Section 4A 2022-23
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2022 8:58 pm
2022 Section 4A Preseason Preview
In Class A high school hockey, there are a few true blueblood programs that seem to appear at the Xcel every March when the State Tournament rolls around. Mahtomedi has become that program in Section 4A as they have won 5 of the last 6 Section Titles in 4A. Looking at this year and how thin 4A has become I am not sure anyone can argue with the opinion that the Zephyrs seem like a lock to represent 4A again. Looking for challengers is tough as St Paul Hockey has taken a hit over recent years and Simley graduated a great senior class. If there is a challenger it will look to be Chisago Lakes but again it will take a miny miracle most likely not to see the Zephyrs back in State this March.
Section 4A Preseason Poll (8 teams)
1- Mahtomedi
2- Chisago Lakes
3- Simley
4- St Paul Academy
5- Two Rivers
6- St Paul Highland Park
7- South St Paul
8- St Paul Johnson
#1 Mahtomedi - The Zephyrs have become “the program” in a very down Section 4A and this team returns serious depth from a group that finished 3rd place a year ago. They return a good core of defenders led by Seniors Cav Bruner & Carson Marshall along with Sophomore Sam Harris who played good minutes to lead a solid group on the blueline. Up front they are led by an outstanding core of Senior forwards returning who all played big minutes in their top three lines a year ago in David Wolsfeld, Charlie Drage, Jonny Grove, Carter Haycraft, Cory Bohmert, Seth Nelson along with Juniors Jake Hodd-Chlebeck & Patrick Egan ready to get more extensive minutes for the Zephyrs who will have a deep experienced team returning if they have an answer for the goalie question they will be very tough to beat this winter again could very well be the team to win it all in Class A let alone Section 4A.
#2 Chisago Lakes- The Wildcats did lose their pair of 70 point scorers to graduation from their 21 win team but they return nearly everything else and should still be a very good team this winter. They return their stand out starting goalie Senior Jack Hanson. They also return a solid group of forwards in Seniors Nikolas Jinks, Cameron Stangl, Cullen Dorcas & Junior Jack Bakken who should provide plenty of scoring depth. They also return their top defenseman in Senior Nathan Bluhm to lead the team's defensive unit. They in total have 13 returning letterwinners coming back and they should be back in the Section Final for 4A this winter.
#3 Simley- The Spartans had a great year last winter with a veteran team but the graduation of 10 seniors last year will cause some growing pains this year. The Spartans return forward Junior Matt Milner and defender Senior Caden Renslow who both had over 20 points last winter to build around. But the Spartans will have a lot of new faces and the big question mark will be net as they lost both of their very good starting goalies to graduation but this team should still be the 3 seed in 4A.
#4 St Paul Academy- After a tough year last winter the Spartans look to have a resurgent year this winter. They return 14 letter winners including their top five scorers led by brothers Senior George Peltier & Sophomore Ethan Peltier. SPA will need to get more consistent goaltending but they do return three goalies all of whom have experience in net. There are enough pieces for this team to earn a 4 seed.
#5 Two Rivers- The Warriors had a very up and down year last year. If Two Rivers is going to make any progress in the 4A this year they will need big contributions from returning leading scorer Senior Casey Bell who had over 30 points last winter and they will also look to Senior Tyler Ouren to build off of some good numbers he put up in the net. Two Rivers will be battling the rest of the middle of the pack in 4A for the 4 seed this winter.
#6 St Paul Highland Park- The Scots coming off a good 10 win season for their program but they did get hit by graduation as they lost their 3 leading scorers from a low scoring team last winter. They do return their starting goaltender Senior Ben Olson and they have their entire D-core back so if they can find scoring they could rise in 4A.
#7 South St Paul- The Packer do return 14 letter winners to try and wash away the pain of a difficult (6-20-0) campaign a winter ago. The problem is that even their leading returning scorer Sophomore Roddick Simons only registered 12 points on the year. The hope is that with all that experience back they will be ready to be more competitive this winter.
#8 St Paul Johnson- This once proud historic program is on life support. There is still doubt if they will even have enough to field a team this winter. But the Govs do have a schedule it looks like and they will need to rely on Sophomore Isaiah Henderson to grow as he is one of the few returners coming back.
In Class A high school hockey, there are a few true blueblood programs that seem to appear at the Xcel every March when the State Tournament rolls around. Mahtomedi has become that program in Section 4A as they have won 5 of the last 6 Section Titles in 4A. Looking at this year and how thin 4A has become I am not sure anyone can argue with the opinion that the Zephyrs seem like a lock to represent 4A again. Looking for challengers is tough as St Paul Hockey has taken a hit over recent years and Simley graduated a great senior class. If there is a challenger it will look to be Chisago Lakes but again it will take a miny miracle most likely not to see the Zephyrs back in State this March.
Section 4A Preseason Poll (8 teams)
1- Mahtomedi
2- Chisago Lakes
3- Simley
4- St Paul Academy
5- Two Rivers
6- St Paul Highland Park
7- South St Paul
8- St Paul Johnson
#1 Mahtomedi - The Zephyrs have become “the program” in a very down Section 4A and this team returns serious depth from a group that finished 3rd place a year ago. They return a good core of defenders led by Seniors Cav Bruner & Carson Marshall along with Sophomore Sam Harris who played good minutes to lead a solid group on the blueline. Up front they are led by an outstanding core of Senior forwards returning who all played big minutes in their top three lines a year ago in David Wolsfeld, Charlie Drage, Jonny Grove, Carter Haycraft, Cory Bohmert, Seth Nelson along with Juniors Jake Hodd-Chlebeck & Patrick Egan ready to get more extensive minutes for the Zephyrs who will have a deep experienced team returning if they have an answer for the goalie question they will be very tough to beat this winter again could very well be the team to win it all in Class A let alone Section 4A.
#2 Chisago Lakes- The Wildcats did lose their pair of 70 point scorers to graduation from their 21 win team but they return nearly everything else and should still be a very good team this winter. They return their stand out starting goalie Senior Jack Hanson. They also return a solid group of forwards in Seniors Nikolas Jinks, Cameron Stangl, Cullen Dorcas & Junior Jack Bakken who should provide plenty of scoring depth. They also return their top defenseman in Senior Nathan Bluhm to lead the team's defensive unit. They in total have 13 returning letterwinners coming back and they should be back in the Section Final for 4A this winter.
#3 Simley- The Spartans had a great year last winter with a veteran team but the graduation of 10 seniors last year will cause some growing pains this year. The Spartans return forward Junior Matt Milner and defender Senior Caden Renslow who both had over 20 points last winter to build around. But the Spartans will have a lot of new faces and the big question mark will be net as they lost both of their very good starting goalies to graduation but this team should still be the 3 seed in 4A.
#4 St Paul Academy- After a tough year last winter the Spartans look to have a resurgent year this winter. They return 14 letter winners including their top five scorers led by brothers Senior George Peltier & Sophomore Ethan Peltier. SPA will need to get more consistent goaltending but they do return three goalies all of whom have experience in net. There are enough pieces for this team to earn a 4 seed.
#5 Two Rivers- The Warriors had a very up and down year last year. If Two Rivers is going to make any progress in the 4A this year they will need big contributions from returning leading scorer Senior Casey Bell who had over 30 points last winter and they will also look to Senior Tyler Ouren to build off of some good numbers he put up in the net. Two Rivers will be battling the rest of the middle of the pack in 4A for the 4 seed this winter.
#6 St Paul Highland Park- The Scots coming off a good 10 win season for their program but they did get hit by graduation as they lost their 3 leading scorers from a low scoring team last winter. They do return their starting goaltender Senior Ben Olson and they have their entire D-core back so if they can find scoring they could rise in 4A.
#7 South St Paul- The Packer do return 14 letter winners to try and wash away the pain of a difficult (6-20-0) campaign a winter ago. The problem is that even their leading returning scorer Sophomore Roddick Simons only registered 12 points on the year. The hope is that with all that experience back they will be ready to be more competitive this winter.
#8 St Paul Johnson- This once proud historic program is on life support. There is still doubt if they will even have enough to field a team this winter. But the Govs do have a schedule it looks like and they will need to rely on Sophomore Isaiah Henderson to grow as he is one of the few returners coming back.