boblee wrote:People, please consider that Rapids is vastly improved also since their game in December.
And Stejskal is an enforcer.
I think everyone has to understand that both teams are completely different and both are greatly improved. Last game will be nothing like this game.
I'm really curious about Stejskal, as I think his play will probably be the difference in the game. How big is he? Does he take stupid penalties? Is he a dirty player? Has he gotten in any high school fights (gloves and helmet on)? If some punk took a shot at his goalie, what would he do against a very good? Against a average to bad team?
boblee wrote:People, please consider that Rapids is vastly improved also since their game in December.
And Stejskal is an enforcer.
I think everyone has to understand that both teams are completely different and both are greatly improved. Last game will be nothing like this game.
I'm really curious about Stejskal, as I think his play will probably be the difference in the game. How big is he? Does he take stupid penalties? Is he a dirty player? Has he gotten in any high school fights (gloves and helmet on)? If some punk took a shot at his goalie, what would he do against a very good? Against a average to bad team?
Stejskal is probably 6'0-6'2 about 200 pounds...giver or take. He doesn't take stupid penalties and he is not a dirty player. He has never gotten in a fight. He will defend his goalie.
boblee wrote:People, please consider that Rapids is vastly improved also since their game in December.
And Stejskal is an enforcer.
I think everyone has to understand that both teams are completely different and both are greatly improved. Last game will be nothing like this game.
I'm really curious about Stejskal, as I think his play will probably be the difference in the game. How big is he? Does he take stupid penalties? Is he a dirty player? Has he gotten in any high school fights (gloves and helmet on)? If some punk took a shot at his goalie, what would he do against a very good? Against a average to bad team?
Stejskal is probably 6'0-6'2 about 200 pounds...giver or take. He doesn't take stupid penalties and he is not a dirty player. He has never gotten in a fight. He will defend his goalie.
boblee wrote:People, please consider that Rapids is vastly improved also since their game in December.
And Stejskal is an enforcer.
I think everyone has to understand that both teams are completely different and both are greatly improved. Last game will be nothing like this game.
I'm really curious about Stejskal, as I think his play will probably be the difference in the game. How big is he? Does he take stupid penalties? Is he a dirty player? Has he gotten in any high school fights (gloves and helmet on)? If some punk took a shot at his goalie, what would he do against a very good? Against a average to bad team?
Stejskal is probably 6'0-6'2 about 200 pounds...giver or take. He doesn't take stupid penalties and he is not a dirty player. He has never gotten in a fight. He will defend his goalie.
I have seen him play. Quality hockey player with all the tools to move on to the next level. The kid can certainly shoot the puck.
Also, every D man should defend his goalie. That's part of the job.
I think this game will all come down to how quickly the hornets can get comfortable playing on the big stage. You could tell in their section game Saturday that it took them a few shifts before they were comfortable. How long will it take them Thursday, most likely longer than GR. This is the time I would guess GR will take it to Edina, however if they fail to do so in this window Edina will crush them in the later stages of the game...
DadsMoney wrote:I think this game will all come down to how quickly the hornets can get comfortable playing on the big stage. You could tell in their section game Saturday that it took them a few shifts before they were comfortable. How long will it take them Thursday, most likely longer than GR. This is the time I would guess GR will take it to Edina, however if they fail to do so in this window Edina will crush them in the later stages of the game...
Sorry to burst your bubble. This is going to be a good game. 1 to 2 goal differential either way. Your crushing statement is a sure sign of homerism, not neccesarily reality.
DadsMoney wrote:I think this game will all come down to how quickly the hornets can get comfortable playing on the big stage. You could tell in their section game Saturday that it took them a few shifts before they were comfortable. How long will it take them Thursday, most likely longer than GR. This is the time I would guess GR will take it to Edina, however if they fail to do so in this window Edina will crush them in the later stages of the game...
Sorry to burst your bubble. This is going to be a good game. 1 to 2 goal differential either way. Your crushing statement is a sure sign of homerism, not neccesarily reality.
Right EdinaDadsMoney?
Sorry, crush was the wrong word because I do agree that it will be a close game. However, I'm not sure the score will be close in the end...anyways I can't wait to join my fellow Minnesotans and enjoy one of the best parts of living here: watching our boys represent our communities and show respect and appreciation to the game of hockey with their great play.
DadsMoney wrote:I think this game will all come down to how quickly the hornets can get comfortable playing on the big stage. You could tell in their section game Saturday that it took them a few shifts before they were comfortable. How long will it take them Thursday, most likely longer than GR. This is the time I would guess GR will take it to Edina, however if they fail to do so in this window Edina will crush them in the later stages of the game...
Sorry to burst your bubble. This is going to be a good game. 1 to 2 goal differential either way. Your crushing statement is a sure sign of homerism, not neccesarily reality.
Right EdinaDadsMoney?
Sorry, crush was the wrong word because I do agree that it will be a close game. However, I'm not sure the score will be close in the end...anyways I can't wait to join my fellow Minnesotans and enjoy one of the best parts of living here: watching our boys represent our communities and show respect and appreciation to the game of hockey with their great play.
I will agree with you on that one. Good luck to your team.
Rapids was playin' some good puck when I watched them Saturday.. they moved the puck well and Reider was really on his game.. I'm gonna go with boblee's boys in this one..
nikebauer_07 wrote:Rapids was playin' some good puck when I watched them Saturday.. they moved the puck well and Reider was really on his game.. I'm gonna go with boblee's boys in this one..
Rapids 4 (en)
Edina 2
I have not seen Rapids lately, but I know that Edina was playing great since playoffs started, which should make for maybe one of the best games of the tournament.
I say we turn this game into a throwback game and wear the 70's style Cougar uniforms and bring a live Cougar to the game. Grand Rapids could have Mohawks and dress up like birds and bring a live bird to the game. Some Indian dude could say lets play Hockey. That would be a fun thing to do. The question is what would they call this great battle. Guess we'll have to wait and find out.
Being a Grand Rapids hockey fan and player I have seen them all play, and after last year at state and this year in sections, they are at the top of their game. For some reason they have decided that regular season is a warm up for the real games and if they can play like the have for the last couple games (Duluth East & Cloquet), they are a state championship caliber team. It is gonna be a hell of a contest though with Edina and I look forward to the rematch!
Rapids is not just a one-person team. They have three outstanding lines that all have strong, quick forwards, and they all move the puck extremely well. They will roll a fourth line if the situation is right. And the last time they played, not only was Patrick White not in the lineup, neither were three other regulars, including Zach Morse, one of White's wingers. This is a game where Rapids will not falter if they fall behind by one or two goals, but how will Edina respond if they fall behind by 2 goals?
I think Rapids should have gotten a 4 seed, but it's not like Edina is Bloomington Jefferson, circa 1992-94. Rapids is playing about as well as a team can be playing right now. Against East and Cloquet, Rapids had minutes-long stretches of complete dominance. They outshot East 22-2 at one point, and Cloquet 27-8. Their top 3 lines all forecheck relentlessly, and none of these lines have a problem moving from defense to offense quickly. They have a legitimate superstar in Patrick White, a skilled, tough Division I defender in Joe Stejskal, great team quickness, and they have one quality that Edina lacks at this stage: tournament experience. Rapids' goalie, Reidar Jensen, had a few shaky moments against Duluth East, allowing a couple goals on weak shots, but against Cloquet, he was stellar. It's probably more unfortunate that Edina has to play a Rapids team that will come in totally prepared and confident. Rapids wins this one 4-1, and Edina will be left hoping that its Super Sophs come back next year.
Just jumping on this ship, but here are my thoughts.
Both Edina and GR got a raw deal with this whole "seeding" thing.
Edina is in my mind, deserving of the #1 seed, but to draw GR in the QTRS...that sucks!
GR should have been the #4 seed. Blaine!! Please!
Both teams are very good and playing great hockey at this point. I could have seen this as a Final match-up, but I guess we get a treat in the QTRS. it is unfortunate though. I think both teams should have the opportunity to play for something past the QTRS.
I don't even want to make a prediction. I can't take anything away from either team. It will be a good match-up.
I only hope my youth team's hockey practice gets out in time for me to get my son home and in front of the TV before it is over. I might need to TIVO this one!
