7AA Final: #2 Grand Rapids vs. #1 Duluth East

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:05 pm

All this talk of great defense just brings back bad memories... Welsinki, Forbort, McLean and Williams... all current D1 defensemen along with Joe Arbour who was a big body... best D core in the State. 4 (or was it 5) goals on 9 shots in the quarters against Cretin...

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:32 pm

EHSHack wrote:All this talk of great defense just brings back bad memories... Welsinki, Forbort, McLean and Williams... all current D1 defensemen along with Joe Arbour who was a big body... best D core in the State. 4 (or was it 5) goals on 9 shots in the quarters against Cretin...

Yeah, that comparison came to my mind, too. And the ugly losses to Centennial and Denfeld this season followed the exact same formula, with the defense over-committing and the opposing team springing a few breakaways, building momentum, and taking advantage of some goaltending gaffes.

It's obviously a danger for a team that relies on its defensemen for a lot of production, but they've largely avoided such poor decisions ever since the Denfeld loss. The forwards do a very good job of covering for the defensemen when they do wander forward, and in general are perhaps the most conservative East team I've ever seen. (Perhaps out of necessity, as this team is thinner than that '09 squad, and may not have the parts to dominate play as totally as they did.)

East just needs to make sure those old habits don't reappear under pressure, and they'll be in pretty good shape.

Duluth 4 · Post by **Duluth 4** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:42 pm

karl(east) wrote:
EHSHack wrote:All this talk of great defense just brings back bad memories... Welsinki, Forbort, McLean and Williams... all current D1 defensemen along with Joe Arbour who was a big body... best D core in the State. 4 (or was it 5) goals on 9 shots in the quarters against Cretin...
Yeah, that comparison came to my mind, too. And the ugly losses to Centennial and Denfeld this season followed the exact same formula, with the defense over-committing and the opposing team springing a few breakaways, building momentum, and taking advantage of some goaltending gaffes.

It's obviously a danger for a team that relies on its defensemen for a lot of production, but they've largely avoided such poor decisions ever since the Denfeld loss. The forwards do a very good job of covering for the defensemen when they do wander forward, and in general are perhaps the most conservative East team I've ever seen. (Perhaps out of necessity, as this team is thinner than that '09 squad, and may not have the parts to dominate play as totally as they did.)

East just needs to make sure those old habits don't reappear under pressure, and they'll be in pretty good shape.

Oh come on you guys, the whole school knew the reason they lost that game was Coop had a different five-hole on his mind.

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:55 pm

Duluth 4 wrote:Oh come on you guys, the whole school knew the reason they lost that game was Coop had a different five-hole on his mind.

Well, that's one way to put it...

Though to be fair to Coop, he was completely screened on the 4th goal, which was the back-breaker. Despite his early sloppiness, it really looked like they were going to come back and win that one before that 4th goal went in, and all the air went out of the building.

allstatebenders · Post by **allstatebenders** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:56 pm

I wanna hear your prediction Karl!

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:03 pm

allstatebenders wrote:I wanna hear your prediction Karl!

Ooh, pressure. I normally avoid making actual predictions, you know. It almost never ends well. (And unlike Lee, I have yet to master the art of the reverse jinx.)

But, just this once...I think I'll stick with the recent trend.

East 2-1.

And if the Hounds lose, I'll blame you for drawing that out of me.

Post by **east hockey** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:15 pm

karl(east) wrote:
allstatebenders wrote:I wanna hear your prediction Karl!
Ooh, pressure. I normally avoid making actual predictions, you know. It almost never ends well. (And unlike Lee, I have yet to master the art of the reverse jinx.)

But, just this once...I think I'll stick with the recent trend.

East 2-1.

And if the Hounds lose, I'll blame you for drawing that out of me.

Rapids by two. Peterson wins Player of the Game.

And I hope it's the worst prediction I ever made.

Lee

allstatebenders · Post by **allstatebenders** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:19 pm

east hockey wrote:
karl(east) wrote:
allstatebenders wrote:I wanna hear your prediction Karl!
Ooh, pressure. I normally avoid making actual predictions, you know. It almost never ends well. (And unlike Lee, I have yet to master the art of the reverse jinx.)

But, just this once...I think I'll stick with the recent trend.

East 2-1.

And if the Hounds lose, I'll blame you for drawing that out of me.
Rapids by two. Peterson wins Player of the Game.

And I hope it's the worst prediction I ever made.

Lee

me too

pipersniper12 · Post by **pipersniper12** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:22 pm

allstatebenders wrote:
east hockey wrote:
karl(east) wrote: Ooh, pressure. I normally avoid making actual predictions, you know. It almost never ends well. (And unlike Lee, I have yet to master the art of the reverse jinx.)

But, just this once...I think I'll stick with the recent trend.

East 2-1.

And if the Hounds lose, I'll blame you for drawing that out of me.
Rapids by two. Peterson wins Player of the Game.

And I hope it's the worst prediction I ever made.

Lee
me too

DE is unstoppable!! They will win guaranteed!! DE will be playing either Brainerd, Moorhead or a Lakeville team on day one of state.

pipersniper12 · Post by **pipersniper12** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:24 pm

Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.

north_bear · Post by **north_bear** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:28 pm

^^ Just like how last year they were gonna win the Championship hands down with one of the all time great teams? There certainly have been bigger upsets than if Rapids beats East.

And Lee, I wouldn't complain if you were right.

Post by **karl(east)** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:57 pm

pipersniper12 wrote:Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.

No, DJ is still in the land of the living on this forum. No idea where he's run off to.

pipersniper12 wrote:DE is unstoppable!! They will win guaranteed!! DE will be playing either Brainerd, Moorhead or a Lakeville team on day one of state.

Hmm. Now we're all reverse-jinxing each other? How does this end? Next thing I know, northwoods oldtimer will show up at Amsoil wearing an East jersey, while Lee will don the orange bird suit...

Post by **east hockey** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 10:01 pm

karl(east) wrote:
pipersniper12 wrote:Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.
No, DJ is still in the land of the living on this forum. No idea where he's run off to.

pipersniper12 wrote:DE is unstoppable!! They will win guaranteed!! DE will be playing either Brainerd, Moorhead or a Lakeville team on day one of state.
Hmm. Now we're all reverse-jinxing each other? How does this end? Next thing I know, northwoods oldtimer will show up at Amsoil wearing an East jersey, while Lee will don the orange bird suit...

Well, I did wear an orange cap to work today. A Cloquet fan co-worker pointed out the oddity.

Lee

dizlutheastt218 · Post by **dizlutheastt218** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:03 am

jk i meant to say east 5-0 #typo

duluth dave · Post by **duluth dave** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:28 am

East 3 to 1

Frequent_MN_Flyer · Post by **Frequent_MN_Flyer** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 1:05 am

pipersniper12 wrote:Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.

Me and DJ are recovering from jet leg. See y'all from Amsoil
suite 315 on Thursday.

3-2 Rapids

allstatebenders · Post by **allstatebenders** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:16 am

Can't wait to see GR bring their whole town Thursday. I love the atmosphere they bring.

Post by **east hockey** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:23 am

Frequent_MN_Flyer wrote:
pipersniper12 wrote:Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.
Me and DJ are recovering from jet leg. See y'all from Amsoil
suite 315 on Thursday.

3-2 Rapids

A suite, eh? How did you land one of those?

Lee

TheHockeyDJ · Post by **TheHockeyDJ** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:01 am

east hockey wrote:
Frequent_MN_Flyer wrote:
pipersniper12 wrote:Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.
Me and DJ are recovering from jet leg. See y'all from Amsoil
suite 315 on Thursday.

3-2 Rapids
A suite, eh? How did you land one of those?

Lee

That's a secret. It was really funny drinking sparkling cider in a wine glass on Saturday and Cloquet women in the next suite over wondering how in the hell we got white wine. "It's on the menu, we just finished off a bottle of Crown."

This was after the CEC game and they looked like they really needed a bottle.

Bronc · Post by **Bronc** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 10:58 am

duluth dave wrote:East 3 to 1

East stops #8 they have the game. Benilde and ER (Twice) did not tie him up when it mattered most and paid.

#8 Drives GR, but drops off quick from there.

Deeper team wins --- East

pipersniper12 · Post by **pipersniper12** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:24 am

Frequent_MN_Flyer wrote:
pipersniper12 wrote:Did you guys ban Mr. DJ? I'm surprised he has not made an appearance.
Me and DJ are recovering from jet leg. See y'all from Amsoil
suite 315 on Thursday.

3-2 Rapids

Are all three of you going to the game or just two?

D3Referee · Post by **D3Referee** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:31 am

northwoods oldtimer wrote: Mike Randolph in section finals: 13-1

So you're saying he's due to lose? I love a good contrarion position.

allstatebenders · Post by **allstatebenders** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:37 am

Bronc wrote:
duluth dave wrote:East 3 to 1
East stops #8 they have the game. Benilde and ER (Twice) did not tie him up when it mattered most and paid.

#8 Drives GR, but drops off quick from there.

Deeper team wins --- East

Have to agree here. Watch out for the little bischoff though he's been pretty good his last few games.

allstatebenders · Post by **allstatebenders** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 8:25 am

One more day.

pipersniper12 · Post by **pipersniper12** » Wed Feb 27, 2013 5:41 pm

allstatebenders wrote:One more day.

It's going to be a long day at work tomorrow. I think I might just schedule a random meeting in Duluth tomorrow morning.

Also, a sidenote for you people attending the game tomorrow. Saturday I got tickets for the game in the DECC lobby. Not sure if you can tomorrow or not, but the line will be much shorter than in the Amsoil main lobby, if it's open.

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7AA Final: #2 Grand Rapids vs. #1 Duluth East

Who wins?