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Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:24 am**

At this point in the season I'd rank them:

1. Duluth East
2. Grand Rapids
3. Elk River
4. Andover
5. Cloquet
6. Forest Lake
7. St. M-A
8. St. Francis
9. Cambridge

East is missing some scoring punch w/o Trevor Olson. Their schedule get progressively interesting. Their is some intrigue for their section game vs. Andover on Tue. night now that Andover nearly beat Maple Grove. Looks like we have a new team in 7AA that could pull an upset in the playoffs and chuck a wrench into the seedings along the way. Elk River also gets tougher competition after a ho-hum 3-0 start vs. unranked opponents. Cloquet is dealing with 3 injuries (to a forward and two defensemen). The loss to Buffalo is a bit of a head scratcher. I think Cloquet will be in the running for the 4 seed come February once they get everyone back and I've seen consistent improvement throughout the season with Cloquet every year Esse has been head coach. Forest Lake has a good top line, but after giving up a 3-0 lead at home and losing to Roseville and getting manhandled by Rapids, I just don't see Forest Lake making a visit to Duluth on Feb. 25 for the semis. Grand Rapids has proven they are deserving of a top 5 ranking. They have two solid goaltenders and sophomore Hunter Shepard got a shutout in his first ever start. Rapids has been getting scoring in a very balanced way throughout the lineup. If Andover can keep consistent with the way they played vs. Maple Grove, then they will be in contention for a 3 seed this year and should crack the top 20 rankings before too long.

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2011 4:58 pm**

You havent been around in a while have you?

Posted: **Sun Dec 04, 2011 7:58 pm**

Always liked that Shepard kid. Would like to see him in a big varsity game where he get more shots on him, but... from what I've seen in the past, he'll be up for the task. It looks like he's being set up to be the guy by the end of the season.

Posted: **Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:52 am**

Posted: **Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:01 pm**

A fan page for Section 7AA fans on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Semi-Fin ... 6996083346

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 9:28 am**

Elk River just locked themselves into the 2 seed for this section. Going into the playoffs as the 3 seed may benefit Grand Rapids. As Karl mentioned in his rankings, they went to the state title game in 06-07 as a 3 seed. Should be a great semi-final game at Amsoil Arena when these two meet in a rematch. This should also set up Duluth East to have a possible matchup with Cloquet in the playoffs, where anything is possible.

Top 6:

1. Duluth East
2. Elk River
3. Grand Rapids
4. Andover
5. Cloquet
6. Forest Lake

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:48 pm**

I think you need to settle down. Its December. No one is locked into anything.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 3:50 pm**

Section games carry the most weight. Speaking in terms of logic and tradition, Elk River is the 2 seed now. Even their coach said so in the post game interview. Is Elk River in contention for the 1 seed? Not likely. The only scenario Elk River isn't the 2 seed is that Grand Rapids beats Duluth East. Then who knows what happens. Anyways, it's just a simple fact Elk River would be 2 because Grand Rapids doesn't have another regular season game to nullify what happened Saturday.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:42 pm**

[quote="rapidsrapids"]Section games carry the most weight. Speaking in terms of logic and tradition, Elk River is the 2 seed now. Even their coach said so in the post game interview. Is Elk River in contention for the 1 seed? Not likely. The only scenario Elk River isn't the 2 seed is that Grand Rapids beats Duluth East. Then who knows what happens. Anyways, it's just a simple fact Elk River would be 2 because Grand Rapids doesn't have another regular season game to nullify what happened Saturday.[/quote

I follow some of your logic... but tradition...has little to nothing to do with how all the remaining section games shake out. That is why they play them.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 4:50 pm**

The only problem is Elk River only plays 3 section games, Grand Rapids and 2 vs. Andover. When I say "tradition" I'm speaking in terms of how the coaches tend to view section games. Tony Sarsland seemed to be very confident about being the 2 seed if the beat Andover, which I expect they will. http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32760

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:22 pm**

rapidsrapids wrote:The only problem is Elk River only plays 3 section games, Grand Rapids and 2 vs. Andover. When I say "tradition" I'm speaking in terms of how the coaches tend to view section games. Tony Sarsland seemed to be very confident about being the 2 seed if the beat Andover, which I expect they will. http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32760

No East, no Cloquet, no Forest Lake? Weird.

Lee

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:51 pm**

I know. If Elk River isn't gonna play more section games then maybe we should get Brainerd back over here.

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:52 pm**

rapidsrapids wrote:I know. If Elk River isn't gonna play more section games then maybe we should get Brainerd back over here.

Hey, Brainerd was always fun to welcome to Duluth.

Lee

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 5:55 pm**

BTW, how do you think the East team compares to the one that won it all with Locker and Spehar?

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 6:07 pm**

rapidsrapids wrote:BTW, how do you think the East team compares to the one that won it all with Locker and Spehar?

I don't think we'll know until they get Trevor Olson back and we see how good that first line can really be. Right now they're pretty good. I think they might have more depth than the '94-95 team. Ledingham used to give us fits when he played in goal. Then he stepped up at just the right time. I haven't seen anything from Skoog or Parker to make me nervous. Yet.

From what I've seen, it's possibly the best team since that one, except for possibly the '97-98 team with Finnegan, Angell and Coole. That team was certainly more dominating from a defensive standpoint.

As I recall, that earlier team was considered to still be a year away, and Jefferson was a pretty strong favorite to four-peat. Funny how things work out, huh?

If they win it all, then there will be comparisons. If not, then well....there won't.

(How's that for a PC response?)

Lee

Posted: **Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:03 pm**

east hockey wrote:
rapidsrapids wrote:BTW, how do you think the East team compares to the one that won it all with Locker and Spehar?
I don't think we'll know until they get Trevor Olson back and we see how good that first line can really be. Right now they're pretty good. I think they might have more depth than the '94-95 team. Ledingham used to give us fits when he played in goal. Then he stepped up at just the right time. I haven't seen anything from Skoog or Parker to make me nervous. Yet.

From what I've seen, it's possibly the best team since that one, except for possibly the '97-98 team with Finnegan, Angell and Coole. That team was certainly more dominating from a defensive standpoint.

As I recall, that earlier team was considered to still be a year away, and Jefferson was a pretty strong favorite to four-peat. Funny how things work out, huh?

If they win it all, then there will be comparisons. If not, then well....there won't.

(How's that for a PC response?)

Lee

This team is similar to both the '95 and '98 champion teams. Once Olson is back East will potentially have a first line of superstars to compare with the '95 club, and its scoring depth and passing is on par with the '98 team. The '95 team had a 3rd place run at state in '94, and the '98 team had some players who were on the unbeaten '97 team that was upset by Edina in the title game. More similarity, because finishing second in March has this team on another level than any other team in the state right now and they will show this over the next month or so. This is a special club. Beating them will require a major defensive effort by any team they play.

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 6:40 am**

Section 7AA :
no rankings here just HSHW listed teams that matter in the section. Seeding 2 – 5 still wide open with reaming schedule.

1) Duluth East
Section Games
East 6 – Andover 1
East 7 – CEC 0
East 4 – Rapids 3
3 - 0
remaining section games
East at Forest Lake
CEC at East

Common Opponent
Maple Grove 4-1 East
Moorhead 6 – 3 East
Blaine at East

Comments: Barring a “total section 7 aa collapse” clearly the undisputed number 1 team.

2) Andover
Section Games
Andover 1 – East 6
Andover 3 – CEC 2 (OT)
Andover 3 – Elk River 2
2 -1
remaining section games
Andover at Elk River

Common Opponent
Blaine 7 – Andover 6
Eden Prairie 2 – Andover 1
Comments: The worst Andover can do is 2 – 2 in section, tough to weigh 4 section games. SOS and Total record will factor in rankings. Ducking East and most noted Forest Lake hurts their leverage come seeding time. Big game with Maple Grove top AA ranked team is huge for seeding purpose. Overall record is impressive at 10 - 6 if that continues a 2 seed is in play.

3) Elk River
Section Games
Elk River – 3 Rapids 2 (OT)
Elk River 8 – St. Francis 0
2 -1
remaining section games
Andover at Elks

Common Opponent
Elk River 3 – Eden Prairie 3
Elk River 0 – Eden Prairie 4
Elk River 3 - Eden Prairie 6
Edina 4 – Elk River 1
Comments: Best Elks can do is 2 -2 in 4 section games. SOS and Total record will factor in rankings. Ducking East and most noted Forest Lake hurts their leverage come seeding time. Elk River is kind of struggling of late 8 – 6 -1. Sarsland will not have much clout if his team does not start winning. Needs to beat Maple Grove to bark at the section 7 meeting.

4) Grand Rapids
Section
Rapids 4 – CEC 1
Rapids 6 – Forest Lake 0
Rapids 2 – Elk River 3 (OT)
Rapids 7 – St. Francis 1
Rapids 3 – East 4
3 - 2
remaining section games
Rapids at CEC
Common Opponent
Edina 4 – Rapids 3
Eden Prairie 3 – Rapids1
Comments: Best Rapids can do is 4- 2. Big game with Moorhead (a win against top 10AA ranked team will help come seeding time) SOS and remaining record of games will dictate rank. 10 – 0 run and they are the 2 seed.

5) Cloquet
Section
CEC 1 – Rapids 4
CEC 12 – Cambridge 1
CEC 0 – East 7
CEC 4 – Forest Lake 3
CEC 2 – Andover 3 (OT)
2 -3
remaining section games
Rapids at CEC
CEC at East
CEC at St. Francis

Comments: Cloquet is the wild card at 12 – 4. Win over Rapids puts them at 3-3 in section. SOS and remaining schedule will factor in for sure. Win against East (Number 1 AA ranked team) and this seeding thing gets crazy.

6) Forest Lake
Section
Flake 0 – Rapids 6
Flake 3- CEC 4
remaining section games
East at Forest Lake
0 – 2 in section

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 7:37 am**

However this seeding thing works out, I just hope that East and Rapids can meet in the section final. Plus, East vs. Cloquet games at the semifinals are a blast. If Andover makes it, would like to see two southern teams take on two northern teams at the semifinals, not say, East vs. Rapids, then Andover vs. Elk River.

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 8:53 pm**

I hate to say this, but Rapids appears to be the preseason most over-rated team of the year. Unless some major upsets occur, I don't see them finishing above East, Andover, or ER. This then could result in them having to play East in the semi-final round.

I remember this same thing happening a couple of years ago in section 4AA. Tartan somehow got the #1 seed (and eventually lost to the #8 seed Govies), and HM had to play WBL in the semi-final round. It was still a great game, but lost some of its luster being only a semi-final game.

Posted: **Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:42 pm**

I think Forest Lake might win to make it to the semi final game up in Duluth.

Posted: **Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:51 am**

Grand Rapids improves to 13-5 after their two losses to Hermantown and East and move into a bunch of home games, with key match ups vs. Bemidji and Moorhead. They gotta put teams like Hibbing, Denfeld, and Virginia away down the stretch. Andover was outshot by a wide margin yet managed a tie vs. #3 Maple Grove, they will be tough in the semi-finals with the goaltending they are getting. Elk River dropped a game to Anoka on Saturday giving them 7 losses on the year. How I would seed the top 6 in 7AA so far:

1. Duluth East - no question
2. Andover - Only above GR by virtue of their win over Elk River
3. Grand Rapids - If Andover drops the rematch vs. ER, then GR is #2.
4. Cloquet - Good record and they are getting healthy
5. Elk River - The losses are piling up in January. Close call for #4.
6. Forest Lake - winless vs. teams above them, good top line, no depth.

Posted: **Fri Feb 03, 2012 9:08 pm**

rapidsrapids wrote:Elk River just locked themselves into the 2 seed for this section. Going into the playoffs as the 3 seed may benefit Grand Rapids. As Karl mentioned in his rankings, they went to the state title game in 06-07 as a 3 seed. Should be a great semi-final game at Amsoil Arena when these two meet in a rematch. This should also set up Duluth East to have a possible matchup with Cloquet in the playoffs, where anything is possible.

Top 6:

1. Duluth East
2. Elk River
3. Grand Rapids
4. Andover
5. Cloquet

Rapidsrapids, I love how you concede your seeding to ER then, but now the win doesn't have any significance. Funny how that works...
6. Forest Lake

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:13 pm**

A December post (prior to Elk River's epic downslide)...wow...I am lost in your genius

Posted: **Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:36 am**

Do you guys realize you started talking about section seedings in the middle of December? Wow!!! Lets start a new topic like, lets just wait until the coaches vote because what we say and think doesn't matter. I bet coaches don't read this and think good idea. For that matter I would guess a single HS coach probably has never been on this site. Another thing, does it really matter if a team is ranked in the polls during the season? Does that mean they don't have a chance to go to the state tourny, or is it just bragging rights for fans and parents around the watering hole during the work week? Do seedings really matter or is that a bragging rights thing too? Home team gets last change other which is big but not the end all. Other then that who cares what seed you get!! If I recall you need to win all the games during a section tournament to go to state tourny.

Posted: **Sun Feb 05, 2012 10:01 am**

DeerHunter wrote:Do you guys realize you started talking about section seedings in the middle of December? Wow!!! Lets start a new topic like, lets just wait until the coaches vote because what we say and think doesn't matter. I bet coaches don't read this and think good idea. For that matter I would guess a single HS coach probably has never been on this site. Another thing, does it really matter if a team is ranked in the polls during the season? Does that mean they don't have a chance to go to the state tourny, or is it just bragging rights for fans and parents around the watering hole during the work week? Do seedings really matter or is that a bragging rights thing too? Home team gets last change other which is big but not the end all. Other then that who cares what seed you get!! If I recall you need to win all the games during a section tournament to go to state tourny.

Bitter much?

I believe the rankings are more of a tool used to gauge which teams you should look out for and which teams are playing really well at the time. It is not simply something that fans can brag about- the only thing they can brag about is a W over a good team. As for seedings, the seed that you get does have an impact on the way your section tournament will play out.