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The last season saw the remaining names of mainstays from CEC, GR, East (the last 2-3 years), etc., finish their HS career. Names like David Brown and Rob Johnson have been around for a while. Who will be the new big names in the next 2-3 years? Who are the studs in Bantam A's right now that will soon try to carry their team to state?

Zack Dick D from GR.

From the Grand Rapids Bantam A's:

D-Zach Dick
F-Patrick Moore
F-Matt How

They will all have to contribute if Grand Rapids wants to make another trip to St. Paul.

From the JV club:

D-Brad Horseman
D-A.J. Merritt
F-Tom Hammann
F-Duston Schulte

All of these kids say some varsity time but they will need to contribute rather extensively with the big club next year.

The key returnees will be:

G-A.J. Underwood
D-Sam Rendle
F-Tony Pallki
F-John Skrbec

Obviously, even if everyone one of these kids make the team and contribute, that leaves 9 slots to fill. They could be young again, but young and talented.

With the group GR has coming in combining with what's left, GR once again will have the ability to shock anyone. GR's sophomore group that were A Bantams last year & GR's current group of 2nd year Bantams were very competitive with the likes of Roseau, DE, Moorhead, Elk River, & Cloquet to name a few. Combine those few with the limited number of Rapids seniors, and they have the potential to be very good. Young, but very good. Should be a fun year, hopefully all will take it serious and put in the required work this summer.

boblee wrote:From the Grand Rapids Bantam A's:

D-Zach Dick
F-Patrick Moore
F-Matt How

They will all have to contribute if Grand Rapids wants to make another trip to St. Paul.

From the JV club:

D-Brad Horseman
D-A.J. Merritt
F-Tom Hammann
F-Duston Schulte

All of these kids say some varsity time but they will need to contribute rather extensively with the big club next year.

The key returnees will be:

G-A.J. Underwood
D-Sam Rendle
F-Tony Pallki
F-John Skrbec

Obviously, even if everyone one of these kids make the team and contribute, that leaves 9 slots to fill. They could be young again, but young and talented.

I would add Kleinendorst to the list of returners too.

Returning for Duluth East:

G Matt Cooper
D Jake Williams , Joe Arbour, Alex Mclean, Derek Forbort, Alex Holm
F Max Tardy, Kyle Lutzka, Kenny Mellin, Brent Olson, Joe Nelson, Jayce Paulseth

Most of those had significant varsity time this season, next years squad should be a pretty solid team. (all players listed will be seniors next year except Forbort, Mellin, Lutzka, and Paulseth (juniors))

I don't know what the other teams in 7AA look like right now, but it hurts me to say this but GR will struggle next year.

Reggie wrote:I don't know what the other teams in 7AA look like right now, but it hurts me to say this but GR will struggle next year.

Based on what? It's a known fact that the A Bantam teams of the last couple of years have proven to be very competitive with a lot of raw talent. Couple that with very good coaching and you have at least the possibility of a winner. As with any team, unknowns will play a huge role as will their definition of hard work and team play. If this group sells out for each other as the players before them have demonstrated, they'll have a good chance to place very high in the section. Time will tell.

hounds11,
Max Tardy will be leaving for USHL according to the rumor mill. That would be the bonafide must have a goal - goal scorer East will need in the lineup for next season to be a dominate top 5 force in Minnesota.

Hope the rumors turn up to be unfounded. Max is a great kid and a good player. Next years team looks very promising, losing Max would be tough.

northwoods oldtimer wrote:hounds11,
Max Tardy will be leaving for USHL according to the rumor mill. That would be the bonafide must have a goal - goal scorer East will need in the lineup for next season to be a dominate top 5 force in Minnesota.

i heard he wasnt leaving.

I have no idea what to believe about who's leaving when for East at this point. I think Tardy's more likely to stay then several of those who have bolted in the past, but as we learned with Flaherty last year, no one is safe. Whether he goes or not could decide East's fate next year. They'll be in the picture for the section no matter what, but I can't see them contending for a state title without him.

East should win the section next year with or without Tardy or Forbert, if he makes the NTDP team. They won't have a great chance to win state without them, but if they do return East returns one of the best line-ups on the blue-line in the state with Arbour, Forbert, McLean, and Williams, a bona-fide scorer in Tardy, a solid supporting forward class, and a tested goaltender in Cooper who is solid in the pipes.

oldbarn7 wrote:East should win the section next year with or without Tardy or Forbert, if he makes the NTDP team. They won't have a great chance to win state without them, but if they do return East returns one of the best line-ups on the blue-line in the state with Arbour, Forbert, McLean, and Williams, a bona-fide scorer in Tardy, a solid supporting forward class, and a tested goaltender in Cooper who is solid in the pipes.

Cooper will still be having nightmares of David Brown from the section semis...

Duluth 4 wrote:

northwoods oldtimer wrote:hounds11,
Max Tardy will be leaving for USHL according to the rumor mill. That would be the bonafide must have a goal - goal scorer East will need in the lineup for next season to be a dominate top 5 force in Minnesota.

i heard he wasnt leaving.

You hear a lot of stuff.

Anoka better not take this section next year.......or.......EVER

[quote="dherman8"]Anoka better not take this section next year.......or.......EVER[/quote]


HaHa i totally agree

Forwards:

Tony Palkki
John Skrbec
Tom Hammann
Dustin Schulte
Mickey Mendoza
Dustin Perron
Patrick Moore
Matt How

Defense:

Sam Rendle
Kyle Kleinendorst
Brad Horsman
Austin Merritt
Zack Dick

Goaltenders:

AJ Underwood
Dom DeGuiseppi
Ryan Larson

Few spots open this is who should make the squad. ? at goalie DeGuiseppi is better than Larson, but do you put Dom behind AJ or let Dom see action playing JV?

Don't forget:

F-Austin Anderson
F-Grady Anderson
D-Jake Leingang
G-Aaron Foss

boblee wrote:Don't forget:

F-Austin Anderson
F-Grady Anderson
D-Jake Leingang
G-Aaron Foss

Someone told me Leingang quit, the Andersons didn't stickout in the few JV games I watched, Do you think they're varsity material?

grady anderson has a good shot at making the team. if leingang plays he will make it. foss wont make it for sure there is three goalie twice as good as him. And austin anderson is an iffy

Leingang suffered a concussion and missed the second half of the season.

From the games I have seen and the stats I have pulled in, Foss was much better than Larson this year.

boblee wrote:Leingang suffered a concussion and missed the second half of the season.

From the games I have seen and the stats I have pulled in, Foss was much better than Larson this year.

Jake is back on the ice for spring league which is a good sign, and agreed with you on Foss. He was clearly the #1 guy in the jv nets this past season.

o well foss must have gotten better i only watched one jv game larson played but larson always used to be better so i was just goin by that but i think dominic degusuippi (spelling?). is for sure better than booth jv goalie though

Reggie wrote:Forwards:

Tony Palkki
John Skrbec
Tom Hammann
Dustin Schulte
Mickey Mendoza
Dustin Perron
Patrick Moore
Matt How

Defense:

Sam Rendle
Kyle Kleinendorst
Brad Horsman
Austin Merritt
Zack Dick

Goaltenders:

AJ Underwood
Dom DeGuiseppi
Ryan Larson

Few spots open this is who should make the squad. ? at goalie DeGuiseppi is better than Larson, but do you put Dom behind AJ or let Dom see action playing JV?

A lot can change between now and next season. Sure there are kids who are a lock to play, but there may be a handfull of players who surprise all of us by getting stronger, bigger, and better this offseason. I wouldn't expect the undersized incoming soph's to make much of an impact, even though they are quite skilled. This years squad had trouble because of their lack of size up front. The biggest challenge for the coaches will be to get this group to come together as a team. From what I saw this past winter, they have some issues to deal with, particularily attitudes.