7AA Semi-finals

[kniven]

I won't be sleeping any time soon.

[Slammer]

this poll makes zero sense

[kniven]

this poll makes zero sense

It's my first one. I'm a poll virgin. Someone fix it. Need to be able to select 2 options. I'm driving to a meeting and pulled over right now typing this on my iPhone....

[elliott70]

Need 2 separate polls as you can only vote for 1 yet 2 move on.

Perhaps Karl or Lee can fix it.

[karl(east)]

The poll has been rescued.

[elliott70]

The poll has been rescued.

The poll, yes.

The answers, seems people are voting with their hearts and not their heads.

DEast and/or ER.

Should be both, perhaps one upset, but not two.


Oh and for the final ER.

(Boo! we want a north team.)

[Traxler]

Do you think the ER players complain about having to play in Duluth and against both Rapids and East as much as their fans do on here? I can't imagine that would be good for the psyche.

Maybe they beat themselves before even getting on the ice....

[alcloseshaver]

Do you think the ER players complain about having to play in Duluth and against both Rapids and East as much as their fans do on here? I can't imagine that would be good for the psyche.

Maybe they beat themselves before even getting on the ice....

They don't, new coach has brought a different attitude. He is also an assistant football coach and hopefully they can ride the wave of that championship. Just need to get out of town before the Snownomi hits.

[grindiangrad-80]

When Rapids and Elk River met in December they were both playing very well. If I remember correctly it was 1-1 with about 4 minutes to go when the Elks banged one in. ER has been pretty consistent all year. They have stayed at a fairly high level throughout. The Injuns will probably need to play their best game in 3 months to pull this off. They will certainly need the stellar goal tending to continue.

Can they pull this off? Sure.

Will they pull this off? Mmmmmmaybe.

East will have their hands full with the young Lumberjacks. These two know each other well so there aren't many secrets.

Can CEC pull this off? Sure

Will they pull this off? Mmmmmmaybe

If I had to bet it all I would think Elk/East prevail. Should be great games though.

[kniven]

When Rapids and Elk River met in December they were both playing very well. If I remember correctly it was 1-1 with about 4 minutes to go when the Elks banged one in. ER has been pretty consistent all year. They have stayed at a fairly high level throughout. The Injuns will probably need to play their best game in 3 months to pull this off. They will certainly need the stellar goal tending to continue.

Can they pull this off? Sure.

Will they pull this off? Mmmmmmaybe.

East will have their hands full with the young Lumberjacks. These two know each other well so there aren't many secrets.

Can CEC pull this off? Sure

Will they pull this off? Mmmmmmaybe

If I had to bet it all I would think Elk/East prevail. Should be great games though.

I'm glad CEC had to kick and scream and dig deep to beat Roseau and Duluth Marshall at years end. And the Moorehead game as well, which they didn't win...but showed a lot of positives. CEC didn't get Rapid's A game, but neither did Rapids get ours early in the season. im all about the fans and the kids having fun! I think/hope both games are fun for everybody.

[BodyShots]

I get to see the two best teams in 7AA play each other, its just in the semi-finals, rather than the finals.

[kniven]

I get to see the two best teams in 7AA play each other, its just in the semi-finals, rather than the finals.

The best teams don't always win? That's why they play the games?

[Slammer]

I get to see the two best teams in 7AA play each other, its just in the semi-finals, rather than the finals.

Yeah I guess that's why Rapids lost to east 5-0 and lost to Cloquet 4-1

[karl(east)]

Sorry to drag the conversation back to substantive things, but GR faithful, what were the lines in the Andover game? Looking at the scoresheet, Burnson and Miller combined on a couple of goals, so am I right to guess the Big Three were on different lines?

If so, I will continue to maintain my somewhat lonely position that this is their best hope for making it out of the section. That, and finding fluid ways to break out...we've talked a fair amount about GR's lack of discipline down the stretch, but as far as I'm concerned, an even bigger red flag is consistently giving up 40+ shots against good competition. With their goaltending they can steal a game or two that way, but it's hard to string together the sort of streak a team needs to win a section.

On the flip side, I think the game plan for ER is to just apply steady pressure offensively and let their blueliners do their thing.

[hockey59]

Sorry to drag the conversation back to substantive things, but GR faithful, what were the lines in the Andover game? Looking at the scoresheet, Burnson and Miller combined on a couple of goals, so am I right to guess the Big Three were on different lines?

If so, I will continue to maintain my somewhat lonely position that this is their best hope for making it out of the section. That, and finding fluid ways to break out...we've talked a fair amount about GR's lack of discipline down the stretch, but as far as I'm concerned, an even bigger red flag is consistently giving up 40+ shots against good competition. With their goaltending they can steal a game or two that way, but it's hard to string together the sort of streak a team needs to win a section.

On the flip side, I think the game plan for ER is to just apply steady pressure offensively and let their blueliners do their thing.

As Karl stated in his seedings thread...it's pretty clear Klatt & GR...once they got pummeled by DE, and had no chance for a top 2 seed...realized they had to likely beat DE & ER anyway, so the order didn't matter to them and that, combined with some sickness and other factors, they coasted in, the result being dropping to the 4th seed. The irony is ER bust their arse to get the 1st seed, but based on GR indifference, DE gets a 1st seed road to Xcel. This group of GR seniors & juniors won State 3 years ago as Bantams, and they are a dangerous team. But if ER's goaltending is solid, ER wins on Saturday as this team is more disciplined defensively and better on the blue line than recent years, and has enough scoring with JM being healthy. And GR's weakness getting outshot badly, dating back to the Edina Classic, is bound to catch up to them.

[grindiangrad-80]

Sorry to drag the conversation back to substantive things, but GR faithful, what were the lines in the Andover game? Looking at the scoresheet, Burnson and Miller combined on a couple of goals, so am I right to guess the Big Three were on different lines?

If so, I will continue to maintain my somewhat lonely position that this is their best hope for making it out of the section. That, and finding fluid ways to break out...we've talked a fair amount about GR's lack of discipline down the stretch, but as far as I'm concerned, an even bigger red flag is consistently giving up 40+ shots against good competition. With their goaltending they can steal a game or two that way, but it's hard to string together the sort of streak a team needs to win a section.

On the flip side, I think the game plan for ER is to just apply steady pressure offensively and let their blueliners do their thing.

I only listened to the game but the big 3 were split up most of the game. They did all play together occasionally but it sounded like they mixed things up most of the game. The shots were 51-14 in favor of GR.

[Slammer]

Does anyone know if Saturday's DE- CEC game will be streamed?

I'm out of town for the weekend but would love to still watch.

Kniven?

[north_bear]

Sorry to drag the conversation back to substantive things, but GR faithful, what were the lines in the Andover game? Looking at the scoresheet, Burnson and Miller combined on a couple of goals, so am I right to guess the Big Three were on different lines?

If so, I will continue to maintain my somewhat lonely position that this is their best hope for making it out of the section. That, and finding fluid ways to break out...we've talked a fair amount about GR's lack of discipline down the stretch, but as far as I'm concerned, an even bigger red flag is consistently giving up 40+ shots against good competition. With their goaltending they can steal a game or two that way, but it's hard to string together the sort of streak a team needs to win a section.

On the flip side, I think the game plan for ER is to just apply steady pressure offensively and let their blueliners do their thing.

During 5 on 5 play the big 3 remained separated during the Andover game and most of the last half dozen games. PP they play together. 1st line was Mclaughlin-Hain-Stefan and 2nd line was Burnson-Miller-Graeber. I liked those combinations. Stefan and Burnson/Graber played very well alongside there D1 counterparts. Burnson is probably the smallest guy on the ice most of the time but he sure is quick. A big key for Rapids will be breaking out of their end cleanly and maintaining an effective and energetic forecheck. If they can play like they did against Andover they have a chance.

[boblee]

To clean up one rumor - Rapids wasn't OK with being 4. In fact, there was a lot of anger and frustration with the process. They couldn't believe they weren't 3.

As for the games... I don't think either will be all that close.

[grindiangrad-80]

To clean up one rumor - Rapids wasn't OK with being 4. In fact, there was a lot of anger and frustration with the process. They couldn't believe they weren't 3.

As for the games... I don't think either will be all that close.

I hope you are right Bobber but I think the Elks will give them a run.

[east hockey]

Looking for two good games here. I expect GR to play like we expected them to and did at the start of the season and give ER all they can handle. ER has been somewhat snakebit in Amsoil playoff games, going 2-5.

As for East-Cloquet, Cloquet usually gets up for these games. I still have David Brown nightmares. You never know what's going to happen. Newman should play well between the pipes and keep Cloquet in this one. I want to be wrong, of course, but that's what I see.

Hoping for an all-North section final.

Lee

[mnmouth]

Looking for two good games here. I expect GR to play like we expected them to and did at the start of the season and give ER all they can handle. ER has been somewhat snakebit in Amsoil playoff games, going 2-5.

As for East-Cloquet, Cloquet usually gets up for these games. I still have David Brown nightmares. You never know what's going to happen. Newman should play well between the pipes and keep Cloquet in this one. I want to be wrong, of course, but that's what I see.

Hoping for an all-North section final.

Lee

Let's make it 2-6. Hoping, praying for an all-North section final.

[Slammer]

ER doesn't play well at amsoil.

GR and DE move on tomorrow for the almost annual final meeting.

[Slammer]

By the way, ER should win the section on paper.

However, these are bunch of tetesterone filled 16 year olds and I think GR has a little more oomph and adrenaline going into this game.

[norcon]

[quote="karl(east)"]Sorry to drag the conversation back to substantive things, but GR faithful, what were the lines in the Andover game? Looking at the scoresheet, Burnson and Miller combined on a couple of goals, so am I right to guess the Big Three were on different lines?

If so, I will continue to maintain my somewhat lonely position that this is their best hope for making it out of the section. That, and finding fluid ways to break out...we've talked a fair amount about GR's lack of discipline down the stretch, but as far as I'm concerned, an even bigger red flag is consistently giving up 40+ shots against good competition. With their goaltending they can steal a game or two that way, but it's hard to string together the sort of streak a team needs to win a section.

On the flip side, I think the game plan for ER is to just apply steady pressure offensively and let their blueliners do their thing.
[/quote
The score of the Rapids game was no indication of their dominance Tues night. They must have hit 4-5 pipes and missed the net on many good opportunities. Puck possession was all GR. Andovers second goal was directed in by a Rapids player. Only two penalties I believe. Looked more like the team we saw early in the season. ER takes this one in OT. Hope I'm wrong! East takes Jacks in running time. Elks make it to state in their final season as member of 7AA.