Who has the BEST first line in the state?

[cardswinagain]

Alex's first line lead by Abby Williams, has a combined 181 points in the regular season.

[hockeytribe]

Would say any line with a Ms. Hockey candidate, not just the choices above, or any line with a Lamoureaux on it.

[allhoc11]

Would say any line with a Ms. Hockey candidate, not just the choices above, or any line with a Lamoureaux on it.

Agreed, I know when we played SSM a couple years ago the M & J Lamoureaux played together on the same line at times. I haven't seen them this year, I know that one of them plays some D as well, but any line with two Lamoureaux's has my vote for top line in the state. I would say I saw more dominant top lines last year, this year I saw some dominant players, but no lines that were unstoppable over the course of the season.

[cardswinagain]

Yes the SSM girls are good. But besides them, how good is a first line, if they can not carry their team to state?
GO CARDS!!!!

[allhoc11]

Yes the SSM girls are good. But besides them, how good is a first line, if they can not carry their team to state?
GO CARDS!!!!

I wouldn't put too much stake in the fact you made it to state, you beat Long Prairie and Fergus Falls. I saw 10-12 JV teams this year that could've done that.

Last year I saw some good top lines:

Josefson, Erickson, Christofferson Bemidji
Smith, Olson, Clifford AHA
Stoa, Feste, Ludwigson EP
Trunzo, Bacon, Press (sometimes Burg)

These lines were seemingly unstoppable when they were on their game. This year I didn't see any lines that matched that caliber at the HS level. As for your top line, they are good, but not in the same caliber as the ones above, and looking at the schedule I see a lot of big numbers against some pretty weak competition, if you want some respect I would say your program has to start committing to play more top end competition. I know some high end teams that came looking for games, were even willing to travel to Alex, and were told no. You have a decent team that seems to have an easy ticket to state each year, but falls short in the big dance. With some tougher competition throughout the season, you might be primed to take home the trophy one of these years. As it stands now, my bet would be Roseau or Breck to take home the hardware this season.

[GOCARDS1]

Fergus is no slouch of a team allhoc. If you were at the section final, which you weren't, you would know. They held Warroad to 3-0 earlier in the year. I would say 6A isnt any weaker than 1A, 3A, or 7A.
And in response to Alex's schedule... Alex's non-conference games,
GR-G, hibbing, Roseau, Breck, Moorhead, Bemidji, Elk River, DL, and Morris-Benson, the last two being section opponents. All northern teams play DL. They played a pretty tough non-conference schedule, considering they have to play each CLC team twice. You obviously don't know the facts, so next time, you should learn them before you open your mouth.

[pondhockey]

As it stands now, my bet would be Roseau or Breck to take home the hardware this season.

You are certainly entitled to that opinion, they both are excellent teams with a very good chance of winning - however, keep in mind that Alexandria did tie Roseau back in mid-December and Alexandria is even stronger now. We also shut out Breck this year. Good luck to all the teams!

[MNHockeyFan]

...however, keep in mind that Alexandria....shut out Breck this year.

Yes but the shots were very lopsided in Breck's favor:

http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/BoxSco ... /Minnesota

[cardswinagain]

Shots and scoring opportunities are two different things. When Breck panics, and throws a shot from center ice and it is on net, it is called a shot. We won because we are better. I can not wait until Williams and company shows up in St. Paul.

[DmanDad1980]

As it stands now, my bet would be Roseau or Breck to take home the hardware this season.

You are certainly entitled to that opinion, they both are excellent teams with a very good chance of winning - however, keep in mind that Alexandria did tie Roseau back in mid-December and Alexandria is even stronger now. We also shut out Breck this year. Good luck to all the teams!

Has Roseau gotter stronger since Mid-December? Except for injuries, I would think each team has progressed in the last two months...
Alex/Roseau/Breck have played the tougher schedules in Class A, all 3 are the favorites in my opinion.
As always, it is a great time of year, and hey, I like the Roseau first line as much as any at the A level...
Good luck to all

[allhoc11]

I apologize, I didn't mean to turn this into an "is Alex good thread". My purpose was defending my prior statement that with all the dominant players we have in this class, I didn't see any lines that seemed to have the same chemistry/dominance as any of a number of lines last year.

[allhoc11]

Fergus is no slouch of a team allhoc. If you were at the section final, which you weren't, you would know. They held Warroad to 3-0 earlier in the year. I would say 6A isnt any weaker than 1A, 3A, or 7A.
And in response to Alex's schedule... Alex's non-conference games,
GR-G, hibbing, Roseau, Breck, Moorhead, Bemidji, Elk River, DL, and Morris-Benson, the last two being section opponents. All northern teams play DL. They played a pretty tough non-conference schedule, considering they have to play each CLC team twice. You obviously don't know the facts, so next time, you should learn them before you open your mouth.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on FF, I'd say for playing a team like that in a section final that's as close to a gimme as it gets. I didn't say 6A was the only weak section, I said "you can't judge a top line by whether they make it to state or not." Making it to state is a product of hard work, health, luck, and the section you play in, not necessarily in that order. If we judged soley on who makes it to state then you could say Farmington is a better team than Stillwater, Edina, Roseville, Holy Angels, Hopkins, because they made it to state, when that simply isn't the case. Furthermore their top line of Ripley, Baumann, & Alexander should belong in this conversation as well. Based on the fact that they took their team to state. As for the NC sched, it's OK, but the top line still has 0 goals against top 10 AA schools, and 95% of their goals are against teams not in the top 20 AA, or top 5 A.

[hockeyrube7]

I apologize, I didn't mean to turn this into an "is Alex good thread". My purpose was defending my prior statement that with all the dominant players we have in this class, I didn't see any lines that seemed to have the same chemistry/dominance as any of a number of lines last year.

Thanks for this! The ALL ALEX ALL DAY approach here is getting old. Yes they are good, but so is every other team at state. Let them play, let them play, let them play!!

[cardswinagain]

We are so under rated. I wonder if Elk River amd Bemidji think we play a soft schedule?

[State Champ 97]

We are so under rated. I wonder if Elk River amd Bemidji think we play a soft schedule?

Soft schedule no
Soft section yes

[twowayplay]

Alex's first line lead by Abby Williams, has a combined 181 points in the regular season.

Does this include the Defense as well or just the three forwards on that line?

[GOCARDS1]

just the three forwards. But that number has gone up with 3-0 and 5-0 wins in sections..

[gopher9]

Alex's first line lead by Abby Williams, has a combined 181 points in the regular season.

They would have a combined 90 points if they played in the Lake, Classic Lake,etc.. points dont mean squat when you play a schedule like Alex does!! How many points did that line have against Breck? Or should I say shots on net.

[hockeyrube7]

Stats are for losers, or so they say!

[GOCARDS1]

Actually, that line scored 2 goals against Breck.
Gopher9 is the most arrogant poster on this forum. Hands down. EP fan, I would expect nothing less..... How many goals did Breck have against Alex.. 0!!!!!!! ya, shut it.

[gopher9]

Actually, that line scored 2 goals against Breck.
Gopher9 is the most arrogant poster on this forum. Hands down. EP fan, I would expect nothing less..... How many goals did Breck have against Alex.. 0!!!!!!! ya, shut it.

I love throwing stones at you FREAKY Alex fans!! Ha Ha Ha!!!!!

[eastsidehockey]

surprised EP didnt buy the Williams family a new house and find them a new job in the EP district

wait.... that stuff never happened....

Good luck at state you two (alex and EP)

[SportsMa]

Looks like Grand Rapids/Greenway is currently winning the poll. Looking forward to watching them play again.

[offsides]

Actually, that line scored 2 goals against Breck.
Gopher9 is the most arrogant poster on this forum. Hands down. EP fan, I would expect nothing less..... How many goals did Breck have against Alex.. 0!!!!!!! ya, shut it.

So GOCARDS1,

You're pissed at one EP fan so you paint with a broad brush. On the contrary, EP fans have shown remarkable restraint over the past several years on this forum. It's likely no team has received as much grief -- and yet how often do you hear their fans lash back. Not too often. Anyone out there in forum land disagree?

[cardswinagain]

Eden Prairie should be OK as long as there is no pre-state party in town.

I hear they might just serve alcohol at the banquet, but first everyone will have to check their cameras at the door.

EP is so easy.