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I will address this to wbmd and Youngblood mostly.... Should the SEC be looked down upon as a weak conference with the way Minnetonka blasted Woodbury and BSM handled Stillwater, or is there that much of a team gap with teams in the top 10 and what our conference offers.

Is it these teams are that much better or is it because it's still early?

Early, give us a month.

Goldfishdude wrote:I will address this to wbmd and Youngblood mostly.... Should the SEC be looked down upon as a weak conference with the way Minnetonka blasted Woodbury and BSM handled Stillwater, or is there that much of a team gap with teams in the top 10 and what our conference offers.

Is it these teams are that much better or is it because it's still early?

Put it this way, somebody has to win the SEC, and then they will go down quietly in the conference playoffs.

I see the east metro on a downward spiral and the only thing keeping it going are the Privates. For proof, look at the youth rankings over the last couple of years.

There are only a few contenders to win this conference. Woodbury, Cretin, and WBL. They will beat up each other & whichever team pulls a sweep will win it. Teams like Stillwater & Roseville are pretenders.

Right now, it appears that EP, Minnetonka, and Jefferson (possibly BSM) are head & shoulders above everyone. The gap will close by the end of the year, but those teams sure appear loaded.

Forest Lake 5 Grand Rapids4. F.L. goes to 2 and 0.

Pioneerprideguy wrote:There are only a few contenders to win this conference. Woodbury, Cretin, and WBL. They will beat up each other & whichever team pulls a sweep will win it. Teams like Stillwater & Roseville are pretenders.
Right now, it appears that EP, Minnetonka, and Jefferson (possibly BSM) are head & shoulders above everyone. The gap will close by the end of the year, but those teams sure appear loaded.

I wouldn't necessarily say that. Roseville in the past few years yes, but Stillwater always seems to give the others trouble. As far as Woodbury, Cretin, WBL being the only contenders, you could probably give Stillwater the same chance as White Bear, the Bears aren't as strong this year I believe than in the past couple of years.

The conference is definitely down in talent this year, but a BSM win like that over Stillwater doesn't mean that much. It's very early.

GordonBombay wrote:

Pioneerprideguy wrote:There are only a few contenders to win this conference. Woodbury, Cretin, and WBL. They will beat up each other & whichever team pulls a sweep will win it. Teams like Stillwater & Roseville are pretenders.
Right now, it appears that EP, Minnetonka, and Jefferson (possibly BSM) are head & shoulders above everyone. The gap will close by the end of the year, but those teams sure appear loaded.

I wouldn't necessarily say that. Roseville in the past few years yes, but Stillwater always seems to give the others trouble. As far as Woodbury, Cretin, WBL being the only contenders, you could probably give Stillwater the same chance as White Bear, the Bears aren't as strong this year I believe than in the past couple of years.

The conference is definitely down in talent this year, but a BSM win like that over Stillwater doesn't mean that much. It's very early.

BSM is good but, not making excuses, the puck just bounced their way Friday night. One goal the player was below the goalline, lined up at about the faceoff dot from the boards and net. Defensemen passed it or shot it at him and he tipped it, from below the goalline, it fluttered over the goalies head in a rainbow arch and caught the far pipe in the net. weirdest goal I have seen. And other breakdowns, :09 sec left in the period and they let the center walk in on a faceoff in thier zone. Another one they fanned on a breakout pass on the PP and it went right on the BSM forecheckers stick. BSM was still pissed about the 6-2 lose last year and wasn't messing around. If you look at the history between these two the home team has always won.

BSM earned the win and look to be a team that is firing on all cylinders right now, Stillwater needs to get healthy and realize they need to BUILD on where they finished last year not rely on it.

The SEC looks to be down, and there is definately a changing of the guard. After watching Roseville get destroyed last week by Stillwater, and WBL getting destoyed last night by HM, these once powers have been reduced to middle of the pack.

It looks like CDH has risen to the top, with Woodbury capable of competing if they get their act together. Stillwater and WBL would be in the next group. Forest Lake and Park will surprise some teams.

When it comes time for sections, only CDH and Woodbury will have a chance to make state.

CDHs play has surprised me. But how long and how far can you get with 1 line scoring 98% of your points? They put thier 1st line vs our 3rd line we'll see what happens at home for us. They have some nice athletes and play hard.

Stillwater showed what they can do but have to do it everytime they play tough opponent or not.

Woodbury will be ready come sections and I think are still the top of the conference.

WBL is way over rated and showed some holes last night.

Park will continue to play hard but injuries could slow them if they happen, only 2 goalies and not very deep.

Flake is in the same boat nice 1st set of D and some sophmores playing well.

Roseville is way too young and will struggle.

Hastings, East Ridge and Mounds View are struggling and will continue.

BodyShots wrote:When it comes time for sections, only CDH and Woodbury will have a chance to make state.

You can never count WBL out in the sections, they will make a run....before well you know...Hill kills em

captainjimmy18 wrote:

BodyShots wrote:When it comes time for sections, only CDH and Woodbury will have a chance to make state.

You can never count WBL out in the sections, they will make a run....before well you know...Hill kills em

An overtime victory isn't exactly killing them, but yes its usually hill who ends the run.

wblhockeyfan8 wrote:

captainjimmy18 wrote:

BodyShots wrote:When it comes time for sections, only CDH and Woodbury will have a chance to make state.

You can never count WBL out in the sections, they will make a run....before well you know...Hill kills em

An overtime victory isn't exactly killing them, but yes its usually hill who ends the run.

Ya I guess I meant 'kill' as in kill the season, I should have used different words.

Forest Lake 1 Woodbury 1 Forest Lake[3-0-1]

hmmm wbl loses to mounds view... Mounds view out played cretin but fell short in that.. Don't say mv is down when they have competed with two top 20 teams in the state..

White Bear & Cretin both get spanked today. It appears this conference is really down this year.

Pioneerprideguy wrote:White Bear & Cretin both get spanked today. It appears this conference is really down this year.

You got that right. Woodbury just embarrased the SEC for another night. I feel bad for the likes of Max Gaede who seems to show up to play every night. I didnt get to see the game, but with that embarrasing performance for a bunch of seniors who have a lot of experience from last years squad, Im glad i didnt have to suffer through watching another dissapointment. With The Junior gold clubs doing very well in the Wood Hood, you start to wonder if some of those players were sent packing for the wrong reasons at tryouts. Who knows. maybe this year they can climb from the bottom of the sections seedings and win out. It would be quite the reversal of how last season played out. I wont hold my breath though.

I guess I was either on something or onto something when I brought up this post Dec. 5th... It looks like the conference battle will be a see-saw, but the teams in the SEC can't compete with the big boys...

I just saw on followthepuck.com that FOREST LAKE was mentioned ahead of White Bear Lake in the "others to watch"...

Has that EVER happened??

eastside hockey wrote:

Pioneerprideguy wrote:White Bear & Cretin both get spanked today. It appears this conference is really down this year.

You got that right. Woodbury just embarrased the SEC for another night. I feel bad for the likes of Max Gaede who seems to show up to play every night. I didnt get to see the game, but with that embarrasing performance for a bunch of seniors who have a lot of experience from last years squad, Im glad i didnt have to suffer through watching another dissapointment. With The Junior gold clubs doing very well in the Wood Hood, you start to wonder if some of those players were sent packing for the wrong reasons at tryouts. Who knows. maybe this year they can climb from the bottom of the sections seedings and win out. It would be quite the reversal of how last season played out. I wont hold my breath though.

Imagine if everyone on Woodbury played with the same desire as Max. They would definitely have better results than they do now. I watched about half the game online and a few minutes after Centennial made it 3-2, I just shut it off because I knew Woodbury wouldn't come back. They had a weak forecheck and couldn't get any flow going, even though they have the talent to do so. This really seems like one of those teams that just thinks they can show up and win. If they keep that attitude up for the next two days, they'll place 8th in this tournament. I'm still cheering for them though, but it's frustrating.

Goldfishdude wrote:I guess I was either on something or onto something when I brought up this post Dec. 5th... It looks like the conference battle will be a see-saw, but the teams in the SEC can't compete with the big boys...

I just saw on followthepuck.com that FOREST LAKE was mentioned ahead of White Bear Lake in the "others to watch"...

Has that EVER happened??

Probably not.

But right now, they have as good a chance as anyone of winning the conference. What a mess.

It's been a bad day for the entire east metro, really.

brandy38 wrote:

eastside hockey wrote:

Pioneerprideguy wrote:White Bear & Cretin both get spanked today. It appears this conference is really down this year.

You got that right. Woodbury just embarrased the SEC for another night. I feel bad for the likes of Max Gaede who seems to show up to play every night. I didnt get to see the game, but with that embarrasing performance for a bunch of seniors who have a lot of experience from last years squad, Im glad i didnt have to suffer through watching another dissapointment. With The Junior gold clubs doing very well in the Wood Hood, you start to wonder if some of those players were sent packing for the wrong reasons at tryouts. Who knows. maybe this year they can climb from the bottom of the sections seedings and win out. It would be quite the reversal of how last season played out. I wont hold my breath though.

Imagine if everyone on Woodbury played with the same desire as Max. They would definitely have better results than they do now. I watched about half the game online and a few minutes after Centennial made it 3-2, I just shut it off because I knew Woodbury wouldn't come back. They had a weak forecheck and couldn't get any flow going, even though they have the talent to do so. This really seems like one of those teams that just thinks they can show up and win. If they keep that attitude up for the next two days, they'll place 8th in this tournament. I'm still cheering for them though, but it's frustrating.

Gaede has been invisible this saeson. He should be lighting up every team out there and in a few games has no points. He has lost his intensity, IMHO, since he got his commitment. Let's hope things pick up for Woodbury and the SEC as a whole.

slapstkhound wrote:

brandy38 wrote:

eastside hockey wrote: You got that right. Woodbury just embarrased the SEC for another night. I feel bad for the likes of Max Gaede who seems to show up to play every night. I didnt get to see the game, but with that embarrasing performance for a bunch of seniors who have a lot of experience from last years squad, Im glad i didnt have to suffer through watching another dissapointment. With The Junior gold clubs doing very well in the Wood Hood, you start to wonder if some of those players were sent packing for the wrong reasons at tryouts. Who knows. maybe this year they can climb from the bottom of the sections seedings and win out. It would be quite the reversal of how last season played out. I wont hold my breath though.

Imagine if everyone on Woodbury played with the same desire as Max. They would definitely have better results than they do now. I watched about half the game online and a few minutes after Centennial made it 3-2, I just shut it off because I knew Woodbury wouldn't come back. They had a weak forecheck and couldn't get any flow going, even though they have the talent to do so. This really seems like one of those teams that just thinks they can show up and win. If they keep that attitude up for the next two days, they'll place 8th in this tournament. I'm still cheering for them though, but it's frustrating.

Gaede has been invisible this saeson. He should be lighting up every team out there and in a few games has no points. He has lost his intensity, IMHO, since he got his commitment. Let's hope things pick up for Woodbury and the SEC as a whole.

Yes he has been somewhat invisible...but I believe the reason he is invisible is because his team isn't picking him up. He's still good in the corners when battling for pucks and tries to make things happen with his stickhandling, but there's no one around to finish what he starts.

So why can't Bolin get this club to play winning hockey? Woodbury has 16 seniors and one junior on the team. If Bolin can't get it done this season, it will be really tough next season.

Forest Lake 8 St frances 3. F.L. dominated sophs had 7of 8 goals. Goalie for St. Frances must have had 50 saves.Get a much tougher team today [Andover] .

newmexicohockey wrote:So why can't Bolin get this club to play winning hockey? Woodbury has 16 seniors and one junior on the team. If Bolin can't get it done this season, it will be really tough next season.

I think they know that this is all practice for Sections. Why bust your but and put all the stress on the rankings now? Woodbury is still a very good team with size, speed, defense and scoring. They worried last year about what everyone thought about them and then lost it in the playoffs. this year I think they know Sections and State are what make your season.

But what exactly is the problem with Woodbury? Goaltending? Defensemen? Discipline? Coaching? What?