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Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:10 pm
by observer
What are the early predictions for the WDA regular season in 2013-14?

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:19 pm
by OG17
1. Bismarck
2. Minot
3. Century
4. Bottineau
5. Dickinson
6. Jamestown
7. Williston
8. Mandan
9. Hazen

Top returning forwards Harrison Aide, Quinn Fuchs, Jarid Spooner

Top defenseman Quinn Irey

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:24 pm
by observer
I like it this way:

1. CHS*
2. Minot*
3. BHS*
**** any of these three, by far the class of the region
4. Botno
5.Jamestown
6. Mandan
7. Williston
8. Dickinson
9. Hazen/Beulah

IMO the lower halfish of the region will be weak, real weak. I will be interested to see if Aide can get help in Botno. This is the year all of the freshmen that played varsity for BHS are seniors (I personally think they were and are overrated, except for Spooner). Minot had a very exciting team to watch last year, not a ton of stars but they skated hard and any one of their regulars could be the goal scorer that night. I think CHS has big holes to fill but they have a number of varsity skaters back. Looking forward to hockey season!

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 10:40 pm
by OG17
Century will be interesting to see without rauhauser. Chris brown will have to step up. I don't see the depth with century that Minot and Bismarck have. Minot had a strong bantam group so their 3rd and 4th lines will be good. Who ever plays wing with Quinn Fuchs will have a big year as I believe he may be the best playmaker in the west and maybe the state. I think spooner is going to have a huge season scoring goals in bunches and Bismarck has alot of hard working lunch pail types on the 2nd thru 4th lines. Bottineau's Harrison aide I think is going to spend more time in the defensive zone without his big defenseman than he cares too. I too think the top 3 teams are head and shoulders ahead of the rest, but you never know, that is why I love the game, those crazy upsets.

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 3:35 am
by Bud225
I know Botno and H/B have had low numbers at the varsity level this past year. Does anyone know if there numbers are improving or are they in danger of losing there programs?

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Sun Oct 27, 2013 10:34 am
by OG17
Bottineau seems to have a strong youth program even though the numbers are low. Hoff does some creative things like the morning breakfast skate before school. I'm not as familiar with hazen beulah but I don't like the direction its trending. Maybe someone can fill us in on the hazen program.

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Tue Oct 29, 2013 4:04 am
by Bud225
I heard they don't have a Bantam team this year so I imagine it can't be good

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Thu Oct 31, 2013 6:41 pm
by OG17
The new format for the peewee and bantam leagues is definitely something to watch for the future of many of the smaller city's in north Dakota. Hopefully smaller teams will still schedule against the bigger schools even though they are in different leagues. The minot's and bismarck's got better playing Gf and Fargo and the Gf and fargo's got better playing Minnesota teams.

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Mon Nov 25, 2013 5:42 pm
by SportshoundND
Postby OG17 ยป Wed Oct 23, 2013 5:19 pm

1. Bismarck
2. Minot
3. Century
4. Bottineau
5. Dickinson
6. Jamestown
7. Williston
8. Mandan
9. Hazen
My guess and ranking, after seeing some WDA hockey over the weekend and talking to a couple of people who had seen Bottineau play, That list above needs some rearranging.
Moving Dickinson up, Bottineau down a few spots (not just one, but probably 2-3 spots)
BHS, MINOT: Top two for sure- these two should battle for top seed (not that anyone would have thought differently) Then it is between the next 3-4 teams for those coveted spots at state (#3 & #4)
Century, Dickinson, Jamestown, Mandan, Bottineau, Williston, Hazen round it out.

Re: Hockey 2013-14

PostPosted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 11:10 pm
by OG17
Most balance I've seen in many years. Gfc squeaks out two overtime wins against Mandan and minot, davies barely beats Minot than blows out red river, both Bismarck teams in one goal games with the fargo's. It's going to be an interesting year. With all the balance out there whoever has the hot goaltender down the stretch will win the tournament.