Section 1A 2007-8

[tigerpower]

Congrats to JC

http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S3086 ... ?cat=10216

[falcons89]

She is obviously the team, with an occasional spark from KH. She has taken over this team. Her teammates should climb on her back and let her carry them to the promise land.

“She's very quick out there, so if she doesn't put the puck in the net, she'll get help putting the puck in the net with an assist,” says head coach Brian Blatti.

Let me translate: If she can not do it herself then (plan B) use a teammate.

[HOCKEYPUCK2]

I AM BACK. WHY EVEN HAVE A SECTION TOURNEY. WE HAVE THIS SEWN UP. BESIDES US, OUR SECTION IS WEAK. READ THE PAPERS, WATCH TV, ALBERT LEA IS STATEBOUND!!!!!!!

[RSI]

Light week! Am I missing something?

Tuesday 1/15
East @ AL
Austin @ Faribo

Thursday 1/17
AL @ Austin

[falcons89]

HOCKEYPUCK2 is either from AL or another planet.

East vs AL.......who cares, boring. AL by 12. (JC with 8 points.)

Fairbault 5
Austin 4. Should be a good game. I expect we will now make our push.

AL 7
Austin 3

AL proves their section dominance with this one.

These results will make the section seedings from 2-5 very interesting.

[falcons89]

Northfield 3
Redwing 2

So..... if .......

Northfield splits with Redwing.
Faribault spilts with Austin.
Faribault splits with AL.
AL splits with Austin.

Assuming Faribault wins out and AL beats Austin. Could make seedings interesting.

[RSI]

Northfield 3
Redwing 2

So..... if .......

Northfield splits with Redwing.
Faribault spilts with Austin.
Faribault splits with AL.
AL splits with Austin.

Assuming Faribault wins out and AL beats Austin. Could make seedings interesting.

Seedings will be just like this...

Section 1A Standings
QRF Rank Team (QRF)

No. 11 Albert Lea (68.0)
No. 20 Austin (52.2)
No. 27 Faribault (43.7)
No. 23 Northfield (47.0)
No. 28 Red Wing (43.3)
No. 51 Waseca (16.4)

AL and Austin get a first round bye.
-#3Faribo vs. #6Waseca (winner gets Austin)
-#4Northfield vs. #5Red Wing ("winner" gets AL)

[hockeygroupie]

hh

[hockeygroupie]

Faribault is on thier way back to the top....just wait..Austin will get a battle tonite...If the first line plays like they can, Faribault has a chance to take AL

[thenewguy]

Northfield 3
Redwing 2

So..... if .......

Northfield splits with Redwing.
Faribault spilts with Austin.
Faribault splits with AL.
AL splits with Austin.

Assuming Faribault wins out and AL beats Austin. Could make seedings interesting.

Seedings will be just like this...

Section 1A Standings
QRF Rank Team (QRF)

No. 11 Albert Lea (68.0)
No. 20 Austin (52.2)
No. 27 Faribault (43.7)
No. 23 Northfield (47.0)
No. 28 Red Wing (43.3)
No. 51 Waseca (16.4)

AL and Austin get a first round bye.
-#3Faribo vs. #6Waseca (winner gets Austin)
-#4Northfield vs. #5Red Wing ("winner" gets AL)

I think our coaches are a lot more diligent when it comes to seeded instead of just relying on a sections ranking system that only looks at the number of wins. If all coaches followed this format, then:

St. Peter would be a #3 seed ahead of Hutchinson (2A)
Fairmont would be a #2 seed ahead of New Ulm (3A)
South Saint Paul, picked by many to win their section, would be a #4 seed (4A)
Hibbing would be the #5 seed, despite being in the top 20 all season, behind Eveleth #1 and East Range.

There is a lot more that goes into seeding than the number of wins or QRF rankings, plus there is still a lot of hockey to be played. Aside from AL #1 and Waseca #6, nothing is a lock at this point.

[RSI]

Faribault is on thier way back to the top....just wait..
Austin will get a battle tonite...
If the first line plays like they can, Faribault has a chance to take AL

Way back to the top? Seriously, when were you guys ever on top?

Austin beat you guys by 5 goals last time! I'll give you the benefit of doubt, but the Pack wins by 3 tonight.

The biggest difference between Faribo and AL? Depth, AL has more than 1 line.

[Mac15]

RSI, Do the Section 1A teams that compete in the Big 9 really care how the conference pans out or are you more focused on beating the other 1A teams to get better seeding for Section playoffs? Just curious. Many of the debates surrounding potential redistricting of Minnesota Hockey seem to be based on conference alignments. I don't really buy that argument since the teams in many of the conferences around the state will play in different Sections or Classes when playoffs roll around.

When I look at the Big 9 I see 2 main advantages for a team like Mayo. The kids can earn all-conference and that might be enough "extra" to get them noticed (plus winning the conference and earning all-conference honors will get you 2 additional patches for your letterjacket ). The other advantage is being able to play games that are within a 1.5 hour drive. The disadvantage (of Big 9) to a team like Century is that they have to play so many stronger opponents when they could be playing games against more comparably skilled teams in SW Minnesota. They disavantage to them would be longer busrides. The main advantage for the teams from Austin, AL, Owatonna and Mankato they have an incentive to kick the current Big Dog off the porch. Dodge County plays independent so I'd like to ask one of them if they think that's good or bad. Any thoughts on this?

[RSI]

Of course nothing is a lock at this point, not even AL with the #1. I'm just stating what I think the seedings will look like when all is said and done.
At this point of the season...
1. Austin (beaten all other teams)
2. AL (only 1A loss is to Austin)
3. Northfield (lost to Austin & AL, beat Faribo)
4/5. Faribo (could be as high as 2 or as low as 5)
4/5. Red Wing (split with Northfield)
6. Waseca (the only lock)

Bottom line...there's a lot of hockey left to be played.

[falcons89]

A lot of hockey?

I see 3 games. Faribault win over Austin tonight.(it is in the bag.), AL win over Austin, and then the
Faribault win over AL could be tougher.

I do not believe there are any other section heads up games.
Heads up wins have to count for something. Then again, Mankato West is still rated ahead of AL, even though AL has beat them 3 times this year.

[Twinnesota]

Could make seedings interesting.

Seeding is done by the coaches, and methinks well before the season is over.
Ho hum...
T

[Twinnesota]

Then again, Mankato West is still rated ahead of AL, even though AL has beat them 3 times this year.

Mankato West is in a different Section, buzzard.
And yes, AL is better than West.
T

[falcons89]

Tiny, my reference was to LPH and QRF rankings. Sometimes I wonder if your daughter is really swiss.

I do not know why I threw AL a bone with that comment about the rankings. I was wondering why the AL faithful have not jumped on that ranking wagon. Then Tiny answered my question. They (AL parents) just can't keep up.

[Twinnesota]

Tiny, my reference was to LPH and QRF rankings. Sometimes I wonder if your daughter is really swiss.

My daughter is American...

T

PS--LMK as soon as you beat Austin tonite...

[Twinnesota]

Do the Section 1A teams that compete in the Big 9 really care how the conference pans out...?

NO
T

[RSI]

Then again, Mankato West is still rated ahead of AL, even though AL has beat them 3 times this year.

IMO, the fact that West is ranked ahead of AL has to do with AL's losses to Austin , Owatonna and New Ulm . Although I disagree with the fact that West is ahead of AL, I understand why. I enjoy checking them out just as much as the next guy, but really, what do they actually tell you? It is further confirmation of the uselessness of those polls.

[RSI]

Do the Section 1A teams that compete in the Big 9 really care how the conference pans out...?

NO
T

I don't think that's exclusive to the 1A teams though. I'm not sure many, if any, of the teams down here set "Big 9 Conference Champs" as their goal. I don't know for sure, but I can see Owatonna caring just as much about a Big 9 title as AL. To me, the Conference title still means something though. But it's all about getting to State.

From a fan standpoint I would rather not see AL (or any one else) have to play some of those weaker Big 9 teams twice, those games don't benefit either team. Play one game and the teams could then use those open dates to schedule games with more compatible teams thus advancing girls hockey as a whole in S. Minnesota. They used to do that in boys hockey, maybe still do, where the Mayos of the world would only play Mankato or Winona once, but it was a 6 pt game. Then again, that would be additional work for the AD and that's not likely to happen here! It's much easier to maintain the status quo!

[jetjock]

Austin 8
Faribault 5

The game was much closer than the score indicates.

It was good to see falcons89 again. He will probably take a 24 hour cooling down period, though. Hey AL, I can be bought. Please send lots of cash for the identity.

[tigerpower]

Austin 8
Faribault 5

WOW!
What happened? I knew if would be close but it seemed Austin had begun to burn out. Faribault even had home ice advantage and refs related to them. Let me guess: TJ 7 Faribault 5?

[falcons89]

He will probably take a 24 hour cooling down period, though. Hey AL, I can be bought. Please send lots of cash for the identity.

Cooling off period? I don't think so. Jet I want a cut of the cash. Remember, I am never who I may appear.

Where do I start.... whatever happened to our home cooked refs. We better get the refs tuned in for the AL game. That was one of the worse pieces of officiating I have ever seen. Although it did go both ways. Two of those goals were never in. Austin's JV line (2nd line) is worse than I thought. Their goalie was decent. 4-5 of our goals were scored on the JV line. Trying to stay positive......Taylor Jenkins is the best player in section 1A period. 5 goals with 3 SH. Linemate Wagner had 3 goals but likes to check, so she had 4 penalties. Shots even.

Actually girls I am pretty proud of our play. Take out the reffing and we win. I am ready for sections to begin. A 4th or 5th seed gives us first crack at the #1 AL

One more thing, was I the only one that noticed towards the end, it was 4 on 4 with each team having a player in the box, Austin scored (with time left on both penalties), and the refs let our player out, giving us a power play. Perfect example of the reffing.

[OLYMPIA]

Austin 8
Faribault 5

The game was much closer than the score indicates.

It was good to see falcons89 again. He will probably take a 24 hour cooling down period, though. Hey AL, I can be bought. Please send lots of cash for the identity.

I don't think anybody cares who he is.