Slap Shot wrote:
Why? I'd argue Eagan lost more scoring - for instance Zajac, N. Kuchera, Merchant, Wolfe, Mason and May compared with Lettieri, Rothstein, Baskin and Prochno for Tonka. Tonka returns Coatta, Thie, Ramsey, Vannelli, Bader and the higher scoring Schuldt and Eagan returns Glienke, Willox, and W Peterson - clear advantage Tonka.
Clear advantage Tonka?
Really? You are certainly entitled to your opinion but I think the facts show something different.
Here's the goals and goalies both teams return.
Minnetonka 2011-12
------------------------
Player ----- Goals
Coatta 23
Thie 11
Vannelli 7
Schuldt 2
Bader 8
Ridge 6
Hanson 1
Huminski 4
Burt 0
Brandabur 0
---------
62 goals
Ciaccio 14-2-0 / 1.60 GAA / .909 %
Eagan 2011-12
------------------------
Player ----- Goals
Glienke 27
Willox 16
Peterson 11
Jenson 3
Schultz 4
Smallidge 1
Elsenheimer 1
Muck 0
Zibley 0
Wolff 0
---------
63 goals
Lindgren 9-0-0 / 1.34 GAA / .902 %
I don't see a clear advantage for Tonka there. Statistically, I see a miniscule advantage on offense for Eagan and a small advantage in experience in goal for Minnetonka.
There is also a big advantage in playoff experience for Eagan, returning more players with post season success / State Tournament games.
Additionally, some of Eagan's best returning players (including it's impressive defense corp), have little in the way of stats from last year, but have been making their case on other platforms, like Wolff did at the National Festival, for example.
Also, a lot of Eagan's "depth" players had outstanding fall seasons in the D-League and some even had Elite League experience.
So while statistically it appears to be a dead heat, I do give Eagan a small edge in depth and experience.
As you said, we'll see. Should be a good one.
(NOTE: I didn't add Ramsey or Loew. Not sure if either are playing in this one)