| 1AA | 2AA | 3AA | 4AA | 5AA | 6AA | 7AA | 8AA | Class AA Top 10 |
| 1A | 2A | 3A | 4A | 5A | 6A | 7A | 8A | Class A Top 10 |
| Class A | Lead Scorer #1 | Lead Scorer #2 | Lead Scorer #3 | Goaltender |
| Breck School | Tyson Fulton | Mike Morin | Riley Borer | John Russell |
| St. Thomas Academy | Christian Isackson | Justin Crandall | AJ Reid | Kurt Altrichter |
| Warroad | Brock Nelson | Brett Hebel | Carson Gray | TBD |
| Hermantown | Adam Krause | Cody Christopherson | Jeff Paczynski | Tyler Ampe |
| St. Cloud Cathedral | Jordan Palusky | Alex Koopmeiners | Kyle Kudak | Nick Maiers |
| Virginia/MIB | Garrett Hendrickson | Jordan Krebsbach | Andrew Judnick | TBD |
| Mahtomedi | Charlie Adams | Brandon Zurn | Ben Marshall | Brad Wohlers |
| Sartell-St. Stephen | Andy Worzala | Matthew Nahan | Andrew Deters | Brent Orndorff |
| Red Wing | Patrick Noesen | Josh Mensing | Jake Oborsky | Sam Amendolar |
| International Falls | Will Corrin | Jon McDonald | Jordan Christianson | Mike Hart |
1. Breck School Mustangs
Section: 2A
2008-2009 Record: 27-3-1
2008-2009 Finish: Class A State Champions
Returning Goals: 147 | 80.3% of 183 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 12
Returning Defense: 5
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
Tyson Fulton (12) - 28 goals | 31 games
Mike Morin (12) - 27 goals | 31 games
Riley Borer (12) - 22 goals | 30 games
Cameron Born (12) - 10 goals | 28 games
Chase Nystedt (12) - 9 goals | 30 games
Wesley Iverson (10) - 9 goals | 25 games
Nate Traina (10) - 8 goals | 31 games
Brandon Yates (12) - 7 goals | 31 games
Austin Rudnick (10) - 5 goals | 31 games
Charlie Borer (12) - 3 goals | 21 games
David Zosel (11) - 1 goal | 20 games
Andrew Headrick (10) - 0 goals | 14 games
Defensemen:
Michael Mooney (12) - 9 goals | 30 games
David Crowe (12) - 4 goals | 30 games
Ben Gislason (12) - 3 goals | 31 games
Joe Zeidler (12) - 1 goal | 31 games
Shayne Ciernia (10) - 1 goal | 30 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
John Russell (12) | 15-3-1, 1.61 GAA, .934 Save %
Max McCormick (11) | 6-0-0, 0.50 GAA, .946 Save %
Comment: Breck School has won three Class A championships in this last decade, 2000, 2004, 2009. However, like Class AA, there is has not been a team that has won back-to-back titles since the classification of AA and A started in 1994.
Also, I noticed after the fact that the top four teams in the preseason rankings are the only teams that have won Class A titles in the last seven years, Breck 2, St. Thomas Academy 2, Warroad 2, and Hermantown 1.
2. St. Thomas Academy Cadets
Section: 4A
2008-2009 Record: 21-5-2
2008-2009 Finish: Lost to Mahtomedi, 4-1, in the Section 4A Championship
Returning Goals: 124 goals | 82.1% of 151 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 9
Returning Defense: 5
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
AJ Reid (11) - 27 goals | 28 games
Justin Crandall (12) - 23 goals | 28 games | University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit
Christian Isackson (12) - 18 goals | 28 games | University of Minnesota recruit
Zach Schroeder (11) - 12 goals | 28 games
Noah Gavin (12) - 11 goals | 28 games
Matt Kroska (11) - 10 goals | 28 games
Peter Krieger (10) - 4 goals | 27 games
Brady Ramthun (12) - 3 goals | 25 games
Andy Commers (10) - 2 goals | 17 games
Defensemen:
JP Graveline (12) - 4 goals | 28 games
Eric Schurhammer (10) - 3 goals | 27 games
Joe Dobesh (11) - 3 goals | 27 games
Taylor Fleming (11) - 2 goals | 27 games
Grant Sattler (10) - 2 goals | 15 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Kurt Altrichter (12) | 11-3-1, 1.97 GAA, .912 Save %
Zach Wynne (12) | 1-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 Save %
Comment: Reid, Crandall, Isackson, Schroeder, Graveline, and Fleming played in the Elite League in September and October on Team Southeast. Team Southeast won the Elite League Championship both by record and winning the championship game in the tournament on November 1st. Crandall, Schroeder, Reid, and Isackson were four of the top six leading scorers on that 22 player roster. The Cadets will face preseason #1 Breck early in the season, Tuesday, December 8th, at Anderson Ice Arena in Golden Valley. The rematch will most likely take place in March in St. Paul.
3. Warroad Warriors
Section: 8A
2008-2009 Record: 28-3-0
2008-2009 Finish: 2nd place finish in the Class A State Tournament
Returning Goals: 87 goals | 52.4% of 166 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 8
Returning Defense: 4
Returning Goaltending: No
Forwards:
Brock Nelson (12) - 45 goals | 31 games | University of North Dakota recruit
Brett Hebel (12) - 22 goals | 31 games
Aaron Rasmusson (12) - 5 goals | 31 games
Adam Shaugabay (12) - 3 goals | 27 games
Aaron Storey (12) - 1 goal | 31 games
David Nelson (11) - 1 goal | 24 games
Dylan Fowler (11) - 0 goals | 24 games
Kaleb Kezar (12) - 0 goals | 17 games
Defensemen:
Carson Gray (11) - 6 goals | 31 games
Nick Stoskopf (11) - 3 goals | 29 games
Joey Olson (12) - 1 goal | 30 games
David Pearson (11) - 0 goals | 27 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Shawn Storey (12) | 1-0-0, 1.50 GAA, .667
Comment: Brock Nelson owns over 50% of the returning goals this season. Brett Hebel owns 25%. They lost goaltender Jason Goldsmith to graduation. But, the Warriors are another team that tends to reload well after losses to graduation. AND, the Warriors return four strong players on defense and some defensive-minded forwards, a Warriors defense that allowed opponents less than 17 shots per game. The last time they had less than 20 wins in a season was '05-'06 when they had 15 wins and lost to Thief River Falls in the Section 8A Final. Nelson and Hebel are so dominant, as evident in their performances in the Elite League for Team Great Plains, that teams will focus on trying to contain them both and will find it difficult to do so. Is Brock Nelson Minnesota's next Mr. Hockey?
4. Hermantown Hawks
Section: 5A
2008-2009 Record: 24-4-0
2008-2009 Finish: Lost to St. Cloud Cathedral, 5-1, in the Section 5A Championship
Returning Goals: 107 | 67.3% of 159 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 9
Returning Defense: 7
Returning Goaltending: No
Forwards:
Adam Krause (12) - 26 goals | 28 games | University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit
Cody Christopherson (12) - 25 goals | 28 games
Charlie Comnick (12) - 13 goals | 27 games
Corey Kolquist (12) - 8 goals | 25 games
Andrew Oakes (12) - 5 goals | 28 games
Willis Kantonen (12) - 4 goals | 26 games
Garrett Skrbich (11) - 2 goals | 28 games
Kevin Danielson (12) - 1 goal | 23 games
Chris Phillips (12) - 0 goals | 20 games
Defensemen:
Jeff Paczynski (12) - 9 goals | 28 games
Jared Kolquist (11) - 5 goals | 25 games
Chad Bannor (12) - 3 goals | 28 games
Brian LeBlanc (10) - 2 goals | 28 games
Connor Hady (12) - 1 goal | 18 games
Brett Ludwig (12) - 3 goals | 21 games
Jake Knowles (11) - 0 goals | 14 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Tyler Ampe (12) - 5-1-0, 1.14 GAA, .942 GAA
Comment: Solid return of both forwards and defensemen this season for a team that won 24 games last year. Tyler Ampe should be just fine in goal after losing last year's starter Ben Tessier to graduation.
5. St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders
Section: 5A
2008-2009 Record: 26-4-1
2008-2009 Finish: 4th place finish in the Class A State Tournament
Returning Goals: 88 | 55% of the 160 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 9
Returning Defense: 2
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
Jordan Palusky (12) - 36 goals | 31 games
Alex Koopmeiners (12) - 18 goals | 31 games
Kyle Kudak (12) - 16 goals | 31 games
Tyler McMorrow (12) - 8 goals | 30 games
Jordan Revier (10) - 4 goals | 23 games
Chase Peyton (11) - 2 goals | 28 games
Robbie Stocker (12) - 2 goals | 18 games
Gavin Durant (12) - 1 goal | 30 games
Jason Janzen (12) - 0 goals | 22 games
Defensemen:
Bret Schwinghammer (11) - 0 goals | 29 games
Andrew Thome (11) - 1 goal | 20 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Nick Maiers (12) | 19-2-1, 1.51 GAA, .920 Save %
Calvin Herold (12) | 1-0-0, 1.00 GAA, .933 Save %
Comment: Defenseman Nate Schmidt's choice to play junior hockey instead of returning will sting the Crusaders a little bit but they are still a viable contender with Hermantown to win the Section. They have solid two lines of forwards returning along with an excellent goaltender in Nick Maiers. The defense will reload. The Crusaders have not had less than a 20+ win season in the last four years.
6. Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl Blue Devils
Section: 7A
2008-2009 Record: 23-7-0
2008-2009 Finish: 6th place finish in the Class A State Tournament
Returning Goals: 109 | 69.4% of the 157 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 10
Returning Defense: 3
Returning Goaltending: No
Forwards:
Garrett Hendrickson (11) 23 goals
Andrew Judnick (12) 14 goals
Travis Eddy (11) 9 goals
Tom Norlander (11) 9 goals
Dan Chesser (12) 8 goals
Trey Carlson (12) 7 goals
Troy Nichols (11) 6 goals
Gavin Nichols (11) 4 goals
Derek Howard (11) 3 goals
Jake Nelson (11) 3 goals
Defensemen:
Jordan Krebsbach (12) 17 goals
Christian Belobaba (12) 3 goals
Wes Judnick (11) 3 goals
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Andy Millbridge (11) | 5-0-0, 2.80, .876 Save %
Comment: Solid lineup of forwards and a talented defenseman in Jordan Krebsbach are returning for the Blue Devils. Will Lustig will be missed in goal.
7. Mahtomedi Zephyrs
Section: 4A
2008-2009 Record: 20-8-2
2008-2009 Finish: Advanced to the State Class A Tournament, lost both games
Returning Goals: 88 | 65.7% of the 134 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 7
Returning Defense: 6
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
Charlie Adams (12) - 19 goals | 30 games
Brandon Zurn (12) - 26 goals | 30 games
Tanner Jordan (10) - 13 goals | 30 games
Mike Rose (11) - 2 goals | 29 games
Ryan Gregory (12) - 1 goal | 30 games
Connor Marshall (11) - 1 goal | 29 games
Aaron Bartholomew (12) - 1 goal | 26 games
Defensemen:
Ben Marshall (11) - 21 goals | 29 games | University of Minnesota recruit
Blake Martin (12) - 2 goals | 30 games
Josh Erickson (12) - 2 goals | 27 games
David Rose (12) - 0 goals | 30 games
Jordan Dittberner (12) - 0 goals | 30 games
Peter Gorman (12) - 0 goals | 30 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Brad Wohlers (12) | 14-4-1, 2.93 GAA, .864 Save %
Sawyer Marshall (10) | 3-2-1, 2.77 GAA, .908 Save %
Tanner Marcotte (12) | 0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 Save %
Comment: Defense and timely strong goaltending helped put the Zephyrs in the state tournament last year by allowing just two goals in three games in the Section 4A Tournament. Brad Wohlers saved an incredible 48 shots against St. Thomas Academy in 4A Final. This year, the most promising outlook for this team is the SIX returning defensemen that saw action in at least 27 of the 30 games Mahtomedi played last year. That includes Ben Marshall who is returning after suffering a bruised kidney last year in the first game of the state tournament against St. Cloud Cathedral and did not return. The Zephyrs will also have a healthy amount of goal scorers back and they have Wohlers in goal.
8. Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres
Section: 6A
2008-2009 Record: 18-8-1
2008-2009 Finish: Lost to Alexandria, 5-1, in the Section 6A semifinals
Returning Goals: 102 | 91.9% of the 111 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 9
Returning Defense: 3
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Note: There were no stats available for Alexandria vs. Sartell in the Section 6A semifinal game so each player that played in that game will be short one game on the following list.
Forwards:
Matthew Nahan (12) - 23 goals | 26 games
Andy Worzala (12) - 19 goals | 27 games
Andrew Deters (11) - 16 goals | 26 games
Austin Plaine (12) - 16 goals | 26 games
Matthew Husmann (11) - 12 goals | 26 games
Ryan Nahan (12) - 5 goals | 26 games
Sean Tillman (12) - 5 goals | 25 games
Josh Rostad (12) - 1 goal | 26 games
Brandon Kruse (11) - 1 goal | 25 games
Defensemen:
Austin Guggenberger (11) - 4 goals | 26 games
Nick Zierdan (12) - 0 goals | 26 games
Brandon Gabbert (12) - 0 goals | 22 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Brent Orndorff (12) | 17-6-1, 2.68 GAA, .894 Save %
Comment: I am sure Sartell-St. Stephen was a surprise to many who found them in the top 10 to start the preseason. They have a lot of talent returning from last season and they basically have all of last season's goal scorers back. Brent Orndorff is solid in goal. The only question mark for the Sabres will be their defensive game that allowed over 25 shots per game to its opponents.
9. Red Wing Wingers
Section: 1A
2008-2009 Record: 20-8-0
2008-2009 Finish: Lost to Rochester Lourdes, 3-2, in the Section 1A Championship
Returning Goals: 51 | 40.8% of the 125 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 8
Returning Defense: 3
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
Patrick Noesen (12) - 22 goals | 28 games
Josh Mensing (12) - 15 goals | 28 games
Jake Oborsky (10) - 7 goals | 28 games
Marcus Noesen (10) - 3 goals | 25 games
Jared Nelson (12) - 1 goal | 28 games
Kas Mapel (12) - 1 goal | 22 games
Dan D'Quisto (12) - 0 goals | 24 games
Austin Anderson (12) - 0 goals | 20 games
Defensemen:
Michael Stegora (10) - 2 goals | 23 games
Jack Strusz (10) - 0 goals | 25 games
Henry Jaeger (12) - 0 goals | 21 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Sam Amendolar (11) | 17-7-0, 2.39 GAA, .892 Save %
Abe Rohan (12) | 0-0-0, 4.50 GAA, .625 Save %
Comment: The Wingers lost a lot of goal production from last year, mostly due to the graduation of seniors Blake Schammel and George Noesen. However, the Wingers have a good scorer in Josh Mensing, two Noesens return, and four starting freshman from last year are a year older. Amendolar should have another strong year in goal.
10. International Falls Broncos
Section: 7A
2008-2009 Record: 17-8-2
2008-2009 Finish: Lost to Hibbing/Chisholm, 4-2, in the Section 7A semifinals
Returning Goals: 71 | 49.0% of the 145 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 7
Returning Defense: 5
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
Jordan Christianson (12) - 12 goals
Michael Bounds (11) - 11 goals
Jon McDonald (12) - 9 goals
Chris Little (12) - 7 goals
Dylan Farmer (11) - 1 goal
Kyle Hell (12) - 1 goal
Alex Bruess (11) - 0 goals
Defensemen:
Will Corrin (12) - 21 goals
Matt Youso (12) - 4 goals
Blake Museta (12) - 4 goals
Kalan Schneider (12) - 1 goal
Brandon Richards (11) - 0 goals
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Mike Hart (12) | 13-5-1, 2.68 GAA, .878 Save %
Glenn Walls (11) | 4-3-1, 1.98 GAA, .880 Save %
Comment: The Broncos gave up the least shots per game, 20, in Section 7A last year. They should continue that trend this year with a solid group of forwards and defensemen back and experienced goaltenders in net. They did, however, lose over 50% of their goal production from last year due to graduation. They will need to find some help to replace the loss.
_________________________________________
I made a change ...
For those of you that may or may not have noticed the change I made to the Class A presason rankings, I moved Spring Lake Park down to 18. I like the depth that they having returning in their forwards and their goaltender. The Panther defense struggled last year and, after looking at the results from last year, I've decided to move the Panthers down further. They struggled to beat teams with a .500 record or better. Still, here is what I had written up for them before I decided to make the change:
Spring Lake Park Panthers
Section: 4A
2008-2009 Record: 16-9-1
2008-2009 Finish: Lost to Totino-Grace, 4-1, in the Section 4A quarterfinals
Returning Goals: 95 | 82.6% of the 115 total goals scored in '08-'09
Returning Forwards: 14
Returning Defense: 4
Returning Goaltending: Yes
Forwards:
Chris Bevers (11) - 25 goals | 26 games
Luke Gerding (12) - 11 goals | 26 games
Mitchell Mulvihill (12) - 11 goals | 26 games
Nick Turbitt (11) - 10 goals | 26 games
AJ Fossen (10) - 9 goals | 26 games
Kirby Ronning (12) - 4 goals | 25 games
Zach Randall (11) - 3 goals | 26 games
Scott Benson (12) - 2 goals | 26 games
Tommy Moe (11) - 2 goals | 22 games
Jorde Ranum (11) - 1 goal | 24 games
Steven Rethwill (11) - 1 goal | 15 games
Blake DeBoer (11) - 0 goals | 23 games
Nate Theis (12) - 0 goals | 17 games
TJ Olinger (12) - 0 goals | 17 games
Defensemen:
Chris Benson (12) - 9 goals | 26 games
Nick Auman (10) - 4 goals | 26 games
Max Corrigan (11) - 3 goals | 26 games
Brandon Acker (11) - 0 goals | 26 games
Goaltenders (regular season stats):
Mike Nelson (12) | 15-6-1, 2.90 GAA, .904 Save %
Bobby Miller (12) | 0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.000 Save %
Comment: This team is explosive offensively. Goaltending should be solid. The defense is the only weak point on this team having given up over 30 shots per game last year. If they tighten up this year, they will be tough.
