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sticksave wrote:

Duluthguy wrote:The advantage East has is that this whole "home ice" thing is in the Elks' heads. They've already decided it isn't fair and they can't win before the game has even started. And the more folks talk about how unfair it is--not only around here, but I'm sure around the hallways at Elk River High as well--the more it gets into the heads of the players, their friends, families, everyone.

We've see the same thing around here with Hermantown at the state tournament with St. Thomas. Can't beat 'em because they have an unfair advantage. Funny how last year's Class A state championship team was similar to last night: "disadvantaged" team dominates/builds a lead until the 3rd period when the "team with the advantage" takes over dominance and comes from behind to win. You have to wonder whether deep down in the minds of the Hawks a year ago and of the Elks last night they weren't hearing the voices of those saying, "you can't win because of xxx."

I think they call it a self-fulfilling prophesy in the business.

I'm pretty tired of the Duluth people POO POOing the home ice advantage thing. IT IS A FACT that home ice is an advantage for a team. To say that its all in the players heads is ignorant. Any one that would say its in their heads knows nothing about hockey! It was obvious at the beginning of the game ER did not have any type of a defeated attitude. Almost every team in every sport has a better home record then their traveling record. I was there. The replays on the big screen favored Duluth. The scoring Horn only went off when Duluth scored. Having your band their rabble rousing and playing your school song helps build your team attitude. The 2 1/2 hour bus ride does nothing to prepare a player. Eating a meal than getting on the bus again is not helpful. This is home ice advantage. If the table was turned you'd feel unhappy too. It is unfair and seeing how close this game was any advantage could've been, and probably was a game changer. Ya ya Elk River only had 1 shot in the third period. Where did DE get their motivation to take over? Yep there coach and yes probably the crowd all helped. The MSHSHL should be kicked right in the gonads for letting this definite advantage exist for so long. It's not just ER It's every team that has to go to the section finals and play DE suffer the same crap. Say What You Want. I was there, It's total crap, that anyone would think this is ok no matter what the tradition is or how much money is at stake.

sticksave wrote:

Duluthguy wrote:

northwoods oldtimer wrote: Correct!

On behalf of East fans, thanks for continuing to perpetuate the Elks' disadvantage.

Seriously...you make good points. My original post should have said, "a major advantage East has..." or "The biggest advantage East has..." rather than just imply this is the "only" advantage East has.

However, to turn a phrase from a sharp guy, "any one that would say it's not in their heads (for the reasons I described) knows nothing about human nature!

Its not just the Elk's Its everyone that gets to go to Amzoil and play DE. As Far as it being in their heads. They had confidence they could beat you when they got there. IT SHOWED in the first 2 periods. The atmosphere, the bus ride, those affect the players physically not just mentally. I'm not perpetuating anything. IT IS AN ADVANTAGE. Its not just in our heads or something we are making up. It is home ice for DE. Its not fair for any one no matter their mascot. It should come to an end and soon. In a game as close as last night it very well may have been a deciding factor. Once again the AHHH to bad for you attitude peeks through and like I have said several times before I wish the shoe was on the other foot. I'd love to see you drive to Schwan's arena or St.Cloud and lose that advantage for at least every other year. It would be fair or is that not a concept you understand up there.

ERPWA Hockey wrote: - No other team in Minnesota plays section semis and final in their hometown.

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:I remember growing up watching Mounds View and South St. Paul....they would make it to the state tournament every year but I can't recall them ever winning the big one. I am starting to see a trend here. Well, altleast Lakeville South won't be there.

Duluth 4 wrote:

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:I remember growing up watching Mounds View and South St. Paul....they would make it to the state tournament every year but I can't recall them ever winning the big one. I am starting to see a trend here. Well, altleast Lakeville South won't be there.

ZING! Hit em where it hurts Fred. As an east fan at that game, still can't comprehend how one of Minnesota's most talented teams gets beat by South that year. At least they keep getting back and whetting my appetite with hope on the big stage instead of me having think what it'd be like to not have east there. Frankly it's been so long I don't even remember what that's like!

east hockey wrote:

Duluth 4 wrote:

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:I remember growing up watching Mounds View and South St. Paul....they would make it to the state tournament every year but I can't recall them ever winning the big one. I am starting to see a trend here. Well, altleast Lakeville South won't be there.

ZING! Hit em where it hurts Fred. As an east fan at that game, still can't comprehend how one of Minnesota's most talented teams gets beat by South that year. At least they keep getting back and whetting my appetite with hope on the big stage instead of me having think what it'd be like to not have east there. Frankly it's been so long I don't even remember what that's like!

Bad analogy, comparing East to S St Paul and Mounds View. Besides, Mounds View's run was only five years. And, East has actually won a state title a few times.

And I remember 1995 and 1998 very well. It sort of helps to still have those games on DVD I watched the '98 section final against Elk River yesterday to prepare to watch last night's game. Same outcome--victory.

Lee

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:

east hockey wrote:

Duluth 4 wrote: ZING! Hit em where it hurts Fred. As an east fan at that game, still can't comprehend how one of Minnesota's most talented teams gets beat by South that year. At least they keep getting back and whetting my appetite with hope on the big stage instead of me having think what it'd be like to not have east there. Frankly it's been so long I don't even remember what that's like!

Bad analogy, comparing East to S St Paul and Mounds View. Besides, Mounds View's run was only five years. And, East has actually won a state title a few times.

And I remember 1995 and 1998 very well. It sort of helps to still have those games on DVD I watched the '98 section final against Elk River yesterday to prepare to watch last night's game. Same outcome--victory.

Lee

Sorry, I would have gotten back to you sooner, but everytime I watch the state Championship of 2011 I get excited.....I still can't believe #3 did not get called for a single interference......

east hockey wrote:

Duluth 4 wrote:

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:I remember growing up watching Mounds View and South St. Paul....they would make it to the state tournament every year but I can't recall them ever winning the big one. I am starting to see a trend here. Well, altleast Lakeville South won't be there.

ZING! Hit em where it hurts Fred. As an east fan at that game, still can't comprehend how one of Minnesota's most talented teams gets beat by South that year. At least they keep getting back and whetting my appetite with hope on the big stage instead of me having think what it'd be like to not have east there. Frankly it's been so long I don't even remember what that's like!

Bad analogy, comparing East to S St Paul and Mounds View. Besides, Mounds View's run was only five years. And, East has actually won a state title a few times.

And I remember 1995 and 1998 very well. It sort of helps to still have those games on DVD I watched the '98 section final against Elk River yesterday to prepare to watch last night's game. Same outcome--victory.

Lee

hockey59 wrote:

east hockey wrote:

Duluth 4 wrote: ZING! Hit em where it hurts Fred. As an east fan at that game, still can't comprehend how one of Minnesota's most talented teams gets beat by South that year. At least they keep getting back and whetting my appetite with hope on the big stage instead of me having think what it'd be like to not have east there. Frankly it's been so long I don't even remember what that's like!

Bad analogy, comparing East to S St Paul and Mounds View. Besides, Mounds View's run was only five years. And, East has actually won a state title a few times.

And I remember 1995 and 1998 very well. It sort of helps to still have those games on DVD I watched the '98 section final against Elk River yesterday to prepare to watch last night's game. Same outcome--victory.

Lee

Since were going down memory lane...one of my favorites is a QTR final game in 2003 at XCEL...an icing on DE with 16 seconds remaining in the 3rd period...a face-off...and the opponent center scoring from his knees

DE won a great game last night...credit to them...but some of their fans...sure act haughty...for a team that has not won State in 16 years.

sticksave wrote:

Duluthguy wrote:

northwoods oldtimer wrote: Correct!

On behalf of East fans, thanks for continuing to perpetuate the Elks' disadvantage.

Seriously...you make good points. My original post should have said, "a major advantage East has..." or "The biggest advantage East has..." rather than just imply this is the "only" advantage East has.

However, to turn a phrase from a sharp guy, "any one that would say it's not in their heads (for the reasons I described) knows nothing about human nature!

Its not just the Elk's Its everyone that gets to go to Amzoil and play DE. As Far as it being in their heads. They had confidence they could beat you when they got there. IT SHOWED in the first 2 periods. The atmosphere, the bus ride, those affect the players physically not just mentally. I'm not perpetuating anything. IT IS AN ADVANTAGE. Its not just in our heads or something we are making up. It is home ice for DE. Its not fair for any one no matter their mascot. It should come to an end and soon. In a game as close as last night it very well may have been a deciding factor. Once again the AHHH to bad for you attitude peeks through and like I have said several times before I wish the shoe was on the other foot. I'd love to see you drive to Schwan's arena or St.Cloud and lose that advantage for at least every other year. It would be fair or is that not a concept you understand up there.

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:

east hockey wrote:

Duluth 4 wrote: ZING! Hit em where it hurts Fred. As an east fan at that game, still can't comprehend how one of Minnesota's most talented teams gets beat by South that year. At least they keep getting back and whetting my appetite with hope on the big stage instead of me having think what it'd be like to not have east there. Frankly it's been so long I don't even remember what that's like!

Bad analogy, comparing East to S St Paul and Mounds View. Besides, Mounds View's run was only five years. And, East has actually won a state title a few times.

And I remember 1995 and 1998 very well. It sort of helps to still have those games on DVD I watched the '98 section final against Elk River yesterday to prepare to watch last night's game. Same outcome--victory.

Lee

Sorry, I would have gotten back to you sooner, but everytime I watch the state Championship of 2011 I get excited.....I still can't believe #3 did not get called for a single interference......

green4 wrote:Oh man, #3 I believe was Kerr if i recall.
I watched that game with a handful of buddies and we were all from Edina so we had a strong dislike for the Eagles but Rau we despised probably because he was so good but every time he got leveled by #3 we all got way too excited for our own good. Kerr hitting Rau made up for the Eagles winning the Tourney that year.

green4 wrote:

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:

east hockey wrote: Bad analogy, comparing East to S St Paul and Mounds View. Besides, Mounds View's run was only five years. And, East has actually won a state title a few times.

And I remember 1995 and 1998 very well. It sort of helps to still have those games on DVD I watched the '98 section final against Elk River yesterday to prepare to watch last night's game. Same outcome--victory.

Lee

Sorry, I would have gotten back to you sooner, but everytime I watch the state Championship of 2011 I get excited.....I still can't believe #3 did not get called for a single interference......

Oh man, #3 I believe was Kerr if i recall.
I watched that game with a handful of buddies and we were all from Edina so we had a strong dislike for the Eagles but Rau we despised probably because he was so good but every time he got leveled by #3 we all got way too excited for our own good. Kerr hitting Rau made up for the Eagles winning the Tourney that year.