Most Intriguing Section Final?

[DubCHAGuy]

Some interesting matchups/story lines in the section championship games. Just wondering which one everyone will be following most closely (other than the one your team is playing in).



2AA:
Burnsville vs. Edina- Assuming Roseau wins, the winner plays Thursday at 11am as the #2 seed.

3AA:
Woodbury vs. Rosemount- Whoever wins, will the 2 student sections combine to support one team at the X next week?

4AA:
Hill Murray vs. White Bear Lake- I feel like these teams have met in the game before.....


6AA:
Benilde vs. Minnetonka- This is why Benilde took the leap to AA, right? (How many Tonka kids play for Benilde?)




2A:
Blake vs. Breck- With the old 5A now torn to pieces, this could be class A's Hill vs. WBL for the next 10 years.

3A:
New Ulm vs. Litchfield- Rip them if you want, winning this game will be the biggest moment in the history of one of these programs.

4A:
St. Thomas vs. So. St. Paul- Old school vs. New School

7A:
Hibbing vs. Marshall- Marshall seniors have seen 3rd, 2nd, and 2nd the past 3 years.

[O-townClown]

I think Benilde-Minnetonka is very intriguing. Both got this far by the narrowest of margins and are bona fide title contenders. It should be a great game.

Roseau-Moorhead would really surprise if it were competitive, but if it is that will be a great story after last season. Exactly a year ago Roseau was at best a stealth pick for the crown. Look what happened.

[Jacketfan06]

all of them are intriguing to me. but i like the tonka bsm and litchfield and new ulm.

[George Blanda]

3A:
New Ulm vs. Litchfield- Rip them if you want, winning this game will be the biggest moment in the history of one of these programs.

Both of these programs have had good teams in the past. I know New Ulm was in the state tourney in the mid-1990s. Litchfield also had some pretty good teams back then, don't know if they ever made it to state.

But I find this most intriguing. People rip the section, but it has played out to be one of the most competitive sections in the state. They may not have the most talent...but excluding play-in games, their largest spread has been four goals.

I think this section is as weak as the next guy...but trust me, whoever wins this section will bring a good class A crowd to the X.

[pioneers]

[quote="DubCHAGuy"]Some interesting matchups/story lines in the section championship games. Just wondering which one everyone will be following most closely (other than the one your team is playing in).



2AA:
Burnsville vs. Edina- Assuming Roseau wins, the winner plays Thursday at 11am as the #2 seed.


Why would you assume that if Burnsville were to win, that they would get the number 2 seed? I would figure that other teams would most likely move up.

[hockeyfan510]

Minnetonka could still get the #2 seed no matter who wins

[Doc Holliday]

Could, but probably wouldn't. Edina probably would grab the #2 seed.

I think both games tonight are intriguing. 6AA could go either way and you could make a case for both teams. I haven't seen Benilde yet but have seen Tonka. I think there are only three teams in the state that "could" beat Tonka....unfortunately, Benilde is one of those 3. I won't be shocked by the outcome either way unless it turned into Benilde routing Tonka....that would be the only surprising outcome to me.

2AA: Edina's in a funny position where nobody wants them to win, yet everybody wants to see them potentially play Roseau. I think it's intriguing from the standpoint that Burnsville once again an underdog in a section final against possibly the best team in the metro area. Doesn't mean that that teams always wins though. I still think Edina wins by 2 goals though. Just my opinion.

As for New Ulm, they may not be there yet, but they are obviously getting better and the entire scope of their hockey is heading in a direction for the positive. It's encouraging to see both them AND Mankato West getting better and southwestern Minnesota hockey getting better all the time. Southern & western Minnesota is where high school hockey needs to expand even further. A New Ulm or Mankato West making noise at state is what it will take. Winning breeds success, and that will help for someday teams like Windom, Luvurne & Marshall possibly becoming a play in Class A. It's all another building block.

[DubCHAGuy]

Why would you assume that if Burnsville were to win, that they would get the number 2 seed? I would figure that other teams would most likely move up.

Just going by last year's logic. Roseau (not sure where they were ranked going into sections, but I'd assume lower than Hill) beats the top dog, Moorhead, and jumps over Hill and into the #2 seed at the tourney.

Tonka somehow slipped my mind when I said that though, I could see them with the 2 seed if they win.

Both of these programs have had good teams in the past. I know New Ulm was in the state tourney in the mid-1990s. Litchfield also had some pretty good teams back then, don't know if they ever made it to state.

Both have 1 state tournament appearance. Litchfield made the class A field in 96? and New Ulm's only appearance was in the Tier 2 tournament in 93 I believe. I'd have to agree and say i'm most interested to see who wins this section and see how much excitement it generates in those communities.

[gopherhockey99]

I gotta go with Minnetonka vs. Benilde
-Public vs Private
-Very talented players on both teams
-Pauly coached at Benilde, Tonka, and then went back to Benilde. You know the tonka kids wont forget about that
-Both coming off emotional overtime victories

[DubCHAGuy]

Are there any players on Benilde that are from Minnetonka?

[boblee]

I love the St. Thomas-South St. Paul matchup.

[Irishmans Shanty]

7AA: Cloquet vs. Anoka

You've got the whole metro representing the north thing going on plus you have Cloquet knocking on the door again. Few would have guessed that this would be the year Cloquet wins the section compared to the teams they've had the last couple years.

[Slap Shot]

The Edina-Burnsville match-up is intriguing to me for these reasons. I think a lot of people (myself included) believe that Edina might hitting their full stride and will smoke the Braves. If they do that it will send a message. If instead Burnsville hangs with and/or beats Edina, the state tourney will be considered wide-open in the minds of most of the other teams.

[koho snipe]

minnetonkla v. benilde is gonna be a sick game. full house at the uch tonight.

[pacman]

Duluth Marshall vs Hibbing at the DECC is an intriguing matchup, Private School Vs Public School, Should be a matchup of two great northern teams.

[elliott70]

New Ulm vs Litchfield

One fo them will be in the state tournament.
good for them.

[Govs93]

5AA:

Rogers vs. Centennial


CNT vs. Neut

[Since95]

Tonight is going to be good. REAL good. To me, I'd say that Benilde and Minnetonka might be as close of a game as you could get if both teams are on point. Edina and Burnsville should be great as well. I was at the first meeting in Burnsville earlier this year and it was a great game and very intense. I realize both teams have improved, but if Edina comes out and plays their best and Burnsville matches the intensity that they played with against Holy Angels last year, plays their best, and doesn't quit like they didn't against Jefferson last weekend, this one could be very close too. I've been waiting very impatiently since Saturday for this night. Hopefully it will not dissapoint.

[CFM™]

I've gotta go with the classic Hill-Murray vs. White Bear. It really never gets old. The atmosphere at the Coliseum will be ridiculous come Friday night. White Bear generally steps up their game for this match-up. All of these games are gonna be intriguing to some degree.

[Can't Never Tried]

5AA:

Rogers vs. Centennial


CNT vs. Neut

And here's what happened later when he tried to get cute!

[curdog504]

Both of these programs have had good teams in the past. I know New Ulm was in the state tourney in the mid-1990s. Litchfield also had some pretty good teams back then, don't know if they ever made it to state. Both have 1 state tournament appearance. Litchfield made the class A field in 96?

LDC (Litchfield Dassel Cokato, please start calling them by their right name. It isn't fair to the kids from DC) Made it to the big dance in 1996. I was a member of that team and we settled for 4th place after loosing to Red Wing and Breck. It was by far the most successful season ever in the history of the LDC program. But there have been plenty of times that LDC should have made it to state. In 1995 we lost to an undefeated Hutch team (which lost in the 1st round of state) in the section finals; we also lost a heartbreaker to Orono in the early 90's in the section finals. Another section final which LDC was on the loosing end was in 2000 against Hutch again I believe.

Both of these programs have had success in the past. I'm saying that LDC is going to win this one and I AM NOT SAYING THIS AS AN ALUM. I do think that LDC has the bigger heart and determination to pull this one off.

GOOD LUCK DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BIG GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kurdatz]

7AA: Cloquet vs. Anoka

You've got the whole metro representing the north thing going on plus you have Cloquet knocking on the door again. Few would have guessed that this would be the year Cloquet wins the section compared to the teams they've had the last couple years.

I tend to agree. I know there isn't much up here anymore to represent section 7AA, but the thought of a "cities" school, representing a more Northern section, or what used to be, a Northern section, is un-nerving. There's got to be a better way of doing this...or is there?

[Govs93]

5AA:

Rogers vs. Centennial


CNT vs. Neut

And here's what happened later when he tried to get cute!

Good. That's what that mouthy #1 seed weasel gets.

[Kurdatz]

5AA:

Rogers vs. Centennial


CNT vs. Neut

And here's what happened later when he tried to get cute!

I don't care who you are...thats just downright embarrasing!!!

[skiumah]

I'm really looking forward to the BSM v. Mtka game today. And what a treat to get Bville v. Edina afterwards. That's a great 2-for-1.

And I think Edina, if they win, would get the #2 seed.