11/20/99

Eden Prairie, Elk River Top Minnesota Pre-Season Poll 

1. EDEN PRAIRIE:   They have all their key players back, including their four top scorers in seniors Luke Flaig (38 pts.) and Matt Johnson (36 pts.); and juniors Garrett Smagaard (38 pts.) and Mike Erickson (35 pts.). Dan Krmpotich is also up there. On top of that, they have St. Cloud State- bound defenseman Colin Peters back on the blueline and Dan Kuhl (2.80 GAA last season) in the net. 

2. ELK RIVER:  Their three top scorers -- Trevor Stewart, John Brummer and Justin Nikle -- combined for 96 points last year. Not quite the punch of Eden Prairie, but not bad either. Future Gopher D Paul Martin provides defense -- and offense, too. 

3. WHITE BEAR LAKE:  Has University of North Dakota bound forward Ryan Connelly back. Billie Luger, who at times last year looked very good, will be back too. They also have two top D in junior Tim Hambly and senior Steve Collova.

4. BLOOMINGTON JEFFERSON:  They lost out to Holy Angels last winter and didn't make it to the state tournament, so motivation for this group -- our dark horse team -- will be high. Their strength is up front. Matt Duncan is a tough north-south winger; Mike Bernhagen is a quick little skilled centerman; and tall, smooth Tom Gilbert can either play back on the point or up front. On top of all that, they have a savvy coach in Tom Saterdalen.  

5. GREENWAY:  Gino Guyer, the crafty young, top-scoring centerman, will lead the way. A year ago -- as a 9th grader -- the son of head coach Pat Guyer was 9th overall in state scoring. Defenseman Andy Sertich will help out at both ends of the ice. A key loss is graduated defenseman Beau Geisler.  

6. HIBBING:  Even with the loss of goaltender Travis Weber to the US National Program, and D Rico Fatticci to graduation, Hibbing should have another solid year. Leading the way will be senior John Bottoms, and keep an eye on freshman Ian Ross, who looked very good at this summer's Select 15 Festival. 

7. DULUTH EAST:   Has leadership, toughness, and the goal scoring of senior Ross Carlson back. But they also have key losses -- Jon Hedberg left early to play major junior and Nic Serre has graduated. Still, the Greyhounds have young talent ready to step in, specifically defenseman Tom Sawatske and forward Nick Licari who were both outstanding at the US Select 15 Festival. 

8. ROSEAU:  Defending state tournament champions lost a lot of key players. Gone are Derrick Byfuglien, RW Mike Klema, and C Jesse Modahl -- and that's a lot. Top returning forward is David Klema. A key will goaltender  Jake Brandt, who was excellent in the state tournament.  

9. HOLY ANGELS:  In Billy Hengen, who's committed to St. Cloud State, Holy Angels has one of  the top scorers in the state returning. Last year, Hengen posted a 34-34-68. On D, there's a void left by graduation. Look for Conner Phippen to log a lot of ice time patrolling the blue line.  

10. OSSEO:  Should be strong on D with junior Chad Gromek and senior Eric Weum. For scoring, look to gritty forward Joe Jensen, a junior; senior Dan Gilbert; and highly skilled sophomore Nick Pernula. Osseo also has goaltender Nick McWhite returning. This team has the potential to move up. . 

OTHERS TO WATCH: St. Cloud Apollo, Hill Murray, Blaine, Hastings, St. Paul Johnson, Rochester Mayo, Anoka.