#1 Warroad (8A)
The Defending Champs could begin a dynastic run if everyone sticks around for the next few years. As good as this year's team was, next year's looks even better, and the future is incredibly bright. Up front, they return Jrs. Gavin Andersen, Casey Hendrickson & Wyatt Samuelson, and 9th grader Rodrick Jackson are all back. They will also have a great D-core back led by 9th grader Ayven Hontvet and Jrs. Wesley Schreiner & Ryan Lee, and look for Soph. Conner Lund to slide back to the blueline. They also return Jr. Finn Hanson in net. Then add in another elite group of A Bantams coming up, especially at the forward position, as these grades have won multiple Youth State Titles all the way up.

#2 Hermantown (7A)
The Hawks can never not be mentioned at the top of any Class A ranking, and next year's team is loaded with experience if everyone returns. Up front, they will return a really good core of Jrs. Mick Martalock, Beau Christy, Kole Lendzyk, Alex Nicklin & Noah Thurston, and Soph. Paxson Madill to build the offense around. On the blueline Jrs. Gabe Swenson & Ethan Aysta, along with Soph. TJ Wojtysiak and 9th grader Nikolai Zhukov are all back with experience. In net, there will be questions, but rumors swirl of a potential return of an elite netminder for them. This will be an angry Hawks group ready to reclaim their spot at the top of 7A and be a serious contender as always in Class A.

#3 Sartell (6A)
Sartell had a gut-wrenching finish to the year as they were upset in the Section Final as one of the State’s Top Class A Teams. But fear not, Sabres fans, because next year's team looks to be even better than this year’s version as they have a loaded Junior Class. Offensively Jrs. Devin Jacobs, Preston Deragisch & Lane Larson return to what will be a potent offense. On the blueline, Jrs. Isaac Mentzer, Collin Otto & Wyatt Zimny all played big minutes, and they will have experience in net as Jr. Brody Potthoff will be back as well. There are also plenty of numbers and other good Juniors and Sophomores who are ready to step in to try and finally help lead Sartell to State.

#4 Mahtomedi (4A)
The Zephyrs returned to their normal standards this past year, and looking at what they will return and bring up, they should remain a Top 5 team again next year. Up front, Jrs. Devin O'Donnell & Will Seevers, along with Sophs Brock Gutterman, Vinny Redpath & Tommy Boe, are all back to give them a strong offense. On Defense Jrs. Trevor Rogosheske & Zach Zins, along with Soph. Ryker Dunbar all return with two years of experience under their belt. In net, there is a question, but they always seem to produce someone good. Then add in some very good AA Bantams coming up, and this should be a team playing on Friday at State, as always seems to be the case with them.

 

#5 St. Cloud Cathedral (5A)
The Crusaders turned what was supposed to be a rebuilding year into a reload and ended up back at State for the 4th straight year. Now, with the high talent they return, they should be right back in the thick of the Top 10 all next year. Up front, their top line of Jr. Eli Vanheel, Soph. Bo Schmidt & 9th Grader Brandan White all return along with Jr. Bradon Zieglmeier. On Defense Sophs. Talen Ruprecht & Trever Hall are back, and there will be a question to answer in the net and with depth. However, there are already rumors of a few names of elite players in Central Minnesota that may be entering the transfer portal to be at Cathedral next year, and they will be a major player again in Class A.

#6 East Grand Forks (8A)
The Greenwave had a disappointing year but if they bring everyone back they should have a strong team again next winter. Up front Jr. Jace Panzer and Sophs. Cy Hjelmen, Shawn Lind & Easton Olson return to lead the offense. On the blueline, Jrs. Max Bies & Ryan Clauson are also back as their top defenders with experience. In net Jr. Noah Schindele is back with two years of experience and a State Title under his belt. Then add in that excellent wave of AA Bantam talent they have coming up that just made AA State and next year's team should have more skill then we have seen recently and that could help them make a big push to get back to state in what is going to be a very tough 8A.

#7 Northern Lakes (6A)
The Lightning are fresh off back-to-back Tourney appearances, and looking at the big Junior class that will return again next year, they should be a Top 10 contender again. Up front, they return nearly their whole offense as Jrs. Josiah Reier, Parker Fulton, Griffen Hannah, Huck Balmer, Waylon Katterhagen & Landon Cartie, along with Soph. Luca Martin returns. On the blue line, Jrs, Bodie Nybakken, Kyler Rikala & Derek Berg are all back with experience. In net, Jr. Sam Suja returns with two tourney runs under his belt, and this group went to State as A Bantams and has been very successful at the high school level, and will be a big contender to three peat in Section 6A.

#8 Delano (2A)
Delano has been a perennial Top 10 Class A team for the past decade. While they will lose a big chunk of offense, they still return the majority of their back end, and it's really tough to doubt the Tigers anymore. Up front, Soph. Lance Halonen is a budding star, and they also return Sophs. Austin Kazin, Grant Bruett & Henry Tate, who have some experience to help build depth with. On the backend, they will be strong as Jrs. Dylan Nelson & Bennett Halonen, who, along with Soph. Jackson Wollak all return. In net Jr. Lincoln Truax saw extensive action before an injury. They also had a strong JV team and always have a good youth program, and they should be a contender as always.

#9 Cloquet/Esko/Carlton (7A)
The Lumberjacks are another program that I’m done doubting, as they are so well coached, and the youth program is stocked with talent, and this group of Juniors & Sophs went to A Bantam State. On offense Soph. Jordan Sewell is a star and Jrs. Colten Rennquist, Mason Robbins & Jacob Parks will be building blocks for depth. On the blueline, Soph Brahm Snesrud is another star and Jrs. Kaden Willis, Davis Snesrud & Jayce Laine, and Soph. Drew Piontek are all back with experience. The big question will be in the net as they have to replace a 3-year starter, but there is a lot of depth for Coach Walters to work with and they have a high quality youth program that is producing state teams yearly. 

#10 Hibbing/Chishom (7A)
What to do with Hibbing is a challenge, as we always do this exercise under the assumption that everyone will return, but have key pieces returning up in the air. Will place them just inside the Top 10 for now because if their star power returns, they could put together another strong team. Up front, the duo of Jr. Joe Gabardi & Soph. Cole Swanson would be back from their top 6 forwards. On defense, their trio of Jrs. Jackson Strukel & Dylan Vesel, and Soph. Whitaker Rewertz would be one of the best units in the State regardless of Class. Soph. Trenton Beel would appear to be the guy in net, and if they bring everyone back, they are most likely a preseason Top 10 contending team.

 

#11 Waseca (1A) 

It's now or never for the Bluejays, who had yet another great year ended suddenly when they were upset in the 1A Semis, but next year, if everyone comes back, they will return a huge and talented Junior class. Up front, Jrs. Griffin Storey, Henry Huttemier, Cash Lynch, Otto Schoenrock & Avery Selvik, along with Soph. Aydan Kath all return for a loaded offense. On Defense, Jrs. Beckett Srp & August Hansen return to lead the blueline. In net, Jr. Josiah Schmidtke is back for what will be his fourth year of action, and this could be a Waseca that will have tons of experience and one last chance to cash in on all those lofty expectations they had when they entered high school 3 years ago.  

 

#12 Northfield (1A)

The Raiders had a shocking and disappointing end to the year when they were upset in the Section 1A Final, but they will still return a good team down south. Up front, Jrs. Jacob Peters, Wade Gilbertson & Brody Jenson, who missed the year due to injury, and Sophs. Miles Kennelly & Philip Benjamin return for plenty of returning scoring.  On the blueline, they will return Jrs. Walker Sorem, Max Munoz & Braden Van Sickle, and Soph. Levi Schmidt with experience. Soph. Ryker Landon was good going (8-0-0) in net, and they are bringing up more good A Bantams who made State this year and the A Pee Wees did as well so the Redemption Tour will be in full swing over the next few years. 

 

#13 Proctor (7A)

The Rails were one of the big surprises from this past year as they were able to incorporate a young core of stars and turn it into a Top 25 team for most of the year. Now those young guns will be a year older and wiser, and they should make a significant rise in 7A. Up front, Sophs. Rafe Giswold & Eli Maeder, along with stud 9th graders Jax Hardy & Drew Yost, return to lead a dangerous offense. On defense, Jrs. Wes Paulson & Parker Swart, and Soph. Xaiden Oliver are back to lead the defender. In the net, they have Soph. Ashton Lee, who was very strong late in the year. They will also bring in a decent batch of A Bantams, and this is a program on the rise, ready to contend in 7A.

 

#14 Minneapolis (2A)

The 612 crew came on strong by the season's end, and they have a very good roster returning next year and will contend for Top 10 status most likely. Up front, Jrs. Will Ackerman & Emmitt Anderson, and Soph. Ryan Mullen, along with 9th grader Bodhi Hayne, are back to give them established scoring. On the blueline, Jr. Owen Christensen and Sophs. Wilson Lamberty & Theo Gustin are back with good experience to build around. Then, in net, they have 9th grader Ivan Kelly back, and there is a good core here, and they will draw talent from a strong Bantam program where both A and B1 teams made state, and the 612 could be a very strong contender to win Section 2A next year. 

 

#15 Mankato West (3A) 

The Scarlets are coming off winning Section 3A and making it back to State for the first time in a decade. Now looking at what they bring back and what will be coming up, this could be one of the better  3A teams we have seen in a long time. On offense, their top line of Jrs. Jakobe Tosch, Keaton Dorzek & Brodie Cox are back. They also return their top defenders in Jrs. Grady Schmidt & Blake Rewitzer, along with 9th grader #8 Brooks Baukol. In net, Soph. Blake Brekke is back, and they also have a great group of A Bantams coming up from the youth that just made State again, will have key pieces heading to West, and this will be a very good team next year to keep an eye on.

 

#16 Thief River Falls (8A) 

The Prowlers might be too low here, as a lot depends on whether their star D1 forward returns. They will have a huge Senior Class coming back, led by their top line of Jrs. Spencer Anderson, Hudson Brouse & Ian Winter. On defense, 9th grader Beckem Johnson is a star, and they hope to get Jr. Masson Collins back, who missed this past year. They also only graduate two seniors from the entire roster, but a big one is in the net as they will need to find a goalie. They will, however, be bringing in a very good A Bantam group that has won titles in the youth, and there is a good wave of talent coming, and Thief River Falls will be getting back to their normal standards soon. 

 

#17 Blake (2A) 

Blake, as expected, had a great year in their first season back in Class A, as they had a large Senior Class that led the way. Now they will have to remake their roster a bit, but they do return some good pieces to begin retooling with. Up front, Jrs. Theo Liddicoat & Connor Briand return as their two top returning scorers. On the blueline, Jrs. Axel Bisbee, Drew Cheng & Ian Jaehn,and Soph. George Mark are all back with experience to be solid in their own end. They will also have goalie Jr. Jake Iwan back, who was their main starter from last year. The key will be trying to build around that core, but with any private school, you never know what will be brought in, but they should be good again.

 

#18 Monticello (5A)

The Moose had another good year that ended in disappointment at the hands of Cathedral for the 4th straight season. Now they will be going through a bit of a rebuild, but they do return enough talent to be strong again. Jrs. Collin Barta & Cohen Kass, and Soph. Clyde Middleton return to lead the offense. They will have the best defender in Class A in Jr. Nicklas Nelson, along with Soph. Max Mattson returning to be solid in their own end. In net Jr. Nolan Wurm is back, and he was very good down the stretch for them. They have another batch of solid A Bantams coming in. The pieces are here for their excellent coaching staff to build another quality contending team with. 

 

#19 Dodge County (1A)

The Wildcats will look to build off their surprising run to the Tourney last year, and they will return a ton of their roster and should be strong again next year. Offensively. Sophs. Camryn Koch, Landen Gunderson & Peter LaRock, and 9th grader Nolan Steele all return as 4 of their top 6 forwards. On the blueline Jr. Braylon Fredrickson and Sophs. Maxwell Hain, Sawyer Young & Jaxon Burgess are back with experience as 4 of their top 6 defenseman. Add to all that experience that they will also return their starter in net as Jr. Wes Wegner is back as well, and this should be a strong team that will look to use this year's Tourney run as a springboard into bigger success next season.

 

#20 Providence Academy (2A)

The Lions were a team that was all over the map this year, but when they were fully healthy, they were a scary bunch. Now, if they bring everyone back next year, they could be a team to watch in Section 2A as they would have some high-end talent on this roster. Up front. Jrs. Gavin Sattler, Will Stricker, Mason Carlson & Eliot Carlson are back as 4 of the top 5 scorers. On Defense, Jrs. Chase Carlson, Cayden Gilbert & Fox Huffman, along with 9th grader Jabez Perzhu, would be back with great experience. The big question mark would be in net, but if they find a goalie and bring everyone back, this is probably too low because this group's potential will be through the roof next winter.

 

Next 5 Notable Teams-Orono (2A), St Louis Park (2A), Detroit Lakes (8A), Rochester Lourdes (1A) & Breck (2A)