I was reading on the Hub that BSM was blaming the refs, and there was unhappiness with their coach. No discussion here?
I think that Tonka was just stronger, fresher, and more disciplined in their defensive zone than BSM. BSM just couldn't move our players from the front of the net and was too tired in the 3rd to try their cute stuff. I'd agree that the coach looked a little shocked after the 2nd goal and when we got that one I thought we'd win. I thought we played a deeper bench and looked fresher, too.
It was a good effort by both teams and one of the best girls HS games I've ever seen.
Nobody talking about Tonka/BSM?
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
The refs gave BSM quite a few (at least 4) gifts, IMHO, including one blatant check not called late in the 3rd. BSM took advantage of a Tonka mistake early and then also took advantage of a PP opportunity, despite Tonka outplaying them for almost the entire game. The game seemed somewhat reminiscent of the first meeting this season, where BSM took advantage of two Tonka mistakes for the win.
I've heard a few rumors about BSM, but am way too far down the rumor mill chain to comment here. I do think that BSM tired near the end, but there also was clear finger-pointing by BSM players as Tonka mounted their comeback. I certainly thought with a 2-0 lead with less than 7 minutes to play that BSM would have been more conservative and maintained a greater level of discipline. Whether that falls on the coaches or players, I'm not privy to those conversations.
But you must give most of the credit to Tonka as they pulled off an amazing comeback against the second best team in the state. They out- played BSM and had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, but they kept trying. Once they scored the first goal, it gave them a new level of energy. Once they scored the second, the game was essentially over. It's clear Tonka has great players, but somehow they've been able to perservere the last 3 seasons and find a way to win all of the important, close games. I'm not ready to hand them the championship yet, since there are certainly teams at State who can knock them off if Tonka doesn't play well, but if they do play to their capabilities each game, they should do just fine.
I've heard a few rumors about BSM, but am way too far down the rumor mill chain to comment here. I do think that BSM tired near the end, but there also was clear finger-pointing by BSM players as Tonka mounted their comeback. I certainly thought with a 2-0 lead with less than 7 minutes to play that BSM would have been more conservative and maintained a greater level of discipline. Whether that falls on the coaches or players, I'm not privy to those conversations.
But you must give most of the credit to Tonka as they pulled off an amazing comeback against the second best team in the state. They out- played BSM and had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, but they kept trying. Once they scored the first goal, it gave them a new level of energy. Once they scored the second, the game was essentially over. It's clear Tonka has great players, but somehow they've been able to perservere the last 3 seasons and find a way to win all of the important, close games. I'm not ready to hand them the championship yet, since there are certainly teams at State who can knock them off if Tonka doesn't play well, but if they do play to their capabilities each game, they should do just fine.
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Burnbabyburn
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Watched it online. BSM's first goal was an awesome individual effort, and their second was a power play where Tonka just didn't have enough players to cover BSM.
Early in the game BSM stayed right on Tonka, but as the game went on they tired. Looked like they only played 4 D the whole game. Their wings got sloppy in the 3rd and all 3 Tonka goals were scored because BSM didn't clear the front. I think that's all coaching. Play more kids if you have them. Looked like Tonka had some girls with size and maybe not the skill BSM had, but they didn't lose physical battles. In a tight game you have to be able to get physical. BSM couldn't even get the puck when they had the extra attacker because Tonka was so strong.
Baldwin and Morin had great games. Pannek is very impressive.
BSM returns most of their forwards, but unless they get size they'll have difficulties. And they have to get a lot more responsible in their own end. Coach's fault? Hard to say from the outside, but I assume he picked the team and created the philosophy. As an outside observer, I can't blame the refs. Even if they don't call the hook at the end (and it was a hook), Tonka had momentum and it was a matter of time.
Early in the game BSM stayed right on Tonka, but as the game went on they tired. Looked like they only played 4 D the whole game. Their wings got sloppy in the 3rd and all 3 Tonka goals were scored because BSM didn't clear the front. I think that's all coaching. Play more kids if you have them. Looked like Tonka had some girls with size and maybe not the skill BSM had, but they didn't lose physical battles. In a tight game you have to be able to get physical. BSM couldn't even get the puck when they had the extra attacker because Tonka was so strong.
Baldwin and Morin had great games. Pannek is very impressive.
BSM returns most of their forwards, but unless they get size they'll have difficulties. And they have to get a lot more responsible in their own end. Coach's fault? Hard to say from the outside, but I assume he picked the team and created the philosophy. As an outside observer, I can't blame the refs. Even if they don't call the hook at the end (and it was a hook), Tonka had momentum and it was a matter of time.
I hope they don't figure it out. I'd like to win next year too.sinbin wrote:I've heard a few rumors about BSM, but am way too far down the rumor mill chain to comment here. I do think that BSM tired near the end, but there also was clear finger-pointing by BSM players as Tonka mounted their comeback. I certainly thought with a 2-0 lead with less than 7 minutes to play that BSM would have been more conservative and maintained a greater level of discipline. Whether that falls on the coaches or players, I'm not privy to those conversations.
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MNHockeyFan
- Posts: 7260
- Joined: Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:28 pm
I would agree with everything you said. Those two teams have been ranked 1/2 or 2/1 pretty much all year. It's a shame one of them couldn't make it to State but that's the way it is!Nimrod wrote:Pretty hard to not think Tonka will have an easy run. I know the games need to be played and anything can happen but...Tonka beats BSM and BSM had 5 games against other state participants and out scored them 27-3. Looks pretty good if you are a Tonka fan!
I've seen lots of girls high school hockey games over the last 10 years and this one ranks right up there with the best ever. Parade was pretty much full and the fans on both sides were really into it.
As for the quality of the officiating, I thought it was below the quality of the two teams playing their hearts out on the ice. Not so much that one team was given more "breaks" than the other, I just thought the penalty calling was very inconsistent both ways.
'Nuff said.
The core of this Tonka team also has what teams like Benilde, or Breck, or HM will never have--an intangible that comes from playing and going to school together, representing your community, and being battle tested year after year. There is a predictability that comes with knowing your teammate so well that you know what she's going to do before she even does it. Down 2-0 with 8 minutes left in a win-or-go-home game? No doubt they've been there before, a number of times, and that they trust each other to pull it out. They forgive each others' mistakes more easily because they've all made many over the years. Not to wax nostalgic here because I doubt these girls are all best friends and hang out together all the time, but there is no doubt that, in addition to being darn good hockey players, the bonds that have developed over all the time they've played together make them a better team.
Well said, demon. I would agree with almost everything you said. I would also add two comments. One, I don't think that this group has been down 2-0 with 7 minutes to play in very many games over the years, even youth hockey, and I would say they never have in their HS careers in win-or-go-home games. I think that makes what they did in this game even more remarkable and certainly for the very reasons that you articulated. Second, I especially agree with your final statement in that I don't think there is much off-ice interaction between the girls, but the on-ice interaction is sure fun to watch.
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Hockeydaddy
- Posts: 54
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I give Johnson major credit. He never allowed his team to panic and his girls were more rested deep into the 3rd. I don't think the "spirit of playing for your community" thing applies, as there are girls on Tonka who didn't play youth there. If anything, Johnson added the correct pieces along the way. It's a well balanced team. Stars, workers, role players. BSM has tons of talent, but at playoff time it doesn't fit as well as Tonka does.
I believe that Tonka has only one player on their roster who didn't play in their youth system, so they're not recruiting like so many other schools. I think that other thing that helps is that Tonka loses relatively few players to the private schools. Sure, they've lost some players to Blake, Breck, and BSM the past few years, but their core group has done a pretty good job of remaining intact. It also helps to add a little chip to the shoulder, the home-grown players vs. the recruited private-school stars.