Class A State 2006

ghshockeyfan · Post by **ghshockeyfan** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 5:40 pm

1/29 KRACH says: 3A: Warroad vs. 1A: New Prague 2A: Alexandria vs. 4A: SSP

Big Red · Post by **Big Red** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 2:50 pm

In comparing many of the head to head games played among the leaders, and teams that have been played by common opponents, I believe that the teams are closer than the rankings may indicate. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"> I do not in any way bring this up to detract form the rankings. Just an observation (from maybe a biased parent). <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":b"> Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... d@mnhs>Big Red</A> at: 1/30/06 4:08 pm

ghshockeyfan · Post by **ghshockeyfan** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:54 pm

KRACH is putting high odds on some favroties in some sections, etc. Not saying I agree or disagree, but is very interesting and maybe not 100% realistic. I think a lot changes for a section game vs the odds that are set up by KRACH for a regular season game. Kind of like a rivalry game in which you can throw much of the "odds" out the window.

mnhockeygal · Post by **mnhockeygal** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 1:01 pm

Class "A" I think will end up being pretty predictable. I will comment only on the teams I have seen: SSP - Very, very overrated. Biggest loss wasnt the scoring punch of the big 3 but the refuse to lose will and intensity. Way too many could care less, dismal performances like last night vs Simley, 1st game against Richfield, Hastings etc...Lets be clear, when this team skates hard, I think they are top 3 team in A, and possibly the best. That just isnt happening conistently enough and they will likely be beaten by a team that outworks them. Farmington - Very hard to guage as they played SSP very early and were destroyed. However the goaltending helped that a lot and obviously with Flor they have some scoring and could sneak up on someone but I think they are overrated also and wont be a factor. Mahtomedi - This team is someone who could provide an upset for the simple reason they work very hard. They took SSP to OT and played a very solid, well coached game. Totino - See comments on Farmington and insert Mcdonald for Flor Simley - Decent goaltending, no offense at all. Cant get puck out their end even. Played a SSP team who played worst game of year and were handed 2 goals and game still was never really in doubt. Work hard, but wont beat anyone of consequence, are terrible. Richfield - Work hard, but terrible. Silver Bay - Didnt see them but heard reports from game against SSP they are very disciplined and woork very hard and could be a team to watch. Hibbing - Along with Blake, best A team I have seen. year in and year out one of best coached teams around. Nowhere near talent level they have had but very solid, hard working team. Solid D, and enough scoring to make a run. Blake - Team to beat. Some good speed up front. Pathetic schedule is only thing that may end up hurting them. My pick to win it all.

hubbaa · Post by **hubbaa** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:43 pm

mnhockey, i like you. you never pull any punches...

mnhockeygal · Post by **mnhockeygal** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 2:52 pm

I call a spade a spade and dont pretend to be something i am not nor do I need to get my friends to stick up for me like some others do. Its hilarious HUBBA, just hilarious. I watch that team last night and ponder "should they be ranked" and laugh out loud. Fricken hilarious. So whats your take on "A" state HUBBA? I think Blake or Hibbing will carry the hardware, unless Palmquist finds a way to get SSP "A" game for 3 or 4 straght games. Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeygal</A> at: 2/1/06 2:56 pm

madjagfan · Post by **madjagfan** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:05 pm

Mnhockey--thought you were only going to comment on teams you had seen and then you go on to comment on Silver Bay which should consider themselves lucky, for you not having seen them, as they were one of two that did not receive a negative review. The Class A girls, based on your insight, may as well hang up their skates and take up bashing their old rivals-- GIVE IT UP!!

mnhockeygal · Post by **mnhockeygal** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:23 pm

I made positive comments on 5 teams. Unbelievable.

madjagfan · Post by **madjagfan** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:30 pm

And seven of nine had negatives attached to them----that is what is unbelievable

mnhockeygal · Post by **mnhockeygal** » Wed Feb 01, 2006 3:37 pm

Yeah real negative stuff. Sorry, you and your little friend can stick to the effusive disingenuous fluff and smiley faces for everyone. I will choose to point out my observations. 5 teams were praised, and your spin or flat out lying isnt going to change that.

hubbaa · Post by **hubbaa** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:37 am

mnhockeygal, "a" is a toss up. blake has consistantly been the best team and ssp has the ability to dominate them if they play its top game but ssp has been too inconsistant to rely on them doing it. i think "4a" will be decided by the seedings. if ssp gets the top seed i would pick them to go to state but if they get lower than the top seed (#2) i can't see them coming through. my reasoning is if they get seed #1 they will have to play one very good game in the section championship game, before that they will need two fairly good games. i don't think they will have a problem getting up for blake in the championship game if they both make it, but with ssp #2 or lower i don't think they will even make it. farmington lately is a much different team than just 3-4 weeks ago and i can easily see them upsetting ssp along with a couple other teams. if ssp gets to state they win it. i don't know how as i think many are as frustrated as you knowing they can play much better. i don't know if it's the coaching or the reluctance of the girls to change. whatever, they can't continue to play an open style and expect to win. they have to play to its strength (which playoff time ssp is usually much more conservative than during the regular season) which is d to win. i think the coaches are smart enough to realize this and i think the kids are disciplined enough to commit to it but i guess we will wait to see what happens. class a champ is either hibbing or ssp. out of the kaposia.. class aa champ will also be out of the kaposia in either ep or roseville..

xk1 · Post by **xk1** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 10:47 am

I think you will find competing in A a little different than what you are used to at SSP. It won't matter who is seeded 1 or 2, you both get a bye and you should cruise to the semis to face Mahtamedi or Farmington. You have played them both, Blake has played niether. You guys are the SSP experts, how do you feel about those two opponents

mnhockeygal · Post by **mnhockeygal** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:07 am

Hubba - excellent analysis. I agree on nearly everything other than I dont know if even #1 seed that semi is a gimme. In Dec, yeah was a gimme, but I have seen too many dismal performances lately to think anything is a gimme (as late as Tues for ex). XK1 - Honestly Farmington I thought was terrible when we played them, but how can you go on a game in Nov??? Truthfully I think they beat up on nobodies and are not anywhere as good as advertised, but I cant be sure as I just have not seen enough of them. I dont care to play them, but I dont care to play Zephs either. They are disciplined and hard working and their goalie was pretty solid against us last time. The part that worrys me is this - SSP did not play well against Mahtomedia, but I cant say we didnt play at least somewhat hard. Usually our biggest issue is either not playing hard, or getting far too cute with silly passes and not going hard to net. The part that scares me is, if we had at least a decent effort, how in the world did we need OT to beat them? I think it shows they are well coached and play hard and therefore can be a factor in this section. Lots of things can happen - lets just say we are a bit more nervous heading into sections than we would have thought back in Dec.

xk1 · Post by **xk1** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:19 am

Farmington has improved but the biggest problem SSP would face is respecting them after you beat them 9-0. Just don't take them for granted because they do know how to put it in the net if you make a mistake.

ghshockeyfan · Post by **ghshockeyfan** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:26 am

One thing I've heard no one mention. That's that SSP has been there before and knows what it takes to win big games, and has an intimidation factor based on name & dynasty history alone. I think that after years (and I mean MANY years) of dominince, that the girls & coaches at SSP know what it takes to win. That experience, as much as anything, is what will give SSP an edge in sections and state. Plus, as I fought with with my own team re:SSP these past two years, there is still a "name" intimidation factor that comes with the jersey they pull on & the storied past/present they have. Some teams & players don't believe that SSP can lose or play poorly as they've dominated for so long. If an opponent doesn't believe that they can win due to the name of the other team, they then have no chance. I will be brutally honest here. Many homegrown teams in A have no business playing with a team like SSP based on talent alone. But, if they believe they have a chance, that makes all the difference in the world when that top team doesn't bring their "A" game, gives up a breakaway/fluke goal to spot an opponent a 1 or 2-goal lead, and lets a team into a game. Mahtomedi & Simley proved this in the last week with close scores at the end of the game vs. SSP even though both were badly outplayed/outshot. Much of this is mental. I still believe the game is 90% heart & 10% skill, and anyone who has watched my teams battle and compete against amazing talent/skill disparity & odds knows this. You still may come up short, but you gotta believe! Else, you have no chance at all... Class A is a quirky setup. I just hope that A seedings are done right and not too much credit/punishment is given to teams based on strong/weak SOS & record implications. My preliminary conversations with coaches seem to indicate that they understand the considerations necissary to seed teams accordingly thankfully. I do agree that 4A will have a much easier road to the sec championship for the 1 seed than the 2. that's why this seeding is so important. I also believe that it's possible for 4A to keep the streak alive... Every team that's won State A has come from 4A... but I don't look past some other teams either - Hibbing, Warroad, NP, TG, Alex, etc. are strong teams too! Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeyfan</A> at: 2/2/06 12:01 pm

hubbaa · Post by **hubbaa** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 11:30 am

mnhockeygal, i didn't say it was a gimme, i said ssp will have to play fairly good. if they don't they lose. the zephs are competitors, but all ssp has to do is stop May and they can't lose. put a checker on her and the game is a forgone conclusion. but i don't think they will, i just don''t have any confidence in the coaching. xk1 is correct with being over confident against farmington, but not only them. i can see them over confident against everyone in the section except for blake and therefore i think almost any of these teams can easily upset them. you mention how bad you thought simley was, but no matter how they have looked you can look at its results over the past couple weeks and see they are playing almost everyone very close now. simley is a team that in the past has been able to create quite a section upset.... i can see them upset ssp too....

mnhockeygal · Post by **mnhockeygal** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 12:27 pm

HUBBA, i agree with all points except somewhat on the last one. I am sorry, but SSP played its worst effort of the season and gave away 2 goals, and still won easily - when I say easily I mean in the respect that it was never in doubt once they tied it. Simley plays hard but cannot get the puck out of their end even let along generate offense. Unless Gerten stood on her head (and she has shown ability to get hot) and they won 1-0 I dont see any chance for an upset unless SSP had just a historic collapse/choke. Simley however has played a very very tough schedule and therefore, being battle tested could provide problems and or an upset. This is where the schedule absolutely pays off for them, and they will be rewarded for having far more experience against top teams than most any opponent they face in sections. This however, is assuming they dont get totally hosed on seeding because of their poor record and end up drawing freaking SSP or Blake right off bat. I will go on record saying, I would think they can get at least close to a mid level seed, and I think they deserve that, given they are playing 2 or 3 times the # of good opponents as the other poor record teams. Definitely they can make some noise as I firmly believe, playing so many good teams all year long gives them a large advantage mentally and "pressure of playoffs" wise - But I simply dont see them beating Blake or SSP when they just cant generate any offensive pressure. Some very good points have been raised. I really think SSP 10-0 record had as much to do with reputation/fear as it had to do with that they played well. Sure, I think SSP played better in that 10 game stretch than in their next 10 games, and I wont take away the girls credit for a heck of a 10 game run, but there is little doubt in my mind they DIDNT play 6 games better in that 10 game run as their record ended up being (4-6 in next 10). I think a lot had to do with teams thinking they couldnt beat us, and the here we go again factor. I dont see anyone other than Farmington or Mahtomedi or Blake beating us, but one thing is for sure. If SSP plays like they did last game out, completely not interested and lazy, there is no question they can be beaten by more teams than the ones I listed. If they play hard then I think Blake is the only team that can beat them, short of the annual hotter than you know what goalie performance that hockey sees in playoffs, or short of Farm or Mahtomedi playing their "A+" game.

ghshockeyfan · Post by **ghshockeyfan** » Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:42 pm

I know, I know, I swore I wouldn't talk about "my" team, but a couple of points that are true in general but illustrated with my team in mind... A note about SSP last game - it was also their Senior Night, and this is always an emotional thing that can make it hard to play the best game. Last time in the building as a HS player for some of the members of the squad, etc. I disagree with the notion that a one-goal game or a tie game is not in doubt no matter how dominating a team is. Timeouts by both teams, opponent empty-nets, as well as OT, at the end of the last 2 SSP games illustrate this phenomenon. SSP outshot/outplayed their last opponent BADLY (even while not SSP's "A" game) in the 2nd (12-5) & 3rd (16-5) periods (28-10 total) after a slower start (6-4). At the end of 1 it was pretty quiet at Wakota vs. Simley with a 0-0 score. When Simley went up 1, and then 2-0 three minutes into the second the silence was deafing after the Simley cheering stopped (I didn't hear many cowbells!). Simley set themselves up to fail creating a shooting gallery due to penalty trouble as SSP came back. SSP capitalized on a 5v3 for their 1st goal (point shot upper L corner on screened G Gerten), but also SSP seemed to pick it up as the game progressed from this point. This was the true turning point in the game. It was 2-2 heading into the third before the eventual game winner came with about 7 minutes to play. In the third the two-line setup caught up with their opponent who had to skate 5 of their 11 V skaters for a period in the JV game due to illness & injury. This was seen for Simley vs. NSP recently (L 2-1 - outshot 29-9 in 2nd & 3rd). Gerten has been phenominal and should be an All-Conf. G with her play. She is definitely the Simley MVP. I also agree that a team that can generate more offense will have a better chance to upset SSP/Blake (or anyone). When you look at the low scoring done by some teams it would take more than just strong D & G to get a W. Richfield & Simley are great examples of this. Both have strong D & amazing G but can't seem to generate much offense. But, they are both homegrown class A schools too. Lakeville S has also put up decent scoring totals considering their SOS. I believe that some of the lack of offense is attributable to the SOS (playing top AA & A opponents, etc.). May gives Mahtomedi some scoring punch (in addition to a strong G), and obviously the same is true of Flor & Johnson from Farmington, etc. (& D & G McNamara can play well too!). this gives them the best shot at beating SSP/Blake. I believe this best illustrates SSP's scoring strength when you look at GF & SOS. Scoring in section w/SOS: RK TEAM RATING SOS RK SOS RATING GF AVG GA AVG 1 Farmington 76.265 61 58.708 156 6.50 65 2.71 2 Blake 171.101 54 54.500 122 5.08 39 1.63 3 Shakopee 23.183 69 65.565 110 4.58 54 2.25 4 Breck 8.181 79 71.130 89 3.87 57 2.48 5 South St. Paul 214.915 6 33.000 88 3.67 40 1.67 6 St. Louis Park 2.842 60 57.500 68 2.83 103 4.29 7 Lakev. South 6.176 36 46.667 62 2.58 92 3.83 8 Mahtomedi 18.617 30 43.792 58 2.42 60 2.50 9 St. Paul United 2.870 82 71.773 56 2.43 79 3.43 10 St. Agnes/St. Bernards/Concordia Academy 0.787 99 80.200 45 1.96 88 3.83 11 Simley 8.855 11 35.458 40 1.67 83 3.46 12 Minnehaha Academy 0.393 108 84.870 33 1.43 98 4.26 13 Red Wing 0.309 72 67.318 28 1.22 165 7.17 14 Richfield 3.634 46 51.261 23 0.96 67 2.79 Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeyfan</A> at: 2/2/06 1:45 pm

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