Little Falls vs. Fergus Falls

[dherman8]

Defense - Nice to see you've got your rose colored glasses on today. By what gauge do measure the Otters post season play as "over achieving" and label the Flyers as "average"? Both clubs hail from Section 4A (now 6A) and, let's face it, the entrant to state from that section is fortunate to win any games at the Big Show. The Flyers use the talent they have the best way they see fit - if you have average goaltending and defense, you better hope you can score more than your opponents. Granted they(as well as Fergus) have not had much success in the tourney, but I would say that has more to do with the competition than their style of play.

AY

WOW, I actually agree with angus here, this has got to be a first. Well put Young

Move over boblee, angus is my new hero with that comment. I think I am correct when I say with Fergus Falls' 7 appearances and LFs 3 each team's best finish was 4th. Lets just agree that the team that usually comes out of this section loses to the team that wins it all and they usually have one game where they get absolutely throttled.

[defense]

Over achieving means that Fergus Falls in 7 state tournement years was lucky to get ten wins, and generally had a sub .500 record going into the state tournement, ( after 3 section wins). 5 out of 7 years they won a game, meaning that they have already over achieved based on they should really not have won any games. They usually got to state because, (I shouldn't need to tell a couple people with such knowledge on the subject ) back in those days Fergus had no competition untill Wadena had a good year and Fergus a bad one adn then Little Falls all of a sudden is a strong program. Two years Fergus did lose out of the tournement. But games that they did win generally were upsets against 3 - 5 loss teams. When they finally had a stronger team, in 1999 I believe they took home the 3rd place trophy (with close to 10 losses on the year) beating a Blake team who maybe lost 5, none by more than a goal. And teh 2002 team who lacked consistency at times and ended up with about 7 or 8 losses, pounded the last International Falls cindarella and anyone who saw the game against Totino-Grace's championship team knows who should've won that game..........On the other hand Little Falls has won a few conference championships not losing more than what 2 or 3 games in a season on their way to the state tournement and have done what???? not even as much as Fergus' 3rd place finish in their 3rd state tournement.
The point is made, Little Falls does NOT play the best hockey of their season when they get to state, if they DID over achieve they would have a championship or runner up banner...........Question for the wizards: Why have the Flyers with their great goal scorers and awesome seasons not even been to the championship game??????

[dherman8]

Over achieving means that Fergus Falls in 7 state tournement years was lucky to get ten wins, and generally had a sub .500 record going into the state tournement, ( after 3 section wins). 5 out of 7 years they won a game, meaning that they have already over achieved based on they should really not have won any games. They usually got to state because, (I shouldn't need to tell a couple people with such knowledge on the subject ) back in those days Fergus had no competition untill Wadena had a good year and Fergus a bad one adn then Little Falls all of a sudden is a strong program. Two years Fergus did lose out of the tournement. But games that they did win generally were upsets against 3 - 5 loss teams. When they finally had a stronger team, in 1999 I believe they took home the 3rd place trophy (with close to 10 losses on the year) beating a Blake team who maybe lost 5, none by more than a goal. And teh 2002 team who lacked consistency at times and ended up with about 7 or 8 losses, pounded the last International Falls cindarella and anyone who saw the game against Totino-Grace's championship team knows who should've won that game..........On the other hand Little Falls has won a few conference championships not losing more than what 2 or 3 games in a season on their way to the state tournement and have done what???? not even as much as Fergus' 3rd place finish in their 3rd state tournement.
The point is made, Little Falls does NOT play the best hockey of their season when they get to state, if they DID over achieve they would have a championship or runner up banner...........Question for the wizards: Why have the Flyers with their great goal scorers and awesome seasons not even been to the championship game??????

Don't even start with who should've won the game at state in 2002. I recall that LF should've beat FF that year if it wasn't for a total collapse by the Flyers. (no surprise it was the goaltending that killed them. go figure) LF has had a number of exceptional scorers over the past 8-10 years or so and the only reason they can't go anywhere is because no one seems to care about goaltending or defense. You can brag up a ONE third place finish in seven trips all you want.

[ap4mvp]

Over achieving means that Fergus Falls in 7 state tournement years was lucky to get ten wins, and generally had a sub .500 record going into the state tournement, ( after 3 section wins). 5 out of 7 years they won a game, meaning that they have already over achieved based on they should really not have won any games. They usually got to state because, (I shouldn't need to tell a couple people with such knowledge on the subject ) back in those days Fergus had no competition untill Wadena had a good year and Fergus a bad one adn then Little Falls all of a sudden is a strong program. Two years Fergus did lose out of the tournement. But games that they did win generally were upsets against 3 - 5 loss teams. When they finally had a stronger team, in 1999 I believe they took home the 3rd place trophy (with close to 10 losses on the year) beating a Blake team who maybe lost 5, none by more than a goal. And teh 2002 team who lacked consistency at times and ended up with about 7 or 8 losses, pounded the last International Falls cindarella and anyone who saw the game against Totino-Grace's championship team knows who should've won that game..........On the other hand Little Falls has won a few conference championships not losing more than what 2 or 3 games in a season on their way to the state tournement and have done what???? not even as much as Fergus' 3rd place finish in their 3rd state tournement.
The point is made, Little Falls does NOT play the best hockey of their season when they get to state, if they DID over achieve they would have a championship or runner up banner...........Question for the wizards: Why have the Flyers with their great goal scorers and awesome seasons not even been to the championship game??????

Why haven't the Flyers with their high powered offense gotten to the championship game? The best team they ever had was last season’s team (remember the one that beat Fergus in the section finals 11-1 ) that was beaten in the first round by the eventually champions Hermantown. The Hermantown coach admitted after the tournament that the toughest game they played was the opening round game against the Flyers. If LF beat Hermantown a lot of people think they could have won it all. It’s too bad when they seeded the teams starting last year that they didn't seed all of them then LF would have had a better chance

[darkdemon]

anyone who saw the game against Totino-Grace's championship team knows who should've won that game

Whatever dude they didn't win and Totino won the championship

[AngusYoung]

Probably because they were not good enough. Lots of things can happen in a three day tourney and, as the old cliche goes, that's why they play the games. To base a team as an overachiever or underachiever on its record is a bit naive, however, defense. The Flyers played eventual champ Hermantown extremely tough in the first round last year yet came up short and then mailed it in the conso round. They have a nice team again this year and should be the entrant to the Tourney from Section 6A, but just because they are 22-3, I would not expect them to be the champs, but all 8 teams have a shot. Hey, remember Roseau has been to the Tourney what, over 30 times, yet won ONLY 7 titles. Does that make them underachievers also?

AY

[defense]

Hey, no one was bragging, a person just expects a little more out of a 20 win conference champion than they do out of a 10 game winner who is sub .500...........thanks for answering though I think that settled it...

By the way, no way Little Falls should've won that game, that would be the inconsistency talked about earlier....................If that's the way it is, Fergus SHOULD've split with Little Falls last year, and SHOULD've won the last game they played...............

[AngusYoung]

Hey, beat the Cardinals and you get another shot when it counts. If they both make it to the finals, I've got 10 that says the Flyers cruise.

AY

[dherman8]

Hey, no one was bragging, a person just expects a little more out of a 20 win conference champion than they do out of a 10 game winner who is sub .500...........thanks for answering though I think that settled it...

By the way, no way Little Falls should've won that game, that would be the inconsistency talked about earlier....................If that's the way it is, Fergus SHOULD've split with Little Falls last year, and SHOULD've won the last game they played...............

Are you drunk? Little Falls was up 3-1 with seven minutes to go in the game. Plus, if you had any idea how this worked you would know people around that area were hoping LF would do good but if you dug deep down, there was as much expectation around the state for LF the past few years as FF those other years.

[defense]

The Cards have to beat the Sabres first, the Otters better NOT lose sight of Detroit Lakes and I'm pretty sure the Otters give the Flyers a game of course that's if Little Falls doesn't drop one to Apollo with their goalie and defense .....I do hope that the 6a champs can manage a little more at state this year ........nice thought on Roseau though Angus......I think you can use records quite a bit when arguing this since Fergus and Little Falls even back then played similar schedules, not in teams played but in difficulty. Do you mean to tell me that Fergus 7 state tournement teams were better than any of the last 3 LF teams???????? that is the way it sounds...

[cleansheet01]

In '02 when FF played TG the otters SHOULD have won that game, they outshot TG by close to a 3-1 margin and if it wasn't for 2 fluky goals that came from OUTSIDE THE BLUE LINE they would've won. Tyler Ness, the goalie at that time for the Otters completely choked. Coulda woulda shoulda, I know. There's aso no guarantee that FF would've won the 'ship.

The biggest reason that FF had such a sub-par record in all those state tourney seasons is because they were playing in the Mariucci conference, arguably one of the best in the state. They were playing teams like Moorhead, Rosau, Warroad, EGF, etc...It hurt their record but made them very battle tested and very tough. When it came to 4a they were able to cruise for the most part. They did have some tough games, example being the 2OT game against DL and a tough one against LF in their last one.

[defense]

Read, and read carefully guys..........You know, the champion of the Central Lakes Conference SHOULD have high expectations, even a championship, beating teams the way they have been......not drunk, sorry, didn' t know that that the CLC was a powderpuff league. I mean its no Marriucci or IR but still...........and sorry man, the Otters of that era were NOT going to lose to LF, these days, yes, not then. Wich brings us back to the beginning of the debate the main point as made many times in many different tongues: Little Falls SHOULD be conditioning their team during the regular season for the tough 3 games in March that they just can't seem to get through. Instead of relying on a completely NODAK style of hockey that wins NO championships.

[cleansheet01]

Read, and read carefully guys..........You know, the champion of the Central Lakes Conference SHOULD have high expectations, even a championship, beating teams the way they have been......not drunk, sorry, didn' t know that that the CLC was a powderpuff league. I mean its no Marriucci or IR but still...........and sorry man, the Otters of that era were NOT going to lose to LF, these days, yes, not then. Wich brings us back to the beginning of the debate the main point as made many times in many different tongues: Little Falls SHOULD be conditioning their team during the regular season for the tough 3 games in March that they just can't seem to get through. Instead of relying on a completely NODAK style of hockey that wins NO championships.

I couldn't agree more

[darkdemon]

In '02 when FF played TG the otters SHOULD have won that game, they outshot TG by close to a 3-1 margin and if it wasn't for 2 fluky goals that came from OUTSIDE THE BLUE LINE they would've won. Tyler Ness, the goalie at that time for the Otters completely choked. Coulda woulda shoulda, I know. There's aso no guarantee that FF would've won the 'ship.

The biggest reason that FF had such a sub-par record in all those state tourney seasons is because they were playing in the Mariucci conference, arguably one of the best in the state. They were playing teams like Moorhead, Rosau, Warroad, EGF, etc...It hurt their record but made them very battle tested and very tough. When it came to 4a they were able to cruise for the most part. They did have some tough games, example being the 2OT game against DL and a tough one against LF in their last one.

Coulda wouda shoulda is right and Little Falls should have been there not the annoying otters. The team that has been to the show and knew what it takes to win big games won that night. That is the reason why little falls is gonna take this section again too much experience. They WILL NOT blow this section. I hope they are at least close games this year so I don't lose too much money in the dollar bill game Last year fergus' D emptied my wallet

[truckman]

Good luck to y'alls flyers. Should be good section tourn., I wish I could see some of the games but heading south of the border for 2 weeks with the family. I know you'll all miss me.

[defense]

Coulda woulda shoulda is exactly right and the team that had been to the show won the game to get there, on experience and just plain a superior team

[ap4mvp]

Good luck to y'alls flyers. Should be good section tourn., I wish I could see some of the games but heading south of the border for 2 weeks with the family. I know you'll all miss me.

Trucky, have you launched your investigation into the Flyer coaches cooking the books yet

Let us know how its going

[truckman]

Going to check out some Mexican private eyes while on the beach

[cleansheet01]

In '02 when FF played TG the otters SHOULD have won that game, they outshot TG by close to a 3-1 margin and if it wasn't for 2 fluky goals that came from OUTSIDE THE BLUE LINE they would've won. Tyler Ness, the goalie at that time for the Otters completely choked. Coulda woulda shoulda, I know. There's aso no guarantee that FF would've won the 'ship.

The biggest reason that FF had such a sub-par record in all those state tourney seasons is because they were playing in the Mariucci conference, arguably one of the best in the state. They were playing teams like Moorhead, Rosau, Warroad, EGF, etc...It hurt their record but made them very battle tested and very tough. When it came to 4a they were able to cruise for the most part. They did have some tough games, example being the 2OT game against DL and a tough one against LF in their last one.

Coulda wouda shoulda is right and Little Falls should have been there not the annoying otters. The team that has been to the show and knew what it takes to win big games won that night. That is the reason why little falls is gonna take this section again too much experience. They WILL NOT blow this section. I hope they are at least close games this year so I don't lose too much money in the dollar bill game Last year fergus' D emptied my wallet

Little Falls won't blow the section, but a team may take it from them. Very unlikely, but a physical FF team could possibly contain the Hanowski's or if Hemingway stands on his head for Alex it's possible. I'm cheering for the Otters and I'm gonna pick them to win it simply because I can't pick against them. LF is the best team in 6A and they have for sure the best player and arguably the best two, at worst, 2 of the best 3. But stranger things have happened then LF losing in the playoffs.