Section 1A

[Puckhandler]

Puckhandler. You seem pretty up to speed on the Section. Just would like your thoughts on why NU will win.
I respect the heck out of them, just not sure they have enought depth. They are very stingy, which is good for playoff hockey, but seem to have a lack of goal scorers.

It may come down to the team that is more disciplined and stays out of the box

I think they'll win with Buegler standing on his head and with NU being opportunistic in the offensive end.

I think that would be the only way they'll win, since they'll get outshot about 40-20.

Guess I called that one!

[bugsy]

Yes you did. I was worried that Buegler would be the difference and he came up big. NU capitalized on their chances and West didn't. Hats off to the Eagles for a great effort and good luck Friday.

Also, cograts to West on a fine year and hopefully they can build on this year next year.

[Thegoldenjet]

Hats off to New Ulm and Albert Lea, both played good games. I am excited for Friday, I will be there.

[pondhockey07]

This should be a good game on Fri. I for one will be there, the place should be full on fans. AL can play some good hockey and if Buegler plays like he can the game will be close. Good luck to both sides. I'm going with NU 4 & AL 3 Why? Because I'd like to see a new team from the Section go to state!!

[Super Fan 09]

Prediction for Friday's Championship Game




[size=24]
Albert Lea: 6
New Ulm: 1

[hockeyparent]

As a hockey parent, I have watched section one hockey for years and was very disappointed with what happened at the West/NU section game last night. We let our kids play high school athletics because we believe in the life lessons they teach. I don't care how many bad calls, cheap checks or how much bad blood there is between teams. Ultimately, what our kids should take away from their playing years is a good work ethic, good sportsmanship,how to be a team player and how to deal with both great achievments and disappointments. As a former player, coach and now a parent of a high school player, these are life lessons I know I want my son to learn through hockey. These lessons are learned not only through a good goal oriented hockey program in each community but through good respectful coaching and fan and parent reactions. What parents and fans need to realize is that all the negative reactions, all the whinning about bad calls or cheap checks is reflected back into each of their players ability to play. Both the West and NU coaches need to reflect back and ask themselves "Is this what I want my players to take away from the game of hockey" Both coaches and players were responsible for what happened after the game on Monday night. This section game will always be remembered for the brawl on and off the ice and not for the great moments that happened within the game.

[bigbabyblue]

This should be a good game on Fri. I for one will be there, the place should be full on fans. AL can play some good hockey and if Buegler plays like he can the game will be close. Good luck to both sides. I'm going with NU 4 & AL 3 Why? Because I'd like to see a new team from the Section go to state!!

you act like AL has been to state the last five years or something..... they have been there twice ever......also prediction
AL-5
NU-1

[IbleedOrange_07]

AL and NU really knew how to use the big ice surface...i think the game will be a lot closer on the smaller rink...prediction: AL 4 NU 3....it's unfortunate about the fight because that will leave a mark on section 1 a for a while...it was a great game otherwise...and good for the marshall al kids keeping it real....

[bugsy]

As a hockey parent, I have watched section one hockey for years and was very disappointed with what happened at the West/NU section game last night. We let our kids play high school athletics because we believe in the life lessons they teach. I don't care how many bad calls, cheap checks or how much bad blood there is between teams. Ultimately, what our kids should take away from their playing years is a good work ethic, good sportsmanship,how to be a team player and how to deal with both great achievments and disappointments. As a former player, coach and now a parent of a high school player, these are life lessons I know I want my son to learn through hockey. These lessons are learned not only through a good goal oriented hockey program in each community but through good respectful coaching and fan and parent reactions. What parents and fans need to realize is that all the negative reactions, all the whinning about bad calls or cheap checks is reflected back into each of their players ability to play. Both the West and NU coaches need to reflect back and ask themselves "Is this what I want my players to take away from the game of hockey" Both coaches and players were responsible for what happened after the game on Monday night. This section game will always be remembered for the brawl on and off the ice and not for the great moments that happened within the game.

Hockeyparent. I too share your disappointment in what happened last night. However, to condemn the coaches for this incident is something I do not agree with. I know for a fact that these coaches teach the kids to respect the game and that they are to also respect other players, parents and community fans. These are not the first, nor will they be the last group of teenage hockey players to get caught up in the highs and lows of a particular game. The players are teenagers who hopefully learn from their mistakes and this incident was a mistake. Who's to blame? I guess I do not have all the info to answer that one. There was alot of emotion and testosterone flowing last night in what was pretty much a clean hard fought battle to the end. Hopefully those involved will have to face the consequences of their actions, learn and get better from this day forward.
My guess as a parent you have made your share of mistakes in life and have learned from them. I know I have.

[nickel slots]

Well stated, bugsy. We all know that it's easy to get caught up in the emotions of a big game. I was at the game, and I witnessed as the coaches tried to get their players under control. The fact of the matter is that when there are a dozen or so teenage boys rife with piss and vinegar, a handful of coaches' attempts to control the situation are futile.

The refs did the right thing by stepping back and getting out the riot pads to note the infractions.

I have nothing but respect for the coaches. After the melee, they made sure to meet at center ice and make peace. It was obvious they were disappointed that a good, spirited battle ended the way it did.

Boys will be boys. They'll run into each other over the years and have a good laugh about it. Hopefully they'll shake hands then. It's unfortunate that it spilled onto the streets afterwards. Hopefully the injuries were only minor.

I heard last night that West and New Ulm are scheduled to play each other again next year. The game had a great high school atmosphere - the fans were very involved for the entire game - and it would be a shame if the two schools can't put this behind them. This is the stuff that great high school rivalries are made of.

[a2anda10]

Crazy night in the Wireless.
The good
* AL came out furious and fast and TOOK the first game before Marshall could breathe. Skated hard, made some nice early plays, and coasted in an even game after the initial knockout.
* NU played NU hockey for much of the game. Tough/smart/good enough to win. Some great individual effort to finish some plays. Burgau going hard to the net 1-on-3, Buegler playing his usual solid game in goal.
The bad
* Marshall hit a wall a month ago and never recovered. Not ready to play again, and on their heels from the start. A year that started with high expectations did not pan out.
* Much the same for West as far as expectations go. Relied on skill and speed and when that is neutralized by a team that refuses to give in, the play becomes ragged. Couple beautiful plays early, but nothing sustained late in the game.
The ugly
* Everyone knew the potential was there for the after-game incident. But to see it really happen is disappointing. Stop with the easy excuses about emotion/history/frustration, etc. Every team at this point of the season is emotional. Half of the team's seasons and careers end every night now. That is emotional. That is the point of the after-game handshake, it's called respect.
* It amazes me that any team that worked as hard for a win like that as NU did, would jeopardize the very goal they worked for, over some old scores-to-settle.
The late-game penalties and the after-game punches were pretty selfish, and could have resulted in much worse consequences for NU. If NU loses no one for Friday night, they are very fortunate.
Speaking of Friday night, AL is the better team and should win.
That means nothing to NU. They will play hard from start to finish and make AL earn this one. 2-1 AL, with great goaltending and hard hits.

[goaler]

I agree with nickel slots that this was a great high school game atmosphere. I didn't think the fight on the ice was that big a deal. Hockey is an intense game and after a great, spirited game there was a lot of emotion built up and it just boiled over. But it should not have happened.

If I were a New Ulm parent (and I've known several great New Ulm hockey parents over the years), I'd be proud of my team. They played a technically great game. The forwards played great defense, they killed penalties, scored on the power play, did not make any mistakes in the defensive zone and they got outstanding goaltending. As a big hockey fan, it was a joy to watch a high school team play that well.

They earned the victory fair and square with outstanding hockey and if they play like that again, they can beat Albert Lea and go to state. But that won't be easy because AL is a pretty darn good hockey team, too. Could be a good one.

[ilovelife23]

the west fan who got blind sided ended up having his jaw broken in 2 places and had surgery this morning. hope that kid who did this to him isnt 18 because the cops are looking for him and if found could get in a major heep of trouble....

[gabT]

The injuries on the streets were far from minor. First off the person who said that a NU kid knocked 2 kids out cold was wrong and probably from NU. Here is what happened:
NU kid walks up to Kato fan asks if he wants to fight.

Kato kid says no and walks away.

NU kid comes back taps Kato kid on shoulder and nails him in the jaw and broke it in two places.

Then jumps on top of him and keeps hitting him.

2 more kato kids jump in and knock some kids teeth out

My guess is that there will be some consequences and that these two teams might wnd up not playing each other next year after all. With that said it was a good game. Both teams battling it out. The fight at the end of the game was totally out of control. Coaches did their best to break it up. Nice job by the refs to get the #'s of fighting players. It is the biggest rivalry in 1A what do you think is going to happen. It would have happened regardless of the outcome of the game.

[Puckhandler]

Interested to know if any of the New Ulm kids will be missing Friday's games?

What about West kids for fighting on the ice? Consequences?

I'm only talking about the players now, not the stuff with the fans.

Anyone have any info?

[katoguy]

Sorry but I don't really buy the whole frusteration card. How many other games are there that teams seasons are over and players careers are over that dont end in a brawl? You're 18 years old, hold your head up and take it like a man.

[katoguy]

I am also glad somebody brought up this up because I totally agree that NU used the big sheet of the ice to their advantage. They had some nice cross ice passes that lead to some good rushes numerous times.

[bombsquad06]

Nice passes: as did West and AL. Ice is just an poor excuse now.

[Puckhandler]

Sorry but I don't really buy the whole frusteration card. How many other games are there that teams seasons are over and players careers are over that dont end in a brawl? You're 18 years old, hold your head up and take it like a man.

Also, West players and coaches freaked out when AL kicked the crap out of them down in Albert Lea. I'm interested to know if whether they lost their cool every time they lost a game this year?

I agree katoguy, take it like a man!

[bugsy]

Sorry but I don't really buy the whole frusteration card. How many other games are there that teams seasons are over and players careers are over that dont end in a brawl? You're 18 years old, hold your head up and take it like a man.

I'm flusterated that you can't spell frustration. And by the way, who ever complained about the big sheet. It's the same for all teams. West has practiced on the big sheet this year. I don't think the size of the sheet had anything to do with the outcome. NU simply stuck to their game plan and was very opportunistic when they did have chances. It would not surprise me one bit if they gave AL a really good run for their money on Friday. Buegler is the type of goalie that can steal a game at any time.

[katoguy]

My bad on the spelling man. But I agree nobody should complain about the ice size but I could tell they played on an olympic sheet the way the stretched the ice.

[ZAMBONI]

Is it time to bring up the topic of hand - shakes before the games. The hand-shake before the game would be safer and as a good luck thing. Most teams are in a good mood before the games because they both think there going to win. Jr gold teams had to do this because of all the fighting after the games and it solved alot of the problems. THINK ABOUT IT.

[Tigerpride2]

NO

[Puckhandler]

Is it time to bring up the topic of hand - shakes before the games. The hand-shake before the game would be safer and as a good luck thing. Most teams are in a good mood before the games because they both think there going to win. Jr gold teams had to do this because of all the fighting after the games and it solved alot of the problems. THINK ABOUT IT.

No. This is part of the learning experience of the transition from children to teens to young adults to adult. All parties involved need to understand that adversity is part of life. Including failure and losing. How people deal with adversity is at the center of growth with personal integrity and character.

An example is last years semi's when Albert Lea lost to Marshall. No one was more disappointed than Albert Lea players and there fans, but there isn't anything to get in a fight about. Life is hard, learn to deal with it. Those that can't deal with it, whether it be players, coaches, fans or others need the opportunity of participating in these events removed from them.

I'm still interested in hearing what the reprocussions are from the West/New Ulm game. It would be a shame if there were NU players who removed themselves from the opportunity of playing in the section final and possibly state. Worse yet, some New Ulm players may have put into jeopardy their teams chances to win the game Friday.

[Thegoldenjet]

Puckhandler said it well. This game teaches kids so many things conciously and subconciously they take for the rest of their lives.