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Great Teams that Fell Short

Over the years we've seen some great teams that were "dubbed" the state tournament favorite. What were some of the great teams that fell short of being state champions? I cannot pinpoint one team to this question so I have a few (IMO):

1997 Duluth East
2002 Roseville
2004 Moorhead
2008 Roseau
2010 Minnetonka

I know these are recent than not but in all honesty these are the ones I remember; I am not as old as some of you posters are. So let's hear some opinions!

I would say Moorhead and White Bear are probably the biggest disappointments as far as programs go. The 2008 Roseau team is the biggest disappointment as far as teams go.

mulefarm wrote:I would say Moorhead and White Bear are probably the biggest disappointments as far as programs go. The 2008 Roseau team is the biggest disappointment as far as teams go.

Agreed for those programs, Moorhead has 6 state runner-ups (correct me if I am wrong), and White Bear Lake (not to be confused with WB Mariner) has not won a State quarterfinal game yet..

2009, 2008 Cake Eaters with the Fab 5

1977 Edina East hornets, only loss in state final.

1973 South Saint Paul and 2000 Elk River, both lost in sections.
Also the 2003 Holy Angels team that had I think 7 players that are currently playing professionally plus a few others that went on to play in college, lost to Anoka at the state tournament. I don't think Anoka had a single D1 player on the roster.

PuckU126 wrote:

mulefarm wrote:I would say Moorhead and White Bear are probably the biggest disappointments as far as programs go. The 2008 Roseau team is the biggest disappointment as far as teams go.

Agreed for those programs, Moorhead has 6 state runner-ups (correct me if I am wrong), and White Bear Lake (not to be confused with WB Mariner) has not won a State quarterfinal game yet..

What is it like 0 and 31?

Definetly spehar and duluth east

Take out the 97 Hounds and put in the 96 Hounds; I know the 97 team was undefeated going into the State Tournament but the previous year's edition of the Hounds was better, IMO. If not for Karl Goehring.

Lee

2004 Virginia Team when Niskanen was a junior was favored to head to state after they won the irc and didnt make it out of the section, lost in the semi's.

AHA 2006, excellent team with Barriball, Hurley and Matson running the first line.

Zamman wrote:AHA 2006, excellent team with Barriball, Hurley and Matson running the first line.

What was their record that year?

i might be wrong but i think that elk river won the state title in 2000.

slyer wrote:i might be wrong but i think that elk river won the state title in 2000.

Blaine

1980 USSR Olympic Team

starmvp wrote:

slyer wrote:i might be wrong but i think that elk river won the state title in 2000.

Blaine

Correct. ER won in 2001. In 2000 they beat Blaine 7-1 a week before sections but lost in the section semi's to Osseo. Aside from that one night, the 2000 team might be the best HS team since 93' Jefferson.

EHSHack wrote:1980 USSR Olympic Team

79-80 H-M team. Went undefeated until the championship game. Outshout Grand Rapids 32-16 and lost 2-1

2003-04 Warroad losing to Orono in state quarterfinals.

The 1996 Hill-Murray Pioneers. They had 8 future Division 1 players. They were 22-1 when they lost to an 8-14-1 WBL team 4-3 in OT in the Section Semifinal at the Coliseum. They had beaten WBL 7-0 and 6-2 earlier that year. To try to get even they beat WBL 12-1 at the beginning of the next season.

stpaul wrote:The 1996 Hill-Murray Pioneers. They had 8 future Division 1 players. They were 22-1 when they lost to an 8-14-1 WBL team 4-3 in OT in the Section Semifinal at the Coliseum. They had beaten WBL 7-0 and 6-2 earlier that year. To try to get even they beat WBL 12-1 at the beginning of the next season.

Thanks for bringing that up St. Paul. Just when my therapist said I was making progress. That team was loaded.

2004-05 White Bear Lake Bears. Lost two games all year, won gold holiday bracket, beat the other top team Centennial 5-3 in the 4AA section championship (They were #1 and #2 in the state at that time) to advance to the state championship. Then choked away yet another 3rd period lead to Duluth East in the state quarterfinal game. Shots were 32-11. I don't sound bitter anymore, do I?

Grand Rapids 1995-96 team. Started 13-0. Ranked in the top 10 all year. Lost in the semi-finals 2-1 in Hibbing against Greenway. Adam Hauser was Greenway's goalie. Rapids outshot Greenway 54-16.

WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:2004-05 White Bear Lake Bears. Lost two games all year, won gold holiday bracket, beat the other top team Centennial 5-3 in the 4AA section championship (They were #1 and #2 in the state at that time) to advance to the state championship. Then choked away yet another 3rd period lead to Duluth East in the state quarterfinal game. Shots were 32-11. I don't sound bitter anymore, do I?

Personally, I have very happy memories of that game...

WBLHockeyfan04 wrote:2004-05 White Bear Lake Bears. Lost two games all year, won gold holiday bracket, beat the other top team Centennial 5-3 in the 4AA section championship (They were #1 and #2 in the state at that time) to advance to the state championship. Then choked away yet another 3rd period lead to Duluth East in the state quarterfinal game. Shots were 32-11. I don't sound bitter anymore, do I?

That was a great team