Star Tribune All-Metro hockey first team

[minnscout]

The problem is Rothstein played more games against the same teams, now come on let's be serious. I like rothstein and Coatta is a good not great player. I like rothstein on the teams a lot more than Coatta if u compare to Horn.

[sweetthang]

Ithought Zajac would be a lock for at least 3rd team. Congrats to all the boys, good job.

Zajac a lock? Why? Because he is going to Princeton? Have you seen him play lately? Not sure he had a point in the 10-1 trouncing of Hastings in the section finals. For everyone who is so hyped about Zajac and Merchant I understand they are good players but if you watch as much hockey as I do and have seen Eagan play Nick Kuchera has to be in the conversation for the best forward on their team.
Laughing right now? Let me prove my point. Zajac and Merchant are teamed on the first line together and are 2nd and 3rd in scoring with 51 and 50 points respectively. Who leads the team? Kuchera with 54 points centering the 2nd line. While many people would say well that's because they go against the other teams 1st line tell that to Kloos and Harvey. Doesn't seem to bother them. Want more? Kuchera has turned 2 guys who didn't play full time last year into formidable players. His line has tallied 134 points this year while Zajac/Merchants line has 125. More? Kuchera's line has 23 points in the playoffs this year. Zajac/Merchant? 12!
One last point and I'll let everyone judge for themselves at state. Kuchera was an under the radar (as he is with everything) all tournament selection last year while I'm not sure Zajac had a point. I understand Kuchera doesn't have the size and that is why I am guessing he doesn't get much publicity but the numbers speak for themselves.
Not trying to bash Zajac/Merchant but this kid deserves some credit. Give credit where credit is due. This kid is the real deal. Now go judge for yourselves, watch #3 at state. My guess is he won't be hard to notice

[Just Checking]

Star-Trib asks, "What do you try to do on a penalty shot?"

Franke answers, "Stop the puck."


Gotta luv it.

Agreed.

[Neuuman]

Coatta and Rothstein? How does Zajac and Horn not make it.

Not sure how much you watched Tonka play the last few yrs, but Rothstein is an absolute beast, and IMHO very underrated. Plays a very similar game to Merchant and Zajac. Coatta has played on one of Tonka's first 2 lines since he was a freshman and is a little sniper. His older brother was pretty damn good too. I def think Coatta and Rothstein deserved it, I would probably throw Erik Baskin in there too. Zajac did get hosed though. No doubt.

Looks like they might have capped the number of players from any one team at 2. If that's the case, then you'd have to pick Zajak over Merchant, and if you wanted Letierri, you'd need to drop either Coatta or Rothstein.

Which is what the Pioneer Press did, actually. Guess that it's good that at each of these deserving players made it on at least one of these lists.

I wouldn't put too much stock in what the Pioneer Press writes - for instance, they named Jay Dickman as a defenseman, and that was not an oversight. They described him in their "blurb" as a defenseman.

Also, they reported that Charlie Sampair had 11 power play goals AND 11 SHORT HANDED GOALS. Strib has him at 3 SHG's. I'm going to believe the Strib. I don't want this in any way to reflect negatively on either Charlie or Jay - they both deserve to be honored for their impressive accomplishments. I do think the Pioneer Press should have their feet held to the fire for factually inaccurate reporting. It's not like they have to have Woodward and Bernstein digging this stuff up. Check the facts and get it right. Is that too much to ask from a newspaper?

[slyer]

the pioneer press is a joke,i would say whoever does there hs hockey section has never seen a hs game this year, wrong info throughout the year

[minnscout]

Now do you think Horn deserves to be on the all metro team?