alcloseshaver wrote:Cloquet had ER as the three seed last year and that cost ER the one seed. No more comments from me on the past seedings or venue. The other teams in the section need to focus on getting it done in sections. ER should focus on what it takes to win the section no matter where it takes place or what they are seeded. That is the attitude of ER's head coach and it should be reflected in their fans and players.
Hounds took care of any questions of seeding with their 5-1, 2-to-1 SOG dismantling of the Elks in the title game.
Just an FYI on some information about what is going on Semi-Final Saturday this year at the DECC/Amsoil Arena. Of course I have previously informed about the 7A and 7AA semi-finals all being played at Amsoil Arena on Saturday, Feb. 21 beginning at Noon. Here is something else to be aware of in terms of this place being a zoo at the DECC and in downtown duluth in terms of parking and hotels, the Duluth Sports and Travel Show/Deer Hunting Classic which on average brings in over 30,000 will be going on Feb. 18-22 at the DECC. While there are challenges, I see this as a good thing for people hoping to see a sold out Amsoil Arena on Semi-Final Saturday. I think there would be a lot of people that would want to go to both events, and that a lot of casual hockey fans might be more inclined to come to Duluth that Saturday. Here is a link to the show: http://shamrockprod.com/visitor/duluth/duluthvhome.aspx
The UMD hockey women are home Fri/Sun vs Ohio State, UMD men are on the road that weekend. Imagine if the UMD men were playing the Gophers or No Dak that weekend.
At this early point in the season it's tough to gauge these teams. I would say Rapids has been better than I thought they'd be, coming from behind twice on the road and getting production from the younger players. Duluth East looked sloppy, but it's their first game and Randolph wasn't on the bench. STMA beating FL in OT seems to indicate that maybe STMA is going to be a team to take seriously in the quarterfinals. Forest Lake looks like a team with one solid line and some questionable goaltending. Cloquet had two wins over middle of the road teams and lost a close game to Jefferson. Elk River appears to be as good as advertised. They should be an 18+ win team, but they are also having to replace a solid goalie. Andover scored 8 in their opener, so I expect they'll be a team fighting for a top 4 seed this year.
TheInsider wrote:I think East will look a lot better when they get 2 of their top Dmen back.
By the end of the year I'll be shocked if East isn't the #1 seed. Seen this movie before and Randolph is still the best coach in HS hockey IMO. That said, they have 2 interesting 7AA games Thurs/Sat. Cloquet has been inconsistent, but even in these type of years they have beat East. STMA goes to Duluth Sat. STMA has some really good forwards, but not sure how the rest of their team stacks up against better teams.
I would be "shocked" if they were. Sic. DJ , you must be bored tonight stating something so obvious. East will be the 1 seed even if they should the 4.
This section is beginning to look weak. East was tied by Andover, taken to overtime by STMA, barely beat Superior, and lost to Wayzata. Rapids lost to Warroad, Duluth Marshall, and Lakeville North. Cloquet lost to South St. Paul, Jefferson and was blasted by Hermantown. Although some of these loses are against quality teams, at some point you have to beat a quality team. Just about everyone has beaten Forest Lake. Elk River looks like the only quality team in the section. Rapids will probably lose its next three games (Edina, Eden Prairie and Elk River). At this rate they will finish around .500. Hopefully East or Rapids will improve enough to challenge Elk River at Sectionals. Wouldn't be surprised to see a STMA and Elk River final.
Take it easy 1969. Rapids is going thru some growing pains with a couple of 1st year players making costly mistakes and finding out who the goalie will be. The game vs Lakeville North was a lot closer than 3-0. Their goalie came up big when he had to. Hopefully the Metro teams will this team lightly this week. Wouldn't surprise me if they win 2 out of 3 at the Edina Classic.
Forget records and all that jazz. Duluth East and Elk River are the top two in this section until the seeding comes out, then they still might be. The history of East speaks for itself and Elk River is overflowing with talent this season.
boblee wrote:Forget records and all that jazz. Duluth East and Elk River are the top two in this section until the seeding comes out, then they still might be. The history of East speaks for itself and Elk River is overflowing with talent this season.
northwoods oldtimer wrote:Right now it looks to be all Elk River in the section.
Agree. Right Now.
But we all know that Randolph (regardless of my opinion of him) gets the most from a team.
And GR has some quality players that will be battle tested by their schedule.
So, hopefully, come late February, section 7AA will be a dog fight.
But right now Elk River is the clear favorite. And that opinion is not at all brutal.
Last edited by elliott70 on Wed Dec 17, 2014 9:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
northwoods oldtimer wrote:Right now it looks to be all Elk River in the section.
Agree. Right Now.
But we all know that Randolph (regardless of my opinion of him) gets the most from a team.
And GR has some quality players that will be battle tested by their schedule.
So, hopefully, come late February, section 7AA will be a dog fight.
But right now Elk River is the clear favorite. At that opinion is not at all brutal.
northwoods oldtimer wrote:Right now it looks to be all Elk River in the section.
Agree. Right Now.
But we all know that Randolph (regardless of my opinion of him) gets the most from a team.
And GR has some quality players that will be battle tested by their schedule.
So, hopefully, come late February, section 7AA will be a dog fight.
But right now Elk River is the clear favorite. At that opinion is not at all brutal.
To say Elk River is a clear favorite at this point in the season given the results is brutal. Now if Lakeville North was in 7AA, sure they'd be a "clear favorite". Also, Rapids and East both have Elk Rivers number in recent years. Right now I'd say is a 3 horse race, yes even with East's slow start, but their history says they'll turn it around. After that there isn't much drop off for teams 4-7.
northwoods oldtimer wrote:Right now it looks to be all Elk River in the section.
Agree. Right Now.
But we all know that Randolph (regardless of my opinion of him) gets the most from a team.
And GR has some quality players that will be battle tested by their schedule.
So, hopefully, come late February, section 7AA will be a dog fight.
But right now Elk River is the clear favorite. At that opinion is not at all brutal.
To say Elk River is a clear favorite at this point in the season given the results is brutal. Now if Lakeville North was in 7AA, sure they'd be a "clear favorite". Also, Rapids and East both have Elk Rivers number in recent years. Right now I'd say is a 3 horse race, yes even with East's slow start, but their history says they'll turn it around. After that there isn't much drop off for teams 4-7.
I've been hearing about Cloquet's history for many years now and it doesn't seem to help.
