District 4 Bantam A

[Frozen Four]

Haven't seen any of these teams...anyone know anything about them? <p></p><i></i>

[joshdog]

The 4 team's that are going to region's are seeded in the same way the district regular season played out. All 4 team's are very equal and any team can win on any given night.#1 New Prague has some very strong defensemen. They come at you quick out of the zone and have some forward's that can score. Put them on the PP and you will see how good their D-men are. In my own opinion Adams is the most skilled player in the district. #2 Owatonna will skate 8,9 or 10 skater's but don't let that fool you. They really don't have a weak link and don't think you are going to tire them out. With 9 skater's they outshot a strong NP team 16-8 in the 3rd period of the District Championship. They spread the ice out and make passes rather then skate too much. Solid goaltender. As soon as you think you have the upper hand on them, look at the scoreboard, chances are they are winning. #3 Mankato is the most up and down team. When they play well they are pretty good and have played with some very good team's throughout the state. They have a tendency to fall short at times and I really can't put my finger on it as to why. Catch them on a good day and they will send you packing. #4 Albert Lea I will leave for other people to address as I coach the team. Needless to say I think we could very well surprise some people as a 4 seed.<br>P.S. Don't forget, Kato has the "Souperstar" <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... joshdog</A> at: 2/26/06 8:48 pm<br></i>

[icantstopthepuck]

AL is a good team. They can compete with the top three any day. They probably would have gotten a higher seed but they ran into a very hot NU goalie who stole the game. NP is a good team probably the most defensive team in the district. Owatonna is the opposite they like to press the attack and make long cross-ice passes to the open guy <br>I'll be like JDOG and not talk about my team <p></p><i></i>

[ALdude9]

All the teams in the district have different strengths and weaknesses and they are all very even. <p></p><i></i>

[soup3]

all the teams have the skill it just is basically whoever the team that has the most heart and comes to play will win.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><!--EZCODE HR START--><hr /><!--EZCODE HR END-->I am the <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE START--><span style="text-decoration:underline">soup</span><!--EZCODE UNDERLINE END--></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END-->erstar. <p></p><i></i>

[ALdude9]

well said <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyequalslife]

what are the brackets for regions who plays who<br> <p></p><i></i>

[Buffpuck]

what do the d4 teams think of our chances? (Buffalo) <p></p><i></i>

[bugsy]

I think Buffalo has as good a chance as anybody to come out of the Region. What I would not do if I were them is overlook their first game against Albert Lea. I think that from reading the posts about the D4 teams that the four teams are pretty even. AL is a well coached hardworking team that usually gets quite a few scoring chances, there problen is finishing. I think that there is probably 5-6 teams who could win this thing depending on who plays well, who gets good goaltending etc. My guess is we will see a bunch of 1 goal games this weekend and it should be a competitive, fun filled weekend. Too bad the tournament wasn't this last weekend as each team would have been able to take in a MSU game and watched the Mavericks dismantle the Badgers. Best atmosphere in the Civic Center that I have ever seen. Good Luck to all teams coming to the Regional. Better bring the A game though. <p></p><i></i>

[Buffpuck]

last year we lost in first round to Owatanna in OT and Owatanna ended up winning it...I agree with your assesment and don't see a clear cut favorite...I do believe Buffalo has played a tougher non District schedule then anyone else which may help them...Playing Eden Prairie/Jefferson/Centennial/Armstrong/Hibbing/Osseo/Andover/Orono etc etc should help them... <p></p><i></i>

[bugsy]

Buffpuck, how did they do against those teams, I know they tied Jefferson, split with Wayzata, lost to Orono, but not sure how they did against the other teams. Playing that kind of non-District schedule should help, but in a one game and out per say tourney, it is alot different than say a double elimination format that is in the other Regionals. <p></p><i></i>

[Buffpuck]

bugsy...<br><br>Buffalo 2 Centennial 5 (Centennial turned it up a notch in 3rd) <br>Buffalo 5 Wayzata 1 (Only played them one time)<br>Buffalo 2 Armstrong 1 (Played without 1st line center)<br>Buffalo 2 Hibbing 3 (Hibbing goalie is good)<br>Buffalo 1 Jefferson 1 (Jefferson scored in last minute)<br>Buffalo 3 Rosemount 4 (close game..Buffalo 32 shots Rose 30)<br>Buffalo 3 EP 3 (EP outshot Buff 36-2<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>Buffalo 6 Andover 3 (Wasn't that close)<br>Buffalo 9 Shakopee 0 (Run time..Shak not good)<br>Buffalo 2 Orono 5 (#1 de out for 3rd per...2-1 after 2)<br>Buffalo 4 Osseo 5 (OT)<br>Buffalo 6 Brainerd 2 (was surprised BR wasn't better)<br>Buffalo 3 Little Falls 1 (close game)<br><br>There were some others but these come to mind....<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[bugsy]

I'd have to say you are the favorite then <p></p><i></i>

[Buffpuck]

our team can beat anyone or lose to anyone...probably the same all over....exibit A was a recent loss to Hutch...You know how it is in these things..it's which team shows and how you match up with the teams you play. By the looks of it I agree with Frozen Four that d4 is much more solid than d5... <p></p><i></i>

[Frozen Four]

Does anyone have a handle on how good this District is how they stack up against District 5? <p></p><i></i>

[bugsy]

Read the post by joshdog. He's the head coach of Albert Lea and he has a pretty good handle on the D4 teams. As far as District 5 goes and how D4 stacks up, I can tell you that Mankato has played Willmar and MAML and the scores were 8-0 and 7-1 with Manakto winning. Those are the only D5 teams that they have played. Not sure how the other 3 D4 teams fared against D5 teams throughout the year. <p></p><i></i>

[joshdog]

Owatonna beat Hutch twice, the 2nd time in Hutch's tourney with 8 skater's. <p></p><i></i>

[icebb1]

owatonna beat sartell 3-1 only barely surviving a 3rd period onslaught of shots and hits. This region is going to be decided by who wants it more. <p></p><i></i>

[jellytime13]

okay sartell isnt good thats the bottom line, and buffalo will win it <p></p><i></i>

[falkster09]

im gonna have to disagree, Buffalo has a real tough game on friday night that, even if they do win it, they will have been pushed to their limit against a solid AL team, and then having to bounce right back and play two more tough games, it will sure take some character. <p>Falkster</p><i></i>

[hockeyequalslife]

i agree al is solid and will give buffalo a run for there money no telling how much they will have left in semis and if they mak3e it past that new prague is the best hope to make it in the other bracket so should be a pretty interesting tourney <p></p><i></i>

[icantstopthepuck]

why cant the rest of you AL guys be like jdog and not talk your team up. with that said i do think that AL and Buffalo will be a good game that could go either way. I just dont think that you should have to say stuff about your team cause if you are a good team like AL other people will do the talking for you <p></p><i></i>

[upucker]

There was some talk about a year ago about Buffalo and their Dryland program and how the kids were burnt out on too much dryland STUFF in-season. Can the Buffalo people tell me is there any truth to this? Have they kept the dry land training in-season or to just off-season? <p></p><i></i>

[joshdog]

What you are referring to is conversation's I had personally with 3 group's of Buffalo parent's in Willmar last year during the D4-D5 Regional tourney. Buffalo had just been beaten by Owatonna so there was a little bit of dissillusionment amongst the group. They didn't think their team played with much heart that game and were trying to put their finger's on it. Buffalo has one of the finest dryland facilities for a youth program in the state and some very knowledgable people involved in their youth and HS program. We don't have a lot of equipment in our room in AL but as has been pointed out, it can be used in various capacities. As a coach I think you need to keep a good eye on your player's attitudes throughout the year and try to keep things fresh. Late in the year I always seem to sense a bit of burn-out amongst a few of the player's but there are also the kid's that still want to be at the rink every day. I don't think anyone can doubt the benefit's of off ice workout's but it alway's seems that during the season you are seeing thing's that need work on ice, so you try to prioritize what is needed with time constraint's. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... joshdog</A> at: 3/1/06 9:41 am<br></i>

[upucker]

I agree, any insight on Buffalo's dryland program as to when and how often they use it? <p></p><i></i>