an elite team, but I do think they will repeat as section champs. Teams like Stillwater & Tartan hope to win section titles, Hill's program expect it.

Hill can't choose which conference they play in but they can choose who they play outside of it. Lex does a nice job of filling his schedule with strong nonconference teams & I expect his team to play their best hockey at the end. Tough to go against a formula that has worked for decades.

So the long campaign is set to begin. There will be highs & lows & some surpises along the way. But in the end, I suspect Hill will see White Bear in the section final.

[Goldfishdude]

Well, now, Greek Church... we don't have to worry about Johnson whipping up on Tartan again, as Johnson was BANNED to Class A. Yep, my sources said that Tartan complained to the MSHSL that the Johnson program doesn't provide any players to Hill, and that disrupts the competitive balance, so the MSHSL told Moose he has to go to his own leaague.

[GreekChurch]

Actually, Johnson Area has sent quite a few to Hill over the years, and now that their youth program has merged with Como, there will still be an occasional player going east to the Pioneers. Enough said on that issue- bottom line, Hill - White Bear final.

[Factsmatter1]

I also agree with Starmvp on Tonka over EP. Tonka probably has the most loaded team since Jefferson in the 90's. Only lost 2 players from last year's team; 4 committed D1 players (3D & 1 F); returning a goalie with 2 years of varsity experience; and they have at least 2 other forwards with bona fide D1 potential (Schutt and Frawley). IMO, the state title is theirs to lose this year.

Very impressive! How could they possibly have lost twice to EP last year with virtually the same line up? Wait, I know....Leddy.

Leddy... and Wolfe, Gravelle,McQuillan and Hoffman... not an unimportant offensive group...

[shakey]

I also agree with Starmvp on Tonka over EP. Tonka probably has the most loaded team since Jefferson in the 90's. Only lost 2 players from last year's team; 4 committed D1 players (3D & 1 F); returning a goalie with 2 years of varsity experience; and they have at least 2 other forwards with bona fide D1 potential (Schutt and Frawley). IMO, the state title is theirs to lose this year.

Very impressive! How could they possibly have lost twice to EP last year with virtually the same line up? Wait, I know....Leddy.

Leddy... and Wolfe, Gravelle,McQuillan and Hoffman... not an unimportant offensive group...

Do you remember making this comment about last years State AA Champions?

"EP's success was all "Mr Hockey" and a few of his sidekick forward Senior buddy's complemented by a few sophomores who made solid contributions."

Doesn't say much for your all star bunch or any of the tournament teams does it?

[keepinitreal]

Youngblood..where are ya? you clubbed me like a snow white baby seal at the beginning of this post at the mere suggestion of a WBL and HM section final...and since, EVERYONE (almost) has predicted the same and you've been peaches and cream...???

[edinahornetkid24]

My picks for Section Finals.

1AA - Lakeville South vs Rochester Century

2AA - Bloomington Jefferson vs Edina

3AA - Woodbury vs Eagan

4AA - Stillwater vs Tartan

5AA - Centennial vs Maple Grove

6AA - Minnetonka vs Eden Prairie

7AA - Duluth East vs Elk River

8AA - Moorhead vs Roseau

AA Champions will be ................... ????? (give me a few weeks)

Winners
1AA-Century
2AA-Edina
3AA-Woodbury
4AA-Stillwater
5AA-Centenial
6AA-Eden Prairie
7AA-Duluth East
8AA-Moorhead
State Championship-Moorhead vs. Edina rematch Edina wins

[HockeyMN1]

1AA: LV South over Century
2AA: Holy Angels over Jefferson
3AA: Woodbury over Cretin
4AA: Hill over Stillwater
5AA: Blaine over Centennial
6AA: Eagles over Wayzata
7AA: DE over Elk River
8AA: Roseau over Moorhead

[HockeyMN1]

My picks for Section Finals.

1AA - Lakeville South vs Rochester Century

2AA - Bloomington Jefferson vs Edina

3AA - Woodbury vs Eagan

4AA - Stillwater vs Tartan

5AA - Centennial vs Maple Grove

6AA - Minnetonka vs Eden Prairie

7AA - Duluth East vs Elk River

8AA - Moorhead vs Roseau

AA Champions will be ................... ????? (give me a few weeks)

Winners
1AA-Century
2AA-Edina
3AA-Woodbury
4AA-Stillwater
5AA-Centenial
6AA-Eden Prairie
7AA-Duluth East
8AA-Moorhead
State Championship-Moorhead vs. Edina rematch Edina wins

HAHAHAHA. HA. Ha. ha. Sorry bud, Edina lost a few guys you may have heard of.

[youngblood08]

Youngblood..where are ya? you clubbed me like a snow white baby seal at the beginning of this post at the mere suggestion of a WBL and HM section final...and since, EVERYONE (almost) has predicted the same and you've been peaches and cream...???

You started it! I just posted what I think will happen and you took the first shot.