Over the years we've seen some great teams that were "dubbed" the state tournament favorite. What were some of the great teams that fell short of being state champions? I cannot pinpoint one team to this question so I have a few (IMO):
I know these are recent than not but in all honesty these are the ones I remember; I am not as old as some of you posters are. So let's hear some opinions!
I would say Moorhead and White Bear are probably the biggest disappointments as far as programs go. The 2008 Roseau team is the biggest disappointment as far as teams go.
mulefarm wrote:I would say Moorhead and White Bear are probably the biggest disappointments as far as programs go. The 2008 Roseau team is the biggest disappointment as far as teams go.
Agreed for those programs, Moorhead has 6 state runner-ups (correct me if I am wrong), and White Bear Lake (not to be confused with WB Mariner) has not won a State quarterfinal game yet..
1973 South Saint Paul and 2000 Elk River, both lost in sections.
Also the 2003 Holy Angels team that had I think 7 players that are currently playing professionally plus a few others that went on to play in college, lost to Anoka at the state tournament. I don't think Anoka had a single D1 player on the roster.
mulefarm wrote:I would say Moorhead and White Bear are probably the biggest disappointments as far as programs go. The 2008 Roseau team is the biggest disappointment as far as teams go.
Agreed for those programs, Moorhead has 6 state runner-ups (correct me if I am wrong), and White Bear Lake (not to be confused with WB Mariner) has not won a State quarterfinal game yet..
Take out the 97 Hounds and put in the 96 Hounds; I know the 97 team was undefeated going into the State Tournament but the previous year's edition of the Hounds was better, IMO. If not for Karl Goehring.
2004 Virginia Team when Niskanen was a junior was favored to head to state after they won the irc and didnt make it out of the section, lost in the semi's.
slyer wrote:i might be wrong but i think that elk river won the state title in 2000.
Blaine
Correct. ER won in 2001. In 2000 they beat Blaine 7-1 a week before sections but lost in the section semi's to Osseo. Aside from that one night, the 2000 team might be the best HS team since 93' Jefferson.
The 1996 Hill-Murray Pioneers. They had 8 future Division 1 players. They were 22-1 when they lost to an 8-14-1 WBL team 4-3 in OT in the Section Semifinal at the Coliseum. They had beaten WBL 7-0 and 6-2 earlier that year. To try to get even they beat WBL 12-1 at the beginning of the next season.
stpaul wrote:The 1996 Hill-Murray Pioneers. They had 8 future Division 1 players. They were 22-1 when they lost to an 8-14-1 WBL team 4-3 in OT in the Section Semifinal at the Coliseum. They had beaten WBL 7-0 and 6-2 earlier that year. To try to get even they beat WBL 12-1 at the beginning of the next season.
Thanks for bringing that up St. Paul. Just when my therapist said I was making progress. That team was loaded.
2004-05 White Bear Lake Bears. Lost two games all year, won gold holiday bracket, beat the other top team Centennial 5-3 in the 4AA section championship (They were #1 and #2 in the state at that time) to advance to the state championship. Then choked away yet another 3rd period lead to Duluth East in the state quarterfinal game. Shots were 32-11. I don't sound bitter anymore, do I?
Grand Rapids 1995-96 team. Started 13-0. Ranked in the top 10 all year. Lost in the semi-finals 2-1 in Hibbing against Greenway. Adam Hauser was Greenway's goalie. Rapids outshot Greenway 54-16.
WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:2004-05 White Bear Lake Bears. Lost two games all year, won gold holiday bracket, beat the other top team Centennial 5-3 in the 4AA section championship (They were #1 and #2 in the state at that time) to advance to the state championship. Then choked away yet another 3rd period lead to Duluth East in the state quarterfinal game. Shots were 32-11. I don't sound bitter anymore, do I?
Personally, I have very happy memories of that game...
WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:2004-05 White Bear Lake Bears. Lost two games all year, won gold holiday bracket, beat the other top team Centennial 5-3 in the 4AA section championship (They were #1 and #2 in the state at that time) to advance to the state championship. Then choked away yet another 3rd period lead to Duluth East in the state quarterfinal game. Shots were 32-11. I don't sound bitter anymore, do I?
So let's hear some opinions!
