The Bruce Plante Show, 2013 Edition

[hockey1970]

BTW - the mother comment is lame!

[HShockeywatcher]

I understand all of the support for Plante as a coach. He is a great coach and the results speak for themselves. I've spoken to people who've played for him and they are very proud of him and only have good things to say about him.

What I don't understand is his comments about his own community. He has a great hockey community, great youth program and he says that every year he thinks his team is going to be "sh*tty" the next year? I'd never heard him speak before, but that whole press conference was "we are terrible, we just played up to the occasion." They beat a really good Breck team in OT and had two 2-goal leads over St Thomas, who many consider the best team in the state (one person said possibly the nation). They have been to the title game four years in a row; one short of Eveleth's 60 year old record and will likely tie it next year.

All I heard from coaches growing up was "you can't worry about the refs", "play despite the refs", etc, etc. You hear this at every level of play from the time you are in elementary school all the way up until the professional level. Games aren't decided on one play. There were plenty of bad calls both ways and bad no calls both ways.
None of the St Thomas coached complained about any of the bad calls that went the Hawks' way. None of the Hermantown coaches complained about any of the other bad calls that went the Cadets' way. They just kept on coaching despite it, for just under 51 minutes of play, as you're supposed to.
But with less than ten seconds left in the game, a penalty is missed and all bets are off? It's okay to okay to storm across the ice, yell over and over at one ref and walk into another? Interesting.

Missed call or not, the penalty in question did not allow the the 5th goal or lose them the game. A St Thomas player still made a nice goal, that could've been stopped. The Hawks still blew two 2-goal leads. If he was a coach at any higher level and publicly blaming his loss on one call, his own organization wouldn't be supporting his actions. Instead, people are publicly applauding his behavior?

I admittedly don't know much about the guy, but I'm not the only one who noticed his behavior or his "whoa me" attitude.

LOVED the Plante post game press conference. And for those of you who took the time to watch the STA post game like I did...the highlight was Vanelli getting asked about the the Rick Flair like headlock no call and Vanelli responds, "Didn't see it...hardly. So I have no comment on that"

RRRRRIIIIIIIIIIGGGGHHHHTT...if that's true then he was the only person in the arena that missed it. But I get it...he needed to deflect the question.

How is it so far fetched to believe that with less than ten seconds left in regulation a St Thomas fan had their eyes on the Cadet that was in position to score and ended up scoring?
I was at the game. I saw the Novak goal. Missed the penalty. It was not replayed on the big screen multiple times, like the 4th Hermantown goal and first two Cadet penalties were.

Just my opinion. Many disagree, but that's nothing new. Simply throwing it out there.

I don't necessarily like the "we'll be crappy" comment, but I think he means well by it. I think he's trying to say that his seniors do so much for the team that losing them hurts badly and that his team has improved so much that starting at square one again is hard to do when you've progressed so far.

You were told not to worry about it growing up because no one will listen to or respect a teen (or younger) player's opinion. However, they might listen to a coach, at least one that's been around as experienced and been as successful as Bruce.

It did cost them the last goal. You missed it because of your bias. It was a blatant hook, hold, interference (could EASILY call any of them) that prevented Hermantown's captain from icing the puck and sending it to overtime.

MHGr8ness, what you are saying about his comments actually make sense. But if that's what he meant, why didn't he say that? Saying "we have 38 kids in our program, losing a quality senior hurts us" makes sense. Saying "every year I think we will have a sh*tty team next year" makes next to no sense.

Yes, people listen will listen. And I'm fine with him commenting on it. Totally, it's part of the game. But dwelling on one play as why the game was lost takes away so much of the good the team did. They are really the result of one play? Really? C'mon man

You saying that missed call (which I'll admit to despite not seeing it) cost that last goal would be like me saying the first two goals were direct results of stupid penalty calls that benefited the Hawks. No, that wasn't the case. Despite the terrible calls, those goals were the result of Hermantown having the best power play I've seen all year, two horrid PKs and a good goalie allowing them to get by him.
There were terrible calls/no calls left and right the entire game; the missed icing call where everyone on the ice stopped because of it is a clear example. It happened. Regardless, you play despite them and don't use them as excuses. You have 51 minutes to play, score and stop the other team from scoring.

Ultimately, it really is unfortunate the reffing was so bad. There can't be a winner here. Had Hermantown won, there would be just as many legitimate claims by the other side of complaints. It's a game of human error, it's the game we watch and love. We can't have it, then complain about just that when it doesn't go our way.

To me, I just think it sends the wrong message to the young people playing the game currently; if the calls don't go your way, it's okay to just complain about it.

[HawkeyPower]

I understand all of the support for Plante as a coach. He is a great coach and the results speak for themselves. I've spoken to people who've played for him and they are very proud of him and only have good things to say about him.

What I don't understand is his comments about his own community. He has a great hockey community, great youth program and he says that every year he thinks his team is going to be "sh*tty" the next year? I'd never heard him speak before, but that whole press conference was "we are terrible, we just played up to the occasion." They beat a really good Breck team in OT and had two 2-goal leads over St Thomas, who many consider the best team in the state (one person said possibly the nation). They have been to the title game four years in a row; one short of Eveleth's 60 year old record and will likely tie it next year.

All I heard from coaches growing up was "you can't worry about the refs", "play despite the refs", etc, etc. You hear this at every level of play from the time you are in elementary school all the way up until the professional level. Games aren't decided on one play. There were plenty of bad calls both ways and bad no calls both ways.
None of the St Thomas coached complained about any of the bad calls that went the Hawks' way. None of the Hermantown coaches complained about any of the other bad calls that went the Cadets' way. They just kept on coaching despite it, for just under 51 minutes of play, as you're supposed to.
But with less than ten seconds left in the game, a penalty is missed and all bets are off? It's okay to okay to storm across the ice, yell over and over at one ref and walk into another? Interesting.

Missed call or not, the penalty in question did not allow the the 5th goal or lose them the game. A St Thomas player still made a nice goal, that could've been stopped. The Hawks still blew two 2-goal leads. If he was a coach at any higher level and publicly blaming his loss on one call, his own organization wouldn't be supporting his actions. Instead, people are publicly applauding his behavior?

I admittedly don't know much about the guy, but I'm not the only one who noticed his behavior or his "whoa me" attitude.
How is it so far fetched to believe that with less than ten seconds left in regulation a St Thomas fan had their eyes on the Cadet that was in position to score and ended up scoring?
I was at the game. I saw the Novak goal. Missed the penalty. It was not replayed on the big screen multiple times, like the 4th Hermantown goal and first two Cadet penalties were.

Just my opinion. Many disagree, but that's nothing new. Simply throwing it out there.

I don't necessarily like the "we'll be crappy" comment, but I think he means well by it. I think he's trying to say that his seniors do so much for the team that losing them hurts badly and that his team has improved so much that starting at square one again is hard to do when you've progressed so far.

You were told not to worry about it growing up because no one will listen to or respect a teen (or younger) player's opinion. However, they might listen to a coach, at least one that's been around as experienced and been as successful as Bruce.

It did cost them the last goal. You missed it because of your bias. It was a blatant hook, hold, interference (could EASILY call any of them) that prevented Hermantown's captain from icing the puck and sending it to overtime.

MHGr8ness, what you are saying about his comments actually make sense. But if that's what he meant, why didn't he say that? Saying "we have 38 kids in our program, losing a quality senior hurts us" makes sense. Saying "every year I think we will have a sh*tty team next year" makes next to no sense.

Yes, people listen will listen. And I'm fine with him commenting on it. Totally, it's part of the game. But dwelling on one play as why the game was lost takes away so much of the good the team did. They are really the result of one play? Really? C'mon man

You saying that missed call (which I'll admit to despite not seeing it) cost that last goal would be like me saying the first two goals were direct results of stupid penalty calls that benefited the Hawks. No, that wasn't the case. Despite the terrible calls, those goals were the result of Hermantown having the best power play I've seen all year, two horrid PKs and a good goalie allowing them to get by him.
There were terrible calls/no calls left and right the entire game; the missed icing call where everyone on the ice stopped because of it is a clear example. It happened. Regardless, you play despite them and don't use them as excuses. You have 51 minutes to play, score and stop the other team from scoring.

Ultimately, it really is unfortunate the reffing was so bad. There can't be a winner here. Had Hermantown won, there would be just as many legitimate claims by the other side of complaints. It's a game of human error, it's the game we watch and love. We can't have it, then complain about just that when it doesn't go our way.

To me, I just think it sends the wrong message to the young people playing the game currently; if the calls don't go your way, it's okay to just complain about it.

None of the St Thomas coached complained about any of the bad calls that went the Hawks' way. Probably because they won.

But with less than ten seconds left in the game, a penalty is missed and all bets are off? It's okay to okay to storm across the ice, yell over and over at one ref and walk into another? Interesting.
Penalties or calls missed earlier in the game you have time to make up for that. With 6 seconds left you really don't. And there is not a Coach in the State that would not ahve gone across the ice and gave the refs a piece of his mind. Usually the ref comes over to the bench and gets it. He was not coming over. Also, he bumped into the other ref because when he turned around the guy was right behind him.

[hockey1214]

What so many of you are missing is that a ref needs to know better than to make calls late in a game where two players get tangled up behind the net. Put a state championship on the line - with 1:57 remaining??? That is where people have a problem with it. It looked very coincidental from my angle, and even if it wasn't it is kind of an unwritten rule that unless you are taking away a scoring opportunity you swallow the whistle. With that said, the ref did make the call. The refs should be looking for any chance to even it up during the powerplay, but there wasn't a whole lot of stick play or contact from either side during it. Until about 12 seconds left when Hermantown had a chance to ice the puck and end the 3rd period. The Hermantown player trying to clear it was then completely mauled by a Cadet - that was the golden opportunity for the refs right there AND THEY BLEW IT!!!! I don't care about any other good/bad call in the game. What matters most is that the stripes (who should never be noticed) became the center of attention in the last two minutes in one of the best hockey games I have ever seen.

Anybody who thinks that Bruce is complaining about his numbers is completely lost. He is the last person to complain about anything. He will give you a straight answer and you will always know where he stands. I don't understand how some people take that as him complaining, but it just shows that so many people have no idea who he is and just pretend they do by things they have seen, or quotes they have read. He is not complaining about the number of kids he has in his program, he is just telling it how it is. Hermantown is a CLASS A school, and he is proud of that. He stated that he only had 38 kids try out not to complain, but to say hey we really are not this huge power school with big numbers that everyone seems to think we are. Yes they have a lot of mite teams! But unfortunately for him this years mites are unable to tryout for the varsity! program. Bruce is one of the most humble people I have ever met in my entire life, and I know that everyone that ACTUALLY knows him says the same. I find it interesting that of course the people complaining about him have no idea who he is. That said I'm sure someone will pretend they "know him personally" just to give them cred so they can slam him.

About the "every year I think we're gonna be sh*tty" comment, that is totally Bruce speaking what he really thinks. He isn't saying anything bad about the program. He is giving them a remarkable compliment by saying that. If you ask any coach, I don't care who it is he will say there are years that they think they are going to be rebuilding. A rebuilding team is a sh*tty team, lets face the facts. Every year when he looks at his roster and sees, well there goes my top line and 10 seniors and winds up in the state championship, that is him giving huge credit to those kids. TRUST ME - he believed in them since day 1. He loves his players and would do anything for them. I have never seen a coach have his players back like he does. In return he gets his players to play their hearts out for him because they love him. That is why Hermantown gets the results they get.

[hockey1214]

"That coolaid must taste good....."

I just say it how I see it. I'm not gonna sit back and just watch when I'm reading some of the dumbest things I've ever heard come out of people mouths when I can guarantee they have no clue what kind of person Bruce Plante is. I have read this board since 2001, have not posted anything for probably 6 years or so, but I had to say something about this. It just drives me crazy when people think they know everything about someone, yet they have never played for Bruce, had their kid play for Bruce, or even spoken to the guy. How do you know anything about somebody, or even claim to in that situation just boggles my mind. He had my back for 4 years and I know he still does, so I want to make sure to have his back when I see complete nonsense being spoken from people that have no idea who he is.

[INDUS]

I think Plante should retire from coaching and become a ref

[northwoods oldtimer]

"That coolaid must taste good....."

I just say it how I see it. I'm not gonna sit back and just watch when I'm reading some of the dumbest things I've ever heard come out of people mouths when I can guarantee they have no clue what kind of person Bruce Plante is. I have read this board since 2001, have not posted anything for probably 6 years or so, but I had to say something about this. It just drives me crazy when people think they know everything about someone, yet they have never played for Bruce, had their kid play for Bruce, or even spoken to the guy. How do you know anything about somebody, or even claim to in that situation just boggles my mind. He had my back for 4 years and I know he still does, so I want to make sure to have his back when I see complete nonsense being spoken from people that have no idea who he is.

Great comments about a great coach, thanks for sharing and backing a great guy.

[BP]

Before reading below, be noted that I didn't care who won the game yesterday (I'm not an STA guy in least bit). Just some observations from the stands. My issue was post game with the award ceremony:

1) Pionk taking his helmet off and slamming his helmet down when announced for all tournament team

2) The Hermantown fans booing when they announced the STA All Tournament players

3) When STA was getting their medals, Pionk grabbed his stuff and left and the coaches watched him leave. At least wait for trophy to be awarded, then go. And the coaches let him leave.

I just was really disappointed in seeing this. Regardless of how it ended with calls, no calls, etc, this is uncalled for. Maybe there was stuff STA fans were saying during the game, etc, but I was in the corner of the H Town fans and couldn't really hear them. I was amazed and disappointed with the lack of sportsmanship displayed after the game. I would defend Bruce for sticking up for his boys, which is great. But, these things above are unxcusable (not blaming Bruce, just all the people involved).

[hockeymannorth]

STA was nothing until Vanelli started recuiting,Then your going to stand there and act like nothings wrong when you play A {little schools} STA could have moved up 2yrs ago and they turned it down.Why too pad his trophy case?I have no repect for him when he knows what he is doing than acts like nothings going on. At least Hill played up from day 1.And if Vanelli is so proud of what he did why did he take off his medal before his interview?

[hockeymannorth]

STA winning is like Edina AA bantams beating Hutcinson A bantams.And do you think Edina would be bragging about a win like that?

[EHSHack]

It really annoys the hell out of me when people on here are saying that one call doesnt change the outcome of the game. Well yeah it does. If he isn't in a headlock he ices the puck and it goes to 5 on 5 overtime. That is a fact. You dont make that call in that situation. I dont care who you are. That would be like calling holding on the game winning play of the Super Bowl. (normal every play holding) You just dont do it.

[grandmeadowhockeyfan]

Can anyone make a link to plante post game interviews or any other interviews pertaining to that game.

[Immigrant Fan]

I don't really have a dog in this fight other than being disgusted by the tough-guy STA cadets picking on little high school girls (cheerleaders). But, the cadets weren't quite as horrible as two years ago.

At any rate, it was not just the no-call when the STA player brought down the H-town player like a rodeo cowboy wrestling a steer. It was the call with 1:57 left when, as previously referenced, there was incidental contact where a STA player and H-town player got bound-up. Some how, the ref saw that as a penalty against H-town. How that call could be made against H-town then AND not make the call later against STA is a travesty.

I thought the refs had pretty well put the whistles away from about 5:00 on down, so was astounded with the call at 1:57. It doesn't smell right and that was the general gist of conversations I overheard right through the evening session on Saturday.

I thought Bruce showed amazing restraint shaking hands at the end and not pulling his team off the ice.

I've always blasted people for blaming the refs - it is part of any game, which you have to overcome. But, literally for the first time in my life, I think this is a legitimate beef. The refs ruined a great game and tainted STA's third consecutive title.

[hockey1214]

Immigrant Fan -

I could not agree with you more with the philosophy of never blaming the refs for the outcome of the game. I don't think it's a good thing to teach the kids, and it's usually just a cop out and an easy person to blame the loss on. In this situation though, I have to say that they absolutely ruined what could have been an outstanding championship game. It was such a perfectly played game where both teams played their hearts out until the end. It seemed to be called fairly throughout the game. Both teams had powerplay opportunities. In a championship game you want the players to play, you want the players to win it, and for them to ultimately decide the outcome. A few penalties throughout the game are just fine, and that is exactly what we had. They let the kids play through most of the 3rd as you would expect in a big game. To call a penalty in this situation though, my god I would fully expect a scoring opportunity to be taken away, a trip on a 2 on 1, something of that nature. What was called a penalty in the biggest game of both teams lives is nothing short of a travesty. Anybody who says anything about one call shouldn't make a difference has not watched Hermantown's powerplay this year. That call would have given Hermantown's deadly powerplay almost the first two opening minutes of overtime. As good as STA is, they looked completely lost defending Hermantown's PP. The Hawks continued to pass D to D down low up to the wide open slot with ease all game long. In no way am I guaranteeing they woulda scored, but I can assure you that after they were just torn up the previous couple powerplays (granted Hermantown did not score, they still had to put a scare in STA), there is a very good chance that game would have been over in the first 2 minutes of overtime and we'd have a different state champion. The refs ruined this one, they completely ruined it. The kids worked way too hard all season for it to happen and I really feel for them.

[HappyHockeyFan]

I don't really have a dog in this fight other than being disgusted by the tough-guy STA cadets picking on little high school girls (cheerleaders). But, the cadets weren't quite as horrible as two years ago.

At any rate, it was not just the no-call when the STA player brought down the H-town player like a rodeo cowboy wrestling a steer. It was the call with 1:57 left when, as previously referenced, there was incidental contact where a STA player and H-town player got bound-up. Some how, the ref saw that as a penalty against H-town. How that call could be made against H-town then AND not make the call later against STA is a travesty.

I thought the refs had pretty well put the whistles away from about 5:00 on down, so was astounded with the call at 1:57. It doesn't smell right and that was the general gist of conversations I overheard right through the evening session on Saturday.

I thought Bruce showed amazing restraint shaking hands at the end and not pulling his team off the ice.

I've always blasted people for blaming the refs - it is part of any game, which you have to overcome. But, literally for the first time in my life, I think this is a legitimate beef. The refs ruined a great game and tainted STA's third consecutive title.

I could not agree more, some background checks on the refs in that game should be done, if it smells like a rat and looks like a rat it most likely is a rat. I find St Thomas to be the most disgusting hockey program bar none in the State of Minnesota.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I don't really have a dog in this fight other than being disgusted by the tough-guy STA cadets picking on little high school girls (cheerleaders). But, the cadets weren't quite as horrible as two years ago.

At any rate, it was not just the no-call when the STA player brought down the H-town player like a rodeo cowboy wrestling a steer. It was the call with 1:57 left when, as previously referenced, there was incidental contact where a STA player and H-town player got bound-up. Some how, the ref saw that as a penalty against H-town. How that call could be made against H-town then AND not make the call later against STA is a travesty.

I thought the refs had pretty well put the whistles away from about 5:00 on down, so was astounded with the call at 1:57. It doesn't smell right and that was the general gist of conversations I overheard right through the evening session on Saturday.

I thought Bruce showed amazing restraint shaking hands at the end and not pulling his team off the ice.

I've always blasted people for blaming the refs - it is part of any game, which you have to overcome. But, literally for the first time in my life, I think this is a legitimate beef. The refs ruined a great game and tainted STA's third consecutive title.

I could not agree more, some background checks on the refs in that game should be done, if it smells like a rat and looks like a rat it most likely is a rat. I find St Thomas to be the most disgusting hockey program bar none in the State of Minnesota.

Try listening to yourself. Background checks need to be made over a bad call? They're human beings. Jeez...

[Ugottobekiddingme]

I don't really have a dog in this fight other than being disgusted by the tough-guy STA cadets picking on little high school girls (cheerleaders). But, the cadets weren't quite as horrible as two years ago.

At any rate, it was not just the no-call when the STA player brought down the H-town player like a rodeo cowboy wrestling a steer. It was the call with 1:57 left when, as previously referenced, there was incidental contact where a STA player and H-town player got bound-up. Some how, the ref saw that as a penalty against H-town. How that call could be made against H-town then AND not make the call later against STA is a travesty.

I thought the refs had pretty well put the whistles away from about 5:00 on down, so was astounded with the call at 1:57. It doesn't smell right and that was the general gist of conversations I overheard right through the evening session on Saturday.

I thought Bruce showed amazing restraint shaking hands at the end and not pulling his team off the ice.

I've always blasted people for blaming the refs - it is part of any game, which you have to overcome. But, literally for the first time in my life, I think this is a legitimate beef. The refs ruined a great game and tainted STA's third consecutive title.

I could not agree more, some background checks on the refs in that game should be done, if it smells like a rat and looks like a rat it most likely is a rat. I find St Thomas to be the most disgusting hockey program bar none in the State of Minnesota.

Outstanding post...and what was the score at the end of the second period? Disgusting hockey programs coming back from a 3 goal deficite and getting their just do within a hockey blog monitored by TSA agents....OUTSTANDING!

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I don't really have a dog in this fight other than being disgusted by the tough-guy STA cadets picking on little high school girls (cheerleaders). But, the cadets weren't quite as horrible as two years ago.

At any rate, it was not just the no-call when the STA player brought down the H-town player like a rodeo cowboy wrestling a steer. It was the call with 1:57 left when, as previously referenced, there was incidental contact where a STA player and H-town player got bound-up. Some how, the ref saw that as a penalty against H-town. How that call could be made against H-town then AND not make the call later against STA is a travesty.

I thought the refs had pretty well put the whistles away from about 5:00 on down, so was astounded with the call at 1:57. It doesn't smell right and that was the general gist of conversations I overheard right through the evening session on Saturday.

I thought Bruce showed amazing restraint shaking hands at the end and not pulling his team off the ice.

I've always blasted people for blaming the refs - it is part of any game, which you have to overcome. But, literally for the first time in my life, I think this is a legitimate beef. The refs ruined a great game and tainted STA's third consecutive title.

I could not agree more, some background checks on the refs in that game should be done, if it smells like a rat and looks like a rat it most likely is a rat. I find St Thomas to be the most disgusting hockey program bar none in the State of Minnesota.

Outstanding post...and what was the score at the end of the second period? Disgusting hockey programs coming back from a 3 goal deficite and getting their just do within a hockey blog monitored by TSA agents....OUTSTANDING!

Well, Hermantown was leading 4-2. They had two 2-goal leads and lost. In 2010, they lost to Breck after having a 1-goal lead. And in 2011, they had two 3-goal leads and lost to STA. I think Plante has done an incredible job with his hockey program, but at some point it would seem to me you have to blame yourself than the evil privates.

[Ugottobekiddingme]

I could not agree more, some background checks on the refs in that game should be done, if it smells like a rat and looks like a rat it most likely is a rat. I find St Thomas to be the most disgusting hockey program bar none in the State of Minnesota.

Outstanding post...and what was the score at the end of the second period? Disgusting hockey programs coming back from a 3 goal deficite and getting their just do within a hockey blog monitored by TSA agents....OUTSTANDING!

Well, Hermantown was leading 4-2. They had two 2-goal leads and lost. In 2010, they lost to Breck after having a 1-goal lead. And in 2011, they had two 3-goal leads and lost to STA. I think Plante has done an incredible job with his hockey program, but at some point it would seem to me you have to blame yourself than the evil privates.

Exactly! Great game but the outcome speaks for itself. End of story.

[PuckRanger]

Well, Hermantown was leading 4-2. They had two 2-goal leads and lost. In 2010, they lost to Breck after having a 1-goal lead. And in 2011, they had two 3-goal leads and lost to STA. I think Plante has done an incredible job with his hockey program, but at some point it would seem to me you have to blame yourself than the evil privates.

This is precisely why STA belongs in AA... DEPTH!

Hermantown has to keep running the same handful of kids out there more and more to stay in the game and as a result, they are worn down towards the end of the game and the deeper team takes advantage.

Most of the quality A teams can trot out a pretty good first line and probably a respectable 2nd line, but there is a drop off from there. AA teams, and STA in this case, can send out out lines 3 and 4 and not have that drop.

That leaves the coach with two options, leave your talent on the ice and hope they can hold on, or put out the other guys and hope they don't blow it. Most of the time, neither works.

-------------------------------------

On another note, 10 years from now, when everyone is emotionally detached from this game and those defending the call look at the video, I think there will be no discussion as to how bad those calls were at the end of the game. Anyone without the homer goggles on can see that those calls are indefensible and really were sh**ty. They absolutely wrecked what should have been a great finish. And what nobody seemed to notice is that to add insult to injury, they actually called another penalty on Hermantown's Neal Pionk for slashing after the winning goal was scored.

I really wish those two referees would have been brought in to the press conference to explain themselves. The coaches and players have to answer the hard questions, why shouldn't they? I mean a 17 year old kid who just got his heart ripped out has to sit up there and speak, while a grown man who is getting PAID to do a job doesn't have to face the music? I'd really like to hear their perspective on what they saw (or didn't see).

By the way, does anyone know where those guys are from? (They were introduced before the game and their names are on the official box score on the MSHSL website, so its no secret who they are.)

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Well, Hermantown was leading 4-2. They had two 2-goal leads and lost. In 2010, they lost to Breck after having a 1-goal lead. And in 2011, they had two 3-goal leads and lost to STA. I think Plante has done an incredible job with his hockey program, but at some point it would seem to me you have to blame yourself than the evil privates.

This is precisely why STA belongs in AA... DEPTH!

Hermantown has to keep running the same handful of kids out there more and more to stay in the game and as a result, they are worn down towards the end of the game and the deeper team takes advantage.

Most of the quality A teams can trot out a pretty good first line and probably a respectable 2nd line, but there is a drop off from there. AA teams, and STA in this case, can send out out lines 3 and 4 and not have that drop.

That leaves the coach with two options, leave your talent on the ice and hope they can hold on, or put out the other guys and hope they don't blow it. Most of the time, neither works.

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On another note, 10 years from now, when everyone is emotionally detached from this game and those defending the call look at the video, I think there will be no discussion as to how bad those calls were at the end of the game. Anyone without the homer goggles on can see that those calls are indefensible and really were sh**ty. They absolutely wrecked what should have been a great finish. And what nobody seemed to notice is that to add insult to injury, they actually called another penalty on Hermantown's Neal Pionk for slashing after the winning goal was scored.

I really wish those two referees would have been brought in to the press conference to explain themselves. The coaches and players have to answer the hard questions, why shouldn't they? I mean a 17 year old kid who just got his heart ripped out has to sit up there and speak, while a grown man who is getting PAID to do a job doesn't have to face the music? I'd really like to hear their perspective on what they saw (or didn't see).

By the way, does anyone know where those guys are from? (They were introduced before the game and their names are on the official box score on the MSHSL website, so its no secret who they are.)

I'm guessing on the first penalty that put STA on the PP they called a penalty cause the Hermantown player had locked his arm around the STA player's arm and they went down. Had the STA player not been the one closer to the puck it probably doesn't get called. But he went down while going after the puck. The other grabbing and holding play on the PP I'm guessing the ref decided to let it go cause no one went down, but there's the issue of holding/interference. That's purely speculation. As to Pionk's slashing, it isn't the job of the refs to feel sorry for the loser. If he blatantly slashed a player out of frustration, it's a penalty.

As to the idea of a referee conspiracy, I find the idea absurd.

[pekyman]

Well, Hermantown was leading 4-2. They had two 2-goal leads and lost. In 2010, they lost to Breck after having a 1-goal lead. And in 2011, they had two 3-goal leads and lost to STA. I think Plante has done an incredible job with his hockey program, but at some point it would seem to me you have to blame yourself than the evil privates.

This is precisely why STA belongs in AA... DEPTH!

Hermantown has to keep running the same handful of kids out there more and more to stay in the game and as a result, they are worn down towards the end of the game and the deeper team takes advantage.

Most of the quality A teams can trot out a pretty good first line and probably a respectable 2nd line, but there is a drop off from there. AA teams, and STA in this case, can send out out lines 3 and 4 and not have that drop.

That leaves the coach with two options, leave your talent on the ice and hope they can hold on, or put out the other guys and hope they don't blow it. Most of the time, neither works.

-------------------------------------

On another note, 10 years from now, when everyone is emotionally detached from this game and those defending the call look at the video, I think there will be no discussion as to how bad those calls were at the end of the game. Anyone without the homer goggles on can see that those calls are indefensible and really were sh**ty. They absolutely wrecked what should have been a great finish. And what nobody seemed to notice is that to add insult to injury, they actually called another penalty on Hermantown's Neal Pionk for slashing after the winning goal was scored.

I really wish those two referees would have been brought in to the press conference to explain themselves. The coaches and players have to answer the hard questions, why shouldn't they? I mean a 17 year old kid who just got his heart ripped out has to sit up there and speak, while a grown man who is getting PAID to do a job doesn't have to face the music? I'd really like to hear their perspective on what they saw (or didn't see).

By the way, does anyone know where those guys are from? (They were introduced before the game and their names are on the official box score on the MSHSL website, so its no secret who they are.)

2 from Minnetonka and the other 2 also from the metro.
After the tourney, security was quickly trying to clear the arena telling people to "hurry, we are way behind schedule"

[friarsforlife]

Interesting to watch the press conference where Plante blames the officiating for their lose, but there is no mention of the officiating that allowed his team to even get to that game against STA. What about the non call of off-sides that allowed his team to tie the game up against Breck? His player was deep in the offensive zone before the game tieing goal was scored. I don't remember seeing a press conference held by Breck to complain about how they were robbed or "homered"

[Pioneerprideguy]

Ya gotta give Plante credit, he is doing a great job of deflecting the real reason Hermantown got beat...they were outcoached! The refs didn't blow the lead, Hermantown did. Accept some responsibility Mr. Plante and you would earn more people's respect.

[seek & destroy]

It has been a few days since the emotions of Saturday. I don't have any dog in this fight either but I do think that there are a few things that make a person at least question the calls by the refs:

1) Most close games, officials go out of their way to not influence the ending of the game unless the penalty is so flagrant that they must call it.

2) In both the penalty called at the 1:57 mark and the 'non' call at the end of the game, the play was in the offensive zone of the team that had the hold. It looks like the Hermantown player had an inadvertent hold on the St. Thomas player and that the call could have gone against either team. Why would the Hermantown player deliberately hold the St. Thomas player in HIS offensive zone? Makes no sense.

3) IF you are going to call the penalty at the 1:57 mark, you really would have to call the penalty at the end of the game. In BOTH cases, you have two players going hard for the puck and some form of hold occurs. It shouldn't matter that in the one case, the player fell down.

Based on the video replay, I think it is reasonable to say that the Hermantown team has a legitimate beef about the refs calls at the end of the game. There is nothing they can do about it and their coach could have just let it go - after all, it is part of the game - however, it is too bad that it occurred at the end of a State Championship game that was tied.

The video below shows both plays. Go to the 3:30 mark of the video and you will see the first call. The non-call is shown right after that in regular speed and slow motion...both should have either been called or neither should have been called.

http://kstp.com/news/stories/s2957871.shtml?cat=10564