Hibbing vs EGF

[stromboli]

Anyone have an update on this game?

[rainier]

Anyone have an update on this game?

I'm updating this game up at the top at the "Friday's games" thread.

[stromboli]

Got it. Thanks!

[howardst]

The jackets are rolling. My guess is they are building for the matchup with the hawks. Hermantown - objects in your mirror are closer than they appear

[ilovemesomehockey]

The jackets are rolling. My guess is they are building for the matchup with the hawks. Hermantown - objects in your mirror are closer than they appear

Might want to wipe the frost off your glasses. If you are using the EGF win as some type of measuring stick .... EGF is just not that good this year

[howardst]

No frost and not based on one win. Based on product of work and the fact that even though the hawks have a great player and a few very good ones the jackets still have the best and most exciting player in northern minn hockey. At this point the jackets have proved one thing. They can play!!!

[rainier]

I'd pump the brakes on thinking Hibbing is great, and I'm a huge Hibbing fan. What they've done so far is very good, but putting them up with Hermantown and/or Breck is a bit much.

I do think EGF is a little better than some people think. Versus Breck and SPA I think their main problem was goaltending, not that they couldn't compete and the scores directly reflect how the games went. If the goaltending doesn't improve over the season, then I guess that's just who they are.

But don't forget Loven has not played for EGF yet. He is an elite talent with tons of postseason experience. With a healthy Loven and some better goaltending as he (or they) gain more experience, I think EGF is still a top 5 team in A.

[rainier]

No frost and not based on one win. Based on product of work and the fact that even though the hawks have a great player and a few very good ones the jackets still have the best and most exciting player in northern minn hockey. At this point the jackets have proved one thing. They can play!!!

I agree with your assessment of Perunovich, but Hibbing needs their other defensemen to improve. With the Erwin brothers leaving, that left Perunovich as the only d-man with extensive varisty experience. I think some of the juniors will get better as the season progresses, but in order to compete with the top 5 in A, that depth has to materialize.

I think there is enough talent in the top 6 forwards and at goalie, but the 2-4 defensemen will need to continue to improve.

As for the EGF game, what was strange was that the Hibbing player got tossed from the face-off circle at least 50% of the time. The reffing overall in that one was suspect, so much so that the EGF coach apologized to the Hibbing coaches after the game. Weird.

[howardst]

Oh I agree Hermantown is good and the favorite but I also know they are not the team they were last year. Fact is they have a few forwards that excel at going up and down the rink and position around the net. Wat they lack is what graduated, creativity up the idle of the rink. Fact is they do not have players that bring the creativity and lateral game that Kero and Pionk provided. Hermantown will be and are very solid Fact is they don't have that guy to carry the load and creativity that they grad. Will be interesting to see how the year plays out but I do know for a fact they are not the best team in the state in either class as some people have stated. They are very very good and the favorites but not the lock they have been. I will put the jackets young goal tender up against herm any day of the week. Goalies look good playing on the better team. Jackets will have something to say about 7a is all I'm saying.

[InYourFace09]

Oh I agree Hermantown is good and the favorite but I also know they are not the team they were last year. Fact is they have a few forwards that excel at going up and down the rink and position around the net. Wat they lack is what graduated, creativity up the idle of the rink. Fact is they do not have players that bring the creativity and lateral game that Kero and Pionk provided. Hermantown will be and are very solid Fact is they don't have that guy to carry the load and creativity that they grad. Will be interesting to see how the year plays out but I do know for a fact they are not the best team in the state in either class as some people have stated. They are very very good and the favorites but not the lock they have been. I will put the jackets young goal tender up against herm any day of the week. Goalies look good playing on the better team. Jackets will have something to say about 7a is all I'm saying.

I guess everyone else is too high on Hermantown then! Doesn't appear you would even call it an upset if Hibbing were to beat the Hawks. Guess we will find out Feb 11th and see if they meet again the following week for a state birth.

It would be something if the Hawks didn't make the state tournament, that would make all the naysayers correct on how they are a an "A" team and shouldn't move up to AA.