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Just have to give my quick comment on the game. It was clear Eagan came to play physical, and the refs let them finish their checks...all of their checks. Yes some were very borderline late, but the refs kept the whistles in their pockets except for one interference call, and the one roughing/high hit with 4 minutes left by the captain. Yes there were a few questionables that could have been called, but that was how Eagan wanted to play, and it worked.

It's really simple, STA only had the Novak line and holy smokes does he slow the game down on the PP. Eagan came to play physical, get to the net and they wanted it more. Novak's line was gassed late in the third and it showed. I thought STA did have a very slight edge on the higher quality chances, a few 2 on 1, and 3 on 1 and didn't bury. Eagan cashed in on all their high quality chances. They deserve to go to state. I would just warn them their physical play was great, but very very close to losing them the game if a ref thinks those hits were high and late.

It will be interesting to see how STA does in the next few years. Yes they will be competitive, but they have always had 2-3 young stars breakout, simlair to what Novak did when he won All-Tourney as a freshman (in single A). I didn't see many youn guns making a name for themselves, so if they want to keep this going they will need their 1st line to stay another year and the younger talent will need to step up.

Sidenote - did anyone else see the Eagan fan last night, looked like a combo between Bret Michales and Hulk Hogan. Hope they bring the noise in state, could be a fun crowd to watch.

EliteHockeyMind wrote: Sidenote - did anyone else see the Eagan fan last night, looked like a combo between Bret Michales and Hulk Hogan. Hope they bring the noise in state, could be a fun crowd to watch.

Jack Jenson's older brother. Best hockey cheerleader not wearing white figure skates ever.

We're going to have to find a way to sneak him into the front of the student section next week.

BlueLineSpecial wrote:

MrBoDangles wrote:

HShockeywatcher wrote: We give penalties for "going for a hit" now? If that were the case, then where were all the penalties when Eagan players "went for the hit" on Novak?

Curious, then, as to your thoughts about the no call where the STA player got leveled behind the play in the Eagan zone in the 2nd period?

Like I said, it was the icing on the cake.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y52bs0aX6v8

You just made my night. I'm 35...and in my childhood this was sung to me. Often apparently, because I could recite the whole thing today.

Seemed like HSHW needed a little snuggle time with Rosie..

EliteHockeyMind wrote:Sidenote - did anyone else see the Eagan fan last night, looked like a combo between Bret Michales and Hulk Hogan. Hope they bring the noise in state, could be a fun crowd to watch.

The tweets about him, and pictures with him, were numerous.

EliteHockeyMind wrote:Just have to give my quick comment on the game. It was clear Eagan came to play physical, and the refs let them finish their checks...all of their checks. Yes some were very borderline late, but the refs kept the whistles in their pockets except for one interference call, and the one roughing/high hit with 4 minutes left by the captain. Yes there were a few questionables that could have been called, but that was how Eagan wanted to play, and it worked.

It's really simple, STA only had the Novak line and holy smokes does he slow the game down on the PP. Eagan came to play physical, get to the net and they wanted it more. Novak's line was gassed late in the third and it showed. I thought STA did have a very slight edge on the higher quality chances, a few 2 on 1, and 3 on 1 and didn't bury. Eagan cashed in on all their high quality chances. They deserve to go to state. I would just warn them their physical play was great, but very very close to losing them the game if a ref thinks those hits were high and late.

It will be interesting to see how STA does in the next few years. Yes they will be competitive, but they have always had 2-3 young stars breakout, simlair to what Novak did when he won All-Tourney as a freshman (in single A). I didn't see many youn guns making a name for themselves, so if they want to keep this going they will need their 1st line to stay another year and the younger talent will need to step up.

Glad I wasn't the only one who didn't have their public school blinders on.

Like I said, the refs didn't lose the game, St Thomas did. I know it's cliche to say (and it's usually true) but the Cadets played poorly overall in this game.
The main thing they've done all year that irks me is they let guys skate into the zone untouched and get a shot off when they could put a body on him. Numerous shots that shouldn't have happened.
When they play as a team, they do very well, as was evident by the first period and a half. Much of the third was a lot of individual efforts by guys.
They've had an unbelievable PP all year and it was quite sloppy with many missed opportunities.

There's more little things that happened. A good team played a poor game against a team that played a good game. When that happens, the result is usually as it was Thursday.
But I'm still going to call a spade a spade when I see it. I've been unimpressed with officiating overall this season and commented on it every time. With the exception of one of the goals being scored on a PP of a questionable call Thursday, I don't think it's impacted the result of any games I've seen. With the importance of safety and the highlight the state has put on calling the game by the rules, it's important to discuss though.
Mixing the two topics is just petty.

I also think, as EliteHockeyMind also commented on, it affects how a team plays in the future.

EliteHockeyMind, I think the difference between what you are talking about and this year is that Novak has been there to overshadow the young guys that have come up. As a freshman, he was 3rd in goals and a assists and 4th in points and only 5 points behind the top scorer. Since, he has been dominant.
Hurley is a freshman D this year that has done very well.
McDonald wasn't on the section team because he hurt his hand in the last regular season game.
Broetzman (jr) was 8th on the team in scoring last year and 3rd this year.
Tufto (jr) was 11th on the team in scoring last year and 4th this year.
Donohue is one that wasn't talked about much because of Dougherty last year.
Heck, one could even say that Versich was overshadowed because of Novak.

So, no, there were not young guys that broke out Thursday and played better than Novak-Versich-Tufto/Broetzman, but there are plenty of young guys making a name for themselves on the team.

Also, I've been hearing all year how "young this team is." Of the 20 on the section roster, 11 are juniors. Of the 6 seniors only 3 saw the ice regularly. This team will be returning their starters. Losing Novak would hurt, losing Versich too would be really bad and if either Tufto or Broetzman left also. But the idea of a Broetzman-Tufto-Stang top line with McDonald-Gupta-Weihrauch second backed up by Donohue and Hurley isn't a bad situation to be stuck with.

Anyway, good luck to the Wildcats at state.

HShockeywatcher wrote: But I'm still going to call a spade a spade when I see it. I've been unimpressed with officiating overall this season and commented on it every time. With the exception of one of the goals being scored on a PP of a questionable call Thursday, I don't think it's impacted the result of any games I've seen. With the importance of safety and the highlight the state has put on calling the game by the rules, it's important to discuss though.
Mixing the two topics is just petty.

Hey HSHW,

I'm watching a tape-delayed replay of the game on cable TV right now. It's a Town Square Television production, which (as you probably know) covers STA games, and it's being called by STA homer announcers. Just saw the play that you got all whiney about, and at first the STA guys were just as incredulous as you were. But then they saw the replay, and decided that they were okay with the ref's call.

Just sayin'.