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The regular season is done, that Hill-Moorhead game just happened, and we are headed into the playoffs! Let’s hope that game at Aldrich sets the standard for what we’re about to see. As usual, I shake up the format this week, first listing a top 25 and then walking through sections. Seedings are speculative upon posting, so I’ll update this as I’m able with official seeds and update any commentary as necessary.

1. Hill-Murray (22-2-1)
2. Moorhead (22-2-1)
3. Stillwater (19-6; 21-4 on-ice)
4. St. Thomas Academy (20-5)
5. Rogers (20-3-2)
6. Cretin-Derham Hall (21-3-1)
7. Edina (17-6-2)
8. Shakopee (19-5-1)
9. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (20-5)
10. Holy Angels (21-3-1)
11. Eden Prairie (16-6-3; 15-7-3 on-ice)
12. Rosemount (22-3)
13. Minnetonka (13-10-2)
14. Wayzata (14-8-3)
15. White Bear Lake (15-7-3)
16. Rock Ridge (20-3-2)
17. Grand Rapids (15-8-2)
18. Lakeville South (16-9)
19. Bemidji (18-5-2)
20. Andover (12-13)
21. Maple Grove (15-9-1; 14-10-1 on-ice)
22. Holy Family (18-7)
23. Champlin Park (16-9)
24. Park of Cottage Grove (14-10-1)
25. Blaine (16-9)

1AA

1. Lakeville South (16-9, #18)
-The Cougars have sailed along smoothly all season, the clear favorite in this section and very steady against lesser competition. Achieving anything at State would be a shocker, but with the Ernst brothers leading the way, there have certainly been worse 1AA entrants than this group over the years. They’ve won 11 of their past 12 and beat a couple of decent Northwest Suburban teams in the season’s final week, so they could yet make their first round game at State somewhat interesting.

2. Lakeville North (12-12-1)
-Lost 7-1 and 4-0 to South this season, which probably tells us all we need to know going in here.

3. Rochester Century/John Marshall
-At least they had that one upset of Holy Family…

4. New Prague
-Gave North a one-goal game recently, but that’s about all we’ve got.

5. Farmington
6. Owatonna
7. Rochester Mayo

2AA

1. Eden Prairie (16-6-3; 15-7-3 on-ice, #11)
-This is not a flashy top seed in 2AA, but they have been solid down the stretch; Nick Koering is a rock in back, and they have just enough offensive toys to be interesting and potentially crash Shakopee’s party. The late tie with Edina is a warning sign that they can be trouble.

2. Shakopee (19-5-1, #8)
-The Sabers enter the playoffs on a six-game streak dating back to Hockey Day, and while they took more lumps than expected this season, Cooper Simpson and company are torching weaker opponents now and looking to make their AA Tourney debut. The raw talent is there, but can they perform under pressure now?

3. Minnetonka (13-10-2, #13)
-At long last the Skippers got a quality win when they shut out Wayzata to close the regular season. They don’t score much but the have hovered in there with a lot of good teams all season, and their discipline could give Shakopee fits in a semifinal matchup. We’ll see if they can really crash the party and go on a little run.

4. Holy Family (18-7, #22)
-This team has stayed consistently in the top 25 this season, but even in a weaker 2AA, it still feels like they’re a clear step behind Shakopee and the Lake powers. They did beat Shakopee back in December, though, so crazier things have happened.

5. Prior Lake
6. Chanhassen
7. Waconia
8. Chaska
9. Bloomington Jefferson

3AA

1. St. Thomas Academy (20-5, #4)
-After spending much of the season ranked first or second in the state, the Cadets are sagging some at the finish, going 3-3 in their last six and struggling to find offense against White Bear Lake and Hill-Murray this past week. They have a lot of quality players a likely Mr. Hockey finalist in Jackson Rudh, but they’ll need to re-find that rhythm they had in December to fend off a serious challenger in a section final.

2. Cretin-Derham Hall (21-3-1, #6)
-The Raiders edged past White Bear in their regular season finale to maintain their seemingly eternal hold on number six in the rankings, Pound for pound I think this is a more complete team than St. Thomas, but they do have their flaws, the most glaring being some disciplinary lapses that can get ugly. Can they channel that energy effectively and log a fourth straight Tourney berth?

3. Rosemount (22-3, #12)
-The Irish have a sterling record, but they lost their only two games against a top 15 opponent (Shakopee) all season and enter the playoffs much less battle-tested than their private school compatriots in 3AA. As a result they’re something of a mystery, but with the likes of Josh Toll and XX they do have some real talent, and with a few cracks in the top two teams, it’s not crazy to imagine a run here if they’re ready for the challenge.

4. Park of Cottage Grove (14-10-1, #24)
-Owen Corkish had a fine season to lead the Wolfpack to respectability, and they probably wouldn’t mind a shot at former teammate Jackson Rudh of St. Thomas in the semifinals.

5. Two Rivers
6. Eastview
7. Apple Valley/Burnsville
8. Hastings
9. Eagan

4AA

1. Hill-Murray (22-2-1, #1)
-A furious comeback in what just might have been the game of the year elevates the Pioneers to the top spot heading into sections. Their depth is overwhelming, their defensive corps stacks up with anyone’s, and the top line led by Boden Sampair is scoring in bunches. There aren’t many weaknesses here, and yet they are going to have to beat a very good team to even make the Tourney. If they do, they will be the top seed after this past week’s win over Moorhead.

2. Stillwater (19-6; 21-4 on-ice, #3)
-The Ponies wrapped up proceedings with a comfortable win against Holy Family and will now look to see if they can ride this wave into a meeting with the new top-ranked team in the state.

3. White Bear Lake (15-7-3, #15)
-The Bears lost tight affairs with St. Thomas and Cretin in the last week of the regular season, neither of which is any slouch, but they scored just one goal in the process, and that is the great concern heading into sections: with Leo Gabriel in net and a solid defense they can hold down any opponent, but can they score enough to challenge the very complete-looking teams ahead of them in this section? They got Stillwater once this year, so we’ll see if they can do it again.

4. Gentry Academy
-On a decent run to finish the season, albeit mostly against poor competition; can they be a playoff surprise as they have a few times before?

5. Roseville
6. Woodbury
7. East Ridge
8. Mounds View
9. Tartan
10. St. Paul Johnson

5AA

1. Rogers (20-3-2, #5)
-A tie at Moorhead is a strong finish for a team that had been waiting for a truly great result and has the Royals sitting pretty heading into sections. Mason Jensen* and Parker Deschene leads a flashy top line, Nolen Geerdes may be the state’s top defenseman, and there are enough other pieces to be a legitimate title contender. Now they just need to show they can get the job done when it matters most.

2. Maple Grove (15-9-1; 14-10-1 on-ice, #21)
-Losses to Andover and Lakeville South do not have the Crimson going in the right direction heading into sections. The recent St. Thomas win gives some sense that they could trouble Rogers, but it will be a tall task.

3. Totino-Grace
-Played well enough in the section down the stretch to get into 3-seed position, but we’ll see what else is possible.

4. Champlin Park (16-9, #23)
-The Brent Solomon show makes things exciting for the Rebels, who have been steady enough, but will need to find another gear to have a chance against Rogers.

5. Blaine (16-9, #25)
-This program took some nice steps back toward respectability this season after a down stretch are the only ranked team that will be on the road in the section quarterfinals. Anything from here on out is a bonus.

6. Centennial
7. Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids
8. Osseo
9. Irondale

6AA

1. Edina (17-6-2, #7)
-This younger Hornet squad has not been dominant this season, but they still have a lot of talent and a lot of experience in big games; they’ve sagged in the rankings a bit as they tie Lake teams they should beat on paper, but it’s hard to know how much stock to put into these conference wars. They beat Hill not that long ago, showing what they can do if they stick around against the toughest foes out there, but they will need to win two tough games to get back to their usual March abode.

2. Wayzata (14-8-3, #14)
-The Trojans dropped a game to Minnetonka to wrap the regular season. In many ways this is a classic Wayzata squad: a couple great defensemen, balanced scoring, overall depth and toughness that will make them a hard out in sections. They beat Edina once this season and probably should have a second time, so a return to State for the first time since 2021 is well within reach. Consistent results against good teams have not always been there, though, and they’ll need to string a couple together this week.

3. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (20-5, #9)
-The Red Knights enter sections on a nine-game winning streak and feel like they’re in an in-between zone in the rankings. They’ve done a great job of taking care of the quality teams below them in the rankings, and they did beat Shakopee back in the Sabers’ dark phase in December. They’re playing with a lot more structure than many past Benilde groups, and they could certainly trouble Edina and Wayzata teams that aren’t at the elite level they were in some recent seasons.

4. Holy Angels (21-3-1, #10)
-The Stars finished their late season blitz through weaker competition to complete a season that was another step forward for a program that has been building back for a few seasons now. The stakes get higher: Henry Lechner and company now try to break through in a semifinal and show us this program is a force again.

5. Blake
6. St. Louis Park
7. Hopkins
8. Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper

7AA
QF Tues 2/18 High Seed Home
SF Sat 2/22 Amsoil
F Thurs 2/27 Amsoil

1. Rock Ridge (20-3-2, #16)
-The Wolverines had a great season, but overtime with Pine City and a third period deficit against Cambridge-Isanti do not inspire great confidence heading into sections. Their offense, behind Caz Carlson and Grady Dimberio, is the most potent in 7AA, and they play with an edge, but they need to hold up in back as they venture into uncharted territory.

2. Grand Rapids (15-8-2, #17)
-A tie against Hermantown to close the regular season isn’t a bad result for the Thunderhawks, and while they have their offensive shortcomings and are 3-5-2 in their last ten, they still seem like the steady, predictable force in a weak section. Carter Casey is a reliable security blanket in back, and they have just enough pieces in front of him to repeat at Amsoil.

3. Andover (12-13, #20)
-The Huskies have gone from the doldrums of an 0-9 start to here-they-come momentum of wins over Rogers and Grand Rapids to the sheer inconsistency of losing to Centennial and beating Maple Grove in the final week of the regular season. They seem equally capable of marching to a section title or going out meekly in an early stage. Like Rapids they don’t score a ton, but they do have a rock in goal and can probably wear down everyone else in this section with their depth if given the chance.

4. Forest Lake
-Were pesky against Rock Ridge and Grand Rapids early, but haven’t been great down the stretch; another team that could be in a section final or bomb out in the first round, and neither result would surprise me.

5. Duluth Marshall
6. Duluth Denfeld
7. Cambridge-Isanti (def. #10 Northern Edge 8-2)
8. Duluth East (def. #9 Anoka 4-3)
9. Anoka (eliminated)
10. Northern Edge (eliminated)


8AA
QF Tues 2/18 High Seed Home
SF Sat 2/22 High Seed Home
F Wed 2/26 TBD

1. Moorhead (22-2-1, #2)
-A winless last week may have cost the Spuds the top spot, but their performance against Hill left it all on the ice, and they are still in commanding position both in their section and in the hunt for a high seed at State. (Being one of the top two seems to have real value, with the 7AA and 1AA entrants likely a step behind everyone else.) Mason Kraft is a serious contender for Mr. Hockey, Zac Zimmerman is a force, and they have the firepower and balance to trouble anyone. Is this finally the year the Spuds get it done?

2. Bemidji (18-5-2, #19)
-The Lumberjacks showed they would be a tough test when they faced Moorhead in the regular season and have been pretty consistent throughout, not often flashy but quite steady. They’ll have nothing to lose if they make it to the section final against the Spuds.

3. Sartell
-A program on the rise that had itself a decent season; they did give Bemidji a one-goal game a few weeks back, so they have a chance to disrupt what has felt like an inevitable section final for a while.

4. Elk River
-Can lightning strike twice? It would need to be some pretty impressive lightning this season.

5. St. Michael-Albertville
6. Roseau
7. Buffalo
8. Brainerd (def. #9 St. Cloud 3-2
9. St. Cloud (eliminated)

My work here is done. Go enjoy some hockey!

Thanks for another season of Sunday Morning reads!

Another fun winter Karl!

After yesterday’s games, I’m feeling so geeked up for the playoffs and state tournament. Coming into the season, I figured it was going to be Shakopee and Rogers, and then you’re on your own from there (to steal Paul Allen’s bit), but the parity has made it entertaining.

Section 6

I see Wayzata as top seed.

Section 2

EP, Fam, Tonka, Shako is likely given the Sabers’ futile in-section showings.

Official AA Seedings as they come in today-

Section 1AA seeds:
1. Lakeville South
2. Lakeville North
3. Rochester Century/John Marshall
4. New Prague
5. Farmington
6. Owatonna
7. Rochester Mayo

Section 2AA seeds:
1. Eden Prairie
2. Shakopee
3. Minnetonka
4. Holy Family
5. Prior Lake
6. Chanhassen
7. Waconia
8. Chaska
9. Bloomington Jefferson

Section 3AA seeds:
1. St. Thomas Academy
2. Cretin-Derham Hall
3. Rosemount
4. Park
5. Two Rivers
6. Eastview
7. Apple Valley/Burnsville
8. Hastings
9. Eagan

Section 4AA seeds:
1. Hill-Murray
2. Stillwater
3. White Bear Lake
4. Gentry Academy
5. Roseville
6. Woodbury
7. East Ridge
8. Mounds View
9. Tartan
10. St. Paul Johnson

Section 5AA seeds:
1. Rogers
2. Maple Grove
3. Champlin Park
4. Totino-Grace
5. Blaine
6. Centennial
7. Spring Lake Park/Coon Rapids
8. Osseo
9. Irondale

Section 6AA seeds:
1. Edina
2. Wayzata
3. Benilde-St. Margaret's
4. Holy Angels
5. Blake
6. St. Louis Park
7. Hopkins
8. Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper

Section 7AA Seeds
1. Rock Ridge
2. Grand Rapids
3. Andover
4. Forest Lake
5. Marshall
6. Duluth Denfeld
7. Cambridge-Isanti
8. Duluth East
9. Anoka
10. Northern Edge

Section 8AA Seeds
1. Moorhead
2. Bemidji
3. Sartell-St Stephen
4. Elk River
5. St. Michael-Albertville
6. Roseau
7. Buffalo
8. Brainerd
9. St. Cloud

ClassAGuy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 8:22 am Official AA Seedings as they come in today-

Section 2AA seeds:
1. Eden Prairie
2. Shakopee
3. Minnetonka
4. Holy Family
5. Prior Lake
6. Chanhassen
7. Waconia
8. Chaska
9. Bloomington Jefferson

Section 7AA seeds:
1. Grand Rapids
2. Andover
3. Duluth East
4. Rock Ridge
5. Forest Lake
6. Duluth Denfeld
7. Duluth Marshall
8. Anoka
9. Cambridge-Isanti
10. Northern Edge

Section 8AA :
1. Moorhead
2. Roseau
3. Sartell-St. Stephen
4. Elk River/Zimmerman
5. Bemidji
6. Buffalo
7. St. Cloud
8. Brainerd
9. St. Michael-Albertville

Last years?

East-Side Rankings for 02/16/2025

1. Hill-Murray (22-2-1)
1. Moorhead (22-2-1) - After yesterday's game, both teams are #1's
3. Rogers (20-3-2)
4. Stillwater (19-6)
5. Cretin-Derham Hall (21-3-1)
6. Saint Thomas Academy (20-5)
7. Edina (17-6-2)
8. Shakopee (19-5-1)
9. Benilde-St. Margaret (20-5)
10. Holy Angels (21-3-1)
11. Rock Ridge (20-3-2)
12. Rosemount (22-3)
13. White Bear Lake (15-7-3)
14. Eden Prairie (16-6-3)
15. Wayzata (14-8-3)
16. Bemidji (18-5-2)
17. Grand Rapids (15-8-2)
18. Maple Grove (15-9-1)
19. Minnetonka (13-10-2)
20. Holy Family (18-7)

Also Receiving Votes: Roseville (15-10), Andover (12-13), Champlin Park (16-9), Blaine (16-9)

O-townClown wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 7:54 am Section 6
I see Wayzata as top seed.

Section 2
EP, Fam, Tonka, Shako is likely given the Sabers’ futile in-section showings.

Karl, you were spot on for these two! In the past it seems coaches' votes placed a lot of emphasis on games played within the section.

Whoa! Spar for the win! Placing both the Spuds and Hill at the top is gutsy enough. Then like a late night infomercial, he tells us But wait there's more!

He goes toe to toe with The Great Man, and puts C-DH ahead of Edina and STA?!?

It's a bold strategy Cotton. Let's see if it pays off.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 10:42 am Whoa! Spar for the win! Placing both the Spuds and Hill at the top is gutsy enough. Then like a late night infomercial, he tells us But wait there's more!

He goes toe to toe with The Great Man, and puts C-DH ahead of Edina and STA?!?

It's a bold strategy Cotton. Let's see if it pays off.

I think CDH is going to beat STA and go to state. I am pondering scenarios wondering if CDH could be seeded at state ahead of Rogers. But I keep coming back to no. I think the 3AA winner will be in the 4v5 game likely against Edina.

Update: all section seeds are in, no surprises that changed any write-ups. Hooray for efficiency!

Guessing seeds is a weird mix of assumptions on head-to-head, reputation, and some vague knowledge of internal politicking.

Once again, congrats and thanks for another year of hard work and diligence!
I just turned in my oxygen tank after watching the MH-HM tilt yesterday.
Sparlimb is right, co-#1s this year in AA.
Maybe a re-match in the championship game?
In spite of yesterday, it'd still have to go some to beat MG-Andover 3 years ago. And we'll be missing Nanne's "Oh, my goodness!" too!

Objectively, there's no valid reason to keep Moorhead at #1, co - #1 or not.

The former #2 beats Rogers, and five days later Moorhead ties Rogers. Then two days later, Moorhead loses to #2. There's no justification to not move the #2 up to #1, alone.

Of course rankings are all in fun, and any rules are unwritten. So there's no reason to get wrapped around your own axel here.

karl(east) wrote: ↑Sun Feb 16, 2025 11:24 amGuessing seeds is a weird mix of assumptions on head-to-head, reputation, and some vague knowledge of internal politicking.

YES! It can be hard to predict the behavior of others.

Hats off. You nailed it.