Well..... I know this was expected , but didn't see anything so I thought I'd ask since I'm not on here much in the summer. Young team, not many returners.. What do they look like for the season?
Any word on Randolph , and?or how long he still want to coach?
I've heard since 2012(ish) that after the Randolph, Toninato, Olsen line that the team was done... Period... well as we all know the team has been "upsetting" teams and going further than anyone ever thought they would since then. Is there any massive talent on the way?
Basically referring to the last question, it was the 95-96 team that should have won, then the 2011-2012 ( I think ) line that " should have won" .... Hoping we dont have to wait another 20 years for a dream team
Duluth East 2016-2017
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
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karl(east)
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It'll be an interesting year. East is very young, with just one returning senior skater who played a regular shift last year. Rapids and Elk River are so good and experienced that their odds at State are pretty low by East standards, and Cloquet and Marshall can beat them on a good night, too.
Still, there's some stuff to work with. Worth-Mageau-Donovan, assuming they stay together, will be a very productive line. They had 3 Elite League defensemen, all underclassmen, so there's good depth there, plus a handful of decent additional forwards who should provide good energy on the lower lines. If everyone sticks around, the current junior and sophomore classes could have them back as the section favorite in 17-18 if they develop well this year. It's not unheard of for an East team to arrive a year "early," so if they can play loose and have tight defense, they could sneak up on a few people. (To the extent that East ever sneaks up on anyone, I suppose.)
Long-term, things look fine...the PeeWees finished 2nd at State last year, so there's still plenty of talent in the pipeline. (And if you've followed East for a while, there are some fun names in that group...the kids of players on the '91 team are starting to come through.) I don't know if there's a class with the combination of depth and talent that the Randolph/Toninato or Spehar/Locker groups had anytime soon, and with some other 7AA teams having talent surges they'll have competition, but they're in pretty good shape.
I don't Randolph is going anywhere anytime soon. He's healthy, he's enjoying himself, and he seems to have the respect of the players and parents. As long as that's still the case, why not keep on going? I know those '91 alumni want him to coach their kids...
Still, there's some stuff to work with. Worth-Mageau-Donovan, assuming they stay together, will be a very productive line. They had 3 Elite League defensemen, all underclassmen, so there's good depth there, plus a handful of decent additional forwards who should provide good energy on the lower lines. If everyone sticks around, the current junior and sophomore classes could have them back as the section favorite in 17-18 if they develop well this year. It's not unheard of for an East team to arrive a year "early," so if they can play loose and have tight defense, they could sneak up on a few people. (To the extent that East ever sneaks up on anyone, I suppose.)
Long-term, things look fine...the PeeWees finished 2nd at State last year, so there's still plenty of talent in the pipeline. (And if you've followed East for a while, there are some fun names in that group...the kids of players on the '91 team are starting to come through.) I don't know if there's a class with the combination of depth and talent that the Randolph/Toninato or Spehar/Locker groups had anytime soon, and with some other 7AA teams having talent surges they'll have competition, but they're in pretty good shape.
I don't Randolph is going anywhere anytime soon. He's healthy, he's enjoying himself, and he seems to have the respect of the players and parents. As long as that's still the case, why not keep on going? I know those '91 alumni want him to coach their kids...
Yes lowly Cloquet. We only had 1 elite league player this fall. Seems East, Rapids, and Hermantown dominate that team every fall. The Jacks will just have to keep suffering while East, Rapids, and Hermantown dominate 7AA the next 2-5 years and every other year hoping on a good night we can beat Duluth East...karl(east) wrote:It'll be an interesting year. East is very young, with just one returning senior skater who played a regular shift last year. Rapids and Elk River are so good and experienced that their odds at State are pretty low by East standards, and Cloquet and Marshall can beat them on a good night, too.
Still, there's some stuff to work with. Worth-Mageau-Donovan, assuming they stay together, will be a very productive line. They had 3 Elite League defensemen, all underclassmen, so there's good depth there, plus a handful of decent additional forwards who should provide good energy on the lower lines. If everyone sticks around, the current junior and sophomore classes could have them back as the section favorite in 17-18 if they develop well this year. It's not unheard of for an East team to arrive a year "early," so if they can play loose and have tight defense, they could sneak up on a few people. (To the extent that East ever sneaks up on anyone, I suppose.)
Long-term, things look fine...the PeeWees finished 2nd at State last year, so there's still plenty of talent in the pipeline. (And if you've followed East for a while, there are some fun names in that group...the kids of players on the '91 team are starting to come through.) I don't know if there's a class with the combination of depth and talent that the Randolph/Toninato or Spehar/Locker groups had anytime soon, and with some other 7AA teams having talent surges they'll have competition, but they're in pretty good shape.
I don't Randolph is going anywhere anytime soon. He's healthy, he's enjoying himself, and he seems to have the respect of the players and parents. As long as that's still the case, why not keep on going? I know those '91 alumni want him to coach their kids...
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karl(east)
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Oh, come on now. You have, what, 10 sophomores playing varsity off last year's bantam team? A string of very talented classes coming up? If players develop as planned, there's no reason Cloquet can't be every bit as good as the Big Three that have been toward the top of this section over the past 6-8 years. They may still be a year away this season, but it's not too hard to see them winding up in a section final.kniven wrote: Yes lowly Cloquet. We only had 1 elite league player this fall. Seems East, Rapids, and Hermantown dominate that team every fall. The Jacks will just have to keep suffering while East, Rapids, and Hermantown dominate 7AA the next 2-5 years and every other year hoping on a good night we can beat Duluth East...
It is what it is. I'm a huge fan no matter how they do. If they win....great. If they loose....fine. If they tie....ok. Every year the season comes along....I just want to enjoy watching my team. the big three.....the elite league......it's all noise. CEC will just keep marching like a drum, no matter. I cheer, barb, and respect. I've got great relationships with players, coaches, and parents from my team on other teams across the state.karl(east) wrote:Oh, come on now. You have, what, 10 sophomores playing varsity off last year's bantam team? A string of very talented classes coming up? If players develop as planned, there's no reason Cloquet can't be every bit as good as the Big Three that have been toward the top of this section over the past 6-8 years. They may still be a year away this season, but it's not too hard to see them winding up in a section final.kniven wrote: Yes lowly Cloquet. We only had 1 elite league player this fall. Seems East, Rapids, and Hermantown dominate that team every fall. The Jacks will just have to keep suffering while East, Rapids, and Hermantown dominate 7AA the next 2-5 years and every other year hoping on a good night we can beat Duluth East...
