1. Andover (12-0) 

A three-game sweep for the Huskies at this year’s Walser Invitational included a 4-3 win over Minnetonka, which has climbed to No. 2-2A this week after knocking off the previously second-ranked Edina Hornets. 

It is truly remarkable what the Huskies have accomplished this season, given how young the roster is and how much they lost from last year’s graduating class. 

2. Minnetonka (11-2) 

The Skippers handed Edina its first loss of the season in one of the most emotionally charged contests of the 2021-2022 campaign, topping the Hornets 3-2 in overtime at Braemar Ice Arena. 

Although Minnetonka fell to Andover 4-3 in the Walser Invitational finals, the win over the Hornets pushes the Skippers squarely into the No. 2 spot…for now. 

3. Edina (11-1) 

The loss to Minnetonka is the only blemish on the Hornets’ schedule thus far. To their credit, the Hornets bounced back with a 3-0 win over Maple Grove in the Walser Invite’s third-place game the next day. 

The Hornets are just fine, and seem to be playing some of their best defensive hockey over the last few weeks, posting shutouts in five of their previous six games. 

Upcoming games for Edina include dates with Chaska/Chanhassen and Blake this week. 

4. Holy Family (10-2-1) 

Thanks to teams ranked ahead of the Fire falling and three wins over the holiday, Holy Family has returned to the top five. 

The Fire won the Blake/Breck Holiday Tournament, taking home wins over Blake, Hill-Murray, and Stillwater, all teams that currently hover just outside the top-10. 

5. Rogers (11-3-1) 

The Royals fell to No. 2-1A Proctor/Hermantown 1-0 in the Herb Brooks Holiday Classic’s Gold Division finals, but put together three wins in four games since the last batch of rankings. 

The Royals are on the road for their next three games, all against Northwest Suburban Conference opponents. 

6. Rosemount (12-1) 

The Irish did not play over the holiday break. Next up is Farmington on Jan. 6, giving the Irish almost three weeks between games.

7. Blake (9-4) 

Boy howdy, what a run for the Bears over the past couple of weeks. 

Blake emerges in the rankings for the first time this season after knocking off Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Centennial/Spring Lake Park, and Gentry Academy, giving the Bears three wins in their last four games. The only loss suffered during that timeframe came against No. 4-2A Holy Family. 

The Bears will host No. 3-2A Edina on Jan. 6 with another chance to add to their resume. 

8. Benilde-St. Margaret’s (6-4-1) 

Three wins earned the Red Knights the title at the Eden Prairie Mid-Winter Meltdown event, as BSM downed Chaska/Chanhassen, Eden Prairie, and North Wright County in successive games. 

The Red Knights have won five of their last six against some of the state’s top competition and will face another stiff test on Jan. 4 when they take on No. 4-2A Holy Family.

9. Gentry Academy (10-3) 

The Stars won two of three games at their holiday event, losing to Blake in the Blake/Breck Holiday Tournament finals. 

The Stars will host Red Wing on Jan. 3, then go on the road for games against Maple Grove and No. 8-2A Benilde-St. Margaret’s. 

10. Lakeville South (12-1) 

Since a season-opening loss to Northfield, the Cougars have won 12 consecutive games, including four since the last set of rankings came out on Dec. 20. 

The Cougars haven’t exactly faced a Murders’ Row of opponents, but there is something to be said for beating the team in front of you. The Cougars will face Owatonna, Shakopee, and Eagan over the next week. 

1. Warroad (12-2-1) 

No change at the top spot in Class 1A, as the Warriors picked up three wins since the last rankings. 

The Warriors will play Bemidji on Jan. 3, then face rival Roseau on Jan. 11 to ring in the new year. 

2. Proctor/Hermantown (9-4-1) 

The defending Class 1A state champions are finding their stride as we enter 2022. 

The Mirage rolled to three wins in the Gold Division of the Herb Brooks Holiday Classic, including a 1-0 upset of previous No. 4-2A Rogers in the championship game. All three wins in the tournament were shutouts for the Mirage. 

3. Orono (11-2) 

The Spartans did not play over the holidays. They will be back in action on Jan. 6 when they take on New Prague. 

4. Mound Westonka (11-2) 

The Whitehawks picked up wins over New Ulm and Hutchinson by a combined score of 16-1 in their two games since the last rankings. 

The Whitehawks will travel to No. 4-2A Holy Family on Thursday and follow up with another road game against Blaine on Saturday. 

5. Duluth Marshall (7-1) 

One game, one win for the Hilltoppers as they top (see what I did there?) North Shore 4-1. 

The Hilltoppers will play Cloquet-Esko-Carlton on Tuesday in their first game since Dec. 21.