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Another week and more teams solidify themselves either positively or negatively, but there is still lots of hockey to be played over the next month before sections!

Enjoy!

1. [1] Hermantown (13-2)
The Hawks beat Rapids better than other Class A teams have this year and then held strong winning in St Cloud. They are likely the top team in state, although this is a big week for them and a couple teams are looking for them to stumble. Can they beat the Hilltoppers again? Can they give Bemidji their second loss?
This week: Fri vs Duluth Marshall, Sat @ Bemidji

2. [2] Duluth Marshall (12-1-1)
The Hilltoppers tied a very good Mahtomedi team this week and followed that up with a shut out of Superior. Losing to Hermantown by a good margin last week, they can reclaim the top spot this week or solidify being the 2 seed in their section.
This week: Fri @ Hermantown, Sat @ Hibbing

3. [4] Mahtomedi (12-2-1)
The Zephyrs held their own for the beginning with St Thomas, just as they did with Hill Murray, but couldn't last the entire game. They tied Duluth Marshall and still could be the top team in Class A but likely won't have a shot to prove it until state.
This week: Tues @ Holy Angels, Thurs @ South St Paul, Sat @ Simley

4. [6] Alexandria (11-0-1)
The Cardinals picked up a win over Moorhead this week during a week the Spuds also beat Breck, so they move up two spots into the Top 5. Their common opponent wins aren't as good as those ahead of them so they will crawl, but if they are still undefeated two weeks from now after played Bemidji, they will be at least 2 places higher.
This week: Tues vs Sauk Rapids-Rice, Thurs vs River Lakes

5. [7] St. Cloud Cathedral (10-5)
The Crusaders have only lost 2 of their last 12 and those losses come to teams in the Top 5 and 3 of their 5 losses are to teams ranked ahead of them. They are peaking at the right time and putting those early losses behind them. Can they keep rolling this week and pick up a win over Breck?
This week: Thurs vs Breck

6. [3] East Grand Forks (11-3)
The Green Wave won their only game of the week, but slide down a couple spots with Mahtomedi and Marshall tying and Cathedral actually scoring in their game against Hermantown. They have a rematch with a Bemedji team that no Class A team has beaten yet, but they have come the closest. Can they pull it off at home this week?
This week: Tues vs Roseau, Thurs vs Bemidji, Sat vs Lake of the Woods

7. [8] Delano (11-3)
The Tigers just keep on winning. They look like the real deal as they beat Holy Family this week, but, despite their ranking here, will be the underdog in sections with their 6-1 loss to Breck early in the season. With a full Wright County schedule that includes remaining home games with Orono, Cathedral and Holy Family, they will be ready for the post season and a hopefully rematch with the Mustangs.
This week: Tues @ New Prague, Fri @ Orono

8. [15] St Cloud Apollo (9-2-2)
The Eagles are on an 8 game winning streak having allowed 6 goals in that time frame. The Bemidji and Alexandria ties are starting to make even more sense now, but they did lose on the road to Fergus Falls, so they are beatable and still have
This week: Tues vs Brainerd, Thurs @ River Lakes, Sat vs Orono

9. [9] Duluth Denfeld (10-5)
The Hunters didn't do anything special this week, but they kept it close with Duluth East which is good to slide ahead of Breck. Can they pick up 3 more wins this week?
This week: Tues vs Hibbing, Thurs vs Cloquet, Sat vs Blake

10. [12] St. Paul Academy (11-2)
The Spartans pick up a quality win over Breck this week as they roll into their easiest week in a while. They should pick up 3 more wins this week before their rematch with Breck next week.
This week: Tues vs Minnehaha, Thurs @ Providence Academy, Sat @ Lourdes

11. [5] Breck (9-6)
The Mustangs dropped 2 games this week and a few more spots in the rankings. They are still a team I wouldn't be surprised to see winning in any match up but have losses against some good teams this year. They get a chance to pick up some wins against 3 private schools this week and stop themselves from tumbling even more.
This week: Tues vs Providence Academy, Thurs @ St Cloud Cathedral, Sat @ Totino-Grace

12. [10] Warroad (9-7-1)
The Warriors are still dealing with some injuries and lost to Crookston in OT in this week, but are definitely still a tier about teams below them, with head to head wins over teams close below them. They previously won a close game in Thief River Falls; can they win at home this week?
This week: Thurs vs Thief River Falls, Sat @ Moorhead

13. [11] Thief River Falls (7-6)
The Prowlers have shown they aren't one of the top teams in the state, but 3 of their 4 Class A losses have been by 1 goal, so they will skate with anyone. Can they pick up a win in Warroad this week?
This week: Tues vs Kittson Central, Thurs @ Warroad

14. [13] Fergus Falls (10-3-2)
The Otters tied Sartell and went to OT with Red Wing this week, so that isn't a great sign, but they still did beat Apollo and have close losses to both Alexandria and Cathedral. They should be right there come sections and win quite a few games. Alexandria, Apollo and Sartell are their remaining quality games and are all on the road. Their section seed is still in their hands.
This week: Tues @ Brainerd, Thurs vs St Cloud Tech, Sat @ Wadena-Deer Creek

15. [14] Detroit Lakes (7-4-2)
The Lakers tied a ND team last week so that isn't the greatest and makes a 20 win regular season not a possibility anymore. They play in Crookston against a team who beat Warroad, so this week shouldn't be super easy for them.
This week: Tues @ Crookston, Fri vs International Falls, Sat vs Fort Frances

16. [19] Sartell-St. Stephen (8-4-1)
The Sabres go from losing all of their games against good teams to not winning all their games against good teams. With still a handful of section games to go, their section seeding isn't set in stone.
This week: Tues vs River Lakes, Thurs @ Brainerd

17. [17] Orono (7-6-1)
The Spartans picked up a couple more wins and lost on the road to Apollo. Their goalie is definitely good, but it doesn't appear the defense is helping him much nor can the offense score much against good teams. Can they give Delano a challenge this week in a game that matter for section seeding?
This week: Tues @ Waconia, Fri vs Delano

18. [18] New Prague (10-4)
The Trojans had two games in the last two weeks and won them by a combined score of 16-0. They have the early dominating win over Cathedral and close win over Holy Family, so they can definitely play, but getting shut out twice and losing to Hastings isn't a good sign. They have two home games this week; can they give Delano a good game?
This week: Tues vs Delano, Fri vs Mound Westonka

19. [-] Bloomington Kennedy (8-6)
The Eagles have been very up and down this season, but are on a 5 game winning streak and have recent wins over Luverne and Blake. The Orono and Delano losses will probably give them a 4 seed in sections, so they will likely be playing for the opportunity to play Breck.
This week: Tues @ St Cloud Tech, Sat @ Richfield

20. [-] Luverne (15-2)
The Cardinals will be on a state stage playing St Paul Johnson this week for Hockey Day MN and if they can win that game they will probably enter the state tournament on a 14 game winning streak.
This week: Thurs @ Redwood Valley, Sat vs St Paul Johnson


Teams to watch


[20] Northfield (7-4-2)
The Raiders picked up a tie with a solid Owatonna team and had their second game rescheduled. They have played a lot of very close games and have a realistic shot of making it to state.
This week: Tues vs Rochester Mayo, Sat @ Albert Lea

Spring Lake Park (10-5)
The Panthers are the likely top seed and winner of section 5A, but with losses to Luverne and Totino (their only Class A losses), they likely won't be seeded at state.
This week: Thurs @ Coon Rapids, Sat vs Osseo

South St Paul (8-6)
The Packers has 6 losses with 5 of them being to AA teams and the 6th being to a St Paul Johnson team they've also beaten.
This week: Thurs vs Mahtomedi, Sat @ Hastings

Totino-Grace (5-7)
The Eagles pick up a good win over Spring Lake Park last week and travel to play an Osseo team they've previously lost to and a Breck team who's been struggling as of late.
This week: Thurs @ Osseo, Sat vs Breck

Hibbing (9-6-1)
The Bluejackets have been difficult to rank all season and are entering a week that won't help with that. 5 of their next 6 are on the road.
This week: Tues @ Denfeld, Thurs @ Grand Rapids, Sat vs Duluth Marshall

Thanks HSHW;

I believe that The Green Wave should be higher, but, of course, I'm biased.

Just to let you know, they may have a little tougher sledding coming up this month.
They lost their top goaltender to an injury for the entire month of January.

But, we will see.

HShockeywatcher wrote:Another week and more teams solidify themselves either positively or negatively, but there is still lots of hockey to be played over the next month before sections!

Enjoy!

1. [1] Hermantown (13-2)
The Hawks beat Rapids better than other Class A teams have this year and then held strong winning in St Cloud. They are likely the top team in state, although this is a big week for them and a couple teams are looking for them to stumble. Can they beat the Hilltoppers again? Can they give Bemidji their second loss?
This week: Fri vs Duluth Marshall, Sat @ Bemidji

The 10-2 domination by Hermantown was the worst loss for Grand Rapids in recent memory not just by a Class A team this year.

I don't think a win by Marshall should automatically put Marshall in 1st place unless it is a convincing win. If is is close or comes down to goal tending on the Marshall side, I think Herm stays at 1.

No way is EGF the 6th ranked team in Class A. Having seen both Marshall and EGF play Hermantown, EGF is the stronger team than Marshall IMO.

pekyman wrote:

HShockeywatcher wrote:Another week and more teams solidify themselves either positively or negatively, but there is still lots of hockey to be played over the next month before sections!

Enjoy!

1. [1] Hermantown (13-2)
The Hawks beat Rapids better than other Class A teams have this year and then held strong winning in St Cloud. They are likely the top team in state, although this is a big week for them and a couple teams are looking for them to stumble. Can they beat the Hilltoppers again? Can they give Bemidji their second loss?
This week: Fri vs Duluth Marshall, Sat @ Bemidji

The 10-2 domination by Hermantown was the worst loss for Grand Rapids in recent memory not just by a Class A team this year.

I don't think a win by Marshall should automatically put Marshall in 1st place unless it is a convincing win. If is is close or comes down to goal tending on the Marshall side, I think Herm stays at 1.

No way is EGF the 6th ranked team in Class A. Having seen both Marshall and EGF play Hermantown, EGF is the stronger team than Marshall IMO.

Hedging already? It is not March yet. Hawks will win again.

Rarely do I disagree with these rankings, they are well thought out and logical "But" EGF at 6 is flat out dumb. They beat Blaine, outshot Hermantown and beat a good Grand Forks Central team, EGF is down from last year and a bit erratic, but dropping them 3 spots and putting them behind Cathedral is crazy. Time will tell, but I think they run the table on this season and still will be the #2 ranked team. Still, I don't think the fall from grace harms them at all. The target is off their back and if a defending state champion can come in under the radar, they seem to get the opportunity.

ted2you wrote:Rarely do I disagree with these rankings, they are well thought out and logical "But" EGF at 6 is flat out dumb. They beat Blaine, outshot Hermantown and beat a good Grand Forks Central team, EGF is down from last year and a bit erratic, but dropping them 3 spots and putting them behind Cathedral is crazy. Time will tell, but I think they run the table on this season and still will be the #2 ranked team. Still, I don't think the fall from grace harms them at all. The target is off their back and if a defending state champion can come in under the radar, they seem to get the opportunity.

I agree with you Ted!

With this will they even be seeded at state now?

considering that with the teams in front of them in these rankings hermantown and DM are in the same section, and Alex and SCC are in the same section, yes EGF will be seeded if they make it to state.

No offense to HSHW, but his rankings have nothing to do with where teams will be seeded if they make it to state. And, they don't put targets on or take them off of anyone's backs.

These rankings are just fun fodder for us to discuss.

That being said, I also wouldn't drop EGF that low and would put them at #3 myself, but I can understand HSHW's dilemma with what to do with an undefeated Alexandria.

Traxler wrote:No offense to HSHW, but his rankings have nothing to do with where teams will be seeded if they make it to state. And, they don't put targets on or take them off of anyone's backs.

These rankings are just fun fodder for us to discuss.

That being said, I also wouldn't drop EGF that low and would put them at #3 myself, but I can understand HSHW's dilemma with what to do with an undefeated Alexandria.

Watchers don't but these do and EGF is at #3.

LET'S PLAY HOCKEY:

1 Hermantown (10) 12-2-0
2 Duluth Marshall 11-1-0
3 East Grand Forks 10-3-0
4 Mahtomedi 11-1-1
5 Breck 8-5-0
6 St. Paul Academy 11-2-0
7 Alexandria 11-0-1
8 Thief River Falls 6-6-0
9 St. Cloud Cathedral 10-4-0
10 Warroad 9-5-1
11 Duluth Denfeld 9-5-0
12 Delano/Rockford 9-3-0
13 New Prague 10-4-0
14 Orono 6-5-1
15 Luverne 14-2-0
16 Fergus Falls 8-3-2
17 St. Cloud Apollo 7-2-2
18 Sartell-St. Stephen 8-4-1
19 Blake 4-6-0
20 Spring Lake Park 10-4-0

pekyman wrote:

Traxler wrote:No offense to HSHW, but his rankings have nothing to do with where teams will be seeded if they make it to state. And, they don't put targets on or take them off of anyone's backs.

These rankings are just fun fodder for us to discuss.

That being said, I also wouldn't drop EGF that low and would put them at #3 myself, but I can understand HSHW's dilemma with what to do with an undefeated Alexandria.

Watchers don't but these do and EGF is at #3.

LET'S PLAY HOCKEY:

1 Hermantown (10) 12-2-0
2 Duluth Marshall 11-1-0
3 East Grand Forks 10-3-0
4 Mahtomedi 11-1-1
5 Breck 8-5-0
6 St. Paul Academy 11-2-0
7 Alexandria 11-0-1
8 Thief River Falls 6-6-0
9 St. Cloud Cathedral 10-4-0
10 Warroad 9-5-1
11 Duluth Denfeld 9-5-0
12 Delano/Rockford 9-3-0
13 New Prague 10-4-0
14 Orono 6-5-1
15 Luverne 14-2-0
16 Fergus Falls 8-3-2
17 St. Cloud Apollo 7-2-2
18 Sartell-St. Stephen 8-4-1
19 Blake 4-6-0
20 Spring Lake Park 10-4-0

These don't either.

elliott70 wrote:

pekyman wrote:

Traxler wrote:No offense to HSHW, but his rankings have nothing to do with where teams will be seeded if they make it to state. And, they don't put targets on or take them off of anyone's backs.

These rankings are just fun fodder for us to discuss.

That being said, I also wouldn't drop EGF that low and would put them at #3 myself, but I can understand HSHW's dilemma with what to do with an undefeated Alexandria.

Watchers don't but these do and EGF is at #3.

LET'S PLAY HOCKEY:

1 Hermantown (10) 12-2-0
2 Duluth Marshall 11-1-0
3 East Grand Forks 10-3-0
4 Mahtomedi 11-1-1
5 Breck 8-5-0
6 St. Paul Academy 11-2-0
7 Alexandria 11-0-1
8 Thief River Falls 6-6-0
9 St. Cloud Cathedral 10-4-0
10 Warroad 9-5-1
11 Duluth Denfeld 9-5-0
12 Delano/Rockford 9-3-0
13 New Prague 10-4-0
14 Orono 6-5-1
15 Luverne 14-2-0
16 Fergus Falls 8-3-2
17 St. Cloud Apollo 7-2-2
18 Sartell-St. Stephen 8-4-1
19 Blake 4-6-0
20 Spring Lake Park 10-4-0

These don't either.

How about this...
These rankings will probably be closer to the seeding order than HSHW's rankings will be?

How about this, 'Ask elliott70, if you want the ceding for the state tournament qualifiers'.

But yes, EGF is ranked (versus ceded) too low by HSHW.

elliott70 wrote:How about this, 'Ask elliott70, if you want the ceding for the state tournament qualifiers'.

How about this. Bemidji & Hermantown have some tough games coming up then they play each other. Do you know the results?

1-15 Bemidji vs EGF
1-16 Hermantown vs Marshall
1-17 Bemidji vs Hermantown

elliott70 wrote:

pekyman wrote:

elliott70 wrote:How about this, 'Ask elliott70, if you want the ceding for the state tournament qualifiers'.

How about this. Bemidji & Hermantown have some tough games coming up then they play each other. Do you know the results?

1-15 Bemidji vs EGF
PLAYING IN EGF - BEMIDJI HAS NO CHANCE, NOT BECAUSE EGF IS THAT GOOD BUT BECAUSE EGF CHEATS. JUST ASK DAVE AKER.

1-16 Hermantown vs Marshall
1-17 Bemidji vs Hermantown
HERMANTOWN WILL NOT LOSE AGAIN THIS SEASON.

Or ask me about EGF.
But, as mentioned earlier, their #1 goalie Weber, will be out for the month of January. So, we'll have to cheat even more next game against Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmidgi.

TTpuckster wrote:

elliott70 wrote:

pekyman wrote: How about this. Bemidji & Hermantown have some tough games coming up then they play each other. Do you know the results?

1-15 Bemidji vs EGF
PLAYING IN EGF - BEMIDJI HAS NO CHANCE, NOT BECAUSE EGF IS THAT GOOD BUT BECAUSE EGF CHEATS. JUST ASK DAVE AKER.

1-16 Hermantown vs Marshall
1-17 Bemidji vs Hermantown
HERMANTOWN WILL NOT LOSE AGAIN THIS SEASON.

Or ask me about EGF.
But, as mentioned earlier, their #1 goalie Weber, will be out for the month of January. So, we'll have to cheat even more next game against Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmidgi.

How is it possible to do more??!!?????

I never claim my rankings to be how teams would be seeded at state, nor is that ever realistic comparing to all teams. Seedings change when different teams are in the mix.

ted2you wrote:Rarely do I disagree with these rankings, they are well thought out and logical "But" EGF at 6 is flat out dumb. They beat Blaine, outshot Hermantown and beat a good Grand Forks Central team, EGF is down from last year and a bit erratic, but dropping them 3 spots and putting them behind Cathedral is crazy. Time will tell, but I think they run the table on this season and still will be the #2 ranked team. Still, I don't think the fall from grace harms them at all. The target is off their back and if a defending state champion can come in under the radar, they seem to get the opportunity.

I was planning on keeping EGF at #1 longer than I did; polls and comments had me dropping them. Defending champed should be #1 until beaten imo. That being said, they have played two of the teams I have above them this season, Cathedral early in the season and were shut out by Hermantown. It's hard to call a 0-3 loss better than a 2-6 loss, so Marshall gets the nod there, Mahtomedi tied Marshall, Alex is undefeated and I'd also call Cathedral's 2-5 loss better than EGF's 0-3 loss to Hermantown.

The jump of Cathedral may be premature, and their games with Breck this week and both Orono and Delano next week will make that clear.
Ultimately, the top 6 could be rearranged a lot; Mahtomedi and Alexandria have decent claims as the top team, any of the 5 other than Cathedral could make a claim at 2 and beyond there it's really what you put the most emphasis on.

Anyone care to tell me why you think EGF should be higher, beyond an observation from two games against your home team?

As long as there aren't pages of complaints about who I have at #20 I'd say it's a good week

1-15 EGF > Bemidji
1-16 Hermantown > Duluth Marshall
1-17 Hermantown > Bemidji

elliott70 wrote:

TTpuckster wrote:

elliott70 wrote:

Or ask me about EGF.
But, as mentioned earlier, their #1 goalie Weber, will be out for the month of January. So, we'll have to cheat even more next game against Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmidgi.

How is it possible to do more??!!?????

As BTO said, quite a few years ago,

Ya know, ya know, ya know......You ain't seen nothin' yet.

BTO

love it...

HSHW has it right, for the top 3. Haven't seen Alex play so can't comment on them. As for EGF when they played Hermantown most of ther shots were from outside with little traffic in front of goalie. Out shooting a team means nothing. Look at the Wild. EGF def is weaker than last year and with goalie out they could drop to #10 by then end of the month. I think tge Zephers are the dark horse this year that will surprise us all.

What is the story with their goalie, is he out for the season? Is it a short term injury? Very interested to know!

All I know is out till 1st of feb

HSHW, you do a great job and I agree with your rankings for the most part, but sometimes I think you get a little caught up on the scores of each game... A Cathedral loss 5-2 to Hermantown while getting outshot by 20 does not seem better than a EGF 3-0 loss while the shots were pretty much even.