MN High School Hockey Headlines
by WCHBlog on Dec 7, 2009 11:55 AM PST
4 comments
Tonka! Everyone knew Minnetonka would be really good, but they've just steamrolled everyone so far. They've given up only a single goal in four games, and have averaged over 7 per game. Of course, most people already knew they were better than everyone else. The real question is how they'll stack up against sectional rival Eden Prairie
Wayzata! Wayzata had a huge week last week knocking off powerhouse programs Centennial and Duluth East, and moving up to 9th in the FollowThePuck.com Top 10. The only problem is that even at 9th in the state, they're still ranked 4th in their own section behind top five teams Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, and Benilde.
Benik! Joey Benik got to play on FSN last week against East Ridge in East Ridge HS's first ever game. It was about what you'd expect. Benik finished with three goals, one an empty-netter. Benik is definitely talented, but comparing his goal totals to other players is like comparing dollars to pesos.
Kids! Apple Valley might be a team to watch in the metro area. They've got a pretty impressive collection of young talent. Hudson Fasching may be the best freshman in the state. He already has five goals on the season. They've got three sophomores worth watching as well in forward AJ Michaelson, defenseman Derek Smith, and defenseman Vince Pedrie. Pedrie joined the Apple Valley program after playing for the '94 Chicago Mission team, which has been pretty dominant in their age group.
Below Their Weight Class! Breck is off to a good start to the season, blowing out top Class A teams Red Wing and Mahtomedi. They'll face a tough test tomorrow when they take on that other Twin Cities private school that won't play in Class AA, St. Thomas
Television! FSN will be showing those two Twin Cities private schools that actually do play up in Class AA tomorrow night when Benilde takes on Hill-Murray. Thursday night should be pretty cool as they're showing a double-header with Stillwater and Roseville playing in girl's hockey and boy's hockey in back-to-back games. The boy's teams are just average, but both are very strong girl's programs.
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Apple Valley
Pedrie play last yr with Team Illinois, not Mission.
Weight Class joke fun and easy, but...
I don’t know about STA, but Breck would not be a good fit for AA due to the fact that they are a small school that does not consistently have a team that could compete with AA-level programs.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that once a school commits to AA they have to play at the AA level for 5 years. Breck will lose 12 seniors this year and suffice it to say may struggle the next few years if playing at the AA level. The Mustangs were very mediocre three seasons ago when they had roughly a dozen sophomores on the team.
What makes them stand out is that they blow people out in the 3rd period because Larson works them into top shape. That was the difference in last year’s tourney. Nobody could stick with them in period three.
As an aside, although the Breck community obviously loves their hockey, there is a great deal more emphasis on academics than sports at Breck. The school racks up infinitely more academic honors than sports honors.
You can have your soap box back! :)
Guy at HockeyBias dot com
The MSHSL
sets up competative secton assignments (including schools “opting-up”) every two years, not five.
As an example, I live in Bemidji, and the Lumberjacks decided to stop opting-up to AA (enrollment is A) for boy’s hockey for the ‘07-’08 season (after playing AA since the split) – i.e., they played their “true class” – A in ‘07-’08 and ‘08-’09. Then when the MSHSL re-assigned sections for ‘09-’10, Bemidji decided to “opt-up” to AA again.
This allows for a school that is having a good cycle to opt up for a couple years, then drop back down when they feel they are likely to struggle.
Hubbs!
Thanks Moose97!
Not sure where I got the 5 year’opting-up’ idea.
…STA looked VERY strong beating Breck 4-3 in OT. If it was not for Breck Keeper John Russell it could have been double digits!
Guy at HockeyBias dot com
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