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hockey59 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:27 pm

hockey59 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2020 3:06 pm I happen to be very aware of the enormous pressure associated with HS age kids playing in a Section Final. My oldest son played in two, once as the underdog & once as the favorite & my youngest son played in one in essentially a pick um game where we were seeded 3rd vs the 4th seed. Youngest son advanced to State in 2016 & oldest lost both by one goal, in OT in 2007 & on a fluky goal in 2008 that (for kniven) sadly preceded his fandom to his favorite team by one year. A big part of handling the pressure is having some experience winning tournaments & big games as a youth hockey player & even better, as a HS player. In that regard, at least in 2020, Andover has that advantage (too) compared to their rivals, including the bulk of this years DE team. They have an Elite D in Kaiser, he & Wolfe arguably being the best tandem in the State. Very critically too, their Seniors have won consistently growing up. Talent combined with the amount of depth they have...as much as I (actually) hate to admit it, the Huskies are (potentially) much better than any of the 3 teams my sons played on. So again, with no disrespect directed at the other 7AA teams, it comes down to the Andover coaches & players playing their game, with poise & confidence. Can they handle the big stage? Time will tell. If they can, Andover will advance to Xcel, no question in my mind.

After watching the Huskies against SCC tonight, essentially after further review, I’ve come to realize Andover may have (had) a better team last year. Losing Schoen & Dainty they lost 2 proven HS goal scorers. And when you get into sections, when the pressure is palatable..it really helps having proven goal scorers. While Kaiser & Wolfe are incredibly talented offensive defensemen, the lack of a proven goal scorer may cause them to press a bit to much when they are trailing (late) in a game. Don’t get me wrong, Kron & Thoreson are really good forwards . But to use an Anoka analogy, at forward (at least as HS players) Andover simply doesn’t have an Isaac Johnson caliber forward. And that may possibly prove costly (come late February). Additionally they lack a Section playoff experienced goalie...neither does DE, but GR does in ClaftonFinally...SCC has an “elite” forward in Warner & a really good finisher in Perbix. That proved to be a key difference tonight. So while Andover is (still) the clear favorite in 7AA, they’ve got to finish their chances better! And as a team...get WILL & GRIT (along with skill) Battle Tested in the next month in preparation for sections.

hockey59 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:27 pm

hockey59 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2020 3:06 pm I happen to be very aware of the enormous pressure associated with HS age kids playing in a Section Final. My oldest son played in two, once as the underdog & once as the favorite & my youngest son played in one in essentially a pick um game where we were seeded 3rd vs the 4th seed. Youngest son advanced to State in 2016 & oldest lost both by one goal, in OT in 2007 & on a fluky goal in 2008 that (for kniven) sadly preceded his fandom to his favorite team by one year. A big part of handling the pressure is having some experience winning tournaments & big games as a youth hockey player & even better, as a HS player. In that regard, at least in 2020, Andover has that advantage (too) compared to their rivals, including the bulk of this years DE team. They have an Elite D in Kaiser, he & Wolfe arguably being the best tandem in the State. Very critically too, their Seniors have won consistently growing up. Talent combined with the amount of depth they have...as much as I (actually) hate to admit it, the Huskies are (potentially) much better than any of the 3 teams my sons played on. So again, with no disrespect directed at the other 7AA teams, it comes down to the Andover coaches & players playing their game, with poise & confidence. Can they handle the big stage? Time will tell. If they can, Andover will advance to Xcel, no question in my mind.

After watching the Huskies against SCC tonight, essentially after further review, I’ve come to realize Andover may have (had) a better team last year. Losing Schoen & Dainty they lost 2 proven HS goal scorers. And when you get into sections, when the pressure is palatable..it really helps having proven goal scorers. While Kaiser & Wolfe are incredibly talented offensive defensemen, the lack of a proven goal scorer may cause them to press a bit to much when they are trailing (late) in a game. Don’t get me wrong, Kron & Thoreson are really good forwards . But to use an Anoka analogy, at forward (at least as HS players) Andover simply doesn’t have an Isaac Johnson caliber forward. And that may possibly prove costly (come late February). Additionally they lack a Section playoff experienced goalie...neither does DE, but GR does in ClaftonFinally...SCC has an “elite” forward in Warner & a really good finisher in Perbix. That proved to be a key difference tonight. So while Andover is (still) the clear favorite in 7AA, they’ve got to finish their chances better! And as a team...get WILL & GRIT (along with skill) Battle Tested in the next month in preparation for sections.

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:07 am Andover - 4.75 GPG **
CEC - 3.57 GPG
Rapids - 3.09 GPG
F-Lake - 3.00 GPG
East - 2.92 GPG
Elks - 2.29 GPG

With exception to Andover, the section light on the scoring for HS puck.

bardown27 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:17 am

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2020 10:07 am Andover - 4.75 GPG **
CEC - 3.57 GPG
Rapids - 3.09 GPG
F-Lake - 3.00 GPG
East - 2.92 GPG
Elks - 2.29 GPG

With exception to Andover, the section light on the scoring for HS puck.

Andover - 1.50 GAPG
F-Lake - 2.42 GAPG
CEC - 2.57 GAPG
Rapids - 2.91 GAPG
Elks - 3.21 GAPG
East - 3.23 GAPG

These teams also don't give up very many goals per game

karl(east) wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:46 pm
Thinking back to past teams that ran their offense through their defense, my thoroughly unscientific sample would suggest that teams that really focused on locking down and being defensive-minded (East '13, Eagan '14, maybe Wayzata '16) tend to outperform those that try to go for total puck control and pressing the pace in the hope that generating enough chances leads to goals (Tonka '19, Elk River '17, Tonka '10, maybe East '09). I'd speculate this is because the former expect to be in tight situations and are used to grinding them out, whereas the more dominant, pacey teams run the risk of getting exposed in back, especially if they're not used to being tested in a big situation. Is that a cause for concern for Andover? I guess time will tell.

karl(east) wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:46 pm Lots of interesting ways to slice this one.

Thinking back to past teams that ran their offense through their defense, my thoroughly unscientific sample would suggest that teams that really focused on locking down and being defensive-minded (East '13, Eagan '14, maybe Wayzata '16) tend to outperform those that try to go for total puck control and pressing the pace in the hope that generating enough chances leads to goals (Tonka '19, Elk River '17, Tonka '10, maybe East '09). I'd speculate this is because the former expect to be in tight situations and are used to grinding them out, whereas the more dominant, pacey teams run the risk of getting exposed in back, especially if they're not used to being tested in a big situation. Is that a cause for concern for Andover? I guess time will tell.

The section just generally lacks experience with success in big playoff games this year. Normally that's East's forte, but Charlie Erickson is the only player on this Hounds team who was a top 9 forward or a top 4 D a season ago. Hockey59 notes Andover's lack of an elite scorer, but I wouldn't say East or Rapids have one (at least at this stage in anyone's career) either. Cloquet does in Christian Galatz, but I'm not sure he has enough of a supporting cast. Who can get the best goaltending? Whose D is best able to slow down and frustrate opponents? Lots of unknowns, even with a clear #1 in the section.

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Wed Jan 08, 2020 6:27 am

hockey59 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 07, 2020 11:27 pm

hockey59 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 05, 2020 3:06 pm I happen to be very aware of the enormous pressure associated with HS age kids playing in a Section Final. My oldest son played in two, once as the underdog & once as the favorite & my youngest son played in one in essentially a pick um game where we were seeded 3rd vs the 4th seed. Youngest son advanced to State in 2016 & oldest lost both by one goal, in OT in 2007 & on a fluky goal in 2008 that (for kniven) sadly preceded his fandom to his favorite team by one year. A big part of handling the pressure is having some experience winning tournaments & big games as a youth hockey player & even better, as a HS player. In that regard, at least in 2020, Andover has that advantage (too) compared to their rivals, including the bulk of this years DE team. They have an Elite D in Kaiser, he & Wolfe arguably being the best tandem in the State. Very critically too, their Seniors have won consistently growing up. Talent combined with the amount of depth they have...as much as I (actually) hate to admit it, the Huskies are (potentially) much better than any of the 3 teams my sons played on. So again, with no disrespect directed at the other 7AA teams, it comes down to the Andover coaches & players playing their game, with poise & confidence. Can they handle the big stage? Time will tell. If they can, Andover will advance to Xcel, no question in my mind.

After watching the Huskies against SCC tonight, essentially after further review, I’ve come to realize Andover may have (had) a better team last year. Losing Schoen & Dainty they lost 2 proven HS goal scorers. And when you get into sections, when the pressure is palatable..it really helps having proven goal scorers. While Kaiser & Wolfe are incredibly talented offensive defensemen, the lack of a proven goal scorer may cause them to press a bit to much when they are trailing (late) in a game. Don’t get me wrong, Kron & Thoreson are really good forwards . But to use an Anoka analogy, at forward (at least as HS players) Andover simply doesn’t have an Isaac Johnson caliber forward. And that may possibly prove costly (come late February). Additionally they lack a Section playoff experienced goalie...neither does DE, but GR does in ClaftonFinally...SCC has an “elite” forward in Warner & a really good finisher in Perbix. That proved to be a key difference tonight. So while Andover is (still) the clear favorite in 7AA, they’ve got to finish their chances better! And as a team...get WILL & GRIT (along with skill) Battle Tested in the next month in preparation for sections.

59, does the conference schedule Andover has left concern you leading into playoffs or is there enough stiff competition to keep them battle tested for playoff?

kniven wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:54 pm CEC at Grand Rapids tomorrow night ...

kniven wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:14 pm

kniven wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:54 pm CEC at Grand Rapids tomorrow night ...

CEC in a tisk with Duluth East for the 3/4 seed. A win here would certainly help. A win vs. Rapids and East early on sounds tasty. Let’s do this Cloquet, Esko, and Carlton hockey boys!!!!!!

zambonidriver wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 5:51 am

kniven wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 8:14 pm

kniven wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 7:54 pm CEC at Grand Rapids tomorrow night ...

CEC in a tisk with Duluth East for the 3/4 seed. A win here would certainly help. A win vs. Rapids and East early on sounds tasty. Let’s do this Cloquet, Esko, and Carlton hockey boys!!!!!!

http://www.minnesota-scores.net/classst ... 09&class=3

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:55 am CEC with the 4-2 win tonight. That team will be tough to beat in section this year.

Edinahopkins wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 3:24 pm I think Rapids wins but they could be dangerous if certain players start moving the puck in the offensive zone and not fumbling with the puck in the d zone and just move it.

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:55 am CEC with the 4-2 win tonight. That team will be tough to beat in section this year.

north_bear wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:26 pm

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:55 am CEC with the 4-2 win tonight. That team will be tough to beat in section this year.

Right score, wrong teams.

Rapids in control most of the game. Aside from the first 30 seconds and a pp goal, galatz and co were held in check. Cloquet doesn't look very deep beyond that top line.

kniven wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:32 pm

north_bear wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:26 pm

northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 11:55 am CEC with the 4-2 win tonight. That team will be tough to beat in section this year.

Right score, wrong teams.

Rapids in control most of the game. Aside from the first 30 seconds and a pp goal, galatz and co were held in check. Cloquet doesn't look very deep beyond that top line.

We had 7 kids out tonight. 5 sick and 2 injured. My purple gonna be just fine down the stretch.

norcon wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:39 pm

kniven wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:32 pm

north_bear wrote: ↑Tue Jan 14, 2020 9:26 pm

Right score, wrong teams.

Rapids in control most of the game. Aside from the first 30 seconds and a pp goal, galatz and co were held in check. Cloquet doesn't look very deep beyond that top line.

We had 7 kids out tonight. 5 sick and 2 injured. My purple gonna be just fine down the stretch.

Ouch! Looking forward to the rematch...should be a good battle,

Edinahopkins wrote: ↑Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:54 am The purple are going to have to put a win streak together now because it seems QRF doesn’t like the teams they play? They are sitting at the fifth seed right now.