March 5- (2) Elk River vs (1) Duluth East- 7AA Final @ DECC

[hockey59]

[quote="DHMN"]You're off by 2 years 'hockey59'.. the new DECC arena will open in January of 2011 for the second half of UMD hockey.[/quote

Yes, I was off by one year:
Construction Start Date: April 2009

Opening Date: December 31, 2010

Seating: 6,600 for men’s and women’s hockey; more than 8,500 for concerts

Job Creation: 300 full-time, union jobs at the peak of construction

Arena Design Team: Kansas City, Missouri-based HOK Sport, the world’s leading sports architecture firm, is teaming up with Duluth’s SJA Architects to design the new arena. The construction manager is Minneapolis-based Mortenson Construction. Among the projects on which HOK and Mortenson have collaborated in Minnesota are the Xcel Energy Center, the University of Minnesota’s new TCF Bank Stadium and the Twins’ new Target Field.


Economic Impact: All the new activities at the DECC will bring millions of dollars each year into our economy for shopping, lodging, dining and other purchases. The new arena will also dramatically increase the more than $750,000 in sales tax the DECC currently collects each year.

Project Cost: Just under $80 million for the entire project, which includes the new arena, skywalk, addition and a 475-car expansion to the DECC’s parking ramp. Construction of the ramp began October 1, 2008.

Funding Sources: The state of Minnesota is funding nearly 50% of the $80 million cost; the voter-approved 3/4 of 1% increase in the city food and beverage tax will fund 27%; UMD will fund 12% and the DECC will fund 11%.

[tardy4mr.hockey]

great game from east. not really an east fan but after watchig the game they are my pick to win it all... the speed of east and their solid defense were no match for the elks. Max Tardy looked great and is now my pick for mr.hockey

being from the cities though i would like to see a netural site for the final but as everyone has said it is not really possible. so i believe that they should move the final to a saturday to hopefully draw more support from the city schools.

[talkofthetown17]

great game from east. not really an east fan but after watchig the game they are my pick to win it all... the speed of east and their solid defense were no match for the elks. Max Tardy looked great and is now my pick for mr.hockey

being from the cities though i would like to see a netural site for the final but as everyone has said it is not really possible. so i believe that they should move the final to a saturday to hopefully draw more support from the city schools.

Tardy Looked good on the score sheet thats about it he didnt satnd out at all. He is not even the best player or second best player for that matter on his team. He will not win mr. hockey i know that for a fact. Either way good luck to duluth east in the tourney great goalie great defense thats what will win them the championship.

[east hockey]

great game from east. not really an east fan but after watchig the game they are my pick to win it all... the speed of east and their solid defense were no match for the elks. Max Tardy looked great and is now my pick for mr.hockey

being from the cities though i would like to see a netural site for the final but as everyone has said it is not really possible. so i believe that they should move the final to a saturday to hopefully draw more support from the city schools.

It seems to me that back when East and Cloquet were lumped in with the north TC suburban schools (section 2), they finals were played on Saturday afternoon. This changed, as I recall, when they split into two classes and East-Cloquet moved back to section 7. No idea why they changed the date, but as you said, having it on a Saturday afternoon would allow more fans from the "suhthun" teams to attend. At least, it'd remove the "well, we have to be in bed early" excuse.

Lee

[east hockey]

great game from east. not really an east fan but after watchig the game they are my pick to win it all... the speed of east and their solid defense were no match for the elks. Max Tardy looked great and is now my pick for mr.hockey

being from the cities though i would like to see a netural site for the final but as everyone has said it is not really possible. so i believe that they should move the final to a saturday to hopefully draw more support from the city schools.

Tardy Looked good on the score sheet thats about it he didnt satnd out at all. He is not even the best player or second best player for that matter on his team. He will not win mr. hockey i know that for a fact. Either way good luck to duluth east in the tourney great goalie great defense thats what will win them the championship.

Right. He only stood out twice. Once on his breakaway short-handed goal. Once when he fed Joe Nelson in front of the Elks net on another goal.

Plus, I think Max would rather be known as the "third best player" on a state championship team instead of the "best player" on a runner-up. That's the kind of kid he is.

Nice analysis.

Lee

[tardy4mr.hockey]

i disagree with the tardy statement. He made three of the four goals happen with great hustle. Forberts goal was all because of tardy winning a battle in the corner and getting the puck to him at the point. he was there alot more than just on the score sheet.... and trust me i am not an east fan at all..... i was actually pulling for the elks..

it should also be noted that Anders Frankee played an excellent game for the elks.. hopefully he gets another shot in the final in the future!

[BruceCiskie]

In defense of the 250 fan base, I went to the game and got home around 1:00 am. The Duluth students could have been tucked in their beds by 10:30 pm on a school night. In defense of the Duluth fans, they did come out and support their team. I'm sure if the game would have been played on a weekend, not a school night things would have been some what different. If the game was played in Elk River last night, it think we would have not seen nearly as many East fans and thousands of Elk River fans. It's easy to criticize when it's in your back yard.

Just as a frame of reference, I'm from Superior and only attended the game because my son wanted to go and I enjoy high school hockey. I respect East but am hardly a fan.

Playing the final on a Saturday afternoon would go a long way, IMHO. However, once the new DECC opens, they'll have lapped the field of feasible hosts for this event.

As long as this event is drawing well in Duluth regardless of who is playing in it, there's no reason for the section to move it. Once the Duluth city schools moved virtually all home games to the Heritage Center, it became an even easier move to keep the section games at the DECC.

[norcon]

In defense of the 250 fan base, I went to the game and got home around 1:00 am. The Duluth students could have been tucked in their beds by 10:30 pm on a school night. In defense of the Duluth fans, they did come out and support their team. I'm sure if the game would have been played on a weekend, not a school night things would have been some what different. If the game was played in Elk River last night, it think we would have not seen nearly as many East fans and thousands of Elk River fans. It's easy to criticize when it's in your back yard.

1) Congrats to Duluth East - clearly the best team in Section 7AA advanced to State this season.

2) The Section 7AA game belongs at the DECC...and should actually be played next season at the "New DECC", which is scheduled to open December 31, 2009.

3) However...if ER, Anoka and Andover remain in 7AA indefinitely...because Duluth Marshall, Hermantown and Hibbing (BTW - none of which made State this season) - continue to be content to compete for the Class A title ...then eventually some type of every other year rotation system WILL be implemented...like it was in the 1980's....the National Sports Center at SCSU would be the best venue available.

4) The only other solution...and the most logical for that matter... is to play the 7AA Final game on a Saturday afternoon - one week after the Semi-Finals - at 3pm...then we would truly see how many ER, Anoka or Andover fans show up...and the travel would be less of a prpblem for the cities teams or even Grand Rapids for that matter...of course the MSHSL probably would balk at this idea...because it extends the play-offs by a day or two.

5) In any event ....good luck to DE at Excel...bring home a trophy...a big one!

Regardless of where the 7AA semi's and final's are held, there will always be great fan turnouts from East, Cloquet, and Rapids. These three programs have loyal followers who love their hockey. I've witnessed my share of games in the metro, with some of the states elite teams and have never been too impressed with the attendance. It appears to me that most of the metro schools have bandwagon fans who jump on board when and if their teams make it to state.

[TheHockeyDJ]

In defense of the 250 fan base, I went to the game and got home around 1:00 am. The Duluth students could have been tucked in their beds by 10:30 pm on a school night. In defense of the Duluth fans, they did come out and support their team. I'm sure if the game would have been played on a weekend, not a school night things would have been some what different. If the game was played in Elk River last night, it think we would have not seen nearly as many East fans and thousands of Elk River fans. It's easy to criticize when it's in your back yard. I'm not making excuses for the game, Elk River was out played thoughout the game. East is big, fast and good. But you really can't argue what a huge home ice advantage it was. I don't beleive it had any outcome in the game last night, but it may in the future.

As for the end of the 2nd, Tardy should have been thrown out of the game. He was the third in, and without any provocation threw 3-4 punches to an Elk River by-stander. There was no way the Iron Range Refs were going to toss the East star. Then to penalize ER. Wow. That's when people start talking about home cooking.

Put this section final in a truly neutral site and you won't hear whining about it anymore. Until that happens, every year we will just write the thread.

Good luck to the Greyhounds at State. They are a great 7AA representative and have a shot at going deep into the tournament.

I agree with another post that said East, Rapids, and CEC will bring 1500+ fans no matter where the game is held or on what night or day of the week it is. Those 3 schools are the only ones to consistently fill their side of the building whether DECC or Hibbing year after year. None of the Central or Southern MN schools have ever shown the same support.

[tommyjosh]

The elks will get another chance they only lose a few seniors this year.I don't think there has been to many starting freshman goalies ever to make it to the state tournament, the team will learn from this experience.

[EHSHack]

I thought FSN always broadcated the tourney through 45? Once again, people on da range hate us, so the refs were not homers. I garuntee the same amount of East students would have been at an Elk River game. Elk had MAYBE 40 kids there, and that is generous. Then Sarsland goes and makes excuses in the paper... Elk just wasn't as good as people said they were. I mean 1-2 shots on goal through 1 1/2 periods!? Credit to them for playing tough the whole year and upsetting Centenial and Blaine but boy either they choked or it was the Jayvees playing, because they played gawd awful hockey. That Anders Franke may end up the best goalie in the section in the next few years though. I felt like he played with composure the whole game, just got beat.

[Duluth 4]

There was no way the Iron Range Refs were going to toss the East star. Then to penalize ER. Wow.

That is the ref that cost East their season last year on a bush league call on Bosey. Elk river started the whole fiasco so should have an extra penalty.

[DHMN]

Apologies if I posted this already (I know I did in the photos section) but photos from the 7AA Final..

[mnmouth]

great game from east. not really an east fan but after watchig the game they are my pick to win it all... the speed of east and their solid defense were no match for the elks. Max Tardy looked great and is now my pick for mr.hockey

being from the cities though i would like to see a netural site for the final but as everyone has said it is not really possible. so i believe that they should move the final to a saturday to hopefully draw more support from the city schools.

Tardy Looked good on the score sheet thats about it he didnt satnd out at all. He is not even the best player or second best player for that matter on his team. He will not win mr. hockey i know that for a fact. Either way good luck to duluth east in the tourney great goalie great defense thats what will win them the championship.

What an asinine statement. Tardy was superior to anyone on the ice last night. Any time he was out there he either made things happen or he controlled any space he occupied. A great, great player.

[hshockeynorth]

great game from east. not really an east fan but after watchig the game they are my pick to win it all... the speed of east and their solid defense were no match for the elks. Max Tardy looked great and is now my pick for mr.hockey

being from the cities though i would like to see a netural site for the final but as everyone has said it is not really possible. so i believe that they should move the final to a saturday to hopefully draw more support from the city schools.

Tardy Looked good on the score sheet thats about it he didnt satnd out at all. He is not even the best player or second best player for that matter on his team. He will not win mr. hockey i know that for a fact. Either way good luck to duluth east in the tourney great goalie great defense thats what will win them the championship.

What an asinine statement. Tardy was superior to anyone on the ice last night. Any time he was out there he either made things happen or he controlled any space he occupied. A great, great player.

You should have put down the scoresheet and watched the game. You could not have missed Tardy if you had a dog by your side, and a white-tipped cane in your hand. He may not win Mr. Hockey, but he is a superb HS player and a classy kid (catch his interview after the game? He gave kudos to his team INCLUDING the 4th line and JV for pushing them all year. Siggy Tardy.) Wish he hadn't thrown the haymakers though....not his M.O. Also: I have seen many East games this year, and I'd love to know who the 2 "better" players are. Forbert is a stud and they have a strong team, but I guess I've missed the other guy. No one other than Forbert is even in his zip code. On another note: that goalie from ER is one cool customer. ER has to be lovin thinkin about that behind them the next 3 years. They'll be back.

[EHSFan16]

Tardy Looked good on the score sheet thats about it he didnt satnd out at all. He is not even the best player or second best player for that matter on his team. He will not win mr. hockey i know that for a fact. Either way good luck to duluth east in the tourney great goalie great defense thats what will win them the championship.

What an asinine statement. Tardy was superior to anyone on the ice last night. Any time he was out there he either made things happen or he controlled any space he occupied. A great, great player.

You should have put down the scoresheet and watched the game. You could not have missed Tardy if you had a dog by your side, and a white-tipped cane in your hand. He may not win Mr. Hockey, but he is a superb HS player and a classy kid (catch his interview after the game? He gave kudos to his team INCLUDING the 4th line and JV for pushing them all year. Siggy Tardy.) Wish he hadn't thrown the haymakers though....not his M.O. Also: I have seen many East games this year, and I'd love to know who the 2 "better" players are. Forbert is a stud and they have a strong team, but I guess I've missed the other guy. No one other than Forbert is even in his zip code. On another note: that goalie from ER is one cool customer. ER has to be lovin thinkin about that behind them the next 3 years. They'll be back.

Yeah Mr. Talkytown - who the heck do you think is better than Tardy? I say hes the best on the team...Couple games I saw this year Forbert didn't Impress.

[Knock The Net Off]

What a crazy turn this topic has taken. Here is a East breakdown from last night. East totally dominated the game from start to finish. Tardy was extremely good last night Forbort played very well, Williams and McLean shut down the Elks every time they were on the ice, Easts 2nd and third line worked very hard and made life miserable for the Elks in their own zone. Cooper although not severely tested stood up and made some challenging saves when called upon.
Elk Rivers goalie played well and looked extremely poised the Elks big stars after trying a few wide and long passes in the first and part of the second looked like they knew they were overmatched and couldnt wait for next year.
Good luck to the Hounds if they play like they did last night, they are going to be difficult to beat.