Hill-Murray vs St. Thomas Academy - Semi-Final Friday

[Sparlimb]

Discuss...

[GoldyGopher23]

3rd match-up between STA and Hill this year. Both games earlier this year were tight. Second game STA was up 2-0 and Hill played some of the best hockey I've seen all year to come back and win 3-2. This should be a good one.

[thestickler07]

As an STAA fan I did not want to see HM in the semis.

The Pioneers looked explosive tonight and Lechner will have them ready to play.

Aitken needs to stay hot for the Cadets to pull of the upset.

[O-townClown]

Aitken needs to stay hot for the Cadets to pull of the upset.

Hill-Murray matches up very well against St. Thomas. If they meet Saturday, I think Hill-Murray matches up very favorably to Blake...who they beat 7-1 early in the season.

[Trout]

First I think both of these teams were predictable winners in the quarters (honestly all 8 were - A and AA) and not one of these teams is very likeable.

Gonna have to watch just because it is HS hockey not because of the teams playing. If you add in A teams ... Warroad is the only team in the whole tourney that is somewhat likeable if you aren't a homer (maybe Blake for stepping up to AA)! In fact all 8 winners were the hottest teams coming in and played tough teams down the stretch. I know scheduling isn't always in the coaches hands but the 4 winners in AA were all prepared for the high pressure situations based on their tough season ending schedules.

As far a Hill vs. STA. I think STA will make this a much better game than people think. STA is playing a very awkward system to play against in the neutral zone. If you don't figure out the neutral zone and play very patiently it will be a muck and grinder. This STA team has less than half the talent any of the Vanelli brothers teams and I think they have a better chance to win in AA because of the style they are playing (Eigner has shown with this team his best coaching BY FAR!). This is a VERY different team than early in the year and I think HM will be surprised. Finally, how many times have you seen it...It is very tough to come back after playing a perfect game (no one ever follows up a 60 with a good round of golf!).

The biggest thing HM has going for it is Remy K. IMO he is the better goalie (STA goalie is very good but RK is the best in the State IMHO). RK didn't get challenged against the spuds but HM will give up some odd mans vs STA. That is likely the difference. Hollum will get opportunities and if he finishes and STA gets ahead at any point watch out!

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

The Cadets are a bit like White Bear, they always play us tough. Coasting in the 3rd period is sort of a once a decade experience.

Hornets: lost their stinger
Skippers: boat sunk
Hounds: put to sleep
Thunderhawks: had their wings clipped
Ponies: rode hard & put away wet
Bengals: de-fanged
Red Knights: good night
Huskies: licking their wounds
Crimson: red faced from embarrassment
Bears: hibernating till November
Spuds: got mashed

Cadets: about to be dis-armed

[BlueLineSpecial]

These teams know each other so well that I expect a tight game. Since the 2012-2013 season these teams have played each other at least twice in each regular season. I think the series is something like 8-7-2 STA during that stretch, with several tight games and several OT games. No reason to think this game will be any different. Hill is playing great, and has the talent advantage. STA is on a hot streak right now, playing great. Hot teams are tough to stop. Should be a fun game. I'll take Hill 4-2

[The Next One]

How have these teams faired in bantams and peewees over the last few years?

[Slap Shot]

The Cadets are a bit like White Bear, they always play us tough. Coasting in the 3rd period is sort of a once a decade experience.

Hornets: lost their stinger
Skippers: boat sunk
Hounds: put to sleep
Thunderhawks: had their wings clipped
Ponies: rode hard & put away wet
Bengals: de-fanged
Red Knights: good night
Huskies: licking their wounds
Crimson: red faced from embarrassment
Bears: hibernating till November
Spuds: got mashed

Cadets: about to be dis-armed

[MNHockeyFan]

The Cadets are a bit like White Bear, they always play us tough. Coasting in the 3rd period is sort of a once a decade experience.

Hornets: lost their stinger
Skippers: boat sunk
Hounds: put to sleep
Thunderhawks: had their wings clipped
Ponies: rode hard & put away wet
Bengals: de-fanged
Red Knights: good night
Huskies: licking their wounds
Crimson: red faced from embarrassment
Bears: hibernating till November
Spuds: got mashed

Cadets: about to be dis-armed

Make it another. Well done!

[karl(east)]

Impressive showing by Hill last night to unleash their speed. It might not be as easy to play that way against STA, but they certainly have the edge in talent and I'm leaning toward the Pioneers in this one. I'm guessing we'll see a lot of Palodichuk and Fleishhacker against Hallum, and Hill's second line could be the difference-maker.

[thestickler07]

How have these teams faired in bantams and peewees over the last few years?

This might've been considered a clever chirp a decade ago.

[thestickler07]

Aitken needs to stay hot for the Cadets to pull of the upset.

Hill-Murray matches up very well against St. Thomas. If they meet Saturday, I think Hill-Murray matches up very favorably to Blake...who they beat 7-1 early in the season.

0/U 4.5 goals - if it goes over, Pioneers probably won.

Cadets desperately need the under to hit.

[stpaul]

HM's Strobel and Pierre looked really good on that slightly bigger and faster ice surface at the X.

[stpaul]

How have these teams faired in bantams and peewees over the last few years?

This might've been considered a clever chirp a decade ago.

46 years ago. We are now 46 years into private schools in the MSHSL. It's a done deal in all sports and across the Country. Also the quaint notion that public school teams are made up of kids who grew up together and go on to win a State Championship has been gone since longer ago than that.

[deacon]

How have these teams faired in bantams and peewees over the last few years?

This might've been considered a clever chirp a decade ago.

46 years ago. We are now 46 years into private schools in the MSHSL. It's a done deal in all sports and across the Country. Also the quaint notion that public school teams are made up of kids who grew up together and go on to win a State Championship has been gone since longer ago than that.

Rational thinking isn’t allowed here

[East Side Pioneer Guy]

This might've been considered a clever chirp a decade ago.

46 years ago. We are now 46 years into private schools in the MSHSL. It's a done deal in all sports and across the Country. Also the quaint notion that public school teams are made up of kids who grew up together and go on to win a State Championship has been gone since longer ago than that.

Rational thinking isn’t allowed here

No doubt. This is the internet.

[kniven]

46 years ago. We are now 46 years into private schools in the MSHSL. It's a done deal in all sports and across the Country. Also the quaint notion that public school teams are made up of kids who grew up together and go on to win a State Championship has been gone since longer ago than that.

Rational thinking isn’t allowed here

No doubt. This is the internet.

I’m pulling for Hill Murray tonight. Big time

[deacon]

Hill’s uniforms are nice

[northwoods oldtimer]

GO STA!! Win one for the oldtimer watching from Shooks

[Sparlimb]

GO STA!! Win one for the oldtimer watching from Shooks

Thanks buddy!

[justwalksouthwestward]

Pretty good crowd, haters.

[raidergrad72]

The Cadets are a bit like White Bear, they always play us tough. Coasting in the 3rd period is sort of a once a decade experience.

Hornets: lost their stinger
Skippers: boat sunk
Hounds: put to sleep
Thunderhawks: had their wings clipped
Ponies: rode hard & put away wet
Bengals: de-fanged
Red Knights: good night
Huskies: licking their wounds
Crimson: red faced from embarrassment
Bears: hibernating till November
Spuds: got mashed

Cadets: about to be dis-armed

Make it another. Well done!

ESPG
Are you really this creative or just a lot of time on your hands?

[BlueLineSpecial]

Hill capitalized on their two power plays, STA didn’t on their two. Other than that I thought it was a pretty even period.

This is exactly what Hill needed to do out of the gate. Not sure coming back from multiple goals down is STA’s game. Let’s hope not anyway

[goldy313]

Is the Strobel kid on Hill related to Eric Strobel from Mayo/Miracle on ice fame?