Section 1A

[scarlethockey33]

Games for Tuesday January 3rd:

Northfield at Chanhassen
Shakopee at New Prague
Chaska at Red Wing
Faribault at Albert Lea
Austin at Wascea
Mankato East at Fairmont
Mankato West at Rochester Century

Top 6 Section 1A Rankings

1. Rochester Lourdes Eagles (9-3) (3-0)
Pretty much walked through the competition in the Kiwanis Tournament scoring at least seven goals in each game. Goalie situation is still in question for this team, as they have balancing time between Ellingson and Neumann. The core of forwards in Samuelson, Funk and Farrell are potent weapons for the Eagles. Definitely not as strong as they have been in past years, but clearly ahead of the other teams in the section. The Saturday night matchup with the Duluth Marshall Hilltoppers is an interesting one coming up.

Section Wins: Northfield, New Prague and Red Wing
Section Losses: None

2. Albert Lea Tigers (7-3) (3-1)
The number two seed in the section maybe the hardest one to judge as of right now, but I believe the Tigers keep ahold of #2 just for now. Base purely on winning the Tigers have been better. They have beaten the teams who I think are also contenders for #2 in the section. (Mankato West & New Prague) It just seems logical for now. Another important section game for them on Tuesday vs. Faribault.

Section Wins: New Prague, Mankato West, Mankato East
Section Losses: Northfield

3. New Prague Trojans (5-5-1) (2-2-1)
The Trojans had a slow start to the season, but since their lost to Albert Lea (2-1), the Trojans have won 5 of their last 6. JoMo for New Prague is clearly in mid-season form and is playing well. Definitely a team that's on the rise in the section. The young group of players in Schmidt, Meyer and Lijewski lead a New Prague team that's not only a threat this season, but possibly one in future years as well. They will host Missota Conference foe Shakopee on Tuesday.

Section Wins: Northfield, Faribault
Section Losses: Lourdes, Albert Lea
Section Tie: Mankato West

4. Mankato West Scarlets (6-5-1) (1-1-1)
Despite going 1-2 in the Duluth Marshall Hilltopper Classic Holiday Tournament, they played above expectations of most people. Goaltender Zach Fox has been vital to their success posting 30+ saves in the three games during the holiday tournament. Their win vs. Rochester John Marshall might be their only impressive win, but their tie with New Prague is what keeps them above Northfield. Definitely a team on the rise along with New Prague. They will try to get revenge for the 7-1 debacle when they travel to Rochester Century on Tuesday.

Section Win: Mankato East
Section Loss: Albert Lea
Section Tie: New Prague

5. Northfield Raiders (8-4) (3-2)
Northfield's early success has met mid-season bumps with a big loss to New Prague 6-0, but a decent holiday tournament might have them rolling back. A revenge win against New Ulm (5-2) clears up the loss suffered early in the season. Andrew Scofield's scoring (17 goals leads the section) and Tjaden's goaltending have been a large contribution to this team's success. Arguments for a four seed are possible, but with West's tie and Northfield's 6-0 lost to New Prague, I think the fifth seed is appropriate. The Raiders will continue onto a Missota Conference focused schedule against Chanhassen on Tuesday.

Section Wins: Albert Lea, Faribault, Red Wing
Section Losses: Rochester Lourdes, New Prague

6. Red Wing Wingers (3-5) (0-2)
Not much of an argument to build with Red Wing so far this season. They started section play with an 8-0 loss to Rochester Lourdes. They don't play many other section opponents outside of the Missota Conference (New Prague, Northfield) other than Rochester Lourdes, so they have always been a hard team to assess. Almost characteristically have a tough schedule with teams like Totino Grace, Lourdes, Hermantown, Tartan and AHA.

Section Wins: None
Section Losses: Rochester Lourdes, Northfield

[Hockey North]

Here are some HockeyFACTS:

The final score was Duluth Marshall 3-0 Mankato West with an EN goal at the buzzer. Maybe it's time to start giving this Scarlet team some credit?

Your FACT is wrong. It was a Power Play goal scored before the buzzer.
This game was not as close as the score indicates. Marshall just couldnt get the puck in the net the whole game.

[Chalk_Talk]

Here are some HockeyFACTS:

The final score was Duluth Marshall 3-0 Mankato West with an EN goal at the buzzer. Maybe it's time to start giving this Scarlet team some credit?

Your FACT is wrong. It was a Power Play goal scored before the buzzer.
This game was not as close as the score indicates. Marshall just couldnt get the puck in the net the whole game.

The game was not "as close" as 3-0 (You get bonus points for shots or o zone time) I love it when people say that, the game was 3-0 period, please explain. Sounds like west had the same problem as Marshall??

[rainier]

Here are some HockeyFACTS:

The final score was Duluth Marshall 3-0 Mankato West with an EN goal at the buzzer. Maybe it's time to start giving this Scarlet team some credit?

Your FACT is wrong. It was a Power Play goal scored before the buzzer.
This game was not as close as the score indicates. Marshall just couldnt get the puck in the net the whole game.

The game was not "as close" as 3-0 (You get bonus points for shots or o zone time) I love it when people say that, the game was 3-0 period, please explain. Sounds like west had the same problem as Marshall??

Yes, the final score is the ultimate story, but Marshall also outshot them 37-17, which gives a good indication that Marshall was a much better team. West does deserve credit for keeping it close, but do you think they would beat Marshall even once if they played 10 times?

[Chalk_Talk]

Your FACT is wrong. It was a Power Play goal scored before the buzzer.
This game was not as close as the score indicates. Marshall just couldnt get the puck in the net the whole game.

The game was not "as close" as 3-0 (You get bonus points for shots or o zone time) I love it when people say that, the game was 3-0 period, please explain. Sounds like west had the same problem as Marshall??

Yes, the final score is the ultimate story, but Marshall also outshot them 37-17, which gives a good indication that Marshall was a much better team. West does deserve credit for keeping it close, but do you think they would beat Marshall even once if they played 10 times?

Ifs and buts, candy and nuts and you have christmas all year.

37-17 shots, Does that mean Marshall shoots the puck more?

How many of their 37 shots came on their 3 extra power plays.

In now way am I trying to say West would have/could have/should have beat marshall. Marsall is a top 5 team, West is no where near that.

All I'm trying to say is that the score was 3-0, no different, THE SCORE DICTATES how close the game was. Not what someone thinks it should have been, way too many variables play into it.

[Dog_Log17]

I stand corrected on the 3rd goal being a PP goal at the buzzer.

I want to end this topic with this: West deserves more credit than you guys are giving them. Losing 3-0 to DM (a top 5 team) is a respectable score. A "pretty weak" team would have gotten beat say 10-1. Let's talk more about where the Scarlets are at after next Tuesdays game vs Lourdes. It will be interesting to see how they fair tonight vs Century after they got thumped at home by the Panthers last month.

The game was not "as close" as 3-0 (You get bonus points for shots or o zone time) I love it when people say that, the game was 3-0 period, please explain. Sounds like west had the same problem as Marshall??

Yes, the final score is the ultimate story, but Marshall also outshot them 37-17, which gives a good indication that Marshall was a much better team. West does deserve credit for keeping it close, but do you think they would beat Marshall even once if they played 10 times?

Ifs and buts, candy and nuts and you have christmas all year.

37-17 shots, Does that mean Marshall shoots the puck more?

How many of their 37 shots came on their 3 extra power plays.

In now way am I trying to say West would have/could have/should have beat marshall. Marsall is a top 5 team, West is no where near that.

All I'm trying to say is that the score was 3-0, no different, THE SCORE DICTATES how close the game was. Not what someone thinks it should have been, way too many variables play into it.

[Chalk_Talk]

For the most part top 4 or 5 teams in this section did well at their holiday tour.

Roch Lourdes(9-3) rolled through the Kiwanis tour. going 3-0 and out scoring their opp 28-2.
Next 3 games
Duluth Marshall-Home
Mankato West-Road
New Ulm-Home

Top 3 scorers
Jason Samuelson 30 pts
Alex Funk 24 pts
Landon Farrell 21 pts

New Prague (5-5-1) went to the Heritage tour. They went 2-1 beating Buffalo. Losing to Cloquet 5-1, and Beat a solid Denfeld team 3-0
Next 3 games
Shakopee-Home
Redwing-Home
Chanhassen-Road

Top 3 scorers
Colton Schmidt 12 pts
Luke Lijewski 11 pts
Cody Meyer 10 pts

Mankato West(6-5-1) went 1-2 in the Duluth Marshall tour. They beat Proctor 5-2, Lost to Duluth Marshall 3-0, and they lost to Superior Wisc 3-2 in ot.
Next 3 games
Rochester Century-Road
Owatonna-Road
Roch Lourdes-Home

Top 3 Scorers
Ryan Jutting 15 pts
Tyler Mata 13 pts
Billy Bigham 11 pts

Albert Lea (7-3) went 2-1 in the Kiwanis tour. Beat Dodge County 10-1, Lost to St Michael-Albertville 4-2, Beat Ashwaubenon Wisc 5-0.
Next 3 games
Faribault-Home
Virginia-Road
Hibbing-Road
Roch Lourdes-Home

Top 3 scorers
Levi Hacker 19 pts
Nate Stadheim 18 pts
Adam Herbst 9pts

Northfield (8-4) went 2-1 in the Kiwanis tour. Lost to Ashwaubenon Wisc 7-4, Beat Richfield 7-5, Beat New Ulm 5-2.
Next 3 games
Chanhassen-Road
Farmington-Home
Holy Angels-Road

Top 3 Scorers
Andrew Scofield 24 pts
Taylor Freiermuth 21 pts
Colton Woodruff 17 pts

Red Wing (4-5) Did not play in a holiday tour, Lost to Totino Grace 4-1 on 12-30
Next 3 games
Chaska-Home
New Prague-Road
Shakopee-Home

Top 3 Scorers
Taylor Hanson 14 pts
Alex Rezansoff 7 pts
Jack Strusz 7 pts

overall the section is shacking out to be about what I would have guessed. Come playoff time I think 4 or 5 teams out make it.

[Hockeyfacts]

Accourding to hockeyhub Lourds is ranked 8th, and New Prague received votes...pretty surprising how a team you dont think is good enough to finish in the top 6 in section 1A can receive votes for statewide single A ranking, and to say Mankato West will beat Lourds is nothing more than a pipe dream

[Chalk_Talk]

Accourding to hockeyhub Lourds is ranked 8th, and New Prague received votes...pretty surprising how a team you dont think is good enough to finish in the top 6 in section 1A can receive votes for statewide single A ranking, and to say Mankato West will beat Lourds is nothing more than a pipe dream

Who is this message intended for? I could be wrong but I don't recall anyone saying that NP wasn't in the top six of 1A?

[Hockeyfacts]

Sorry rookie mistake This was intended for Dog_Log17 either I read his post wrong, or they have edited it by now.

[sniper20]

Sorry rookie mistake :oops: This was intended for Dog_Log17 either I read his post wrong, or they have edited it by now.

No you didn't read it wrong he edited it, because I remember thinking the same thing when I read it...

[AL Captain]

Albert Lea hockey is looking to get stronger at this point, last Friday they had 6 different players out with injuries. They got 1 big defenseman back from suspension and will get another two back on friday (which won't help much with who theyll be playing the next three games) but it should start to look up for AL's team who has been playing with not much talent but has still come away with a few wins in its helplessness

[scarlethockey33]

Scores from 1/3/12

Mankato East 1 Fairmont 5
Red Wing 7 Chaska 1
Chanhassen 6 Northfield 2
Shakopee 0 New Prague 4
Faribault 3 Albert Lea 8
Mankato West 0 Rochester Century 1
Austin 2 Wascea 5

[Gretzky9]

Hats off to West. Two games in a row that exceeded expectations (I did not see either). Nice turnaround against Century from earlier this year. Have liked their D all along...as long as they play a little more defensive hockey they have a chance in 1A. The Lourdes game will be another measuring stick game. Might have to check them out.

[TheTweeter]

Dog and Chalk, from what you are saying about the West Marshall game: If West should be getting more credit for keeping it close explain the East West game. 4-0? That's pathetic. I've seen West play and they are pretty bad. Don't you guys have jobs instead of wasting your time on here everyday?

[Hockeyfacts]

Dog and Chalk, from what you are saying about the West Marshall game: If West should be getting more credit for keeping it close explain the East West game. 4-0? That's pathetic. I've seen West play and they are pretty bad. Don't you guys have jobs instead of wasting your time on here everyday?

[Hockeyfacts]

I don't know what you guys don't understand about it, a loss is a loss why sugarcoat it?

[Chalk_Talk]

Dog and Chalk, from what you are saying about the West Marshall game: If West should be getting more credit for keeping it close explain the East West game. 4-0? That's pathetic. I've seen West play and they are pretty bad. Don't you guys have jobs instead of wasting your time on here everyday?

What have I said about the west Marshall game that isn't accurate? They lost, do they have a colum for moral victories? NO

I call the East vs West game a cross town rivalry, you never know who can win? any sport any time

I have never said they were really good. If they are "pretty bad" they just lost to the #4 team 3-0, the number #2 in wisc 3-2 in ot, and 1-0 to a decent AA school, That all equal pretty bad. We are on here supporting a team and you guys just have a problem with it.

What do you guys have against West, they now have been labeld "pretty bad and "pretty weak". They are an average Mn high school hocekey team, they are getting better as the season goes on, because they are young

[Chalk_Talk]

I don't know what you guys don't understand about it, a loss is a loss why sugarcoat it?

I agree 100%, a lose is a lose, if the score is 3-0, it is 3-0. It's not what someone thinks it should be. We outshot you 37-17, what the heck does that mean? (you are bad shooters? good defense? good goalie?) When the scores are put in the paper does it say score was 3-0, but if you were at the game is was actually 10-0 because they out shot them? get real

[rainier]

I don't know what you guys don't understand about it, a loss is a loss why sugarcoat it?

I agree 100%, a lose is a lose, if the score is 3-0, it is 3-0. It's not what someone thinks it should be. We outshot you 37-17, what the heck does that mean? (you are bad shooters? good defense? good goalie?) When the scores are put in the paper does it say score was 3-0, but if you were at the game is was actually 10-0 because they out shot them? get real

If the score of this game was the same, but the shots had been reversed, I bet the "shots mean nothing" crowd would be singing a distinctly different tune.

Like it or not, shots tell part of the story of the game. Yes, the final score is all that counts in the standings, but to pretend that shots are meaningless in gauging how good teams are is just willful ignorance.

[Chalk_Talk]

I don't know what you guys don't understand about it, a loss is a loss why sugarcoat it?

I agree 100%, a lose is a lose, if the score is 3-0, it is 3-0. It's not what someone thinks it should be. We outshot you 37-17, what the heck does that mean? (you are bad shooters? good defense? good goalie?) When the scores are put in the paper does it say score was 3-0, but if you were at the game is was actually 10-0 because they out shot them? get real

If the score of this game was the same, but the shots had been reversed, I bet the "shots mean nothing" crowd would be singing a distinctly different tune.

i dont care what is shots were, but to say the game "wasn't as close as the score? score was wrong?

Like I sad before what do the shots mean? Bad shooters, good defense, good goalie? please explain

Like it or not, shots tell part of the story of the game. Yes, the final score is all that counts in the standings, but to pretend that shots are meaningless in gauging how good teams are is just willful ignorance.

[Dog_Log17]

We are really starting to have some fun here on this topic.

The bottom line is this: Goals count, shots don't. When was the last time you saw a team win a game because they had 20 more shots but less goals? Every team plays a different style and strategy.

The Scarlets are getting better and improving as the season progresses. If you dont see that then you are blind. Their team is mostly 10th graders and they are a good group of skaters. This team will be a factor in 1A for the next 3 years. Laugh it up guys!!

Tuesday 1-10 in Mankato:

Mankato West vs Lourdes

Let's talk more after this game.

[Chalk_Talk]

I don't know what you guys don't understand about it, a loss is a loss why sugarcoat it?

I agree 100%, a lose is a lose, if the score is 3-0, it is 3-0. It's not what someone thinks it should be. We outshot you 37-17, what the heck does that mean? (you are bad shooters? good defense? good goalie?) When the scores are put in the paper does it say score was 3-0, but if you were at the game is was actually 10-0 because they out shot them? get real

If the score of this game was the same, but the shots had been reversed, I bet the "shots mean nothing" crowd would be singing a distinctly different tune.

Like it or not, shots tell part of the story of the game. Yes, the final score is all that counts in the standings, but to pretend that shots are meaningless in gauging how good teams are is just willful ignorance.

There is so much more to the game than shots.
How many penalties? Major penalties? Home cooking by reffs, bad ice, faceoffs, Ect, ect. (not saying any of the previous happened, I wasn't at the game.)

If you are going to give a recap all this is just as important. Like I said before what does it mean when the shots are 37-17?(bad shooters, good defense, good goalie, home score keeper) Marshall is the better team, I get it, never questioned it

Singing what song? the one that happened last night to west? out shooting someone and losing

You can have the last word, I'm done discussing this

[Gretzky9]

We are really starting to have some fun here on this topic.

The bottom line is this: Goals count, shots don't. When was the last time you saw a team win a game because they had 20 more shots but less goals? Every team plays a different style and strategy.

The Scarlets are getting better and improving as the season progresses. If you dont see that then you are blind. Their team is mostly 10th graders and they are a good group of skaters. This team will be a factor in 1A for the next 3 years. Laugh it up guys!!

Tuesday 1-10 in Mankato:

Mankato West vs Lourdes

Let's talk more after this game.

Take this for what its worth. I don't have a dog (no pun intended) in this fight...but I think what gets under the skin of some posters is how most everything about West is generally overstated from what I see. It's great to follow and root for your home team and certainly is your right to support them that way. When online speaking about your team, always overstating and never leaning towards understating or taking a humble wait and see approach can make some people start to like you (or the team) as much as say an Edina.
Comments like this "This team will be a factor in 1A for the next 3 years. Laugh it up guys!!" is what people look at when they fire back on you guys. I think for the most part commentary has been pretty level-headed but I hear from other people who follow hockey that that is the view.
There are many good teams in Southern Mn that might be able to be the same way but either choose not to jump on these sites or take that approach.
Good luck to West on Tuesday...exciting times and should be a good game.

[rainier]

I agree 100%, a lose is a lose, if the score is 3-0, it is 3-0. It's not what someone thinks it should be. We outshot you 37-17, what the heck does that mean? (you are bad shooters? good defense? good goalie?) When the scores are put in the paper does it say score was 3-0, but if you were at the game is was actually 10-0 because they out shot them? get real

If the score of this game was the same, but the shots had been reversed, I bet the "shots mean nothing" crowd would be singing a distinctly different tune.

i dont care what is shots were, but to say the game "wasn't as close as the score? score was wrong?

Like I sad before what do the shots mean? Bad shooters, good defense, good goalie? please explain

Like it or not, shots tell part of the story of the game. Yes, the final score is all that counts in the standings, but to pretend that shots are meaningless in gauging how good teams are is just willful ignorance.

Because I was asked to explain what I mean, I will clarify my comments and then also be done with it and turn the thread back over to the 1A fans.

First of all, I agree that final score is all that matters in the standings. I do not dispute this.

But, some West fans were attempting to gauge how good their team was based on the score alone-and that is what I disagree with.

What I am saying is that, if you weren't at the game, you can get a much more accurate picture of how the game went by looking at shots.

For example, I am a Hibbing fan, and a few weeks ago Hibbing lost to Minnetonka 3-1. If I reacted as some of these West fans had and went by the score alone, I would be saying, "Wow, Hibbing will tear through 7A because they played Tonka so well." But, when I don't ignore the shots and see that they were 41-13 Tonka, then as a rational hockey fan I would say, "Hibbing's goalie did well, but overall they really got outplayed, and while it is a good sign they managed to keep it tight, it doesn't make me think that they will walk through their section."

Yes, penalties could have been involved, but if your team is taking that many penalties that it creates such a huge gap in shots, then that is likely another sign your team is being badly outplayed. (I don't think the hometown refs thing happens enough to be significant.)

If you want to see who won, check the score.

If you want to tell a more complete story of the game and talk about your team's ability with a much higher degree of accuracy, then look at the shots also.


This is true the vast majority of the time.