AA Semifinal: Grand Rapids vs. Eden Prairie

[Lazy Scout]

At both games last night and the student section and fan base for EP was dismal. For a school that size it was pathetic. Wayzata was better but not by much. The tournament needs the likes of an Edina, Hill Murray, Benilde. At least the community of Edina fills the stands. A different environment this year...... every tournament needs a villain.

[Usthockey13]

Wayzata vs EP in the AA championship.
Are they not the to biggest schools in mn?
3,000 + students. Not fair, they should move up to the USHL!

If only there was a northern team capable of beating one of these teams.

Much respect to GR. They pass up Single A glory so that they can play against the best. 18,000 people were T-Hawk fans at the X tonight, and they have nothing but respect and admiration for a team that plays with kids from their own community and doesn't rely on open enrollment in a metro area in order to find talent. It's great that Klatt doesn't let those kids down by forcing them to put inferior teams into running time in an empty arena.

Congrats to GR on a great season and hopefully they can finish in a winning note!

I think GRs defense and goaltending will both be much improved next year and their top line of Hain-Miller-McLaughlin will be the best in the state. A return trip to the X is a strong possibility.

Will be interesting to see with Hain and McLaughin being invited to NDP tryouts and if they make the team

[gorilla1]

Wayzata vs EP in the AA championship.
Are they not the to biggest schools in mn?
3,000 + students. Not fair, they should move up to the USHL!

If only there was a northern team capable of beating one of these teams. :roll:

Much respect to GR. They pass up Single A glory so that they can play against the best. 18,000 people were T-Hawk fans at the X tonight, and they have nothing but respect and admiration for a team that plays with kids from their own community and doesn't rely on open enrollment in a metro area in order to find talent. It's great that Klatt doesn't let those kids down by forcing them to put inferior teams into running time in an empty arena.

Congrats to GR on a great season and hopefully they can finish in a winning note!

I think GRs defense and goaltending will both be much improved next year and their top line of Hain-Miller-McLaughlin will be the best in the state. A return trip to the X is a strong possibility.

Hats off to GR on a nice season. But before you go after other programs for allegedly recruiting kids to their programs and claiming that GR "plays with kids from their own communities," you might want to doublecheck your facts. Just to bring up one player on your team for instance, isn't he from the TC? I don't want to name him, but he played for TC high schools and "transferred" up there this year. I believe one of his parents still works in the TC.

Kids coming in and leaving programs happens at many schools, not just in the TC.

[goaline]

Wayzata vs EP in the AA championship.
Are they not the to biggest schools in mn?
3,000 + students. Not fair, they should move up to the USHL!

If only there was a northern team capable of beating one of these teams.

Much respect to GR. They pass up Single A glory so that they can play against the best. 18,000 people were T-Hawk fans at the X tonight, and they have nothing but respect and admiration for a team that plays with kids from their own community and doesn't rely on open enrollment in a metro area in order to find talent. It's great that Klatt doesn't let those kids down by forcing them to put inferior teams into running time in an empty arena.

Congrats to GR on a great season and hopefully they can finish in a winning note!

I think GRs defense and goaltending will both be much improved next year and their top line of Hain-Miller-McLaughlin will be the best in the state. A return trip to the X is a strong possibility.

It is fun to see rapids back at the tourney and the following they bring, woulda been nice to see them full strength at forward. However, suggesting they are great next year based on their D returning is a bit alarming -- they have been exposed defensively and especially down the stretch, beginning with the East game -- not sure a year better is enough for this crew to compete in AA

[pebbles]

Wayzata vs EP in the AA championship.
Are they not the to biggest schools in mn?
3,000 + students. Not fair, they should move up to the USHL!

Two Biggest schools in minnesota, probably the only two schools in the state that can't sell out their share of tickets for the X. Ep is brutal in that regard.
Wayzata appeared to sell out to the students, but there was an awkward zone where nobody was sitting that would appear to be for the community members.

Twitter said Wayzata tickets for both Thurs and Friday sold out in 30 minutes. Don't know why that one section was empty.

[O-townClown]

This is a great game. Trojans were on the ropes and popped the shortie and another to tie. Looking forward to the 3rd. Maybe more.

[Bigcat99]

Wayzata vs EP in the AA championship.
Are they not the to biggest schools in mn?
3,000 + students. Not fair, they should move up to the USHL!

If only there was a northern team capable of beating one of these teams.

Much respect to GR. They pass up Single A glory so that they can play against the best. 18,000 people were T-Hawk fans at the X tonight, and they have nothing but respect and admiration for a team that plays with kids from their own community and doesn't rely on open enrollment in a metro area in order to find talent. It's great that Klatt doesn't let those kids down by forcing them to put inferior teams into running time in an empty arena.

Congrats to GR on a great season and hopefully they can finish in a winning note!

I think GRs defense and goaltending will both be much improved next year and their top line of Hain-Miller-McLaughlin will be the best in the state. A return trip to the X is a strong possibility.

Hats off to GR on a nice season. But before you go after other programs for allegedly recruiting kids to their programs and claiming that GR "plays with kids from their own communities," you might want to doublecheck your facts. Just to bring up one player on your team for instance, isn't he from the TC? I don't want to name him, but he played for TC high schools and "transferred" up there this year. I believe one of his parents still works in the TC.

Kids coming in and leaving programs happens at many schools, not just in the TC.

How long do you have to live in a zip code to be from there, smh. I known of a half dozen or so people who commute to the metro during the week while their families reside full time in non metro/ greater MN communities.