AA Quarterfinal: Centennial vs. #3 Eden Prairie
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AA Quarterfinal: Centennial vs. #3 Eden Prairie
CENTENNIAL VS. #3 EDEN PRAIRIE
-Two large suburban schools meet in the second quarterfinal. Their only recent meeting was in 2012, a 4-3 Eden Prairie win.
Centennial (16-10-2, #23, 3-seed in 5AA)
State appearances: 3 (2 in a row)
State championships: 1 (2004)
Key section wins: 4-0 over #14 Maple Grove, 2-1 over #5 Blaine
-For a second straight year, the Cougars have found their way to St. Paul, and this year’s run was even more impressive, as a team with a mediocre record dispatched of two higher-seeded teams, including vaunted Blaine. Ryner Gorowsky (20) and Connor Lovick (17) lead the attack, and Adam Anderson (27) rounds out the top line. They aren’t going to overwhelm anyone, but they have good depth and balance, and defensively, they’ve bought into coach Ritch Menne’s scheme. Goaltender Blake Miller (1) came up big in the Blaine upset, and will have to do so again to beat Eden Prairie. 5AA is trying to break a four-year winless streak at the Tournament.
Eden Prairie (17-8-3, #10, 2-seed in 6AA)
State appearances: 7 (first since 2011)
State championships: 2 (2009, 2011)
Key section wins: 6-2 over #15 Holy Family, 3-2 (2 OT) over #17 Benilde-St. Margaret’s
-The Eagles have won the past two Tournaments they appeared in, and bring back plenty of talent this time around, including Mr. Hockey finalists Steven Spinner (25) and Luc Snuggerud (4). Sophomore Michael Graham (16) pairs with Spinner to lead the attack up front, while the versatile Snuggerud often moves up from defense to aid in the rush. The Eagles’ challenge this season has been in playing a complete team game—as they do have reasonably good depth—and not relying just on their stars. Veteran Jake Gerdes (31) gets the nod in goal.
-Two large suburban schools meet in the second quarterfinal. Their only recent meeting was in 2012, a 4-3 Eden Prairie win.
Centennial (16-10-2, #23, 3-seed in 5AA)
State appearances: 3 (2 in a row)
State championships: 1 (2004)
Key section wins: 4-0 over #14 Maple Grove, 2-1 over #5 Blaine
-For a second straight year, the Cougars have found their way to St. Paul, and this year’s run was even more impressive, as a team with a mediocre record dispatched of two higher-seeded teams, including vaunted Blaine. Ryner Gorowsky (20) and Connor Lovick (17) lead the attack, and Adam Anderson (27) rounds out the top line. They aren’t going to overwhelm anyone, but they have good depth and balance, and defensively, they’ve bought into coach Ritch Menne’s scheme. Goaltender Blake Miller (1) came up big in the Blaine upset, and will have to do so again to beat Eden Prairie. 5AA is trying to break a four-year winless streak at the Tournament.
Eden Prairie (17-8-3, #10, 2-seed in 6AA)
State appearances: 7 (first since 2011)
State championships: 2 (2009, 2011)
Key section wins: 6-2 over #15 Holy Family, 3-2 (2 OT) over #17 Benilde-St. Margaret’s
-The Eagles have won the past two Tournaments they appeared in, and bring back plenty of talent this time around, including Mr. Hockey finalists Steven Spinner (25) and Luc Snuggerud (4). Sophomore Michael Graham (16) pairs with Spinner to lead the attack up front, while the versatile Snuggerud often moves up from defense to aid in the rush. The Eagles’ challenge this season has been in playing a complete team game—as they do have reasonably good depth—and not relying just on their stars. Veteran Jake Gerdes (31) gets the nod in goal.
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Any update?cigar wrote:anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?
Just thinking from past players that have had a similar injury, I'm guessing he'll probably be able to go and give some good defensive responsibilities....but offensively may be limited, which is one of his strengths. I think that may be good enough for the quarters, but anything after may be too much.....
Still think EP wins, 4-1, with an empty netter.
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According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams. Go CentennialDoc Holliday wrote:Any update?cigar wrote:anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?
Just thinking from past players that have had a similar injury, I'm guessing he'll probably be able to go and give some good defensive responsibilities....but offensively may be limited, which is one of his strengths. I think that may be good enough for the quarters, but anything after may be too much.....
Still think EP wins, 4-1, with an empty netter.
Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.gitter wrote:So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
Release the Hounds. Trek to the X.
Wouldn't be surprised one bit to see centennial win this game.northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams. Go CentennialDoc Holliday wrote:Any update?cigar wrote:anyone know if Snuggies hand is going to be good to go?
Just thinking from past players that have had a similar injury, I'm guessing he'll probably be able to go and give some good defensive responsibilities....but offensively may be limited, which is one of his strengths. I think that may be good enough for the quarters, but anything after may be too much.....
Still think EP wins, 4-1, with an empty netter.
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In that case, Centennial beat East, so why aren't the cougars seeded ahead of the Hounds?? Why not think of it as a East-Eden Prairie final? Are East fans already trying to find an excuse for losing?Duluth 4 wrote:Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.gitter wrote:So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
Last edited by sanryam on Tue Mar 04, 2014 6:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I'd say you could make an argument on the seeding (always debatable) but a conspiracy to get an EP-Edina final. Really? Really????Duluth 4 wrote:Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.gitter wrote:So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
S.O.P.sanryam wrote:In that case, Centennial beat East, so why aren't the cougars seeded ahead of the Hounds?? Why not think of it as a East-Eden Prairie final? Are East fans already trying to find an excuse for losing?Duluth 4 wrote:Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.gitter wrote:So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
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Wow! Didn't know losing by 2 with an empty net and your backup tendy in between the pipes was a "spanking" now a days! The times really are changing!Duluth 4 wrote:Got spanked by East and still got the 3 seed, this whole seeding process this year seems a bit tainted in order to get an EP Edina final. Go cougars.gitter wrote:So that's why EP lost 8 times this year.northwoods oldtimer wrote:According to the hockey expert LaPanta all teams might just as well stay home with exception of Eden Prairie and Edina. The hockey expert has them in the finals due to the 'vastly superior line depth' of both teams.
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I would say after watching Centennial in the section play offs they are hungry and they came ready to play both of those games. If Miller is as hot as he was against Blaine I can see Centennial winning this one. Centennial beat both the #2 and #1 seed to get to this point. If you look at the last two games Centennial has had the bigger challenge beating higher ranked teams than EP has. I think Centennial is playing their best hockey at the right time. I am going to say this is going to be a very close game with Centennial winning 4-2 with an empty netter.
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