best post-season rivalry

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I'm researching by the numbers to come up with what would be the tightest rivalry. Of course numbers do not tell everything, but that is what I have to go on. What other teams do you recommend?

[O-townClown]

This used to be pretty easy. Jefferson-Kennedy after the Lincoln closure was probably the best rivalry in the 80s. Old Section V.

I dunno.

White Bear Lake - Hill-Murray

Most don't last over long periods of time. For a while it was Grand Rapids-Hibbing, then GR-Greenway. Now probably GR-Duluth East.

Moorhead - Roseau is a good one, mainly because they are the cream of that crop in 8AA for now.

[Hillfan]

As far as sectional play goes, Hill-Murray and White Bear Lake has to be near or at the top. In the past 25 years, only once has another opponent (Centennial) made it to the state tournament out of 3AA besides the Pioneers and Bears. These days, it's almost guaranteed that a H-M/WBL final is going to take place.

[Username]

Careful Hillfan, if Govs93 sees that post about guaranteeing a Hill/White Bear game he'll probably try and put you in your place. But, I just gotta second everything you posted. Nice work.

[artifactually153]

never hurts to throw in a possible trip to state in the cloquet-east rivalry

[Govs93]

Careful Hillfan, if Govs93 sees that post about guaranteeing a Hill/White Bear game he'll probably try and put you in your place. But, I just gotta second everything you posted. Nice work.

Saw it... I never said that it wouldn't happen, just that your goofy logic made no sense. Still doesn't.

Hillfan is suggesting that based on past history, it's a good possibility (which I never denied). You on the other hand, jump in with a "Oh, it'll happen". Based on just about everything else you've posted, you look like another one of those people who hides out in a little corner of the world (in your case WBL), assuming you know it all. Leave the house once in a while and you'll see that it's far from a guarantee that WBL will meet HM, particularly since if it happens, it'll probably be the 3AA finals.

It's nice to see that the WBL contingient has decided to look past their opponents early this year and not wait until the section finals to do it!

[Lopresti]

Old school:
Jefferson-Kennedy, Grand Rapids-Hibbing

New:
Gotta go with Hill Murray-WBL, Minneapolis East-Cooper "8-9 play-in game"

[STEV16]

I think a good lake rivalry in the post season is always intense. With the old section 5AA... It was Eagan/AV... EV/Bville, Rose/AHA... that year had some quality ones

[parrish4president]

My favorites have been Jefferson-Eden Prarie/Edina. I think another good one has been Hill-WBL. I dont know anything about any good Northern rivalries come sections time, input?

[eagle4life9]

Lakeville (North) vs Century. Recently they have had some great games including a 5 OT and a 3 OT.

[nikebauer_07]

East/Cloquet..throw Rapids in the mix too.
Hibbing/Hermantown was starting to grow into a good one until the MSHSL screwed that one up..

[goldy313]

In the '80's it was Burnsville vs. Section 1, Burnsville was almost always #1 or #2 in the state and teams like JM, Owatonna, Apple Valley, and Albert Lea were top 10 teams as well. Their semi-finals nearly filled the Met Center, their finals coupled with section 5 did fill it. In 1986 Section 1 had 4 teams in the final regular season top 10, in the '80's Section 1 had 2 champions, 4 runner ups, and 1 third place. and putting up a .580 winning% (while poopy section 8 did no better than 4th and had a winning % of .280)



Best section rivalry:
Hill-Murray and White Bear Lake have met 8 of the last 11 years in the playoffs, it would be real hard to beat that rivalry anywhere in the state anytime.

Best state tournament rivalry:
Southwest and Edina are about 10 minutes apart and were fierce rivals though in different sections for about 20 years. I'm old but everyone looked at the brackets to see when and where Southwest and Edina would hook up in the state tournament, in '70 they made the finals, both undefeated - the last time that happened.

[whitebearsuperfanB]

White Bear and Hill Murray easily. The intensity of those games over the last 3 years has been insane. You could even argue that it is a better atmosphere than the state tourney. Not guaranteeing that match up will happen this year but i hope it does because you can't find a more fun game to watch.

[sachishi4]

beginning this year with a pioneer vs govs section 4AA final i forsee many section championship games to be decided by these 2 teams in the years to come.

[TTpuckster]

Packerboy and slapshooter!!

Goes back 100 years.

[hawkfan70]

mouthrunner and the "bored"

pre-season, regular season and post season

easily the best

[Duluth 4]

Duluth East vs Cloquet

Duluth East vs Grand Rapids

[whitebearsuperfanB]

Duluth East vs Cloquet

Duluth East vs Grand Rapids

Just curious.. Is sections important enough for the East student section to stand or do they just enjoy sitting to much?

[TooManyEagles]

1. Duluth East vs. CEC
2. WBL vs. HM
3. EP vs. Edina
4. AV vs. AHA
5. Rapids vs. East

At least one of those is now defunct. honorable mention to Moorhead vs. Roseau

[O-townClown]

In 1986 Section 1 had 4 teams in the final regular season top 10,

Help me out here.

I remember Edina was #1 most of the year and the only two teams I felt were at their level were eventual state finalists Hill-Murray and Burnsville. (The B'ville kids also won the 1985 FB title so they lost a few games as they were getting those players back.)

The outstate teams with all the buzz were Bemidji and Hibbing. That's five.

Metro teams that were very good included Minnetonka (Section VI with Edina, who also lost to surprising Richfield) and Jefferson (Section V, their marginal record was the result of the brutal Lake South conference). That's 7.

Hastings (Jeff Pauletti, Tom Sagissor, and Brad Stepan if I recall), St. Thomas Academy (Randy Skarda and Dan Brooks), makes 9.

Who were the decent Section I teams? Mayo was probably decent. I don't remember anyone else.

Please clarify!

[houndshockey11]

Duluth East vs Cloquet

Duluth East vs Grand Rapids

Just curious.. Is sections important enough for the East student section to stand or do they just enjoy sitting to much?

Our student section has stood up for every home game we've had this year. the only times we sit are if we get yelled at by arena workers that get complaints from the adults that come that can't see. we aren't duluth marshall for god sake.

[Tunnel]

Anytime Benilde, Totino, Breck and Blake played each other down at Parade Ice Gardens come section time in February is a safe bet for great games/rivalries....LOTS of great games, teams and players....Shame they split it up!

[CrossbarandIn99]

I loved the Duluth East/Jefferson rivalries back when I was in high school...those were the days

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

"Back in the day"...

ER vs Moorhead at the National Hockey Center.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Yes, to those who assumed it are correct up to this point anyhow. Bear/Pioneers is the consistently closest post-season rivalry. Rams/Warriors may be the longest, but not the best.