Class AA & Class A Rankings | December 21st, 2009

The summaries are short this week. I'm still trying to get caught up from being absent this past week.

Class AA Top 10

1. Minnetonka Skippers (6-0-0)
Defeated: Park (Cottage Grove) 9-0 | Gardiner, Ryan, and Rothstein 2 goals each
Defeated: #1A St. Thomas Academy 5-2 | Max Coatta Hat Trick

This week: 1 game on the schedule
TONIGHT: at #4AA Blaine (5-0-0)

Goals: Minnetonka 44, Opponents 3

The Skippers should be facing their toughest opponent of the season so far in Blaine on Monday night. Actually, their schedule gets pretty challenging the next couple of weeks. They'll see Blaine, three tough rounds during the Schwan Cup next week starting with the Academy of Holy Angels, Stillwater, Eden Prairie, Academy of Holy Angels again, Duluth East, and then Moorhead.

2. Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars (6-1-0)
Lost to: Eagan 3-4 in overtime | Nick Nielsen 2 goals
Defeated: Eastview 11-1 | Alex Nicholas Hat Trick, John Roisum 2 goals

This week: No games scheduled | St. Louis Park Rec Tournament next week

Goals: Bloomington Jefferson 56, Opponents 14

If someone was at the Eagan vs. Bloomington Jefferson game last week and, if you have the time, please email and tell me how Eagan stopped the Jaguars. Your scouting report may be worth a lot of money to their future opponents. From perusing the game summary, Eagan scored three very quick goals in the 2nd period within 2 minutes and 22 seconds of each other. For the rest of the 48 minutes and 38 seconds of regulation, the Wildcats scattered 19 shots on the Jaguars' goaltender Justin Woodley. Eagan's Ryan Lutz then went on to score the game-winner in overtime. It would have been a major accomplishment just to make it to overtime with the way that Jefferson has been tearing through opponents this year. But, to actually win the game in overtime, I would have thunk-it impossible. Still, winning the game in overtime was not the most impressive thing the Wildcats did that night. They held #2AA Bloomington Jefferson to THREE goals. The Jaguars were averaging 8.4 goals per game before this game. Whatever Eagan did, I congratulate them on the win. After the loss, Jefferson took out their frustrations on their next opponent, Eastview, and netted 11 goals. I think the Jaguars learned a lesson and they are still my #2 team in Class AA. I'm expecting them to win the St. Louis Park Recreation Tournament next week against some very good competition.

3. Hill-Murray Pioneers (7-0-1)
Defeated: White Bear Lake 5-0 | Tim Shaughnessy 18 Save Shutout
Defeated: Simley 6-1 | Willie Faust 1 goal, 2 assist | Six different scorers
Defeated: Mahtomedi 5-4 | Kevin Becker 2 goals | Becker GWG w/ 2:17 left

This week: No games scheduled | Schwan Cup - Gold Division next week

Goals: Hill-Murray 40, Opponents 10

Defense is the name of the Pioneers game. They did have a scare against Mahtomedi on Saturday. Hill-Murray led 4-0 until the 2nd period. Mahtomedi climbed all the way back to tie it with 3:38 left in the game.

4. Blaine Bengals (5-0-0)
Defeated: Champlin Park 6-2 | Nick Bjugstad Hat Trick
Defeated: Anoka 8-2 | Jonny Brodzinski Hat Trick, Nick Bjustad 2g, 4a

This week: 2 games scheduled
TONIGHT: vs. #1AA Minnetonka (7-0-0)
Saturday, 12/26: at #7AA Edina (7-1-0)

Goals: Blaine 32, Opponents 10

Blaine has had two real tests out of five games so far this season. They passed both, barely. They had to come back against Roseau and they hung on against Osseo. In both of those games, goaltender Dan Harper, 3-0-0, saved 24 total shots (10 by Roseau, 14 by Osseo) in the third period, allowing no goals.

5. Academy of Holy Angels Stars (3-0-0)
Defeated: Northfield 8-1 | Connor Reilly 2g, 1a, Tyler Smith 2g, Mario Bianchi 2g
Defeated: Prior Lake 7-0 | Joseph LaBate Hat Trick

This week: 1 game scheduled
Wednesday, 12/23: at #15AA Elk River/Zimmerman (4-2-0)

Goals: AHA 27, Opponents 1

It is hard to get a real feel on how good the Stars are in comparison to the top Class AA teams. We will get that feel starting this week when they face Elk River/Zimmerman and then next week when they face Minnetonka in the first round of the Schwan Cup.

6. Wayzata Trojans (5-0-1) | at Roseville on Tuesday
:: No team has beaten the Trojans yet and they have defeated three teams in the top 15 including Edina.

7. Edina Hornets (7-0-1) | Blaine at home on Saturday
:: The Hornets won all three games at their hosted Edina Classic including victories over ranked Eden Prairie and Elk River/Zimmerman. They have won six straight games.

8. Cretin-Derham Hall Raiders (7-0-0) | No games scheduled
:: Nice wins over Benilde-St. Margaret's and Forest Lake. I still think they need more scoring from more than their first line of talented forwards of Perron, Barbato, and Kinne.

9. Eden Prairie Eagles (5-1-0) | Burnsville at home on Tuesday
:: The talent is there but the scoring has not shown up yet except for junior Kyle Rau. In the defending champion's first six games last year, they were 6-0 and scored 37 goals. In their first six games this year, they've scored only 26 goals. By the way, they lost to Edina in the Edina Classic both last year, 3-2, and this year, 5-3.

10. Benilde-St. Margaret's Red Knights (4-1-1) | at Rochester Century on Tuesday
:: I have to say that I was shocked when the Red Knights lost to Cretin-Derham Hall last Tuesday. When the Red Knights face teams with below .500 records so far this season, they average nine goals per game. Against the two ranked teams with above .500 records, they averaged 2.5 goals per game.
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Class A Top 10

1. St. Thomas Academy Cadets (4-1-0)
Defeated: North St. Paul 4-2 | AJ Reid 2 goals, Kurt Altrichter 25 Saves
Lost to: #1AA Minnetonka 2-5 | Justin Crandall & Matt Kroska 1 goal each

This week: No games scheduled this week | Schwan Cup next week

Goals: St. Thomas Academy 27, Opponents 17

St. Thomas Academy lost to Minnetonka but Minnetonka is on another level even above Class AA right now. The Cadets actually led Minnetonka 2-0 after the first period. No worries. If Breck School could not defeat the Cadets, I do not foresee any other Class A team beating them either unless its a colossal 2009 Section playoff Mahtomedi-like upset.

2. Breck School Mustangs (4-1-0)
Defeated: Orono 13-1 | Mike Morin Hat Trick, 2a, Nine different goal scorers

This week: No games scheduled this week | Schwan Cup next week

Goals: Breck School 39, Opponents 12

The Mustangs are a lot like the #2AA Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars. The Jaguars have crushed all of their opponents except for one. The Mustangs have done the same. The Jaguars lost one game by a score of 4-3 in overtime. The Mustangs did the same. And, just like the Jaguars, I don't expect the Mustangs to lose again any time soon. Breck has too much depth, too many players that score goals in bunches in any given game.

I thought their game with Orono would have been much closer than it was this past week. In comparison, Orono lost 5-2 to Warroad in their first game of the season and Warroad is the third best team in Class A. Breck beat Orono 13-1.

3. Warroad Warriors (5-1-0)
Defeated: Bemidji 6-3 | Brock Nelson 2 goals, Carson Gray 2 goals

This week: 1 game scheduled
Tuesday, 12/22: home vs. #7A Thief River Falls (6-1-0)

Goals: Warroad 33, Opponents 13

Warroad bounced back nicely after losing their first game of the year against Grand Rapids the week before. The Warriors took care of Bemidji 6-3 in Bemidji last Tuesday night. They will take on their Mariucci Conference and Section 8A rivals, Thief River Falls, on Tuesday night this week. Senior forward Brock Nelson has scored nine goals in his last four games and he has at least one goal in each of Warroad's first six games of the season, 11 total. Senior Brett Hebel started out the season scoring nine goals in his first four games but has not scored in his last two.

4. Hermantown Hawks (4-1-0)
Defeated: Superior (WI) 4-2 | Four different scorers, Tiegen Brickson 18 Saves

This week: 1 game scheduled
Tuesday, 12/22: home vs. #6A Virginia/MIB (6-2-1)

Goals: Hermantown 25, Opponents 7

Hermantown picked up a win against Superior (WI) last Tuesday, 4-2. Superior (WI) was the #2-ranked team in Wisconsin and their loss to Hermantown was their first in six games this season. Hermantown is lead this season by Adam Krause with seven goals but he was held scoreless for the first time against Superior. Three of the four goals scored against Superior were from players that notched their first of the year.

The Hawks have a stingy defense and it will be tested when Garrett Hendrickson and Virginia/MIB comes to Hermantown Arena on Tuesday night. The Hawks have allowed only one team out of five more than 20 shots in a game.

5. Mahtomedi Zephyrs (4-2-0)
Defeated: South St. Paul 4-2 | Charlies Adams & Ben Marshall 1 goal, 2 assists each
Lost to: Hill-Murray 4-5 | Four different scorers | Came back from four goals down

This week: No games scheduled | Schwan Cup next week

Goals: Mahtomedi 32, Opponents 19

The waters become a little more murky in trying to decide which team should sit on the number five spot in the rankings. Mahtomedi definitely has some skilled players in senior forward Charlie Adams, senior forward Brandon Zurn, goaltender Brad Wohlers, and University of Minnesota recruit defenseman Ben Marshall. They've had three nice wins over Red Wing, North St. Paul, and South St. Paul. They had a bad loss against Breck, 1-7, and a tough loss against Hill-Murray, 4-5. Granted, Hill-Murray was up 4-0 in that game but the Zephyrs made an inspired comeback. The Pioneers defense had given up just one goal in fifteen periods prior to Mahtomedi scoring in the 2nd period of their game.

6. Virginia/MIB Blue Devils (6-2-1) | at Hermantown on Tuesday
:: The Blue Devils offense is starting to click. The game at Hermantown should be a good one with Hermantown's Adam Krause vs. Virginia/MIB's Garrett Hendrickson in the spotlight.

7. Thief River Falls Prowlers (6-1-0) | at Warroad on Tuesday
:: The Prowlers only loss this season has been to Roseau in their very first game. Since giving up six goals to the Rams, senior goaltender Zane Gothberg and Thief River Falls have given up eight goals in six games. They shutout a good International Falls team 1-0 last Saturday. I'm not quite sold on their ability to score goals but University of North Dakota recruit Zane Gothberg should be able to give them a chance to win every game. They will have their hands full against Brock Nelson, Brett Hebel, and the Warriors on Tuesday night.

8. St. Cloud Cathedral Crusaders (4-2-0) | at Sauk Rapids-Rice on Tuesday
:: The loss to Rogers (2-3-0) was a puzzler. The Crusaders lost to Rogers 4-1 and were outshot by the Royals 38-26. They didn't exactly make a 'top 10' impression with their win over Little Falls (1-7-0), either, 2-0. Senior forward Jordan Palusky, who was one of the top returning scorers in Class A this year, started the season with four goals against St. Cloud Apollo but has only scored two goals since. I'm interested to see how well they play against Sauk Rapids-Rice (1-5-1) on Tuesday night. The Storm have played better than their record would indicate.

9. Sartell-St. Stephen Sabres (4-1-1) | at Rogers on Tuesday
:: After losing their first game of the year to St. Cloud Cathedral, the Sabres are 4-0-1. They tied Section 6A rival Alexandria 5-5 on Saturday. The Sabres have a balanced scoring attack that has averaged 4.33 goals per game but they have been giving up goals as well, 3 per game, 4.5 in their last two games. I think the Sabres will continue to get better as the season wears on. Senior goaltender Brent Orndorff, a late returning football player, will settle back into a goals against average of under 3 goals per game that he had last year.

10. Alexandria Cardinals (3-1-1) | No games scheduled | at Roseau Classic next week
:: The Cardinals gave up a 4-2 3rd period lead to Sartell-St. Stephen and salvaged a 5-5 tie on Saturday. They also lost to Willmar, 2-3, on Tuesday. They outshot Willmar and Willmar is not bad this year but it was a bad loss for Alexandria. Luckily, teams ranked below Alexandria have struggled too. I think we will get a better indication of how good the Cardinals are when they go up to face Faribault, Lake of the Woods, and Roseau for the Roseau Holiday Classic next week.

Other ranking notes:

Duluth Marshall is 4-3-0 but their three losses were to good Class AA teams at the beginning of the season. Since those losses, the Hilltoppers have averaged 10 goals per game in four games. Right now, I put them just slightly behind Virginia/MIB to win the Section 7A title.

Spring Lake Park is 8-0-0 but they are ranked 13th. Why? They have only played and beaten one team with a winning record and that was the 3-2-2 Princeton/Milaca Tigers and that score was 3-2. The schedule will not be getting any tougher until they face Benilde-St. Margaret's on January 9th.

Mound-Westonka is 4-3-0 and they are having a weird year so far. They've beaten top 10 ranked Virginia/MIB and Faribault. They have lost to Hibbing/Chisholm and #19A Providence Academy. They also lost to #3A Warroad 0-5. The White Hawks are averaging 1.71 goals per game! Senior goaltender Aaron Davis has kept the White Hawks in games and has single-handedly won games for them. Davis saved 45 shots in 3-0 win against Virginia/MIB. He saved 34 shots in a 2-0 shutout win over Faribault on Saturday. He is averaging 35 saves per game in six games. He is allowing less than 2 goals per game.