7A Final: #1 Hermantown vs #2 Duluth Marshall 2/26 7:30

[BigTen]

Some recent history of this match-up. Results from Followthepuck.com

2014 Hermantown 6-2

2013 State QF Hermantown 3-0

2013 Hermantown 4-3

2012 Hermantown 5-1

2011 Hermantown 7-2

2010 Hermantown 5-4 OT

2009 Hermantown 4-3

2008 Duluth Marshall 3-2

Each year some changes to rosters so I doubt Hermantown is in their heads. Hermantown looks good on paper but they better show up because DM has defeated a couple teams as good as or better than Hermantown this year.

[karl(east)]

Hermantown up 3-1 after 1, shots 17-5. Hawks mostly in control, though they've had a few shaky moments in front of their own net. Great forecheck and puck movement by the Hawks.

[karl(east)]

5-2 Hermantown after 2. The second period was better everywhere but on the scoreboard for Marshall. A Kero goal with :09 to go in the period might be the back-breaker, but we still have a period to go at Amsoil.

[karl(east)]

Hermantown wins 6-2 with an empty netter as the clock expires. Convincing performance by the Hawks, as they head to St. Paul for a 5th consecutive year.

Good season for Marshall, but they fall short for the first time since 2011. They seemed a bit unsettled every time I saw them; it seemed like they never quite settled on lines or roles for people. At any rate, they should be peaking next season, so this could set up a great game again next year. Congrats to both teams.

[HockeyStorm]

Hermantown is solid all the way around, they should really look at going AA next year with the program they have. They could give East and Elk River a game in any given year.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

That was not worth the drive tonight. Hope you boys get a better game tomorrow night. Congrats to the Hermantown team!

[HShockeywatcher]

Hermantown is solid all the way around, they should really look at going AA next year with the program they have. They could give East and Elk River a game in any given year.

Can't. Can only opt up every two years.

[east hockey]

Hermantown is solid all the way around, they should really look at going AA next year with the program they have. They could give East and Elk River a game in any given year.

Marshall fans and parents would love to see that, no doubt.

Lee

[pekyman]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

[HockeyStorm]

Can't. Can only opt up every two years.[/quote]

Wasn't aware of that. Looking at what Hermantown returns next year, how many class A teams will be able to play with them?

[mnmouth]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

Agreed, though plenty will be moving Hermantown's way. The Gotz kid from Hibbing is one latest example. Small, but mobile and skilled, though just a soph.

[Brecky1]

I was listening to the game on 1490thefan last night. They interviewed coach Plante during the 2nd period. He always has a funny quote. When asked about the different pressure of facing Marshall in the section game vs regular season. "If ya have an open net you better put it in!....ya can't pee down your leg!"

[alcloseshaver]

Can't. Can only opt up every two years.

Wasn't aware of that. Looking at what Hermantown returns next year, how many class A teams will be able to play with them?[/quote]One more season then reclassify after next year.

[bemused]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

Agreed, though plenty will be moving Hermantown's way. The Gotz kid from Hibbing is one latest example. Small, but mobile and skilled, though just a soph.

Just to throw a little gas on the fire ..his Dad teaches in Hibbing!

[MrBoDangles]

Can't. Can only opt up every two years.

Wasn't aware of that. Looking at what Hermantown returns next year, how many class A teams will be able to play with them?[/quote]

Good luck!!

[Winter is Coming]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

Agreed, though plenty will be moving Hermantown's way. The Gotz kid from Hibbing is one latest example. Small, but mobile and skilled, though just a soph.

Just to throw a little gas on the fire ..his Dad teaches in Hibbing!

I thought all of the Hermantown kids come from the 55811 zip code????? Hibbing people know that they need to change to the new zip code to keep getting their bills sent to them????

Plante will never allow Hermantown to go up to AA so Marshal will have to get used to either doing a better job of recruiting or of getting their butts kicked on a regular basis in sections.

Hermantown does lose players though and will continue to if they stay at the A level.

[bemused]

Agreed, though plenty will be moving Hermantown's way. The Gotz kid from Hibbing is one latest example. Small, but mobile and skilled, though just a soph.

Just to throw a little gas on the fire ..his Dad teaches in Hibbing!

I thought all of the Hermantown kids come from the 55811 zip code????? Hibbing people know that they need to change to the new zip code to keep getting their bills sent to them????

Plante will never allow Hermantown to go up to AA so Marshal will have to get used to either doing a better job of recruiting or of getting their butts kicked on a regular basis in sections.

Hermantown does lose players though and will continue to if they stay at the A level.

As much as it pains the DE faithful I agree that Hermantown is the future of NE MN hockey. With the zero growth mode that Duluth has chosen from an economic standpoint and the dwindling boys numbers in the DE youth program IMO they can't sustain their success. I also agree that as long as Huckleberry Plante is coach there will be no AA in their future.

[PuckRanger]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

Agreed, though plenty will be moving Hermantown's way. The Gotz kid from Hibbing is one latest example. Small, but mobile and skilled, though just a soph.

Just to throw a little gas on the fire ..his Dad teaches in Hibbing!

A little more fuel.... Same thing can be said of Zach Kramer. He moved from Virginia three years ago and his dad was a teacher in Virginia, and I believe still is.

[HockeyBum]

Wrong, krammers dad work for the mines they relocated. Same with gotz. Gotz's mom works in Duluth.

If people go to the extent of relocating not much anyone can do about. Plante will not take anyone and tells kids to play in their home town. If they move he can't do anything about it

[7A22A]

4 and 18 moved in the school district too?

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

I don't understand this reasoning at all.

[east hockey]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

I don't understand this reasoning at all.

If I understand the reasoning, it goes like this:

1. Hermantown is now in Marshall's section

2. Marshall can kiss their trips to State bye-bye

3. Why would East and Denfeld kids transfer to Marshall, knowing they'll get beat by Hermantown every year?

Not that I agree with this....

Lee

[rainier]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

I don't understand this reasoning at all.

I completely get his reasoning. Just the last few years Marshall has had highly skilled transfers from Denfeld, Silver Bay, Proctor, etc., and I imagine the driving force behind these transfers was the fact that Marshall only had to get by a couple of okay range teams and an also-ran in Denfeld to get to the tourney.

The high probability of getting to state was likely enough of a factor to get these kids to make the tough decision to leave their longtime friends and teammates behind and start over at a new school.

But with Class A juggernaut Hermantown in 7A, Marshall's chances of getting to state have taken a nosedive, and now those kids who might have transferred before may very well decide that if they're not going to have a chance to go to state, they might as well enjoy playing with their friends and being a bigger fish in their smaller pond.

I think Hermantown in 7A is a bigger boost for East than for Denfeld. With Marshall's chances in 7A severely dented, I bet more top players would rather take less playing time as underclassmen for East and have a chance at state as a junior or senior than play all the time for Marshall and have little to no chance to beat the Hawks.

[Froggy Richards]

Just to throw a little gas on the fire ..his Dad teaches in Hibbing!

I thought all of the Hermantown kids come from the 55811 zip code????? Hibbing people know that they need to change to the new zip code to keep getting their bills sent to them????

Plante will never allow Hermantown to go up to AA so Marshal will have to get used to either doing a better job of recruiting or of getting their butts kicked on a regular basis in sections.

Hermantown does lose players though and will continue to if they stay at the A level.

As much as it pains the DE faithful I agree that Hermantown is the future of NE MN hockey. With the zero growth mode that Duluth has chosen from an economic standpoint and the dwindling boys numbers in the DE youth program IMO they can't sustain their success. I also agree that as long as Huckleberry Plante is coach there will be no AA in their future.

This would actually be a good topic for it's own thread. The Hermantown Youth Program is loaded and they will be good for a long time. Lots of Hockey Player's Parents in the area with visions of Sugar Plums dancing in their heads will move or open enroll there. I know of a 2nd grader who open enrolled there this year because his Dad thinks he's a D1 talent already. I'd be worried that my kid wouldn't even have a shot at the High School team. I couldn't imagine moving my kids for Hockey at that age. Waaaaay too many unknowns. How would you feel if he ended up getting cut and could have been a 2nd liner at his old school? The whole idea seems kind of crazy. If you live in the Duluth area and you're good enough, I have to think you're going to get noticed regardless of where you play. I would be interested to hear how many on the board think where you play makes a huge difference or not.

[pekyman]

With Hermantown back in 7A Marshall’s road to state, as we saw last night, is much tougher.
As a result, Marshall will have a harder time convincing top talent to move to their school.
Hermantown doesn’t lose talent to anybody, but East and Denfeld do.
Herm is 7A definitely helps both East and Denfeld, as I think players from both programs will think twice now before they jump ship.
Imo, today is not a good day for the Marshall hockey program.

I don't understand this reasoning at all.

I completely get his reasoning. Just the last few years Marshall has had highly skilled transfers from Denfeld, Silver Bay, Proctor, etc., and I imagine the driving force behind these transfers was the fact that Marshall only had to get by a couple of okay range teams and an also-ran in Denfeld to get to the tourney.

The high probability of getting to state was likely enough of a factor to get these kids to make the tough decision to leave their longtime friends and teammates behind and start over at a new school.

But with Class A juggernaut Hermantown in 7A, Marshall's chances of getting to state have taken a nosedive, and now those kids who might have transferred before may very well decide that if they're not going to have a chance to go to state, they might as well enjoy playing with their friends and being a bigger fish in their smaller pond.

I think Hermantown in 7A is a bigger boost for East than for Denfeld. With Marshall's chances in 7A severely dented, I bet more top players would rather take less playing time as underclassmen for East and have a chance at state as a junior or senior than play all the time for Marshall and have little to no chance to beat the Hawks.

Agree or disagree, that is exactly what I was trying to say. Thank you Rainier!