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I largely agree with Blue. It's not a bad year to have a sub-par Hill squad, given the rare situation of two very top tier teams. I don't recall a year where we've had two teams that are far and away the best, and then a fairly significant drop to #3 to #12 who are really pretty even on the whole. In a more typical year, we have one team at the top, and it's not hard to imagine them getting upset somewhere along the way, and Chan and Hill nearly did to Tonka last year. But to have a surprise champion this year requires upsets of both Tonka and Wayzata, possible but a big hill to climb. The 3rd place game this year might well be the championship most years. Not all champions are equal on a year to year basis.

And the undercard of Dos Ríos making an upstart bid to wrest the championship of the Tradition Rich Metro East from the usual suspects is proving to be the talk of the town, even more so than White Bear's surprising struggles in the SEC. All TRMC eyes will be on Dos Rios when they meet the middling Zephyrs on 1/29, and it could be all on the line when they close the regular season on home ice in a backyard battle with the Cadets.

They could use you on the southern border, but only 1 river there.
Hill will be spectators this year in March.

Smooth wrote: ↑Sun Jan 14, 2024 9:14 am They could use you on the southern border, but only 1 river there.
Hill will be spectators this year in March.

Your takes and predictions have been consistently atrocious and among the very worst since you joined the board*, so I'm pleased to see your level of confidence in Hill spectating in March. Frankly, I'd be far more concerned if you predicted Hill winning 4AA

*Lets take a look at just some of your most recent greatest hits:

Last year's Mahtomedi team is weak and ripe for the picking [wins championship]
Put your money on Gentry in last years 4AA final [Gentry blanked, blown out and Hill goes on to take eventual champ to OT and wins consolation title]

I love your bias, your god awful takes, and your terrible, horrible, no good, very bad predictions! Keep em coming!

Game, set, and match to Blue.

Yup, it ain't over. I'm picking Gentry again.

You mean when they move back to A, right?

We'll get a little clarity after Tuesday, thinking it's between Stillwater and Gentry for 4AA.
A OR AA who cares.

Smooth wrote: ↑Mon Jan 15, 2024 9:56 am We'll get a little clarity after Tuesday, thinking it's between Stillwater and Gentry for 4AA.
A OR AA who cares.

It can't feel good to be so wrong, so often. Hill beats the hottest team in the section, Stillwater, 3-1.

Eventually your biased, anti-Hill predictions will be correct. Whether its this year's sections, State, next year, the year after, at some point you will be correct and Hill will lose. A broken clock is right twice a day, after all. But not tonight.

It’s pretty hard to argue against a team that’s been relevant since the 70’s. That’s a long run.

I wouldn’t bet against them.

It's looking like Gentry and Wblk at the top of 4AA

Could happen. But I wouldn’t bet on it.

Spar- how you doing in sunny California?

grindiangrad-80 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:43 pm Spar- how you doing in sunny California?

Well, the wife told me I needed to come home for grandson's first birthday. So I will be watching the Pioneer ladies next week against Tonka in person and then probably see the boys play Benilde on Saturday. Everyone's invited.

And Gentry has a nice record, but really hasn't played anyone (Good win over Champlin). We know HM can lose to anyone, so nothing would surprise me. Section is wide open.

Congrats on the grandson. Hope to see you in March. St. Paul Or California.

Smooth wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 10:29 pm It's looking like Gentry and Wblk at the top of 4AA

I knew there would be a downside to legal weed.

Updates to section play:

-Hill [1-0-1 against WBL & Stillwater] is the presumptive #1 seed

-WBL [1-1-1 against Hill & Stillwater x2] is the #2 seed

-Stillwater [1-2 against Hill & WBL x2] is probably(?) the #3 seed right now

-Gentry [0-0-0] is playing well against another odd schedule. I'm not sure they can stake claim to the #3 seed right now, and if history is any indicator the voting coaches aren't going to do them any favors. That said, they play Chanhassen, Shakopee, & Holy Family in the coming weeks. They can make a statement with a win or two in that stretch. They beat Champlin by 5 goals; the same Champlin team that beat WBL, took Hill to OT before losing, and played a competitive game against Rogers very recently.

So, ...throws up in mouth a little... Smooth might be on to something with Gentry.

(I think) I've been clear that any of those four teams can win the section. I don't think seeding matters much if at all, except for bulletin board material (They don't respect us!). Whoever wins it will need to have two good wins.

Three of those teams would be locks to lose in the first round. The other team is coached by Bill Lechner.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 9:47 am (I think) I've been clear that any of those four teams can win the section. I don't think seeding matters much if at all, except for bulletin board material (They don't respect us!). Whoever wins it will need to have two good wins.

Three of those teams would be locks to lose in the first round. The other team is coached by Bill Lechner.

Agree. For all the banter and taking Smooth behind the woodshed, any of the top 4 teams in this section can win it. But as you rightly pointed out, when the teams on the ice are even-ish, coaching may play an outsized role in who comes out of this section. And of course we got that home cookin at Aldrich! Yea baby!

What app is it that I need to see a game in person? Vanco Events? Last time I went to a game we paid at the door.

Sprlimb wrote: ↑Wed Jan 17, 2024 12:54 pm What app is it that I need to see a game in person? Vanco Events? Last time I went to a game we paid at the door.

I always click on the link on Twitter for Hill-Murray Boys Hockey. I'm so used to the online ticketing that about half the time I remember to buy it at home. Otherwise I have to stand in the cold vestibule at Aldrich and do it there.

I love it, woodshed. You'd never make it out alive. You all crack me up.

Looks like Gentry got wrecked by Chanhassen. In and of itself this isn't unexpected or shocking. It should, however, quell the talk that Gentry is some lurking powerhouse, unknown only because of a weak schedule. They can still absolutely win 4AA, but this isn't going to do them any favors for seeding. They'll have another shot to prove they're more than just average this Thursday, when they play Shakopee

Only 2 goal difference of when hill got wrecked by Chanhassen. 4AA is up for grabs.

Smooth wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:50 am Only 2 goal difference of when hill got wrecked by Chanhassen. 4AA is up for grabs.

I've been very clear that Hill got handled by Minnetonka, Wayzata & Chanhassen. See about 19 of my previous posts. It's called reading. Top to bottom, left to right. A group of words together is called a sentence. Take Tylenol for any headaches, Midol for any cramps.

Secondly, two goals is significant. Are you implying that a 4-1 loss is the essentially same as a 2-1 loss? Thirdly, Hill's SOG were even with Chanhassen - 30 a piece. Chanhassen outshot Gentry by 20. For whatever that stat is worth, it at least implies there was some level of evenness or back-and-forth. Gentry generated a whopping 15 shots on goal.

So no, these two losses aren't the same. I swear someday you're going to be right about something, Smooth. And I'm going to celebrate like crazy when you are.

BlueLineSpecial wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 10:16 am

Smooth wrote: ↑Wed Jan 24, 2024 8:50 am Only 2 goal difference of when hill got wrecked by Chanhassen. 4AA is up for grabs.

I've been very clear that Hill got handled by Minnetonka, Wayzata & Chanhassen. See about 19 of my previous posts. It's called reading. Top to bottom, left to right. A group of words together is called a sentence. Take Tylenol for any headaches, Midol for any cramps.

Secondly, two goals is significant. Are you implying that a 4-1 loss is the essentially same as a 2-1 loss? Thirdly, Hill's SOG were even with Chanhassen - 30 a piece. Chanhassen outshot Gentry by 20. For whatever that stat is worth, it at least implies there was some level of evenness or back-and-forth. Gentry generated a whopping 15 shots on goal.

So no, these two losses aren't the same. I swear someday you're going to be right about something, Smooth. And I'm going to celebrate like crazy when you are.

Where did you see 15 shots on goal? hockey hub has shots 41-27 Chan