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Elliot:<br><br>In all due respect and as you know, Stats are the beginning of what brings others, who can help you beyond HSH, to watch you for further consideration. For goalies, it’s save %, number of shots on goal, and QUALITY of shot on goal. Two young men in the last couple of years had excellent save %s and GAAs, however the quality, quantity, and number of shots were suspect. With that said, they are no longer playing as of today. Therefore, I will agree with you in stats are not everything, however they allow you the upfront attention that is required to get further consideration!<br><br>I do believe that Kent Patterson should have gotten additional considerations for one of the 4 goalies moving on in the EL1, sophomore or not. Consistent performance with a Save % above .900 warrants that consideration. Also, take a look at his performance throughout Selects and compare the goalie performance of others in Selects and you will see that very few Minnesota goalies have performed above a Save % of .900 like KP has done. I do not agree with the administrative decisions of EL1 relative to moving on, however I will respect those administrative decisions.<br><br>MHSH has not produced many goaltenders that have demonstrated success in the USHL and or D1 since Goering (UND) several years ago. And with those that have moved onto NAHL, many are products that have not been heard of as much as the higher profile school goalies. However, they have seen night in and night out 30 - 40 shots on goal, with a reasonable Save % preparing them for what they will see at the next level.<br><br>Regards,<br>mnhockey39<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

mnhockey39, as to your last paragraph...AMEN! <p></p><i></i>

I agree with you..<br><br>I was just trying to enlighten everyone on the Elite League policy. And also the fact that the coaches that pick the teams look at more than just the stats.<br><br>Joe Fallon of Bemidji had an excellent USHL career, and now is a sophomore at Vermont and is a second year starter for them. He was just drafted by the NHL also. Alex Stalock is also doing very well. (In regards to goalies since Goering). <p></p><i></i>

Here are some good goaltenders that have played in our area... I think they all will do well and have done well.<br><br>Pat Ryan Faribault last years Elite II team is at Russel Stover AAA Midgets good record and Save %<br><br>Alex Kangas Century Last years Elite II team great record at Sioux Falls and is playing great.<br><br>Jeff Jakaitis, Rochester Mayo, Waterloo Blackhawks Lake State He is an excellent small Goaltender Project Prep Section 1 goaltender....<br><br>Riley Gill Northfield, Texarkana NAHL.. doing great.<br><br>BJ Obrien Lakeville playing great at Fargo...<br><br>I think Goaltending is very much an individual skill. It is the toughest postion in Hockey without a doubt. <br><br>Sometimes playing in a no-check league with good shooters can damage confidence and sometimes that is the most important asset a goaltender has.<br><br>Our Current Goaltender that has great potential is Kevin Donohue Rochester Mayo. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i></i>

Let's not forget who has 2 state tournament's under his belt and is only a junior, Clay Cassanova. You can't get much further South in Mn. than Albert Lea, or did you just mean So. MN Goalies from Rochester? <p></p><i></i>

puck head, <br><br>i think that getting selected to play on a USA does show that he is a great goalie. I never once said that Ben isn't good. I think he is good and i enjoy watching him. I also think he was better compared to others when he was younger, but now, at the varsity level, i don't feel he's the best in section 7.<br><br>also, duluth hockey fan,<br> peewee state champ isn't going to get him anywhere in highschool.. <p></p><i></i>

hockeywild, I too think that getting selected to a USA team is great but my point is that does not necessarily make you the best goalie. They can only take 2 goalies ...if you have a good week at USA camp then good for you...if you don't, that's the breaks. No different during the regular season. Before we all start touting "my goalie is better than yours", let's just see what regular season play brings. That's all I am saying. <p></p><i></i>

With all due respect Clay Casanova is an alright goalie. In the state tournament all you here is the name Casanova because he is falling over and getting hit with the puck in times when he should be on his feet making the save. In my opinion I believe that the announcers just like saying his name (since his name is pretty cool). Aside from him there are good returning goalies from the south like Josh Crowley, Kevin Donahue, and Troy French (who gets overshadowed by Casanova). <p></p><i></i>

Pardon me, but did you just say that Clay was in the state tournament keeping the puck out of the net? Was that 2 year's in a row? <p></p><i></i>

sioux fan hit it right on those are the good goalies from the south.....no offense to your albert lea goalies but there really not that good...yea they made it to state congrats to them but the goalies are not what got the team there......and these austin goalies they've been splitting time for how many years now and i havent really seen them get much better.... <p></p><i></i>

Theres no doubt about it Reed Elingson is the best goalie in section 7...As for Ben Leis he isnt even the second best goalie in section 7. Everyone should be watching Leif Melby for Denfeld this year. He is a previous duluth east player and backed up Chris Sall last year and had outstanding games when he got a chance to play. From what ive seen and heard he seems to be a better goalie all around than leis and is very underrated. <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Everyone should be watching Leif Melby for Denfeld this year<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>Interesting comparison; problem is, Denfeld isn't in section 7. So who is this other goalie better than Ben again?<br><br>Oh, and the comparison is misguided, but that's okay. Tough to judge this stuff from out in North Dakota, isn't it? <!--EZCODE IMAGE START--><img src="http://www.minnhock.com/rolleyes.gif"/><!--EZCODE IMAGE END--><br><br>Lee <p>____________<br>Message Board arsonist since 2005</p><i></i>

Keep on it Lee....they'll crack!<br><br><!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/grin.gif ALT=" >D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p>www.rebelhockey.com</p><i></i>

I'm not trying to take anything away from Reed, of course he is an outstanding goalie. I am just saying for my money, I'll take Ben Leis over him. Lets face it,the fact is both the kids are dynamite netminders, they will both most likely have careers well beyond high school hockey, and finally, if you live up around the arrowhead region then you are pretty lucky to get to go and see two pretty dog on good goaltenders play. <br><br>Reed has had the advantage of being a starting varsity goaltender already. Ben came into a situation where he was forced to play as a backup to a pretty good senior. <br><br>The Leif Melby comment cracks me up, if he was so good, then why did he LEAVE duluth east. Denfeld hasn't been out of the first round of the playoffs since the early 90's have they? <br><br>And for the guy who said "Being a Peewee State Champ. doesn't mean a thing in high school" Well I disagree, you see it in every aspect of life, success breeds success. He has been put in pressure situations at every level he's played. At 13 years old it doesn't get any better or pressure packed then playing in the State Championship does it? Same thing at 15 when he was playing in the Bantam State Championship game. My point is he knows what it is like to win, he knows what it takes to get there at the levels of progression leading up to high school. In my view that gives him an advantage. <br><br>Now if he were to sit back and rest on the fact that he lead those two younger teams there, and it was an automatic that he would do the same for his high school team, than yes I agree with you. But anyone who knows or has seen Ben Leis compete, knows that is not the case. <br><br>If I'm wrong, than feel free (which I'm sure you will have no problem doing) to enjoy telling me so. <p></p><i></i>

How many pucks has Faribault put by Cassanova in the last couple of year's? <p></p><i></i>

Not disagreeing or agreeing with you, but I think the section 7 goalie contest should be put to bed until the season starts, ok? There are many, many good goalies in Minnesota and hey, not ALL of them are in Section 7....what a suprise, eh? <p></p><i></i>

Puckhead89:<br><br>Amen! However, given much has been mentioned about this Sections only talented net minders (Ellingson and Leis), this thread needs to be aware of other Section 7 talented tenders in which have not been mentioned. They are, Goldsmith (Sr) of Cambridge/Isanti, Schwartz (Soph) of St. Francis, and Kellogg (Jr) of Andover. The difference between the three tenders I mentioned versus Ellinson and Leis is the three above play for teams that may battle towards the bottom of the Section and they are all above 6' tall and have agility.<br><br>Regards,<br>mnhockey <br> <p></p><i></i>

joshdogg just because a not soo good faribault team doesnt do well against albert lea doesnt make casanova a good goalie....casanova playing with albert leas defense was a gift to him if it wasnt for the defense and the bruerer line casanova would be nothing....im not saying hes a bad goalie MY POINT is hes not one of the better goalies in southern minnesota hes not near the level of the goalies sioux fan had mentioned....by the way his save percentage doesnt exactly make him look that good either <p></p><i></i>

hey im a freind of leifs and the reason he left east is not because of ben, its because its his senior year, and he wants the feeling of his own team, he doesnt want to play half the games he wants every game. whats wrong with that? <p></p><i></i>

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>whats wrong with that?<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I think I speak for the overwhelming majority of East fans when I wish Leif the best of luck this season with the Hunters.<br><br>Lee <p>____________<br>Message Board arsonist since 2005</p><i></i>

Where is matt beggs playing this year. Hasnt he moved around a bit. <p></p><i></i>

Apple Valley. This has been talked to death. <p></p><i></i>

So far out of all the goalies mentioned: Beggs, Smith, Lee, Ellingson, Donohue, Faust, Hartzell, Paul, Patterson, Haggart, Guggenberger, Woods, Deichery,Leis, Melby, Cassanova, Crowley, Donahue, French, Goldsmith, Schwartz, and Kellogg. Everyone take the top ten out of there and put them in order. Ill start.<br><br>1. Ellingson<br>2. Smith<br>3. Lee<br>4. Patterson<br>5. Faust<br>6. Beggs<br>7. Goldsmth<br>8. Woods<br>9. Leis<br>10. Haggart<br><br>Seems like there are alot of good goalies this year. <p></p><i></i>

IBlade,<br><br>I completely agree with what Lee says, I do not begrudge the kid for that. I do wish him the best of luck, and hope he has a very successful season.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

Guggenberger should be in the top 10... <p></p><i></i>