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Edina starts things off with a 7-0 win over Northfield. The Raiders kept it close, trailing the Hornets by only a goal after one, but the game became increasingly lopsided in the second. The barrage continued in the third, ending in a 7-0 shutout.

Next up: 3rd seeded Minnetonka vs. unseeded Burnsville. Assuming the Skippers prevail, which by no means is assured, the Edina/Tonka semifinal should be a dandy.

Minnetonka leads Burnsville 2-0 after one.

Minnetonka leading Burnsville 4-0 after two. Looking like a Tonka/Edina semi in the upper bracket. Assuming the Skippers' lead holds and they advance we will have played a total of six games in the two classes with no upsets.

MNHockeyFan wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:29 pm Minnetonka leading Burnsville 4-0 after two. Looking like a Tonka/Edina semi in the upper bracket. Assuming the Skippers' lead holds and they advance we will have played a total of six games in the two classes with no upsets.

There's not enough quality in HS girls hockey for these kind of State tournament brackets.

Take the top 64 teams in the state (ranked by the computers) and put them in the "AA" bracket. Take the rest and put them in "A."

Teams like Holy Family, Wayzata and Benilde shouldn't be punished by geography any more than a team (WARROAD) should benefit from it.

Another blow-out as Minnetonka crushes Burnsville 9-0. Looking forward to tomorrow's Tonka/Edina semi.

jg2112 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:01 pm
There's not enough quality in HS girls hockey for these kind of State tournament brackets.

Take the top 64 teams in the state (ranked by the computers) and put them in the "AA" bracket. Take the rest and put them in "A."

Teams like Holy Family, Wayzata and Benilde shouldn't be punished by geography any more than a team (WARROAD) should benefit from it.

Same thing EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Congrats to all of the girls teams that make it to state...even the ones that get smoked by one of the first 3 seeds. I am not hopeful that it will change by the time my grandkids can play in the state tournament...which will not be for 20 or more years.

Any idea on the girls side when the last upset happened with a #1-3 seed losing an opening game in the AA bracket? I cant recall one and have been an active watcher for at least the last 8 years. I am sure there are a few seeded teams that have lost in the even thinner A bracket.

massalsa wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:14 pm

jg2112 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:01 pm
There's not enough quality in HS girls hockey for these kind of State tournament brackets.

Take the top 64 teams in the state (ranked by the computers) and put them in the "AA" bracket. Take the rest and put them in "A."

Teams like Holy Family, Wayzata and Benilde shouldn't be punished by geography any more than a team (WARROAD) should benefit from it.

Same thing EVERY SINGLE YEAR. Congrats to all of the girls teams that make it to state...even the ones that get smoked by one of the first 3 seeds. I am not hopeful that it will change by the time my grandkids can play in the state tournament...which will not be for 20 or more years.

Any idea on the girls side when the last upset happened with a #1-3 seed losing an opening game in the AA bracket? I cant recall one and have been an active watcher for at least the last 8 years. I am sure there are a few seeded teams that have lost in the even thinner A bracket.

Off the top of my head, #3 Hill Murray lost to #6 Eagan in 2018, then Centennial went on to demolish Eagan in the semis.
It most always comes down to the best 2 or 3 teams. It was always going to be Andover, Edina, and Tonka (in any given order). We knew this at the end of last season, then over the summer, and before this season started. It will probably be the same next year. It's nice that teams win their sections to make state, but beyond those 3 teams, no one else matters.

Lace'emUp wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:30 pm It's nice that teams win their sections to make state, but beyond those 3 teams, no one else matters.

That's only true because the MSHSL choose it to be true. Those three are powerhouses, (made better because dads chase their dreams by disrupting kids high school education with transfers), but the MSHSL gets lopsided games in the AA state tourney because they insist on designing sections such that spots go to, in this year, teams ranked 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 15, 30 and 37 as the "best" in the state. Burnsville is the 15, which isn't that low, but they are 15 by virtue of an easy schedule that allowed them to rack up wins in spite of a team GAA of 2.7. Tonka could have been tested in game 1 as a 3 seed - they just needed to play a team built to survive a tough section. They lost in the regular season to 1, 1, 2, 2, 7 (very good goalie) and 19 (outstanding goalie). Beatable by teams down the field a bit, but only ones well designed for post-season play (with good back-ends). Andover (with no losses) and Edina (with losses only to Andover and Tonka) are in a slightly different category. But even for those two, if they were playing a Holy Family, BSM Wayzata, Rogers - likely would have been a much more interesting first day of the tourney. Just not what the MSHSL wants, I guess.

jg2112 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:01 pm

MNHockeyFan wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:29 pm Minnetonka leading Burnsville 4-0 after two. Looking like a Tonka/Edina semi in the upper bracket. Assuming the Skippers' lead holds and they advance we will have played a total of six games in the two classes with no upsets.

There's not enough quality in HS girls hockey for these kind of State tournament brackets.

Take the top 64 teams in the state (ranked by the computers) and put them in the "AA" bracket. Take the rest and put them in "A."

Teams like Holy Family, Wayzata and Benilde shouldn't be punished by geography any more than a team (WARROAD) should benefit from it.

I love your idea, but I can't see the MSHSL changing the age-old format any time soon.

After two No. 1 Andover is leading Brainerd/Little Falls 2-0. Gotta respect the way Brainerd is giving it their all, but I don't know how much longer they can keep it close, let alone mount a comeback to tie it up.

5-0 final. Total scores of our first three AA games is 21-0

Gentry Academy and Maple Grove play a scoreless 1st period despite Gentry controlling the action, allowing just one Crimson shot, vs. 13 for the Stars. Maple Grove will need to start generating some offense if they have any hope of winning this game.

Maple Grove and Gentry Academy all square at 1-1 after two. Pretty even period, with the Crimson picking up their play considerably after a very uninspired first. Fun to have a tight game after a whole day of blowouts.

Gentry wins a close one, 2-1, befitting a #5 vs. #4 matchup. To me they looked like the better, more skilled team for the majority of the game. Hopefully they can give Andover all they want, and maybe a little more, in tomorrow night's second semi.

Yay Gentry! Probably get killed tomorrow though.

jg2112 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 3:01 pm

MNHockeyFan wrote: ↑Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:29 pm Minnetonka leading Burnsville 4-0 after two. Looking like a Tonka/Edina semi in the upper bracket. Assuming the Skippers' lead holds and they advance we will have played a total of six games in the two classes with no upsets.

There's not enough quality in HS girls hockey for these kind of State tournament brackets.

Take the top 64 teams in the state (ranked by the computers) and put them in the "AA" bracket. Take the rest and put them in "A."

Teams like Holy Family, Wayzata and Benilde shouldn't be punished by geography any more than a team (WARROAD) should benefit from it.

That's in essence what they did with the Tier I & II tournament for 2 years on the boys side and it was universally hated. Maybe it would make more sense on the girls side...

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:16 am Yay Gentry! Probably get killed tomorrow though.

Exactly my same thoughts. Good for Gentry, but they'll get demolished tonight. I cannot see it being much different than their 5-1 loss to Andover earlier in the year. Then again, they lost to Maple Grove earlier in the year, and avenged that loss last night. But that was Maple Grove, we're talking "Andover". Not apples-to-apples comparison.

Lace'emUp wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 am

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:16 am Yay Gentry! Probably get killed tomorrow though.

Exactly my same thoughts. Good for Gentry, but they'll get demolished tonight. I cannot see it being much different than their 5-1 loss to Andover earlier in the year. Then again, they lost to Maple Grove earlier in the year, and avenged that loss last night. But that was Maple Grove, we're talking "Andover". Not apples-to-apples comparison.

It's worth mentioning that Sara Kaiser didn't play in the game in November. She adds to the problem most teams have against the Huskies - the relentless forecheck.

jg2112 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 11:21 am

Lace'emUp wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:24 am

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 1:16 am Yay Gentry! Probably get killed tomorrow though.

Exactly my same thoughts. Good for Gentry, but they'll get demolished tonight. I cannot see it being much different than their 5-1 loss to Andover earlier in the year. Then again, they lost to Maple Grove earlier in the year, and avenged that loss last night. But that was Maple Grove, we're talking "Andover". Not apples-to-apples comparison.

It's worth mentioning that Sara Kaiser didn't play in the game in November. She adds to the problem most teams have against the Huskies - the relentless forecheck.

Great point. That forecheck is a killer.
Forecheck hard, win puck, feed puck to slot from behind the net, uncovered player in front slams it home for a goal. Rinse and repeat.
It's how Andover does it time after time after time, over the last 3-4 years.
Except for Edina, no one else can figure it out. I'm sure opposing coaches see it coming, but for the average player to defend, it's tough.

Saw the last five minutes. Orono couldn't beat the wall. #10 Orono looked real good. Pre award to the SSP girls fans for the all pink look.

BTW, anyone know if SSP mid 2000s still holds the record for consecutive wins? Around 55.

Jungels got away with a couple trips the last few minutes of the game, but Tonka was the better team overall this game and persevered in the end.

Slap Shot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:14 pm Jungels got away with a couple trips the last few minutes of the game, but Tonka was the better team overall this game and persevered in the end.

So does Tonka have a chance tomorrow vs. Andover? (I had to miss the games tonight)

Slap Shot wrote: ↑Fri Feb 25, 2022 10:14 pm Jungels got away with a couple trips the last few minutes of the game, but Tonka was the better team overall this game and persevered in the end.

The officiating was not great in this game at all, not to the benefit of either team. I disagree, Edina looked like the better team tonight, Johnson just had an amazing game, especially in the 3rd. Uma with an uncharacteristic bad goal early was ultimately the difference.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, I think Andover is too much for Tonka however. I'll go 3-1 Andover.

I think the Tonka win makes for a better final. Still think Andover wins, but Tonka lost to them by a goal twice.

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Sat Feb 26, 2022 4:20 am I think the Tonka win makes for a better final. Still think Andover wins, but Tonka lost to them by a goal twice.

I agree, I think Edina has a better chance of beating Andover, but Tonka will make for a more exciting offensive game. Tonka needs to stay out of the box or it could get lopsided.