If Edina does not win it

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

[Doc Holliday]

They lost Budish before the season. If he was there, I think you could make an argument simply due to the success this group has had coming up the ranks. But it's hard to say anything when arguably the best all around player & most definitely the team leader of the bunch is out the entire season.

Moorhead, on the other hand, simply spazzed in the 1st period of the championship game. The title was practically theirs for the taking and they folded.

I'd put Duluth East losing an undefeate season to Edina in the '97 title game in the same disappointment category as well. East pounded Edina by 3 goals in a game that wasn't even that close all year and was simply dominating all season. Not even scoring a goal in the '97 title game ranks up there with the rest of them.

[stmartin123]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

I dont think a lot of people will be disappointed if edina doesn’t win it. I know i won’t be.
With the amount of talent Giles has had for the past three seasons and not producing the state championships that everyone expected. I think people will be a little frustrated and he will take some heat. If Giles doesn’t not produce a state title this year, I think the hornets should start looking for a new head coach.

[MrBoDangles]

You had a few twists and turns there stmartin123.

[gophermadman]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

I think Giles deserves a little heat, however he did lose Budish. Sometimes these things happen, and its not always the fault of the coach. To be honest, I dont see Edina winning it this year, and I DONT see it as being Gile's fault.

[BodyShots]

They lost Budish before the season. If he was there, I think you could make an argument simply due to the success this group has had coming up the ranks. But it's hard to say anything when arguably the best all around player & most definitely the team leader of the bunch is out the entire season.

Moorhead, on the other hand, simply spazzed in the 1st period of the championship game. The title was practically theirs for the taking and they folded.

I'd put Duluth East losing an undefeate season to Edina in the '97 title game in the same disappointment category as well. East pounded Edina by 3 goals in a game that wasn't even that close all year and was simply dominating all season. Not even scoring a goal in the '97 title game ranks up there with the rest of them.

Do you believe in MIRACLES?

[Papa Bergundy]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

I dont think a lot of people will be disappointed if edina doesn’t win it. I know i won’t be.
With the amount of talent Giles has had for the past three seasons and not producing the state championships that everyone expected. I think people will be a little frustrated and he will take some heat. If Giles doesn’t not produce a state title this year, I think the hornets should start looking for a new head coach.

If Webster's is looking for a new definition of Contradictory...

We found it

[Lucia4President]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

I dont think a lot of people will be disappointed if edina doesn’t win it. I know i won’t be.
With the amount of talent Giles has had for the past three seasons and not producing the state championships that everyone expected. I think people will be a little frustrated and he will take some heat. If Giles doesn’t not produce a state title this year, I think the hornets should start looking for a new head coach.

If Webster's is looking for a new definition of Contradictory...

We found it

[stmartin123]

I know i kind of contradicted myself. And for a shot at redemption. If Giles doesn’t produce I think Edina should start looking for a new head coach. Aaaannnndddd I am an idiot.

[mnhockey30]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

I think Giles deserves a little heat, however he did lose Budish. Sometimes these things happen, and its not always the fault of the coach. To be honest, I dont see Edina winning it this year, and I DONT see it as being Gile's fault.

Just because they lost one player (although he may be a their best player) they cannot put all of the blame on the lost of budish. They have a very talented team and if they don't win it would seem to me that people will just say they did not win the title because of the lost of Budish with people like lee and everson they should be good contenders for the title.

[MNHockeyFan]

Sometimes people forget that to win the State Tournament, lots of good things have to happen, even for the favorite going in. It's tough winning 6 games in a row, including your section just to get there, even when you have great talent. Hockey can be like that sometimes: hot goaltender, hitting pipes, your goalie gives up a fluke goal or two, etc.

If your team is not prepared to come out and play up to its capability, that's one thing. But just because your team loses one game, even when everything is on the line, you can't necessarily blame the coach.

[breakout]

Keep in mind, HS hockey is one and done. It is not the NHL best of five or best of seven. One mistake by a player could end a season. From what I hear, the players like Giles. They play hard for him. He has several players moving on to collegiate hockey. What more do you want from a coach?

[HasNoMoves]

i do not think edina will win the section, they have looked so poor on tv the last few times they have been on....too many other better teams in their section right now.

[hornetsnest]

i do not think edina will win the section, they have looked so poor on tv the last few times they have been on....too many other better teams in their section right now.

Since their TV slump, a number of things have happen. Centennial has loss twice, Blaine has lost, Bloomington Jefferson has lost as well as minnetonka, Benilde. Edina has had back to wins against wayzata 7-0 and last night against Hopkins 7-3 who recently was on a hot streak.

What this all means is perhaps there are six or more teams with real state championship possibilities. Any of these teams can win against one another depending on what game their team decides to bring that day. Add to that list of teams is Elk River current dragon slayer of both Blaine and Centennial, Moorhead, and Duluth East which has quietly been putting together a very solid year. This all points to some unbelievable section play-offs this year.

Regarding Edina, they now have a very good case to claim the #1 seed in their section based on comparison results, and would face Burnsville in the semi's with BJ and HA squaring in the other semi. The comment of "too many other better teams in their section right now," seems a little off. Are all three of those mentioned playing better?

[scoreboard33]

i do not think edina will win the section, they have looked so poor on tv the last few times they have been on....too many other better teams in their section right now.

Since their TV slump, a number of things have happen. Centennial has loss twice, Blaine has lost, Bloomington Jefferson has lost as well as minnetonka, Benilde. Edina has had back to wins against wayzata 7-0 and last night against Hopkins 7-3 who recently was on a hot streak.

What this all means is perhaps there are six or more teams with real state championship possibilities. Any of these teams can win against one another depending on what game their team decides to bring that day. Add to that list of teams is Elk River current dragon slayer of both Blaine and Centennial, Moorhead, and Duluth East which has quietly been putting together a very solid year. This all points to some unbelievable section play-offs this year.

Regarding Edina, they now have a very good case to claim the #1 seed in their section based on comparison results, and would face Burnsville in the semi's with BJ and HA squaring in the other semi. The comment of "too many other better teams in their section right now," seems a little off. Are all three of those mentioned playing better?

I'm not sure if Edina will get the first seed or not, a lot of the coaches in the section are Lake Conference guys and might think that the Lake Conference is the same as it was the last two years.

Anyway, I thought Giles made a conscious effort to keep the shifts for the first line short last night and that really helped both the first and second lines. If Edina hadn't insisted on marching to the penalty box like it is there job, the game would have gotten out of hand much quicker.

[O-townClown]

i do not think edina will win the section, they have looked so poor on tv the last few times they have been on....too many other better teams in their section right now.

TV games:

Won 4-1 over Grand Rapids
Won 5-2 over Holy Angels
Lost to Centennial
Lost to Minnetonka

The last "few"...or the past "couple"? I think you mean the last two games. Centennial's goalie played extremely well. Edina fell behind Minnetonka and played a very good 3rd period and again ran into a stone wall.

While they lost 3 of 4, nothing has really changed. They are still a favorite to win 2AA and are on the short list of teams that might win the state championship. They are still lethal when they play well (recent pummelings of Wayzata and Hopkins certainly indicate as much), still reliant on their top players (like Little Falls doesn't ride Hanowski or Burnsville May), and don't come from behind very well.

Of course they might not win it all, but to dismiss them because their play was "so poor" is definitely premature.

[Mite-dad]

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I wouldn't mind seeing the kids that made a pact to stay together at Edina their whole careers, be rewarded with a title. I wish more high school kids would stay in school. Good luck to them.

[bananastick]

What will be intersting is if Saint Thomas wins another title and Edina doesn't. Anders Lee who said it was because of football he went back to Edina, I still think he saw all the talent at Edina and wanted to win a AA title for his trophy case.

[hornetsnest]

What will be intersting is if Saint Thomas wins another title and Edina doesn't. Anders Lee who said it was because of football he went back to Edina, I still think he saw all the talent at Edina and wanted to win a AA title for his trophy case.

I think he was quoted as saying he wanted to graduate with the friends he grew up with. I think he could also see all the talent still at St. Thomas if winning a trophy was his only motive...

[grindiangrad-80]

There are quite a few teams who could win the state tournament.
It's not that easy to just go through and win it.
You need to be hot at the right time and get a few breaks as well.
Giles brings a lot of great hockey history from being a great WCHA player to a long NHL career.
I'm sure they want to win it all as much as anybody. (And certainly could)
But if someone else takes it, it can't take away all they have done.
Being from GR, I'm not a huge Hornet fan, but I still respect great programs.

[starmvp]

Does anyone know if Buddish has started skating again?

[scoreboard33]

Does anyone know if Buddish has started skating again?

I don't think he has started yet.

[Hockeyguy_27]

What will be intersting is if Saint Thomas wins another title and Edina doesn't. Anders Lee who said it was because of football he went back to Edina, I still think he saw all the talent at Edina and wanted to win a AA title for his trophy case.

I would imagine Anders Lee is pretty happy he went back to Edina, regardless of whether or not St. Thomas wins another state title in class A. His football success was beyond anything I've ever seen and he playing with the guys he grew up with.

[bananastick]

What will be intersting is if Saint Thomas wins another title and Edina doesn't. Anders Lee who said it was because of football he went back to Edina, I still think he saw all the talent at Edina and wanted to win a AA title for his trophy case.

I would imagine Anders Lee is pretty happy he went back to Edina, regardless of whether or not St. Thomas wins another state title in class A. His football success was beyond anything I've ever seen and he playing with the guys he grew up with.

The guys he grew up with? The guys from St. Francis where he was until he was a squirt or the guys from Edina where he played 2 or 3 years or the guys from STA where he played a few years? He grew up with a lot of guys.

[StillAnEagle]

Will it go down as big a disappointment as '05 Moorhead? Or maybe worse considering their last three quality seasons? I think Giles might expect some heat from the community nonetheless if they don't pull through.

I dont think a lot of people will be disappointed if edina doesn’t win it. I know i won’t be.
With the amount of talent Giles has had for the past three seasons and not producing the state championships that everyone expected. I think people will be a little frustrated and he will take some heat. If Giles doesn’t not produce a state title this year, I think the hornets should start looking for a new head coach.

And that's exactly the problem with mentality of the "sports culture" these days, "If they don't produce, throw 'em out". If Edina doesn't win state, it will be becuase they don't have the depth that other teams have. Their 1st line is awesome, one that will be remembered for a long time. But the rest of the team is good at best, but not great. Making them prone to loosing (which we've seen 4x at this point). All expectations of state titles have been tabled as we've been shown that we have 5 #1 teams in the state and 5 #2 teams. All of which could beat eachother on any given day.