Who will be the top Bantam A teams for 2012-2013 season?

[Snoopdog007]

Based on the 2011-2012 power rankings from myhockeyrankings.com. This is simply a combined average of this season's PWA and BA teams from the top 15 teams. The fatal flaw is that it does not account for Bantam B1, B2 kids moving up (power ranking doesn't exist to my knowledge). It is simply an interesting look at a combination of A teams.

1. PL 16.99
2. OMG 16.945
3. Edina 16.885
4. EP 16.215
5. ER 16.01
6. LVS 15.895
7. Hermantown 14.745
8. Wayzata 15.463 (3 A teams)
9. Stillwater 15.185
10. Tonka 15.175
11. Centennial 15.11
12. Woodbury 14.865
13. LVN 14.72
14. STMA 12.53
15. Rochester 11.82 (tie)
15. Roseau 11.82 (tie)

[O-townClown]

Wouldn't it make more sense to look at the Pee Wee rank from a year ago?

[Snoopdog007]

Wouldn't it make more sense to look at the Pee Wee rank from a year ago?

You might be right OTC. I know Farmington, Rosemount and Burnsville had very strong Peewee A teams 2 seasons ago. Having this past season's Bantam A power ranking equally waited may show what teams can play a more physical style as well. Looking at peewee's from 2 years ago may favor a less physical style??? The list is by no means scientific. I will be fun to see how off it really is.

[Survey]

My thoughts:

Wayzata has to be the hands down favorite - 6 returners from this year's bantam A squad and some good BB1 2nd years coming up with oustanding goaltending.

Farmington and Rosemount should be really good unless they lose these kids to the varsity level to help that squad out which happens in these schools. - Good example was Hopkins this year.

Edina and EP should be good once again, yet I think Edina is going to lose some top guns again and also is going to be pretty weak goaltending wise. The common theme is but they are soo deep...well the next two years of kids coming up are not the typica Edina strong....you will have to wait for the current Squirts to roll through for that domination.

Prior Lake and Burnsville - should both be really good teams, Bville as they were a young squad thsi year and Prior Lake because of kids moving up and returners having experience.

[snyper12]

Farmington if no defects. Potentially 9 returning I think.

[hockeymomma]

Remember Wayzata had 2 Peewee A teams this year. We'll find out if that worked.

[buttend]

Assuming no team loses anyone the following will be the top metro Bantam A teams next year. No order

Wayzata
Edina
Farmington
Rosemount
Prior Lake
Eden Prairie
Burnsville
Woodbury
Elk River
Lakeville South

Already rumors about kids leaving Rosemount and Farmington. Rumors about Burnsville getting kids to add to their 5 returners + 2 goalies. Wayzata should be very solid again next year. PL returns 5-6 skaters + 2 goalies + kids off their PWA and PWB1 State teams. EP might lose a goalie? Looks like a D6 and D8 dominate BTM A top 10.

[C-dad]

yet I think Edina is going to lose some top guns again and also is going to be pretty weak goaltending wise. The common theme is but they are soo deep...well the next two years of kids coming up are not the typica Edina strong....you will have to wait for the current Squirts to roll through for that domination.

There are rumors that Giles has talked to a couple of the 8th graders already about next year and Varsity. Not sure that goaltending will be weak as that group of tender is very deep. The two from the state PWA champs of 2011 will be back.

[ahastars03]

Remember Wayzata had 2 Peewee A teams this year. We'll find out if that worked.

We will find out in 2 years. Next year you will see them mostly on B teams at the Bantam level.

[Survey]

yet I think Edina is going to lose some top guns again and also is going to be pretty weak goaltending wise. The common theme is but they are soo deep...well the next two years of kids coming up are not the typica Edina strong....you will have to wait for the current Squirts to roll through for that domination.

There are rumors that Giles has talked to a couple of the 8th graders already about next year and Varsity. Not sure that goaltending will be weak as that group of tender is very deep. The two from the state PWA champs of 2011 will be back.

That team was able to win off of offensive skills and great Defense not by goaltending...the goalies going to be filling the spot are much weaker than what the Bantam A and Bantam B1 teams had this year.

[Irish]

yet I think Edina is going to lose some top guns again and also is going to be pretty weak goaltending wise. The common theme is but they are soo deep...well the next two years of kids coming up are not the typica Edina strong....you will have to wait for the current Squirts to roll through for that domination.

There are rumors that Giles has talked to a couple of the 8th graders already about next year and Varsity. Not sure that goaltending will be weak as that group of tender is very deep. The two from the state PWA champs of 2011 will be back.

That team was able to win off of offensive skills and great Defense not by goaltending...the goalies going to be filling the spot are much weaker than what the Bantam A and Bantam B1 teams had this year.

I have an idea Maybe Edina could bring in a goalie to play next year?

[Ozzie82]

Goalcrease called the current second year Edina Bantam goalies the deepest in one class they'd ever seen. The class behind them is not nearly as strong.

Two years ago when the PW A team won the state title and the two B1 PW teams played for the state title there were no first year goalies. This year three of the goalies from that second year class left: one to St. Thomas JV, one to St. L P Jr. Gold A, and another to Sibley Bantam A. That opened the door for three first year tenders to get experience.

[Hockey guy1486]

Buttend......Burnsville had 6 skaters and 2 goalies that were 1st years this past year.

[D3 Fan]

Is it the assumption that no associations will field two balanced Bantam A teams next year? What about AA and A?

Can someone "in the know" from Wayzata comment on how experiment with two balanced PWA teams was viewed this year? Will they do it again next year? Will it get expanded up to the Bantam level?

Wayzata looks to be very well positioned next year at the Bantam level, many first year players on the BA team this year, and three very strong (even dominate) BB1 teams, also with a big percentage of first-year players. I can certainly understand them not wanting to be the only association to do that. They probably want OMGHA, Edina and other big/successfull associations to do the same.

[Pinky]

Wayzata will be fielding a AA and A team for bantam's and they will "not" be balanced.

First 17 kids for AA and next for A which will essentially be like the top tier B1 team.

[GoldenBear]

Hopefully the A team schedules games/scrimmages with some AA teams. This would be a great situation for Wayzata if they could do that.

[hockey59]

Assuming no team loses anyone the following will be the top metro Bantam A teams next year. No order

Wayzata
Edina
Farmington
Rosemount
Prior Lake
Eden Prairie
Burnsville
Woodbury
Elk River
Lakeville South

Already rumors about kids leaving Rosemount and Farmington. Rumors about Burnsville getting kids to add to their 5 returners + 2 goalies. Wayzata should be very solid again next year. PL returns 5-6 skaters + 2 goalies + kids off their PWA and PWB1 State teams. EP might lose a goalie? Looks like a D6 and D8 dominate BTM A top 10.

I'd add Blaine and Anoka into the mix (if everybody stays). In 2010-2011 PWA - Blaine made State and Anoka made Regions.

Looks like Blaine returns 6 skaters and 2 goalies that are Bantam eligible while Anoka returns 7 skaters and 2 goalies (plus another skater who has enrolled at Anoka HS for next school year) after playing Bantam A on a neighboring District 10 team.

Regarding ER, they're BEST returning player is already a 9th grader; so I can't see him returning to Bantams.

[mulefarm]

Would be nice to see Dist 10 teams become relevant again. Really dominated through most of the 90's and early 2000's.