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Good Section 7AA game, should be top 2 seeds come February.

What are your thoughts about this game?

This is obviously one of the biggest matchups in 7AA this year, with the winner probably being the early favorite for the #1 seed, though Cloquet has a case for it also. I'd say it boils down to Anoka's first line vs. East's depth. If the Hounds can keep the Tornadoes' 1st line down it could be a long day for Anoka. The East-Centennial game Thursday will be an interesting barometer, as Anoka has already been beaten quite handily by Centennial.

This is an important game for both teams...it will set the tone for an expected late season meeting and will impact Section 7AA seeding...goaltending will be key to the outcome...East plays a disciplined style of hockey while Anoka is more of a free-wheeling team...Anoka shifted Tony Rush to D last week and he played very well (he played forward the past 2 years on the top two lines as a checking forward - but made the top 102 as a D oin 2005 at the MN Select 15 Festival. Defensemen Jake Sorteberg also has returned to the line-up (neither he or Rush played against Centennial).

Anoka is playing at home and upset Duluth East last year at the DECC 3-2. Last week they beat Maple Grove 4-1 and NM 4-2 (without Berkley Scott) but he has also returned to the line-up...it will be fun watching the line of O'Neill, Belisle & Scott vs. Tardy, Johnson & Boese (O'Neill & Tardy will be teammates at UMD)...in a close game...Anoka will prevail 4-3.

5 - 2
Duluth East

east 4-3

JD Wells is a decent tender for Anoka, but I dont believe he can handle himself in big games. point proven vs. Centennial. We will see how how he performs on saturday.

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:JD Wells is a decent tender for Anoka, but I dont believe he can handle himself in big games. point proven vs. Centennial. We will see how how he performs on saturday.

If I remember correctly wells was in goal last year in Anoka's win over Duluth East. And it was Eason that never won a big game

If East beats Centennial tonight at the DECC that could give them the momentum to go to Anoka and beat them.......

dulutheastfan wrote:If East beats Centennial tonight at the DECC that could give them the momentum to go to Anoka and beat them.......

So you're saying with a loss tonight you're giving Anoka the win on saturday?

bulldog14411 wrote:

dulutheastfan wrote:If East beats Centennial tonight at the DECC that could give them the momentum to go to Anoka and beat them.......

So you're saying with a loss tonight you're giving Anoka the win on saturday?

No im saying if East wins that will give them more of a boost to go to Anoka and pull off another win but its all up to if East wins tonight...going down to play a tough Anoka team is know easy task

bulldog14411 wrote: If I remember correctly wells was in goal last year in Anoka's win over Duluth East. And it was Eason that never won a big game

Very good point, and I will agree. I just think that with many of the good teams in the state they have a stelar goalie behind them. With Anoka JD does fine, but without the first line JD proves nothing to me. Just an opinion.

after how great East played last night at the DECC, i hope they come out with the same fire power against ANoka. It could be a high scoring game and I will have to (but hate to) give the nod to Anoka in their home arena

Anoka 6
East 4

Duluth East 4-2.

Judging by Centennials smack down last night, Id say East murders Anoka.

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:Judging by Centennials smack down last night, Id say East murders Anoka.

MNsGreatest#2...stick with making comments about teams you seem too know something about...like Champlin Park.

This will be an closely fought, entertaining game..enough said.

hockey59 wrote:

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:Judging by Centennials smack down last night, Id say East murders Anoka.

MNsGreatest#2...stick with making comments about teams you seem too know something about...like Champlin Park.

This will be an closely fought, entertaining game..enough said.

I have been playing these kids for about 11 yrs now, and went to middle school with them. I know enough about them to make predictions. Thanks for that tho.

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:

hockey59 wrote:

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:Judging by Centennials smack down last night, Id say East murders Anoka.

MNsGreatest#2...stick with making comments about teams you seem too know something about...like Champlin Park.

This will be an closely fought, entertaining game..enough said.

I have been playing these kids for about 11 yrs now, and went to middle school with them. I know enough about them to make predictions. Thanks for that tho.

Not sure what you're referring to..."playing these kids for about 11 years now"...but it will not be a blow-out either way....Anoka won handily vs. MG...who beat Centennial...who layed an egg against East...it's all irrelevant..the one thing I agree with you on is that Wells needs to prove he's a big game, big time goalie for Anoka to win 7AA and advance to Excel in February.

hockey59 wrote: Not sure what you're referring to..."playing these kids for about 11 years now"...but it will not be a blow-out either way....Anoka won handily vs. MG...who beat Centennial...who layed an egg against East...it's all irrelevant..the one thing I agree with you on is that Wells needs to prove he's a big game, big time goalie for Anoka to win 7AA and advance to Excel in February.

I was reffering to the fact that both Anoka and Champlin are in District 10 for the winter season and Belisle, Oneill, Westmeister, JD, Manthy and many others played AAA. I recognize that Cenntenial has no close ties with Anoka yet in predicting the outcome of a game, I just think that East has something major to prove and Anoka doesnt have the depth to handle it. I would enjoy seeing either team win, and will be there at 1 today.

P.S. If Anoka wins section 7AA they will be playing at the Excel in March

Does anyone in Duluth know how to get ahold of this game? Is there an online radio broadcast or something?

Please post updates...

I like East 3 to 1. Should be a great game.

Any love here? Whats the update?

karl(east) wrote:Does anyone in Duluth know how to get ahold of this game? Is there an online radio broadcast or something?

560AM has a syndicated show on; KDAL 610 is broadcastings Eau Claire Memorial vs Superior this afternoon.

Lee

MNsGreatest#2 wrote:Any love here? Whats the update?

MNsGreatest#2- - All I can say is I was wrong...and you were right.

At this moment...Anoka is a one line team...thats plays terrible positional hockey....and lacks a big time goalie.

DE scored 3 power play goals today...while Anoka was about 0-9 on the power-play. The O'Neill-Belisle-Scott line was outplayed by the Tardy-Johnson-Boese line...the East D were twice good as Anoka's at making clean passes and engaging the Anoka players as they crossed the blue line.

Its definitely back to the drawing board for Anoka...however they are still missing a top 4 D from last year (a 2 time All-Conference fooball player who injured his knee but will be back in the line-up after the Holidays).

In any event...I still predict that Anoka will get a re-match with DE in the Section 7AA Final, but today DE was far and away the better team.

FINAL SCORE:

Hounds 4

Anoka 0

YUCK!

Thanks for the update!

Who was in goal for East? Either way, it was likely the best game either Cooper or Larson has had this year.

East's first line hasn't gotten much attention until recently, but they are probably one of the best in the state. Unlike recent years, in which Randolph would split up his top players between the 1st and 2nd lines, he has put (arguably) the 3 best forwards on the team on one line, and the results are showing.

East has reaffirmed itself as a force to be reckoned with this week and is playing as well as anybody right now. The game against Hill-Murray in the Schwan Cup next week should be huge.