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Which teams in A and AA do you think have the hardest schedules?

eagle4life9 wrote:http://minnhock.com/strength.htm

Interesting that other than STA, the single A schools top out at 35.

What's really interesting is how many cities teams occupy the top rankings. In fact, outside of East (9), and Duluth Marshall (35, 2nd in A), there really are no other teams that have respectable schedules. These two are the only teams in the north that consistently make trips down to the cities to play good teams (like Minnetonka, Benilde, St. Thomas Wayzata etc). Of course, the holiday tournament is the only blemish in the Marshall schedule. Yes, I am biased.

This is a huge reason that people on Marshall and East (like Max Tardy) have lower points then people he is better then. East is playing Minnetonka, while Hermantown is playing Hopkins...

For comparison,
-East's opponent's record was 318-280-40 (.530 winning %) for regular season opponents
-Marshall's oppenent's record was 386-222-24 (.630 winning %) for regular season opponents
-Hermantown's oppenent's record was 334-281-24 (.554 winnnig %) for regular seaso opponents

Of course, opponent records don't tell the whole story. Metro teams will naturally have a lower record, since they play a tougher schedule (and are more inclined to lose more games). So a 20-5 team isn't neccessarly as good as a 15-10 team. This would explain East's lower winning percentage for opponents, but then again, East's schedule wasn't as hard as last year's was.


I am not trying to legitimize Marshall anymore, or even suggest that they have a tougher schedule then East. But, they do play a tougher schedule then anyone in the north (except maybe East). But with all do respect, Marshall's was very tough this year, and given the fact that many usually good teams (that East played) were down this year, Marshall probably did have a harder schedule then East. After Marshall, there is a huge drop off in strength of schedule.

In East's last 14 games, tonight being 15, they have played 1 team with a winning record (at the time they played)... Superior

Moorhead has the 3rd hardest schedual, and constantly make trips down to the cities

northerteams#7 wrote:Moorhead has the 3rd hardest schedual, and constantly make trips down to the cities

This is the biggest debate. Does a tougher schedule help, and give a team more success? I would think so, but it could destroy team's confidence, and cause teams to try less things, and become more one-dimensional. A weak schedule provides confidence, but eventually, you will run into someone good.

I say strong schedule, but your team needs to be good enough to handle it. And, how strong a schedule is always a matter of perspective.

Toughest schedule...

Has to be Walker or Bagley, maybe Sleepy Eye.

Everyone they play is better than they are.

But they go play every game to win.

MARSHALLS wrote:

northerteams#7 wrote:Moorhead has the 3rd hardest schedual, and constantly make trips down to the cities

This is the biggest debate. Does a tougher schedule help, and give a team more success? I would think so, but it could destroy team's confidence, and cause teams to try less things, and become more one-dimensional. A weak schedule provides confidence, but eventually, you will run into someone good.

I say strong schedule, but your team needs to be good enough to handle it. And, how strong a schedule is always a matter of perspective.

what? How is a coach to gauge the teams ability to handle a strong schedule 6 months in advanced. These schedules are sometimes made years in advanced. Moorhead plays the opposite schedule every season. (last year Jefferson, Hill and East played in Moorhead) Anyone who has ever traveled to play a game of more than 150-250 miles will tell you a long bus ride that starts at noon or earlier takes energy out of your body. Moorhead not only plays/schedules the top teams every year but they also travel the farthest to play. That should be factored into the toughtest schedule argument. If Moorhead was to play the closest Minnesota team, they would have to play Detriot Lakes 43 miles away. Thats probably the farthest most metro teams travel for one game all year. When Moorhead and Roseau play each other on the road these teams aren't getting home until 1-3am and they have school in a few hours. I guess Moorhead could play teams in the local area to pad our stats and get a few more wins but really if you think that helps a team, I believe you are sadly mistaken.

Very well said Potatohead!!!!!

MARSHALLS wrote: In fact, outside of East (9), and Duluth Marshall (35, 2nd in A), there really are no other teams that have respectable schedules. These two are the only teams in the north that consistently make trips down to the cities to play good teams (like Minnetonka, Benilde, St. Thomas Wayzata etc).

Last I checked, GR played Eden Prairie, Edina, Bloomington Jefferson, Elk River and Stillwater as well as playing Duluth East year after year. That doesn't appear to be a cakewalk as far as schedules go.