2025-2026 ND High School Hockey Thread

[gfhockey]

Per source sounds like Davies may struggle this year 

[VC Sioux Fan]

Central vs. Moorhead will be a fun game to watch later this season. What lots of GF Hockey hardos have always wanted- Best in ND vs. Best in MN. Could be a major statement for ND High School Hockey. Score prediction: 6-2 Spuds. 

[UND92,96]

6 minutes ago, VC Sioux Fan said:

Central vs. Moorhead will be a fun game to watch later this season. What lots of GF Hockey hardos have always wanted- Best in ND vs. Best in MN. Could be a major statement for ND High School Hockey. Score prediction: 6-2 Spuds. 

I know others have made this point over the years, but it bears repeating--Moorhead's enrollment is roughly the same as Central and Red River combined. I assume that's why at the bantam level, the Grand Forks Aviators compete very favorably with all the usual MN powers, but at the high school level it's not quite the same because the talent gets split in Grand Forks, whereas it does not at the larger MN schools. 

[yzerman19]

Yep.  Central + Red River is 2300

Moorhead 2000

Edina 2700

Minnetonka and Eden Prairie each well over 3000

[yzerman19]

Think about this...if you add EGF Sr High to that list, you are barely bigger than Edina and still smaller than Tonka and EP....imagine a single team of RR, Central, EGF....

[fightingsioux4life]

13 minutes ago, yzerman19 said:

Think about this...if you add EGF Sr High to that list, you are barely bigger than Edina and still smaller than Tonka and EP....imagine a single team of RR, Central, EGF....

I proposed something like this in March of this year and was accused of being on an intoxicating substance. 

[Big Green]

9 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

I proposed something like this in March of this year and was accused of being on an intoxicating substance. 

It would be a lot of fun from a Fan point of View.  It would take the opportunity to play HS sports away from a lot of kids.

 

[yzerman19]

8 minutes ago, Big Green said:

It would be a lot of fun from a Fan point of View.  It would take the opportunity to play HS sports away from a lot of kids.

 

true, but same as the big schools in the cities...lotta good players get cut in Edina, Tonka, EP, etc

 

[UND92,96]

5 minutes ago, Big Green said:

It would be a lot of fun from a Fan point of View.  It would take the opportunity to play HS sports away from a lot of kids.

 

That's undoubtedly true, but isn't that the case in Moorhead right now? Not to say it's right or wrong, I'm just curious if that's something many people complain about there? Or maybe people just know the deal, and kids go to Shanley, for example, if there's a question about whether they're going to make the team for Moorhead?

[yzerman19]

people always complain when little johnny doesn't make the team...he waited his turn, so he should get to play...nope...this is big boy/real world...get better at hockey and you won't get cut.

[Big Green]

4 minutes ago, UND92,96 said:

That's undoubtedly true, but isn't that the case in Moorhead right now? Not to say it's right or wrong, I'm just curious if that's something many people complain about there? Or maybe people just know the deal, and kids go to Shanley, for example, if there's a question about whether they're going to make the team for Moorhead?

I think the difference is that the opportunity was there for 3 teams, but it is being taken away.  At the bigger schools it was never there.

Co-ops normally happen out of necessity so the kids are still able to play somewhere.

Only way this works is if you keep the 3 teams and add the 4 team, watering down the other 3.  (doubt that is even possible).  Sure would made the ND HS tournament more interesting.  And Warroad would have free pass to MN A tournament every year.

 

 

 

 

 

[gfhockey]

1 hour ago, VC Sioux Fan said:

Central vs. Moorhead will be a fun game to watch later this season. What lots of GF Hockey hardos have always wanted- Best in ND vs. Best in MN. Could be a major statement for ND High School Hockey. Score prediction: 6-2 Spuds. 

It’s just too bad we do the right thing here and split the kids up

 

think if Moorhead did that or if they didn’t recruit

[UND92,96]

14 minutes ago, Big Green said:

I think the difference is that the opportunity was there for 3 teams, but it is being taken away.  At the bigger schools it was never there.

Co-ops normally happen out of necessity so the kids are still able to play somewhere.

Only way this works is if you keep the 3 teams and add the 4 team, watering down the other 3.  (doubt that is even possible).  Sure would made the ND HS tournament more interesting.  And Warroad would have free pass to MN A tournament every year.

 

 

 

 

 

O.K., I think we were just talking about two different things. I was looking at it more from the standpoint of the fact that towns in Minnesota in that 50,000 to 80,000 range typically seem to just have one public high school, whereas that's not the case in North Dakota. The hypothetical of one school in GF, let alone adding in EGF, is an interesting conversation in terms of hockey, but I think we all realize it's never going to happen. 

[gfhockey]

What about minot? They should have two teams. They have it in every other sport but hockey 

[Walsh Hall]

I wonder if the hockey team was a consideration is remodeling the old HS instead of building a second (Moorhead).

[fightingsioux4life]

1 minute ago, Walsh Hall said:

I wonder if the hockey team was a consideration is remodeling the old HS instead of building a second (Moorhead).

That was probably more about saving money by remodeling the current school vs. building and maintaining a second school.

[Johnny Five]

51 minutes ago, gfhockey said:

What about minot? They should have two teams. They have it in every other sport but hockey 

Minot had it done last year.  Started reaching out and scheduling games even.  Then the parents blew up the Athletic Director and he folded.  They have a full Varsity, JV and Junior Gold again as well.

[siouxweet]

1 hour ago, gfhockey said:

It’s just too bad we do the right thing here and split the kids up

 

think if Moorhead did that or if they didn’t recruit

Are they really split up the way BAA kids have flocked to Central in recent years?

[gfhockey]

9 minutes ago, siouxweet said:

Are they really split up the way BAA kids have flocked to Central in recent years?

Yes

[NDSU grad]

1 hour ago, Johnny Five said:

Minot had it done last year.  Started reaching out and scheduling games even.  Then the parents blew up the Athletic Director and he folded.  They have a full Varsity, JV and Junior Gold again as well.

The Minot AD not able to withstand parental pressure and do the right thing. Impossible!!🤣🤣

[UNDMOORHEAD]

2 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

That was probably more about saving money by remodeling the current school vs. building and maintaining a second school.

They didn't remodel it. It was torn down and rebuilt in sections and it's not quite finished yet. The Moorhead sports center and one gymnasium are the only things left from the old school. I know some politicians were pushing for a second school.

[siouxfaninseattle]

2 hours ago, siouxweet said:

Are they really split up the way BAA kids have flocked to Central in recent years?

What is "BAA"?

[Johnny Five]

Pre-Season Coaches Polls

2025-26 West Region Boys Pre Season Coaches Poll

West Region Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Minot United	6	75
2-Bismarck Century	2	72
3-Bismarck Legacy	2	67
4-Mandan		55
5-Jamestown		50
6-Bottineau-Rugby		39
7-Bismarck High		32
8-Dickinson		28
9-Williston		24
10-Hazen-Beulah		9

 

2025-26 East Region Boys Pre Season Coaches Poll

East Region Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Grand Forks Central	9	72
2-Grand Forks Red River	1	63
3-Fargo Davies		46
4-Fargo North		44
5-West Fargo Packers		42
6-West Fargo Sheyenne		37
7-Devils Lake		27
8-Fargo Shanley		23
9-Grafton/Park River		9
10-MayPort Area		Automatic #10 Ranking

2025-26 Girls Overall State Coaches Poll

State Girls Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Fargo North/South	6	113
2-Legacy/Bismarck	5	104
3-Bismarck Century		94
4-Grand Forks		91
5-Mandan		87
6-West Fargo United		72
7-Fargo Davies	1	71
8-Minot United		54
9-Dickinson		33
10-Williston		31
11-Jamestown		28
12-Devils Lake		14

[sioux rube]

30 minutes ago, Johnny Five said:

Pre-Season Coaches Polls

2025-26 West Region Boys Pre Season Coaches Poll

West Region Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Minot United	6	75
2-Bismarck Century	2	72
3-Bismarck Legacy	2	67
4-Mandan		55
5-Jamestown		50
6-Bottineau-Rugby		39
7-Bismarck High		32
8-Dickinson		28
9-Williston		24
10-Hazen-Beulah		9

 

2025-26 East Region Boys Pre Season Coaches Poll

East Region Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Grand Forks Central	9	72
2-Grand Forks Red River	1	63
3-Fargo Davies		46
4-Fargo North		44
5-West Fargo Packers		42
6-West Fargo Sheyenne		37
7-Devils Lake		27
8-Fargo Shanley		23
9-Grafton/Park River		9
10-MayPort Area		Automatic #10 Ranking

2025-26 Girls Overall State Coaches Poll

State Girls Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Fargo North/South	6	113
2-Legacy/Bismarck	5	104
3-Bismarck Century		94
4-Grand Forks		91
5-Mandan		87
6-West Fargo United		72
7-Fargo Davies	1	71
8-Minot United		54
9-Dickinson		33
10-Williston		31
11-Jamestown		28
12-Devils Lake		14

Bismarck girls 2 and 3 in predictions. Man I was told they wouldn’t be able to compete if they spilt up to 2 teams 😎

[Big Green]

1 hour ago, Johnny Five said:

Pre-Season Coaches Polls

2025-26 West Region Boys Pre Season Coaches Poll

West Region Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Minot United	6	75
2-Bismarck Century	2	72
3-Bismarck Legacy	2	67
4-Mandan		55
5-Jamestown		50
6-Bottineau-Rugby		39
7-Bismarck High		32
8-Dickinson		28
9-Williston		24
10-Hazen-Beulah		9

 

2025-26 East Region Boys Pre Season Coaches Poll

East Region Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Grand Forks Central	9	72
2-Grand Forks Red River	1	63
3-Fargo Davies		46
4-Fargo North		44
5-West Fargo Packers		42
6-West Fargo Sheyenne		37
7-Devils Lake		27
8-Fargo Shanley		23
9-Grafton/Park River		9
10-MayPort Area		Automatic #10 Ranking

2025-26 Girls Overall State Coaches Poll

State Girls Teams	First Place Votes	Points
1-Fargo North/South	6	113
2-Legacy/Bismarck	5	104
3-Bismarck Century		94
4-Grand Forks		91
5-Mandan		87
6-West Fargo United		72
7-Fargo Davies	1	71
8-Minot United		54
9-Dickinson		33
10-Williston		31
11-Jamestown		28
12-Devils Lake		14

Wasn't Shanley going to play in MN or was that just an untrue Rumer?  Interested that Fargo North isn't listed as North/South on boys side but on the girls side it is.