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

[bkrrrrr]

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

I said they'd play like their pubes were on fire! Great to see an upstart make it count, and make some history. Now I don't have to feel frustrated about WBL's loss, since Stillwater made something special out of it for themselves. Hope they enjoy their chance on the big stage.

[JoltDelivered]

[quote="East Side Pioneer Guy"]. Lex's teams do better when the pressure is off or at least lower[quote]

Oh this is Gold Jerry...GOLD!

Dont you think that applies to just about every team that has ever tied on skates? Geeez....

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Back in '08 I thought Lechner was gold and has since gone into decline. Last year's final I felt like they weren't even involved in the game that's how bad it was. It's another tenure where they've underperformed.

[Rich Clarke]

1. Edina
2. Lakeville North
3. Duluth East
4. Eden Prairie
5. Eagan

The first and third seeds are debatable, but I don't see Centennial being seeded above Eagan. I suspect they'll look at each team's entire season and not one or two head to head games, but even if they did, beating Edina, St. Thomas, and Eastview certainly matches wins over Blaine, Duluth East, and Andover. That, plus a better record and higher ranking makes Eagan the easy choice. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd be surprised.

[ZachHalverson]

I thought Hill would lose this year, just not to Stillwater. What a performance by the Ponies. Matt Doman is one heck of a coach. First year you give your team their first ever state tournament berth? Wow.

Good way to close out the Coliseum. Perhaps even better than a White Bear-HM final. What an upset, even bigger than 2011!

[hm88]

I think it's a little harsh to call this a "choke" job. We're talking about kids people. Fine with saying pros choke, but not a high school kid. Both teams played there hearts out. Did HM play a great game? No, they were comfortable with a 1 goal lead, lost there game in the second and after a fluky goal, couldn't recover under the pressure. I don't believe high schoolers are mature enough to handle the pressure and emotion of the game at all times so I find "choke" job as too harsh.

Congrats to the ponies, had a good game plan to stifle HM's offense. Enjoy the experience in St. Paul, there is nothing like it. HM boys, congrats on a great season, learn from this and come back next year a little hungrier to get back to state!

I wouldn't agree with the notion that this was bigger than 2011, that was a VERY talented team with a strong set of defenseman. This years team relied on two lines and mediocre defenseman, they were a vulnerable team that ran into a motivated and good defensive minded Stillwater team.

Proud alum, always will be. Hopefully the boys can regroup and put together a nice run next year!

[Gems]

Bottom line, coaching (or lack of) lost this game...congrats to Stillwater and good luck at State.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

I don't think Hill "played their hearts out." It was way more "mail it in" like an earlier poster stated. They looked past this team and as a result they learned a hard lesson that records and seeding and everything on paper can be meaningless in the moment. The emotion after the game was intense. The emotion before the game was relaxed. Seems backward?

And could we puhleeze stop accusing kids who choose Hill or any other private school as being the ultimate betrayers to community hockey and their association teammates.

Congrats to Stillwater.

[inthetwine]

I don't think Hill "played their hearts out." It was way more "mail it in" like an earlier poster stated. They looked past this team and as a result they learned a hard lesson that records and seeding and everything on paper can be meaningless in the moment. The emotion after the game was intense. The emotion before the game was relaxed. Seems backward?

And could we puhleeze stop accusing kids who choose Hill or any other private school as being the ultimate betrayers to community hockey and their association teammates.

Congrats to Stillwater.

No, they did betray their youth program.

[Pioneerprideguy]

First of all, congrats to Stillwater & Coach Doman. You showed what good coaching & hard work can accomplish. I hope you & the "Pony Nation" enjoy the experience at State.

I said at the beginning of the year this team lack leadership & goaltending and last night both were shaky.

Coach Lechner appears to be taking a lot of the blame for this loss, and frankly, he deserves it. When you are the clear favorite because you have superior talent on the ice and decades of experience behind the bench, you are expected to take care of business. The approach usually taken in this situation is eliminate any hope your oppositition has right away. So Lex opts to start the game tentative and use a 1 man forechecking scheme? Really? You choose not to use you speed advantage to try to jump on Stillwater from the get go? You opt to shorten the game to a 2 period adventure? You allow Stillwater to leave the ice after 1 thinking, "hey we can play with these guys"? Why??

This is the 2nd time in 4 years HM has failed to get to get to State when they were favored to do so and in both situations, they had more talent & in my opinion, were out coached. Lets be honest about things, Lex basically coaches a metro all-star team. If you look at his line-up every year, he is basically coaching some of, if not the best kids from numerous youth associations from the metro/WI area. Most coaches would die to have that talent to work with and to step on the ice each night with that advantage.

I think we can officially take Lechner's name any "best coaches in the State" polls. I think if you were to poll former (and current) players, parents, and alumni and ask if you were in favor of a head coahing change, most would say yes......years ago! No 1 person should be an AD and head coach 2 sports (control issues?). We are glad he is giving up baseball and think it is time he goes off to spend more time golfing and spending time with his grandchildren. It is time to hand the reigns to the Shaf Brothers and let them reap the financial benefits of running the hockey program.

To the HM players, you guys are great. You worked hard and represented your school with pride. Unfortunately, you were put in a situation at the end of playing not to lose rather than playing to win. Good luck to the seniors.

[BodyShots]

First of all, congrats to Stillwater & Coach Doman. You showed what good coaching & hard work can accomplish. I hope you & the "Pony Nation" enjoy the experience at State.

I said at the beginning of the year this team lack leadership & goaltending and last night both were shaky.

Coach Lechner appears to be taking a lot of the blame for this loss, and frankly, he deserves it. When you are the clear favorite because you have superior talent on the ice and decades of experience behind the bench, you are expected to take care of business. The approach usually taken in this situation is eliminate any hope your oppositition has right away. So Lex opts to start the game tentative and use a 1 man forechecking scheme? Really? You choose not to use you speed advantage to try to jump on Stillwater from the get go? You opt to shorten the game to a 2 period adventure? You allow Stillwater to leave the ice after 1 thinking, "hey we can play with these guys"? Why??

This is the 2nd time in 4 years HM has failed to get to get to State when they were favored to do so and in both situations, they had more talent & in my opinion, were out coached. Lets be honest about things, Lex basically coaches a metro all-star team. If you look at his line-up every year, he is basically coaching some of, if not the best kids from numerous youth associations from the metro/WI area. Most coaches would die to have that talent to work with and to step on the ice each night with that advantage.

I think we can officially take Lechner's name any "best coaches in the State" polls. I think if you were to poll former (and current) players, parents, and alumni and ask if you were in favor of a head coahing change, most would say yes......years ago! No 1 person should be an AD and head coach 2 sports (control issues?). We are glad he is giving up baseball and think it is time he goes off to spend more time golfing and spending time with his grandchildren. It is time to hand the reigns to the Shaf Brothers and let them reap the financial benefits of running the hockey program.

To the HM players, you guys are great. You worked hard and represented your school with pride. Unfortunately, you were put in a situation at the end of playing not to lose rather than playing to win. Good luck to the seniors.

Wow, is this the first "FIRE LECH" post? Never happen, but if it did, I'm sure Sager would be the first to apply.

[mulefarm]

First of all, congrats to Stillwater & Coach Doman. You showed what good coaching & hard work can accomplish. I hope you & the "Pony Nation" enjoy the experience at State.

I said at the beginning of the year this team lack leadership & goaltending and last night both were shaky.

Coach Lechner appears to be taking a lot of the blame for this loss, and frankly, he deserves it. When you are the clear favorite because you have superior talent on the ice and decades of experience behind the bench, you are expected to take care of business. The approach usually taken in this situation is eliminate any hope your oppositition has right away. So Lex opts to start the game tentative and use a 1 man forechecking scheme? Really? You choose not to use you speed advantage to try to jump on Stillwater from the get go? You opt to shorten the game to a 2 period adventure? You allow Stillwater to leave the ice after 1 thinking, "hey we can play with these guys"? Why??

This is the 2nd time in 4 years HM has failed to get to get to State when they were favored to do so and in both situations, they had more talent & in my opinion, were out coached. Lets be honest about things, Lex basically coaches a metro all-star team. If you look at his line-up every year, he is basically coaching some of, if not the best kids from numerous youth associations from the metro/WI area. Most coaches would die to have that talent to work with and to step on the ice each night with that advantage.

I think we can officially take Lechner's name any "best coaches in the State" polls. I think if you were to poll former (and current) players, parents, and alumni and ask if you were in favor of a head coahing change, most would say yes......years ago! No 1 person should be an AD and head coach 2 sports (control issues?). We are glad he is giving up baseball and think it is time he goes off to spend more time golfing and spending time with his grandchildren. It is time to hand the reigns to the Shaf Brothers and let them reap the financial benefits of running the hockey program.

To the HM players, you guys are great. You worked hard and represented your school with pride. Unfortunately, you were put in a situation at the end of playing not to lose rather than playing to win. Good luck to the seniors.

Boy,nothing like throwing a high school coach who is supoose to teach kids life long lessons under the bus. It sounds like you over estimate the talent at HM, and under estimate the talent at other schools. When you get to champioship games and the talent is pretty equal, leadership and goaltending are extremely important to which you said HM lacked. Lechner is and has proven to be a great high school coach.

[Tigers33]

Hill Murray should be fortunate that they are in an awful section. Put them into section 2 and 6 with the big boys and things change dramatically.

The one man Forecheck I think was because #28 never once forechecked. So it might have looked that way. Personally this team looked like the prime example of spoiled kids thinking they would win easily. They found out that hard work beats talent. To bad hill Murray didn't have 10 #16's and 10 #26's.

[12to14]

Congrats to Stillwater!! I wasn't at the game but I sure hope cocky Lex started his Stillwater boys, just like he always has in the past, And I hope those Stillwater boys woke up today wishing their parents hadn't sent them to Hill (for the education of course) but instead to Stillwater. It is nice to see no private schools in the AA section. This a step forward showing PARENTS they don't need to pay 16K to get noticed, you can do it for FREE.

[Sats81]

Congrats to Stillwater. What a huge win for their program. Why do I feel like this would have NEVER happened with Housley behind bench? I always find it great to see teams take on the personality that their coach had as a player. Doman was a scrappy, in your face, win at all costs kinda player. Cool to see.

[MrBoDangles]

First of all, congrats to Stillwater & Coach Doman. You showed what good coaching & hard work can accomplish. I hope you & the "Pony Nation" enjoy the experience at State.

I said at the beginning of the year this team lack leadership & goaltending and last night both were shaky.

Coach Lechner appears to be taking a lot of the blame for this loss, and frankly, he deserves it. When you are the clear favorite because you have superior talent on the ice and decades of experience behind the bench, you are expected to take care of business. The approach usually taken in this situation is eliminate any hope your oppositition has right away. So Lex opts to start the game tentative and use a 1 man forechecking scheme? Really? You choose not to use you speed advantage to try to jump on Stillwater from the get go? You opt to shorten the game to a 2 period adventure? You allow Stillwater to leave the ice after 1 thinking, "hey we can play with these guys"? Why??

This is the 2nd time in 4 years HM has failed to get to get to State when they were favored to do so and in both situations, they had more talent & in my opinion, were out coached. Lets be honest about things, Lex basically coaches a metro all-star team. If you look at his line-up every year, he is basically coaching some of, if not the best kids from numerous youth associations from the metro/WI area. Most coaches would die to have that talent to work with and to step on the ice each night with that advantage.

I think we can officially take Lechner's name any "best coaches in the State" polls. I think if you were to poll former (and current) players, parents, and alumni and ask if you were in favor of a head coahing change, most would say yes......years ago! No 1 person should be an AD and head coach 2 sports (control issues?). We are glad he is giving up baseball and think it is time he goes off to spend more time golfing and spending time with his grandchildren. It is time to hand the reigns to the Shaf Brothers and let them reap the financial benefits of running the hockey program.

To the HM players, you guys are great. You worked hard and represented your school with pride. Unfortunately, you were put in a situation at the end of playing not to lose rather than playing to win. Good luck to the seniors.

Validated everything that you used to disagree with me about.

This is a special moment for me.....

[hockeymannorth]

I don't see the talent coming up at Hill like years past. They maybe have 2 or 3 good players, nothing to get excited about looks like this section will belong to Stillwater and White bear for next 3 years

[Reg7]

First of all, congrats to Stillwater & Coach Doman. You showed what good coaching & hard work can accomplish. I hope you & the "Pony Nation" enjoy the experience at State.

I said at the beginning of the year this team lack leadership & goaltending and last night both were shaky.

Coach Lechner appears to be taking a lot of the blame for this loss, and frankly, he deserves it. When you are the clear favorite because you have superior talent on the ice and decades of experience behind the bench, you are expected to take care of business. The approach usually taken in this situation is eliminate any hope your oppositition has right away. So Lex opts to start the game tentative and use a 1 man forechecking scheme? Really? You choose not to use you speed advantage to try to jump on Stillwater from the get go? You opt to shorten the game to a 2 period adventure? You allow Stillwater to leave the ice after 1 thinking, "hey we can play with these guys"? Why??

This is the 2nd time in 4 years HM has failed to get to get to State when they were favored to do so and in both situations, they had more talent & in my opinion, were out coached. Lets be honest about things, Lex basically coaches a metro all-star team. If you look at his line-up every year, he is basically coaching some of, if not the best kids from numerous youth associations from the metro/WI area. Most coaches would die to have that talent to work with and to step on the ice each night with that advantage.

I think we can officially take Lechner's name any "best coaches in the State" polls. I think if you were to poll former (and current) players, parents, and alumni and ask if you were in favor of a head coahing change, most would say yes......years ago! No 1 person should be an AD and head coach 2 sports (control issues?). We are glad he is giving up baseball and think it is time he goes off to spend more time golfing and spending time with his grandchildren. It is time to hand the reigns to the Shaf Brothers and let them reap the financial benefits of running the hockey program.

To the HM players, you guys are great. You worked hard and represented your school with pride. Unfortunately, you were put in a situation at the end of playing not to lose rather than playing to win. Good luck to the seniors.

Boy,nothing like throwing a high school coach who is supoose to teach kids life long lessons under the bus. It sounds like you over estimate the talent at HM, and under estimate the talent at other schools. When you get to champioship games and the talent is pretty equal, leadership and goaltending are extremely important to which you said HM lacked. Lechner is and has proven to be a great high school coach.

Good luck to the Ponies

[hockeymannorth]

Congrats to Stillwater!! I wasn't at the game but I sure hope cocky Lex started his Stillwater boys, just like he always has in the past, And I hope those Stillwater boys woke up today wishing their parents hadn't sent them to Hill (for the education of course) but instead to Stillwater. It is nice to see no private schools in the AA section. This a step forward showing PARENTS they don't need to pay 16K to get noticed, you can do it for FREE.

No he started his Roseville line But he should have known joey and company have never beat Stillwater

[GreekChurch]

[quote="hockeymannorth"]I don't see the talent coming up at Hill like years past. They maybe have 2 or 3 good players, nothing to get excited about looks like this section will belong to Stillwater and White bear for next 3 years[/q

[mulefarm]

First of all, congrats to Stillwater & Coach Doman. You showed what good coaching & hard work can accomplish. I hope you & the "Pony Nation" enjoy the experience at State.

I said at the beginning of the year this team lack leadership & goaltending and last night both were shaky.

Coach Lechner appears to be taking a lot of the blame for this loss, and frankly, he deserves it. When you are the clear favorite because you have superior talent on the ice and decades of experience behind the bench, you are expected to take care of business. The approach usually taken in this situation is eliminate any hope your oppositition has right away. So Lex opts to start the game tentative and use a 1 man forechecking scheme? Really? You choose not to use you speed advantage to try to jump on Stillwater from the get go? You opt to shorten the game to a 2 period adventure? You allow Stillwater to leave the ice after 1 thinking, "hey we can play with these guys"? Why??

This is the 2nd time in 4 years HM has failed to get to get to State when they were favored to do so and in both situations, they had more talent & in my opinion, were out coached. Lets be honest about things, Lex basically coaches a metro all-star team. If you look at his line-up every year, he is basically coaching some of, if not the best kids from numerous youth associations from the metro/WI area. Most coaches would die to have that talent to work with and to step on the ice each night with that advantage.

I think we can officially take Lechner's name any "best coaches in the State" polls. I think if you were to poll former (and current) players, parents, and alumni and ask if you were in favor of a head coahing change, most would say yes......years ago! No 1 person should be an AD and head coach 2 sports (control issues?). We are glad he is giving up baseball and think it is time he goes off to spend more time golfing and spending time with his grandchildren. It is time to hand the reigns to the Shaf Brothers and let them reap the financial benefits of running the hockey program.

To the HM players, you guys are great. You worked hard and represented your school with pride. Unfortunately, you were put in a situation at the end of playing not to lose rather than playing to win. Good luck to the seniors.

Boy,nothing like throwing a high school coach who is supoose to teach kids life long lessons under the bus. It sounds like you over estimate the talent at HM, and under estimate the talent at other schools. When you get to champioship games and the talent is pretty equal, leadership and goaltending are extremely important to which you said HM lacked. Lechner is and has proven to be a great high school coach.

Life lessons? seriously? I guy who throws one kid under the bus while throwing a blanket over "The Golden Child" and looking the other way for the same or worse offense!! Yes that's who I want my son being taught life lessons...and yes this is a fact driven statement...Good luck to Stillwater.

Please enlighten me on your fact driven statement.

[urban iceman]

Congrats to Stillwater!! I wasn't at the game but I sure hope cocky Lex started his Stillwater boys, just like he always has in the past, And I hope those Stillwater boys woke up today wishing their parents hadn't sent them to Hill (for the education of course) but instead to Stillwater. It is nice to see no private schools in the AA section. This a step forward showing PARENTS they don't need to pay 16K to get noticed, you can do it for FREE.

See kids, Stay home and play with your buddies, its much more fullfiling and easier on your parents budget. Where's Willie??

[Reg7]

Boy,nothing like throwing a high school coach who is supoose to teach kids life long lessons under the bus. It sounds like you over estimate the talent at HM, and under estimate the talent at other schools. When you get to champioship games and the talent is pretty equal, leadership and goaltending are extremely important to which you said HM lacked. Lechner is and has proven to be a great high school coach.

Life lessons? seriously? I guy who throws one kid under the bus while throwing a blanket over "The Golden Child" and looking the other way for the same or worse offense!! Yes that's who I want my son being taught life lessons...and yes this is a fact driven statement...Good luck to Stillwater.

Please enlighten me on your fact driven statement.

Good luck to the Ponies

[mulefarm]

Life lessons? seriously? I guy who throws one kid under the bus while throwing a blanket over "The Golden Child" and looking the other way for the same or worse offense!! Yes that's who I want my son being taught life lessons...and yes this is a fact driven statement...Good luck to Stillwater.

Please enlighten me on your fact driven statement.

I think I'll just leave as, I've lived it and seen it first hand. You believe what you like but like coach said "let's just be honest"...so I am...but was he?[/quote
Is it fact or you didn't agree with the decision and are expressing your opinion? Doesn't sound like you are being honest?

[Reg7]

Please enlighten me on your fact driven statement.

I think I'll just leave as, I've lived it and seen it first hand. You believe what you like but like coach said "let's just be honest"...so I am...but was he?[/quote
Is it fact or you didn't agree with the decision and are expressing your opinion? Doesn't sound like you are being honest?

Good luck to the Ponies