Class A Rankings Week #4 (12/18/2022): Hermantown holds down the number one spot while Two Rivers, one of six unbeaten teams in Class A makes their debut in the rankings at #14. Follow on Twitter @ClassAHockeyGuy for more Minnesota High School Class A News and Notes……..enjoy the rankings!
1.Hermantown (7A) (3-0-1)
Past Week Results: W 8-1 Duluth Marshall
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ #10 Duluth Denfeld, 12/22 @ #4 Orono
The Hawks blew out a struggling Toppers team to start their week in a game that was surprisingly tied 1-1 but a seven-goal 2nd period put an end to any chance of an upset and Hermatown cruised to the win. The other game vs Rosemount was postponed so another small sample size week for the Hawks. This week they play their first Class A competition of the year and they have two good ones facing off against 7A ranked Denfeld before hitting the road for a huge Class A Pre-Christmas showdown with unbeaten Orono.
2. Warroad (8A) (5-0-0)
Past Week Results: Idle
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ #13 Thief River Falls
The Warriors did not play their highly anticipated game with East Grand Forks due to the weather. The Warriors and Greenwave will now face off in a rare Monday/Tuesday Home and Home right before 8A Playoffs in a series that will more than likely determine the number 1 seed. This week Warroad has just one contest, a game at ranked Thief River Falls in an important Section game.
3. Mahtomedi (4A) (5-1-0)
Past Week Results: Idle
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs Stillwater
The Zephyrs had their only game of the week vs Hill Murray snowed out, so they were idle. This week they faceoff with the AA team they share the rink within Stillwater. This one should be a very good test for the Zephyrs as Stillwater is a surprise team in 4AA this year and it will take a very good game from Mahtomedi to get the win. Another good test as they prepare to ultimately be battle tested reach the X this March.
4. Orono (2A) (7-0-0)
Past Week Results: W 3-1 #6 Northfield, W 3-2 Minneapolis, W 3-2 OT Waconia
Upcoming Schedule: 12/22 vs #1 Hermantown
The Spartans got off to a great start with a win over Section 1A favorites Northfield at home to start their week to pick up another very good resume building win for this group. Orono then struggled but found a way against Section 2A teams the rest of the week. First knocking off the defending 2A Champions Minneapolis to pick up a road section win in the middle part of their week. They followed that with another tough game against 2A Waconia at home as they struggled to solve the Wildcat goaltender. However, after nearly 50 shots they were able to win the game in OT and stay unbeaten and this week they welcome the defending Class A Champions to town which will be a great test before Christmas for this veteran group.
5. East Grand Forks (8A) (5-2-0)
Past Week Results: W 3-2 #19 Alexandria
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs Bemidji, 12/22 @ Grand Forks Red River
The Greenwave only had one game due to weather and they went to Defending 6A Champion Alexandria and picked up a nice win on the road. They jumped out to a three-goal lead and held on for the win over a better than their record Alexandria team. This week the Greenwave take on AA Bemidji before they head across the border to take on Grand Forks Red River in a Gambucci Cup Game.
6. Northfield (1A) (6-2-0)
Past Week Results: L 1-3 #4 Orono, W 4-3 Osseo, W 6-1 Spring Lake Park
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ #15 New Prague
The Raiders got out of the gate very slow in their big match up with Orono to start the week and they fell behind 3-0 before showing some life in the third period which was too late, and they dropped their second game of the year. They did rebound to pick up a win, while more interesting than it needed to be, over AA Osseo. They followed that up with a convincing win over Spring Lake Park to finish off the weekend with two wins. This week they have a huge 1A game when they travel to defending 1A Champion New Prague.
7. Detroit Lakes (8A) (5-1-1)
Past Week Results: W 8-1 Crookston
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ Morris/Benson
The Lakers had two games snowed out before finally getting to play an important Section 8A Crookston on the road. The Lakers took care of business and scored early and often in their 8-2 rout on the road. It was an impressive enough result vs some of the others in the Top 10 who faltered to move them up a few spots. This week they have a very winnable game at Morris/Benson to stay hot heading into the Holiday break.
8. Hibbing (7A) (5-3-1)
Past Week Results: W 7-0 Greenway
Upcoming Schedule: 12/22 vs Proctor
Hibbing did exactly what they needed to do this week as they took care of business in their only game, winning a very important Section 7A game on the road at Greenway. The Bluejackets blew open a 2-0 lead with a five goal third period displaying some needed offensive fire power behind the big nights of Broden Fawcett and Beau Frider. Hibbing has been solid within their five Class A games this year which they are unbeaten going (4-0-1) and deserve to make the move up this week up. Only one game again on the schedule this week and it’s another important one vs. 7A Proctor at home.
9. Duluth Denfeld (7A) (4-2-1)
Past Week Results: W 5-3 Rock Ridge, W 3-1 Superior
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs #1 Hermantown, 12/22 @ Grand Rapids
The Hunters had a very nice week they picked up a very important Section 7A 5-3 win over Rock Ridge, who showed over the weekend they are a tough team, to start their week to stay in control of the #3 seed for Sectional purposes behind Andrew Larson’s big 4 goal night. Then they avenged a loss from last week when they took down Superior 3-1 to win both games on the week. The Hunter are currently unbeaten in Class A competition but the schedule ramps up significantly this week as the Hunters play the beasts of Northeast Minnesota when they take on Hermantown and Grand Rapids.
10. Little Falls (5A) (3-2-1)
Past Week Results: T 2-2 Rock Ridge
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ Brainerd
The Flyers had their first two games snowed out and looked like a rusty team when they played their only game of the week at Rock Ridge. The Flyers were outworked and outshot heavily on the night 48-29 and had to overcome a 2-goal deficit just to be lucky to tie. Not the impressive result you were looking for a team coming off such a good week one week prior. They will look for a better outcome this week when they take on nearby AA rival Brainerd.
11. Delano (2A) (2-3-0)
Past Week Results:W 3-1 Hutchinson
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ St Cloud Cathedral, 12/22 @ Holy Family
Delano’s had two of their important 2A games this week wiped out due to weather, but they were able to play Hutchinson in a key early season Section 2A Game on Saturday. Delano showed the type of hockey we are accustomed to when thinking of their program as they won a very good 3-1 game at home. They methodically wore down Hutchinson and played their structure and system perfectly to pick up another good section win after a slow start to the season Delano is starting to shape into form. This week they have a big game at St Cloud Cathedral before they head to AA Holy Family, a program they historically are never able to beat.
12. Litchfield Dassel/Cokato (2A) (5-0-1)
Past Week Results: W 7-4 Breck
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ Waconia, 12/22 @ Marshall
The Dragons picked up a critical Section 2A win over Breck in their only game of the week. They jumped out to a quick 3 goal lead and never gave it up to stay unbeaten on the year. This week they have two more games. They play a Section 2A game at Waconia and then head south to play Marshall. A team that has not gotten a ton of attention but has been very solid in the games they have played to start the year.
13. Thief River Falls (8A) (2-4-1)
Past Week Results: L 2-3 OT Gentry Academy, L 3-6 Totino Grace
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs. #2 Warroad
The Prowlers were on the up one on a solid Gentry Academy team before the Stars scored 1:20 left in the game and then won it in OT. The next day again the Prowlers were in a one goal game with a solid AA Totino-Grace squad before a late power play and empty net goal let the Eagles pull away. Yes, the record is not great but they showed in their Class A games they are a tough team but their schedule stays extremely tough this week as they take on Warroad in their only game of the week.
14. Two Rivers (4A) (8-0-1)
Past Week Results: W 8-1 St Paul Johnson, W 3-1 South St Paul
Upcoming Schedule: 12/22 vs. Rochester John Marshall
The Warriors continued their great start to the year and burst into the rankings this week with 2 more wins that were important as they were also Section 4A wins. Two Rivers took care of St Paul Johnson easily to start the week and eventually put away South St Paul to end it; they are the first Class A team to reach 8 wins on the young season. This team should continue to win heading into the New Year looking at their schedule this week just one game when they host AA Rochester John Marshall.
15. New Prague (1A) (3-2-0)
Past Week Results: W 4-3 Faribault,, L 1-7 Chaska
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs #6 Northfield, 12/22 @ Rochester Lourdes
The Trojans picked up a surprisingly tight win over 1A Faribault in a game where they needed to score in the last 2 minutes of the third to pull out the 1 goal win. They followed that up by getting routing at AA Chaska in a Metro West Conference Game. Not the best week for the Trojans but all those bad vibes can be erased this coming week when they take on 1A Favorite Northfield at home and then 1A Rochester Lourdes on the road in critical seeding games.
16. Hutchinson (2A) (4-2-0)
Past Week Results: W 7-1 Sauk Rapids, L 1-3 #11 Delano
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs New Ulm
The Tigers jumped to a quick 4 goal lead against Sauk Rapids to stay hot and take care of business on the road to start their week. However, in their big Section 2A matchup on the road Hutchinson ran into a better hockey team as Delano was able to take care of business and beat Hutchinson in a critical seeding game. This week Hutchinson has an interesting one as they take on New Ulm who are unbeaten but yet to play a non Big South Conference team. How that game goes will give a better feel for both teams.
17. Providence Academy (2A) (5-2-0)
Past Week Results: L 2-9 Armstrong/Cooper, W 7-1 Duluth Marshall
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs Holy Family
The Lions got routed on the road by Armstrong/Cooper giving up 8 first period goals and they went crashing out of the Top Ten this week. They did rebound to beat a struggling Duluth Marshall team, but the first game of the week really raises legitimate questions about this team’s defense and goaltending as those concerns appear to be very real. This week it does not get any easier as they have a game vs solid AA Holy Family at home.
18. Chisago Lakes (4A) (0-1-1)
Past Week Results: Idle
Upcoming Schedule: 12/19 @ Osseo, 12/20 vs Roseville, 12/22 vs Forest Lake
The Wildcats have still only played two games this season after winter weather knocked out two more of their games this week. Have no idea what to make of this team with such a small sample size but this week they play 3 games in 4 days and they are all against AA teams. We will see how they fare to hopefully get a better idea of this 4A team.
19. Alexandria (6A) (0-4-0)
Past Week Results: L 2-3 #5 East Grand Forks
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 @ Northern Lakes, 12/12 vs St Cloud
The Cardinals showed against #5 East Grand Forks in their only game of the week why it’s hard to throw this team out of the rankings even though they have a winless start. They played the Greenwave tough, and their four losses are to the #4, #5, #10 in Class A and to a (4-1-0) AA team so far this year. Would any of the teams below them have any better record than (0-4-0) on their schedule I don’t think so. They have a ton of talent on this roster, and I think they will still end up winning Section 6A. Lets see how they do in their first Section 6A game this week at Northern Lakes.
20. Fergus Falls (6A) (2-2-0)
Past Week Results: Idle
Upcoming Schedule: 12/20 vs River Lakes
The Otters had both of their games wiped out due to weather and were idle for the week. This week they have just one game, but it will be one to keep an eye on. They play CLC River Lakes, a team they cannot be overlooked but also a game the Otters need to win if they want to be thinking they are contenders in a very weak 6A this year. Should be a low scoring physical game this week.
The Next 5 in Class A Week #4-
New Ulm (3A) (6-0-0)- The Eagles won another Big South Conference game this week and now (6-0) in Conference play. We know they can win in their weak conference, but can they beat anyone else? Big test vs #16 Hutchinson this week.
Mankato East (3A) (3-4-0)- The Cougars have now won three in a row and are starting to round into form to show they are the favorite to win Section 3A.
Monticello (5A) (2-3-1)- The Moose picked up another win in Section 5A and the defending Section Champions are another team looking better and better each passing week.
Albert Lea (1A) (4-3-0)- The Tigers picked up 2 wins this week and are in the mix for the top three seeds in Section 1A. Their win over Rock Ridge looks better after week.
Rock Ridge (7A) (3-3-0)- A solid (1-1-1) week with a loss to Denfeld and then outplayed Little Falls but tied before taking down Cathedral shows the Wolverines are not to be overlooked.