Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
I'll take a stab at this:MNHockeyFan wrote:Sectional play is now complete, and the Class AA State Tournament teams have been finalized. Here are the teams going to St. Paul, and their season records:
1AA Farmington (16-11-1)
2AA Eden Prairie (19-6-2)
3AA Eastview (16-10-2)
4AA Hill-Murray (23-4-1)
5AA Blaine (23-3-2)
6AA Edina (25-1-1)
7AA Forest Lake (20-5-3)
8AA Roseau (19-8-1)
Questions:
Which teams will be seeded 1 to 5?
That matches exactly what I put in the other thread. Blaine could be #2 (1 fewer loss than HM), but I think HM gets it based on past performance. Personally, I don't think that should matter, but we're talking coaches here. Granted, being seeded 2 or 3 really makes no difference at all. EP v FL will be a very interesting game. I'm not really betting on any of the unseeded teams to have much of a chance in the QFs. But that's why they play the game. Not many gave Farmington a chance against the two Lakevilles or Roseau against Brainerd...MNHockeyFan wrote: I'll take a stab at this:
1. Edina
2. Hill-Murray
3. Blaine
4. Eden Prairie
5. Forest Lake
Random draws: Farmington, Eastview and Roseau
I am a little surprised that Blaine was seeded #2 and Hill-Murray #3, but as you say it really doesn't make much (if any) difference (although I suppose playing a LITTLE earlier gives a team a LITTLE more time to recoup - spreads the 3 games in 3 days out a LITTLE more).Sparlimb wrote:Well I was wrong on just the Blaine v HM seedings in my brackets in the other thread. The fact I got the 3 non-seeded teams exactly right last night shows you how "random" it really is.
Official Games:
#2 Blaine v Roseau
#3 Hill-Murray v Eastview
#1 Edina v Farmington
#4 Eden Prairie v Forest Lake
MNHockeyFan wrote:I am a little surprised that Blaine was seeded #2 and Hill-Murray #3, but as you say it really doesn't make much (if any) difference (although I suppose playing a LITTLE earlier gives a team a LITTLE more time to recoup - spreads the 3 games in 3 days out a LITTLE more).Sparlimb wrote:Well I was wrong on just the Blaine v HM seedings in my brackets in the other thread. The fact I got the 3 non-seeded teams exactly right last night shows you how "random" it really is.
Official Games:
#2 Blaine v Roseau
#3 Hill-Murray v Eastview
#1 Edina v Farmington
#4 Eden Prairie v Forest Lake
Official bracket here:
http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/showXMLbrack ... acket=7390
Re: the #4 vs. #5 matchup, Eden Prairie needed a late 3rd period goal to send their game against Minnetonka into OT, whereas Flake had an easier time with a strong ER/Z squad. Hard one to predict!
I'm in no way looking past Forrest Lake, but I'm really getting tired of EP and Hill Murray in the second round. Last year was a refreshing change, and such a wonderful outcome.MNHockeyFan wrote:Good point.Hansonbrother wrote:I think there is a big difference between the #2 and #3 seed....you guys are over-looking the importance of last change... It's the little things that make a big difference
luckyEPDad wrote:I'm in no way looking past Forrest Lake, but I'm really getting tired of EP and Hill Murray in the second round. Last year was a refreshing change, and such a wonderful outcome.MNHockeyFan wrote:Good point.Hansonbrother wrote:I think there is a big difference between the #2 and #3 seed....you guys are over-looking the importance of last change... It's the little things that make a big difference
The nice thing about playing Forrest lake is there are some butts in the seats. You could hear crickets during the EP Hill-Murray game.
Two years in a row the second round opponent was Hill-Murray, 2013 and 2014. Both years the 3rd place game was against Lakeville North. I think both first round games were against teams making their first appearance in the state tournament (Forrest Lake in 2013 I think). It was like the movie "Groundhog's Day". In 2015 it looked like EP would have the top seed and HM second seed. An exciting grudge match in the making for the championship. It was going to be epic, then Edina decided to ruin the party.nu2hockey wrote:luckyEPDad wrote:I'm in no way looking past Forrest Lake, but I'm really getting tired of EP and Hill Murray in the second round. Last year was a refreshing change, and such a wonderful outcome.MNHockeyFan wrote: Good point.
The nice thing about playing Forrest lake is there are some butts in the seats. You could hear crickets during the EP Hill-Murray game.
EP-HM was 2014 , right?...the biggest crowds will be Thursday morning ...Kids getting out of school for the large schools ensure that...Flake does have a nice following.
While anything is possible, I'm skeptical if EP can overcome Edina's clear advantage when it comes to depth. If the Hornets can keep Rogge in check, I believe they will prevail once again in another low scoring tight game. Average score in their two regular season meetings this year: Edina 1.5, EP 0.5.Sparlimb wrote:EP, with a max effort, can beat Edina. Will the show up with enough to do so tomorrow?
I'm expecting both semi's to be great games as well. For the Blaine/Hill-Murray match-up I used the 4-4 regular season tie game when doing my predictions in the AA contest thread, in which I went with Blaine after seeing they outshot the Pioneers 49-20. If the Pioneers allow Blaine 49 shots again I don't like their chances.Sparlimb wrote:Both games should be entertaining, although after the way the regular season game against Blaine went, I'm not holding my breath on my squad.
