East vs Grand Rapids 7AA Semifinal 2/21/15

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:36 pm

Jonah Bischoff deflects it in after the face-off to make it 3-2 Duluth East. 8:08 to go.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:36 pm

Bischoff tries for the goal again and Howg robs him.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:39 pm

3 on 0 in front of the net and Howg makes the save again.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:39 pm

Stephan shoots and gets robbed again by Howg.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:42 pm

GR outshooting DE 12-1 so far. DE playing with fire by trying to hold on.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:43 pm

3 minutes left. Still 3-2 DE.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:46 pm

1 minute left. Timeout taken by Rapids. 3-2 Duluth East.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:47 pm

Shots now 21-2 for Rapids this period.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:50 pm

Rapids takes a timeout. Rapids has 40 seconds to get something in.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:51 pm

Gunnar Howg makes a glove save. 20 seconds left. GR goalie off.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 3:52 pm

GAME OVER.

Duluth East- 3

Grand Rapids-2

Shots end with 41-20 GR.

Rapids season ends in the semi finals to East once again.

East takes on Elk River Thursday for the chance to go to state for the 7th straight year.

Starting to feel bad for GR fans, every year it is always so close.. I thought this would be the year.

Houndhockey · Post by **Houndhockey** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:30 pm

Slammer wrote:GAME OVER.

Duluth East- 3

Grand Rapids-2

Shots end with 41-20 GR.

Rapids season ends in the semi finals to East once again.

East takes on Elk River Thursday for the chance to go to state for the 7th straight year.

Starting to feel bad for GR fans, every year it is always so close.. I thought this would be the year.

Will never feel sorry for Grand Rapids. Their fans pretty much ask for this misery.

On to Thursday night. Randolph has a pretty good track record when it comes to section finals, but I can't remember the last time they were so severely the underdog going in.

Post by **karl(east)** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 4:59 pm

Whew. Had to grab a beverage in Canal Park to ease the nerves after that one.

Gunnar Howg is obviously the hero of this one, with that 22-save performance in the 3rd period. That said, East's style of play over the first two periods shouldn't be lost in all of this. This was a triumph for Randolph's 2-3 experiment, and they did a very good job of avoiding the odd-man rushes that killed them in the first meeting and creating good chances off of good breakouts. Score one for the system.

Enough praise, though...I thought East came out far too conservatively in the 3rd period, as they looked all too content to go into a shell with a 3-1 lead. It held up pretty well for a good half of the period, with most of Rapids' shots coming from distance, but after GR made it a one-goal game, they were hanging on for dear life. Thankfully, Howg was there.

My annual condolences to the Rapids fans. They represent so well at Amsoil every year, only for this to happen yet again. I won't go so far as to say I feel sorry for them, but I do respect them. If everyone sticks around, they'll be a real force next season.

Elk River certainly threw down the gauntlet in the opener, roughing up Cloquet. East's odds have never been longer in a section final in the Randolph Era, but I watched these two play a very even game in Elk River a couple weeks ago, and there's the weight of 15-1 and what happened last season heading into this one. It'll be fun no matter what.

north_bear · Post by **north_bear** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 5:05 pm

Houndhockey wrote:
Slammer wrote:GAME OVER.

Duluth East- 3

Grand Rapids-2

Shots end with 41-20 GR.

Rapids season ends in the semi finals to East once again.

East takes on Elk River Thursday for the chance to go to state for the 7th straight year.

Starting to feel bad for GR fans, every year it is always so close.. I thought this would be the year.
Will never feel sorry for Grand Rapids. Their fans pretty much ask for this misery.

On to Thursday night. Randolph has a pretty good track record when it comes to section finals, but I can't remember the last time they were so severely the underdog going in.

Where should I send my condolences and flowers after the Elks throttle east? No northern pride here. Anybody but east, go Elks. I predict Elk River 5 East 1.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 5:18 pm

north_bear wrote:
Houndhockey wrote:
Slammer wrote:GAME OVER.

Duluth East- 3

Grand Rapids-2

Shots end with 41-20 GR.

Rapids season ends in the semi finals to East once again.

East takes on Elk River Thursday for the chance to go to state for the 7th straight year.

Starting to feel bad for GR fans, every year it is always so close.. I thought this would be the year.
Will never feel sorry for Grand Rapids. Their fans pretty much ask for this misery.

On to Thursday night. Randolph has a pretty good track record when it comes to section finals, but I can't remember the last time they were so severely the underdog going in.
Where should I send my condolences and flowers after the Elks throttle east? No northern pride here. Anybody but east, go Elks. I predict Elk River 5 East 1.

Don't make yourself look too bitter....

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:45 pm

East is bad. They aren't even a top. 15 team. They will have no answer for Jaremko and Lutz. Randolph this Randolph that. Sorry hounds no trip to St. Paul this year. 7AA will be represented well with ER. Tourney will be much better with a legit top 5 team.

Immigrant Fan · Post by **Immigrant Fan** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:17 pm

I wouldn't dismiss or bag on Randolph. The track record demonstrates there is really something there. I seem to recall the STMA faithful saying similar things about Esse from Cloquet right up until they lost 9-4.

I thought both Rapids and East represented themselves well today. Rapids had plenty of opportunities to score, but just could not get it in the net. Howg certainly thwarted many of those chances, but Rapids also missed on many on their own accord.

Good luck to both teams on Thursday. Whoever wins, I'll be pulling for you at the X. Generally I root for the northern team, but it would be kind of nice to see someone other than East from section 7, so I will just try to appreciate a good sectiion final.

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:25 pm

Immigrant Fan wrote:I wouldn't dismiss or bag on Randolph. The track record demonstrates there is really something there. I seem to recall the STMA faithful saying similar things about Esse from Cloquet right up until they lost 9-4.

I thought both Rapids and East represented themselves well today. Rapids had plenty of opportunities to score, but just could not get it in the net. Howg certainly thwarted many of those chances, but Rapids also missed on many on their own accord.

Good luck to both teams on Thursday. Whoever wins, I'll be pulling for you at the X. Generally I root for the northern team, but it would be kind of nice to see someone other than East from section 7, so I will just try to appreciate a good sectiion final.

Its not that I'm dismissing Randolph. East is just NOT GOOD. There is a huge difference between them and Elk River. I don't care how good of a coach Randolph is. Elks will roll in section final and be a great representative for 7AA. East didn't even deserve to win today. They can thank their goalie.

Nuts&Bolts · Post by **Nuts&Bolts** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:29 pm

OK Stats I don't agree with you anymore. To say East isn't any good is a bit crazy. And didn't East play LN about a month ago and only lose 2-1 after a few hour bus ride? If East isn't any good would this mean LN is average?

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:43 pm

Nuts&Bolts wrote:OK Stats I don't agree with you anymore. To say East isn't any good is a bit crazy. And didn't East play LN about a month ago and only lose 2-1 after a few hour bus ride? If East isn't any good would this mean LN is average?

Could care less if you agree with me. Typical guy who reads a box score or summary on the 'hub' and assumes because the score was close the game was close. According to many East fans it was one of their best played games of the year. They are NOT a good team. And NO, just because they played LN close and they are not good doesn't mean LN is average. Elks are gonna hammer them.

Nuts&Bolts · Post by **Nuts&Bolts** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:52 pm

Not really a fan of the Hub but I forgot your Stats you help manipulate are more important than a final score of a game.

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 10:54 pm

Nuts&Bolts wrote:Not really a fan of the Hub but I forgot your Stats you help manipulate are more important than a final score of a game.

Speak english please son.

greenway1969 · Post by **greenway1969** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 11:44 pm

Rapids played a phenomenal 3rd period, only to be stone-walled by Howg. The big quetion is where was this Rapids team in the 1st and 2nd period? Hate to say it, but it comes down to having the players ready to go when the puck is dropped. Elk River and Hermantown showed that they were. You have to play 3 periods not just one. Also, Randolph was not afraid to try something different with 2 down and 3 high in the offensive zone. This led directly to one of East's goal. You may get tired of hearing about Randolph but it sure seems that Rapids was clearly out-coached. Rapids would give Elk River a much tougher game, but who knows, stranger things have happened.

Houndhockey · Post by **Houndhockey** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 6:25 am

greenway1969 wrote:Rapids played a phenomenal 3rd period, only to be stone-walled by Howg. The big quetion is where was this Rapids team in the 1st and 2nd period? Hate to say it, but it comes down to having the players ready to go when the puck is dropped. Elk River and Hermantown showed that they were. You have to play 3 periods not just one. Also, Randolph was not afraid to try something different with 2 down and 3 high in the offensive zone. This led directly to one of East's goal. You may get tired of hearing about Randolph but it sure seems that Rapids was clearly out-coached.
Rapids would give Elk River a much tougher game, but who knows, stranger things have happened
.

Why is it that Rapids would give ER a tougher game? It seems to me that ER beat Rapids 5-4, and scored a last minute goal against DE to tie them? Howg is heating up at just the right time and East is playing well. Just when you start doubting them is when they surprise you.

grindiangrad-80 · Post by **grindiangrad-80** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 7:47 am

I was at the game. Howg was unreal. He needed to stand on his head and he did. Obviously, it would have been nice to win but sometimes you have to tip your hat. East did what they had to do to win. Good luck to them Thursday. I think GR will be very good for the next few years.

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East vs Grand Rapids 7AA Semifinal 2/21/15

Who wins?