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I guess we need one.

Early prediction would have to be
Moorhead.

1. Moorhead
2. Roseau
3. St. Michael-Albertville
4. Brainerd
5. St. Cloud
6. Buffalo
7. Bemidji
8. Rogers

With 5, 6, or 7 having a chance at home ice in play-offs.
But a long ways off.

Interesting. I’m no expert in 8AA, but talking to hockey people this off-season, it seemed that Roseau and Brainerd were the talk, not Moorhead. And especially not STMA. Roseau comes to Cloquet this year so that will be fun. No Moorhead, they chickened out this year, I can’t stand STMA, kids are awesome, but parents and fans are poop stains. I like Brainerd so I hope we play them this year.

Are we sure that STMA isn’t primed for a significant drop off this year? Sure, they return two dynamic scorers in Laylin and Flammang, but nearly everyone else of note from last year’s squad is lost to graduation. Of the ten other double digit scorers, only two return, and they also lose the goalie who played nearly every minute last year.

That’s a lot to replace, and while I can’t speak as to the JV team, the STMA Bantam AA team was pretty mediocre, so it doesn’t seem like there are immediate reinforcements on the horizon for this season. We’ll see what happens, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Knights on the road for their quarterfinal matchup.

StM-A success breeds success.

Until they falter I give them some credit.

But I think 3 through 7 are pretty tight.

Stang5280 wrote:Are we sure that STMA isn’t primed for a significant drop off this year? Sure, they return two dynamic scorers in Laylin and Flammang, but nearly everyone else of note from last year’s squad is lost to graduation. Of the ten other double digit scorers, only two return, and they also lose the goalie who played nearly every minute last year.

That’s a lot to replace, and while I can’t speak as to the JV team, the STMA Bantam AA team was pretty mediocre, so it doesn’t seem like there are immediate reinforcements on the horizon for this season. We’ll see what happens, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Knights on the road for their quarterfinal matchup.

But if you are playing a two line game and get decent tending and D.....

I would agree that stma is likely going to drop off. My guess is St Cloud drops off even more. Very little returning off last year’s team. Not sure what they have coming in but if I remember correctly their bantams weren’t great and they won’t even get all of them. I would think Buffalo is going to make a bit of a jump this year and Bemidji/Rogers look to be similar to last season’s teams. I see Roseau, Brainerd, and Moorhead as the top 3. The order would depend upon who is staying/leaving. My best guess would go....

1-3. Brainerd, Moorhead, Roseau (will rank when we know who is staying/leaving) Brainerd will be the deepest but Roseau/Moorhead potentially have a couple of players that are higher end than anybody Brainerd has.
4. Buffalo
5. STMA
6. Bemidji
7. St Cloud
8. Rogers

8AA will be as competitive as 7AA within the section.
It should be an interesting year.

I see Rams Max Strand playing in Bantam Elite this weekend.

Alex’s brother? Or cousin?

Do these MH rankings assume Frisch is gone but HH back? Or?

elliott70 wrote:

Stang5280 wrote:Are we sure that STMA isn’t primed for a significant drop off this year? Sure, they return two dynamic scorers in Laylin and Flammang, but nearly everyone else of note from last year’s squad is lost to graduation. Of the ten other double digit scorers, only two return, and they also lose the goalie who played nearly every minute last year.

That’s a lot to replace, and while I can’t speak as to the JV team, the STMA Bantam AA team was pretty mediocre, so it doesn’t seem like there are immediate reinforcements on the horizon for this season. We’ll see what happens, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Knights on the road for their quarterfinal matchup.

But if you are playing a two line game and get decent tending and D.....

Which sounds great in theory, but STMA has to replace three of the top four D-men from last year, along with their goalie. (Those three were also all 20+ point scorers.) They will be inexperienced across the board, and it may be a rebuilding year.

WestMetro wrote:I see Rams Max Strand playing in Bantam Elite this weekend.

Alex’s brother? Or cousin?

No relation actually. Just coincidence.

Stang5280 wrote:

elliott70 wrote:

Stang5280 wrote:Are we sure that STMA isn’t primed for a significant drop off this year? Sure, they return two dynamic scorers in Laylin and Flammang, but nearly everyone else of note from last year’s squad is lost to graduation. Of the ten other double digit scorers, only two return, and they also lose the goalie who played nearly every minute last year.

That’s a lot to replace, and while I can’t speak as to the JV team, the STMA Bantam AA team was pretty mediocre, so it doesn’t seem like there are immediate reinforcements on the horizon for this season. We’ll see what happens, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Knights on the road for their quarterfinal matchup.

But if you are playing a two line game and get decent tending and D.....

Which sounds great in theory, but STMA has to replace three of the top four D-men from last year, along with their goalie. (Those three were also all 20+ point scorers.) They will be inexperienced across the board, and it may be a rebuilding year.

Yes, talking state wide, but within section 8, they should vie for a home ice play-off game.

How did the teams in the section for these age groups fare at the youth level?

Section 8 guy wrote:How did the teams in the section for these age groups fare at the youth level?

I think Moorhead's senior class finished second in bantam AA to Minnetonka.

elliott70 wrote:

Section 8 guy wrote:How did the teams in the section for these age groups fare at the youth level?

I think Moorhead's senior class finished second in bantam AA to Minnetonka.

Correct as usual, mi amigo. Their junior class also were consolation champs at state. None of the other teams have qualified for state at Bantam AA level over the past three seasons.

STMA, St. Cloud and Rogers will be fighting as who stays out of the cellar. The cupboards are bare at STMA with no reinforcements from JV, Bantams or Peewees. They lost to Forest Lake and Orono in the Summer Festival. They will have one line with the 2 sophomores (upcoming Jr's) from last year tourney team.

7TIMECHAMPS wrote:I would agree that stma is likely going to drop off. My guess is St Cloud drops off even more. Very little returning off last year’s team. Not sure what they have coming in but if I remember correctly their bantams weren’t great and they won’t even get all of them. I would think Buffalo is going to make a bit of a jump this year and Bemidji/Rogers look to be similar to last season’s teams. I see Roseau, Brainerd, and Moorhead as the top 3. The order would depend upon who is staying/leaving. My best guess would go....

1-3. Brainerd, Moorhead, Roseau (will rank when we know who is staying/leaving) Brainerd will be the deepest but Roseau/Moorhead potentially have a couple of players that are higher end than anybody Brainerd has.
4. Buffalo
5. STMA
6. Bemidji
7. St Cloud
8. Rogers

I am on board with pretty much everything you said. This section will be down somewhat as a whole, with the top three you listed being a step above the rest in some order.

This is probably Buffalo’s best chance to make a run at the top of the section, with an excellent senior goaltender, a strong top line, and nearly everyone of consequence returning.

Bemidji has at least two new kids move into the district, one could be second line and the other definite 3rd line.
Probably not put them into the state tourney but should make them more competitive.

Updates on this section?

(latest on Huglen return?)

Huglen is returning.

Green and White Fan wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 1:23 pm Huglen is returning.

Do you know the reasoning behind him not being in the All-Star Game November 10th then? Surely he is good enough. Though, I suppose, as somebody in that thread mentioned already, there are a couple of head-scratchers missing/there as always with things like this.

WestMetro wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 12:28 pm Updates on this section?

(latest on Huglen return?)

updated guess
1. Moorhead
2. Roseau
3. Brainerd
4. Bemidji
5. Buffalo
6. St. Michael-Albertville
7. St. Cloud
8. Rogers

elliott70 wrote: ↑Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:17 am

WestMetro wrote: ↑Fri Oct 26, 2018 12:28 pm Updates on this section?

(latest on Huglen return?)

updated guess
1. Moorhead
2. Roseau
3. Brainerd
4. Bemidji
5. Buffalo
6. St. Michael-Albertville
7. St. Cloud
8. Rogers

I am going...

1. Brainerd
2. Roseau
3. Moorhead
4. Buffalo
5. STMA
6. Bemidji
7. St Cloud
8. Rogers

I will explain my Moorhead Brainerd flip flop at the top. Moorhead returns one player (HH) that scored more than 4 goals. They return one of the their top 4 D (Gramer) and they graduated their goalie. Moorhead will have a solid group as always but they have a lot of holes to fill. They also have a weaker class of sophomores coming in by Moorhead standards (I don’t think there will be any strong contributing classes coming out of bantams in the section this year). Brainerd on the other hand returns a lot more of what was a top 10 team prior to sections.

Some tough calls but here goes.

1) Moorhead - Deep up front and goaltending should be a strength. Took Bantam state championship game to 2OTs.. Tough schedule.
2). Brainerd - Strong senior class and solid nucleus back from a good team. Could this be their year?
3) Roseau. Huglen will be a handful at the high school level and some nice parts to a supporting cast. Will be a factor.
4) Buffalo. Junior class made a lot of noise in Bantams but with a fairly short bench. Braccini(s?) will also be a handful. Solid goaltending. Could they climb into the top 3?
5) STMA. Flammang and Laylin will be a great duo and will carry a lot of water. Just not sure there’s enough else to get any higher.
6) St Cloud. Seems like they have enough back to avoid dropping into the bottom two.
7) Bemidji. Not much scoring back and will probably have to adjust a bit style wise without Fitzgerald back there. May be selling them short a bit.
8.) Rogers. A departure or two along the way haven’t helped.