Section 7A - 2016-17
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 8:59 am
A look ahead doesn't look much different then the year just completed.
1. Hermantown - not only in a class of their own in Section 7A, but in the
entire state as well. Their defensemen will not be as good, but the
tenacity of their backcheck and dominating forecheck doesn't require
their defensemen to be of the same quality.
2. Hibbing - Assuming Perunovich returns, the Bluejackets will once again
be a half-step ahead of Greenway. They will also have the best goalie
in the section. Good forwards but they need to develop offensively to
beat other quality Class A teams. Would not expect much if any help
from their Bantam team although their JV was very good.
3. Greenway- Should be better next year. All of their top players at
forward and on defense return except for Kalisch. The kid didn't have
the skills of the other forwards but he had a great shot and knew how
to put the puck in the net. He will be tough to replace. Also the goalie
position needs to be filled. Anick was a good JV goalie but unproven
againts quality teams at the varsity level. A good bantam
team should be able to contribute a couple of players to varsity.
4. Virginia - Good underclassmen classes should be a year older and that
much better. They fizzled out at the end of the season but should be
ready to move up in their level of play. Excellent bantam team that has
several skilled scorers.
5. Duluth Denfeld - Was way of in my assessment of them last year. They
do not look to be as good as last year and have no quality players in
the pipeline. The loss of Alander is huge.
6. Eveleth-Gilbert/Mesabi East - They finished the season strong with a
win over the Falls and scored two goals on Hermantown in the
Sections. Some good young talent that is starting to develop.
7. North Shore - Had a good season but was still a second tier team. Lost
their top scorers so they will not be as good.
8. International Falls - A hard working team that just doesn't have the
talent to compete.
9. Proctor - Can't see how they can be better than this past season. Lose
their top scorer and they were hammered by the better teams.
10. Ely - Is the program on the ropes?
Proctor, North Shore and Denfeld have the additional challenge of keeping their good players in the program and not losing them to Duluth Marshall or Hermantown. Denfeld has been able to get transfers in the past but that doesn't seem likely anymore. Looks like next year will pretty much be a repeat of this past season. Maybe Hibbing and Greenway can avoid running time this upcoming year.
1. Hermantown - not only in a class of their own in Section 7A, but in the
entire state as well. Their defensemen will not be as good, but the
tenacity of their backcheck and dominating forecheck doesn't require
their defensemen to be of the same quality.
2. Hibbing - Assuming Perunovich returns, the Bluejackets will once again
be a half-step ahead of Greenway. They will also have the best goalie
in the section. Good forwards but they need to develop offensively to
beat other quality Class A teams. Would not expect much if any help
from their Bantam team although their JV was very good.
3. Greenway- Should be better next year. All of their top players at
forward and on defense return except for Kalisch. The kid didn't have
the skills of the other forwards but he had a great shot and knew how
to put the puck in the net. He will be tough to replace. Also the goalie
position needs to be filled. Anick was a good JV goalie but unproven
againts quality teams at the varsity level. A good bantam
team should be able to contribute a couple of players to varsity.
4. Virginia - Good underclassmen classes should be a year older and that
much better. They fizzled out at the end of the season but should be
ready to move up in their level of play. Excellent bantam team that has
several skilled scorers.
5. Duluth Denfeld - Was way of in my assessment of them last year. They
do not look to be as good as last year and have no quality players in
the pipeline. The loss of Alander is huge.
6. Eveleth-Gilbert/Mesabi East - They finished the season strong with a
win over the Falls and scored two goals on Hermantown in the
Sections. Some good young talent that is starting to develop.
7. North Shore - Had a good season but was still a second tier team. Lost
their top scorers so they will not be as good.
8. International Falls - A hard working team that just doesn't have the
talent to compete.
9. Proctor - Can't see how they can be better than this past season. Lose
their top scorer and they were hammered by the better teams.
10. Ely - Is the program on the ropes?
Proctor, North Shore and Denfeld have the additional challenge of keeping their good players in the program and not losing them to Duluth Marshall or Hermantown. Denfeld has been able to get transfers in the past but that doesn't seem likely anymore. Looks like next year will pretty much be a repeat of this past season. Maybe Hibbing and Greenway can avoid running time this upcoming year.