12/2 Apple Valley @ Eden Prairie

[HockeyMN1]

Opener for EP featuring both Eagles should be a solid early season matchup. Who you got?

[wblhockeyfan8]

AV wins it 3-2 in OT.


It took all my resolve not to make an "I think the Eagles will win" joke.

[blueblood]

Yo Freddy "Kruger" Flintstone, watcha got for your beloved Eagles season opener?

[starmvp]

This one will be fun but I think EP will come through. EP 4-2

[hockeyjunkie2]

I just want to get by Jefferson with a W first. I'm questioning AV's offense depth for scoring after the big two. They'll need the sophomores that played last year to step it up and also Berens and Goodman to become more consistant goal scorers. Defensively after Pedrie (if allowed to even play), Leong, and Smith some other guys will have to prove themselves at the varsity level. Gretz, played hot at the end but against some good teams last year earlier in the year he wasn't playing so well. He will need a fast start to the season to keep things in check.

I'd take EP until proven otherwise by some AV guys that will hopefully step it up from last year.

[shakey]

I just want to get by Jefferson with a W first. I'm questioning AV's offense depth for scoring after the big two. They'll need the sophomores that played last year to step it up and also Berens and Goodman to become more consistant goal scorers. Defensively after Pedrie (if allowed to even play), Leong, and Smith some other guys will have to prove themselves at the varsity level. Gretz, played hot at the end but against some good teams last year earlier in the year he wasn't playing so well. He will need a fast start to the season to keep things in check.

I'd take EP until proven otherwise by some AV guys that will hopefully step it up from last year.

Why wouldn't Pedrie be allowed to play?

[AV PUCK 17]

I just want to get by Jefferson with a W first. I'm questioning AV's offense depth for scoring after the big two. They'll need the sophomores that played last year to step it up and also Berens and Goodman to become more consistant goal scorers. Defensively after Pedrie (if allowed to even play), Leong, and Smith some other guys will have to prove themselves at the varsity level. Gretz, played hot at the end but against some good teams last year earlier in the year he wasn't playing so well. He will need a fast start to the season to keep things in check.

I'd take EP until proven otherwise by some AV guys that will hopefully step it up from last year.

Why wouldn't Pedrie be allowed to play?

Pedrie is going to play, no question.

[flatontheice]

I just want to get by Jefferson with a W first. I'm questioning AV's offense depth for scoring after the big two. They'll need the sophomores that played last year to step it up and also Berens and Goodman to become more consistant goal scorers. Defensively after Pedrie (if allowed to even play), Leong, and Smith some other guys will have to prove themselves at the varsity level. Gretz, played hot at the end but against some good teams last year earlier in the year he wasn't playing so well. He will need a fast start to the season to keep things in check.

I'd take EP until proven otherwise by some AV guys that will hopefully step it up from last year.

Why wouldn't Pedrie be allowed to play?

Pedrie is going to play, no question.

EP 6 AV 1

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

Yo Freddy "Kruger" Flintstone, watcha got for your beloved Eagles season opener?

The team from section 6.

[High Flyer]

I just want to get by Jefferson with a W first. I'm questioning AV's offense depth for scoring after the big two. They'll need the sophomores that played last year to step it up and also Berens and Goodman to become more consistant goal scorers. Defensively after Pedrie (if allowed to even play), Leong, and Smith some other guys will have to prove themselves at the varsity level. Gretz, played hot at the end but against some good teams last year earlier in the year he wasn't playing so well. He will need a fast start to the season to keep things in check.

I'd take EP until proven otherwise by some AV guys that will hopefully step it up from last year.

Why wouldn't Pedrie be allowed to play?

I also wonder how he is getting around that, though if any AD is familar with how to get around the MSHSL transfer rules, it would be the AD from AV.

I guess one could open enroll at AV, live in Rochester and commute daily to/from

[The Greatness]

i say EP 5-3. goal scorers for AV will put some away on ford but AV wont keep up well enough with EP to win

[HockeyMN1]

I'm taking EP 4-1. Gotta question the real strength of AV until they prove the tourney win wasn't a fluke. We know what the EP seniors are capable of, not so much with AV. You also have to remember that this will be one of the only games for AV when they don't have the best player on the ice.

[dump and chase]

Just one of the great early season match-ups! This one will come down to which goalie plays better, EP has a little more experience but it will be fun to see if valleys supporting cast can match up to rau and co!

I give the edge to EP because they have home ice and will take advantage of matching lines. It will be interesting to see if AJ and hudson are still on different lines and that may pay off against the rau line!

4-3 EP

[HockeyMN1]

Injury updates for EP: McCartan and Shavlik out, Kyle Rau and Molenaar not 100%.

[wildhockey20]

Apple Valley 3-2

[HockeyMN1]

6-3 EP late in the third, Rau has 2.

[HockeyMN1]

6-3 Final. EP wins. Kyle Rau, David Rath, and Luc Gerdes each had a pair. Molenaar had 4 assists. SOG- EP 34 AV 23.

[karl(east)]

Comments on this game, which I watched on myfoxhockey:

This wasn't really a surprise, but Apple Valley is definitely very thin, and it showed. They are not a top 5 team at this point.

I give a lot of credit to Lee Smith for his game plan. Despite the injuries coming in, he didn't cave into the temptation to ride Rau, and rolled three lines (with a sophomore on the 1st line). Before the season I said they need to develop more lines; if they continue to play like this, I think they'll reap the dividends later in the season.

[HockeyMN1]

Comments on this game, which I watched on myfoxhockey:

This wasn't really a surprise, but Apple Valley is definitely very thin, and it showed. They are not a top 5 team at this point.

I give a lot of credit to Lee Smith for his game plan. Despite the injuries coming in, he didn't cave into the temptation to ride Rau, and rolled three lines (with a sophomore on the 1st line). Before the season I said they need to develop more lines; if they continue to play like this, I think they'll reap the dividends later in the season.

Yea I definitely didn't foresee Bergh playing on first line, he's definitely showing some promise and the more weapons the better. I'm really excited about the team this year, especially seeing them handle AV without two good seniors.