STA is the new White Bear Lake

[ChrisK]

Discuss.

[kniven]

Discuss.

STA for sure. I love the Bears program, but they just loose to many players to privates. STA recruits better than any private in the metro.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

Even suggesting this shows disrespect for the Bears decades long accomplishment. Karl should remove this post, and the OP should suffer fines and a long suspension. Or just be sentenced to watching the A consolation semis.

[ChrisK]

Even suggesting this shows disrespect for the Bears decades long accomplishment. Karl should remove this post, and the OP should suffer fines and a long suspension. Or just be sentenced to watching the A consolation semis.

No, not the consolation semis!! At least give me the A consolation championship!

No disrespect meant to either of these programs, just giving both of them a bit of grief for their Thursday Troubles. Personally, I'd love to see WBL win on Thursday before STA, but if I had to bet my money would go on STA.

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

But the Bears have that lovable loser Cubs-like mystique, which the Cubs no longer have because they've now one a World Series. That takes generations to cultivate.

Think about how that streak is as old as the tournament itself, transcending the single class, two tier, and two class eras.

That streak has touched the St. Paul Auditorium. The St. Paul Civic Center. And now the X.

It's been handed down from father to son, several times over, pre-dating even the futility of the MN Vikings. In fact, this is like comparing MN Wild post season futility to that of the Vikings.

[BlueLineSpecial]

But the Bears have that lovable loser Cubs-like mystique, which the Cubs no longer have because they've now one a World Series. That takes generations to cultivate.

Think about how that streak is as old as the tournament itself, transcending the single class, two tier, and two class eras.

That streak has touched the St. Paul Auditorium. The St. Paul Civic Center. And now the X.

It's been handed down from father to son, several times over, pre-dating even the futility of the MN Vikings. In fact, this is like comparing MN Wild post season futility to that of the Vikings.

I've lived my whole life in WBL, but am a HM alum and fan. As I've gotten older I almost feel bad about Hill beating them, their general futility against Hill and their gross incompetence when they do make it to State. I've taken to rooting for WBL whenever Hill loses, even if it's WBL that beats them.

Maybe WBL should shutter the program and open enroll them in the City of Hill Murray

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

But the Bears have that lovable loser Cubs-like mystique, which the Cubs no longer have because they've now one a World Series. That takes generations to cultivate.

Think about how that streak is as old as the tournament itself, transcending the single class, two tier, and two class eras.

That streak has touched the St. Paul Auditorium. The St. Paul Civic Center. And now the X.

It's been handed down from father to son, several times over, pre-dating even the futility of the MN Vikings. In fact, this is like comparing MN Wild post season futility to that of the Vikings.

I've lived my whole life in WBL, but am a HM alum and fan. As I've gotten older I almost feel bad about Hill beating them, their general futility against Hill and their gross incompetence when they do make it to State. I've taken to rooting for WBL whenever Hill loses, even if it's WBL that beats them.

Maybe WBL should shutter the program and open enroll them in the City of Hill Murray

I find beating WB to be like eating Chinese food: an hour later I want to do it again.

[hm88]

This shouldn't be a comparison. The Bears are by far superior and I was reminded of this today while at Mariucci watching the STA vs HM game. The Bears have always been very respectable fans - which I can never say about the "Cadets" who go to school to "become ethical leaders".

Very classless this afternoon when one of their players takes a run at an HM player and while our player is in pain on the ice, the trainer being escorted on the ice - the entire STA student section is cheering for their players "big hit" - classless. I know they are high schoolers and are immature as expected. Just wish some sort of adult from STA would have stepped up to say something to those immature boys.

BTW - when will they stop claiming to be the "Tommies" - isn't that the university? Thought they were "Cadets". There goes my HM education thinking again...

[O-townClown]

Discuss.

STA recruits better than any private in the metro.

On what do you base this statement?

I'm more impressed recently by the talent acquisition efforts of Holy Family the past few years. Blake and Hill-Murray have the pipeline loaded for near-term Varsity success. Benilde-St. Margaret's recently won a state title. Heck, even Cretin-Derham Hall did not long ago when St. Thomas was still toiling in the minors chasing Class A accolades. This will sound like a stretch, but in two seasons I think Holy Angels will be better than St. Thomas.

[TheMNhockey1]

This shouldn't be a comparison. The Bears are by far superior and I was reminded of this today while at Mariucci watching the STA vs HM game. The Bears have always been very respectable fans - which I can never say about the "Cadets" who go to school to "become ethical leaders".

Very classless this afternoon when one of their players takes a run at an HM player and while our player is in pain on the ice, the trainer being escorted on the ice - the entire STA student section is cheering for their players "big hit" - classless. I know they are high schoolers and are immature as expected. Just wish some sort of adult from STA would have stepped up to say something to those immature boys.

BTW - when will they stop claiming to be the "Tommies" - isn't that the university? Thought they were "Cadets". There goes my HM education thinking again...

I remember in 2011 the the White Bear vs Hill section final someone saying basically the same thing but about White Bear fans because Ben Bahe got hurt or cut in someway and the fans chanted "Where's your tampon?". Idk I think its very pointless to get caught up in what high schoolers say or do

[Conrad]

STA will never win as long as the Vannelis are at the helm Their track record of getting out coached by less talented teams in the past 3 out of 4 years has been very evident. Granted it is the kids who play the game but not making the proper adjustments during the game and continue to double shift your so called "superstars" who continue to make mistakes is on the Coaches. Further, maybe they should coach their kids to have more grit so they can compete against the more physical teams.

[inthetwine]

STA will never win as long as the Vannelis are at the helm Their track record of getting out coached by less talented teams in the past 3 out of 4 years has been very evident. Granted it is the kids who play the game but not making the proper adjustments during the game and continue to double shift your so called "superstars" who continue to make mistakes is on the Coaches. Further, maybe they should coach their kids to have more grit so they can compete against the more physical teams.

I'll take the Vannelis over Sager anyday

[Sparlimb]

I think people forget it is hard to win at the AA level. One team gets to do it a year. Look at Edina last night. They were as good an Edina team as we've seen in a long time and they still were beat fair and square. I think STA is learning this the hard way. I'm sure a lot of their fans thought their success at A would transfer over. And they had a hell of a team this year. But Centennial was better Thursday.

If I had to pick who I'd rather see win a QF first, that's easy. White Bear. I have a lot of friends who went to school there and we always respect the rivalry. But I've seen White Bear play teams they should smoke in the QFs before and lose. So STA has been unlucky. WBL is cursed. Curse of the Mariner one might say...

[east hockey]

18 > 3

A ways to go.

Lee

[mulefarm]

STA will never win as long as the Vannelis are at the helm Their track record of getting out coached by less talented teams in the past 3 out of 4 years has been very evident. Granted it is the kids who play the game but not making the proper adjustments during the game and continue to double shift your so called "superstars" who continue to make mistakes is on the Coaches. Further, maybe they should coach their kids to have more grit so they can compete against the more physical teams.

How do you coach grit?

[WBLHockeyfan04]

This would require WBL to actually get back to the state tournament. STA at least seems to make it every year.

[Stang5280]

STA did beat Hill Murray yesterday, which is something that WBL can rarely say Not that I have any great love for STA, but it’s still way too early in their AA tenure to label them as chokers in the tournament.

[ChrisK]

This would require WBL to actually get back to the state tournament. STA at least seems to make it every year.

That's true right now, but how good will STA be once the Vannellis leave? And how good will WBL be once Sager leaves (sorry, but what's a WBL thread without a Sager cheap shot)?

The Bears are truly saddled with a Thursday Curse, but given STA's Thursday Troubles it's starting to look like there might be a Cadet curse too.