1. Minnetonka 

2021 Record: 16-4-3, 

2021 Finish: Lost to Edina in Class AA State Tournament semifinals 

Talent out, talent in.  

The Skippers will certainly feel the loss of top-notch defenders Rory Guilday and Hanna Baskin, not to mention the graduation of last year's Senior Goalie of the Year, Brynn Dulac. All three former Skippers have joined the Division I ranks. 

But fear not, Skipper faithful. Two defenders committed to Division I programs and a future Division I forward with 137 career points will sport the blue and white this season. 

Breck transfers junior forward Ava Lindsay (15 goals, 20 assists, 35 points last season), and junior defender Elly Klepinger (seven points) are both committed to Minnesota, as is Andover transfer and junior defender Josie Hemp (5-14-19). Hemp made her verbal pledge to the Golden Gophers on Nov. 8. 

Talent out, talent in. 

The Skippers' top line from last year's Class AA State Tournament semifinal team is back, as junior Minnesota Duluth commit Grace Sadura (20-17-37) looks to build on a promising 2020-2021 campaign with sophomores Kendra Distad (11-13-24) and Lindzi Avar (7-12-19). 

In addition to returning and added talent, the high school program could also benefit from a handful of players from the Skippers' 15UA team, which finished as state runners-up last season. 

Goaltender Sophie Johnson played in one game last season and could enter a battle for the starting spot with freshmen Layla Hemp (Josie's sister) and Ashlyn Hazlett before the season begins. 

2. Edina 

2021 Record: 22-0

2021 Finish: Beat Andover in Class AA State Tournament championship 

While the Edina loses Ms. Hockey finalist Emma Conner and varsity veterans Hannah Chorske and Kylie Roberts to Division I programs, the Hornets retain more than enough firepower for a run at their fifth Class AA state title in six years. 

Ms. Hockey favorite Vivian Jungels (12-31-44) is back after deciding not to accelerate her education and graduate a year early, delaying her inevitable place among the University of Minnesota's top-four defensive rotation. Joining Jungels as a Division I-bound player among Edina defenders is Haley Maxwell (1-7-8), who has pledged to Ohio State. 

Junior forward Lauren Zawoyski (5-14-19) and sophomore forward Hannah Halverson (4-13-17) showed well as underclassmen, and will be relied upon more heavily to replace the scorer's role vacated by Conner. 

While Division I talent tuns up and down the lineup (at Edina, go figure), a vital piece of any team defending a state title resides between the pipes. Junior goaltender Uma Corniea is already one of the most decorated high school hockey players in Minnesota. She's coming off a season where she went 16-0 with a goals-against-average of 0.87 and a save percentage of .956 in addition to six shutouts. 

Corniea is six shutouts from passing former Blake standout Anna Kruesel for most shutouts all-time. 

3. Andover 

2021 Record: 22-1

2021 Finish: Lost to Edina in Class AA State Tournament championship 

The Huskies must replace pieces of last year's juggernaut, losing players not only to graduation, but to transfer as well. 

Ms. Hockey winner Peyton Hemp and Ms. Hockey finalists Gabby Krause are off to Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth, respectively, while Hemp's younger sister Josie opted to transfer to Minnetonka. Like Peyton, Josie is also a Minnesota commit.

The Huskies still return four players that totaled more than 30 points last season, including junior forward Ella Boerger (27-30-57), who committed to St. Thomas during the offseason. Fellow St. Thomas commit Madison Brown (18-17-35) is also back, as are senior Sara Kaiser (16-18-34) and junior Isa Goettl (11-20-31).

Junior goaltender Courtney Stagman (16-1, 0.53 GAA, .950 SV%, 10 shutouts) probably won't put up last year's numbers, but will benefit from playing a much more competitive schedule than last year's COVID-19 adjusted slate. 

In addition to a talented core, the Huskies will benefit from a pipeline of players from last year's 15UA state championship team, with seven freshmen making the varsity roster.

4. Centennial/Spring Lake Park

2021-2022 Record: 16-6

2021 Finish: Forced to forfeit Class AA State Tournament Quarterfinal

The longest offseason has finally come to an end in Circle Pines. 

231 days after Centennial was forced to forfeit its place in Class AA State Tournament due to a positive COVID-19 test, the Cougars will take the ice with a new look, having combined with Spring Lake Park. 

While the Cougars were slated to play eventual state champion Edina and may not have made it out of the first round, the ingredients are there for a run to Class AA State Tournament final four. 

Senior forward Megan Goodreau led the team in scoring last season with 26 goals and 45 points and is poised to hurdle the 100-point career scoring mark this season. Fans should also look for the numbers from talented junior forwards Lauren O'Hara (17-20-37) and Ella O'Hearn (9-7-16) to get a boost after another year of experience. 

Defensively, it all starts in the crease, which is just fine with the Cougars. 

Sophomore Kaitlin Groess, regarded as one of the top netminders in the 2024 class, took over as the starter last season after seeing limited time as an eighth-grader. Groess responded to full-time duty with a .913 save percentage and five shutouts. Her five blank sheets were tops among Northwest Suburban Conference goaltenders who had faced 500 or more shots. 

With the Spring Lake Park merger, the team will be able to peel off some of the top players from last year's group, which had previously been aligned with Anoka. 

5. Holy Family Catholic

2021 Record: 13-5-2

2021 Finish: Lost to Minnetonka in Section 2AA championship

There's a party in Victoria, and it's already at capacity.

That's what happens when nobody graduates. 

The Fire brings back every piece of last year's team that hung with Minnetonka until the third period of last year's Section 2AA championship game, and will add a centerpiece in Maddie Kaiser. 

Kaiser, a Minnesota commit, transferred from Andover and played junior varsity last year for Holy Family. In her last season at the varsity level, she racked up 23 goals and 43 points, including six goals and 10 points in the Huskies' run to a state championship.

Surrounding Kaiser will be junior forwards Grayson Limke (13-15-28), and Maddy Helmstetter (5-14-19), who committed to St. Thomas in October. The blue line will be held down by junior Olivia Paidosh (9-8-17) and senior Ohio State commit Maeve Kelly (3-11-14), while goaltending duties will fall to Sedona Blair. 

Blair, a junior, posted a 1.69 goals-against average and a .940 save percentage last season. Earlier this fall, she was selected to Team USA's Under-18 roster, and will compete for the United States at this winter's U-18 Women's World Championships.

6. Hill-Murray

2021 Record: 14-3

2021 Finish: Lost to Stillwater in Section 4AA championship

Shawn Reid comes out of a one-year sabbatical to take over at Hill-Murray, and the former Blake coach who won four Class A state championships with the Bears has several building blocks in place for a return trip to the Xcel Energy Center. 

Sophomore forward Chloe Boreen (19-5-24) led the Pioneers in scoring last season and was named to the Metro East All-Conference team, as was junior defender and St. Thomas commit Ellah Hause (4-12-16). Senior forward and All-State Honorable Mention pick Allie Franco (10-11-21) returns as one of just five seniors on the team. 

Sophomore goaltender Grace Zhaun impressed as a freshman, with her 1.21 GAA and .940 SV% ranking highest among Metro East goaltenders who played at least 200 minutes last season. 

With 11 underclassmen on the roster, including five eighth and ninth-graders, the Pioneers won’t be short of potential. If the young talent matures quickly, Hill-Murray could challenge for its first appearance in the Class AA State Tournament semifinals since 2017.

7. Stillwater

2021 Record: 19-3-1

2021 Finish: Lost to Eastview in Class AA State Tournament quarterfinals

Lexi Huber, Morgan Wohlers, and their 77 combined points are gone, but what remains in the Stillwater stable is a tightly-knit group that was an outstanding goaltending performance away from a spot in the Class AA State Tournament semifinals. 

Three returning players topped 22 points last season for the Ponies, led by super sophomore Josie St. Martin (20-26-46). However, St. Martin will miss a portion of the season to play for Team USA at this year’s Under-18 Women’s World Championships. 

In addition to St. Martin, senior Sydney Schuster (10-21-31) and sophomores Myah Krueger (11-16-27) and Addison Finn (9-13-22) are back up front. The addition of sophomore Breck transfer Josie Lang helps solidify the defensive unit after the graduation of Jaclyn Kulzer. Lang tallied 21 points in 50 career games for the Mustangs. 

In goal, sophomore Lily Timmons should assume straying duties after splitting time with the graduated Sophie Cronk. Timmons finished her freshman season with a 9-3-1 record, 1.64 GAA, .923 SV%, and three shutouts. 

8. Benilde-St. Margaret’s 

2021 Record: 12-4-3

2021 Finish: Lost to Edina in Section 6AA championship 

Like Hill-Murray, Benilde-St. Margaret’s will also have a new head coach, as Kevin Gray and Kelly Pannek take the reigns from former NHLer Shjon Podein. 

The Red Knights will need to replace several contributors, as Olivia Haag, Anna Podein, and Senior Goalie of the Year finalists Carly Greene have all graduated to Division I hockey. 

What remains is an experienced group that must find a way to manufacture goals, starting up front with Division I-bound seniors Mary Zavoral (10-6-16) and Emma Hoen (5-10-15). Senior defender and Ohio State commit Emma Peschel returns as the team’s leading scorer from the 2021 season, in which she recorded eight goals and 17 points. 

Joining the roster via transfer are freshmen Lulu Rucinksi, Kendall Hassler, and sophomore Lizzy Hamel. 

Rucinski tallied 15 points as an eighth-grader last year for Orono, while Hassler scored 11 goals for Delano/Rockford. Hamel recorded 27 goals in two seasons for the Minneapolis co-op’s varsity.

9. Gentry Academy 

2021 Record: 19-3

2021 Finish: Lost to Proctor/Hermantown in Class A State Tournament championship 

Yes, a program in its second season at the MSHSL level and first in Class AA appears in the preseason top-10. 

By the end of the season’s first month, I bet they’ll still be there. 

Six of eight players who totaled 20 or more points last season are back for the Stars, who lost in overtime in last spring’s Class A state title game. 

Leading the scoring charge are junior forward, and St. Thomas commit Cara Sajevic (29-16-45), plus junior defenders and twins Jenessa (9-20-29) and JuliAnna Gazdik (8-19-27). The Gazdiks are verbally committed to Minnesota State. Junior forward trio Riley Reeves (7-16-23), St. Cloud State commit Alexa Hanrahan (9-13-22), and Rachel Agerter (8-13-21) round out the 20-point scorers from last year’s team. 

Both Rylee Bartizal and Maggie Vance return to the crease for their junior and senior seasons, respectively. The duo combined for six shutouts last year, allowing a combined average of 1.73 goals per game. 

Last year, all three losses suffered by the Stars came in overtime, coming against Class AA State Tournament team Stillwater, Class A state champion Proctor/Hermantown, and Class A power South St. Paul.

10. Eastview 
2021 Record: 16-5-2
2021 Finish: Lost to Andover in Class AA State Tournament semifinals 

A 1-0 win over Stillwater sent the Lightning into a buzzsaw against Andover, but an appearance in the state semifinals bodes well for any team going forward. 

Yale commit and senior forward Avery Chesek (22-14-36) is back to lead the offense, and fellow senior forward Nora Stepan (8-21-29) showed well during her junior year. Junior forward Jessica Wilhelm (8-4-12) may be counted on to shoulder some of the scoring load with the graduation of varsity veteran Mikayla Kelley. 

The Lightning return four of five defenders from last year’s team that allowed the third-fewest goals per game (1.96) among South Suburban Conference squads. Add to that mix senior goaltender Angie Lombardi (1.78/.936/6), and the Lightning have a defense capable of stifling the most potent offenses.  

1. Warroad 
2021 Record: 20-2
2021 Finish: Lost to Proctor/Hermantown in Class A State Tournament 

Like many teams, Warroad was forced to play a more restrictive slate of games than in a typical season. For 2021-2022, the Warriors are back to the gauntlet, facing three teams ranked in the Class AA preseason top-10 over the season’s first three weeks. 

Losing Ms. Hockey finalist Geno Hendrickson and defensive stalwart Karlie Meeker hurts, but the Warriors have never been short on scoring talent and don’t appear to be this season either. 

Junior forward Talya Hendrickson (17-36-53) leads the returners, followed by senior Madison Lavergne (22-21-43) and juniors Kate Johnson (21-20-41) and Abbey Reule (11-14-25). During a game at the Girls NIT earlier this fall, a YHH staffer described Lavergne as the best player on the ice during a game. 

Perhaps the piece that helps set Warroad apart from the pack is senior goaltender Kendra Nordick. Nordick is the only pure starting netminder to return from last year’s Class A State Tournament final four. She posted a 1.00 goals-against average, .936 save percentage, and eight shutouts last season. 

2. Orono 
2021 Record: 13-6-1
2021 Finish: Lost to Chisago Lakes in Section 5A championship

Few teams across the state return as many pieces as Orono does, as the Spartans bring back virtually everyone from last year’s team that fell in overtime of the Section 5A finals. 

Among the leading returners are senior forward Iyla Ryskamp (23-16-39), who committed to Sacred Heart during the offseason, fellow senior Kailey Niccum (16-15-31), and sophomores Alex Niccum (9-17-26) and Kaeli Koopman (10-12-22).

Unfortunately for the Spartans, standout defender Grace Bickett has been lost for the season due to injury. Orono coach Sean Fish mentioned sophomore Allie Pleimann as a player who could help fill Bickett’s skates this season. 

In goal, Celia Dahl is back after playing every minute as a sophomore, recording a GAA of 1.48 and seven shutouts. Eighth-grader Claire Hills may get some game action to spell Dahl or in the event of an injury. 

3. Proctor/Hermantown 
2021 Record: 21-0
2021 Finish: Beat Gentry Academy in Class A State Tournament championship

Senior stars Ella Anick and Alyssa Watkins are now off to Bemidji State, but the talent that remains in the Mirage lineup is anything but an illusion. 

Bad joke? Fine. Moving on. 

Junior forward Nya Sieger (12-25-37) is back, as are super sophomores Izy Fairchild (18-17-35) and Hannah Graves (17-14-31). High point totals aside, the Mirage will also look forward to a more challenging schedule, which this season will include Class AA powers Edina and Andover in January. 

The Mirage also returns senior goaltender Abby Pajari, who split time with graduated Vivi Helquist last season. Pajari earned a sparkling 0.92 GAA and .954 SV % last season. Most importantly, she stopped 60 of 63 shots in Class A State Tournament wins over Warroad in the semifinals and Gentry Academy in the state championship. 

4. Chisago Lakes 
2021 Record: 19-3
2021 Finish: Lost to Gentry Academy in Class A State Tournament semifinals 

With a move to Section 4A, we can forget about a Section championship rematch between the Wildcats and Orono, which last year was one of the best games of the season. 

However, the Wildcats should find themselves in the hunt even in new territory, returning Minnesota Duluth commits and senior forwards Dani Burgen (27-26-53) and Dani Brunette (12-21-33). Burgen will suit up for Team USA at this year’s Under-18 Women’s World Championships, her second stint with the national program after winning a gold medal in the 2020 event.

With star forward Jenna Lawry now off to Minnesota Duluth, the scoring burden is on Burgen and Brunette now more than ever. Could Blake transfer Rilee Winters be an offensive catalyst?

Junior defender and St. Thomas commit Laine DeVries (4-5-9) could be relied upon more on offense, but the ‘Cats will need young players to step up as well.

Sophomore goaltender Brenna Ritter played 85 minutes last season, stopping 16 of 18 shots faced. 

5. South St. Paul 
2021 Record: 12-7-1
2021 Finish: Lost to Gentry Academy in Section 4A championship 

The No. 5 slot of the Class A rankings has recently proven to be a revolving door. For the 2021-2022 preseason rankings, the Packers get the nod over several other quality teams. 

Why? Goaltending. 

Two other programs considered for No. 5, Mound Westonka and Duluth Marshall, will be replacing veteran starters. The Packers will send out junior goaltender Delaney Norman, who has been the team’s starter since her eighth-grade season. Last year, Norman’s slash line (GAA/SV%/SO) went 1.57/.936/6. Her six shutouts last year bring her career total to 15. 

Senior defender Lilie Ramirez (7-15-22) returns to anchor the blue line, while junior forward Sarah Wincensten (8-7-15) and freshman forward Lily Pachl (5-4-9) should see their numbers rise as their offensive responsibilities expand. 

Last season, six of the Packers’ losses came by two goals or less, and five games went to overtime. The Packers were also the only Class A program to beat Gentry Academy during the regular season.