First Section Tournament Game You Attended

Stang5280 · Post by **Stang5280** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:41 pm

Mine is probably not as exciting as most since I grew up in a lame hockey town, but my first section game was Park Center upsetting Woodbury in a 13-4 seed matchup at the old Coliseum (RIP) in 1983. Stillwater then drubbed PC in the quarterfinals, but it was at least fun to see one victory for the local team in Section 3. That section was comically structured geographically, so the trips across the metro area always sucked.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:47 pm

Stang5280 wrote:Mine is probably not as exciting as most since I grew up in a lame hockey town, but my first section game was Park Center upsetting Woodbury in a 13-4 seed matchup at the old Coliseum (RIP) in 1983. Stillwater then drubbed PC in the quarterfinals, but it was at least fun to see one victory for the local team in Section 3. That section was comically structured geographically, so the trips across the metro area always sucked.

Anything in the Coliseum was fun.

Post by **karl(east)** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:19 pm

It wasn't my first time watching playoff HS hockey, but the clincher for me came in 2005, in a Duluth East-Cloquet 7AA final at the old DECC. East won in an upset 3-2, with senior defenseman Kyle Michela scoring the lone goal of his high school career in double OT to clinch it. Hard to top that atmosphere in a section playoff game.

TheHockeyDJ · Post by **TheHockeyDJ** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:24 pm

elliott70 wrote:
Stang5280 wrote:Mine is probably not as exciting as most since I grew up in a lame hockey town, but my first section game was Park Center upsetting Woodbury in a 13-4 seed matchup at the old Coliseum (RIP) in 1983. Stillwater then drubbed PC in the quarterfinals, but it was at least fun to see one victory for the local team in Section 3. That section was comically structured geographically, so the trips across the metro area always sucked.
Anything in the Coliseum was fun.

Agreed, got to watch a Hill-Murray vs Centennial semifinal game there. Tyler Zepeda was on HM as was another star player who was on the Gophers for a couple years, can’t recall his name. Good atmosphere and the students sections were back and forth all game.

grindiangrad-80 · Post by **grindiangrad-80** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 7:51 pm

mnmouth wrote:
grindiangrad-80 wrote:
mnmouth wrote:1975 - Grand Rapids vs Eveleth Section 7 final at Hibbing Memorial Building. Overload crowd. Both teams loaded with talent. Rapids 4-2 win on their way to title #1
I listened to that one on the radio. There was a ton of talent in that game including 2 future 1980 Olympians. ( 1 on each team)
Most people expected Virginia to be playing in that game after finishing 1st in the IRC that year. Rapids took them out 5-2 in the Semis, also at Hibbing, I believe

I believe that Virginia team had another future 1980 Olympian also.

mnmouth · Post by **mnmouth** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 8:13 pm

grindiangrad-80 wrote:
mnmouth wrote:
grindiangrad-80 wrote: I listened to that one on the radio. There was a ton of talent in that game including 2 future 1980 Olympians. ( 1 on each team)
Most people expected Virginia to be playing in that game after finishing 1st in the IRC that year. Rapids took them out 5-2 in the Semis, also at Hibbing, I believe
I believe that Virginia team had another future 1980 Olympian also.

Yep, they had Bah.

Doc Holliday · Post by **Doc Holliday** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:25 pm

My first state tournament was 1984, but didn't do a section until 1987 at the Met Center. An underdog Edina wore their greens against Hopkins of all teams and squeaked out a 3-2 quarterfinal win. They then proceeded to win the next two in upset fashion, with a enormous upset over Minnetonka to go to state. Naturally, this low rent Hornets squad got bombed by Ken Gernander & Greenway in their first game at state. But the next year, the Hornets won the whole thing.

I love the state tournament, but my favorite high school hockey memories are of the Section games at the Met Center, which usually was the Saturday matinee doubleheader of Jefferson-Kennedy & Edina-Minnetonka. I remember 1989 in particular when the Met Center was sold out & Neal Broten quipped that they should lock the doors so everyone has to stay & the North Stars can actually play in front of a packed house for once.

The Met Center will always remain the greatest sporting venue for me.

Sparlimb · Post by **Sparlimb** » Thu Feb 15, 2018 6:39 am

My first section game was 1981 watching my beloved NSP Polars knock off White Bear Lake Mariner. It was at the St. Paul Auditorium and the whole feel of the playoff games were crazy. Polars ended up winning 4-3 to go to state (although Mariner exacted revenge the following year).

WarmUpTheBus · Post by **WarmUpTheBus** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 4:01 pm

Edina vs. Richfield at Met Center 1971. Richfield had some good teams but never could get past Edina. Nor could anyone else for that matter.

Stang5280 · Post by **Stang5280** » Fri Feb 16, 2018 9:10 pm

Doc Holliday wrote:I love the state tournament, but my favorite high school hockey memories are of the Section games at the Met Center, which usually was the Saturday matinee doubleheader of Jefferson-Kennedy & Edina-Minnetonka. I remember 1989 in particular when the Met Center was sold out & Neal Broten quipped that they should lock the doors so everyone has to stay & the North Stars can actually play in front of a packed house for once.

The Met Center will always remain the greatest sporting venue for me.

I was fortunate enough to play in a section semi at the Met Center. It was both the most exhilarating and devastating experience of my hockey career (a 2OT loss). Those doubleheader finals always made for some great hockey watching, especially with the big Bloomington rivalry involved!

victor maitland · Post by **victor maitland** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:52 am

[quote="BP"]My first recollection was 4 section finals at the Met Center on a Friday and Saturday night in the mid 80's:

Friday was B'ville vs JM (Section 1) and Edina-Tonka (Section 6)
Saturday was Jeff-Kennedy (Section 5) and Hill-WBL (Section 3)

I then went every year. B'ville "ya mama" chants, tennis balls on the ice after a goal, both teams bands rocking it, classic uniforms by all 8 teams, building completely jammed - that's how you fall in love with MN HS Hockey for life.[/quote]

I was there.

Mine: St. Louis Park at the Pond vs. Orono circa 1983. Fire Marshall Bill called in and he was given a seat at center ice. Orono snuck by them 3-2 and then went on to the new Wayzata Middle School rink and won in a 3OT thriller over the #1 seed Trojans. Then Orono proceeded to get a Section 6 semifinal beating by Minnetonka 8-2 at Met Center.

Good times. Every kid in Orono was at those games. Now you get a top rated matchup and the kids won't show up. Damn you cable tv, video games, and the parents that allow it. Damn you.