YHH Staff Rankings (GIRLS): January 23

Youth Hockey Hub staff rankings:

Class AA

1. Minnetonka (17-2-1)

To properly illustrate Minnetonka’s 3-2 overtime win over Edina, I searched for “books about nautical revenge” and came up empty. So, if anyone has any recommendations along those same lines (not “The Wager”), then hit me up.

The Skippers blanked North Wright County and avenged Jan. 6’s 1-0 loss to Edina with the aforementioned overtime win over the Hornets, scoring twice in the third period to force OT and then getting the game-winner from Senja Leeper.

2. Andover (14-3-3)

The Huskies ran roughshod over Osseo/Park Center 11-1 and then thumped Section 7AA rival Grand Rapids/Greenway 8-1 for a 19-goal week. Elk River and Edina are on deck this week as the Huskies fire up the bus for a pair of road games.

The Huskies also currently have 11 players who have recorded 10 or more points, with Julia Gerdes (9 points) and Samantha Angellotti (8 points) on the brink of joining that group.

3. Hill-Murray (18-2)

The Pioneers scored twice in the third period to earn a 2-0 shutout of Holy Family at Polar Arena, giving Hill-Murray a small amount of comfort after Andover ended the team’s five-game winning streak on Jan. 13.

The Pioneers will host top-ranked Minnetonka on Thursday, then Metro East foe Hastings comes to town on Saturday.

4. Moorhead (18-2-1)

At this point in the season, Moorhead is on the brink of a 22-win regular season, with Alexandria and North Wright County on tap for this week. The Spuds should be favored from here on out, and should they run the table, they’ll enter the Section 8AA playoffs on a 12-game winning streak.

The Spuds are 8-1 in games decided by two goals or fewer.

5. Edina (16-5-1)

The Hornets came achingly close to a second regular-season victory over Minnetonka, taking a 2-0 lead all the way until the 11:10 mark of the third period before allowing two Skipper goals in less than two minutes.

Break out the ice packs and gauze pads because the Hornets have three challenging tests ahead to close out the regular season, with No. 2-2A Andover, North Wright County, and No. 2-1A Orono on deck.

6. Centennial/Spring Lake Park (18-1-2)

There is a very real chance Centennial/Spring Lake Park concludes the regular season with a record of 22-1-2. Even the most optimistic of Cougar fans would have thought that getting through a regular season with one loss would be next to impossible at the start of the year, but the Cougars have met every challenge.

Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper and Champlin Park/Coon Rapids (TRAP GAME ALERT) are on the schedule for Jan. 23 and Jan. 27.

7. Northfield (21-0)

Three games to go. Three games to eternal glory. Three games until the rest of your lives. Northfield is on the fast track to an undefeated regular season. Albert Lea is the only game on the schedule this week for the Raiders, with Dodger County and Mankato West on the docket for next week.

8. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (14-3-1)

The Red Knights have shut out their last three opponents, most recently recording a blank sheet in a 3-0 win over top-10 Class A squad Proctor/Hermantown. BSM still has seven games to go in the regular season and begin that stretch with away games against Bloomington Jefferson and Eden Prairie this week, then a home duel with Holy Family this weekend.

9. Lakeville North (16-2-1)

The Panthers thumped Farmington 7-0 in their lone game last week and postponed Saturday’s tilt with Shakopee. For now, a roadie against Rosemount and this weekend’s Hockey Day Minnesota game against Warroad are the two hurdles in front of the Panthers.

10. Lakeville South (17-1-3)

The biggest headline of the Cougars’ week could be that they didn’t have to go to overtime. The Cougars topped Prior Lake 5-2 in the second game of a six-game stretch in Lakeville, and will host Apple Valley on Thursday in their lone game of the week.

Class A

1. Holy Angels (16-2-3)

If I could speak a cooler language than English, I’d find a more creative way to say that Holy Angels has posted shutouts in all three games this week, topping New Prague 3-0, Thief River Falls 7-0, and Bloomington Jefferson 10-0.

A date with Hill-Murray looms on Feb. 1, but this week, the Stars are favored against Metro West rivals Chaska/Chanhassen and Waconia.

2. Orono (15-5-1)

The Spartans beat Chaska/Chanhassen 4-1 and then edged No. 4-1A Dodge County 5-4 in overtime (more on that later) to go 2-0 for the week. Like Holy Angels above, the Spartans have four regular-season games left and have the edge in three of them.

3. Duluth Marshall (17-1-1)

The Hilltoppers enjoyed a two-week break between games and appear ready to roll for the back stretch of the season after scoring five times in a 5-1 win over top-10 Class A team Crookston. Ilsa Lindaman is rapidly approaching ICON STATUS this season and added to her resume with a hat trick against the Pirates. The St. Thomas commit has 44 goals and 68 points on the season.

4. Warroad (15-6)

At this point, we’re splitting hairs here with the Warriors and Dodge County, trying to quantify which loss looks better. The Warriors blanked Thief River Falls 8-0 and fell to No. 5-2A Moorhead 3-1, while the Wildcats took No. 2-1A Orono to overtime.

My ulcer is back trying to slot these teams. My shingles may make a comeback. My asthma is still lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce as soon as I give a definitive answer. For now, the Warriors maintain the edge over the Wildcats, but the only way to settle this is not an unsanctioned game played off the books in a remote location.

5. Dodge County (15-3)

By going toe-to-toe with Orono and coming within a goal of pulling off the upset, the Wildcats have announced to the world that they’ve got a darn good hockey team, and I’m deliriously happy to see how strong Class A is this season.

The Wildcats will face Waconia and Moose Lake Area on Friday and Saturday this week.

6. Proctor/Hermantown (11-8-1)

I applaud the Mirage for playing the schedule it does. It will pay dividends during the postseason. Mildly alarmed that Proctor/Hermantown couldn’t muster a goal against the Red Knights and only put 15 shots on net according to MN Girls Hockey Hub.

Section 7A is up for grabs this season, and the battle for the No. 1 overall seed will be played on Jan. 23 as the Mirage heads to Duluth Marshall.

7. Mound Westonka/Southwest Christian (14-5-1)

A 3-0 win over Thief River Falls gives the White Hawks back-to-back shutouts heading into the home stretch of the regular season. The White Hawks have Hutchinson, Delano/Rockford, and Willmar this week before finishing against Holy Family and Proctor/Hermantown.

MWSWC is also preparing for a future without program stalwart Ashlyn Roth in goal, handing over two of the last three starts to sophomore Emma Covell. Covell has acquitted herself well in limited action, stopping 33 of 36 shots and earning a shutout over Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato.

8. Crookston (14-7-1)

Losses to Roseau and No. 4-1A Duluth Marshall drop the Pirates one spot this week, but Crookston has a good shot at a 17-win season ahead of Section 8A playoffs. The two-horse race between the Pirates and Warroad for section supremacy will be one of the hottest stories of the postseason.

9. Delano/Rockford (13-7)

The Tigers squeaked past Pine City Area 1-0 and Hutchinson 4-3 last week, giving the Tigers an impressive record of 5-1 in one-goal games.

Litchfield/Dassel-Cokato and No. 7-1A Mound Westonka/Southwest Christian are up next on Tuesday and Friday.

10. Albert Lea (16-3)

Wins over Luverne, Austin, and Rochester Mayo bring Albert Lea’s win total to 16, but the Tigers will ramp up for the postseason with Mankato East and Northfield this week, plus Owatonna and New Ulm next week.

15A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Edina Green 6 WWWW 1
2. Alexandria 15 WWW 4
3. Rochester 9 WWWW 3
4. Minnetonka Black 6 WWWLL 2
5. Andover 9 W 6
6. Duluth 11 WWWL 7
7. Stillwater Red 2 WTWW 8
8. Wayzata Blue 3 W 10
9. Woodbury Black 8 WLWLW 5
10. Apple Valley-Burnsville 8 WWTWL NR

Both 1 and 2 win tournaments this past weekend. Edina wins the Skate for the Roses (>Apple Valley-BV) and Alex wins their home tourney the Big Ole (>Minnetonka). Apple Valley-BV enters after a good weekend in Stillwater.

Speaking of Stillwater, No. 7 Stillwater Red is 7-1-2 in their last 10 games with their lone loss in OT to No. 6 Duluth.

15B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Grand Rapids-Greenway 12 WWWWWW
2. Armstrong Cooper 3 WWWW
3. Wayzata (Gold) 3 WW
4. North Shore 11 LLWWW
5. Alexandria 15 WWWL
6. Osseo/Maple Grove (Black) 3 WLWWL
7. Central MN Riverblades 5 WW
8. Brainerd/Little Falls 15 L
9. Rosemount 8 WW
10. Bloomington 6 WWLL

Grand Rapids/Greenway gets a bump up to No. 1, after a big weekend winning the Alexandria tournament. GR/G deafted the previous No. 1 team North Shore in a close 3-1 battle. No. 2 Armstrong Cooper also gets a bump this week, as the Wings go over the border and take home some hardware from Hudson. Rosemount has joined the top ten this week, as the Irish are 16-9-1 and have won 7 of their last 9 games.

12A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Centennial/Spring Lake Park 10 TW 1
2. Minnetonka 6 WW 2
3. Edina 6 TWWWWWW 3
4. Chaska/Chanhassen 6 W 5
5. Woodbury 8 WLWW 4
6. Grand Rapids-Greenway 12 WWWWW 7
7. Osseo Maple Grove 3 LWWWL 6
8. East Grand Forks 16 WWW 10
9. Anoka-Rogers 10 WWWLWW NR
10. Orono-Westonka 3 WWLW NR

Edina takes the Cabin Fever tourney in Maple Grove and Wayzata knocks off Orono-Westonka in the Skate for the Roses in Stillwater.

Orono-Westonka and Rogers jump into the top-10 this week, not due to wins and losses. Both teams have a good winning percentage, but more important they’ve both fared well against tough compeitition the last 30 days.

12B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Cannon RIver 9 DNP
2. Eagan (Blue) 8 WW
3. Elk River 10 WWTWW
4. Minnetonka (Blue) 6 W
5. Northern Lakes 15 WWWW
6. Bemidji 16 W
7. Eagan (White) 8 L
8. Forest Lake 2 W
9. Woodbury (Royal) 8 WLW
10. Mounds View/Irondale (Gold) 2 W

The top five remain the same this week for U12B, as the group combines for no losses. No. 2 Eagan Blue has a notable result, as they shut out intracity rival No. 7 Eagan White 3-0. Bemidji is knocking on the door of the top 5, as the Lumberjacks are at No. 6 and on an eight-game win streak. Previously unranked Forest Lake upset No. 9 Mounds View/Irondale Gold this past week. The Rangers are up to No. 8 this week after that huge win. One team just outside the rankings is Orono Westonka- which defeated last week’s No. 6 Woodbury Royal.

10A
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Osseo-Maple Grove 3 WWW 1
2. Moorhead 15 W 2
3. White Bear Lake 2 WW 3
4. Blaine 10 WWWW 4
5. Chaska/Chanhassen 6 T 5
6. Hastings 8 LWWW 6
7. Minnetonka 6 TTW 10
8. Edina Green 6 TWLW 8
9. Sartell-Sauk Rapids 5 WLWW NR
10. Stillwater 3 WWLW NR

Not a lot of movement this week at the top. No teams lost inside the top-6. Blaine wins the Skate for the Roses, they Bengals stay put at #4.

Some fresh new teams at the bottom of the T10 including Sartell-Sauk Rapids, they’ve won five of their last six.

Duluth champion Minnetonks gets a good win over Edina Green, the Skippers move up to #7.

10B
(Rank-Team-District-Last Week)

1. Waseca 9 W
2. Marshall 4 WWW
3. New Prague 6 WWW
4. North Shore 11 WWWW
5. Apple Valley/Burnsville/Eastview 8 W
6. Central MN Riverblades 5 TL
7. White Bear Lake (Black) 2 W
8. Osseo/Maple Grove (White) 3 WWWW
9. Anoka Rogers (White) 10 WWW
10. Duluth (Black) 11 W

The top four stay the same this week in U10B. Apple Valley/Burnsville/Eastview is recognized for their undefeated season as they move up to No. 5 this week. No. 2 Marshall had an impressive 9-0 win over No. 7 Central MN Riverblades this week. Osseo/Maple Grove-White is now ranked No. 8, after winning a tourney in Inver Grove Heights this weekend.

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