The loaded Lake Conference
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:53 am
The Lake Conference is just about ready to start up their league action. With 4 perennial top 10 AA teams, it would not surprise me for the league champ finishes no better than 6-2. The key will be: who can win on the road and hold serve at home. Here's a capsule of the teams in expected order of finish:
1. Ep (9-2-0) - No surprise here as Ep seems to be hitting their stride, winning the loaded BSM tourney and knocking off #2 Hill. They have the talent and the tending to win. One question I have on this team is their PK. They are only killing at an average of 80%. Is that because they are playing great teams? Special teams are usually the difference that separates the good from the great. Ep needs to improve their PK up into the 85+% rate.
2. Wayzata (11-2-0) - stumbled at the BSM tourney; but rebounded with a nice 5-1 win over Lakeville North to start the new year. They have the firepower in Cameranesi, Lucia and Klein; and the goaltending in McIntyre to go along way.
3. Edina (8-2-2) - Have played several top AA teams and can roll 3 solid lines. Goaltending has not been up to par, but last year at this point no one expected them to end up as state champs. Edina PK is only at 75% with 14 ppg's allowed and that's not going to cut in the Lake Conference. They need to stay out of the box.
4. Tonka (8-2-1) - Two nice wins to start the new year over Eagan and Moorhead. Three concerns I have with Tonka are: (1) 3rd period play. They have given up half of the total goals allowed in this period. Are their young dmen wearing down? (2) Goaltending. You can't replace a guy like Jimmy Krueger, but the #1 goalie for Tonka has put to put up better numbers than his current 3.04 GAA and .879 save pct for Tonka to have a chance in the Lake. (3) Play of the seniors. Outside of their leading scorer, the senior class needs to step up. Tonka has the underclassmen depth, but the other senior forwards need to start playing up to past their past performance for this team to go back to State.
5. Hopkins (6-6-0). Again, no surprise here. They have posted a respectable record through the halfway point. But the question is: will they win a hockey game in the Lake? I don't think so. Their best chance may be the Tonka game at home, which always draws a great crowd at the Pavillion.
1. Ep (9-2-0) - No surprise here as Ep seems to be hitting their stride, winning the loaded BSM tourney and knocking off #2 Hill. They have the talent and the tending to win. One question I have on this team is their PK. They are only killing at an average of 80%. Is that because they are playing great teams? Special teams are usually the difference that separates the good from the great. Ep needs to improve their PK up into the 85+% rate.
2. Wayzata (11-2-0) - stumbled at the BSM tourney; but rebounded with a nice 5-1 win over Lakeville North to start the new year. They have the firepower in Cameranesi, Lucia and Klein; and the goaltending in McIntyre to go along way.
3. Edina (8-2-2) - Have played several top AA teams and can roll 3 solid lines. Goaltending has not been up to par, but last year at this point no one expected them to end up as state champs. Edina PK is only at 75% with 14 ppg's allowed and that's not going to cut in the Lake Conference. They need to stay out of the box.
4. Tonka (8-2-1) - Two nice wins to start the new year over Eagan and Moorhead. Three concerns I have with Tonka are: (1) 3rd period play. They have given up half of the total goals allowed in this period. Are their young dmen wearing down? (2) Goaltending. You can't replace a guy like Jimmy Krueger, but the #1 goalie for Tonka has put to put up better numbers than his current 3.04 GAA and .879 save pct for Tonka to have a chance in the Lake. (3) Play of the seniors. Outside of their leading scorer, the senior class needs to step up. Tonka has the underclassmen depth, but the other senior forwards need to start playing up to past their past performance for this team to go back to State.
5. Hopkins (6-6-0). Again, no surprise here. They have posted a respectable record through the halfway point. But the question is: will they win a hockey game in the Lake? I don't think so. Their best chance may be the Tonka game at home, which always draws a great crowd at the Pavillion.