U12A State Pairings and Predictions

[u12dad]

Centennial vs Duluth
Woodbury vs Minnetonka
Roseau vs Lakeville South
Chaska vs Wayzata

Prediction:
Centennial
Woodbury

Lakeville South
Chaska

Woodbury
Chaska

Woodbury

[NotEasyBeingGreen]

Based on what we saw this weekend, it's real hard to bet against Centennial. Unless their limited bench gets those top girls too tired, they have the best top-end talent.

Woodbury, Chaska, and Minnetonka will all be tough.

But the Big Red impressed me the most.

[redarmydad]

I think it is gonna be on heck of a tournament. Good luck to everyone and for our travelers, safe journey to Rogers. See ya all in a couple of weeks.

[sk8]

great field of teams, should be a good weekend of hockey.

[Bighead]

Catch most of the State Tournament Hockey Games at the following:

http://www.mnsportsnetwork.com/index.php#msbnchannel1

[U10Father]

Here's how it will go down.

Game 1 - Centennial vs Duluth - Won't be close. Centennial will be rested, their short bench will DESTROY Duluth. Let's say 6-2. This should be the most lopsided game in this round.

Game 2 - Woodbury vs Minnetonka - I wish I could say the Skippers will beat Woodbury, but they're too big, too fast, too strong. We rely on a strong defensive zone and keeping the front clear. Woodbury is very productive in front of the net. If we can get them to take penalties we have a shot. It was a good season. 3-1 Woodbury

Game 3 - Lakeville S vs Roseau - Wouldn't have minded playing either of these teams. Lakeville is very well coached, very disciplined, good defensively. But they don't score that much. Roseau will have a long drive back home. 1-0 Lakeville.

Game 4 - Chaska vs Wayzata - Wow, the D6 teams didn't get any favors in the draw, did they? Flip a coin. These teams are mirrors of each other. I'll be a D6 homer and take Chaska, 3-2 in 4 OTs.

---

Round 2

Centennial might be tired, but I think they won't be because their first round game will be a cakewalk. We played them when they were tired, and they only beat us by 1, but still dominated play. However, things get much harder here. Woodbury is the kind of team that can shut Centennial down if they forecheck well. But I'll say that #15 never leaves the ice and Centennial wins 3-2.

Chaska will beat Lakeville. Lakeville's defense is good, but Chaska swarms. 3-0 Chaska.

Championship

How tired will Centennial's top kids be? Chaska's relatively easy 2nd round game will mean they will be ready, and they are very deep. But Centennial's had their number the last two times they played. If Chaska is tied or ahead going into the 3rd, they win. If not, Centennial will win. Either way, it's a 3-2 game, and history would favor Centennial. So will I.

Should be a fun weekend. Good luck to everyone, but extra good luck to the Skippers.

[U10Father]

So Before anyone beats me to it..

I WAS WRONG!!!!

Skippers Win!!!! 1-0! What a great game!!!

[U10Father]

Well, 3rd place wouldn't be so bad...

Hats off to Centennial. Never felt like it was close today.

In the old days they would allow northern teams to play in thru a back door after they were eliminated (this was as the HS level). Maybe the time has come to allow metro teams to play in after the Olympic region.

[Hard water fan]

Fun tournament! Hats off to Centennial. They certainly earned it- women among girls. I take back my comment about giving them second as well though. Wayzata proved to be a very worthy opponent and played strong all season. Woodbury came on hard at the end and played great. The Skippers? Maybe next year they should be included in the Olympic... I really expected their offensive juggernaut to score more than one goal all weekend. I think someone like Edina would have been a better representation for the sixth. They certainly wouldn't have had parents that embarrass their organization like U10 Dad did. Also a shout out to Duluth's coaches for staying true to their philosophy of not short benching. Our girls had a great time visiting the big city. Thanks to Tim Timm for the D10 efforts.

PL

[rinkrat11]

Well put hard water fan!!!

[luckyEPDad]

Also a shout out to Duluth's coaches for staying true to their philosophy of not short benching.

Sad that this is unusual enough to deserve a shout out. It should be the norm. I respect anyone willing to take on the huge commitment that is being a youth hockey coach. But when you think winning is the primary goal instead of a side effect it is time for an attitude adjustment.

[Hard water fan]

EP Dad- A shoutout is an acknowledgement of respect...

[luckyEPDad]

EP Dad- A shoutout is an acknowledgement of respect...

Understood. I'm saying that it is sad that the Duluth coach's behavior was seen as unusual enough to be noteworthy. He probably didn't strike his players either. While that is also commendable it is so common we would find in undeserving of a "shoutout".

[sinbin]

Unfortunately when you see opponents shortening the bench in a scrimmage during the first two weeks of the season, you appreciate those who stick to their values even more.

[redarmydad]

Ok so somebody had a bad season, back on topic. What a great tournament. It was so great to see such a high level of competition from all the teams. Wayzata was fierce. When they came back from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2 in 4 minutes, you could not have written it any better. What a game. As for the championship game, because of Wayzata's speed and intensity, our girls were getting gassed (NOT BECAUSE WE WERE SHORTENING OUR BENCH OF 12 SKATERS) and when it went into overtime, I knew that we could not last much longer against Wayzata’s deep bench. The shots were 22-20 Wayzata by the time the OT started and the game was that close. Hats off to our goalie for making some key saves under very hi pressure.

The Goal! One of our first year skaters, defenseman, intercepted a pass mid ice and skated down, split Wayzata’s D at the blue line, took 4 more strides, shot and scored!!!! This was Wayzata’s only mistake of the game! Our skater was heading to the boards to get deep and wait for back up when she saw Wayzata's defense go their separate ways and gave her the opportunity. She saw the advantage and took the lane. Heads up play from our defenseman to see the opportunity!

Again, what a game!! Nothing but class and great conversations with the parents and players from all the teams. It was great to see all our friends and families we have met along the way. Tim Timm and Rogers did an excellent job with the tournament, thanks to you guys as well.

[iamad2r]

Centennial is certainly fortunate to have one of the best goalies in the state as they were clearly out-coached in every game they played this weekend.

[redarmydad]

Centennial is certainly fortunate to have one of the best goalies in the state as they were clearly out-coached in every game they played this weekend.

What the heck?? Thanks for the props to the girls who put in countless hours of work and gallons of sweat to get to where they are today. Yep one heck of a goalie, one heck of a team, and one heck of a coaching staff. Keep your bitter remarks to yourself. It is so obvious YOU ARE MAD and a complete tool to even make such a comment. He roled lines and if he had made any changes, he would have been blasted with those "shortening the bench" remarks. So what would you have done different?? We are all waiting for you to give us some insight into that magnificent hockey mind and tell us ALL how it should have been done!!! Jackwagon! Come on, we are waitng!! Break down each game and tell us how it should have been done.??? Just Remember, we have 12 skaters on the team. 12

[peterthepuck]

RedArmy dad, congrats on the win, I did see your girls play and they were a very skilled and great U12 team. The question I have for you? Why is your team so small? Is this not like a short bench, 12 skaters, really? Why not have more skaters on this team?

[luckyEPDad]

RedArmy dad, congrats on the win, I did see your girls play and they were a very skilled and great U12 team. The question I have for you? Why is your team so small? Is this not like a short bench, 12 skaters, really? Why not have more skaters on this team?

There are a lot of teams with only 12 skaters. At the 14B state tournament there were several small teams. Hopefully this is a sign of a growing program. Last year you had 18 or 20 girls playing at this level, but this year you have 24. You can either have a huge team or two really small ones. My daughter has been in both situations and I've got to say that small teams is preferable.

When girls numbers get closer to boys we won't have to preform amazing feats of mental gymnastics to divvy up teams each season. Wayzata and Edina appear to be close to that, the rest of us are trying to catch up.

[redarmydad]

RedArmy dad, congrats on the win, I did see your girls play and they were a very skilled and great U12 team. The question I have for you? Why is your team so small? Is this not like a short bench, 12 skaters, really? Why not have more skaters on this team?

Thanks Peter. As tryouts ended, Centennial was faced with the decision of what to do with 36 skaters. The decision was made, by the board, to split the girls into 3 groups. Each group is to contain 12 skaters. We all would have enjoyed a deeper bench this year, but what else could we have done. Go with 2 teams of 18 and 18, or 3 teams 15 on A and 10 each on the B? There are arguments either way. The point is, the coaches were given the numbers and moved forward from there. Yes, while watching a 12U A Centennial Game this year, you would see the same numbers out there alot. Because we were rolling two lines with an off Forward and off D. In power plays, certain girls were moved to D and certain girls were moved to forward. But they still played. It is a situation that is faced through out the state. Some teams elect the bigger roster, some go smaller, either way, some one is going to have a problem with it. Either Parents complainign about the large bench, or teams complaining that they did it on purpose to win games.

[Cut Above]

RedArmy dad, congrats on the win, I did see your girls play and they were a very skilled and great U12 team. The question I have for you? Why is your team so small? Is this not like a short bench, 12 skaters, really? Why not have more skaters on this team?

How else do you divide up 36 skaters? 3 teams you'll find is a pretty typical answer.

12 skaters: 13 skaters it's abit easier to roll the lines. Coaches will often have their 2 hardest working kids, most dedicated, best attendance which also usually produces the most skilled kids then rotate those 2 every other shift at key positions. Some might play 3 defenders. However it's done, it's tough to play all the kids equally and isn't necessarily shortening the bench. I don't know if anyone noticed - this was also the State Championship.

[Cut Above]

RedArmy dad, congrats on the win, I did see your girls play and they were a very skilled and great U12 team. The question I have for you? Why is your team so small? Is this not like a short bench, 12 skaters, really? Why not have more skaters on this team?

Thanks Peter. As tryouts ended, Centennial was faced with the decision of what to do with 36 skaters. The decision was made, by the board, to split the girls into 3 groups. Each group is to contain 12 skaters. We all would have enjoyed a deeper bench this year, but what else could we have done. Go with 2 teams of 18 and 18, or 3 teams 15 on A and 10 each on the B? There are arguments either way. The point is, the coaches were given the numbers and moved forward from there. Yes, while watching a 12U A Centennial Game this year, you would see the same numbers out there alot. Because we were rolling two lines with an off Forward and off D. In power plays, certain girls were moved to D and certain girls were moved to forward. But they still played. It is a situation that is faced through out the state. Some teams elect the bigger roster, some go smaller, either way, some one is going to have a problem with it. Either Parents complainign about the large bench, or teams complaining that they did it on purpose to win games.

What you said!

[D6 Girls Fan]

It would have been interesting to see what might have happened if some of the other good teams (Wayzata, Woodbury, Chaska, Edina, Minnetonka) would have taken 12 skaters and played that way all year. I think in some cases (Woodbury, Chaska) the depth was part of what made them great. In the others, I bet they would have been better. Edina was religiously rotating their lines, even though the bulk of the scoring came from 3-4 players. Minnetonka's top end girls were doing most of the work for that team, but those coaches kept it pretty even, too.

No matter, Centennial deserved it. While they did have great firt-group talent, they wouldn't have won if they didn't have a whole team of good players.