CLASS AA | CLASS A
| 1. | Wayzata 8-0-0 12/23 Roseville Area |
| Wayzata started the season with eight straight wins. #13 Maple Grove, #4 Edina, #2 Duluth East, and #6 Apple Valley have all went down in defeat to the mighty Trojans. #16 Roseville Area will visit on Thursday. | |
| 2. | Duluth East 5-1-0 12/21 at Moorhead |
| The Hounds have outscored their opponents 41-6 so far this season. The only loss they have suffered so far was to #1 Wayzata, 2-1 in overtime. They will travel to #18 Moorhead on Tuesday and then face #4 Edina next week in the quarterfinals of the Schwan Cup. Right now, I prefer Duluth East's defense to shutdown Eden Prairie's offense like Edina did in the Edina Classic and the Hounds offense over Edina's. | |
| 3. | Eden Prairie 5-1-0 12/22 at Eagan |
| Eden Prairie had no problems with their first five opponents, defeating each of them by three or more goals and averaging over seven goals per game. Then came Edina in the third round of the Edina Classic. The Hornets were able to tame the Eagles high powered offense by giving up just two goals. Edina won 3-2 in overtime. If Edina would had not lost to Grand Rapids, they would be in the 3rd spot. | |
| 4. | Edina 5-2-0 No games scheduled |
| After the loss to Grand Rapids in the first round of the Edina Classic last week, I expected Edina to fall further down the rankings. However, Edina pulled off an amazing win in the third and last round of the Classic, the Hornets knocked off #2 Eden Prairie with a 2-1 overtime win. Schwan Cup is up next, next week versus #3 Duluth East in the quarterfinals. | |
| 5. | Benilde-St. Margaret's 5-0-0 12/21 at Maple Grove |
| Benilde-St. Margaret's gave #7 Minnetonka pay back for the 3-1 loss in last year's Section 6AA semifinals. The Red Knights won the rematch 3-2 last week. They have one game this week before facing #2 Eden Prairie next week in the quarterfinal game of the St. Louis Park Rec Invitational. | |
| 6. | Apple Valley 6-2-0 12/23 Prior Lake |
| The Eagles traveled to Grand Forks, ND last week and dominated play at the Stadstad Classic. They won 5-0, 6-3, and then 6-2 over Grand Forks Central in the Championship game. AJ Michaelson had six goals, 3 assists in the three games. | |
| 7. | Minnetonka 4-1-0 12/21 at Stillwater Area 12/23 Blaine |
| The Skippers took a tough loss against Benilde-St. Margaret's, 3-2, in their only game last week. They have two this week. Due to all of the talent that Minnetonka lost to graduation last season and the fact that they are not blowing teams out this year, the Skippers may not be getting the respect they should. | |
| 8. | Burnsville 3-1-1 12/21 at Lakeville South |
| After a tough schedule at the start of the season, the Blaze had no problem last week with easy wins over Rosemount and Eastview. Only one game this week on Tuesday night at Lakeville against South. | |
| 9. | Hill-Murray 4-2-0 12/23 at White Bear Lake |
| The Pioneers defeated Mahtomedi and Lakeville South last week. I still think they are the team to beat in Section 4AA. They play #10 White Bear Lake next and then Breck School next week in the quarterfinals of the Schwan Cup. | |
| 10. | White Bear Lake 5-1-0 12/23 Hill-Murray |
| The Bears score goals. In four out of their six games, they have scored five or more goals and they have won by more than three goals. Large wins over Cretin-Derham Hall and East Ridge last week. The Bears will host their biggest rival, #9 Hill-Murray, on Thursday at the new Vadnais Heights Sports Center. | |
| 11. | Grand Rapids 7-1-0 12/21 Brainerd/P/P |
| Two big wins for the Thunderhawks at the Edina Classic last week, Edina 2-1, Elk River/Zim 3-1. They did lose a offensive shootout with #2 Eden Prairie, 9-5. Expect more offense when Brainerd/P/P comes to town on Tuesday night. | |
| 12. | Eagan 2-2-1 12/22 Eden Prairie |
| Eagan had a nice win over Lakeville South, 4-0, last Thursday but took a tough loss, 2-1, to Lakeville North last Saturday in overtime. North's Lindgren saved 54 Wildcats' shots. Eagan hosts #2 Eden Prairie on Wednesday night. | |
| 13. | Maple Grove 3-1-1 12/21 Benilde-SM |
| Wins over Champlin Park and Centennial last week. Tough schedule coming up with #5 Benilde-SM on Tuesday and then the St. Louis Park Rec Invitational next week. | |
| 14. | Blaine 4-0-1 12/21 at Anoka 12/23 at Minnetonka |
| Blaine had wins over Osseo and North Metro last week outscoring them 14-1 in total. Nick Bjugstad was the face of the Bengals last year, this year it is Jonny Brodzinski and junior goaltender Nick Malvin. | |
| 15. | Stillwater Area 3-1-1 12/21 Minnetonka |
| Loss to Cretin-DH in the first game of the year. Wins over Roseville, Woodbury, and Mounds View. The Skippers are next on the schedule and they will be a good test for the Ponies to see if the 3rd/4th best team in 4AA is as good as the 3rd/4th best team in 6AA. | |
| 16. | Roseville Area 5-1-0 12/23 at Wayzata |
| The Raiders do not give up much, 1.33 GAA. Wins over Virginia/MIB, Woodbury, and Forest Lake. Only loss to Stillwater. #1 Wayzata is up next. | |
| 17. | Bemidji 7-0-1 No games scheduled |
| The Lumberjacks have been a mild surprise so far. Their schedule has comprised mostly of Class A opponents but they have wins over Warroad, Thief River Falls, East Grand Forks, and a tie with Moorhead. | |
| 18. | Moorhead 2-1-1 12/21 Duluth East |
| The Spuds have only scored eight goals in four games. But, they have only given up five goals. The scoring should develop as the season progresses and the Spuds are solid with Bitzer in goal. | |
| 19. | Roseau 2-5-0 No games scheduled |
| Since junior goaltender Jared Strand took over in goal, Rams are 2-0-0, 1.12 GAA, .943 save % with wins over Moorhead and Holy Angels. Before Strand, the Rams were 0-5-0, 6.07 GAA, .778 save %. If Strand sticks, Rams are on their way up. | |
| 20. | Forest Lake 1-2-2 12/22 Hastings |
| The Rangers lost two games by a total of two goals to two higher ranked teams, they have two ties, and one win. The defense and goaltending looks to be there. They need to find an offensive leader. |
