AA Third Place

The51 · Post by **The51** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:00 pm

Anyone at the game please comment...

What is going on? Does Edina have no energy? Or is Eagan just playing that good?

chester1991 · Post by **chester1991** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:06 pm

I would say Eagan wants to end the season on a high note and take home a trophy. Great season for Eagan! Edina is upset that their not playing in the 7:00 game tonight. Eagan worst game of the year was played in the state semi's last night. This is the Eagan team that we saw all year long. Congrats to Eagan!

The Thirsty Whale · Post by **The Thirsty Whale** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:08 pm

Eagan up 4-2 at the end of 2 periods. Sounds like it's been a good game so far, but there's a lot of hockey left. Could be another shootout like when both teams played earlier this year when Edina won 7-6.

The51 · Post by **The51** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:10 pm

thanks for the updates

Doc Holliday · Post by **Doc Holliday** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:52 pm

Eagan, ENG....5-3.

3rd place games are like mid-tier college bowl games: usually a question of who wants it more.

Congrats to Eagan on 3rd place.

The Thirsty Whale · Post by **The Thirsty Whale** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:55 pm

As an alum from Eagan, hats off to the boys. After a brutal game last night, they came back and responded with a 5-3 victory over the Hornets to capture their first state hardware in program history. Plenty of players coming back next year, should be back in the mix again! Congrats Eagan!

Post by **karl(east)** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:08 pm

Congrats to Eagan for wanting 3rd place tonight and playing a solid game. It was pretty clear Edina didn't want to be there, and the refs actually called penalties on them this game. At any rate, thanks to both teams for an entertaining tournament, and good luck in the near future; I suspect we'll be hearing from both again next year.

Littlecat · Post by **Littlecat** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:22 pm

karl(east) wrote:Congrats to Eagan for wanting 3rd place tonight and playing a solid game. It was pretty clear Edina didn't want to be there, and the refs actually called penalties on them this game. At any rate, thanks to both teams for an entertaining tournament, and good luck in the near future; I suspect we'll be hearing from both again next year.

Eagan played well. Neither team wanted to be playing for 3rd, but at the same time neither team wanted to lose 2 out of 3 at the X. Eagan was a better hockey team than Edina tonight. No need to make excuses for Edina: Eagan was just a better team in this game. Good job, Wildcats! You'll be back!

slapshot445 · Post by **slapshot445** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:43 pm

Edina honestly didn't care, it was obvious from how they played and who giles sent out there. sad to see, this team wants to be champions but they quit the first time they lose. At least Eagan looked like they wanted it, congrats wildcats!

O-townClown · Post by **O-townClown** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:12 pm

Interesting comments. Edina has lost some very disappointing first-round games over the years. Somehow they usually come out with hardware. They have a lot of 'meaningless' consolation trophies.

Today they didn't win. So what? Credit to Eagan. Edina had some odd results during the regular season too.

If Edina "quit the first time they" lost I don't think a team that finished 4th in a five-team league would lose 2-1, overtime, in the state AA semis.

HappyHockeyFan · Post by **HappyHockeyFan** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:23 pm

Congrats to the Cats on a great season and State Tournament. I was proud of the way you came back after a rough game Friday night and played with heart and determination in earning the school's first tournament hardware. Seniors, good luck in your future endeavors and the rest of you, enjoy the off season and we cant wait to see what you will accomplish next season!!

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:08 am

Congrats to Eagan.

You could tell Edina was just going through the motions; they were still heartbroken after last night.

HappyHockeyFan · Post by **HappyHockeyFan** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:07 am

PuckU126 wrote:Congrats to Eagan.

You could tell Edina was just going through the motions; they were still heartbroken after last night.

I agree with you, but I am glad Eagan displayed heart in their desire to bring home some hardware.

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:11 am

HappyHockeyFan wrote:
PuckU126 wrote:Congrats to Eagan.

You could tell Edina was just going through the motions; they were still heartbroken after last night.

I agree with you, but I am glad Eagan displayed heart in their desire to bring home some hardware.

I agree, they made the game more interesting.

Littlecat · Post by **Littlecat** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 7:59 am

the_juiceman · Post by **the_juiceman** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:21 am

slapshot445 wrote:Edina honestly didn't care, it was obvious from how they played and who giles sent out there. sad to see, this team wants to be champions but they quit the first time they lose. At least Eagan looked like they wanted it, congrats wildcats!

That seems to be the way they react through out their hockey program--from squirts to Bantams--

East Side Pioneer Guy · Sun Mar 13, 2011 11:49 am

Like consolation, 3rd place is often a "who cares?" game. Some programs, and this can vary year to year, set their sights high. To have a tough and very disappointing lose on Friday evening and turn around and play for a minor prize, it can be tough. Teams like Eagan have more to play for when they come in with lower expectations. Third place is the best they've ever done, an accomplishment they should be proud of. Programs like Edina's that have won multiple titles hold themselves to a higher standard. They are also the Kings of consolation, having won I believe a record seven times. That's even more than White Bear, and most of the time Edina wasn't playing sub .500 teams.

HS Fan 4 Life · Post by **HS Fan 4 Life** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:38 pm

Easy to rip Edina for losing. Did anyone rip Hill Murray when the Star Tribune's final article mentioned Lechner pulling a 2nd place medal out of the garbage can. Obviously it is ONLY Edina that doesn't care about "consolation" games and awards. Face it. These are all kids who have one thing in mind: to win it all. They ALL need to learn lessons.

Shame on Edina for not giving their best effort. However, did Blaine pack it in? How about Moorhead? They went 2 and out.

I challenge anyone to play 3 games in 3 days with such pressure and emotions. They don't do it in College or Pro Hockey. That 3rd day is tough to rebound physically, let alone mentally. Easy to rip Edina. It is a part of any tournament they are in.

By the way, EP/DE was a classic. Best championship game in recent memory.

Doc Holliday · Post by **Doc Holliday** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 5:48 pm

I didn't see the game, so I can't fully comment if Edina did or didn't give a full effort.

They may have gave their best effort, but you can still do that, but not be up for the game & not in to it. They aren't the first team and certainly won't be the last. I know that Moorhead wasn't 6 goals better than Hill Murray in 1997.

Kudos to Duluth East in 1996 for finding the will to play in the 3rd place game versus South St. Paul. Kudos to Eagan for finding the will to play yesterday.

There's a reason why the NCAA got rid of the Third Place game in the Frozen Four. If they still had it, Robb Stauber & Maine's goalie would still be passing the puck back & forth at each other.

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 6:05 pm

Edina gave a half assed effort. Not taking away from Eagan, but thats what it looked like. Cool fight though.

C-dad · Post by **C-dad** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:16 pm

the_juiceman wrote: That seems to be the way they react through out their hockey program--from squirts to Bantams--

I think the appropriate response to that one is a word that is a synonym for excrement from a bovine.

Do some Edina teams expect to win and give less than their full effort when they fall short? Yes. Do some teams from other programs react the same? Of course. If you look at the EHA website and look though the records from this year, or any year, you'll see lots of thirds and lots of consolation championships - as well as plenty of firsts.

bronco2828 · Post by **bronco2828** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:42 pm

Agreed that Edina didn't want to be there. They got what they deserved. Eagan played to win and they did. Pretty classless of the Edina player to start shoving refs around in the final minutes. I've watched a lot of rec and high school hockey in the last 10 years and have never seen a player do that. Getting frustrated for losing in the semis and losing in the 3rd place game is one thing, but come on keep your composure and don't shove any refs.

woody22 · Post by **woody22** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:22 pm

This group of Edina seniors had their sights set on repeating, and after losing in an OT battle against East how could they get up for a 3rd place game? When your expectations are to win the thing 3rd and 4th place alike both would seem like failure.

Either way congrats to Eagan for bringing home 3rd, they deserved it.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:28 pm

Congrats to Eagen. If the Edina seniors did not think this game "meant" anything they are WRONG! It was the last time they will play High school hockey. The last time they put on Edina colors. Shame on them. It will matter to them someday.

Doc Holliday · Post by **Doc Holliday** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:40 pm

old goalie85 wrote:Congrats to Eagen. If the Edina seniors did not think this game "meant" anything they are WRONG! It was the last time they will play High school hockey. The last time they put on Edina colors. Shame on them. It will matter to them someday.

Call me crazy, but I think they're going to think about the Duluth East game from the night before a little bit more than this one.