Prep Hockey Preseason- AA Rankings (1-3)
In this article:
The HS hockey season starts this week! We are finally here, and it seems like this year there is no clear favorite. We have many experienced teams that all have an equal shot to take it all this year. We have gotten word on the top players returning or not, and that is a big factor in these rankings. The two writers on this site will be posting weekly updated rankings. Keep in mind that these are preseason rankings, so they are slanted more on returning players and preseason hype rather than results. Here they are:
- Cretin Derham Hall
Return almost every player from a solid team last year, and have our preseason favorite Mr. Hockey Drew Fisher Drew Fisher 6'1" | Forward Cretin-Derham Hall | 2022 State MN . Defenseman Simon Houge Simon Houge 5'8" | Defense Cretin-Derham Hall | 2023 State MN is a player to watch as well, he is ranked as the number two defenseman in our class of 2023 rankings. CDH returns 7 players that are ranked in our player rankings, including one of the best goalies in the state. CDH has what it takes to be a title contender- but the very experienced St. Thomas Academy might stand in their way of a state trip. They are in an early-season matchup.
2. Edina
Two of the top returning players in the state make Edina an instant top-five team. Harper Bentz Harper Bentz 6'0" | Forward Moorhead | 2023 State MN and Trey Fechko Trey Fechko 5'10" | Forward Edina | 2022 State MN coming back is significant news in the HS hockey world, they are both significant talents. Edina also adds a solid transfer from Breck, in Jack Kernan Jack Kernan 6'0" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN which should improve their D core significantly. Edina also has one of their best goalies in recent times, in Joe Belisle Joe Belisle 5'11" | Defense White Bear Lake | 2023 State MN . This is a very talented team but will need to find some depth to stay up near the top all season.
3. Maple Grove
Maple Grove is at #3 after losing a lot, graduating D1 players in Kukkonen, Nelson, and Cal Thomas. This team went to the state semis and lost in a devastating game to Lakeville South. They return one of the top players in the state in Finn Brink Finn Brink 5'10" | Forward Maple Grove | 2023 State MN and have some of the best underclassmen in that state. Maple Grove has had the best Bantam AA team in the state for the past couple of years. This team might need a few weeks to work out some growing pains with some of their younger players, but they have the talent and depth of a top 5 team. Easier section- they should make state and be a title contender, just like last year.