Section 3A

[Gretzky9]

Talked to a friend of mine who knows St. Peter/LeSueur. Major problems over there this year. Coaches philosophy is if you are a senior you play varsity. They have 4 that should not be on the team. They also have had one of their best players out all year and is back now...one of the seniors is gone on vacation (nice commitment) or something so addition by subtraction. Basically their best players are 10th and 9th graders.
Last night it sound like RW outplayed them but RW goalie played poorly. St. Peter had their backup goalie in the net....he did play pretty well.

[Garry Bettman]

Hey golfer5 where are you? you are on here everyday.... except for when mighty redwood loses.... i wanna know what happened....face the music....

[curtiscurve]

With LDC getting blown out by Holy Family and Redwood losing to St. Peter, I think it is safe to say that no one is safe in any game (that is unless you are Hutch). I have to go back on my previous predictions. At 10-12-1, Hutch has taken a step back from last year, but they still play in the mid-major Missota conference. They have done fairly well in the conference and while getting beat 12-1 by Holy Angels isn't much fun, they will be the better team in any of the 3A play-off games. I still like the Redwood story, but for the reputation of class A hockey, I hope Hutch represents this section in March. Seeds 2,3,6 and 7 are all capable of ending up in the Ship against Hutch.

[golfer5]

Hey golfer5 where are you? you are on here everyday.... except for when mighty redwood loses.... i wanna know what happened....face the music....

Lost feel bad i dont know how you stand loosing 12+ games a year.

[1HOCK1]

Other teams lose 12+ games a year because they play teams that challenge them. Face the facts golfer, Redwoods not going anywhere. Even if they end up beating New Ulm. They will get kicked in the final game. There is no hope for Redwood.

[hoccardger]

I don't mind losing 10 games a year when I know I played HIGH QUALITY GOOD HOCKEY TEAMS!!!!! Some losses feel like a win when you play great teams that play good hockey! Beating less than average teams is nothing to brag about. I would rather lose 10+ games on a good schedule than win a ton of games playing JV/Bantam level teams any day.

I wish Hutch could play Redwood and show then what real hockey is.

[curtiscurve]

I don't mind losing 10 games a year when I know I played HIGH QUALITY GOOD HOCKEY TEAMS!!!!! Some losses feel like a win when you play great teams that play good hockey! Beating less than average teams is nothing to brag about. I would rather lose 10+ games on a good schedule than win a ton of games playing JV/Bantam level teams any day.

I wish Hutch could play Redwood and show then what real hockey is.

You will likely see your wish come true in the finals.

[golfer5]

I don't mind losing 10 games a year when I know I played HIGH QUALITY GOOD HOCKEY TEAMS!!!!! Some losses feel like a win when you play great teams that play good hockey! Beating less than average teams is nothing to brag about. I would rather lose 10+ games on a good schedule than win a ton of games playing JV/Bantam level teams any day.

I wish Hutch could play Redwood and show then what real hockey is.

Check with your athletic director a email has been sent to New Ulm Litch and Hutch as Wilmar to schedule a game for the last 5 years. Litch did accept for 2011. And we do have a JV program so that doesnt work anymore.

[Garry Bettman]

As of right now it sure doesnt look like redwood is deserving of that 2 seed they got................................ The fact that the number 2 seed in our section has lost to windom, morris, and st. peter.. and tied a 2 win waconia team is a little bit EMBARASSING. they better turn around and quick... or it wont be pretty...

Hey golfer 5.... playing marshall's schedule which includes..... irondale, north metro, lourdes, new ulm x2, hutch, litch, winona, willmar..... how many losses would redwood have..... they would beat none of these teams from what i can see, and marshall was lucky to beat new ulm twice....redwood wouldnt..... and redwood would still have lost to st. peter, morris, windom, spa... and tied a 2 win team that everyone else in the setion has beat/KILLED...so i count... 11-12 losses and a tie....... OH MY GOD.. imagine that..... identical to marshall's record.....

Now try and put yourself in HUTCH, LITCH or NEW ULM's schedule... which are even more difficult............ hmmm.........

So maybe you have won 18 games or whatever, but are you really proud of that....
i wouldnt be.

Hopefully these teams will play you in the future so we can see just how good redwood actually is...

[hoccardger]

oh yeh - we are scared to play you and lose to you - that's right. Lets see, should we play Willmar, Delano, East Grand Forks or Redwood? Hum..that's a tough one.

[Garry Bettman]

[quote="hoccardger"]oh yeh - we are scared to play you and lose to you - that's right. Lets see, should we play Willmar, Delano, East Grand Forks or Redwood? Hum..that's a tough one.[/quote]



oh and curtiscurve..... with that name... are you a goalie? just wonderin........ but uh right now if redwood cant get by waconia st. peter and morris how are they going to get past new ulm..............or luverne for that matter.

[timcorbin21]

a lot of trash talking directed toward redwood. why i dont know. no one in section 3 plays a tough schedual. hutch and litch may play some better teams and new ulm plays a couple. that isnt bad it just is what it is.
losing to irondale, north metro, lourdes, hutch, litch, winona and willmar is nothing to brag about.
and just beating waconia on a day when a freshman goalie doesnt even reach a save percetnage of 70% isnt somthing to call attention to.
did school let out early today

[hutchtostate]

have to agree with hoccardger - tough schedule matters and helps a team;winning is always a confidence builder, and I am sure RW feels good about that. I don't think the braggin rights over Marshall are much. They don't have a strong line - spread out their good players - have a hard time scoring; when the goalie is hot, they do well. they have some weak kids on the ice - at least what I saw. We should have beat them by more, but the puck wouldn't drop for us goalie had some good and some lucky saves, but he was good when we played them and the way it looks, it was the same against NU. scrappy kids on the team though

I think Litch will be tough - strong first line - they will take Marshall, unless Marshall leaves it all on the ice
New Ulm will be tough, unless they choke
Redwood, well - can't wait to see how that shakes down

let the games begin!

[Garry Bettman]

[quote="timcorbin21"]a lot of trash talking directed toward redwood. why i dont know. no one in section 3 plays a tough schedual. hutch and litch may play some better teams and new ulm plays a couple. that isnt bad it just is what it is.
losing to irondale, north metro, lourdes, hutch, litch, winona and willmar is nothing to brag about.
and just beating waconia on a day when a freshman goalie doesnt even reach a save percetnage of 70% isnt somthing to call attention to.
did school let out early today[/quote]

hey at least teams like marshall litch hutch new ulm play these teams....... yeah yeah it may not be redwoods fault but still.... that definetely works against them..

[Skill Stick]

Redwood does play hard teams. They played St. Peter/Le Suer and lost. Wait they're not hard. New Ulm just beat them 5-1 and killed them.

[Skill Stick]

Redwood. Having a little troubles lately? Losing to Minneapolis West? At this point I don't foresee you guys getting past Luverne. Embarrissing to say the least. Way to represent the #2 seed. Again, tough schedule. Good luck in playoffs. Your going to need it even more now!

[micdangles97]

ok who are the players to watch if im going to go to a game then? who should we be looking out for to make a big impact in games?

[Garry Bettman]

LITCH- Haataja-12, Adams-8, Impola-9
HUTCH- Hantge-2, Grina-7, Swenson-33
NEW ULM- Fisher-8, Juntunen-3, Peterson-5
REDWOOD- Miller-12, Hanson-7, Lyrval-4
MARSHALL- Vanderziel-13, Antony-25, Campion-33
WINDOM- Johnson-3, Eisenmenger-13
LUVERNE- Meier-15, Fitzer-22

Maybe some i missed.......

[extra_attacker]

I am calling it right now that redwood loses thursday. And i think we can all agree everybody in the section will be laughing at them when they do.

[curtiscurve]

oh yeh - we are scared to play you and lose to you - that's right. Lets see, should we play Willmar, Delano, East Grand Forks or Redwood? Hum..that's a tough one.

oh and curtiscurve..... with that name... are you a goalie? just wonderin........ but uh right now if redwood cant get by waconia st. peter and morris how are they going to get past new ulm..............or luverne for that matter.

Good catch on the goalie connection. I remember when I was playing how popular they were. Don't see the Curtis Curve much anymore.

Back to the topic of 3A, I realize Redwood has had some VERY bad games lately (embarrassing in a way), but I think they will play well when it counts. I think it would be great for their hockey program to win a couple of playoff games. Get the community excited and young people interested in the game. Hopefully years from now, South West Minnesota will have closed the gap and become more competitive state wide.

[R1nk Rat 174]

your whole section is really not that good...

[Edger]

Great stuff, cc ...
Thats what NEEDS to happen, improvement in all the programs.
The teams in the SW should be hoping teams get better, instead of hoping they fail.
Luverne was the first decent SWC team that played better schedules and put up big numbers.
Marshall picked up the torch for awhile and made some noise.
Redwood has made some strides the past two seasons.
It can't be one team every year. The conference and area needs to develop some better rivalries and improve their feeder systems.
Marshall uses New Ulm to fuel it's fire, but NU has rivalries to the East that mean a lot more to them.
The southern teams in section 3A need to start playing tougher against the Hutchs and Litchs, if they want respect. If you only get one shot to do it, and it is only in playoffs, then thats where you do it. You wont get added to a schedule until you earn a spot.

[SWHockeyScout]

Well it’s the best time of the year it playoff time tomorrow. All the complaining about seeds and who deserved what is now out the window. It time to play and prove your worth on the ice. Here is my preview of the Section 3A Play-in games I will try to make previews for each of the section matchups.

#8 Seed Fairmont (6-15-0) vs. #9 Seed Sleepy Eye (2-22-0)

Fairmont is led up front by seniors Kellen Fausch and Richie Haycraft. Under first year Coach Wilkens the cardinals have experienced a lot more success then in years past. With decent goaltending from transfer senior Ryan Rivers Fairmont has put together a nice season. They take on Sleepy Eye who recently got their starting goaltender back Robert Regan. With Regan in the nets and Tyler Braulick up front Sleepy Eye could pull the upset. However, looking that their regular season meetings in which Fairmont won 8-1 and 6-4 the Cardinals should win this one.
Prediction: Fairmont 5 Sleepy Eye 4

#7 Seed Luverne (9-12-1) vs. #10 Seed Worthington (3-17-0)

Looking at these teams on paper Luverne should win easily. However, looking at recent history Worthington seems to have their number. Including last year’s playoffs in which Worthington upset Luverne 3-2. The Trojans have been here before and return most of the core nucleus that upset Luverne last year. Luverne is a very young team with only one senior they started the year (0-9-0) Since January 1st they are (9-4-1) that’s a very nice turn around. However, I like the Trojans in this one they have a big core of seniors who I think will pull off the upset tomorrow night.
Prediction: Worthington 6 Luverne 5

Should be fun to watch. No more complaining and comparing let your play do the talking on the ice. Lets here everyone else prediction lets get this thing rolling!!

[Skill Stick]

Cool article.

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32770

[letsgowild]

Well it’s the best time of the year it playoff time tomorrow. All the complaining about seeds and who deserved what is now out the window. It time to play and prove your worth on the ice. Here is my preview of the Section 3A Play-in games I will try to make previews for each of the section matchups.

#8 Seed Fairmont (6-15-0) vs. #9 Seed Sleepy Eye (2-22-0)

Fairmont is led up front by seniors Kellen Fausch and Richie Haycraft. Under first year Coach Wilkens the cardinals have experienced a lot more success then in years past. With decent goaltending from transfer senior Ryan Rivers Fairmont has put together a nice season. They take on Sleepy Eye who recently got their starting goaltender back Robert Regan. With Regan in the nets and Tyler Braulick up front Sleepy Eye could pull the upset. However, looking that their regular season meetings in which Fairmont won 8-1 and 6-4 the Cardinals should win this one.
Prediction: Fairmont 5 Sleepy Eye 4

#7 Seed Luverne (9-12-1) vs. #10 Seed Worthington (3-17-0)

Looking at these teams on paper Luverne should win easily. However, looking at recent history Worthington seems to have their number. Including last year’s playoffs in which Worthington upset Luverne 3-2. The Trojans have been here before and return most of the core nucleus that upset Luverne last year. Luverne is a very young team with only one senior they started the year (0-9-0) Since January 1st they are (9-4-1) that’s a very nice turn around. However, I like the Trojans in this one they have a big core of seniors who I think will pull off the upset tomorrow night.
Prediction: Worthington 6 Luverne 5

Should be fun to watch. No more complaining and comparing let your play do the talking on the ice. Lets here everyone else prediction lets get this thing rolling!!

I don't see any upsets here, But my record isn't very good at predictions.

Fairmont-6 Sleepy Eye-4

Luverne-4 Worthington-2