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2014 Battle for the Blue Ox

How about this line up ...

Bemidji
Bloomington Jefferson
Brainerd
Eastview
Eden Prairie
Edina
Elk River
Grand Rapids
Hermantown
Lakeville South
Minnetonka
Moorehead
Osseo Maple Grove
Prior Lake
STMA
Wayzata

Now that's a tournament to be looking forward to.

Even the darkhorses in this tourney are top 30 material.

I'd argue by the end of the year:
- 8 of these are top 15 teams
- 10 are top 20
- all are top 35

Top 35 out of 42?

InigoMontoya wrote:Top 35 out of 42?

at least someone's paying attention around here.

I should have went with my original out of 40.

Does STMA have another good year in them?
They fall off pretty hard at peewees and squirts.

Ok, I'll bite. This years STMA group made the state tourney as Peewee AA. Unless they lose several players to JV or varsity... They should be good (and BIG if I recall correctly).

InigoMontoya wrote:Does STMA have another good year in them?
They fall off pretty hard at peewees and squirts.

I'd bet alot of of their success will depend on the goalie situation.

But, this was their dominant team from squirts a few years back ... not sure what the testosterone gods have granted them though. I haven't seen them skate but once in a tourney since 10 y/o's.

Add some fur to the right kids and teams can change alot.

Pretty Good field. YHH guy does a good job of seeding. Bantam level hard to tell given exodus to HS. I bet 6 of these teams make State. 2 from North. 2 from D6. 2 from rest.

I'm not an STMA guy, but I will say this, their goalie is not the only player in this class. They made it to state 2 years ago as PeeWees without him...they will likely make it again this year without him.

Tonka looks to have the most going for it going into the season.
Edina has the least. Kids leaving Bantams for greener pastures. Still loaded.
EP/Jefferson question marks. see above about fuzz

I believe Tonka has 7-8 out of all of the 8 "first years" returning next year.

BenDangle wrote:Pretty Good field. YHH guy does a good job of seeding. Bantam level hard to tell given exodus to HS. I bet 6 of these teams make State. 2 from North. 2 from D6. 2 from rest.

I'm not an STMA guy, but I will say this, their goalie is not the only player in this class. They made it to state 2 years ago as PeeWees without him...they will likely make it again this year without him.

Tonka looks to have the most going for it going into the season.
Edina has the least. Kids leaving Bantams for greener pastures. Still loaded.
EP/Jefferson question marks. see above about fuzz

No doubt STMA has skilled skaters as well. You have to at that level. BUT, goalies = gold.

Any good intel on the northern teams? What is Grand Rapids returning? Hermantown? I haven't been impressed with the Hawks group at this level for the last few years ... thoughts?

Rumor is that STMA gold goalie is heading to play Tier 1 hockey in Detroit or varsity for BSM?

I don't follow the north that much. Hermantown PW 2 years ago were average and Grand Rapids made it to state. So they should do good.

STMA goalie headed to BT.

Duluth East gave Edina all they could handle in the state semis 2 years ago. If they return their whole team. See abouve about exodus. They'll be good.

I think the key is who doesn't lose kids to Varsity of Privates. Some of those teams that don't lose kids like STMA, Centennial, and Eastview that have a lot of second year kids and lots of fuzz will succeed.

Goaliedad1 wrote:Rumor is that STMA gold goalie is heading to play Tier 1 hockey in Detroit or varsity for BSM?

I'd put my money on BSM... connections.

BenDangle wrote:I think the key is who doesn't lose kids to Varsity of Privates. Some of those teams that don't lose kids like STMA, Centennial, and Eastview that have a lot of second year kids and lots of fuzz will succeed.

Damn straight.

Holy Family starting to become a player in SW? EP, CC, Prior Lake, Shakopee ... are they being affected?

DrGaf wrote:2014 Battle for the Blue Ox

How about this line up ...

Bemidji
Bloomington Jefferson
Brainerd
Eastview
Eden Prairie
Edina
Elk River
Grand Rapids
Hermantown
Lakeville South
Minnetonka
Moorehead
Osseo Maple Grove
Prior Lake
STMA
Wayzata

Now that's a tournament to be looking forward to.

Even the darkhorses in this tourney are top 30 material.

I'd argue by the end of the year:
- 8 of these are top 15 teams
- 10 are top 20
- all are top 35

Edina
Grand Rapids
Wayzata

Are the only teams on this list that will be in the top 10 at the end of the year. This tournament looks great in 2013 or even 2012 but I think you're giving a lot of teams credit based on their associations past history. IMHO

wannagototherink wrote:

DrGaf wrote:2014 Battle for the Blue Ox

How about this line up ...

Bemidji
Bloomington Jefferson
Brainerd
Eastview
Eden Prairie
Edina
Elk River
Grand Rapids
Hermantown
Lakeville South
Minnetonka
Moorehead
Osseo Maple Grove
Prior Lake
STMA
Wayzata

Now that's a tournament to be looking forward to.

Even the darkhorses in this tourney are top 30 material.

I'd argue by the end of the year:
- 8 of these are top 15 teams
- 10 are top 20
- all are top 35

Edina
Grand Rapids
Wayzata

Are the only teams on this list that will be in the top 10 at the end of the year. This tournament looks great in 2013 or even 2012 but I think you're giving a lot of teams credit based on their associations past history. IMHO

I'd be willing to bet a house that your statement is just flat out wrong. Considering that a majority of these teams "are" the top teams in bantams, to make a comment that only 3 of them will be in the top 10 is nuts. Please provide your thoughts on who will be the top 10 as I'm truly interested in seeing this.

Goaliedad1 wrote:Rumor is that STMA gold goalie is heading to play Tier 1 hockey in Detroit or varsity for BSM?

to small--quick but you can't make up for size

Tonka will win this tourney.

Survey wrote:

wannagototherink wrote:

DrGaf wrote:2014 Battle for the Blue Ox

How about this line up ...

Bemidji
Bloomington Jefferson
Brainerd
Eastview
Eden Prairie
Edina
Elk River
Grand Rapids
Hermantown
Lakeville South
Minnetonka
Moorehead
Osseo Maple Grove
Prior Lake
STMA
Wayzata

Now that's a tournament to be looking forward to.

Even the darkhorses in this tourney are top 30 material.

I'd argue by the end of the year:
- 8 of these are top 15 teams
- 10 are top 20
- all are top 35

Edina
Grand Rapids
Wayzata

Are the only teams on this list that will be in the top 10 at the end of the year. This tournament looks great in 2013 or even 2012 but I think you're giving a lot of teams credit based on their associations past history. IMHO

I'd be willing to bet a house that your statement is just flat out wrong. Considering that a majority of these teams "are" the top teams in bantams, to make a comment that only 3 of them will be in the top 10 is nuts. Please provide your thoughts on who will be the top 10 as I'm truly interested in seeing this.

Who will the other 7 be would be my follow up question.

No OMG? No Prior Lake? No Tonka? No STMA?

Impressive Field!

Based on LPH final rankings from two years ago PWAA:

12 of 16 ranked in top 16 with 7 in the top 10

Not bad for a 16 team tournament!

I know things change, kids go to HS and everything else, but looks very solid.

Below are LPH rankings


PeeWee AA - FINAL




1 EDINA



2 Wayzata



3 Duluth East



4 St. Michael-Albertville



5 Minnetonka



6 St. Cloud



7 Centennial



8 Grand Rapids



9 Lakeville South



10 Moorhead



11 Eden Prairie



12 Osseo/Maple Grove



13 Eastview



14 Elk River



15 Blaine



16 Brainerd



17 White Bear Lake



18 Cloquet



19 Rochester




20 Stillwater

Elk River V Brainerd
Minnetonka V Lakeville North

Jefferson V Moorhead
OMG V Sibley

Centennial V Bemidji
Prior Lake V Hermantown

Eden Prairie V Hermantown
Wayzata V Eastview


My prediction of the semi's are:
Tonka V Jefferson (tied last Sunday)
Centennial V Wayzata (tied at Cent preview)

Too bad Edina and Grand Rapids ditched the tourney. The field could have been that much better.

DrGaf wrote: Any good intel on the northern teams? What is Grand Rapids returning? Hermantown? I haven't been impressed with the Hawks group at this level for the last few years ... thoughts?

Hermantown lost quite a few from this age group to marshall already. but still have one of the top players in the state.

Rapids should be solid top to bottom.

MWS coach wrote:Impressive Field!

Based on LPH final rankings from two years ago PWAA:

12 of 16 ranked in top 16 with 7 in the top 10

Not bad for a 16 team tournament!

I know things change, kids go to HS and everything else, but looks very solid.

Below are LPH rankings


PeeWee AA - FINAL




1 EDINA



2 Wayzata



3 Duluth East



4 St. Michael-Albertville



5 Minnetonka



6 St. Cloud



7 Centennial



8 Grand Rapids



9 Lakeville South



10 Moorhead



11 Eden Prairie



12 Osseo/Maple Grove



13 Eastview



14 Elk River



15 Blaine



16 Brainerd



17 White Bear Lake



18 Cloquet



19 Rochester




20 Stillwater

LPH got it all wrong on D8 teams. The better D8 teams are probably Lakeville North, Woodbury and Sibley IMO.