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Is there any one in the State skating four lines consistantly? I am aware that EP is skating four lines in order to wear competing teams out. This is probably okay for the regular season, but I can't image this is beneficially down the stretch. Typically, teams win with senior/junior presents, and not with sophomores skating on the first line against other teams skating their seniors on the first line. If they keep this up, they will be eaten up. Good luck EP in trying to get sophomores to step up to a senior level. What sophomore has ever made a huge impact at the State Tournament level? Most of the good teams competing for State have two forward lines with a combination of seniors and juniors, and good defense/goaltendings. Good luck Evil Prairie.

Roseau skated 3 lines at state last year with 3rd line 1junior, 1soph and 1 frosh. 1st line center, Tyler Landman, a soph, had two goals in championship game.

H-M Skates 4 lines pretty regularly. 4th line obviously doesn't get as much ice time, but they do play. I think it helps in the tough games as it helps keep the first two lines from being gassed at the end.

pioneers wrote:H-M Skates 4 lines pretty regularly. 4th line obviously doesn't get as much ice time, but they do play. I think it helps in the tough games as it helps keep the first two lines from being gassed at the end.

What tough games?!

Lakeviewing wrote:What sophomore has ever made a huge impact at the State Tournament level? Most of the good teams competing for State have two forward lines with a combination of seniors and juniors, and good defense/goaltendings.

There have been many over the years. Its not that uncommon. I've seen 8th graders and freshman have big impacts.

If you can skate four lines competetively you are much better off in a close game as time winds down, without any question - regardless of what time of year it is.

O-townClown wrote:

pioneers wrote:H-M Skates 4 lines pretty regularly. 4th line obviously doesn't get as much ice time, but they do play. I think it helps in the tough games as it helps keep the first two lines from being gassed at the end.

What tough games?!

Hey, we play Simle...North St...umm...Sible....hey, we play alot of good teams, so there!

Lakeviewing wrote:Typically, teams win with senior/junior presents, and not with sophomores skating on the first line against other teams skating their seniors on the first line. If they keep this up, they will be eaten up. Good luck EP in trying to get sophomores to step up to a senior level. What sophomore has ever made a huge impact at the State Tournament level?

Jordan Schroeder wasnt even in HS and he made an impact... A large one at that.

Getting your sophomores involved is a great way to stay competitive. If you see you're losing a lot of seniors one season, mix in the sophs so they have at least a small bit of experience for the next season. EP seems to be doing a good job. Their sophs are going to be better players in the future because they've seen time against the Edinas and Grand Rapids rather than just some also ran. It's a fine line to walk, and tough choices need to be made, but foresight is a great thing.

I also agree that if you can run 4 lines, you're only going to improve your chances. Granted, your 4th line will not see as much time as the others, but if you can rely on them for 2-3 shifts per period without damage, you'll be better off in the long run. I'd bet EP will feel fine sending out their 4th line of a tie game in the 3rd period of a playoff game because those players have seen ice all season. They won't have the deer in the headlight look.

Systems differ, as do program numbers, and the quality of 4th line players is completely different. A program that has high numbers may have a 4th line that is equivalent to a 2nd or 3rd line of a program that has limited bodies. It all depends.

Pioneerprideguy wrote:

O-townClown wrote:

pioneers wrote:H-M Skates 4 lines pretty regularly. 4th line obviously doesn't get as much ice time, but they do play. I think it helps in the tough games as it helps keep the first two lines from being gassed at the end.

What tough games?!

Hey, we play Simle...North St...umm...Sible....hey, we play alot of good teams, so there!

I didn't say all of their games were tough.

pioneers wrote:H-M Skates 4 lines pretty regularly. 4th line obviously doesn't get as much ice time, but they do play. I think it helps in the tough games as it helps keep the first two lines from being gassed at the end.

The 4th line doesn't even get to play in the blowouts. Those clowns at Hill keep putting there 1st line out there. How stupid is that. Show some class H-M.

Why would you want to skate your 4th line consistently? All this would do is limit the ice time for your top line or top two lines. The 4th line should only skate in a blowout. The only teams that would be this deep to play 4 lines consistently are the recruited teams like Hill Murray and St. Thomas. I'm sure the other private schools recruit also but I don't know much about those programs to comment.

When I skated in '95 through '97, we went 1-2-1-2-3, it seems to work for us.

Cabela10 wrote:

pioneers wrote:H-M Skates 4 lines pretty regularly. 4th line obviously doesn't get as much ice time, but they do play. I think it helps in the tough games as it helps keep the first two lines from being gassed at the end.

The 4th line doesn't even get to play in the blowouts. Those clowns at Hill keep putting there 1st line out there. How stupid is that. Show some class H-M.

Pretty obvious that you have not been to any H-M games, as the fourth line has gotten ice time in every game. They actually started the last game against Sibley and saw a lot of ice time.

In high school my team ran three lines and we made it to state. We ran two lines in overtimes or in the last couple of minutes of the game. The fourth line would only play in games where we had things totally wrapped up. I'm pretty sure that's how most teams run it. Unless you have an all-star team you should only run three lines because you want your best players out there as much as possible, without gassing them of course. If your fourth line is good enough to play regularly then rotate lines 2-4 or something.

Duluth East runs its 4th line out there even in big games...they had maybe two shifts in the loss to Edina last week. If a program has the depth to feel comfortable running that many lines, I don't see why they shouldn't. It keeps the scoring lines fresher as well.

For some programs its not just about winning during the regular season. Participation is important too.

If you have some guys on the 4th line who can get in the other teams way, play them.

With 17 minute periods, its easier to find playimg time for more players.

Pioneers,

Yeah, maybe the 4th line started against Sibley. It's also pretty lame that Hill puts out there top line in a blowout late in the third period to pad there stats. You can't even deny this because I seen it happen in person.

Cabela10 wrote:Pioneers,

Yeah, maybe the 4th line started against Sibley. It's also pretty lame that Hill puts out there top line in a blowout late in the third period to pad there stats. You can't even deny this because I seen it happen in person.

It's not up to Hill to keep the score down. It is up to their opponents. I realize this may not be a popular opinion (and I'm in no way connected to the HM team - as a fan or otherwise), but if teams are not competitive they need to figure it out. If a team rolls four the whole game against a weaker opponent, that more than qualifies as showing mercy - even if their top line gets on the ice late in a game.

suntzu wrote:

It's not up to Hill to keep the score down. It is up to their opponents. I realize this may not be a popular opinion (and I'm in no way connected to the HM team - as a fan or otherwise), but if teams are not competitive they need to figure it out. If a team rolls four the whole game against a weaker opponent, that more than qualifies as showing mercy - even if their top line gets on the ice late in a game.

Amen to that. If the other team doesnt like the score, change it.

We already have in place running time in the third peroid to protect our poor witto babies.

If that's not enough for the losing team , then leave the ice. If you stay on the ice,play hockey and expect everybody else will too.

I remember sitting the third periods after a big lead against the STA's and NSP's of the world, back in the late '90s when they sucked.

You can't stop a team from scoring if you don't have the players to do it. This isn't like the NHL where you can just go out and sign or trade for players. You have to play with what you are dealt and I just feel that playing your top line through the third period with a big lead is stupid. For one, you are potentially putting your star players in position to get hurt in a meaningless game. It's not so much the running up the score, it's the injuries that can happen. When a team like Sibley is getting pounded, they will start to get cheap, why would you want your players on the ice for that?

Well maybe H-M can just play their fourth line for 51 minutes against the also rans. Would that make everyone happy?

Cabela, either way is fine with me.

Whatever the coach wants to do.

But I dont like these people who pass judgment and think they know just what to do.

Its athletics. Play hard from start to finish. Heck with what the score is.

Cabela10 wrote:Why would you want to skate your 4th line consistently? All this would do is limit the ice time for your top line or top two lines. The 4th line should only skate in a blowout. The only teams that would be this deep to play 4 lines consistently are the recruited teams like Hill Murray and St. Thomas. I'm sure the other private schools recruit also but I don't know much about those programs to comment.

When I skated in '95 through '97, we went 1-2-1-2-3, it seems to work for us.

Cabela10 wrote:Why would you want to skate your 4th line consistently? All this would do is limit the ice time for your top line or top two lines. The 4th line should only skate in a blowout. The only teams that would be this deep to play 4 lines consistently are the recruited teams like Hill Murray and St. Thomas. I'm sure the other private schools recruit also but I don't know much about those programs to comment.

When I skated in '95 through '97, we went 1-2-1-2-3, it seems to work for us.

someone ban this fool, he just doesnt get it

Cabela10 wrote:When I skated in '95 through '97, we went 1-2-1-2-3, it seems to work for us.

Mascot or cheerleader?

Wow, you guys are pretty funny.