CLASS AA | CLASS A
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 1 | Hill-Murray | All stats are from the 2009-2010 regular season: F - Ben Bahe (12) | 29 pts (11g, 18a) F - Ryan Holler (12) | 26 pts (13g, 13a) F - Loren French (12) | 24 pts (7g, 17a) F - Kevin Becker (12) | 22 pts (14g, 8a) F - Zach LaValle (10) | 22 pts (8g, 14a) F - Charlie Sampair (12) | 19 pts (12g, 7a) D - J. D. Cotroneo (12) | 18 pts (3g, 15a) F - Andy Faust (11) | 9 pts (4g, 5a) D - Kevin Schulze (12) | 9 pts (2g, 7a) D - Connor McCallum (12) | 9 pts (1g, 8a) F - Bob Bruski (12) | 5 pts (4g, 1a) D - Jonah Johnson (11) | 5 pts (1g, 4a) D - Jake Guentzel (10) - New enrollee G - Tim Shaughnessy (12) 18-2-1, .919 save %, 1.71 GAA, 7 SO |
Thumbs Up: Depth, defense, goaltending. They lost a little to graduation but filled some of the defensive void left by Chris Casto and Jordan Johnson when Jake Guentzel transferred over from Woodbury. It took four overtimes and a goal by Minnetonka's Erik Baskin to deny the Pioneers a shot at the Class AA title last March at the X. Minnetonka and Edina lost more to graduation. Unless Kyle Rau carries Eden Prairie on his back all the way to state, it should be Hill-Murray's year to win their fourth title. Thumbs Down: Right now, none. 2009-2010 Record: 27-3-1 | Defeated Apple Valley 6-3 for third place, Class AA State Tourney Returning goal production: 80 goals (Tied for 4th most) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 54 (40.30%) - Willie Faust 20g - Jack Walsh 13g - Chris Casto 11g - David Bruchu 7g - Jordan Johnson 3g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 2 | Wayzata | F - Tony Cameranesi (12) | 45 pts (16g, 29a) W - Mario Lucia (11) | 40 pts (15g, 25a) W - Tyler Klein (12) | 25 pts (14g, 11a) D - DJ Jones (12) | 23 pts (5g, 18a) C - Bryan Tabery (12) | 17 pts (9g, 8a) D - Marc Richards (12) | 14 pts (5g, 9a) D - Miles Death (11) | 9 pts (2g, 7a) W - Tanner Jensen (12) | 8 pts (5g, 3a) C - Kage Tiller (11) | 5 pts (4g, 1a) D - Matt Halverson (11) | 4 pts (1g, 3a) F - Michael Lee (12) | 4 pts (1g, 2a) W - Sam Majka (11) | 2 pts (1g, 1a) G - Andrew McIntyre (12) 11-1-2, .920 save %, 1.61 GAA, 3 SO |
Thumbs Up: Top-end scoring with Cameranesi, Lucia, and Klein. May be the strongest team in the state defensively. McIntyre is returning in goal where he lost only once last season. I think Wayzata has enough defense to trump Mr. Hockey hopeful Kyle Rau and the Eden Prairie Eagles, the red scoring machine that is Benilde-St. Margaret's, and this year's less-loaded Minnetonka Skippers to win the Section 6AA title this year. Thumbs Down: Lucia has been playing for Team USA (USNTDP) in the USHL after leaving the Elite League early in its season. Coach Davis said he was expecting him to return to Wayzata but he could not confirm it. If Lucia comes home, the Trojans will be tough to beat, just like last season. 2009-2010 Record: 21-3-3 | Lost to Eden Prairie 4-1, Section 6AA Semifinal Returning goal production: 78 goals (7th most) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 45 (36.59%) - Scott Holm 22g - Danny Walsh 10g - Lucas Whelan 7g - Seth Barnes 3g - John Myhra 2g - Colin Mohagen 1g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 3 | Eden Prairie | F - Kyle Rau (12) | 77 pts (38g, 39a) D - Dan Molenaar (12) | 32 pts (7g, 25a) W - Mark Rath (12) | 22 pts (9g, 13a) W - Luc Gerdes (12) | 22 pts (8g, 14a) W - Jack McCartan (12) | 19 pts (7g, 12a) C - David Rath (12) | 19 pts (7g, 12a) D - Nick Seeler (12) | 17 pts (3g, 14a) D - Curt Rau (12) | 11 pts (0g, 11a) F - Murphy Alexander (12) | 8 pts (5g, 3a) F - Ben Boldenow (12) | 3 pts (1g, 2a) F - Danny Thayer (11) | 2 pts (1g, 1a) D - Joe Kerker (12) | 2 pts (0g, 2a) D - Matt Stover (12) | 1 pt (0g, 1a) G - Andrew Ford 14-5-0, .906 save %, 2.39 GAA, 2 SO |
Thumbs Up: The Eagles only lost one player on defense to graduation, Jimmy Stewart. All other top teams lost at least two. During the 2009-2010 season, the Eagles defense only allowed opponents 23 shots per game on average and they had a 1.83 GAA overall. Kyle Rau is staying home for his senior season. Thumbs Down: Kyle Rau is currently the only go-to guy on the team when they need a goal. The Eagles are extremely dependent on him. Rau actually made an announcement earlier this week to head for the USHL in Sioux Falls but then quickly retracted the decision. Without Rau, the Eagles go from being the 3rd best team in the state to the 4th best team in Section 6AA. 2009-2010 Record: 22-5-1 | Lost to Minnetonka 7-2, 6AA Championship Returning goal production: 86 goals (2nd most) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 48 (35.82%) - Mitch Rogge 22g - Mike Erickson 20g - Chase Loken 4g - Dan Vack 2g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 4 | Edina | F - Steven Fogarty (12) | 30 pts (18g, 12a) F - Michael Sit (12) | 22 pts (11g, 11a) F - Jake Sampson (12) | 20 pts (9g, 11a) F - Ben Walker (11) | 14 pts (6g, 8a) F - Jon Cote (12) | 11 pts (4g, 7a) D - Ben Ostlie (12) | 11 pts (3g, 8a) D - Max Everson (12) | 10 pts (2g, 8a) D - Parker Reno (10) | 8 pts (3g, 5a) F - Joey Kopp (12) | 5 pts (2g, 3a) F - Lou Nanne (11) | 3 pts (3g, 0a) F - Preston Blanek (11) | 2 pts (1g, 1a) G - Connor Girard (12) 7-3-1, .906 save %, 1.96 GAA, 3 SO |
Thumbs Up: The 2010 State Champions return with hope for a repeat. Six returning players participated in the Upper Midwest Elite League this past fall. They are not a flashy, high scoring team but Head Coach Curt Giles knows how to win. Connor Girard, a huge reason for the team's surge to the state title, is back in goal for his senior season. Thumbs Down: The defense lost three solid players to graduation. Charlie Taft will be missed on offense. 2009-2010 Record: 23-6-2 | Defeated Minnetonka, 4-2, in the Class AA State Championship Returning goal production: 62 goals Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 44 (41.51%) - Charlie Taft 16g - Blake Chapman 9g - Brett Stolpestad 6g - Ryan Cutshall 5g - David Jarrett 4g - Jake Heck 2g - Cole Kretzman 2g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 5 | Benilde-St. Margaret's | F - Patrick Steinhauser (12) 54 pts (24g, 30a) F - Christian Horn (11) 51 pts (16g, 35a) F - Grant Besse (10) 46 pts (27g, 19a) D - Jake Horton (11) 29 pts (8g, 21a) F - John Duda (12) 19 pts (7g, 12a) F - Dan Pemberton (12) 14 pts (4g, 10a) D - Patrick Daly (12) 12 pts (1g, 11a) F - TJ Moore (10) 7 pts (4g, 3a) D - Alec Anderson (11) 7 pts (1g, 6a) F - Patrick Graham (10) 7 pts (1g, 6a) F - Dan Labosky (10) 6 pts (3g, 3a) D - Ryan Minkoff (12) 6 pts (1g, 5a) F - Jake O'Borsky (11) 38 pts (21g, 17a) - transfer from Red Wing ?G?: Anders Jecha 3-0-0, .917 save %, 1.37 GAA, 1 SO |
Thumbs Up: The Red Knights should have the most potent offense in the state. Thumbs Down: The defense was suspect last year. Opponents averaged almost 26 shots per game and 2.6 goals and most of their opponents were from the North Suburban Conference. The Red Knights were 6-7-2 against teams not in the conference. Also, a new goaltender will be relied on to takeover for the graduated Jacob Meyers. 2009-2010 Record: 17-7-3 | Lost to Minnetonka 3-1, Section 6AA Semifinal Returning goal production: 97 goals (Most in Class AA) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 34 (25.95%) - Will Nelson 15g - Brett Patterson 11g - David Tranvik 3g - John Kernan 3g - Sam Anderson 1g - Ryan Palm 1g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 6 | Minnetonka | F - Derek Frawley (12) | 44 pts (16g, 28a) F - Max Coatta (10) | 41 pts (20g, 21a) F - Thomas Schutt (12) | 38 pts (19g, 19a) F - Connor Ryan (12) | 24 pts (7g, 17a) F - Erik Baskin (11) | 19 pts (8g, 11a) F - Sam Rothstein (11) | 19 pts (7g, 12a) D - Michael Prochno (11) | 8 pts (0g, 8a) F - Michael Helmer (12) | 4 pts (1g, 3a) D - Joe Schuldt (11) | 2 pts (1g, 1a) F - Nick Erhart (12) | 2 pts (1g, 1a) F - Jess Norman (12) | 2 pts (0g, 2a) G - Alex Glockner (12) 8-0-0, .944 save %, 0.88 GAA, 2 So |
Thumbs Up: The Skippers have a lot of returning weapons and should be able to reload the departed with good prospects from Bantams. The Minnetonka A Bantams were 42-12-1 last season. Thumbs Down: The Skippers lost four out of six excellent defensemen, the talented Max Gardiner, and a solid goaltender Jimmy Kruger to graduation. The Skippers will win games but they most likely will not bury the competition like they did in most games last year. 2009-2010 Record: 27-2-2 | Lost to Edina, 4-2, Class AA State Championship Returning goal production: 80 goals (Tied for 4th most) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 71 (47.02%) - Max Gardiner 17g - Justin Holl 17g - Jake Thornberg 14g - Tommy Lundquist 10g - Andrew Prochno 7g - Jake Rossman 4g - Troy Hesketh 2g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 7 | Apple Valley | F - Hudson Fasching (10) | 36 pts (20g, 16a) F - AJ Michaelson (11) | 25 pts (13g, 12a) F - Kris Goodman (12) | 20 pts (10g, 10a) F - Michael Berens (12) | 20 pts (8g, 12a) D - Vince Pedrie (11) | 17 pts (5g, 12a) D - Derek Smith (11) | 16 pts (4g, 12a) F - Tate Erickson (11) | 8 pts (3g, 5a) F - Trent Heuer (11) | 8 pts (2g, 6a) F - Jordan Ocel (11) | 7 pts (3g, 4a) D - Anthony Leong (11) | 5 pts (0g, 5a) F - Dustin LaFrance (11) | 3 pts (0g, 3a) F - Thomas Obarski (12) | 1 pt (0g, 1a) F - John Dirks (11) | 1 pt (0g, 1a) G - Aaron Gretz (12) 11-9-0, .899 save %, 2.52 GAA, 1 SO (3 SO in playoffs) |
Thumbs Up: Fasching, Michaelson, and Gretz are back. All three came up huge in last year's playoffs and they finished fourth in the Class AA state tourney. Thumbs Down: Can goaltender Gretz work his magic again? He only had one shutout during the season but shutout three opponents in the playoffs. He will be important because the Eagles lack scoring and defensive depth. Last year, the Eagles averaged just 3.68 goals per game while giving up 2.80 goals. Eagan and Cretin-Derham Hall will not be pushovers in their pursuit to get back to the X. 2009-2010 Record: 18-13-0 | Finished fourth at the Class AA State Tournament, lost 6-3 to Hill-Murray Returning goal production: 68 goals (9th most) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 24 (26.09%) - Chris Fischer 11g - Adam Robson 7g - Alex Trenary 3g - Peter Sikich 2g - Ryan Geary 1g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 8 | Brainerd/P/P | F - Josh Archibald (12) | 50 pts (20g, 30a) F - Brett Jenkins (12) | 42 pts (24g, 18a) F - Matt Pohlkamp (11) | 36 pts (20g, 16a) F/D - Mitchell McLain (11) | 20 pts (12g, 8a) F - Mason Fussy (12) | 15 pts (8g, 7a) F - Michael Monda (12) | 10 pts (0g, 10a) F - Gaven Motschenbacher (11) | 1 pt (0g, 1a) F - John McLeod (12) | 0 pts (0g, 0a) G - Jared Stearns (11) |
Thumbs Up: Lots of scoring at the top with Archibald, Jenkins, Pohlkamp, and McLain. Thumbs Down: The lack of depth and replacing Reid Mimmack in goal are a concern. 2009-2010 Record: 23-4-0 | Lost to Roseau, 3-2 in overtime, in the Section 8AA semifinal Returning goal production: 84 goals (3rd most) Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 24 (22.22%) - Michael Rinio 7g - Jordan Posch 5g - Sean Halvorson 4g - Brandon Wing 3g - Bren Smith 3g - Tate Rusk 2g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 9 | Bloomington Jefferson | F- Ryan Siiro (12) | 26 pts (14g, 12a) F - Nick Nielsen (12) | 25 pts (13g, 12a) F - Johnny Roisum (12) | 24 pts (12g, 12a) F - Eric Freschi (12) | 19 pts (9g, 10a) F - Tim Donohue (12) | 17 pts (5g, 12a) F - Austin Hunt (11) | 7 pts (1g, 6a) D - Cam Bentz (12) | 6 pts (1g, 5a) F - Colin Hernon (10) | 3 pts (3g, 0a) D - Nick Roffers (12) | 3 pts (0g, 3a) D - Ian Janco (11) | 0 pts (0g, 1a) G - Justin Woodley (12) 10-3-2, .889 save %, 2.19 GAA, 2 SO |
Thumbs Up: Siiro, Nielsen, Roisum, Freschi, Donohue, and Woodley Thumbs Down: Lost A LOT to graduation 2009-2010 Record: 19-6-3 | Lost to Edina, 4-1, in the Section 2AA Championship Returning goal production: 58 goals Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 83 (58.87%) - Caleb Herbert 26g - Tyler Dietzler 18g - Joe Faust 12g - Zach Knight 9g - Alex Nicholas 8g - Jeffrey Pauluk 7g - Nate Perpich 2g - Jake Perpich 1g |
| Pos | Team | Probable Returning Players |
| 10 | Duluth East | F - Jake Randolph (11) | 28 pts (5g, 23a) F - Phil Johnson (12) | 18 pts (9g, 9a) F - Zac Schendel (12) | 14 pts (11g, 3a) D - Nate Repensky (11) | 13 pts (2g, 11a) F - Trevor Olson (11) | 11 pts (5g, 6a) F - Dom Toninato (11) | 11 pts (4g, 7a) D - Hunter Bergerson (12) | 7 pts (2g, 5a) F - Luke Renier (12) | 6 pts (1g, 5a) F - Steven Holappa (11) | 1 pt (1g, 0a) D - Meirs Moore (11) | 0 pts (0g, 0a) Jo Jo Jeanetta 9-4-4, .902 save %, 2.03 GAA, 0 SO |
Thumbs Up: The defensive-minded Coach Mike Randolph has a good core of players returning plus Duluth East had the best Bantam A team (59-12-1) in the state last year according to MyHockeyRankings.com. Also, Jo Jo Jeanetta and his 2.28 goals against average from last season will be back in goal for the Hounds. Thumbs Down: Four starting defensemen graduated and Andy Welinski went to the USHL. Still, Coach Randolph finds a way to reload his team every year. 2009-2010 Record: 21-6-4 | Defeated Roseau, 3-1, for fifth place in the Class AA State Tournament Returning goal production: 40 goals Goal production lost to graduation or leaving early: 47 (45.98%) - Nolan Meyer 11g | Transferred to Cloquet/E/C - Kyle Lutzka 10g - Kenny Mellin 10g - Troy Olson 7g - Andy Welinski 3g - USHL Green Bay - Kevin Brazerol 2g - Tim Beddow 2g - Tyler Mass 1g - Jayce Paulseth 1g |
I know some are looking at Brainerd as being too high. I can understand that. They are not Roseau or Moorhead. They have not received the respect to win when it counts like the Rams and the Spuds do. Both Roseau and Moorhead have to reload on offense. Roseau needs a new goaltender to step up. It may be a stretch to base Brainerd's high rank on the success of Archibald, Jenkins, and Pohlkamp. However, every team below them has holes to fill. Any ranked team after Minnetonka becomes more of a guess until the season starts.
Academy of Holy Angels, White Bear Lake, Cretin-Derham Hall, and Eagan are sitting just outside of the top 10.
Forest Lake, Roseau, Osseo, Grand Rapids, Maple Grove, and Burnsville could make some noise.
Keep an eye on unsuspecting teams like St. Cloud Tech and Champlin Park. Tech has most of its team back that finished 17-10-0 last season.
Many good teams were severely depleted due to graduation including Moorhead (81.71% goal production loss), Elk River/Zimmerman (79.81% gpl), Blaine (73.88% gpl), Centennial (72.57% gpl), and Woodbury (89.01% gpl). Woodbury only had three underclassmen on their varsity roster last season.
It will be interesting to see who comes away with the Section 5AA title as I think that Section is more wide open than it has been in a long time. Teams like Osseo, Maple Grove, and even Champlin Park have a good shot at winning the Section over perennial 5AA powers Blaine and Centennial.
Right now, I like Rochester Century to win Section 1AA over Lakeville South. Century has more depth. South has Alex Harvey and Justin Kloos but the scoring drops off after those two. Lakeville North's best returning scorer had nine goals, second best had two goals. North goaltender Charlie Lindgren is a bright spot but he cannot carry this team on his back.
Preseason predictions to win each Section:
1AA: Rochester Century
2AA: Edina
3AA: Apple Valley
4AA: Hill-Murray
5AA: Maple Grove
6AA: Wayzata
7AA: Duluth East
8AA: Brainerd/P/P
My pick for Mr. Hockey: Kyle Rau - Eden Prairie
