Section 4AA

chester1991 · Post by **chester1991** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:05 pm

Mid season section rankings:

1) Hill-Murray
2) White Bear Lake
3) Stillwater
4) Roseville
5) Tartan
6) North St Paul
7) Mounds View

Como Park
9)) St Paul Saints

wblhcky24 · Post by **wblhcky24** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:09 pm

Sounds right

WHAFightingSaints · Post by **WHAFightingSaints** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 8:50 pm

I think Tartan and North St. Paul are 2 quality teams. I know they play Hill and STA twice a year but I think they'd be better served to play a tougher non conference schedule to prepare them for sectional play.

hockeyfan893 · Post by **hockeyfan893** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:07 pm

I wouldn't be surprised to see Roseville shake some things up come playoffs. Hill will still end up winning the section most likely, but Roseville might be able to pull off a surprising win over Stillwater or WBL.

mustangs29 · Post by **mustangs29** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:28 pm

Tartan and North are both very average teams..

DubCHAGuy · Post by **DubCHAGuy** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:01 pm

When was the last time someone other than WBL or Hill won this section? I know it has been a while. I don't see it changing this year either.

WBLHockeyfan04 · Post by **WBLHockeyfan04** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:12 pm

Centennial 2004

WBLHockeyfan04 · Post by **WBLHockeyfan04** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:18 pm

DubCHAGuy wrote:When was the last time someone other than WBL or Hill won this section? I know it has been a while. I don't see it changing this year either.

The 2004 Centennial Cougars that went on the win the State Championship. They were moved to 5AA though after the 2006 season. No other team other than that has won this section other than Hill or WBL over a 40 year span and I don't expect that to change this year either.

WHAFightingSaints · Post by **WHAFightingSaints** » Sun Jan 09, 2011 10:49 pm

hockeyfan893 wrote:I wouldn't be surprised to see Roseville shake some things up come playoffs. Hill will still end up winning the section most likely, but Roseville might be able to pull off a surprising win over Stillwater or WBL.

Roseville could make some noise but only if they can find a way to score more goals. Goaltending is solid and gives them a chance in every game.

Sparlimb · Post by **Sparlimb** » Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:13 am

WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:
DubCHAGuy wrote:When was the last time someone other than WBL or Hill won this section? I know it has been a while. I don't see it changing this year either.
The 2004 Centennial Cougars that went on the win the State Championship. They were moved to 5AA though after the 2006 season. No other team other than that has won this section other than Hill or WBL over a 40 year span and I don't expect that to change this year either.

30 year span. North St. Paul won the section final in 1981 over White Bear Mariner and Mariner returned the favor, beating NSP in the finals in 1982 on their way to a runner-up finish.

WHAFightingSaints · Post by **WHAFightingSaints** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:43 pm

If Roseville has any aspirations of getting the #2 or #3 seed a win tonight at home against White Bear Lake would certainly help their cause. Both teams have outstanding goals against averages, the Bears offense puts up more numbers than the Raiders. Roseville's goaltender is very capable and will have to be on top of his game to give them the upset chance.

WHAFightingSaints · Post by **WHAFightingSaints** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:50 pm

Stillwater's win over Roseville tonight puts them safely in the top 3 seeds. Feb. 5th game versus White Bear could determine the who gets the 2 seed. Should be good one!

WBLHockeyfan04 · Post by **WBLHockeyfan04** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 11:20 pm

WHAFightingSaints wrote:Stillwater's win over Roseville tonight puts them safely in the top 3 seeds. Feb. 5th game versus White Bear could determine the who gets the 2 seed. Should be good one!

I still think WBL gets the 2 seed even if Stillwater wins that game. WBL already beat them, and will likely finish ahead of them in the SEC. Either way it won't matter, because both will face off in the semis at the coliseum to play Hill Murray in the 4AA championship.

WHAFightingSaints · Post by **WHAFightingSaints** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:45 pm

We are only a couple weeks away from the start sections and there are still some unsettled spots up for grabs in the quest for St. Paul. My take on Section 4AA now, and the future.

1-Hill Murray (16-3-1) Section (3-0-0)
The Pioneers have a firm grasp on the top spot with no threat of falling. Their recent schedule hasn’t challenged the #1 team in the state; however they finish the season with 5 straight road games, including tests against Moorhead and STA. The final stretch of games should get them ready for a possible testy sectional semifinal and most likely final.
Best win: Minnetonka
Worst loss: None
Remaining schedule: at North St. Paul, at South St. Paul, at Moorhead, at Tartan, at STA

2-White Bear Lake (14-5-1) Section (3-2-1)
With Saturday’s loss to Stillwater the number two spot is no guarantee for the Bears, a win would have locked it up, now they are going to have to win some key games down the stretch to secure this spot. I have them in this spot because they are still leading the SEC, and have a slightly better overall record then Stillwater. They have no margin for error if the Ponies continue to win games.
Best win: Stillwater
Worst loss: not a loss but a tie with Mounds View
Remaining schedule: at Cretin, at Forest Lake, (H) Park, (H) Roseville, (H) Cloquet

3-Stillwater (13-4-2) Section (4-1-0)
The Ponies have every right to claim the number two spot, they are playing better than White Bear at the moment, fewer losses, have a better record within the section, and have a signature win over Minnetonka. (The Bears have no signature win on the season) With all that I can’t put them ahead of White Bear Lake for the simple fact they still trail in the SEC. If the Ponies come back to win the SEC, or even stake a claim by tying for the crown, they should take over the #2 spot.
Best win: Minnetonka
Worst loss: not a loss but 2 ties with Forest Lake have hurt them in SEC play.
Remaining schedule: (H) East Ridge, at Cloquet, at North St. Paul, at Hastings, (H) Benilde

4-Roseville (10-6-5) Section (0-3-2)
The Raiders have no chance of moving up, winless in section play they have one more shot against White Bear to get a victory within the section. Roseville has only lost one game by more than two goals, that happened Saturday against Hastings which needed an empty netter to get the two goal margin. Could be a dangerous matchup in a semi, but they have to win a quarterfinal game first which could prove difficult with their lack of scoring.
Best win: Officially a tie with Burnsville that the Raiders advanced with a shootout win.
Worst loss: Twice to Hastings
Remaining schedule: (H) Forest Lake, at Cretin, at White Bear Lake, (H) Rochester Century

5-North St. Paul (12-7-1) Section (2-1-1)
Better record than Roseville, but their strength of schedule keeps them in the five spot for the moment. Would definitely move up with an upset of Hill and could possibly top Roseville with a late season win over Stillwater.
Best win: Hopkins
Worst loss: Anoka
Remaining schedule: (H) Hill Murray, at Simley, (H) Stillwater, at STA, at Mounds View

6-Tartan (11-8-1) Section (1-2-1)
The Titans were neck and neck with North St. Paul until the Polars put up a five goal shutout on them Saturday. Tartan, like North St. Paul has played a fairly week schedule so far but finish with an extremely tough slate and maybe have a chance to jump a spot with a couple of wins against quality teams.
Best win: Mahtomedi
Worst loss: Not really any bad ones.
Remaining schedule: (H) Totino Grace, (H) STA, at Hill Murray, at Henry Sibley, (H) Duluth East

7-Mounds View (6-11-4) Section (0-4-2)
The Mustangs should be locked into the seven spot; I don’t see any scenario with them moving up or down.
Best win: not a win but tied White Bear Lake
Worst loss: East Ridge
Remaining schedule: (H) Stillwater, at Park- Cottage Grove, (H) Woodbury, (H) North St. Paul

8-Como Park (5-15-0) Section (2-1-0)
Should get by the Saints in the play in game and become fodder for Hill.
Best win: Minnehaha Academy
Worst loss: 0-3 versus Wisconsin Teams with the exception of a win over the Sparta JV.
Remaining schedule: at Providence Academy, (H) Breck, at Blake, (H) Spring Lake Park, at Johnson, (H) Le Suer

9-St. Paul Saints (4-16-0) Section (0-2-0)
Unfortunate that the Saints and Como Park aren’t playing in the Section 4A, however the Saints do have the best logo in the section.

Best win: Ely
Worst loss: 0-2 versus Wisconsin Teams.
Remaining schedule: (H) Highland Park, (H) Blake, (H) Johnson, at Minnehaha Academy, at SPA/Mounds Park Academy

Predictions:

Quarterfinal
Hill Murray 8 Como Park 0
Roseville 3 North St. Paul 2 (Double OT)
White Bear Lake 4 Mounds View 1
Stillwater 6 Tartan 1

Semifinal
Hill Murray 3 Roseville 2 (OT)

Stillwater 4 White Bear Lake 3 (OT)

Final
Hill Murray 5 Stillwater 2 (Bold prediction eh?)

WBLHockeyfan04 · Post by **WBLHockeyfan04** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:10 pm

WHAFightingSaints wrote:We are only a couple weeks away from the start sections and there are still some unsettled spots up for grabs in the quest for St. Paul. My take on Section 4AA now, and the future.

1-Hill Murray (16-3-1) Section (3-0-0)
The Pioneers have a firm grasp on the top spot with no threat of falling. Their recent schedule hasn’t challenged the #1 team in the state; however they finish the season with 5 straight road games, including tests against Moorhead and STA. The final stretch of games should get them ready for a possible testy sectional semifinal and most likely final.
Best win: Minnetonka
Worst loss: None
Remaining schedule: at North St. Paul, at South St. Paul, at Moorhead, at Tartan, at STA

2-White Bear Lake (14-5-1) Section (3-2-1)
With Saturday’s loss to Stillwater the number two spot is no guarantee for the Bears, a win would have locked it up, now they are going to have to win some key games down the stretch to secure this spot. I have them in this spot because they are still leading the SEC, and have a slightly better overall record then Stillwater. They have no margin for error if the Ponies continue to win games.
Best win: Stillwater
Worst loss: not a loss but a tie with Mounds View
Remaining schedule: at Cretin, at Forest Lake, (H) Park, (H) Roseville, (H) Cloquet

3-Stillwater (13-4-2) Section (4-1-0)
The Ponies have every right to claim the number two spot, they are playing better than White Bear at the moment, fewer losses, have a better record within the section, and have a signature win over Minnetonka. (The Bears have no signature win on the season) With all that I can’t put them ahead of White Bear Lake for the simple fact they still trail in the SEC. If the Ponies come back to win the SEC, or even stake a claim by tying for the crown, they should take over the #2 spot.
Best win: Minnetonka
Worst loss: not a loss but 2 ties with Forest Lake have hurt them in SEC play.
Remaining schedule: (H) East Ridge, at Cloquet, at North St. Paul, at Hastings, (H) Benilde

4-Roseville (10-6-5) Section (0-3-2)
The Raiders have no chance of moving up, winless in section play they have one more shot against White Bear to get a victory within the section. Roseville has only lost one game by more than two goals, that happened Saturday against Hastings which needed an empty netter to get the two goal margin. Could be a dangerous matchup in a semi, but they have to win a quarterfinal game first which could prove difficult with their lack of scoring.
Best win: Officially a tie with Burnsville that the Raiders advanced with a shootout win.
Worst loss: Twice to Hastings
Remaining schedule: (H) Forest Lake, at Cretin, at White Bear Lake, (H) Rochester Century

5-North St. Paul (12-7-1) Section (2-1-1)
Better record than Roseville, but their strength of schedule keeps them in the five spot for the moment. Would definitely move up with an upset of Hill and could possibly top Roseville with a late season win over Stillwater.
Best win: Hopkins
Worst loss: Anoka
Remaining schedule: (H) Hill Murray, at Simley, (H) Stillwater, at STA, at Mounds View

6-Tartan (11-8-1) Section (1-2-1)
The Titans were neck and neck with North St. Paul until the Polars put up a five goal shutout on them Saturday. Tartan, like North St. Paul has played a fairly week schedule so far but finish with an extremely tough slate and maybe have a chance to jump a spot with a couple of wins against quality teams.
Best win: Mahtomedi
Worst loss: Not really any bad ones.
Remaining schedule: (H) Totino Grace, (H) STA, at Hill Murray, at Henry Sibley, (H) Duluth East

7-Mounds View (6-11-4) Section (0-4-2)
The Mustangs should be locked into the seven spot; I don’t see any scenario with them moving up or down.
Best win: not a win but tied White Bear Lake
Worst loss: East Ridge
Remaining schedule: (H) Stillwater, at Park- Cottage Grove, (H) Woodbury, (H) North St. Paul

8-Como Park (5-15-0) Section (2-1-0)
Should get by the Saints in the play in game and become fodder for Hill.
Best win: Minnehaha Academy
Worst loss: 0-3 versus Wisconsin Teams with the exception of a win over the Sparta JV.
Remaining schedule: at Providence Academy, (H) Breck, at Blake, (H) Spring Lake Park, at Johnson, (H) Le Suer

9-St. Paul Saints (4-16-0) Section (0-2-0)
Unfortunate that the Saints and Como Park aren’t playing in the Section 4A, however the Saints do have the best logo in the section.
Best win: Ely
Worst loss: 0-2 versus Wisconsin Teams.
Remaining schedule: (H) Highland Park, (H) Blake, (H) Johnson, at Minnehaha Academy, at SPA/Mounds Park Academy

Predictions:

Quarterfinal
Hill Murray 8 Como Park 0
Roseville 3 North St. Paul 2 (Double OT)
White Bear Lake 4 Mounds View 1
Stillwater 6 Tartan 1

Semifinal
Hill Murray 3 Roseville 2 (OT)
Stillwater 4 White Bear Lake 3 (OT)

Final
Hill Murray 5 Stillwater 2 (Bold prediction eh?)

I wouldn't say Stillwater is playing better hockey than WBL. I was at the game yesterday, and WBL was the better team in each period. They should be the #2 seed still, and will play Hill in the Section Final like usual. Sorry Ponies.

Stillwater fans can bash this if they want, but when we come back here in a few weeks you'll see that I'm correct.

TestTubeHockey · Post by **TestTubeHockey** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:47 pm

Either way it's WBL's last year to be a factor for a while. Their youth feeder programs are average at best while the Stillwater program is getting stronger. The wildcard for Stillwater is..... how many will go private?

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:47 pm

Congrats to Stillwater for keeping their conference hopes alive; still some work to be done there as well. But getting back to section play, I don't see Stillwater making it to the finals; however, they did accomplish that feat several years ago which proved a lot of people wrong. With that said I am going to go with WB and HM in the finals. *shocker*

WBLHockeyfan04 · Post by **WBLHockeyfan04** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:53 pm

PuckU126 wrote:Congrats to Stillwater for keeping their conference hopes alive; still some work to be done there as well. But getting back to section play, I don't see Stillwater making it to the finals; however, they did accomplish that feat several years ago which proved a lot of people wrong. With that said I am going to go with WB and HM in the finals. *shocker*

I wouldn't say it proved alot of people wrong. Tartan received the #1 seed that year which a number of people questioned, as well as they should since they lost to #8 seeded Johnson

. WBL and Hill Murray ended up having to meet in the semis, so Stilly got to play Johnson in the semis

.

Not to often you get to play the #8 seed to go to the section final...

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:12 pm

WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:
PuckU126 wrote:Congrats to Stillwater for keeping their conference hopes alive; still some work to be done there as well. But getting back to section play, I don't see Stillwater making it to the finals; however, they did accomplish that feat several years ago which proved a lot of people wrong. With that said I am going to go with WB and HM in the finals. *shocker*

I wouldn't say it proved alot of people wrong. Tartan received the #1 seed that year which a number of people questioned, as well as they should since they lost to #8 seeded Johnson . WBL and Hill Murray ended up having to meet in the semis, so Stilly got to play Johnson in the semis .

Not to often you get to play the #8 seed to go to the section final...

I hear that.

And they only reason why I said Stillwater proved people wrong was because everyone was listing the #1 and #2 seed to be in the finals.

WHAFightingSaints · Post by **WHAFightingSaints** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:29 pm

People, last year is over, let's keep focus on this year's Section 4 happenings.

HMHockey943 · Post by **HMHockey943** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:33 pm

I can see a HM-Stillwater game in the finals.

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 2:44 pm

WHAFightingSaints wrote:People, last year is over, let's keep focus on this year's Section 4 happenings.

We are keeping on topic...

No harm in discussing previous years... (not just last year).

Anyways like what I saying before, I still see HM and WB in the finals. I am not sure Stillwater's offense can provide enough firepower to beat the Bears again. (I was surprised they won yesterday).

wblhcky24 · Post by **wblhcky24** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 4:00 pm

Como will win the section hands down

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 4:05 pm

wblhcky24 wrote:Como will win the section hands down

Fat chance.

gophs1616 · Post by **gophs1616** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 12:20 am

WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:
PuckU126 wrote:Congrats to Stillwater for keeping their conference hopes alive; still some work to be done there as well. But getting back to section play, I don't see Stillwater making it to the finals; however, they did accomplish that feat several years ago which proved a lot of people wrong. With that said I am going to go with WB and HM in the finals. *shocker*

I wouldn't say it proved alot of people wrong. Tartan received the #1 seed that year which a number of people questioned, as well as they should since they lost to #8 seeded Johnson . WBL and Hill Murray ended up having to meet in the semis, so Stilly got to play Johnson in the semis .

Not to often you get to play the #8 seed to go to the section final...

Wouldn't proved people wrong? They played right along with Hill that entire game until the second overtime. I think that turned a lot of heads. I would call it a toss up when it comes to who plays Hill in the section championship. Both teams are inconsistent, anything could happen.