4AA CHAMPIONSHIP #3 STILLWATER & #1 HILL-MURRAY

[wbmd]

Since nobody else will do it, then I will.

Obviously, most everyone will pick Hill. But, that's why they play the game as Stillwater does have a chance.

[Sparlimb]

Since nobody else will do it, then I will.

Obviously, most everyone will pick Hill. But, that's why they play the game as Stillwater does have a chance.

Mariner might have a better chance of beating HM

I actually was very impressed with the game Stillwater played on Tuesday and felt they were a very deserving winner. It will take an even better effort on Friday, but that's why they play. It can happen.

[mackjogger]

Since nobody else will do it, then I will.

Obviously, most everyone will pick Hill. But, that's why they play the game as Stillwater does have a chance.

Cotton McKnight: Ladies and gentlemen, I have been to the Great Wall of China, I have seen the Pyramids of Egypt, I've even witnessed a grown man satisfy a camel. But never in all my years as a sportscaster have I witnessed something as improbable, as impossible, as what we've witnessed here today!

[bkrrrrr]

The Bronies will believe hard and play like their pubes are on fire, and are the Team of Destiny for at least one more game.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

The Housley-less Ponies will mail it in, having already been awarded the hardware for being the Public School Champions of Section 4AA.

(Roseville and WBL will face off at 4:00 today at Aldrich for the second place trophy.)

[Pioneerprideguy]

Here is how I see the game playing out. 1-0 HM after the 1st. 3-0 after 2 with HM getting a PP and EV goal. They get another PP goal early in the 3rd, crowd starts to thin & Stillwater pops 1 in late. Final 4-1 HM in a quiet exit to the "Cave".

HM will possess the puck 75% of the time. Stillwater will try to be physical but they end up with 4 penalties & HM cashes in on 2.

They only way I see Stillwater being able to win is if HM has a revolving door on their penalty box....which has happened this year. I personally would love to see a thriller of a game but I just don't see it happening. At the end, both teams will have reason to celebrate. Hm going back to State & Stillwater making it to a Section Final.

[stpaul]

Fun fact:

Hill-Murray is 39-3 all time vs. Stillwater. Stillwater's last win was 21 years ago on 2/13/93 at Aldrich when Bill Lechner led his Ponies past HM 4-3.

[BlueLineSpecial]

I'll migrate my chatter to this 4AA board

Do people really want to see Stillwater at State? They are a mediocre team. Don't complain about not being able to see the top players in the State and then root for Stillwater. Hill has several players committed to D1. They have arguably the best 98er in the country. A Mr. Hockey finalist. This is a fun team to watch, and a fun team to root against is that's your thing. Plus as the only AA private school if they make it, you'll have your antagonist. A good story needs one of those

[bauerman]

Fun fact:

Hill-Murray is 39-3 all time vs. Stillwater. Stillwater's last win was 21 years ago on 2/13/93 at Aldrich when Bill Lechner led his Ponies past HM 4-3.

Was that Lechner's only win at stillwater?

[bkrrrrr]

Do people really want to see Stillwater at State?

Absolutely. New faces are always a good thing. The primary knock against the State Tournament is that it's mostly the same teams every year for decades, which is a bore for everyone except the fans of those few teams.

[BlueLineSpecial]

Do people really want to see Stillwater at State?

Absolutely. New faces are always a good thing. The primary knock against the State Tournament is that it's mostly the same teams every year for decades, which is a bore for everyone except the fans of those few teams.

Diverse mediocrity is fun?

I'm all for seeing new teams. But I'd rather see the best of best. You'd see Stillwater for 2 1/2 hrs on Thursday afternoon and that's it. Not sure how a blowout on the first day would stem the boredom tide....

[kpryan88]

Do people really want to see Stillwater at State?

Absolutely. New faces are always a good thing. The primary knock against the State Tournament is that it's mostly the same teams every year for decades, which is a bore for everyone except the fans of those few teams.

"The same teams every year for decades" is a bit much. Yes, recent tourneys have had a lot of the same teams with a couple new faces but over the last 25 years:

Section 1 has had 8 different representatives
Section 2 = 12
Section 3 = 8
Section 4 = 9 (10 if Stillwater wins tonight)
Section 5 = 10
Section 6 = 8
Section 7 = 5
Section 8 = 3

As you can see, the northern teams are repeating a lot more than the metro & south teams. I don't understand why people can't enjoy each tourney as it is presented; the jerseys might be the same but the experience is different every year. Maybe leaving the state and then coming back years later had made me appreciate the tourney that much more. All I know is that I'm tired of the "it's the same teams every year" argument. It really isn't, kids go to high school for 4 years and then graduate. You don't have to like who you're watching at the X; it's still the best high school hockey in the country.

[bkrrrrr]

Diverse mediocrity is fun?

Teams you don't care about certainly aren't any fun. New faces certainly are fun. The game is a battle for pride between two towns/neighborhoods. The only thing that could be "mediocre" is lack of fight in the players or lack of passion in the community's fans.

[BlueLineSpecial]

Diverse mediocrity is fun?

Teams you don't care about certainly aren't any fun. New faces certainly are fun. The game is a battle for pride between two towns/neighborhoods. The only thing that could be "mediocre" is lack of fight in the players or lack of passion in the community's fans.

True, teams a person doesn't care about over and over is boring. As pointed out, there has been diverse section representation.

All that said, there will be no diversity in this section, this year. Good run Ponies, but it ends tonight. See you next year?

[bkrrrrr]

I don't understand why people can't enjoy each tourney as it is presented; the jerseys might be the same but the experience is different every year.

The fact that the names on the rosters change over time is something only a team's own fans would pay any attention to. I'm not sure where you're trying to go with that.

I watch my community's teams, and sometimes I watch newcomers. Those are the interesting games.

The list you made is deceptive because you count the same teams in more than one section. Sure over 25 years(!) some of the dominant teams will change slowly, but very slowly.

Once all the 2014 sections are final look at the 2010-2014 tournament teams - how many times have Edina, Lakeville North, Duluth East and Hill Murray been in the field? That's half the field, usually the same. Blaine? Eagan? Moorhead? Roseau? Regulars.

There will be one or two in the field who make it less often, but will any team be in this field that has not been there in the last 3-5 years? Stillwater is the final hope for that.

[hockeymannorth]

Fun fact:

Hill-Murray is 39-3 all time vs. Stillwater. Stillwater's last win was 21 years ago on 2/13/93 at Aldrich when Bill Lechner led his Ponies past HM 4-3.

but the 5 Roseville boys on Hill are 0-200-1 against Stillwater

[bkrrrrr]

Here we go Po-nees, here we go!
Here we go Po-nees, here we go!
Here we go Po-nees, here we go!...

[bkrrrrr]

Here we go Po-nees, here we go!
Here we go Po-nees, here we go!
Here we go Po-nees, here we go!...

[MrBoDangles]

I'm going 4-3 Stillwater

They're actually very good when they decide to bring it..

[mulefarm]

Any updates?

[MrBoDangles]

1-1 half way through the 2nd.

Sounds like Stillwater is dominating play..

[karl(east)]

Shots 23-15 Stilly. In the first period, Tom Saterdalen was really getting on Hill for their passive forecheck; it was just a mucky, boring period. Now Hill isn't even managing that. The Ponies are taking it to them.

We'll see if Lechner can rally the troops, and if Stilly can keep up the intensity. They've had their chances to grab a lead here, but haven't capitalized yet.

[Hockey922]

Stillwater is just out working hill and beating them to every puck

[hockeydad]

big upset... congrats ponies

[hockeymannorth]

Stillwater wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roseville boys still lose to ponies even after selling out their friends and going to HAIL THE MONEY now their 0-201-1