Edina, St. Thomas Academy No. 1
Edina in Class AA and St. Thomas Academy in Class A are the top-ranked teams in the Minnesota state boys hockey poll.
Three teams that will play in the Herald Jason Stadstad Hockey Classic are in the top 10 in Class AA. Bloomington Jefferson is ranked fifth, Roseau sixth and Blaine 10th.
Those three teams will play a round-robin format against North Dakota schools Grand Forks Red River, Grand Forks Central and Grafton-Park River on Dec. 18-20 in the Stadstad Classic.
Grafton-Park River is defending North Dakota state champion.
In the Class A poll, Section 8's Warroad is ranked seventh.
Posted by: fee on 11/19/2008 at 7:26 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Roseau hockey
It sounds as if Roseau senior forward Tyler Landman, one of the top players in the state the past couple of years, is considering an offer to play hockey at Providence.
Four juniors off last year's Ram team will be playing college hockey in the next couple of years. Goalie Mike Lee, who's playing for the Fargo Force and attending high school in Fargo this year, and forward Nick Oliver, who's playing for both the Force and the Rams this year, are headed to St. Cloud State.
And, of course, defenseman Aaron Ness graduated early from high school so he could play for the University of Minnesota beginning this season.
Roseau had six goalies suited up at practice Tuesday, as it searches for a replacement for standout Lee. Oliver will miss the first few games with the Rams after suffering an injury with the Force.
Posted by: fee on 11/19/2008 at 11:33 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Beavers' first hurdle
Some odds and ends:
Bemidji State hopes to join the men's Western Collegiate Hockey Association if the league lifts an expansion ban in January. Commissioner Bruce McLeod said the WCHA executive committee will decide this week if a vote to repeal the existing moratorium should be taken during the NCAA Convention on Jan. 14-17 in Washington, D.C. Bemidji State, of course, is part of a dissolving conference, the four-team College Hockey America, and has approached the WCHA before about entering. With a new rink coming, the Beavers should have a good shot at getting in the league.
On hand when Bismarck High stunned Fargo South on Saturday in Grand Forks' Alerus Center was former Sioux All-American receiver Weston Dressler. Dressler, who now plays for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL, is a former Demon.
The Minnesota Gophers are ranked No. 1 in the country in men's hockey for the first time in nearly two years. A young team, a big reason for Minnesota's rise is the play of sophomore goalie Alex Kangas. He's a good one. UND also is back in the polls after a split with Anchorage.
South Dakota State defeated Wisconsin by 20 points on Monday night in Brookings, S.D. It was impressive getting a victory against a Big Ten team, but the Badgers are picked to finish 10th in the Big Ten.
Posted by: fee on 11/17/2008 at 9:23 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink
Former NCC doing well
The happiest schools to see UND and South Dakota leave Division II football after last season?
Minnesota-Duluth, Minnesota State-Mankato and Wayne State of Nebraska.
It's a good bet only one of the three would have made the playoffs if UND and South Dakota hadn't moved to Division I this season.
After the North Central Conference disbanded, Duluth finds itself back in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. And, once again, finds itself as a perennial contender.
The only problem for Duluth and Mankato? UND is gone. But Grand Valley State remains.
Posted by: fee on 11/12/2008 at 5:36 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink