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EZgoalscorer wrote:More depth? At what position? Maybe their 3rd line but thats it, LF is better in every aspect of the game, and yes including goaltending as far as this game is concerned. Sperl has 2 section championships, this game will be nothin new to him, while hemmingway crapped the bed last year. Should be a great game but I don't agree with that statement, plus I don't know how a team with more depth has failed to win at least 1 of there 2 regular season meetings against LF.

Their stats may be similar, but that's only because sperl's on a great team. He's nothing compared to hemmingway. Alex is way better between the pipes, its not even close.

MNWILD if you are trying to tell me that the non-section opponents alex plays arent harder than little falls you are crazy, Roseau,Moorhead,Bemidji,and SCC are all still playing, and as far as LOW i would take them over the like of Greenway,Prior Lake and such difficult teams like that, go ahead and bash the records of the teams, but more alex opponents are still playing i hate to tell you, ohh btw bemidji beat moorhead for your info since they are such a weak opponent.....

Haven seen both of the teams play I know it will be a close game. Its obvious that Alexandria doesnt have a single player as good as Hanowski, but if Alex designates a line that can slow down the Hanowski line and use the others as scoring lines I think they have a chance. Thats not as easy as it sounds but they did it in the second game between these two teams and had a chance to win. As far as Hemmingway and Sperl go, they have comparable numbers both seeing around 22 shots a game and both have sv% over 93%. Sperl has given up more goals with a 1.51 GAA. I honestly think hemmingway is a better goalie and if and only if he is on Alexandria wins.

3-2 Alexandria is my pick.

Hemmingway with 30+ saves.

MNWILD if you are trying to tell me that the non-section opponents alex plays arent harder than little falls you are crazy, Roseau,Moorhead,Bemidji,and SCC are all still playing, and as far as LOW i would take them over the like of Greenway,Prior Lake and such difficult teams like that, go ahead and bash the records of the teams, but more alex opponents are still playing i hate to tell you, ohh btw bemidji beat moorhead for your info since they are such a weak opponent.....

Snakedude you hit the spot, well said! Records mean nothin the rams up north and the spuds play a rediculous schedule and Alex played both those teams very well. rams are 15-9 with loses to some very good teams like moorhead twice, Blaine, Alex,Theif River, warroad and also beating some great teams! Comparing theses schedules would be a stupid thought to even consider...you put Hano on Alex the score would be at minimum running time in favor of the Cards!

ooops i quoted that backwards

EZgoalscorer wrote:

I have Alex in this one 4-2 they have more depth.

More depth? At what position? Maybe their 3rd line but thats it, LF is better in every aspect of the game, and yes including goaltending as far as this game is concerned. Sperl has 2 section championships, this game will be nothin new to him, while hemmingway crapped the bed last year. Should be a great game but I don't agree with that statement, plus I don't know how a team with more depth has failed to win at least 1 of there 2 regular season meetings against LF.

All I can do is

This will upset the fans from Little Falls, Tight game Alexandria wins!

4-2 EN!

it is a crying shame this great game is being played in a building that only has an 1800 seating capacity...pretty poor for a section final and perhaps one of the better class A matchups...

HasNoMoves wrote:it is a crying shame this great game is being played in a building that only has an 1800 seating capacity...pretty poor for a section final and perhaps one of the better class A matchups...

No, it would be a crying shame if they let them play in a half-full arena...or an arena with not atmosphere.

The MAC will be full and will definitely have some atmosphere.

theblandyman wrote:

HasNoMoves wrote:it is a crying shame this great game is being played in a building that only has an 1800 seating capacity...pretty poor for a section final and perhaps one of the better class A matchups...

No, it would be a crying shame if they let them play in a half-full arena...or an arena with not atmosphere.

The MAC will be full and will definitely have some atmosphere.

I can't wait. It will be a great win for Little Falls. Definitely going to be worth the LF fans' money, sorry Alex.

Hopefully you can convince the ticket booth to let you get away with only paying half price so you get your money's worth.

Don't you just love a spirited debate between a bunch of hockey fans. I don't see either of these goalies or teams giving up 4 goals. Ok, LF fans to head off the comments based upon last year's section final game, this is a way better Alexandria team than the one you faced last year and scored 5 on!

Fan is short for fanatic and we have a few for both sides on this thread. Suffice it to say that it will be one heck of a game regardless of the outcome and whoever heads to the X will represent Section 6A very well.

What is really a shame is that FSN isn't covering this game because I think it has the potential to be THE game of the year. Go Cards!!!!

scarface wrote:
What is really a shame is that FSN isn't covering this game because I think it has the potential to be THE game of the year. Go Cards!!!!

Well said. Except for the Cards part

HasNoMoves wrote:it is a crying shame this great game is being played in a building that only has an 1800 seating capacity...pretty poor for a section final and perhaps one of the better class A matchups...

Couldn't agree with you more, this is one of the biggest section final games if not the biggest that this section has seen, should be moved to the NHC, I think it would be more then half full.

EZgoalscorer wrote:

HasNoMoves wrote:it is a crying shame this great game is being played in a building that only has an 1800 seating capacity...pretty poor for a section final and perhaps one of the better class A matchups...

Couldn't agree with you more, this is one of the biggest section final games if not the biggest that this section has seen, should be moved to the NHC, I think it would be more then half full.

Myself and many others would rather have a standing room only MAC than a 2/3 full NHC.

Myself and many others would rather have a standing room only MAC than a 2/3 full NHC.[/quote]

Couldnt agree more, pack the MAC and let the game begin. Nothing like playing in a rink thats constantly buzzing. There is no way they would fill the NHC and thats the only way it could make for a good atmosphere.

I'm gonna have to go against on this one EZgoalscorer, i don't disagree very often with you. The MAC is a great place to play for a section final. The game is for the players and they would rather play in a well packed arena. If you have ever played in one you would know how it feels to have a sold out crowd in the years biggest game.

I just hope they can keep the ice cold enough so there isn't puddles everywhere.

The Vet wrote:I'm gonna have to go against on this one EZgoalscorer, i don't disagree very often with you. The MAC is a great place to play for a section final. The game is for the players and they would rather play in a well packed arena. If you have ever played in one you would know how it feels to have a sold out crowd in the years biggest game.

I just hope they can keep the ice cold enough so there isn't puddles everywhere.

I see where you guys are coming from and yes I played in a few big games in my day, but no one should get turned away at the door either, the MAC holds like 1800. I could easily see there being 2500+ which isn't gonna help the ice at all.I don't understand, couldn't they turn the temp down in the MAC just for this week so they don't have to worry about puddles being everywhere.

It is going to be a tall order for Alex to take down Lil' Falls. I think it boils down to this:

If Alex gets on the board early, and Lil' Falls starts getting chippy (which we all know they can), then Alex has a great chance to steal this one.

However, if Lil' Falls keeps their collective heads straight, and stays focused, they should pull this one out.

The big curveball, as mentioned above, is the play of Sperl and Hemmingway. Hemmingway has the capability to shut anyone down, no matter what is going on in front of him. Sperl is solid, but if Alex outskates Lil' Falls he will be in trouble.

Pulling for the Cards in this one (let's say 3-2), but either way, I will be rooting for the winner to do some damage at state.

For those of you at saturday's game vs. FF that had not seen LF play this year, they appeared to lacking in intensity and effort.  That has not been the case this year when they played Virginia, Alex, Tech, Cathedral, Brainerd, New Prague, etc..  I would think it is hard to get jacked up to play a team that you've whipped 9-2 & 9-0.  (I know it's playoff hockey but most of these kids have been to the X).  Having been humbled by FF, and then to hang around and witness Alex handle Sartell, LF will be ready to play ALEX! You will see Flyers finishing checks, blocking shots, and taking care of the puck, which they did not do against FF.

FLYERS - 3
CARDS - 2   

The Vet wrote:I just hope they can keep the ice cold enough so there isn't puddles everywhere.

I have seen a few rinks when it gets warm to not dump as much water down. Everything but the last time down freezes before they are done.

Flyers' 5-2 semifinal win 'wasn't pretty'
Rydeen goal propels Flyers to Section 6A title game against Alexandria

Matt Perkins
Staff Writer

The biggest slapshot of senior defenseman Joe Rydeen's career could not have come at a better time for the Little Falls boys hockey team.

Following a Fergus Falls goal early in the third period which cut his team's lead to 2-1 in the Section 6A semifinals, Rydeen wound up on an incoming pass from Ben Hanowski and blasted the puck past the Otters' goalie to reclaim the game's momentum and "energize" the Flyers.

"That was a huge goal for us," Hanowski said. "We just seemed to be flat, and, I don't know. But when that goal went in we got fired up."

The Flyers netted two more goals and allowed an easy goal off a defensive zone turnover to finish with a 5-2 win which left coach Tony Couture saying, "I guess a win is a win, but that was ugly"

"I can guarantee you we won't play that way Thursday night," Couture said of his team's fifth-straight section championship game, which will be played against Alexandria after they defeated Sartell 5-1 in the other Section 6A semifinal. "It's one of those frustrating games because we won, but we're a much better team than we showed tonight."

The Section 6A Championship will take place Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Athletic Complex in St. Cloud.

Rydeen said he sensed a spark of energy shoot through himself and his teammates when his first goal of the playoffs went in.

"If that's what we needed to get energized, I'm just glad I scored," Rydeen said, admittedly baffled by the team's performance.

But it wasn't as baffling for Fergus Falls coach Mike Donaghue, who had his team ready to stop the Flyer offense by stifling Hanowski, forcing blueline shots and denying rebound chances.

"I think we played really well out of the gates, and we had them confused a bit," Donaghue said. "I'm proud of the way our guys played, but when you have a team as good as the Flyers and a scorer as good as Hanowski, it's just a matter of time before they get you."

Hanowski was in on every Flyers goal Thursday night, with a hat trick and two assists. He had two powerplay goals, both which came on methodical assists from senior defenseman Izaak Berglund and sniper shots from "the best shooter in the state," according to Danaghue.

"Early in the game they did a good job of sending help from the weakside to break up our offense, but once we settled in and got used to it we adjusted and found ways to score," Hanowski said. "On the powerplays, Bergy started stretching out their 'D' and finding me in good scoring locations."

Though, oftentimes, a shooter makes his own scoring locations.
"When you have someone who can pick apart a goalie and place the puck wherever he wants, it's special," Donaghue said.

But, again, the win was bittersweet because of the way the Flyers played through the first two periods.

"We know we're better than that," Rydeen said. "Everyone knows we're better than that."

There were some good quotes in here about the way they played and how that won't happen against Alex.

Couture will have these guys back and ready for this game, but I'm still not sure it will be enough.

slapshot89 wrote:Couture will have these guys back and ready for this game, but I'm still not sure it will be enough.

You're joking right?

Alexandria is an amazing team with a spectacular goaltender, don't get me wrong. But what's with people saying stuff like this? ^

Since when does ALEX have the momentum? They lost twice this year to LF and, correct me if I'm wrong, I'm fairly sure Hemmingway has yet to EVER beat Little Falls? How is it that Alexandria is the team to beat here? LF has an undefeated record and is playing against a team they've already beaten twice this year.

I understand Alex is gunning for them, but do people think LF is going to nonchalantly come into this game with their head in the clouds and not put their best effort into this game? It makes me laugh when this guy says he doesn't think "it will be enough" for LF to win this game.

It just baffles me that people think Alexandria has the momentum here. Yeah they are playing great but with Hemmingway yet to ever beat LF it's hard to see how this game could possibly favor Alexandra...

I was at Saturday's game against Fergus and Little Falls played ridiculously sloppy hockey in the first couple periods. Their passes were off, they weren't protecting the puck as well as they needed to, and the chemistry was just a bit off. They have 27 wins and 0 losses this season. You can hardly expect LF (or ANY other team for that matter) to play perfect hockey for 81 straight periods and never have a slip up. They had two of them, they recovered and handled the game perfectly fine. Just because the score was 5-2 doesn't mean Little Falls is any worse now than during the regular season, and it certainly doesn't say anything about Alexandria.

MNWILD for once i have to agree with you....the way i see it a good team no matter what the circumstances always finds a way to win, such as saturday night. And by no means does alex have the momentum going into this game, yes they absolutly dominated sartell, but you have to remember they havent beat little falls, so if anything little falls has momentum playing an opponent they havent lost to in like what 5 years? I think both teams will show up with their own momentum, but obviously little falls has to be favored in this game....I am an alex fan but be realistic people just because little falls played sloppy against ff doesnt mean anything, more than likely they were looking ahead to playing alex, and hopefully they dont look past alex and think too much about the X, but they wont, its going to be a barn burner thursday...GO CARDS

Agreed! but its very hard to beat a team 3 times in one season! yes they have done it in the past, But have theses teams ever been so close? I dont think so... Alex has nothin to lose in this game, the presure is all on Little Falls!! which is only helping alex become closer to there destinatioin!