Section 7A Preseason Prediction
| Team | Regular Season Wins in '10-'11 | More or Less Wins in '11-'12 | Section Rank |
| Hibbing/Chisholm | 14 | More | 1st |
| Duluth Denfeld | 12 | More | 2nd |
| Duluth Marshall | 14 | More | 3rd |
| Greenway/Nash-Kee | 9 | More | 4th |
| International Falls | 10 | Less | 5th |
| Virginia/Mountain Iron-Buhl | 18 | Less | 6th |
| Silver Bay/Cook County | 9 | More | 7th |
| Ely/Tower-Soudan | 5 | More | 8th |
| Two Harbors | 3 | More | 9th |
| Eveleth-Gilbert/Mesabi East | 13 | Less | 10th |
1. Hibbing/Chisholm
F Adam Johnson (11) - 70 pts (34g, 36a)
F Joe Anderson (12) - 44 pts (16g, 28a)
D Mike Pechnovnik (12) - 32 pts (9g, 23a)
- The defending Section 7A Champions are bringing back the most goal scoring in the Section and five experienced defensemen (Pechnoviks (Mike and Dylan), Schafer, Newbauer, and Rohwer).
- A new goaltender will step in to fill the big skates of graduated netminders Nathan Tromp and Tyler Rajkovich.
- The 2010-2011 state tournament was all abuzz about the performance that University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit Adam Johnson turned out. He should have another good year, maybe a 80 to 90 point season.
- Hibbing/Chisholm has depth so opponents will not be able to keep complete focus on Johnson alone.
- Joe Anderson, Mike Pechnovnik, and junior Derek Abrahamson are three more that could be in double-figures in goals this season.
- A new goaltender will step in to fill the big skates of graduated netminders Nathan Tromp and Tyler Rajkovich.
- The 2010-2011 state tournament was all abuzz about the performance that University of Minnesota-Duluth recruit Adam Johnson turned out. He should have another good year, maybe a 80 to 90 point season.
- Hibbing/Chisholm has depth so opponents will not be able to keep complete focus on Johnson alone.
- Joe Anderson, Mike Pechnovnik, and junior Derek Abrahamson are three more that could be in double-figures in goals this season.
- The Bluejackets will be very good but the new goaltender's play will be vital against the Section's Duluth teams and in the state tourney.
2. Duluth Denfeld
F Levi Talarico (11) - 38 pts (17g, 21a)
G Zach Thompson (11) - 12 wins, 3.46 GAA, .879 save percentage
D Ben Campbell (12) - 16 pts (7g, 9a)
- The Hunters are back after a year of remodeling their school while Duluth Central's school is closed forever. The Trojans will be missed.
- Duluth Denfeld does not return a lot of scoring this season. Junior Talarico stands out for the Hunters with his 17 returning goals while seven goals each by seniors Campbell and Brendan Johnson were the next best.
- The Hunters' defense and the goaltending combined could be the one of the best in Class A in the state.
- On defense, the Hunters return Campbell, Travis Samuelson, Nick Lavigne, Nate Beaulieu, Hermantown transfer Billy Grillo, and Duluth East transfer Nick Forbort. All six are seniors except for Samuelson, a junior.
- Junior goaltender Thompson is considered one of the best in the state. He played in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League this past Fall.
- The Hunters' defense and the goaltending combined could be the one of the best in Class A in the state.
- On defense, the Hunters return Campbell, Travis Samuelson, Nick Lavigne, Nate Beaulieu, Hermantown transfer Billy Grillo, and Duluth East transfer Nick Forbort. All six are seniors except for Samuelson, a junior.
- Junior goaltender Thompson is considered one of the best in the state. He played in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League this past Fall.
- Howie Hanson, Duluth News Tribune, had a chance to see Denfeld, Duluth Marshall, and Stillwater scrimmage recently. Hanson believes that this Hunters team could be Head Coach Kevin Smalley's best team ever.
3. Duluth Marshall
F Judd Peterson 43 pts (24g, 19a)
G Christian Coffman 9 wins, 2.73 GAA, .909 save percentage
D Jake Bushey 13 pts (7g, 6a)
- The Hilltoppers are not that far behind Duluth Denfeld in the rankings.
- Duluth Marshall has a sniper in Judd Peterson that scored more goals than the Hunters' Levi Talarico (17). Peterson comes back as the third highest goal scorer in the Section behind Hibbing/Chisholm's Adam Johnson (34) and Ely/Tower-Soudan's Billy Foy (27).
- The Hilltoppers have four experienced defensemen back in Bushey, Zach Isaacson, Doug Lewis, and Ryan Gotelaere.
- Duluth Marshall has a sniper in Judd Peterson that scored more goals than the Hunters' Levi Talarico (17). Peterson comes back as the third highest goal scorer in the Section behind Hibbing/Chisholm's Adam Johnson (34) and Ely/Tower-Soudan's Billy Foy (27).
- The Hilltoppers have four experienced defensemen back in Bushey, Zach Isaacson, Doug Lewis, and Ryan Gotelaere.
- Senior goalie Christian Hoffman had a better 2010-2011 season statistically than Duluth Denfeld's Zach Thompson.
- Duluth Marshall does not have the returning depth that Hibbing/Chisholm or Duluth Denfeld have. That is the only reason they are third instead of first or second. I expect the Hilltoppers to have a very legitimate shot at winning the Section.
4. Greenway/Nash-Kee
G Erikur Arnason (12) - 9 wins, 3.69 GAA, .904 save percentage
F Alex Troumbly (11) - 31 pts (20g, 11a)
F Jayden Gangl (11) - 22 pts (11g, 11a)
- The Raiders had a decent season in 2010-2011. It should even be better this season.
- Erikur Arnason is back in goal after a successful season and offseason. He was one of the elite goaltenders in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League in the Fall.
- Seven experienced defensemen are back to help Arnason around the net, Jayden Gangl, Tyler Haigh, Broday Geisler, Zach Childs, Derek Staydohar, Josh Gross, and Colton Hill.
- Alex Troumbly will take center stage on a senior-led Raider team and I expect another 20 goals from him.
- The Raiders should be over .500 this season and make some noise in the Section.
5. International Falls
F Lucas Debenedet (11) - 23 pts (10g, 13a)
D Joel Skirten (12) - 16 pts (3g, 13a)
F Christian Kittleson (12) - 13 pts (7g, 6a)
- The Broncos have a little depth in scoring but only Debenedet returns with double-figures in goals.
- International Falls has four defenders back that played a majority of last season but, a new goaltender will be stepping in this year.
- The Broncos will need to improve on their 2.92 goals per game from last season and their 4.04 goals per game that they gave up.
- International Falls has four defenders back that played a majority of last season but, a new goaltender will be stepping in this year.
- The Broncos will need to improve on their 2.92 goals per game from last season and their 4.04 goals per game that they gave up.
6. Virginia/Mountain-Iron Buhl
F Tyler Goodrie (12) - 12 pts (3g, 9a)
F Blair Seitz (12) - 9 pts (4g, 5a)
D Derek Judnick (12) - 8 pts (4g, 4a)
- Reed Larson takes over the reigns as the Head Coach for the Blue Devils. He will have a project on his hands as this team seeks to rebuild.
- Virginia/MIB brings back only 17 goals from a 111-goal regular season last year.
- Last season's starting goaltender Andy Milbridge graduated.
7. Silver Bay/Cook County
- Virginia/MIB brings back only 17 goals from a 111-goal regular season last year.
- Last season's starting goaltender Andy Milbridge graduated.
7. Silver Bay/Cook County
F Shane Billings (12) - 24 pts (15g, 9a)
F Cody Larson (12) - 22 pts (5g, 17a)
F Bradley Rowlee (10) - 21 pts (13g, 8a)
G Alex Murray (9) - 9 wins, 3.59 GAA, .895 save percentage
8. Ely/Tower-Soudan
F Billy Foy (12) - 50 pts (27g, 23a) in 17 games
F Nick Mathews (12) - 32 pts (10g, 22a) in 17 games
D Louis Gerzin (10) - 16 pts (5g, 11a) in 17 games
9. Two Harbors
F Alex Anderson (12) - 28 pts (9g, 19a)
F Austyn Wasko (11) - 25 pts (10g, 15a)
D Kory Buckman (10) - 11 pts (2g, 9a)
10. Eveleth-Gilbert/Mesabi East
D Brett Kivela (11) - 15 pts (6g, 9a)
F Alex Rowbottom (12) - 14 pts (6g, 8a)
D Luke Maki (12) - 9 pts (1g, 8a)
