On Thursday it was Class A who got ranked. Now on we go to Class AA. Let’s take a look at the field.
8. Hill-Murray Pioneers
While black is a good look for the Pioneers, the mixture of green and white in this uniform makes it not a good look. The green that runs up the sides, under the arms and right to the shoulder pipe area needs to change. That runs way too far. Then you have numbers on the arms that are on green patches with white stripes down the side. That is very unnecessary. Too much is going on with the crest as well. Need to just drop ‘Pioneers’ leaving the ‘HM’. Major overhaul needed here, and worst of the day. Sorry, Pioneers.
7. Eden Prairie Eagles
Even if you just limit the stripes through the middle to just one color, that makes the jersey a bit better. But eliminating those stripes would make this a great jersey, as the rest is very solid. The stripes on the arm can stay, as they can stand alone without the ones going through the mid-section. Black shoulders are good, and this is a great crest from Eden Prairie. But all is lost with those darn stripes through the middle.
6. St. Thomas Academy Cadets
This has been the traditional look from the Cadets for quite some time now, and maybe it’s time for a few tweaks. They have a solid crest with the interlocking ‘S & T’, but then it all goes to waste. There is a lot happening on the arms and at the bottom of the jersey as we get a lot of blue with some stripes. It’s not a terrible look, but just seems like a bit much. Get rid of some of that — whether it’s losing a stripe or the block of blue — and it would really have a clean look. It’s the Cadets, so you would almost expect them to have a good look. (Editor’s note: Get your people in line, Schreier!)
5. Wayzata Trojans
Defending champ Wayzata has the exact same blue jerseys as we saw last year when they won it all. That is, except for one thing: they added nameplates to the back that go up onto the yellow shoulders. When it’s a blue nameplate, that makes it look really out of place. Otherwise, this is a good look. It has a royal blue base with yellow and white trim, and a solid crest as ‘Wayzata Trojans’ goes on the front with the player’s number in the middle. Tip for next season: find a way to get those nameplates to not go on the yellow shoulders.
4. Maple Grove Crimson
Maple Grove has a really good look with the leaf on the front — a nod to the Toronto Maple Leafs — and then the simple crimson stripes at the bottom and on the arms with gold trim. It’s a simple, clean look — which is what jerseys should be. Except we do find one problem: shoulder piping. This is certainly one of the better-looking shoulder piping jobs out there, it’s still shoulder piping — something that can go away once Adidas becomes the primary jersey supplier for the NHL.
Side note: if you haven’t noticed, high school teams love to copy NHL uniforms.
Dump the shoulder piping, and they shoot up the charts! Also of note: the nameplates added to the back kind of cover up the shoulder piping.
3. Grand Rapids Thunderhawks
Defending Class AA champs (in jersey rankings) find themselves at No. 3 on the list this season. It’s a great look, with an obvious nod to the Flyers of the 70s. Why so high? Because Grand Rapids don’t slap those ridiculous nameplates on the back like the Flyers do. Seriously, those things take away from an otherwise good look — something not easily said for a primary orange-colored jersey. I love the crest, as it has a throwback feel to the old days when Grand Rapids would come down and dominate the tournament. This is still a great look; we just had two others who were better this year.
2. Lakeville South Cougars
It’s not often can you say a gold-colored jersey has a good look, but the Cougars pull it off here. The jersey is primarily gold — M. Gold, as listed in the official program — with maroon trim. It has maroon on the shoulders and maroon and white stripes on the arms and the bottom of the jersey. I love the ‘South’ running diagonally down the front of the jersey as well. These are simple, sharp, and lacking any last-minute added nameplates. In a different year, South takes home the top honor.
1. Moorhead Spuds
From the moment these jerseys hit the ice for warmups, it was love at first sight. The ‘Spuds’ running diagonally down the front, with the big orange stripes at the bottom and on the arms. There’s also a bit of black trim in there, which is the perfect amount. The number on the front right shoulder is great and the shoulder patches are too. Also if you can notice later in the tournament, there is an ‘M’ in that little spot of jersey directly under the stitching on the front. This is such a well-done jersey and a much-needed update for the Spuds. Moorhead takes home top honors in 2017.
