Who wins? Mankato East/Loyola vs New Ulm - Section 3A Championship

[elliott70]

Who wins?

[ClassAGuy]

Section 3A Playoffs Championship Game (3/2/2022)

#2 seed Mankato East (16-10-1) vs #1 New Ulm (21-6-0) @ Mayo Health System Events Center, Mankato, MN
This match up has been predicted all year as these two have been the class of Section 3A since the start. New Ulm got to the Section Final by dominating Big South Conference play as they went (18-0-0) against Conference teams but they do have questions as they are only (3-6-0) in the nine games outside of conference play. Mankato East comes having played a tougher schedule and after last year’s COVID protocols knocked out their best team in years this group seems determined to get back to State when many didn’t see them doing so at the start of the year. New Ulm has two big time centers that anchor their first two lines in Senior Braxten Hoffman and Sophomore Austin Uecker both have over 20 goals along with minute eating and point oroducincing defenders Junior Jack Albrecht and Senior Josh Gulden. Mankato East on the other hand doesn't have star players, rather they come at you in waves and they really have just worn down their 3A opponents in the first two games, outscoring teams 12-0 combined in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the first two playoff games and Senior goalie Caelin Bruseke shuts the door on opposing offensive attack . The Cougars look like the favorite here but again if we know anything about 3A it's to expect the unexpected as these teams battle at the Mayo Health System Events Center in Mankato on Wednesday night.

Section 3A Finals Notes & Tidbits
COVID Revenge
One of the Programs that felt that pain of the COVID protocols the worst in the Sectionals was Mankato East as they had a legit Top 15 team with a core of Seniors who had experience and wanted last year to be their best finish yet. However, just hours before their Section 1A Quarterfinals game they were notified that their entire varsity would be out due to contact tracing and they lost to the #10 seed La Crescent. This year this group seems determined to make up for that and get back to State to honor that great team that never got compete and had to watch rival Dodge County make a run to the Class A Title Game.

Big South Dynasty
New Ulm will be looking to make it’s 6th state tournament since 2010 which is pretty impressive meaning that in the last 12 years they will have appeared in half of the Class A tournaments… They also will be looking for their first win ever should they make it next week.

[Corn Cobb]

Section 3A Playoffs Championship Game (3/2/2022)

#2 seed Mankato East (16-10-1) vs #1 New Ulm (21-6-0) @ Mayo Health System Events Center, Mankato, MN
This match up has been predicted all year as these two have been the class of Section 3A since the start. New Ulm got to the Section Final by dominating Big South Conference play as they went (18-0-0) against Conference teams but they do have questions as they are only (3-6-0) in the nine games outside of conference play. Mankato East comes having played a tougher schedule and after last year’s COVID protocols knocked out their best team in years this group seems determined to get back to State when many didn’t see them doing so at the start of the year. New Ulm has two big time centers that anchor their first two lines in Senior Braxten Hoffman and Sophomore Austin Uecker both have over 20 goals along with minute eating and point oroducincing defenders Junior Jack Albrecht and Senior Josh Gulden. Mankato East on the other hand doesn't have star players, rather they come at you in waves and they really have just worn down their 3A opponents in the first two games, outscoring teams 12-0 combined in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the first two playoff games and Senior goalie Caelin Bruseke shuts the door on opposing offensive attack . The Cougars look like the favorite here but again if we know anything about 3A it's to expect the unexpected as these teams battle at the Mayo Health System Events Center in Mankato on Wednesday night.

Section 2A Finals Notes & Tidbits
Under the Radar… More like History Makers!
The local news networks stated that MPLS hockey was coming in under the radar this postseason, more like they have been making history all winter. Not only where they the first MPLS team ever ranked in the Class A Top 10 poll they also are the first to ever get a #1 seed, make section final and now they want to be the first group of history makers to punch their ticket to the X. We have not seen a Minneapolis school in State hockey since 1994 (When MPLS Edson won the consolation title of the first ever Class A tourney).

Class A Elite Company
Delano is quickly becoming the newest blueblood program in Class A and being referred to as an elite A program. With all the other Elite Class A Programs (Hermantown, Warroad, Breck, TRF, Mahtomedi, Orono, EGF, SCC) to name a few having a State Title if Delano wins this week they are quickly becoming the best program in Class A to not have State Title or should I say a 1st round State Tournament win.

Section 3A Playoffs Championship Game (3/2/2022)

#2 seed Mankato East (16-10-1) vs #1 New Ulm (21-6-0) @ Mayo Health System Events Center, Mankato, MN
This match up has been predicted all year as these two have been the class of Section 3A since the start. New Ulm got to the Section Final by dominating Big South Conference play as they went (18-0-0) against Conference teams but they do have questions as they are only (3-6-0) in the nine games outside of conference play. Mankato East comes having played a tougher schedule and after last year’s COVID protocols knocked out their best team in years this group seems determined to get back to State when many didn’t see them doing so at the start of the year. New Ulm has two big time centers that anchor their first two lines in Senior Braxten Hoffman and Sophomore Austin Uecker both have over 20 goals along with minute eating and point oroducincing defenders Junior Jack Albrecht and Senior Josh Gulden. Mankato East on the other hand doesn't have star players, rather they come at you in waves and they really have just worn down their 3A opponents in the first two games, outscoring teams 12-0 combined in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the first two playoff games and Senior goalie Caelin Bruseke shuts the door on opposing offensive attack . The Cougars look like the favorite here but again if we know anything about 3A it's to expect the unexpected as these teams battle at the Mayo Health System Events Center in Mankato on Wednesday night.

Section 2A Finals Notes & Tidbits
Under the Radar… More like History Makers!
The local news networks stated that MPLS hockey was coming in under the radar this postseason, more like they have been making history all winter. Not only where they the first MPLS team ever ranked in the Class A Top 10 poll they also are the first to ever get a #1 seed, make section final and now they want to be the first group of history makers to punch their ticket to the X. We have not seen a Minneapolis school in State hockey since 1994 (When MPLS Edson won the consolation title of the first ever Class A tourney).

Class A Elite Company
Delano is quickly becoming the newest blueblood program in Class A and being referred to as an elite A program. With all the other Elite Class A Programs (Hermantown, Warroad, Breck, TRF, Mahtomedi, Orono, EGF, SCC) to name a few having a State Title if Delano wins this week they are quickly becoming the best program in Class A to not have State Title or should I say a 1st round State Tournament win.

Why the 2A notes in a 3A thread? Just curious.

[ClassAGuy]

Section 3A Playoffs Championship Game (3/2/2022)

#2 seed Mankato East (16-10-1) vs #1 New Ulm (21-6-0) @ Mayo Health System Events Center, Mankato, MN
This match up has been predicted all year as these two have been the class of Section 3A since the start. New Ulm got to the Section Final by dominating Big South Conference play as they went (18-0-0) against Conference teams but they do have questions as they are only (3-6-0) in the nine games outside of conference play. Mankato East comes having played a tougher schedule and after last year’s COVID protocols knocked out their best team in years this group seems determined to get back to State when many didn’t see them doing so at the start of the year. New Ulm has two big time centers that anchor their first two lines in Senior Braxten Hoffman and Sophomore Austin Uecker both have over 20 goals along with minute eating and point oroducincing defenders Junior Jack Albrecht and Senior Josh Gulden. Mankato East on the other hand doesn't have star players, rather they come at you in waves and they really have just worn down their 3A opponents in the first two games, outscoring teams 12-0 combined in the 2nd and 3rd periods of the first two playoff games and Senior goalie Caelin Bruseke shuts the door on opposing offensive attack . The Cougars look like the favorite here but again if we know anything about 3A it's to expect the unexpected as these teams battle at the Mayo Health System Events Center in Mankato on Wednesday night.

Section 2A Finals Notes & Tidbits
Under the Radar… More like History Makers!
The local news networks stated that MPLS hockey was coming in under the radar this postseason, more like they have been making history all winter. Not only where they the first MPLS team ever ranked in the Class A Top 10 poll they also are the first to ever get a #1 seed, make section final and now they want to be the first group of history makers to punch their ticket to the X. We have not seen a Minneapolis school in State hockey since 1994 (When MPLS Edson won the consolation title of the first ever Class A tourney).

Class A Elite Company
Delano is quickly becoming the newest blueblood program in Class A and being referred to as an elite A program. With all the other Elite Class A Programs (Hermantown, Warroad, Breck, TRF, Mahtomedi, Orono, EGF, SCC) to name a few having a State Title if Delano wins this week they are quickly becoming the best program in Class A to not have State Title or should I say a 1st round State Tournament win.

Why the 2A notes in a 3A thread? Just curious.

My Mistake

[ClassAGuy]

3A Final Prediction

Mankato East's better depth and schedule all year make the difference they will show those factors in beating New Ulm.