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I don't think Duluth East was in there opponents head last season on January 3rd.

Thats when they lost 3-1 to Elk River.

I understand where you're coming from, with the 'up north' loyalty. Grand Rapids, Duluth East, CEC, is pretty much the up north alternative to the NWSC. Elk River, Blaine, Centennial. I would never write off the Elks, every year there in the Schwan's Cup and Edina tourney. This team is always battle tested.

And you're right, White and Jensen aren't a whole team, just like Ellingson and Johnson aren't. But I would take White and Jensen and Ellingson and Johnson over a tandem of Flaherty and Leis (If turnbull leaves.)

Elk River is solid through 3 lines, explosive through the first and second. With two returning defensive pairings and great goaltender in Tony Siebert.

Sorry for the double post, but I must have over looked this.

Real definition of a cake eater.

Steve writes:

And as for Elk River, playoffs were a real learning experience for them right. I believe GR proved that city boys cannot play in section 7. GR showed the true northern minnesota heart and came through in the semi, after going through a first period like that, not to mention the bus/hitch hike to duluth. I dont see the heart in the elk boys. maybe they can prove it but i dont think it will show

1. "GR proved that 'city boys' cannot play in section 7.

So many things wrong with this statement.

If I'm not mistaken the Elks were winning most of the game. And were pretty handidly giving your 'northern' boys a clinic in the first period. Ask any player on that team and they'll say that it was a helluva game and that the Elks can play. Elks beat Duluth East in January and had two close loses to Grand Rapids.

"City Boys"?

Is geography not in your 'northern boy' cirriculum? Its spelt E-L-K R-I-V-E-R. Not, E-D-I-N-A

2. "not to mention the bus/hitch hike to duluth."

Once again, geography not in your cirriculum? Ever driven Elk River to Duluth.. errrrr? Where'd you get your edgimucation

3."I dont see the heart in the elk boys. maybe they can prove it but i dont think it will show."

Anyone who watched that game knows it was a great game and both teams left everything on the ice. Elk River beat Duluth East handidly last year and no one came on here from Elk River and called them unpassionate boys playing against men or they were scared to battle in the corners with the 'city boys'. You think Sarsland, one of the best high school coaches, puts kids on the ice who don't have heart?

Purely classless, pull your head out before you think about posting again.

Can you beleive this guy?

I tell you what Big_Thurst I stated earlier that i am not here to fight with anyone. So do not start slamming my views. I have not come out and truelly attacked your thoughts. You are right Elk does put good players on the ice. They always have. I am also from northern minnesota, elk river is a part of the cities in my geography. And the whole bus ride/ hitch hike thing must have been interpretted wrong by you. All i was saying was the fact that GRs bus broke down on the way to the game. And as for the heart of palyers, i never ment to slam any of your guys but the northern guys have something different that i cannot explain. You can never put it to words. So i appologize for bothering you but that was not the intentions. as of now i am pulling for east but who knows my opinion can change.

wow steve and big_thurst going at it. you both have very good points. both of you could very well be correct. but lets try to do as steve did and make this more of an opinion "bored" not a slamming board....ok?

I wasn't on here to "slam your views." I just found it was a poor decision to question the heart of high school kids, these aren't multi-million dollar making super stars, these kids still have the passion for the game. But thats said and done with.


On a different note, I have heard through the grapevine that section 7AA may be moving, or alternating, section sites for up coming years. So not all section games will be played at the DECC, is there any truth in this? I've heard Brainerd as a possible site?

Its locked in for the DECC for the next 2-3 years. And Brainerd for a section site?? Please. Did they put in a 5,000 seat expansion into their arena. The only possibilities for sections are Duluth, Twin Cities, and St. Cloud.

As for predictions:

1. Grand Rapids Patrick White will run away with Mr. Hockey.
2. Elk River Best goalie in section, but not by a lot.
3. Cloquet TJ and Co. always bring their lunch pale to the ice.
4. Duluth East Randolph will have this young group playing well into playoffs.
5. Andover Look out for this program in the near future
6. Cambridge An improved program, but still an 8-0 loss to CEC.
7. Brainerd Will have their worst season in a long time.
8. Forest Lake Same as Brainerd.
9. St. Francis I was impressed with their keeping the 1st round relatively close last year.

The DECC is a lock for three more seasons. And GR19 is making me do it. Here are my PRESEASON 7AA ranking....

1. Grand Rapids-defending champs, return White, Stejskal, Jensen
2. Duluth East-return Leis, Trachsel, Turnbull, Johnson, Flahrety
3. Elk River-return Seibert and Martell
4. Cloquet-return Ellingson and Johnson. (will move up-Ellingson is a veteran who will be a huge part of this team)
5. Andover-return a very solid core of players
6. Forest Lake-again, returns a solid core.
7. Brainerd-will need young guys to preform
8. St. Francis-return Schwartz (as far as I know)
9. Cambridge-sorry guys

As for predictions:

1. Grand Rapids Patrick White will run away with Mr. Hockey.
2. Elk River Best goalie in section, but not by a lot.
3. Cloquet TJ and Co. always bring their lunch pale to the ice.
4. Duluth East Randolph will have this young group playing well into playoffs.
5. Andover Look out for this program in the near future
6. Cambridge An improved program, but still an 8-0 loss to CEC.
7. Brainerd Will have their worst season in a long time.
8. Forest Lake Same as Brainerd.
9. St. Francis I was impressed with their keeping the 1st round relatively close last year.

I pretty much agree with GR19 on his predictions, except for #1-3:

#1 - Elk River - very good goalie, best defensive tandem, addition of Brodhag & McElhorne helps their offense as well as other new "role" players
#2 - Cloquet (bit of a long shot) but will have the best forward and goalie in the section, if not the state (TJohnson will win Mr Hockey)
#3 - Grand Rapids - (White will be a candidate for Mr Hockey)

Duluth East could easily be in the top three if Turnbull returns from the USHL but based on everything that's been heard, that will not be a case - but this team could still be the spoiler come playoff time.

Bob picked last year's mr. hockey 2 games into the season. And I know things...and I KNOW Tyler Johnson will not win Mr. Hockey.

So has anyone heard for sure whether Turnbull is returning from the USHL to play this season at Duluth East ?

I know for a fact that an agreement was reached at the section coaches meeting to alternate the finals site. This year will be in Duluth as it was too late to schedule a southern site. Ridder Arena and the Colusium were talked about as possible southern sites, but it sounds like Aldrich will be the most likly candidate. St. Cloud is also being discussed.

big_thurst wrote:So has anyone heard for sure whether Turnbull is returning from the USHL to play this season at Duluth East ?

Here is a link for you to check out concerning Turnbull
http://www.usacollegehockey.com/cgi-bin ... 9&t=001196

Thanks guy.

SMUgoalie...are you sure? I heard from a COACH in 7AA that there was a three year agreement with the DECC starting last year...so atleast two more years...

I'll talk to my source tonight and find out the skinny.

thanks man...i could have heard wrong...that is certainly a possibility with boblee.

I know there was some push back, but when it was discussed, the northern coaches understood why the southern schools were for it.

If I'm not mistaken, it was the FLake coach who got the ball rolling on the idea.

it doesnt matter to me where the games are, but it isnt a bad peice of information to know...

I'd love to see alternating sites. Maybe a three year rotation between The DECC, St. Cloud, and Ridder.

if they do a rotation it will be Northern, Southern for sure. Probably DECC, Ridder.

we know who the BETTER players are for each team, but who will be the difference maker? for each team, who needs to have an exceptional year for the team to do well?

For Grand Rapids I think it's sophomore defenseman Sam Rendle.

For Elk River: Senior, Tony Rogers. Junior, Cory Volk. Senior, Kenny Anderson.

Boblee i believe that the third line for rapids whoever it may be will have to have an excellent year. To many times the third line is looked down upon. If a team can have a three lines produce and understand their role, they will go a long way. This is always a breaking point of teams and i hope it is not the case for Rapids.

it is very important to get good third line play, and even fourth line play...the deeper a team is, the better chance they have to win.

pretty good toss up between East and Rapids by the minnhockers...