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The NAHL? That's a very popular junior league, a step down from the USHL, but many players go there during or after HS. I think Minnesota has 3 or 4 teams in that league. Even Alaska has two teams in it.

It's not the NAHL, it's a tier 3 league that is associated and a step below the NAHL.

MNhockey29 wrote:It's not the NAHL, it's a tier 3 league that is associated and a step below the NAHL.

Yep, Its not consider "Juniors" per say. They are AAA Midget teams. Both 18U and 16U that formed their own league with standings, playoffs ect. to give them more structure and I do think the NAHL sponsors that league and provides resources and direction..

More info from thier website:

"Celebrating its 5th anniversary season in 2013-14, the North American Prospects Hockey League (NAPHL) is made up of 32 Midget Major (18U) and Midget Minor (16U) teams from 16 programs that compete at the USA Hockey Tier I level.

n 2012-13, the NAPHL continued to establish itself as one of the premier grounds for development and exposure. Over the course of the past two seasons 113 NAPHL players have been tendered or drafted into the NAHL. 152 players that had previously played in the NAPHL were on an NAHL roster in the 2012-13 season. Since the formation of the NAPHL four years ago, 210 NAPHL players had played in the NAHL and over three dozen NAPHL players have moved onto NCAA Division I programs.

The NAPHL, which is sanctioned by USA Hockey, utilizes the USA Hockey Officiating Development Program and is designed to maximize the exposure of all the Midget and Bantam participants through the NAHL's high-profile recruiting events which attract hundreds of college, junior and professional scouts."

Added: The NA3HL would be the league considered Juniors. It's a Tier III Junior league. www.na3hl.com. This league IS managed and run by the NAHL..

"The primary mission of the NA3HL, which is managed organizationally by the NAHL, is to provide a structured developmental environment for student-athletes whose youth options are limited but are still reaching their potential and have aspirations of playing in the NAHL or United States Hockey League (USHL) and eventually the NCAA or American College Hockey Association (ACHA)."

Anyone know what players to watch on St. Michael-Albertville? I know there bantams went to state last year and they've never had a good HS team. Honestly have they ever avoided running time in the 7AA Quarterfinals? Curious to see if they will be competitive this year.

They just joined 7AA last year. Don't worry they will be beating Rapids just like Forest Lake very soon !!!

Just last year? Didn't realize they moved in the same time Duluth East did to 7AA.

St Michael-Albertville joined 7AA starting in 2011-12. Prior to that, they were in 5A. Very little 7AA history.

Lee

Sorry, must have confused them with St. Francis. Basically the same thing, teams that get an upset in the regular season once every 20 years and have never been to a section final in their history, kinda like Forest Lake.

I'm no expert, and may be wrong, but i recall Forest Lake in a couple Section finals. a guess is twice in the past 6 years ?

Not ta mention this year when they win it !!

No, they've only been to the semi finals. Forest Lake did go to OT with Andover a couple years ago in the semi's.

Didn't they take Duluth East into into 2 OT's one year as well? maybe 5/6 years ago? not sure if that was finals or semi's ? I don't think their a team you can discount to much. they've been able to surprise some teams in the past.

They'll be competitive to some extent. But realistically Elk River, Grand Rapids, and Duluth East have the high end talent you need in sections. I expect Peterson and Beleau (sp?) to be Mr. Hockey finalists and Berglove and Sheperd are two of the best goalies in the state. I would expect those 3 teams to be in the top 15 of the pre season rankings and no one else from 7AA.

I do agree Elk River wil be stong this year and probably the team to beat. I thought Rapids and East were a bit down this year? no personal kowledge of this, just hearsay? One thing we have seen in 7AA in any one Game anything can happen. End of February will be exciting as always. games should be starting soon.

I think Rapids/Elks are tops coming in. Didn't Andover have a good group of Bantams a couple years ago ??? East will reload I'm sure. Forest Lake 4th/ 5th coming in. End of feb will be fun just like every year in 7aa.

Rapids had a very good bantam team last year. They will be very young on D. Their top forward line with Peterson, Bischoff, and possibly Mattson will be very good. My concerns are forward depth and how the second set of D plays. Duluth East also had a great bantam team and lets face it, arguably the best coach maybe in the state's history. What history tells me is just expect East to be the #1 seed.

SimplyPut wrote:I'm no expert, and may be wrong, but i recall Forest Lake in a couple Section finals. a guess is twice in the past 6 years ?

http://minnhock.com/zzforestlake.htm

Six semifinals, 0-6 in those games.

Lee

Wow - Great information. i guess the games that I was recalling were only semi-finals. Thanks for correcting me.

Xy

TheHockeyDJ wrote:

MNhockey29 wrote:Here's my pre-season ranking.
1. Elk River
2. Andover??
3. Forest Lake
4. Duluth East
5. Grand Rapids
6. Cloquet
7. St. Michael
8. St. Francis
9. Cambridge

1. Elk River
2. Duluth East
3. Grand Rapids
4. Cloquet
5. Forest Lake
6. Andover
7. St. Francis
8. S. Michael
9. Cambridge

Same order for me with exception of Andover and FL swapping positions.. However much weaker than usual from top to bottom..Cloquet looked outright ugly at times last year and that was with their dynamic trio.. So this year could be a trainwreck against top 10-15 teams and the youngster, Bender, didnt exactly tear up the Elite League, even among underclassman (11pts in 21G= tied for 67th). Though I would still pay good money and drive to Duluth for an ER vs. DE section final... Is Peterson gone for sure at Rapids - someone just said the other day that he still had the opportunity to play for them??

The other Northern section is a bit bizarre as well this year. Talk about up for grabs.This was also mirrored in the two Elite League All-Star teams where only 2 Northern F's were selected (Hammer & Bethume) and both of those had about half the regular season points (11 & 8 ) as their Metro and ND/WI peers that were selected (I.e. Naas, Roo, & Panvica were all assigned to the out-state Red team with 23pts each). So not sure whats going on in the northland with respect to O talent, though early departures have certainly played a role.

Peterson is playing for Rapids this year. When LaRoque resigned as head coach he was quoted as saying things would be different this year in GR.

TheHockeyDJ wrote:
1. Elk River
2. Duluth East
3. Grand Rapids
4. Cloquet
5. Forest Lake
6. Andover
7. St. Francis
8. S. Michael
9. Cambridge

Swap East/Rapids and Cloquet/Forest Lake. Too many questions for East, and the fallout from last season's B.S. in Cloquet will hurt.

Lee

Personally I though it was supposed to be a down year for Rapids. Anyone know how they will be compared to the past two Rapids teams?

[/quote]

Swap East/Rapids and Cloquet/Forest Lake. Too many questions for East, and the fallout from last season's B.S. in Cloquet will hurt.

Lee[/quote]

That fallout was visible on the ice at the semi-finals last year. CEC just looked disinterested.

MNhockey29 wrote:Personally I though it was supposed to be a down year for Rapids. Anyone know how they will be compared to the past two Rapids teams?

They come back with Minnesota Wild draft pick Avery Peterson, a likely future Gopher in Jonah Bishcoff, and a goalie who will challenge for the Brimsek award. Sheperd had the best goalie stats in the elite league last time I looked. They also have kids coming up from a very strong bantam team which finished #6 in the rankings last year. Their question is going to be on defense and forward depth. Also, they have an all new coaching staff and it's going to be interesting to see how former Bulldog Jon Rothstein changes the approach.