Series on Duluth East Hockey History

Post by **karl(east)** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 10:28 pm

My summertime hockey project. Here's Part I:

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... roduction/

Post by **karl(east)** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 5:09 pm

Here's Part II, which traces the story of Glenn Rolle's 14 years as East head coach and the Hounds' first state title. Highlights include the story of a rivalry I did not know East had, an account of one of the more incredible high school fights ever, and the story behind the namesake of that frigid arena that you had to suffer through when your kids had youth tournaments in Duluth.

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 1954-1967/

blueblood · Post by **blueblood** » Wed Jun 12, 2013 9:40 pm

Ahhhhhh Freezeburger. I played there in '81 when it was still open on the far end and boards were uneven.

Post by **karl(east)** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:06 pm

Part 3 tackles East under Don Boudreau (1968-1984). It includes a lot of losing to Iron Range teams, a bunch of familiar hockey names who played against East, the rise of Cloquet, and a kid who went the Canadian route 45 years before Alec Baer.

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 1968-1984/

Teak · Post by **Teak** » Tue Jun 18, 2013 4:25 pm

Great read, karl (east). Thanks!

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Jun 24, 2013 3:58 pm

Part 4 (1985-1993) is up. It includes the brief tenures of coaches Bob Hill and Art Amundson, further playoff frustration, the arrival of Mike Randolph, and some of the changes around the program in his first five years as head coach.

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 1985-1993/

Post by **karl(east)** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 4:16 pm

Part 5 covers East's 5 straight top-3 finishes from 1994-1998. A lot of fun State Tournament memories here, including East's clashes with the Jefferson dynasty, Spehar's three hat tricks, and the 5-OT Apple Valley game. Other highlights include the best East-Cloquet fight of all time, East making the city of Virginia very angry, Mike Randolph's near-retirement, and courts overruling the MSHSL on player eligibility issues.

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 1994-1998/

Post by **karl(east)** » Tue Jul 09, 2013 3:05 pm

Part 6: http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 1999-2003/

For me, at least, this post (and the next one, which is still in progress) were the most interesting ones to write. I went and did my homework on some topics that come up often, such as players leaving early (and Randolph's opinions on them), and East's departure from the Lake Superior Conference/independent schedule/scheduling practices involving Hermantown and Marshall.

On top of that, there's East's 2nd place run in 2000, the rise of Cloquet, and East's closest brush with a losing season in the past 60 years.

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 2:38 pm

Part 7 (2004-2008) involves Mike Randolph losing his job, a lot of people yelling about Mike Randolph losing his job, and Mike Randolph getting his job back. It also includes two third-place finishes, three section semifinal upsets, and my attempt to put the program's standing into perspective as of the mid-00s.

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 2004-2008/

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Jul 22, 2013 8:06 pm

Here's Part 8, which covers the past five seasons:

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 2009-2013/

Thanks for following along--I welcome any feedback.

FREDFLINTSTONE · Post by **FREDFLINTSTONE** » Wed Jul 24, 2013 10:53 am

Great read...... but the highlight reel on #3 should be shown to refs so they know what interference is.

kniven · Post by **kniven** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 12:55 pm

karl(east) wrote:Here's Part 8, which covers the past five seasons:

http://apatientcycle.wordpress.com/2013 ... 2009-2013/

Thanks for following along--I welcome any feedback.

I have much respect for a fantastic Duluth East hockey program over the years. As a Cloquet Lumberjack homer, can't help having respect for the black and red.