AA Quarterfinal: Duluth East vs. #3 St. Thomas Academy

BlueLineSpecial · Post by **BlueLineSpecial** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:36 pm

WHAT!?

I'm stuck at work and swamped. Last I looked East was down 5-2 and I figured it was over.

I believe there is a thread about greatest comebacks in tourney history....this might need to be added??

And yes, great uniform matchup tomorrow night.

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:38 pm

almostashappy wrote:
GreekChurch wrote:I would never expect a total collapse like that out of a St. Thomas team. Obviously they are not in that type of situation often. Hats off to Duluth East - never quit

Anyone want to guess whether the STA students will show up at Mariucci in their dress uni's tomorrow?

Typically they only let kids out for championship rounds, so I doubt it.

Schotzy · Post by **Schotzy** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:38 pm

In all seriousness, my family said they heard that STA wants to move back to A when they are eligible. Any truth to this? I have not heard this.

deacon · Post by **deacon** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:40 pm

Schotzy wrote:In all seriousness, my family said they heard that STA wants to move back to A when they are eligible. Any truth to this? I have not heard this.

Jesus let's hope not

thestickler07 · Post by **thestickler07** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:41 pm

Schotzy wrote:In all seriousness, my family said they heard that STA wants to move back to A when they are eligible. Any truth to this? I have not heard this.

"In all seriousness."

SFA1992 · Post by **SFA1992** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:42 pm

No. That isn't true.

dherman8 · Post by **dherman8** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:43 pm

Welcome to AA St.Thomas. This is the class where 3 goal leads don't mean the game is over. Duluth East is a bit different than what you're used to. By the way, has anyone heard from any of our favorite East fans? Are the still alive?

Schotzy · Post by **Schotzy** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:46 pm

SFA1992 wrote:No. That isn't true.

Good, they earned their spot in AA, and they competed evenly. Right where they should be. Great game. Absolutely loved it!

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:47 pm

I do not know what to say right now.

Post by **east hockey** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:51 pm

I feel like Jim Cantore...."Wow!!! Are you kidding me??!!!!"

After the Grand Rapids 7AA semifinal win, I thought that anything after that was icing on the cake. I really felt that way after beating Elk River. Now? I don't know what to feel other than giddy.

I was looking forward to seeing what they could do against Bemidji at Mariucci.

Holy feces.

Lee

Post by **east hockey** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 4:51 pm

dherman8 wrote:Welcome to AA St.Thomas. This is the class where 3 goal leads don't mean the game is over. Duluth East is a bit different than what you're used to. By the way, has anyone heard from any of our favorite East fans? Are the still alive?

Karl is finding out that it's possible to cardiac arrest before you're 30.

Lee

HockeyBum · Post by **HockeyBum** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:03 pm

Funny, note, listening to 1149 am in Duluth after game. They played a late breaking news story that said "late beakng news, St Thomas will be petitioning to opt back down to single A". Funniest thing I heard all day! We are proud of you Hounds, way to represent the north.

Good job Bemidji

SFA1992 · Post by **SFA1992** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:24 pm

HockeyBum wrote:Funny, note, listening to 1149 am in Duluth after game. They played a late breaking news story that said "late beakng news, St Thomas will be petitioning to opt back down to single A". Funniest thing I heard all day! We are proud of you Hounds, way to represent the north.

Good job Bemidji

^^ That's awesome. What a game... Way to go DE. Just can't believe STA bottled that.

kniven · Post by **kniven** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:25 pm

Slammer wrote:I do not know what to say right now.

I do. Great, Great, Great story and run by this hockey team. I am so proud of our hockey players from the north! UNBELIEVEABLE RUN! well done boys!!!! ONE WORD: THESE BOYS PLAYING WITH "HEART" COACH RANDOLPH.....YEP

dherman8 · Post by **dherman8** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:31 pm

east hockey wrote:
dherman8 wrote:Welcome to AA St.Thomas. This is the class where 3 goal leads don't mean the game is over. Duluth East is a bit different than what you're used to. By the way, has anyone heard from any of our favorite East fans? Are the still alive?
Karl is finding out that it's possible to cardiac arrest before you're 30.

Lee

3 weeks in a row

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:38 pm

dherman8 wrote:
east hockey wrote:
dherman8 wrote:Welcome to AA St.Thomas. This is the class where 3 goal leads don't mean the game is over. Duluth East is a bit different than what you're used to. By the way, has anyone heard from any of our favorite East fans? Are the still alive?
Karl is finding out that it's possible to cardiac arrest before you're 30.

Lee
3 weeks in a row

No "Press Box Notes 2015" updates to from Karl today? I was hoping to hear the banter after both games.

Is Karl okay?

green4 · Post by **green4** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:52 pm

I had a test this afternoon at two. I decided to record this game so I have just finished.
What a crazy game, an instant classic.
It started very bizarre, East was the better team, but they found themselves down 3-0 before getting two late in the period. I could not help but to think of the Elk River game when they were down 3-0.
The 2nd period STA looked good, real good. Much better than I thought they would be. I fully expected them at that point to play Edina in the Semi's. Tufto looked like the best player on the ice to me, by a decent amount too.

The 3rd period started and went for a bit without a goal from either team. I started to doubt East a bit and even after they scored to make it 5-3 I was still a little skeptical. When they scored the powerplay goal that is when I started to believe, I went nuts by myself in my house. It seemed impossible, everyone knew they needed a goal on that powerplay and the first minute and a half of it was so bad I thought "no way"
After that, you know how it goes. I am absolutely stunned. I will not be taking East lightly as an Edina fan. Much like the game with Bemidji, whoever wins the semi tomorrow will have my support.

Something I found funny was whenever the big D man spencer shot. He is such a big player, but whenever he shot it was like a 10% effort, flip towards the net. It made me chuckle every time. Made me thing of a power hitter in baseball laying a bunt or something. Of course, two of those soft shots made it to east player for goals.

edgeless2 · Post by **edgeless2** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:00 pm

Wow....what a dandy of a game. Congrats to the Hounds! What heart that squad has. I have never been a big fan of East but with the best coach in all of HS hockey no one should be surprised. What will be a surprise is if they can win against the evil empire! If there is any room left I'm jumping on the bandwagon. Congrats to those boys, just goes to show how epic our Section/State Tournament is. Release the Hounds!!

hermantown2000 · Post by **hermantown2000** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:04 pm

I left for work when it was 5-2!!At around 4:00, someone told me East won and I was like "no way your kidding me right?". One of my co- workers said the same thing. Unbelievable!! While I did not invision St. Thomas winning this year I felt they were better than East at least. I can imagine Plante probably watching the game probably had a big smile and smirk on his face. East gave the Vanelli's a taste of their own medicine!!

Post by **karl(east)** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 8:13 pm

Yes, I am alive...X press box wireless has been atrocious all day and I just got on via a rogue network.

As for the game...damn. I have nothing to say. I broke every code of press box decorum during that one. I was playing it pretty coy on this thread because I did think they had a pretty good chance to win...but like that? No, no one can expect that. This playoff ride has been otherworldly.

Lots of respect for STA today...having been on the other end of this sort of game over the years, I know how it feels. But once East was feeling in the 3rd, you knew they'd do it again, especially when STA started panicking and throwing themselves all over the place in the OT.

Lots of good press conference notes forthcoming on that thread, Randolph and his players had some very good lines. As for tomorrow night, well, under normal circumstances I wouldn't give them a chance, but after these past few games...why on earth not?

nahc · Post by **nahc** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:54 pm

How bout them Hounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WestMetro · Post by **WestMetro** » Thu Mar 05, 2015 11:38 pm

How about the Hounds, my alma mater from too many decades ago.

Wrote them out of my top 10 at beginning of year, didnt followup them at all for a couple months until the LVN game in January, which they lost in a close one.

Didnt follow closely for another couple months. Then listened on radio to their amazing comeback to beat Elk River, while driving home from the Blaine/Centennial Section final game.

Watched at the X today in jaw dropping astonishment , placing it in top 10 memories of all State Tourney game experiences.

A little known fact for the Hound faithful going into Friday night. Hounds are the only team who has a net winning record against Edina in all State Tourney head to head games.

Thank you Mike Randolph for two unbelievable wins and getting the most out of every group of kids that comes your way!

greenway1969 · Post by **greenway1969** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 12:01 am

Don't know what else can be said of Duluth East. To fight back against a very talented STA team with two Mr. Hockey finalist and win. The determination and toughness is beyond description. Best comeback I've ever witnessed especially because it was a Northern team making the comeback against a metro team.

MNHockeyFan · Post by **MNHockeyFan** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:05 am

GreekChurch wrote:I would never expect a total collapse like that out of a St. Thomas team. Obviously they are not in that type of situation often.

They stopped doing what gave them the big lead. Hate to use the "c" word, but I think it applies here....

GreekChurch wrote:Hats off to Duluth East - never quit

Yep, glad I was there...a game that I'll remember.

bauerman · Post by **bauerman** » Fri Mar 06, 2015 9:29 am

First I want to say congrats to Duluth East it was a griity effort and they executed the game they had to play in order to win.As far as all the STA bashers "welcome to AA" etcetera give me a break they lost the game they certainly didn't look out of place. Hopefully they are welcoming Bemidji, HM and Blaine to AA also.
As far as STA wanting to go A is so far off base its unbelievable "my family heard this" wow there is a great source, they would go AAA before back to A

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AA Quarterfinal: Duluth East vs. #3 St. Thomas Academy

Who wins?