Syd Barrett wrote:Looks like some of the Section 8AA Metro teams are doing a little bit of whinning
Per Youth Hockey Hub:
Bemidji gets #1 Twin Cities teams get robbed
Section 8AA announced the section seeding today before the last two games are played this season. This season was the first time in many years where the north teams have not dominated play outside of Bemidji. The Lumberjacks were seeded #1 and that made sense. Moorhead, leading the Mariucci Conference (but not won at this time) is second. After beating St. Michael/Albertville two weeks ago at Albertville, that made sense. But after that, the seeds don't make any sense. The three Twin Cities teams in the section (STMA, Rogers, and Buffalo) all were seeded lower than their season performance. The northern schools were promoted to higher seeds then they earned. The result maximizes the probably of a northern school going to state. Based on the seeding, all four northern schools can advance to the semifinals. If seeding followed performance, the semifinals would match north against Twin Cites teams.
The Section 8AA seeding was announced Thursday. Those doing the seeding righted the upside down Section 8AA Tournament and ignored performance this season going with history. As a result, Brainerd (13-11-1) was promoted over St. Michael-Albertville (14-7-2) to the #3 seed and will stay home to play Rogers (16-7-0) in a game that Rogers should win. Rogers will host St. Michaels/Albertville Thursday night. The Royals and Knights are now playing in a game tonight that should have meant everything to their seeding prospects but means nothing.
Now, St. Michael/Albertville seeded #4 plays #5 Roseau (10-12-2) at home next Tuesday. Roseau (10-12-2) was promoted moving up to the #5 seed spot to play at STMA. If the seeds followed season performance, Rogers would have played at STMA. The Knights game tonight with Rogers would have been a preliminary for the real playoff game next Tuesday. With STMA and Rogers neighboring towns that would have helped foster the sport in that area of the state. Buffalo (9-11-3) travels to Moorhead (14-9-0) to play the Spuds. Roseau should have made the trip to Moorhead.
There may be technical reasons for the draw (transportation, arena availabilty, etc), to cause this shift; but this corner of YHH has followed the players from peewee on as they have struggled at times. This should be the players time. And there should be consideration given to what is right for the players not what is most expedient.
It appears to those on the outside that the only rational for changing the seeding is to maximize the possibility of a “northern team” being in the Class AA State Tourney. Based on current seeding, there is no north versus north match-up in the opening round. That allows all three north teams in the section to advance to the semifinals and that maximizies the appearance of a north team. In this corner, that is all for naught. The #1 team in the Section is Bemidji and they should win, but Twin City teams (and STMA in particular) should be treated fairly. The Knights at STMA have played from peewees on to have an equal shot at the state tourney. Now that is gone forever.
That brutal Mississippi 8 conference schedule that Rogers plays has the Brainerd Wizzards...er, I mean Worriors shaking in their skates
STMA is an up and coming program but if they think they are going to have a cakewalk with Roseau they may be in for a little surprise
The Nefarious North strikes again!
STMA did deserve the 3-seed, yes. But the Buffalo and Rogers? They play junk schedules, and their only section wins are over each other (both in OT). Roseau split with Brainerd, who beat up on Buffalo early in the season, and also tied STMA.
Shouldn't this guy be happy that the mighty metro teams get to beat up on these weak, undeserving northern schools in the first round instead of getting stuck playing each other?
alcloseshaver wrote:Can someone from STMA tell me when they last won a section game? Has to be over 10 years or ever? Time to get one this year.
From what I know, STMA has only ever won a sectional play in game in their history as they were always a 8-9 seed.
3 Seasons ago was the first non play in game seed (#6 vs #3 Andover) and last season was the first home sectional game (#4 vs #5 Cloquet) and that was a plain old beating.
As much as people want to talk about how bad the M8, everyone knows that when you play rivalry games against the town next to you, it takes on a different tone.
Basically YHH has followed our Soph's and really knows nothing about our Sr's so take their comments for what they are worth.
Syd YHH is spouting the talk not STMA so swing and a miss there
My_Kid_Loves_Hockey wrote:Syd YHH is spouting the talk not STMA so swing and a miss there
Hey Kid, didn't mean to slight STMA I hope to see them do well Your coach, Jer Johnson, was a stud player for Brainerd in the early '90s and played on the 1991 team that was arguably the best team Brainerd ever had, losing to Roseau in the 3rd OT in the section final up in East Grand Forks in the last single class tournament Best of luck to the Knights in the playoffs
STMA has never won a first round section game in it's history unless you count a "play in" or "sub-section" game. Until last season there have never been any expectations for post season play at this school. Last years team fell short of it's goal of making it to Amsoil with a disappointing performance in round 1 against CEC a week after beating them.
This season making it to state was the goal from the start. That has never been a realistic possibility until this year. We understand that it's a long shot for sure as we won't be favored (nor should be) in any game (including Roseau) from here on out.
We don't have any hockey history to speak of! However, this is the first season STMA has beaten a team you can consider a "top" team in the state with wins over DE and Breck. We also understand that we had a bad loss to St. Francis.
The tie to Buffalo is not surprising. That is a huge rivalry game and everyone knows that those often play tight regardless. I wouldn't be surprised to see Buffalo give Moorhead a battle.
This season has also been by far the most difficult schedule that STMA has ever put together. They would have never dreamed of playing against so many top teams and they've held their own against everyone. Based off of our schedule and our wins we thought we should have gotten the 3 seed. I understand it's based more on in section play so that's fine if we are the 4. Brainerd has a nice team. Too bad we never got to play them. I think it would have been a good game.
We have an unproven coaching staff that's trying to win it's first ever section game and trust me no one around here is looking past Roseau. They have a nice team and are more than capable of winning the game Tuesday. It wouldn't surprise me either way.
Let me add this, I do think it's highly unfair that one team has to drive 4 - 5.5 hours to play a section game on a Tuesday. No other section has to deal with this. I'm sure it's been an on-going issue for years but something needs to be done. It's pretty ridiculous. Just my opinion
BC9 - well thought out post...some very good points.
8AA, is absolutely, by far the most geographically spread section (Roseau to Rogers is not a day trip...correction, is a FULL day trip). But it is what it is...other then making one North Section (not in favor of that), travel will always be a challenge in this section.
As far as the play-offs, in my opinion, (and judging from 2nd half games) this section is wide open and STMA has as good a chance of making it to the X as anyone.
Kind of funny, STMA joins 8AA and now wants to complain about road trips. The section has been doing it for years, in fact the semis and final used to both be played in St. Cloud and several times, Roseau, as the #1 seed made the trip twice. It may be time to drop hockey north of St. Cloud and just cater to the metro elite!
Kind of funny, STMA joins 8AA and now wants to complain about road trips. The section has been doing it for years, in fact the semis and final used to both be played in St. Cloud and several times, Roseau, as the #1 seed made the trip twice. It may be time to drop hockey north of St. Cloud and just cater to the metro elite!
One poster says that and all of STMA is lumped in, love the logic.
You are also the first person to ever put STMA and Metro elite in 1 sentence (even though I know you didn't mean it that way).......you sir may have just lost all cred on this forum.
Tonight's game will be live streamed for those that can't make it.
Where: YouTube
Channel: STMA Hockey Channel 2015
Now if you just Google “STMA Hockey Channel 2015” it will come up at the top or so.
If you choose after the fact to do so. You do NOT need to do this to see the live stream. Once you're on the channel, please subscribe to the channel and you can set your own preferences to make you aware of when there is a live stream for you to see.
Tonight's game will be live streamed for those that can't make it.
Where: YouTube
Channel: STMA Hockey Channel 2015
Now if you just Google “STMA Hockey Channel 2015” it will come up at the top or so.
If you choose after the fact to do so. You do NOT need to do this to see the live stream. Once you're on the channel, please subscribe to the channel and you can set your own preferences to make you aware of when there is a live stream for you to see.
karl(east) wrote:
STMA did deserve the 3-seed, yes. But the Buffalo and Rogers? They play junk schedules, and their only section wins are over each other (both in OT). Roseau split with Brainerd, who beat up on Buffalo early in the season, and also tied STMA.
Shouldn't this guy be happy that the mighty metro teams get to beat up on these weak, undeserving northern schools in the first round instead of getting stuck playing each other?
Done ... and the transitive property didn't hold up. Might be junk schedules but I guess it was enough preparation.
karl(east) wrote:
STMA did deserve the 3-seed, yes. But the Buffalo and Rogers? They play junk schedules, and their only section wins are over each other (both in OT). Roseau split with Brainerd, who beat up on Buffalo early in the season, and also tied STMA.
Shouldn't this guy be happy that the mighty metro teams get to beat up on these weak, undeserving northern schools in the first round instead of getting stuck playing each other?
Done ... and the transitive property didn't hold up. Might be junk schedules but I guess it was enough preparation.
Yes, a well-earned upset for Rogers, and a predictable win for STMA. It doesn't make the dumb conspiracy theory any more valid.
karl(east) wrote:
STMA did deserve the 3-seed, yes. But the Buffalo and Rogers? They play junk schedules, and their only section wins are over each other (both in OT). Roseau split with Brainerd, who beat up on Buffalo early in the season, and also tied STMA.
Shouldn't this guy be happy that the mighty metro teams get to beat up on these weak, undeserving northern schools in the first round instead of getting stuck playing each other?
Done ... and the transitive property didn't hold up. Might be junk schedules but I guess it was enough preparation.
Yes, a well-earned upset for Rogers, and a predictable win for STMA. It doesn't make the dumb conspiracy theory any more valid.
It wasn't a comment about "dumb conspiracy theory" just needling you for your snide/sarcastic remark and perhpas your northern bias . Its all good. Bemidji and Moorhead are very good, fun to watch. STMA should have been a 3.
Moorhead handled Buffalo easily. Rogers over Brainerd not a surprise with Brainerd struggling the last month. STMA over Roseau sounded like a close game but STMA got the bounces when needed. My prediction Moorhead over Rogers easily. I do not think Rogers can match the spuds depth. #3 STMA struggled with the #7 seed last night should be a cakewalk for the jacks. Then it should be another spuds verses jacks classic for the championship.
BluntInstrument wrote:
Done ... and the transitive property didn't hold up. Might be junk schedules but I guess it was enough preparation.
Yes, a well-earned upset for Rogers, and a predictable win for STMA. It doesn't make the dumb conspiracy theory any more valid.
It wasn't a comment about "dumb conspiracy theory" just needling you for your snide/sarcastic remark and perhpas your northern bias . Its all good. Bemidji and Moorhead are very good, fun to watch. STMA should have been a 3.
I know, I know. There aren't many things that set me off on here anymore, but people posing as objective journalists who impute motives without any evidence are one of them. No doubt STMA deserved the 3-seed, though seeding is overrated (as some of the STMA fans clearly understand). Winning solves everything.
And I'm a city kid now, no more northern bias here.
Your coach, Jer Johnson, was a stud player for Brainerd in the early '90s and played on the 1991 team that was arguably the best team Brainerd ever had, losing to Roseau in the 3rd OT in the section final up in East Grand Forks in the last single class tournament 
Best of luck to the Knights in the playoffs 
. Its all good. Bemidji and Moorhead are very good, fun to watch. STMA should have been a 3.