2006 EP One of the Best Ever???

[husky5]

Eden Praire is excellent team and a team to be reckoned with for the next few years. That said I believe that some of their counterparts from the past could've and would of beaten them more ties than not. When Roseville came in in 94-95 with Winny Brodt and the Curtin's they were a very deep team. Their Achilles' Heel was goaltending but no one got a chance to find that out. They were a force for 4 years. 3 Ms. Hockey winners in 4 years, not bad. PC had Wendell but also had 4 All-State players (Pioneer Press-Wendell/Horn/Kern/Jones) with Canniff a Hon. Mention. They were 28-1-0, Loss to Hibbing (3rd in State 2000) in the Kaposia 4-3 in OT without Wendell as she was playing in Europe for US National team confirmed that it was a very good team. Bloomington Jefferson (1998-2001) was even deeper playing bridesmaids to Roseville and PC until they won it in 2001. SSP is more recent history lends to us to believe they were the team of the ages.<br>The fact is it, this is all speculation and every team was worthy of there crown. Who will ever know if this team or that team would have one in a 1 game showdown. That will be idle chatter for years to come.<br><br>PS. I would take the team with the best HS player ever, though.... <p></p><i></i>

[Swoops26]

Would have to give it to EP 06 also. Just too deep to strong in all phases. Offense, defense, goaltending. They would just be too much for any "one big line team" <p></p><i></i>

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Yeah, SSP had some goaltending issues in '03. <p>"Dream as if you'll live forever; Live as if you'll die today." --James Dean</p><i></i>

[hubbaa]

swoops,<br><br>nelson, fisher, stohr, young, bloemers and bauerfeld made two very big lines. imagine that 6 d-1 players on the first two lines, assuming bauerfeld goes d-1... <br><br>but that is just one team that i thought was better, the best one may have been with albrecht, miller, hanson, mueller and robertson at d. and fisher, young, stohr, nelson, mueller, funk etc up front. most teams didn't even touch the puck against them. the teamwork was probably the best i've seen in high school hockey, including boys teams. ssp would literally complete 20 passes to the opponents 1 completion. amazing it was.. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... >hubbaa</A> at: 3/1/06 8:18 am<br></i>

[Nostalgic Nerd]

SSP territorially was like tipping the sheet of ice. EP would still give up more shots on goal but mostly low percentage stuff obviously, like an elusive dominance because the shots on goal could still be relatively even. SSP kind of didn't want you to warm their goalie up period. I thought their goaltending was weaker though which evens things out a bit. <p>"Dream as if you'll live forever; Live as if you'll die today." --James Dean</p><i></i>

[ItsNEBG]

I'd have to go with SSP - if they don't let you cherry pick, EP especially isn't going to score. Ever notice # 15 digging in the corners behind her own net? Not very often - always floating for the breakout and the stick handle around the D. I only saw 2 of the 3 games at State but it only got 1 goal for her. The D's won every other time. <br><br>Same was true in the section 6 semifinal against my green team. She got the one breakaway goal because the puck was flipped past our "back" D (and our "forward" D was forward of course). Other than that, she got stripped of the puck each time. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyhead]

ItsNEBG,<br><br>You need to stop! For Real... #15 is better than any girl to ever come out of Edina... #15 works her butt off and if you have watched her play hockey you'd know that she is one of the best two way players in the game! That's probably why she's not paying for school next year! Let's stop picking on high school girls... How old are we?<br><br>It's not easy being green..... Especially when parents like you whine! Jealousy is one of the most evil sins... Let's not go there! Edina has a good future ahead of them, not if their parents get overly involved!<br><br>Give me a break and get over the loss... Edina lost! They battled hard and gave it their all, but in the end the better team won! GET OVER IT!!! Edina should feel proud that they gave EP one of their only 1 goal games of the year. #15 only break away goal gave them the win! Big goals by big time players.<br><br><br>Next year will be a different year!<br>Good luck to all teams!<br><br>Hockeyhead<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyrube]

Hey NEBG,<br><br>Edina improved a bunch this year - great job by Stephan!<br><br>There is no shame in your homegrown Edina Gals losing to a AAA team !!!!<br><br>Rube <br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[FACMAN]

ItsNEBG,<br><br>Let's talk about that goal from # 15. Mark Stephan coached teams are notorious for pinching their defense. That's cool, he's been doing it for years, and he's very successful. However, one of the cool things about sports is that strategies can be countered. <br><br>On that play, as our D, #12 Dy-anna Stewart, was skating to the puck along the right half boards she caught Pezon's eye and Pezon took off. Your defense pinched, Stewart hit the puck high off of the glass and Pezon caught up to it and went in and scored.<br><br>I haven't even got to the best part yet. Because our coaches knew that Edina would pinch their d, they practiced that very play over and over and over in practice the day before the game. Stewart made one of the nicest plays of the year, our forward made it count, and you write about it like it's a crap play.<br><br>Next, let's go with your point about EP scoring only because Pezon (an absolutely absurd assertion) cherry picks. Let's take away her 43 goals from the total. How do you account for the other 160, or so, goals EP scored. Your team scored 99 and we're one dimensional? Unbelievable.<br><br>Finally, you talk about Pezon not digging in the corners behind her own net. The position she plays is not supposed to go in the corners in her own zone. Shame on her for being coachable. <br><br>I normally try to be politically correct when I write here, but your absurd post takes the cake. Stick to voicing your opinions about hockey fluff stuff and you'll need to pull your foot out of your mouth less often.<br><br>You could not have written a less informed post. <p></p><i></i>

[FACMAN]

P.S.<br><br>All the EP people do when talking about the Edina game is talk about how well Edina played and that we were lucky to survive. I don't know why we bother. <p></p><i></i>

[ItsNEBG]

But FACMAN, is there something between the lines? "All the EP people do..." as if maybe you're not "EP people?"<br><br>Grow another layer of skin for crying out loud. It's not easy being on top...! <br><br> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :p --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[FACMAN]

Ooooooo. That hurts. Not. <br><br>You write a post ripping a HS kid. Your post is systematically exposed for the crap that it is and you don't have the guts to back up what you've said. Instead you hide behind comments about being on top, thick skin, and how my kid arrived at EP. Those things are unrelated to what you wrote, what I wrote, and have nothing to do with my right to call you on what you wrote.<br><br>My kid is a student at EPHS. I am around people from there all the time. I accept that you and many others don't like how we arived there. That's your right. However, the fact that we are there gives me exponentially more credibility than you when discussing anything EP. Your first post shows how incredibly uninformed you are and your second how gutless. If you respond to this, how about some substance. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeywild711]

I too saw #15 for EP a couple times and my immediate thought about her was she was a pretty good playmaker besides being a threat whenever she had the puck. I am a Stillwater fan and she put the dagger in us with that shorty she scored in the third period. Sure, she has alot of talent around her, but she was very deserving of being a finalist in the Ms. hockey award. Enjoyed watching her and EP play. Great players make for great teams. <p></p><i></i>

[TyrellFashizo]

They were this year, but as Girls hockey gets bigger and better, someone else will come along. SSP has been strong for awhile now too. But all things come to an end.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

There is a cycle to all programs and EP is on the upswing, not the downturn, in my opinion. I expect they will be one of the top programs for the next 2-3 years, and beyond that is too far out to tell.<br><br>FWIW re: #15 @ EP - very talented player. Many teams are guilty of F's that don't play in the D zone, but I haven't seen EP #15 play that way enough to believe that this is her style of play. Also, sometimes it SEEMS as if players are not playing D and just hanging out in the N zone when in reality they just read the D zone play so well and break at the right time and then they hit the N zone at full tilt and we assume that they must have just been sititing out there!<br><br>This phenomenon is evident in what I believe to be the fastest G Hockey player ever in Allie T @ NSP. I used to think that she was getting dropped out of the rafters with the way she just made D look foolish, but it wasn't "cherry picking" it was timing, breaking correctly from the D zone when her team had possession of the puck, and a 5th gear that no one else in the state can match I don't believe. So much happens away from the puck, that you have to watch away from it sometimes I think to see what is really happening. The best players not only have the talent, but the read of the play and I believe the play of the best players away from the puck is what makes them so strong as well. <p></p><i></i>

[FACMAN]

hockeywild711,<br><br>Refreshing, an objective post from an opponent. You are a fan of the sport and someone who is able to comment based solely on what your eyes saw. You obviously are capable of a fair assessment despite a tough loss. That's sportsmanship. <p></p><i></i>

[FACMAN]

A few final words comments for this thread. I just praised hockeywild711 for his positive comments. <br><br>I have no expectations that this forum be a love fest, and that each response is only peaches and cream. How boring would that be. There are, however, good ways to be contrary. As I always say, remember, kids read this stuff too.<br><br>GHS you are exactly right. Hockey is a read and react sport. Many, many players are physically gifted, but the greateat players are mentally superior. Gretzky anyone?<br><br>Pezon, Lee, Thunstrom, Jones, Roberts, McDonald, et al (sorry for those I've left out) get more breaks and odd man rushes than other players, and that's no accident. You're right, it can appear they are hanging around the neutral zone when in fact, the've just read and anticipated the play better than anyone else on the ice. Their hockey brains work a split second faster than even the good players and that's what makes them elite. They are a blast to watch.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[Nostalgic Nerd]

Is "cherry picking" hanging around the neutral zone and waiting for the breakout pass aka Spehar? <p>"Dream as if you'll live forever; Live as if you'll die today." --James Dean</p><i></i>

[hockeywild711]

I dont think it matters what you call it. If your opponents cant stop it and you score lots of goals by doing it I would call say its a good thing. Gaborik for the wild tries to get behind the D all the time and occassionally gets breakaways off it. I would call it using your speed to gain an advantage. Something Allie Thunstrom and the other Ms. hockey finalists did very well in their high school careers. I guess you could say it comes down to skating ability of which speed and power are important. Many of the best skaters are also the best players. And if you take into account all the other factors like hockey sense, strength, and shooting ability you have the potential for a great player. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyrube]

Agreed !!!<br><br>I think these kids are simply playing as instructed by their coaches !! They are wonderful players, #15 EP for sure ! I bet if the coach asked them to play a super defensive style to help out the D, they would be just as dominant in that regard !! <p></p><i></i>

[iblade06]

lol nerd, speaher did do that, because randolph told him to, <br>and because to him, that crease looked like a soccer net and spehar was pele. <br>and to the earlier, question.. ssp, it was crazy how they would completly dominate every team and then some <p></p><i></i>

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I don't necessarily believe anymore that Spehar was playing "suckhole" hockey. Like you said, Randolph may have instructed him, and Spehar just may have been able to read the play at an earlier point then most. I'd have to watch the old footage to know for sure. Anyone?<br><br>The goaltending issue with SSP went something like: They beat NSP 4-3 on a last second redirection to set the new winning streak record. They outshot them about 40-15, but maybe if they had a little more stable goalkeeper, they wouldn't have needed to win at the last second. The same with the '03 final. They wouldn't have needed to win in 2 OT's cause their goalie wouldn't have given up that awfully weak long distancer, to win 1-0 instead at the end of the first regulation. <p>"Dream as if you'll live forever; Live as if you'll die today." --James Dean</p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

And does anyone remember who the NSP goalie was that played so well??? <p></p><i></i>

[Nostalgic Nerd]

I believe it would've been Christina Thompson. <p>"Dream as if you'll live forever; Live as if you'll die today." --James Dean</p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

Indeed it was. Not a bad goalie either may I add. <p></p><i></i>