WBL/Duluth East

[Usthockey13]

He is not skating and is done for the season.

Speaking of needing depth, what is the status on Hogan Davidson?

Lee

[karl(east)]

Speaking of needing depth, what is the status on Hogan Davidson?

Lee

Out for the season with a ruptured spleen, I believe.

I'm also wondering what the status of the 3rd defensive pairing is. Marinac has played well this year, but I haven't seen him out there in the past three games.

It was nice to see East play last night. It's one thing to look at scores and read comments about a team, but it's another to actually see the team play. It appears they lack the high end skill, speed, and depth of a typical East team. They have a couple of real nice players and overall are solid. Given the current landscape of high school hockey with no dominant team this year, it wouldn't surprise me if they failed to make it out of their section, nor would it surprise me if they hoisted the trophy in St. Paul in March. They don't appear deep enough to blow out teams in their section, yet appear to have enough talent to compete against the best in the state.

I'd agree with that. I didn't think this was one of their better showings, but that doesn't change the fact that they do rely on one line for an awful lot of the scoring. They're a top ten team because they have a couple top-end defensemen and some good depth on the blue line and an experienced goalie, and the lower lines do a good job of generating offensive zone time and mucking things up, even if they're not scoring much.

[Usthockey13]

Heard Marinac is out with Mono and could be back by tomorrow or Saturday

Speaking of needing depth, what is the status on Hogan Davidson?

Lee

Out for the season with a ruptured spleen, I believe.

I'm also wondering what the status of the 3rd defensive pairing is. Marinac has played well this year, but I haven't seen him out there in the past three games.

It was nice to see East play last night. It's one thing to look at scores and read comments about a team, but it's another to actually see the team play. It appears they lack the high end skill, speed, and depth of a typical East team. They have a couple of real nice players and overall are solid. Given the current landscape of high school hockey with no dominant team this year, it wouldn't surprise me if they failed to make it out of their section, nor would it surprise me if they hoisted the trophy in St. Paul in March. They don't appear deep enough to blow out teams in their section, yet appear to have enough talent to compete against the best in the state.

I'd agree with that. I didn't think this was one of their better showings, but that doesn't change the fact that they do rely on one line for an awful lot of the scoring. They're a top ten team because they have a couple top-end defensemen and some good depth on the blue line and an experienced goalie, and the lower lines do a good job of generating offensive zone time and mucking things up, even if they're not scoring much.

[meridian90]

Heard Marinac is out with Mono and could be back by tomorrow or Saturday

Speaking of needing depth, what is the status on Hogan Davidson?

Lee

Out for the season with a ruptured spleen, I believe.

I'm also wondering what the status of the 3rd defensive pairing is. Marinac has played well this year, but I haven't seen him out there in the past three games.

It was nice to see East play last night. It's one thing to look at scores and read comments about a team, but it's another to actually see the team play. It appears they lack the high end skill, speed, and depth of a typical East team. They have a couple of real nice players and overall are solid. Given the current landscape of high school hockey with no dominant team this year, it wouldn't surprise me if they failed to make it out of their section, nor would it surprise me if they hoisted the trophy in St. Paul in March. They don't appear deep enough to blow out teams in their section, yet appear to have enough talent to compete against the best in the state.

I'd agree with that. I didn't think this was one of their better showings, but that doesn't change the fact that they do rely on one line for an awful lot of the scoring. They're a top ten team because they have a couple top-end defensemen and some good depth on the blue line and an experienced goalie, and the lower lines do a good job of generating offensive zone time and mucking things up, even if they're not scoring much.

Are the ruptured spleen and the mono case related? Mono, of course, causes severe swelling of the spleen as the affected persons blood is flushed through it. The reason they hold you out of sports with mono is more to do with the danger of rupturing the spleen, not the tiredness.

If that is the case, I hope the rest of the team is taking the necesary steps to ensure they don't have/get it as well, as mono is super contagious.

Wish the best to those kids.

[Edwardo]

I agree with PioneerPride guy on this one. WBL has been in these last few games due to the style of play. Similar to the style they had to use when they beat HM a few years back in the section final.
Keeping everything, or as much as possible to the perimeter, and maintaining defenses integrity in all 3 zones. Sager doesnt have near the talent he has had in the past 10 years or so, and he is doing what he can.

My biggest knock on him was when he did have the talent, they always fell flat. ,2002-2005 for instance.

Good to see these boys staying in the game against the state's top squads. I hope they continue to improve,and if Jake Wahlin sticks around next year, this team could be a fairly good team.

I hope he does stay, because he is very fun to watch. Nice goal last night, and IMO, the best player at WBL since Hansen, as a SOPHOMORE

I think WBL should get back to the basics, learn how to pass and catch a pass, there passing is pathetic, but I cannot blame that entirely on Sager, I also blame the youth coaches for not spending enough time on the basics.

By the way Sager made no adjustments for this game, if any adjustments came it was from the Asst. coaches, Sager is incapable of making any adjustments. The win against Hill was not an adjustment that Sager came up with nor did it have anything to do with him, that was 100% desire from the boys. As far as the Neutral zone trap he supposedly came up with, that was actually suggestions by others for many, many games against Hill but he finally listened, than took credit.

As far as Whalin goes, I would love to see him stay from a selfish standpoint, but he will go back words if he does like 80% of the players do under the Sager Regime. So get the heck out of here Jake!

[mnpuckster]

Edwardo,

This team is awfully young, and they played two pretty good games against Edina and East.

I am no fan of Sager, as I think he should have been dismissed years ago, but the constant piling on gets worn, especially when he has a team as young, and outmatched as this team has been many games this year. This team does not have near the talent that Edina/East has, and the soft 1 man forecheck, if any at all, is possibly the only way to keep the Bears in these games.

As for your praise of his assistants, come on. Defensively they have been AWFUL for the past 3 seasons, something that used to be the strongpoint of the program. (Starting with Hambly through Braun)
Anderson is an awful position coach, the d-men look lost on the ice in numerous situations, so calm down on the "assistants do it all" narative.

Matt Greer knows the game, and WBL should hang on to him, but Anderson HAS TO GO. Bring back Butters to coach the D core.

[Edwardo]

Edwardo,

This team is awfully young, and they played two pretty good games against Edina and East.

I am no fan of Sager, as I think he should have been dismissed years ago, but the constant piling on gets worn, especially when he has a team as young, and outmatched as this team has been many games this year. This team does not have near the talent that Edina/East has, and the soft 1 man forecheck, if any at all, is possibly the only way to keep the Bears in these games.

As for your praise of his assistants, come on. Defensively they have been AWFUL for the past 3 seasons, something that used to be the strongpoint of the program. (Starting with Hambly through Braun)
Anderson is an awful position coach, the d-men look lost on the ice in numerous situations, so calm down on the "assistants do it all" narative.

Matt Greer knows the game, and WBL should hang on to him, but Anderson HAS TO GO. Bring back Butters to coach the D core.

Butters "What"????? that should be a 4 letter word. What you say about the defense is plausible, but Anderson does fine when he is allowed, the problem is Sager does not let his assistants make any decisions or does he listen to them, the only reason he has assistants is because it makes him feel superior. PERIOD

[mnpuckster]

I guess Sager is the root of ALL problems in WBL hockey. I dont buy it.

And again, he should no longer be the head coach in WBL IMHO, but him being the constant scapegoat is getting old.

Ben Butters coaching the D-core was pretty successful. This may have been due to the talent he had, but it may be a little bit of coaching, and talent.

Why such a problem with him coaching the D? Pretty solid resume doing so at WBL when he had the chance.

---I know....Him and Sager dont see eye to eye, so Sager got rid him...Again SAGER the big bad wolf

[mnmouth]

. . . and the lower lines do a good job of generating offensive zone time and mucking things up, even if they're not scoring much.

Speaking of lower lines, East folk, the Smith kid looks poised to break through - at least as a size problem for teams and who plays with an attitude. I liked him alot against Eden Prairie, as he went hard to the net multiple times and caused some havoc in front of the net. He had one solid chance early against WBL, but otherwise forechecked and worked hard all night.

[PuckU126]

I guess Sager is the root of ALL problems in WBL hockey. I dont buy it.

And again, he should no longer be the head coach in WBL IMHO, but him being the constant scapegoat is getting old.

Sager is indeed not the root of ALL problems, and I do agree placing him as a scapegoat for every fallout is getting old.

People just can't get over the fact that since becoming head coach, WBL's program has gone downhill compared to what it once was.

Until he leaves that position, he will continue to receive all criticism.