Class A Quarterfinal: Spring Lake Park vs. #1 Hermantown

Post by **karl(east)** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:07 pm

SPRING LAKE PARK VS. #1 HERMANTOWN
-A Tournament favorite begins its quest for that elusive title against a new Tourney entrant in Class A primetime. There is no recent history here.

Spring Lake Park (16-11-1, unranked, 1-seed in 5A)
First State appearance
Key section win: 5-0 over defending champion Chisago Lakes
-The Panthers are this year’s lone tournament debutant, and drew the short stick for a match-up with Hermantown. On the plus side, their Northwest Suburban schedule means they’re more familiar with deep and talented teams than most Class A teams, but their results there aren’t exactly encouraging. Jacob Nystrom (10) and Deven Sunell (18) lead the way offensively, along with assist machine Connor Gagnon (16); the top defenseman is Zach Benson (6). Goaltender Aaron Furlano (35) will be under fire all night long. Keeping this game close, or avoiding a 2-and-out, would make for a successful tournament.

Hermantown (25-2-1, #1, 1-seed in 7A)
State appearances: 12 (6 in a row)
Championships: 1 (2007)
Key section wins: 6-1 over #16 Hibbing, 4-0 over #5 Duluth Marshall
-The Hawks are aiming to end five straight years of runner-up frustration, and they couldn’t be in a much better position to do so, with arguably their deepest and strongest team ever. Ryan Kero (7), Nate Pionk (6), and Cole Koepke (27) form the lethal top line, though all three can score, and Wyatt Aamodt (5) and Eric Gotz (9) lead a tough defense. It will be difficult for any team in this field to break their relentless waves of attack, though any team that can break out with any authority will have some chance to pierce their underbelly in back. Still, there are few weaknesses here, and one figures it’s title or bust for Bruce Plante’s crew this season.

GPGT · Post by **GPGT** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:14 pm

I questioned this in the A bracket thread. But has SLP beat a top 20 team this year? I expect a dominant performance by Hermantown , heavily out shooting them, but I don't think Plante will let the score go crazy. He doesn't seem like the coach that would push the team , and have the 1st line out there much when its 8-0.... But seeing as how easily they handled Marshall , it could be a pretty ugly lopsided game.

Really looking forward to a hermantown / mahtomedi final..

rainier · Post by **rainier** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:21 pm

6-0 Hawks, only this low because their 4th line will get Suter-esque ice time in the 3rd.

kniven · Post by **kniven** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 1:40 pm

GPGT wrote:I questioned this in the A bracket thread. But has SLP beat a top 20 team this year? I expect a dominant performance by Hermantown , heavily out shooting them, but I don't think Plante will let the score go crazy. He doesn't seem like the coach that would push the team , and have the 1st line out there much when its 8-0.... But seeing as how easily they handled Marshall , it could be a pretty ugly lopsided game.

Really looking forward to a hermantown / mahtomedi final..

The Hawks will sleep walk to the A final.

hermantown2000 · Post by **hermantown2000** » Sat Feb 28, 2015 4:10 pm

Hawks soar on 7-2. But the likely semi showdown with Breck could be a different story

MNhocklover43 · Post by **MNhocklover43** » Sun Mar 01, 2015 4:17 pm

I'm picking 13-0 Hawks. I think the hockey factory will take it to the panthers. I cannot see SLP getting more than 10 shots
5 year runner ups. I think Bruce has a mission planned and he is going to pursuit it.
Assuming Breck wins, I will be excited to watch them play Hermantown in the semis. Only Class A private school. Everyone knows Bruce likes them.

GoaliesAreTheBest33 · Sun Mar 01, 2015 10:39 pm

karl(east) wrote:SPRING LAKE PARK VS. #1 HERMANTOWN
-A Tournament favorite begins its quest for that elusive title against a new Tourney entrant in Class A primetime. There is no recent history here.

Spring Lake Park (16-11-1, unranked, 1-seed in 5A)
First State appearance
Key section win: 5-0 over defending champion Chisago Lakes
-The Panthers are this year’s lone tournament debutant, and drew the short stick for a match-up with Hermantown. On the plus side, their Northwest Suburban schedule means they’re more familiar with deep and talented teams than most Class A teams, but their results there aren’t exactly encouraging. Jacob Nystrom (10) and Deven Sunell (18) lead the way offensively, along with assist machine Connor Gagnon (16); the top defenseman is Zach Benson (6). Goaltender Aaron Furlano (35) will be under fire all night long. Keeping this game close, or avoiding a 2-and-out, would make for a successful tournament.

Hermantown (25-2-1, #1, 1-seed in 7A)
State appearances: 12 (6 in a row)
Championships: 1 (2007)
Key section wins: 6-1 over #16 Hibbing, 4-0 over #5 Duluth Marshall
-The Hawks are aiming to end five straight years of runner-up frustration, and they couldn’t be in a much better position to do so, with arguably their deepest and strongest team ever. Ryan Kero (7), Nate Pionk (6), and Cole Koepke (27) form the lethal top line, though all three can score, and Wyatt Aamodt (5) and Eric Gotz (9) lead a tough defense. It will be difficult for any team in this field to break their relentless waves of attack, though any team that can break out with any authority will have some chance to pierce their underbelly in back. Still, there are few weaknesses here, and one figures it’s title or bust for Bruce Plante’s crew this season.

This may be the worst beating we've seen at the X is years!! I mean this is a complete joke! I've seen SLP play twice this year are they are below average at best. Htwon will be in double digits for sure.

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 12:51 pm

BTW, what ever happened to Austin Long? Is he still on the SLP roster?

UntouchableFlow · Post by **UntouchableFlow** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 1:18 pm

Mite-dad wrote:BTW, what ever happened to Austin Long? Is he still on the SLP roster?

Playing for Omaha U16, and has skated a few games for Tri-City in the USHL, recently committed to Colorado College.

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 2:22 pm

5-4 H-Town

hshockeyfan53 · Post by **hshockeyfan53** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 2:43 pm

MrBoDangles wrote:5-4 H-Town

Somebody had some special brownies this morning....

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 3:54 pm

hshockeyfan53 wrote:
MrBoDangles wrote:5-4 H-Town
Somebody had some special brownies this morning....

You would think with how hard you made me laugh..

hshockeyfan53 · Post by **hshockeyfan53** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:25 pm

MrBoDangles wrote:
hshockeyfan53 wrote:
MrBoDangles wrote:5-4 H-Town
Somebody had some special brownies this morning....
You would think with how hard you made me laugh..

I really hope it's a closer game than everybody is saying though. Nobody wants to see a 12-0 romp in the State Tournament.

lamplighter98 · Post by **lamplighter98** » Mon Mar 02, 2015 4:57 pm

hshockeyfan53 wrote:
MrBoDangles wrote:5-4 H-Town
Somebody had some special brownies this morning....

not saying SLP is gonna win, or sniff it. But if they come to play, and H-Town comes in looking to the semis, it could be a much better/closer game than anyone thinks.

Mite-dad · Post by **Mite-dad** » Tue Mar 03, 2015 3:43 pm

UntouchableFlow wrote:
Mite-dad wrote:BTW, what ever happened to Austin Long? Is he still on the SLP roster?
Playing for Omaha U16, and has skated a few games for Tri-City in the USHL, recently committed to Colorado College.

Wow! Good for him! My son was in the HP15 program with him. Looked like a talented player.

GPGT · Post by **GPGT** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 5:45 pm

lamplighter98 wrote:
hshockeyfan53 wrote:
MrBoDangles wrote:5-4 H-Town
Somebody had some special brownies this morning....
not saying SLP is gonna win, or sniff it. But if they come to play, and H-Town comes in looking to the semis, it could be a much better/closer game than anyone thinks.

I think bruce will have them very well prepared, and highly doubt they will overlook spring lake park. I think the players have enough motivation on their own after being runner up 5 times in a row..

nor do I think they will run up the score board either, as Bruce tends to lay off and start playing the fourth line a lot in situations like that. as seen in the section quarterfinals

GPGT · Post by **GPGT** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 5:47 pm

has Spring Lake Park beaten any teams in the top 20?

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:04 pm

I'm actually going to go 5-4 SLP.. Going on hungry with no backing

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:15 pm

Who wears glasses for the intros?

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:49 pm

What does the margin have to be for running time? Or is there none of that in championship rounds?

Tigers33 · Post by **Tigers33** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:52 pm

Why doesn't anyone complain about hermantown playing class A. They are another team that plays many AA non conference games and should make the jump up. I understand it will never happen as long as plante is there.

UntouchableFlow · Post by **UntouchableFlow** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 6:59 pm

Poor first period for the Panthers. A few big mistakes for SLP. They got caught with three forwards deep and a pinching defenseman on the first goal. That's the kind of mistake that you absolutely can't make when you're upset-minded, and that's a reflection of coaching in my opinion. Third goal, the same D that pinched on the first goal, and couldn't find the puck on the second one, left his post to try to play the puck in the corner leaving the back door open. Bad mistakes that can't be made against a team like Hermantown

Post by **karl(east)** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:00 pm

thestickler07 wrote:What does the margin have to be for running time? Or is there none of that in championship rounds?

You'd think an STAA fan would remember whether there's running time in Tourney games or not.

(There is, and we need a 6-goal lead to roll the clock in the 3rd.)

Tigers33 wrote:Why doesn't anyone complain about hermantown playing class A.

You obviously haven't met our friend Froggy on this forum.

Nevertoomuchhockey · Post by **Nevertoomuchhockey** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:09 pm

Tigers33 wrote:Why doesn't anyone complain about hermantown playing class A. They are another team that plays many AA non conference games and should make the jump up. I understand it will never happen as long as plante is there.

EVERYONE complains they stay single A.
We also get angry, play the victim, and make fun of their town and school. Mostly we ridicule staying at A and competing at a talent level that will always be perceived as "lesser" - true or not. (Mostly true.)

defense · Post by **defense** » Wed Mar 04, 2015 7:20 pm

Tigers33 wrote:Why doesn't anyone complain about hermantown playing class A. They are another team that plays many AA non conference games and should make the jump up. I understand it will never happen as long as plante is there.

There are bunches of us that do, its just that there are more Hermantown people on here , and they post more often complaining about the private schools than us guys do complaining about them .

Old saying that I think applies : losers find excuses , winners find ways

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Class A Quarterfinal: Spring Lake Park vs. #1 Hermantown

Who wins?

Class A Quarterfinal: Spring Lake Park vs. #1 Hermantown

Re: Class A Quarterfinal: Spring Lake Park vs. #1 Hermantown