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This year the Lake conference will be stronger then ever. Many teams with high-powered offence, experienced defense and some of the best goaltending in the state. Hear are my thoughts on each team and the early pre-season rankings.

1 - Eden Prairie - All around solid but beatable this year
2 - Eagan - The best goaltending in the state
3 - Eastview - Fast with great goaltending, solid defense
4 - Burnsville - They always reload for another great season
5 - Lakeville North - An offencesive threat to everyone
6 - Lakeville South – Very strong goaltending
7 - Chaska - Fast and experienced this year
8 - Bloomington Jefferson - Always tough
9 - Rosemount - This team could surprise a lot of people
10 - Apple Valley - Down this year but still a threat
11 - Bloomington Kennedy – Unknown

Saturday Nov 10th. Eastview 4 - Lakeville South 3

Once again I don't see anyone in the league putting up a serious challenge to EP. That should come next year when EP graduates many of their best players. For this year, it will become a battle for 2nd place IMO. Sure hope I'm wrong, but that's the way I see it.

Eagan is going to be a force this year. EP will have to take them very seriously if they want the Lake Conference crown. 3 teams from the Lake conference should play at State in 08 for sections 1AA-2AA-3AA. Hastings may have something to say about it but they will also have to go through Eagan.

Jethrotull wrote:3 teams from the Lake conference should play at State in 08 for sections 1AA-2AA-3AA.

Will Mayo be able to challenge the Lakeville teams for Section 1AA?

Jethrotull wrote:Eagan is going to be a force this year. EP will have to take them very seriously if they want the Lake Conference crown.

Very good predictions; I generally agree although I favor Burnsville ahead of Eastview, LVS who has better balance ahead of LVN, and Jefferson to move ahead of Chaska unless they can shore up their goaltending.

Agree EP is the early favorite for this conference, maybe the state title, but I like Eagan to give them a run. Ms. Grogan gained a lot of high-level experience this summer and fall and will be very tough to beat in any game, and any team would be lucky to have her partner Ms. Altman. Just not sure if they have the supporting cast to get by a loaded EP with Burke, Seeler, Riggs, Green, Ludwigson and my early Ms. Hockey pick Ms. Feste, but it's now or never for the Wildcats with their two stellar backstops graduating.

In any case we'll see if Eagan has the horses on Thursday night when these two teams meet. EP beat Eagan twice last season 2-1 in both games--expect another low-scoring, one-goal game.

Mayo has lost a good senior class. Maybe their best yet. Can they reload? I'm not sure. LSHS lost about the same amount of talent as Mayo but will reload with a talented U14 group. They are probably the youngest team this year in the Lake but still are very good and have a great goaltender and supporting D. As we all know, young teams can start out hot but most fall off by midseason as the older and more mature teams start to jell. LNHS has something like 10 juniors and 4 seniors (someone correct me?) and lost only 2 forwards from last year. I would not take them for granted. They should be able to pull their own talented U14's in to finish off the team. Mayo plays both LSHS and LNHS latter this month. Time will tell.

keepitreal wrote:
... and my early Ms. Hockey pick Ms. Feste...

Does Ms. Hockey need to be a forward?

Ms. Feste is obviously the best forward on EP, however, the best player on EP is by far Kelly Seeler. Wow! She can do it all! She can stickhandle, she can pass, she plays the physical game, she makes great decisions, she is unselfish, and her shot would rival most high school boys. She could step in today as a forward and by seasons end, she would lead EP in points.

Don't get me wrong, Ms Feste. is a great player. But Ms. Seeler seems to be in a league all to her own.

So, back to my question, can Ms. Seeler win Ms. Hockey? Or does it traditionally go to forwards?

Typically goes to forwards because media pays much more attention to goals and points. Defenders don't get pub for making a good outlet pass; or breaking up a 2:1, etc. I agree about Seeler; she's a terrific player. I remember a Hockey Night in Canada commentator was asked about who was better Bobby Orr or Wayne Gretzky. He answered by saying that if you had five Bobby Orr's playing five Wayne Gretzky's; the Orr's would win by a wide margin. Same could be said about Seeler. I don't think there are five forwards that could beat five Seelers.

"Unsung Hero" I guess. It sure would be nice to see her at least make the top 5 when the nominations come out. Winning it would be even better - and well deserved!

She reminds me alot of Meagan Pezon when she played with EP. Pezon always stood out on the ice when she had the puck. I see the same thing when I watch Seeler! What a player!

Previous Quote: "Very good predictions; I generally agree although I favor Burnsville ahead of Eastview, LVS who has better balance ahead of LVN, and Jefferson to move ahead of Chaska unless they can shore up their goaltending."

Chaska just beat Jefferson 8-3 so where do you get that statement from?
Max Preps has it incorrect, the score is flopped.

So far 2 weeks into the season this is how things are shaping up.

1 - Eden Prairie
2 - Eagan
3 - Eastview
4 - Chaska
5 - Burnsville
6 - Lakeville North
7 - Bloomington Jefferson
8 - Apple Valley
9 - Lakeville South
10 - Rosemount
11 - Bloomington Kennedy

JustAGuy wrote:

keepitreal wrote:
... and my early Ms. Hockey pick Ms. Feste...

Does Ms. Hockey need to be a forward?

Ms. Feste is obviously the best forward on EP, however, the best player on EP is by far Kelly Seeler. Wow! She can do it all! She can stickhandle, she can pass, she plays the physical game, she makes great decisions, she is unselfish, and her shot would rival most high school boys. She could step in today as a forward and by seasons end, she would lead EP in points.

Don't get me wrong, Ms Feste. is a great player. But Ms. Seeler seems to be in a league all to her own.

So, back to my question, can Ms. Seeler win Ms. Hockey? Or does it traditionally go to forwards?

Not at all. If I'm not mistaken Lambert from EP was a top 5 finalist last year. And you're right, having seen her now she is an incredible talent.

As has been proposed before here, a "Miss D" award to go with Miss Goalie and Ms Hockey would be justified. One of the most difficult award decisions with so many great seniors. Certainly because of stats more forwards tend to get the looks, but I also think many superior players are moved to the front lines at some point in their careers to take full advantage of their gifts. It's always awesome to see a standout defender though.

bigred wrote:Chaska just beat Jefferson 8-3 so where do you get that statement from? Max Preps has it incorrect, the score is flopped.

Um, yes, that's why they're called "predictions" and not "results". Your hindsight is duly noted.

Perhaps my modifier comes into play that Chaska seems to have gotten some goalie help in the form a new freshman-- not always the kind of thing a casual observer can predict. They have a good young team and don't look to lose many next year so they should be on the upswing.

Jethrotull has some very good ranking. Taking a closer look at LVN I see they've got a very experienced team and their early tie against Burnsville shows they have some power.

i dont quite understand why lakeville south and north are ahead of chaska. i watched them play the 3rd period at edina and they did very well. they also have already beaten lakeville south in overtime 2-1. the score on max preps against jefferson is false. CHASKA DID WIN AGAINST JEFFERSON

chyeahhh wrote:i dont quite understand why lakeville south and north are ahead of chaska. i watched them play the 3rd period at edina and they did very well. they also have already beaten lakeville south in overtime 2-1. the score on max preps against jefferson is false. CHASKA DID WIN AGAINST JEFFERSON

If Chaska can beat Eagan tomorrow night, then they will definitely deserve to move up.

Jethrotull wrote:So far 2 weeks into the season this is how things are shaping up.

1 - Eden Prairie
2 - Eagan
3 - Eastview
4 - Chaska
5 - Burnsville
6 - Lakeville North
7 - Bloomington Jefferson
8 - Apple Valley
9 - Lakeville South
10 - Rosemount
11 - Bloomington Kennedy

Turkey week games should move a few teams around in the standings.

Top 5 teams to beat this season (in order)
1. Eden Prairie (a given)
2. Eagan (solid goaltending)
3. Chaska (May surprise you)
4. Apple Valley (Defense)
5. Eastview (Physical Play)

1. Eden Prairie has been number 1 for the past 3 seasons, but will their new team be able to live up to the expectations of the past?

2. Eagans solid goaltenders of Alyssa Grogan and Alli Altmann have proven to be up for the challenging Lake Conference.

3. Chaska's young team has proven to challenge top rated teams in the lake conference. Don't count them out untill the game is over.

4. Apple Valley defender Katie Hansen will be a tough contender.

5. Eastview's defender Ashley Maskel and new goalie Lindsay Kouchik are key players to keep this team in the game.

Please post your opinions

1 - Eden Prairie
2 - Eagan
3 - Chaska

4 - Eastview
5 - Burnsville
6- Apple Valley
7 - Lakeville North

8 - Bloomington Jefferson
9 - Lakeville South
10 - Rosemount
11 - Bloomington Kennedy

Looks like the middle of the pack is starting to bunch up. 4-7 could change hands every couple of days as they play each other more. Upsets by 8-10 will change 4-7 but I doubt 6-11 will beat 1-3.

1 - Eden Prairie
2 - Eagan

3 - Eastview
4 - Burnsville
5 - Lakeville North

6- Apple Valley
7 - Chaska
8 - Lakeville South
9 - Bloomington Jefferson

10 - Rosemount
11 - Bloomington Kennedy

1-2 are solid. 3-5 are very close to each other and very hard to rank in any order. My guess is they all will be 1-1 against each other. 6-9 are good teams but have not gelled yet.

1 - Eden Prairie - Will win 2AA, May win it all
2 - Eagan - Very talented, should make state from 3AA
3 - Eastview - Consistent and tough

4 - Apple Valley - Starting to play very good
5 - Lakeville North - Should win section 1AA
6- Burnsville - Have not played well lately

7 - Chaska – Over rated but still could turn things around
8 - Lakeville South – Should improve by season’s end
9 - Rosemount - Getting better as season continues

10 - Bloomington Jefferson – Having a tough year
11 - Bloomington Kennedy - Maybe next year

keepitreal wrote:Very good predictions; I generally agree although I favor Burnsville ahead of Eastview, LVS who has better balance ahead of LVN, and Jefferson to move ahead of Chaska unless they can shore up their goaltending.

So far Burnsville has not put things together and are falling behind. Apple Valley and Eastview are both playing very well. LSHS has fallen apart and have not won many games. LNHS is on a 6 game winning streak but are trailing Farmington in 1AA. Jefferson has some very talented players but no team skills. Same for Chaska. Rosemount is putting up a fight in every game they play and could get some upsets in the second half of the season. EP is still beatable but who's going to send them home? Maybe Eagan.

1 - Eden Prairie
2 - Eagan
3 - Eastview

4 - Apple Valley
5 - Lakeville North
6- Chaska

7 - Burnsville
8 - Rosemount
9 - Lakeville South

10 - Bloomington Jefferson
11 - Bloomington Kennedy

Jethrotull wrote:

keepitreal wrote:Very good predictions; I generally agree although I favor Burnsville ahead of Eastview, LVS who has better balance ahead of LVN, and Jefferson to move ahead of Chaska unless they can shore up their goaltending.

So far Burnsville has not put things together and are falling behind. Apple Valley and Eastview are both playing very well. LSHS has fallen apart and have not won many games. LNHS is on a 6 game winning streak but are trailing Farmington in 1AA. Jefferson has some very talented players but no team skills. Same for Chaska. Rosemount is putting up a fight in every game they play and could get some upsets in the second half of the season. EP is still beatable but who's going to send them home? Maybe Eagan.

Tull,

The only time Eagan can "send EP home" would be in the state tourney finals. Are you predicting that both teams will be in the finals?

Thursday Jan 3rd 7:00PM - Eagan at EP.

My vote is for Seeler or Lauren Smith from Holy Angels. The last 2 or 3 winners of Mr. Hockey have been D.