Roseau or Edina, who is #1? Arguments for both.

[O-townClown]

Okay okay, we get it. Threads can run several pages with people taking either side of this argument.

ROSEAU:

Pro
Defending AA Champs
Undefeated
Lost very little from last year's team
May have state's top player in Aaron Ness
Excellent goaltending
#1 in most human rankings/polls

Con
2007-08 schedule is weak

EDINA:

Pro
20-1 against top tier schedule
#1 seed at last year's AA tournament
Lost very little from last year's team
May have state's top player in Zach Budish
Excellent goaltending
#1 in computer rankings

Con
Lost 2-1 to Benilde-St. Margaret's
Didn't win 2007 AA state title

I just don't see how anyone can argue for one and not even see the merits of the other. If the question is who will win when these two teams play (if they do), the best anyone can do is speculate. I don't see anything wrong with speculating, but post after post about how St. Paul Johnson would be undefeated if they faced a steady diet of Thief River (they wouldn't) or how Edina is superior because they've been tested (UNLV won NCAA's in basketball from a crap league so it isn't impossible) seems like drivel.

Another thread has a poll running something like 2/1 or 60/40 in favor of Roseau should these two meet. If they did meet it will almost certainly be in the state AA final because they're almost locks to be #1 and #2 seeds if they both escape sections. (Slim chance Minnetonka blasts Edina so bad the coaches make them the #2 seed at state, even so... Edina as #3 seed and Roseau as #1 would hook up only in the final. Maybe Blaine and someone else beat Roseau before Sections and they are #2 and #3 with Edina and meet up in the semis. Hard to imagine either falling to #4 seed if they make it to St. Paul.)

[O-townClown]

Oh! I left one out. Common opponents. At this point just one I think.

ROSEAU over Brainerd 7-0
EDINA 6-1 over Brainerd w/o Budish

Chalk up another point for Roseau.

[sicknasty7722]

I'd put $100 on Edina if they ever play...any takers?

Honestly, the one game I saw on FSN of Roseau, they looked strong but not dominant. Edina, Minnetonka, and Hill Murray would probably all beat Roseau, IMO.

[Sparlimb]

That's the beauty of Minnesota High School Hockey. We don't use the bowl system. All teams get their shot. And with the seedings, there will be no need for Edina and Roseau to somehow meet in the quarterfinals. If they win all their games they get they will get to prove who is better. If they lose along the way, which I'd guess one will do (because it almost always happens), then they aren't the best. I'd still say, if the defending champs are undefeated, they don't lose #1 until they lose. I'd say that for any team...

[Neutron 14]

if the defending champs are undefeated, they don't lose #1 until they lose.

Sparlimb, I hate Edina as much as you do, but show that rule...

[Mario58]

Blaine is playing really well. I think they'll give Roseau a challenge on Saturday..
So, if I think Blaine has a chance to beat Roseau or at least come within 1 goal, I'll have to take Edina over Roseau.

[Mario58]

That's the beauty of Minnesota High School Hockey. We don't use the bowl system. All teams get their shot. And with the seedings, there will be no need for Edina and Roseau to somehow meet in the quarterfinals. If they win all their games they get they will get to prove who is better. If they lose along the way, which I'd guess one will do (because it almost always happens), then they aren't the best. I'd still say, if the defending champs are undefeated, they don't lose #1 until they lose. I'd say that for any team...

Spar- Are you related to Coach Denny Green?

[who_b_dat]

Cant be. Spar understands the English language.

[gomnhky]

I'm going to wait until Roseau plays Blaine on Saturday to post my comment(s) - this will be Roseau's first real test against a quality team that is playing very good hockey right now and flying under a lot of people's radars.

Until then...the edge goes to Edina for the simple reason that Roseau has "Super-Ness" and a bunch of other talented, hard working players from a town that breeds hockey and Edina also has a ton of talented, hard working players (with size) that comes from a hockey-"rich" community that has played quality competition night in and night out.

[DmanDad1980]

What makes this difficult for many is the strength of schedule issue.

Edina is obviously located in the metro, where they play the tough Classic Lake schedule and then, naturally, schedule non-conference games with the abundance of good Twin City squads from the Lake, SEC, North Suburban, etc.. Close and good competition...
Very easy to say for hockey fans to watch their progress & say, they are a good team, look who they have beat. I can agree, Edina is very good.

Roseau, twelve miles from the border, has Moorhead (not too close, 2 hr trip) as its closest AA competitor. Just the facts... Roseau is undefeated, and they are very good.

This argument is made every year about Roseau. Weak schedule... It simply is too expensive to travel 5 hours to the cities to play two to three weekends of hockey each year. Roseau can't apoloized for this, nor should they. They play who they play because it fits their needs and budget. Close and good competition...

Every year its "who have they played?", and every year, Roseau competes just fine.

All I can hope for as a HS hockey fan for life is a matchup between two very good teams.
Roseau vs Edina

[2nd string]

depth is the name of the game, I believe Roseau has more, and a better goalie.

[flatontheice]

depth is the name of the game, I believe Roseau has more, and a better goalie.

Edina's defense needs to shore things up before they talk about winning a state championship. Sectionals may be the biggest challenge for them if the D doesn't play better than on FSN the other night.

[HShockeywatcher]

The #1 team losing doesn't make them not the #1 team, it just means they got upset.

Edina lost to a mediocre BSM team. Blaine is a decent team but Roseau will eat them alive. Edina's last game, and how they do in Sections will be huge.

If they both make it to the final, meaning they both beat one or two quality teams in state, I take Roseau.

[sticksuphigh]

The #1 team losing doesn't make them not the #1 team, it just means they got upset.

Edina lost to a mediocre BSM team. Blaine is a decent team but Roseau will eat them alive. Edina's last game, and how they do in Sections will be huge.

If they both make it to the final, meaning they both beat one or two quality teams in state, I take Roseau.

Happy Hour is being enjoyed by Shockswatcher.

So BSM is mediocre.......uuuuummmm, did they not manage a win against Shattuck? Your prediction for Blaine should seal your status as??? Did you forget Edina brings Anders Lee state tourney experience with (9) Xcel games from STA? doooooooooooooooh!

[HShockeywatcher]

You're entitled to your opinion. I saw Blaine and BSM both play over break. Neither team was that great. My opinion is only from seeing one game, of course, so it's possible to be a bad game.

Aaron Ness and Michael Lee both have 3 games experience in which they won all 3. And no, I didn't forget about Anders Lee. But those were all B-squad games, weren't they?

[Sparlimb]

Spar- Are you related to Coach Denny Green?

Denny and I are up on the high road. Don't look for us down on the low road, because we're on the high road.

[hockeydude42]

Oh! I left one out. Common opponents. At this point just one I think.

ROSEAU over Brainerd 7-0
EDINA 6-1 over Brainerd w/o Budish

Chalk up another point for Roseau.

One thing I learned when playing hockey is to NEVER judge an opponent by comparing scores against common opponents.

[sticksuphigh]

Spar- Are you related to Coach Denny Green?

Denny and I are up on the high road. Don't look for us down on the low road, because we're on the high road.

Do you agree with Denny about the Calcutta Clipper?

[who_b_dat]

I thought we were suppossed to get one of those Calcutta Clippers passing through today

[Amos]

Roseau, twelve miles from the border, has Moorhead (not too close, 2 hr trip) as its closest AA competitor. Just the facts... Roseau is

Ten miles from the border and three hours from Moorhead.

Just tell the city boys to tighten der skates cause the green and white (wid da weak schedule) is comin to da big town and dey don't like to give up da puck.

[wishock]

It actually is only 2 hours if your average driving speed is 96.5mph. It's been a few years since I made it in 2 hours.

[WendyClark]

Okay okay, we get it. Threads can run several pages with people taking either side of this argument.

ROSEAU:

Pro
Defending AA Champs
Undefeated
Lost very little from last year's team
May have state's top player in Aaron Ness
Excellent goaltending
#1 in most human rankings/polls

Con
2007-08 schedule is weak

EDINA:

Pro
20-1 against top tier schedule
#1 seed at last year's AA tournament
Lost very little from last year's team
May have state's top player in Zach Budish
Excellent goaltending
#1 in computer rankings

Con
Lost 2-1 to Benilde-St. Margaret's
Didn't win 2007 AA state title

I just don't see how anyone can argue for one and not even see the merits of the other. If the question is who will win when these two teams play (if they do), the best anyone can do is speculate. I don't see anything wrong with speculating, but post after post about how St. Paul Johnson would be undefeated if they faced a steady diet of Thief River (they wouldn't) or how Edina is superior because they've been tested (UNLV won NCAA's in basketball from a crap league so it isn't impossible) seems like drivel.

Another thread has a poll running something like 2/1 or 60/40 in favor of Roseau should these two meet. If they did meet it will almost certainly be in the state AA final because they're almost locks to be #1 and #2 seeds if they both escape sections. (Slim chance Minnetonka blasts Edina so bad the coaches make them the #2 seed at state, even so... Edina as #3 seed and Roseau as #1 would hook up only in the final. Maybe Blaine and someone else beat Roseau before Sections and they are #2 and #3 with Edina and meet up in the semis. Hard to imagine either falling to #4 seed if they make it to St. Paul.)

They(Edina)might not get out of there section, Burnsville beat them for all but the last 57 seconds and AHA for as much as i hate to say, is always there come end of February

[O-townClown]

Just tell the city boys to tighten der skates cause the green and white (wid da weak schedule) is comin to da big town and dey don't like to give up da puck.

Amos, nobody needs to tell anyone anything. And that's the point of this thread. Six guys could say Edina-Edina-Edina all night and it isn't like there's reason to believe Roseau is anything less than wonderful.

People living in igloos can talk all they want about how Ness is the best and most of the kids return from last year's team. The coaches and those wearing the jerseys from both sides know they'll be in for a great test.

If you actually think Giles, Lee, Gleason, Taft, Budish, Everson, etc... or Gardiner, Brown, Sova, whoever need to be warned about the 8AA representative you are clueless.

[DmanDad1980]

It actually is only 2 hours if your average driving speed is 96.5mph. It's been a few years since I made it in 2 hours.

Cousins have said they made in two on a beer run...

[O-townClown]

They(Edina)might not get out of there section, Burnsville beat them for all but the last 57 seconds and AHA for as much as i hate to say, is always there come end of February

Correct. Everyone has known all year that 2AA and 6AA are real strong sections. That, however, seems irrelevant to the Roseau! Roseau! talk from one side and the Edina! Edina! talk on the other.

One poster mentioned that as much as people may want to see this game, the chances are better than 50-50 that it won't come to pass as one or both will lose before the final. There's still a lot of hockey to be played.