Class A Rankings Week #11 (2/5/2023) Warroad again is the top team in class A and maybe even the stae? Follow on Twitter @ClassAHockeyGuy for more Minnesota High School Class A News and Notes……..enjoy the rankings!
1. Warroad (8A) (21-0-0)
Past Week Results: W 5-3 Bemidji, W 5-0 Thief River Falls, W 4-0 Grand Forks Central
Upcoming Schedule: 2/6 @ #5 East Grand Forks, 2/7 vs #5 East Grand Forks, 2/9 @ Bemidji
The Warriors were able to win their senior night in a close game with Bemidji as they were never able to fully pull away but a good win for them to start the week nonetheless. They then had a tight contest with Thief River Falls for two periods but eventually broke the game wide open with a big 4 goal third period to win convincingly. They wrapped up the week by taking care of Grand Forks Central, who beat EGF 2 days earlier, to stay unbeaten on the year. This week the games we have been waiting for a back to back home and home with East Grand Forks with the #1 seed in 8A and a perfect season on the line.
2. Hermantown (7A) (18-2-1)
Past Week Results: W 2-1 #3 Orono, W 6-1 Cloquet, W 7-0 Totino Grace
Upcoming Schedule: 2/7 vs Rock Ridge, 2/10 vs Benilde St Margrets, 2/11 vs Chaska
The Hawks started their week by going into Orono and controlling the pace of play and dictating the action vs the Spartans. However, despite putting up 50 plus shots they had to hang on to win a 2-1 road game and wrap up the #2 seed in the Class A State Tournament. The Hawks followed up the win by rolling over soon to be Class A Cloquet then AA Totino Grace to finish their week on a strong note. This team is getting better and better as the winter rolls along a big one this week with 7A Rock Ridge followed up by more games vs AA opponents.
3. Orono (2A) (18-3-0)
Past Week Results: W 3-2 OT St Louis Park, L 1-2 #2 Hermantown, W 3-0 St. Louis Park
Upcoming Schedule: 2/7 vs Benilde St Margrets, 2/11 vs Chanhassen
The Spartans got a home overtime win a game vs AA St Louis Park to start their week. Orono then welcomed to town the defending Class A Champions when Hermantown visited. Brock Peyton was the star in net, holding Orono in the game and showing despite the loss that this could be a scary opponent for the Top 2 seeds at State if they make it that far. The Spartans finished the week by sweeping St Louis Park and now Orono will face its toughest week yet as they take on two highly ranked AA teams at home this coming week. With only 3 losses on the year to the #1 and #2 teams in Class A and a Top 5 AA team, and having the biggest x factor of teams not named Warroad or Herantown in Brock Peyton in the net, it’s time to slide them up to three in the rankings.
4. Mahtomedi (4A) (12-8-0)
Past Week Results: L 1-2 OT Hill Murray, L 1-3 St Thomas Academy, W 10-1 Simley
Upcoming Schedule: 2/7 @ Two Rivers, 2/9 @ Hastings, 2/11 @ Breck
The Zephyrs week started in heartbreaking fashion as they were swept by Hill Murray when they dropped the Monday Matinee game by losing with a mere 5 seconds left in overtime. The Zephyrs then dropped their 4th game in a row when they lost the rematch to St Thomas Academy. They did finish the week beating up on 4A Simley and looking at their remaining schedule Mahtomedi should win out and have a good argument for the 3 seed at State but for now going to place them at 4 and see how the final two weeks play out between them and the Spartans of Orono.
5. East Grand Forks (8A) (12-8-0)
Past Week Results: L 3-5 Moorehead, L 1-2 Grand Forks Central
Upcoming Schedule: 2/6 vs #1 Warroad, 2/7 @ #1 Warroad, 2/11 vs #14 St Cloud Cathedral
The Greenwave saw their win streak snapped by the 8AA Spuds in a back and forth entertaining game where East Grand Forks dug themselves too big of a hole in the 2nd period and eventually fell to a good hockey team. They followed up the tough loss to the Spuds with another tough loss to Grand Forks Central. Suddenly the not so red hot anymore East Grand Forks prepares for an odd but intriguing Monday and Tuesday home and home series with Warroad with the #1 seed in Section 8A on the line.
6. Northfield (1A) (15-5-0)
Past Week Results: L 4-6 Rochester John Marshall, W 5-0 Owatonna
Upcoming Schedule: 2/9 @ Rochester Century, 2/11 vs Mankato East
The Raiders got upset to start their week when they dropped a game to a hot Rochester John Marshall. The game does raise some red flags and show they are not a sure favorite to come out of 1A as many have thought all year. To Northfield’s credit they did rebound and took care of AA Owatonna to end the week and not let the loss linger. This week they have two good tests when they hit the road vs Rochester Century and then return home to take on Mankato East in Big Nine Conference action.
7. Delano (2A) (12-9-0)
Past Week Results: W 5-1 Hutchinson, 4-10 Holy Family, W 3-2 #16 Minneapolis
Upcoming Schedule: 2/7 vs #15 Providence Academy, 2/9 vs Southwest Christian
Delano got the week started right when they picked up the season series sweep of Section 2A Hutchinson. However, the Tigers were swept by Holy Family on the year in the middle of their week as the Fire continued the long traditions of dominance over Delano in hockey. The Tigers did recover to pick up the critical Section 2A win over Minneapolis to finish the week. Now Delano has their last two Section 2A games this week with big match ups with Providence Academy and Southwest Christian if they take care of business and win both they will be a lock for the two seed come playoffs.
8. Hibbing (7A) (15-6-1)
Past Week Results: W 8-2 International Falls, W 8-0 North Shore
Upcoming Schedule: 2/7 @ Northern Lakes
Hibbing did what they needed to do this week as they went on the road and swept a pair of Section 7A teams. In both games they were able to pull away from inferior section teams and suddenly this team is riding a nice 3 game win streak entering the final weeks of the season. This week just one game but it is one they should cruise in when they stay on the road and head to 6A Northern Lakes.
9. Detroit Lakes (8A) (14-5-1)
Past Week Results: W 14-1 Breckenridge/Wahpeton, L 3-4 Brainerd
Upcoming Schedule: 2/6 @ Wadena Deer Creek, 2/7 vs Park Rapids, 2/9 @ #13 Little Falls
The Lakers absolutely routed the BW Blades to start their week in an ugly game score wise. However, their win streak was snapped when they dropped a Saturday afternoon game in Brainerd to finish the week. Detroit Lakes continues to be a puzzle to rank. They lack the quality wins of the rest of the Top 10 in Class A but don’t have any eye sore losses either of teams 11-20. Another week that has two winnable Mid-State Conference games before a good clash with Top 15 Little Falls to end the week.
10. Rock Ridge (7A) (12-7-1)
Past Week Results: L 3-4 Brainerd, L 0-1 Sartell
Upcoming Schedule: 2/7 @ #2 Hermantown, 2/10 vs Proctor, 2/11 @ Pine City
The Wolverines had a tough weekend road trip vs two CLC 8AA teams in which they played well in both games. They dropped the opener of their weekend trip to Brianerd despite leading 2-0 in the game and they just missed the game tying goal at the buzzer in a loss. They then battled a good Sartell team that has beaten everyone else below the Top 10 in Class A they have played. The Wolverines came up just short giving up the only goal of the game in the third period of a very even game. While the sweep doesn’t hurt them in the rankings they do continue the tough schedule this week as they have an important game vs Hermantown this week to see how they match up with the 7A kings.