2010-2011 Preseason Bantam "A" forum

[Chuck Norris Fan]

This is the 08-09 Peewee List with records from the Mnhockeyrankings site. Now we all know that not all scores are posted on that site, and sickness.. injuries..etc are also not taken into account, so it is not a true 100% accurate reading of the kids as peewees.

We also have to take in account kids grow, they move, or move on to HS. But here is our starting point for next year. So what does everyone think?

Any surprises?
Will it be a Woodbury v Edina Final again?
Will East struggle this year?
Will Armstrong put up a fight in D3?
Will AV make a difference in D8?
Will D10 be one of the stronger districts this year after 2 years of sub par performaces?
Will MV and Stillwater dethrone WBL as the kings of D2?

1 Wayzata Trojans A 39-10-2
2 Edina Hornets A 45-12-1
3 Elk River Elks A 37-6-2
4 Burnsville Blaze A 44-8-0
5 Roseau Rams A 46-4-0
6 Blaine Bengals A 40-6-3
7 Chaska Hawks A 25-16-2
8 Woodbury Royals A 40-12-5
9 Osseo Maple Grove A 35-14-1
10 Eden Prairie Eagles A 26-16-2
11 Centennial Cougars A 23-16-3
12 White Bear Lake Bears A 17-12-2
13 Cloquet Lumberjacks A 25-13-0
14 East Grand Forks Green Wave A 38-9-0
15 St Cloud Huskies A 29-8-9
16 Stillwater Ponies A 23-17-3
17 Mounds View Mustangs A 28-14-8
18 Armstrong Cooper Falcons A 23-14-3
19 Andover Huskies A 23-13-4
20 Duluth East A 15-16-6
21 Lakeville North A 22-16-7
22 Roseville Raiders A 24-9-4
23 Eastview Lightning A 22-22-6
24 Rochester Red A 19-14-2
25 Minnetonka Skippers A 13-23-2

[old goalie85]

Forest Lake will be a top 20 for sure.

[northwoods oldtimer]

Wow, looks like the talent depth drops a bit in the state at this age group with a top 20 posting a losing record. Also do not think EP and Cent took 16 losses in any 2 year cycles with 91, 92, 93 and 94 kids. Is there a thinning of total state talent at this groups age level? Curious to know about it, thanks much. Frederick can you fill me in on the overall depth? Anybody else?

[Pioneerprideguy]

Forest Lake will be a top 20 for sure.

I applaud your loyalty to the Flake Program, but I think you may thinking more with your heart than your head. FL's program is not a deep program. Their teams usually place in the middle of their District and very few players play at the elite level. Their high school team had a wonderful season last year, but were blown out in sections. The program is an average program, which is a heck of a lot better than most, but far away from the top. Nothing wrong with blind faith though.

[old goalie85]

A bantams have 8 coming back. Same group as Pee-Wees went to regions. Lost to Edina[ Fidiler, Nanne& company] And woodbury. Finished like 15th in lets play hockey. I know a heck of a lot can change, and the"old goalie" did take a few off the mask.

[Chuck Norris Fan]

Wow, looks like the talent depth drops a bit in the state at this age group with a top 20 posting a losing record. Also do not think EP and Cent took 16 losses in any 2 year cycles with 91, 92, 93 and 94 kids. Is there a thinning of total state talent at this groups age level? Curious to know about it, thanks much. Frederick can you fill me in on the overall depth? Anybody else?

EP and Centennial will be improved over last years Bantam A teams however, so will the teams in their district. This last couple of age groups are not to be confused with the teams from the 91-94's. Both Ep and Centennial turned out great players (see the 07 and 08 championship games, both EP victories 4-3 and 2-0)

[Chuck Norris Fan]

A bantams have 8 coming back. Same group as Pee-Wees went to regions. Lost to Edina[ Fidiler, Nanne& company] And woodbury. Finished like 15th in lets play hockey. I know a heck of a lot can change, and the"old goalie" did take a few off the mask.

how many will stay at Bantams and how many will leave to HS. If they stay they can challenge in the district. That has been the problem for FL over the last few years. Their youth program is improving however they loose kids as 2nd year bantams to hs and then it never translates into success in bantams.

[Chuck Norris Fan]

Finished like 15th in lets play hockey.

Come on we can not use this as the measuring stick.... their rankings are, well... appaling

[InigoMontoya]

The program is an average program, which is a heck of a lot better than most,

Is this the kind of wonderful math education we could look forward to Johnny getting if he were lucky enough to be recruited by Hill? I only went to a lowly public school, so to me average would mean better than about half, worse than about half.

[old goalie85]

Chuck you are wrong!! Highschool coach will not allow kids to move up. Not so far anyway. [Aaron Forsythe is begining his forth year] The two kids that lead the team in scoring last year are both sophs. They wanted to play as frosh and were told NO.

[OnFrozenPond]

Wow, looks like the talent depth drops a bit in the state at this age group with a top 20 posting a losing record. Also do not think EP and Cent took 16 losses in any 2 year cycles with 91, 92, 93 and 94 kids. Is there a thinning of total state talent at this groups age level? Curious to know about it, thanks much. Frederick can you fill me in on the overall depth? Anybody else?

EP and Centennial will be improved over last years Bantam A teams however, so will the teams in their district. This last couple of age groups are not to be confused with the teams from the 91-94's. Both Ep and Centennial turned out great players (see the 07 and 08 championship games, both EP victories 4-3 and 2-0)

It is difficult to hold these programs to the performance of what has been arguably the best class of players to come through EP. That said I don't think EP is on a downward slide yet.

Last years Bantam A's (4th in State as Peewees) could have fared much better, but they were decimated by injuries. I think they played less than 10 games with a full squad and were down to 12 at playoff time.

Peewee A's took 3rd at state.

Squirt A's won Fargo.

A lot of good players coming up, but they may never match the success of the 91 - 93 group.

[pitbull]

Heard there was an opening in EP for the Bantam A job. Whats the word?

[mghockey18]

If Tyler Sheehy from Burnsville plays Bantams, Look out.

[5thgraders]

I should hope so with his birthdate advantage that really isn't saying much.
I know of many that are far more dominating and they are 96s. You really should get out to few more games Compuware 97 have a player or two of his caliber. Burnaby winter club has a 97 with Sheehy game. The 96s are too plentiful to even start listing them. Sheehy is good but go see some top 95s
and he is not even close yet. Keep up the hard work and he may get there but it's a big world with allot of big powerful 95s.

[youngbloodjr3]

Can we get back on topic here?

[Vapor]

CNF...when did Woodbury and Edina play in the Finals ?? If you're talking about the 09' Peewee A Final it was Roseau vs. Woodbury, with Roseau winning 6 - 1. Should be interesting to see how all the teams stack up 2 years later.

[old goalie85]

Did the Rams have that very talented kid coming back at the Bantam A level. [ Last name Yon?] And is he related to Bill yon?

[district3ref]

I think you have to wait until high school tryouts are over to talk about Bantam A's.

Every year, there are a couple of kids that make HS varsity as ninth graders.

I reffed a lot of Bantam A games this past season and I know at least a handful of kids that will bypass their 2nd year of Bantam A's and will play high school hockey this year.

Somebody should start a list of potential high school candidates

[muckandgrind]

I think you have to wait until high school tryouts are over to talk about Bantam A's.

Every year, there are a couple of kids that make HS varsity as ninth graders.

I reffed a lot of Bantam A games this past season and I know at least a handful of kids that will bypass their 2nd year of Bantam A's and will play high school hockey this year.

Somebody should start a list of potential high school candidates

Great point. Edina lost three players to Varsity teams, how good with they have been if those players stayed in Bantams? How good would AV have been had Fasching played Bantams? Coon Rapids with Roo? Plenty of examples out there.

You can't translate a teams success from PWA to BA, too many things change.

[black sheep]

Did the Rams have that very talented kid coming back at the Bantam A level. [ Last name Yon?] And is he related to Bill yon?

yes & yes

roseau should be in the mix...pee wee titles historically hold well for the future there.

[MoreCowBell]

Shows you how weak the high school programs are when 9th graders can make a HS Varsity squad, that didn't happen much 20-30 yrs. ago.

[muckandgrind]

Shows you how weak the high school programs are when 9th graders can make a HS Varsity squad, that didn't happen much 20-30 yrs. ago.

Edina had a 9th grader this past year, would you consider them "weak"?

I think this past season was a "glitch", so to speak. IMO, the '94 and '95 birth years in Minnesota are very strong. I doubt you'll see as many freshmen making the top teams in the future.

[Night Train]

I don't think that's the right take at all. Hockey players have never been better and some have put a lot of hours in to become better than most of their classmates never mind athleticism.

Here's what I've seen. We're used to watching 3-4-5 top AAA teams at a level in the summer and then there are 55 high school teams in the metro in the winter. Most all high school teams have huge holes after their top 4-5 players. The mega public high schools, and Hill for now, have sufficient numbers and you don't see the drop off as clearly. Only 5-6 teams are solid top to bottom in my opinion.

So, some high schools can use polished 9th graders on their roster. Most 9th graders don't have success and I think it's a mistake to add them but I think in some instances there's parent pressure involved. Also, with the current transfer rule, both privates and publics are trying to confirm which 9th graders are in their pipeline as it's difficult to transfer after starting 9th grade.

Play Bantam A. It's the right level and the top teams are very good. It's also an experience the players will never have again.

[district3ref]

Edina, Breck, Benilde, Apple Valley are weak HS programs? I don't think so.
Edina and Breck won state and Apple Valley finished fourth.

HS coaches pick the players that they think will help them win, regardless of their grade. Coaches wouldn't put a 9th grader on the team unless the coach believes they are able to compete.

[Night Train]

Edina is one I mentioned as solid from top to bottom. Believe me Benilde, Breck and Apple Valley will have holes this coming season.

I'm also suggesting there are some interesting new forces at work here, that I can't figure out, as to why a coach would place a 9th grader, with Bantam eligibility, on varsity. 80% of them aren't effective players at the high school level and would have more fun, a better experience, more games and an opportunity to finish what they started with their buds as 1st graders. Hypothetically, maybe it's because a family is paying 15K for school so want their kid to play on the team. I'm honestly confused by some of it. Ride pine and get shoved around for 25 measly games and that helps development?

Kind of like the exceptional player move up policy. Top 5 player on varsity, make the jump. Not, play Bantam A.