2015 Section 4AA Tournament

[ZachHalverson]

At the risk of getting my first ever lock due to the fact that I really haven't browsed around for an already created thread regarding the Section 4AA tournament, I will begin a new one because I've got all kinds of details surrounding it. Also, the seeding should also be open for discussion, especially among the middle teams.

First off, the entire tournament will be held at The Home of Hill-Murray Pioneer Hockey, Aldrich Arena. This is thanks to the Minnesota State Fair, which if I were to continue this sentence with the words I'd like to say, a capitalized request to ban my account would follow. So I'll just say that I am not a fan of the Fair's decision.

Quarterfinal Saturday (2/21) will remain the same, with blowouts in the morning and entertainment at night. The Semifinals are a different story, however, as there will be no double-headers this year. The top side of the bracket will play on Tuesday night (2/24) while the bottom side will play on Wednesday night (2/25). For those of you keeping score at home, Hill-Murray will get to play on home ice, using their own locker room, and will have an extra day of rest before the Final.

The Final will be played on Friday night (2/27), as usual. If the schools choose to, a certain number of tickets will be given to each school for a pre-sale. From what I understood, this was for the Semifinals and the Finals, though it might just be for the Finals considering I think Aldrich will be plenty big for the Semifinals, especially since it is only one game a night.

Make no mistake, if White Bear Lake and Hill-Murray meet on that Friday night, it will be chaos. Utter chaos. The line for tickets will be insane, and I would hope the weather isn't too cold because there really isn't much room in the lobby for a line. I guess that is the ONE area where Vadnais Sports Center beats Aldrich.

That is all still a long ways away. Let's begin with seeding.

1. Hill-Murray
2. White Bear Lake
3. Stillwater
4. Roseville
5. Mounds View
6. Tartan
7. Irondale
8. North St. Paul

Not much to debate, other than No. 5 & 6 depending on what happens on Saturday night. The meeting is Sunday at 12:30 p.m.. Then the fun really begins.

[Tenoverpar]

The interesting game will be the 4/5 Roseville/Mounds View who split during the regular season, both 1 goal games, the latest an 8-7 goalfest. Neither team will give Hill much trouble in theory but..ya neva' know..or in this case you pretty much do...either way should be a quality 1st round game.

[LSQRANK]

here is what LSQRank calculates

Code: Select all

MN Class AA Section 4
---------------------------------
Seed           Team  LSQRANK  GD
---------------------------------
 T1    WhiteBearLake   8       1.9 
 T1       HillMurray   9       1.9 
 3       Stillwater  19       2.5 
 4        Roseville  34       3.2 
 5       MoundsView  43       3.6 
 6           Tartan  60       4.0 
 7         Irondale 193       6.0 
 8      NorthStPaul 201       6.2 

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

I'm in line for HM already. PM me if you want me to buy your ticket.
#kiddingnotkidding?

[Bayside Tigers]

I'm in line for HM already. PM me if you want me to buy your ticket.
#kiddingnotkidding?

I'll toss you $75 if you grab mine and buy you nachos. No uppers.

This is thanks to the Minnesota State Fair, which if I were to continue this sentence with the words I'd like to say, a capitalized request to ban my account would follow. So I'll just say that I am not a fan of the Fair's decision.

AGREE.

[Nuts&Bolts]

IMO no section final is more clear than this one with HM vs WBL. Will be epic and 'easily' the top section 4AA final of the modern era since it's at Aldrich and not the overrated horse barn.

[karl(east)]

I wouldn't totally rule out Stillwater, given a) the fact that they did it with a worse record last season, b) took WBL to OT recently, and c) WBL has been known to choke every now and then, but if it does happen, it'll be fantastic. Getting a ticket will be a chore.

Hey Zach, need a studio analyst between periods?

[Nuts&Bolts]

I don't see it happening this year with Stillwater. Not the talent or grit. Yes the Ponies took WBL to OT but the Bears may have been looking past that game to the match-up 2 days later with HM. Hopefully they don't mess it up kind of like GR hopefully not messing up the ER vs DE final.

[ZachHalverson]

Hey Zach, need a studio analyst between periods?

We'll have a panel featuring you, stpaul, pioneerprideguy, and goldfishdude.

[karl(east)]

Hey Zach, need a studio analyst between periods?

We'll have a panel featuring you, stpaul, pioneerprideguy, and goldfishdude.

That would be awesome. Actually, Goldfishdude alone would be awesome.

No one would accuse The Horn of being too pro-WBL with that group...

[ZachHalverson]

1. Hill-Murray
2. White Bear Lake
3. Stillwater
4. Roseville
5. Mounds View
6. Tartan
7. Irondale
8. North St. Paul

Confirmed...called it!