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Now it is time to get serious about who think will win it. Make a pick and have your name attached to it. One team per name and post your pick. Then we can see who is the great hockey mind.

Northfield

I'm saying New Prague. But don't sleep on Lourdes. Best goalie in section. If they can find a way to score some goals and keep teams to 2 goals or less, they can win it. I think they have like 10, 1 goal losses.

So by picking playoff high school hockey wrong you're not a great hockey mind, but picking correctly you are? Please don't coach my kids.

P.S. Does this really need its own thread?

I'll be cheering for West, but have to go with New Prague based on last year, coaching, and the possibility of a hot goalie

Pick one team period!

OU812 wrote:I'll be cheering for West, but have to go with New Prague based on last year, coaching, and the possibility of a hot goalie

Have you been able to watch them play at all lately? I know you generally have had good insight on West, and they've won a ton of games since the new year. Just wondering what's got them going.

GopherPuck15 wrote:So by picking playoff high school hockey wrong you're not a great hockey mind, but picking correctly you are? Please don't coach my kids.

P.S. Does this really need its own thread?

Lighten up, Francis!

We can pick one team per period?

That may be a few too many teams, and seems difficult.

GopherPuck15 wrote:

OU812 wrote:I'll be cheering for West, but have to go with New Prague based on last year, coaching, and the possibility of a hot goalie

Have you been able to watch them play at all lately? I know you generally have had good insight on West, and they've won a ton of games since the new year. Just wondering what's got them going.

I have, yeah. Good point too; since Dec 31 they are 12-1-1, including six one goal games, all of which they won. Considering this year's Scarlets have only three healthy skaters who played any significant time last year, winning the Big 9 again was a solid accomplishment. I'd say the PP has been better than expected, senior F Austin Langworthy has had something of a breakout year (two hat tricks this week), and G Connor Wollenzien and his .922 save pctg look ready for the section playoffs.

I still say NP is the favorite after they whomped West 6-0 in early December, played a tougher schedule, and after all they found a way to win last year over one of the best West teams ever in the section final. Also a few 1A teams look improved since last year, like LeSeuer/St Peter, East, and Faribault.

New Prague over Mankato West

One thing that has become abundantly clear is that after New Prague, there are 6 or 7 teams that can beat each other on any given night. Even New Prague will have a tough quarter final match up. They will face the winner of the 8 v 9 play-in game which will probably be Mankato East vs Albert Lea. Albert Lea might be the most dangerous 9 seed in the state. Yes I believe it will be New Prague, but they will have to beat 3 quality opponents to do it.

I go with the Trojan's. They took care of West (with the best goalie in section ) and Albert Lea convincingly. Concerned with the close games vs Northfield, Red Wing, and Lourdes, as was the case vs those teams in sections last year!

OU812 wrote:

GopherPuck15 wrote:

OU812 wrote:I'll be cheering for West, but have to go with New Prague based on last year, coaching, and the possibility of a hot goalie

Have you been able to watch them play at all lately? I know you generally have had good insight on West, and they've won a ton of games since the new year. Just wondering what's got them going.

I have, yeah. Good point too; since Dec 31 they are 12-1-1, including six one goal games, all of which they won. Considering this year's Scarlets have only three healthy skaters who played any significant time last year, winning the Big 9 again was a solid accomplishment. I'd say the PP has been better than expected, senior F Austin Langworthy has had something of a breakout year (two hat tricks this week), and G Connor Wollenzien and his .922 save pctg look ready for the section playoffs.

I still say NP is the favorite after they whomped West 6-0 in early December, played a tougher schedule, and after all they found a way to win last year over one of the best West teams ever in the section final. Also a few 1A teams look improved since last year, like LeSeuer/St Peter, East, and Faribault.

Thanks for the analysis. It looks as though this year's West team knows how to win close games, which is a key factor when the pressure is on. Should be interesting to see how it goes.

New Prague