Schwan Cup

[HShockeywatcher]

For whatever reason (cookies, or something else) I cannot quote well.

"Started, of course, by a private school fan."

-It has nothing to do with being from a private school. The thread entitled 'Forum Rules & How to Report Offensive Posts" clearly discusses staying on topic. I just find it odd how no one ever really cares concerning any topic. And why the topic of private schools always has the same end although it is continually brought up.
-Not sure what a 'private school fan' is. That would imply I don't like public schools, which is not the case at all. If you have read any of my posts about them, including the one this was in response to, I don't dislike public schools in the least.

"Kidding, right? Maybe it has something to do with one tournament results in a State Champion, one only results in a mid-season tournament champion."

No, not kidding.
-I go to see good hockey. Which is why many people go.
-Compare this to many other sports. I've been to many state football games at the dome. Compare the attendance at one of those to a home game some Friday night and the home game at many schools would win.
-Additionally you point would indicate that the only games with high attendance would be the ones where teams are still in the hunt for a title, while we all know this is not the case.
-I said 'state tournament or regular season games draw' not just 'state tournament games draw.' I'm sure you don't need me to elaborate on how those two statements are drastically different.

I'm not expecting something to happen that next year the X sells out for Schwan's, but all the games have very little attendance and I'm just curious why people don't go, especially at a time when no high schoolers are in school.

[karl(east)]

I'm not expecting something to happen that next year the X sells out for Schwan's, but all the games have very little attendance and I'm just curious why people don't go, especially at a time when no high schoolers are in school.

A couple reasons...
A major one is probably the price (realize you're dealing with high school students here). Sure it's cheap compared to the state tourney or something like that, but compared to an average high school game, it's over double the price. I went to the East-Centennial game in Brooklyn Park last year (for 7th place in Gold). It was a good game...but seriously, $9 or whatever I paid for that ticket was a bit of a ripoff.

As a footnote, there were about 7 senior guys from East, who were staying in the Cities for the whole tourney, plus me, at that game. There were absolutely zero Centennial students.

While it may be during vacation, a lot of people go on family trips or whatever during this time of year. There are plenty of other diversions as well.

But the biggest reason is that, well, this is the Schwan Cup, not the state tournament. Though it's nice for bragging rights and people who spend lots of time on boreds trying to rank high school hockey teams, there really is no glamor attatched to the thing at all. It's too young to have any great history tied to it, and there's not much difference between winning a trophy in the Schwan Cup and a trophy in the Roseau Invitational or whatever (and there's another reason. There are a million other tournaments going on at the same time. Not everyone has their eyes on the Schwan Cup). 95% of high school students wouldn't know the difference between any of these tournaments.

Ultimately, I think it's a great tournament that provides for some excellent hockey. But it simply lacks the prestige at this stage in its existence. Maybe that will change someday (if they lower their **** ticket prices...)

[Jbone]

Yeah I really think that playing at the xcel is too much of a good thing. Perfect setting for the State tournament, however too much of a building for a holiday tournament. But I'll still be there.

[Jbone]

[quote]Ultimately, I think it's a great tournament that provides for some excellent hockey. But it simply lacks the prestige at this stage in its existence. Maybe that will change someday (if they lower their **** ticket prices...)[/quote

Should there really be any other tournament... other than the State Tourny that holds "prestige." I think that this schwans cup is just a fun tourny for the best in the state... and the winner isn't necesarily considered the best team in Minnesota.

[Dog_Log17]

Can someone post a link for the 1-1-09 schedule?

[MedleyWR]

The Bears beat Centennial 6-5. They play the winner of the STA vs. AHA game in the semi-finals.

[blanco oso]

man the bears came in a huge underdog in this one, but played as if they were the heavy favorite! gjerde got rocked on a cheap shot...looks like he could be out a while which could hurt the bears...best wishes and speedy recovery for the big guy

[blanco oso]

question about schwanns cup: does winning or losing effect the teams rankings and standins since its not regualr season play? hope its not a stupid question...

[karl(east)]

question about schwanns cup: does winning or losing effect the teams rankings and standins since its not regualr season play? hope its not a stupid question...

They are regular season games. They just happen to be in a tournament format. So yes, they do count like normal games.

Shootout wins or losses count as ties, though.

[mnhcky65]

1st Rd.
Centennial over WB 5-3
AHA over STA 3-2
Hill over Tonka 4-2
Edina over Moorhead 5-1

2nd Rd.
Cent over AHA 3-1
Hill over Edina 4-3

Champ.
Gold-Hill over Cent 3-2
Silver-Duluth East (easily)
Bronze-Maple Grove

I agree with your bronze and silver predictions, those look pretty sound
heres my Gold:

1st
Cenn over WBL 7-2
STA over AHA 5-4
Hill over Tonka 3-2
Edina over Morehead 4-3

semis
Cenn over STA 6-4
Edina over Hill 5-2

Final
Edina over Cenn 5-4

your already wrong on like half these games.

Gold will come down to Hill and White Bear

[hotpotato81]

I thought that I read some where that all of the first round gold division games would be televised. Just got home from work and can't find any of the games. Did I read it wrong? Only the two early games? Broadcast only online? Not looking forward to heading back downtown to the X tonight to catch the game.

[demongoed]

Wow! Lots of upsets in the Gold division. All 3 winners so far look good.

[Zamman]

I left after two periods for Edina. From that point I see AHA and Edina playing for the title. Hill looked so flat....I was in the elevator leaving and there were two woman from Hill there and they were so upset.

[hockeyxfan01]

First Day (12-29) Results:

White Bear Lake 6
Centennial 5

Holy Angels 4
St. Thomas 2

Minnetonka 3
Hill Murray 1

Edina 3
Moorhead 0

[oneIdmonsta]

i really hope AHA gets pounded in the next round they have a shaky goalie and WB is a solid team

[dynamicD]

At this point after what happened today, i think whoever wins this tourny should pretty much lock up the #1 spot in state after Hill threw it away

[Zamman]

i really hope AHA gets pounded in the next round they have a shaky goalie and WB is a solid team

This poster sounds like someone that may have left AHA and got cut from another team. Why are you saying that Burke is shaky and let in soft goals? He actually is one on of the better goalies, all around, that AHA has had since Frazee. I am not taking anything away from Keaton Smith, he won State for AHA, but AHA has always lacked in a total goalie. Tommy is that goalie.

[east hockey]

i really hope AHA gets pounded in the next round they have a shaky goalie and WB is a solid team

This poster sounds like someone that may have left AHA and got cut from another team. Why are you saying that Burke is shaky and let in soft goals? He actually is one on of the better goalies, all around, that AHA has had since Frazee. I am not taking anything away from Keaton Smith, he won State for AHA, but AHA has always lacked in a total goalie. Tommy is that goalie.

Not only that but he can't decide which name to post under.

Lee

[Pioneerprideguy]

At this point after what happened today, i think whoever wins this tourny should pretty much lock up the #1 spot in state after Hill threw it away

I'm pretty sure everyone realized the winner of the Gold Division may end up the top spot in the polls (with the exception of perhaps WBL).

As for Hill throwing it away, it really didn't work out that way as Minnetonka pretty much took it away. I thought the better team won last night & Gardner was the best player on the ice (Gophs are gonne love the kid).

At this point of the year, HM has the talent to play at the same level as most teams in the state. They can play at the level of solid teams like SSP & Mahtomedi & can also play at a higher level against a team like Edina. Hill will lose again this season but Lex will continue to shape & mold this team with the hope they play their best hockey in the end.

[HShockeywatcher]

"I'm pretty sure everyone realized the winner of the Gold Division may end up the top spot in the polls (with the exception of perhaps WBL). "

Not necessarily. Hill had one bad game and still only has one loss on their record. If Hill wins their next two, which will still be against god opponents regardless of who they play, they could keep it, IMO. "One game doesn't make a season" If not, then yes, they will lose it.

"they (AHA) have a shaky goalie and WB is a solid team"

Curious why you think that. There were two goals he let in against a quick team yesterday. One just barely squeaked by and from what I remember the other was pretty good as well. Additionally, STA had just about as many shots as AHA yesterday and was leading for a while, but the difference was (sadly) that most of STA's shots were from a ways away. With as good of a team as they have, they don't need a top goalie.

[hugedanglefest69]

Silver:

Breck 4, Duluth East 2


That is a huge upset. Breck has moved on and is playing Wayzata. Does anyone know the score?

Breck has some potential!

[Iceburg]

Breck has moved on and is playing Wayzata. Does anyone know the score?

Breck has some potential!

CLICK HERE

[puck81]

Yeah I really think that playing at the xcel is too much of a good thing. Perfect setting for the State tournament, however too much of a building for a holiday tournament. But I'll still be there.

You guys make some great points about the Schwan's tourny. The price is too high (especially for the consolation rounds) and the XCEL should be reserved for the State Tourny in March. Perhaps they should look into playing at Marriucci instead. I have talked to some coaches and these Holiday Tourny's are always unpredictable because the players are not in school and may not be as mentally sharp as they should be with a lot of distractions going on outside of hockey. Every team is in the same boat though so this should not take away from the clubs that are winning some of these big upsets. It also creates some great match-ups that are not on the regular season schedule.

[WayOutWest]

Silver:

Breck 4, Duluth East 2


That is a huge upset. Breck has moved on and is playing Wayzata. Does anyone know the score?

Breck has some potential!

Potential.................vanquished.
Still, they beat DE, which is a nice feather in their cap.
Two in a row would have been pushing the envelope too much, it appears.

On the other side of the coin, way to go Wayzata!!!!! Silver division finals?
Congrats!!

[HShockeywatcher]

It is probably an issue of ice time, but the concept of a shootout deciding who advances in a tournament is such a silly concept in my mind. I like AHA's program, but advancing with a tie doesn't seem right. In a regular season game I could see it, but not when it determines where you end up in the bracket.