EP DONE in 2007

[defensedad]

I had thought all along that they would lose. It surprised me to hear that they had lost in the quarter finals of sections. I thought that it would have happened in semis in sections, if not the semis in state. What happened?
Was it the lack of team chenistry?
Was it that the coach was not able to bring the girls together?
Was there to much individual effort?
Did they just have a bad game?
Was goaltending so-so?
Share your thoughts.

IMO I think it mostly is laid on the back of the coach. He failed to have the girls mesh as a team. He had some of the best talent in the state.

[ghshockeyfan]

3 of the Top 5 teams in state lost tonight - in fact many would argue that they were the top 3 teams in state. I don't know that we've ever seen anything like this before. In Section 6 this was mainly due to the depth of the Section and an upset in 5AA took down another great team. It sounds like there was some great hockey played tonight, and wish I could have seen all of it. Congrats to all the teams involved - Winners & Losers - as this has been a great indicator of how far the girls game has come!

[playfair]

Coach Hegland did a great job with Wayzata. And Wayzata had nothing to loss and everything to win. Also this group of girls that play for Wayzata, play for each other, their coaches, and most importantly play as a team. They never give up, they are selfless, hardworing team players. As far as the comments that I heard EP players were swearing at each other on the ice, and after the game. And EP's coach tried to pick a fight with a Wayzata fan. Sounds like the team imploded right in front of their eyes. Individual hockey lost tonight. Team hockey won.

[Bensonmum]

This is the kind of thing, if it keeps happening year after year, that could make Girls' Hockey a big-time sport. Talk about drama...... Hopefully, the infighting thing is just rumor and innuendo, but either way there's passion for the game among those involved.

[MNHockeyFan]

3 of the Top 5 teams in state lost tonight - in fact many would argue that they were the top 3 teams in state. I don't know that we've ever seen anything like this before. In Section 6 this was mainly due to the depth of the Section and an upset in 5AA took down another great team. It sounds like there was some great hockey played tonight, and wish I could have seen all of it. Congrats to all the teams involved - Winners & Losers - as this has been a great indicator of how far the girls game has come!

I doubt you'll ever see this again - both the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the entire state get beat in the same section semi's. Not only were EP and Edina Nos. 1-2, they were consensus 1-2 for pretty much the whole season. Pretty remarkable when you think about it.

[Goalie35]

Does this mean all the EP people will leave? Will we stop hearing about how great this section is? Sections are a time for upsets they happen every year in both boys AND girls hockey. The state tournament is for everyone to enjoy making the state tournament and being one of the final 8 teams. The best teams usually DONT win state and that's what makes the tournament exciting! Has all this talk about how good sections are and how EP will never lose has finally been put to rest? I hope so

[allhoc11]

Does this mean all the EP people will leave? Will we stop hearing about how great this section is? Sections are a time for upsets they happen every year in both boys AND girls hockey. The state tournament is for everyone to enjoy making the state tournament and being one of the final 8 teams. The best teams usually DONT win state and that's what makes the tournament exciting! Has all this talk about how good sections are and how EP will never lose has finally been put to rest? I hope so

It will probably only stop until this season is over, and as we prepare for next year we see that EP returns everyone but 2 of their top level players from this years team, with the bulk of their talent in next years senior class.

[mnhockgal]

Yes, the talk about "best ever" was especially comical. Please! They were far better last year, and that team and this team were not as good as SSP 2003-2005 teams or the Roseville dynasty. This was a great defensive team, with the best D corps any team has had in a long while. But they were not a great offensive team. Someone should compare their scoring this year vs last year, I would guess they scored at least 25-30% less goals this season.

Its simply wonderful that the arrogant one was brought down a peg or 2!!! Congrats to Wayzata, their effort was tremendous.

[ghshockeyfan]

Yes, the talk about "best ever" was especially comical. Please! They were far better last year, and that team and this team were not as good as SSP 2003-2005 teams or the Roseville dynasty. This was a great defensive team, with the best D corps any team has had in a long while. But they were not a great offensive team. Someone should compare their scoring this year vs last year, I would guess they scored at least 25-30% less goals this season.

mnhockgal - I'm guessing that you've seen all three of these programs over the years - RV, SSP, & EP. Many believe that some of their teams deserve consideration for a "top 5" teams ever. How would you rank the top 5 by season/program and would any non-EP/SSP/RV teams make the list or get consideration? I'm guessing at least 2 RV teams, at least 3 SSP teams, and at least 1 EP team may be considered?

[mnhockgal]

Yes, the talk about "best ever" was especially comical. Please! They were far better last year, and that team and this team were not as good as SSP 2003-2005 teams or the Roseville dynasty. This was a great defensive team, with the best D corps any team has had in a long while. But they were not a great offensive team. Someone should compare their scoring this year vs last year, I would guess they scored at least 25-30% less goals this season.

mnhockgal - I'm guessing that you've seen all three of these programs over the years - RV, SSP, & EP. Many believe that some of their teams deserve consideration for a "top 5" teams ever. How would you rank the top 5 by season/program and would any non-EP/SSP/RV teams make the list or get consideration? I'm guessing at least 2 RV teams, at least 3 SSP teams, and at least 1 EP team may be considered?

Keep in mind, I started becoming a big fan of Girls hockey in 1998. Also keep in mind I am biased as I am a SSP fan.

1. SSP 2002
2. SSP 2003
3. Roseville 99
4. SSP 2005
5. Eden Praire 2006

[Goalie35]

The SSP 2005 team was good but in my opinion aren't worthy of a "top 5" rating they lost to stillwater in the regular season and then were nearly beat in a first round game of state by Anoka, Anoka breakaway sitting on the goalies pad turned around to be the SSP game winning breakaway goal at the other end. An forgotten game of that year but showed SSP's weaknesses.

[hockeywise]

Yes, the talk about "best ever" was especially comical. Please! They were far better last year, and that team and this team were not as good as SSP 2003-2005 teams or the Roseville dynasty. This was a great defensive team, with the best D corps any team has had in a long while. But they were not a great offensive team. Someone should compare their scoring this year vs last year, I would guess they scored at least 25-30% less goals this season.

mnhockgal - I'm guessing that you've seen all three of these programs over the years - RV, SSP, & EP. Many believe that some of their teams deserve consideration for a "top 5" teams ever. How would you rank the top 5 by season/program and would any non-EP/SSP/RV teams make the list or get consideration? I'm guessing at least 2 RV teams, at least 3 SSP teams, and at least 1 EP team may be considered?

Keep in mind, I started becoming a big fan of Girls hockey in 1998. Also keep in mind I am biased as I am a SSP fan.

1. SSP 2002
2. SSP 2003
3. Roseville 99
4. SSP 2005
5. Eden Praire 2006

How has OE played a role with these team's??? if any????

[mnhockgal]

The SSP 2005 team was good but in my opinion aren't worthy of a "top 5" rating they lost to stillwater in the regular season and then were nearly beat in a first round game of state by Anoka, Anoka breakaway sitting on the goalies pad turned around to be the SSP game winning breakaway goal at the other end. An forgotten game of that year but showed SSP's weaknesses.

SSP nearly did lose to Anoka, and it was a great game won in the clutch by a great team. The point you dont bring up is, out of 31 games that year, SSP lost one (they simply had a poor 3rd period vs Stillwater who played great, something hardly ever seen at SSP) and had exactly one other close game - Anoka. Anoka was easily the 2nd best team in the state tourney that year as EP lost to Wayzata in section final. SSP beat EP, and every other team it played that year by 2 plus goals. I think they are top 5. We are talking about a team that lost a total of 3 games its last 3 seasons.

[mnhockgal]

How has OE played a role with these team's??? if any???

I dont recall if 99 Roseville had any or not. 2006 EP is well documented, and I dont think they win the title without Stoa Feste et all. Open enrollment had little if any impact on SSP 2001-2003 teams. I dont count Felicia Nelson, as she began in SSP in youth, AFTER her older brothers both played in SSP. She was as much from SSP as any of them. SSP 2005 definitely is very questionable if they win it - ONLY due to they had no goalie without Porter. If things fell right, possibly they do, but not likely. Jonnie Bloemers was important also. The others were mostly role players, but undoubtedly added a lot of depth.

2006 SSP team, which clearly is the weakest of their 4 title teams, there is no question they dont win "A" state without O/E. Jonnie was their best player, Porter the goalie, and Bauerfeld, Robertson and Simones were key also.

[ghshockeyfan]

How has OE played a role with these team's??? if any???

I dont recall if 99 Roseville had any or not. 2006 EP is well documented, and I dont think they win the title without Stoa Feste et all. Open enrollment had little if any impact on SSP 2001-2003 teams. I dont count Felicia Nelson, as she began in SSP in youth, AFTER her older brothers both played in SSP. She was as much from SSP as any of them. SSP 2005 definitely is very questionable if they win it - ONLY due to they had no goalie without Porter. If things fell right, possibly they do, but not likely. Jonnie Bloemers was important also. The others were mostly role players, but undoubtedly added a lot of depth.

2006 SSP team, which clearly is the weakest of their 4 title teams, there is no question they dont win "A" state without O/E. Jonnie was their best player, Porter the goalie, and Bauerfeld, Robertson and Simones were key also.

I agree with this view. Also, I don't know that RV 99 had any OE's but I'm sure anything is possible. Also, if a kid plays youth hockey somewhere and ends up at the HS I don't consider that OE I guess...

[Goalie35]

Since when did the "A" tournament count? Everyone knows that SSP opted out of the AA tournament so that they had a chance to win state. They didn't have the depth anymore so they moved down. What would happen if we just made the A bracket a rebuilding tournament for everyone else when they are going to have struggles for a couple years? It would change the tournament greatly. The only tournament that should be considered a state champinship is the AA tournament because if you're good enough to win the AA you should have opted up to play there.

[cigar]

yeah goalie,

everyone knows that ssp chickened out so they could win the "a" title. this insinuation by you lets all know you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. if the coaches and kids had anything to do with it they would have remained in "aa". I will tell you another thing, had the administration not put them into class "a" they would have beaten roseville to make it to state and would have had a great chance of defending its title against ep.

instead they had to settle for 4 titles in 5 years. oh, if only a little luck they would have went 5 for 5, i bet that would have put you and many others in your grave.

[mnhockgal]

yeah goalie,

everyone knows that ssp chickened out so they could win the "a" title. this insinuation by you lets all know you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. if the coaches and kids had anything to do with it they would have remained in "aa". I will tell you another thing, had the administration not put them into class "a" they would have beaten roseville to make it to state and would have had a great chance of defending its title against ep.

instead they had to settle for 4 titles in 5 years. oh, if only a little luck they would have went 5 for 5, i bet that would have put you and many others in your grave.

First - agreed, the "Chickened out" is too ludicrous to even respond to. Secondly, SSP was in no way a cinch to beat Roseville to go to State if they had gone AA. Likely would have been a good game. Roseville beat them earlier in the year. However, indeed, the happiest person in the world about SSP going "A" was Sertich.

However, please dont be ridiculous in making a statement like SSP would/could have defended the AA title and beaten EP. Had SSP made it to state, and that was 50-50 at best, they would have been at best the 5th or 6th best team there, and would have had no chance to beat EP.

[mnhky315]

okay...this isnt the first time that EP has lost. they actually scrimmaged shattuck twice and lost both times. this just goes to show that anyone can win when they come prepared. i say...go ponies

[MNHockeyFan]

okay...this isnt the first time that EP has lost. they actually scrimmaged shattuck twice and lost both times. this just goes to show that anyone can win when they come prepared. i say...go ponies

Realistically, Shattuck doesn't count. They are a national prep team that recruits from all over the country. And these were just scrimmages anyway, not real games.

HOWEVER, I do believe EP WOULD have lost sooner had they played a more difficult schedule. They won the few big games they did play, but they did have some very close one goal games against teams you would have thought they would have won by 3+ goals. If they had been in "hypothetical conference" consisting of just the Section 6AA teams, and played them each twice, my guess is they would have lost maybe 3 or 4 games this season, and the streak would have ended way short of 57.

[countrygentleman]

Personally, I'm pumped EP lost. I'm from EP. Maybe next year the number of non-EP kids on the team will be less than 50%???