AA Section Final Venues

[nahc]

Does anyone have a listing of where each AA section final will be held? Some outstanding games in normally standing room only arenas!!! May be the best games of the year......!!!

[DubCHAGuy]

Does anyone have a listing of where each AA section final will be held? Some outstanding games in normally standing room only arenas!!! May be the best games of the year......!!!

1AA: Rochester Rec. Center. Feb 27
2AA: Mariucci Arena. Feb 26
3AA: State Fair Coliseum. Feb 27
4AA: State Fair Coliseum. Feb 28
5AA: State Fair Coliseum. Feb 28
6AA: Mariucci Arena. Feb 26
7AA: Duluth Amsoil Arena. Feb 27
8AA: Bemidji Sanford Center. Feb 26.

2AA/6AA and 4AA/5AA are usually 6pm-830pm double headers. I'm not sure who goes first this year.

[TheHockeyDJ]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
8AA Final 8:30

Colesium
5AA Final 6:00
4AA Final 8:30

As for 8AA, Sanford Center is likely, could be in Thief River Falls or St. Cloud. Last I was told it hadn't been decided.

[TheHockeyDJ]

I'm undecided on where I want to be on Wednesday the 26th. I know there is a double header at Mariucci, but after seeing how brutal the atmosphere was in there back in 2011, I'm contemplating going to the 8AA Final instead especially if it is in Bemidji. Mariucci is great for college hockey, but the finals in 2011 it was like a funeral in there.

[DubCHAGuy]

I'm undecided on where I want to be on Wednesday the 26th. I know there is a double header at Mariucci, but after seeing how brutal the atmosphere was in there back in 2011, I'm contemplating going to the 8AA Final instead especially if it is in Bemidji. Mariucci is great for college hockey, but the finals in 2011 it was like a funeral in there.

It depends on the teams. The 2AA schools are usually a lot more rowdy. The big 4 teams in 6AA have pretty brutal cheering sections, given their size. When 6AA has the late game it can be dull.

Although the Coliseum isn't the best venue, there aren't many better atmosphere's than a HM vs. WBL 4AA final.

[MNHockeyFan]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
2AA Final 8:00

fyp

[TheHockeyDJ]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
2AA Final 8:00

fyp

No way the late game has ever started at 8:00. With warmups and ice resurface plus the fact the 6:00 game will go until 8:00 on it's own. It's like Amsoil Arena always posting their semi-finals at Noon and 2pm, the late game has never started at 2:00.

[WarmUpTheBus]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
2AA Final 8:00

fyp

No way the late game has ever started at 8:00. With warmups and ice resurface plus the fact the 6:00 game will go until 8:00 on it's own. It's like Amsoil Arena always posting their semi-finals at Noon and 2pm, the late game has never started at 2:00.

Don't forget the awards ceremony also.
About 15 years ago Edina and EP went to 6 overtimes in the first game. The second game started after 11:00pm!

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

I'm undecided on where I want to be on Wednesday the 26th. I know there is a double header at Mariucci, but after seeing how brutal the atmosphere was in there back in 2011, I'm contemplating going to the 8AA Final instead especially if it is in Bemidji. Mariucci is great for college hockey, but the finals in 2011 it was like a funeral in there.

I don't recall the brutal atmosphere in 2011....I recall a packed house and double ot thriller......Maybe you were sitting in the Wayzata section....it would have been pretty brutal in that section....especially after the game winner.....

[TheHockeyDJ]

I'm undecided on where I want to be on Wednesday the 26th. I know there is a double header at Mariucci, but after seeing how brutal the atmosphere was in there back in 2011, I'm contemplating going to the 8AA Final instead especially if it is in Bemidji. Mariucci is great for college hockey, but the finals in 2011 it was like a funeral in there.

I don't recall the brutal atmosphere in 2011....I recall a packed house and double ot thriller......Maybe you were sitting in the Wayzata section....it would have been pretty brutal in that section....especially after the game winner.....

The game was very entertaining, with Rau winning it in OT. If you think that atmosphere was great, you need to get out more (7AA Final is lightyears ahead of Mariucci for intensity).

[FREDFLINTSTONE]

I'm undecided on where I want to be on Wednesday the 26th. I know there is a double header at Mariucci, but after seeing how brutal the atmosphere was in there back in 2011, I'm contemplating going to the 8AA Final instead especially if it is in Bemidji. Mariucci is great for college hockey, but the finals in 2011 it was like a funeral in there.

I don't recall the brutal atmosphere in 2011....I recall a packed house and double ot thriller......Maybe you were sitting in the Wayzata section....it would have been pretty brutal in that section....especially after the game winner.....

The game was very entertaining, with Rau winning it in OT. If you think that atmosphere was great, you need to get out more (7AA Final is lightyears ahead of Mariucci for intensity).

Read my post....I didn't say it was great....I said it wasn't brutal....and why would I be at the 7AA final when my kid was on the ice at Mariucci that night.

[Traxler]

The brutal atmosphere for the Section 2 and 6 finals was the year it was at the Target Center. I think it was 2010, but maybe it was 2012. They all blend together for me.

I guess I'm a bad judge of hockey atmosphere because I really enjoy watching games at Mariucci. I think it's a lot better when Mariucci is nearly full, and the Section 2 and 6 games do that. The loser bracket games of the state tournament do not fill Mariucci and those games are not all that fun to watch (with the exception of 2011 for me).

I've watched Section final games at Mariucci, Coliseum, Amsoil, and the Target Center. I enjoyed the atmosphere at all the games other than the Target Center.

[hshockeyfan8]

The brutal atmosphere for the Section 2 and 6 finals was the year it was at the Target Center. I think it was 2010, but maybe it was 2012. They all blend together for me.

I guess I'm a bad judge of hockey atmosphere because I really enjoy watching games at Mariucci. I think it's a lot better when Mariucci is nearly full, and the Section 2 and 6 games do that. The loser bracket games of the state tournament do not fill Mariucci and those games are not all that fun to watch (with the exception of 2011 for me).

I've watched Section final games at Mariucci, Coliseum, Amsoil, and the Target Center. I enjoyed the atmosphere at all the games other than the Target Center.

2010 was at the Target Center. Awful atmosphere. People of the NCHC are going to be disappointed

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Why are the 2AA and 6AA finals together? I've only gone twice. One was the Target Center year and the other was at Mariucci.

At Mariucci it was a full house. I'm pretty sure they had to stop selling tickets, and the lines at the concessions stands were so long a lot of people took one look and went back to their seats.

So I'm positive they could have sold more tickets and more food overall had they been held on consecutive nights. More parking revenue also. Maybe the increased revenue would not have made up for the increased cost of building rental.

Separately, with the 2AA/6AA games on Wednesday evening, it would seem easy for future 4AA finals to be held on Friday evening (or Saturday at noon if the Golden Rats are in town).

[SPUDNUT]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
8AA Final 8:30

Colesium
5AA Final 6:00
4AA Final 8:30

As for 8AA, Sanford Center is likely, could be in Thief River Falls or St. Cloud. Last I was told it hadn't been decided.

They never decide 'til they know what teams are gonna be in it.
Someone oughta tell the MSHSL that its never been at Mariucci.

[GopherRock]

Target Center isn't nearly as awful of a building for hockey as most here gripe that it is. Since it was designed to be able to do both basketball and hockey, it isn't able to be very good at either.

The primary reason the atmosphere at the Target Center was awful is because both games stunk. Minnetonka laid a 7-2 stomping on Eden Prairie that was 5-0 through a large chunk of the game, and Edina beat Jefferson 4-1 in a game not nearly as competitive as the final score indicated.

[hawkhockey]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
8AA Final 8:30

Colesium
5AA Final 6:00
4AA Final 8:30

As for 8AA, Sanford Center is likely, could be in Thief River Falls or St. Cloud. Last I was told it hadn't been decided.

They never decide 'til they know what teams are gonna be in it.
Someone oughta tell the MSHSL that its never been at Mariucci.

How do they decide where it is held? Basically what circumstances lead it to being held in st cloud?

[Doc Holliday]

Only the last two years has the atmosphere at the 2AA/6AA finals been not up to what was in the past. The late game (2AA) in 2012 with Edina-Burnsville wasn't great as Burnsville really didn't have the typical type of Burnsville squad and wasn't supposed to win (Was only close because of subpar Edina goaltending). Last year wasn't great by any standards either. BSM didn't seem to have as many people as the year before (don't know if Jabby angle had anything to do with it their #'s in 2012).

But 2011 was still pretty good, 2010 was Target Center, 2009 there wasn't a seat in the house to be had & the ticket line stretched all the way out the door out to 4th St. 2008 still ranks as one of the best nights of hockey I've ever seen when BSM came back to beat Tonka in OT & Edina & B'Ville played an absolute OT thriller.

It would be interesting to see what the atmosphere would be if the finals that are traditionally held at the fairgrounds and the 7AA final suddenly double the capacity size of the arena they were playing in....a rocking atmosphere suddenly can seem a bit more cavernous.

[TheHockeyDJ]

The 2011 finals at Mariucci were disappointing as well because there was a lot of hype about how packed the games would be. I remember being at the Mariucci lobby at Noon to get tickets and there were about 300-400 people there and at the same time guys on KFAN were talking about it. Then to actually get there, it was a let down. The Burnsville fans were there in good numbers, the other 3 teams not so much, Edina's student section was not that big and very quiet the entire game.

[gitter]

The last few years at Mariucci has been a bit disappointing form an atmosphere perspective - especially compared to the 08 and 09 games there. A couple reasons could be Edina v Burnsville/Jefferson the last few years as the final, just didn't look that good on paper. This year, Burnsville finally looks decent on paper (and has a win already against Edina) so IF those two make it to the final again, perhaps the atmosphere will return.

For whatever reason, 6AA has some of the biggest schools, and none of them show up for hockey unless its in St Paul. Some have been saying Wayzata travels well this year - perhaps if they make it, it'll be ok.

Regardless of the atmosphere, those 2 games are some excellent hockey to watch.

[hockeydad]

From mshsl.org:

At Mariucci
6AA Final 6:00
8AA Final 8:30

Colesium
5AA Final 6:00
4AA Final 8:30

As for 8AA, Sanford Center is likely, could be in Thief River Falls or St. Cloud. Last I was told it hadn't been decided.

They never decide 'til they know what teams are gonna be in it.
Someone oughta tell the MSHSL that its never been at Mariucci.

How do they decide where it is held? Basically what circumstances lead it to being held in st cloud?

I would guess they wait to see who is playing in it, then choose a venue that's neutral ice and centrally located. You're not going to want to schedule a Moorhead-Roseau final in St. Cloud, nor would you have a (theoretical) River Lakes vs. Monticello final at TRF.