notahockeyguy wrote:Stillwater is a great team and won when they had to. That's why they are State Champs.
Absolutely true!
notahockeyguy wrote:The bigger question is how did BSM lose to North Metro in the semi's. Was that an upset or just overconfidence by players and the coaches.
I believe it was a combination of North Metro coming back to play a very strong game in the 2nd and 3rd periods and BSM perhaps getting a bit overconfident after scoring two early goals, both shorthanded, and outshooting North Metro 14-2 in the first. When North Metro turned the play on them BSM could not get their momentum back, and reverted to their early season style of playing too much as individuals. They also were not patient enough on their power play opportunities, shooting too early and too often from the points when none of the forwards were in good position in front of the net. This was in contrast to most of the year when they were able to work the puck around until finding someone open and in good scoring position. And when they did have good chances they did not shoot well, putting almost all of their shots right into the goalie's mid-section and as a result got very few rebounds. And then defensively they made several critical errors when the game still could have gone either way. North Metro was very opportunistic and was able to capitalize on these mistakes.
But give a lot of credit to North Metro and Coach Gravel for keeping BSM's players to the outside and taking their speed game away in general. They did a helluva job.
For what it's worth that's my summary of why North Metro was able to win the game.
If you all want to debate who deserved to be state champions and who did not please start your own thread. This thread is for 4AA predictions and discussion.Thank you.
titleist wrote:You keep missing the boat, I'll tell you this once again, At the end of the year, State Tournament time, Stillwater would have beat anybody.
You are entitled to your opinion of course but this is pure speculation. If they were so unbeatable late in the year, how did they lose to Cretin Derham Hall at the end of January? And they barely beat both Mounds View and Hastings? All of these teams were unranked and in the three games Stillwater outscored them by a total of one goal - late in the season when you said they were supposed to be unbeatable? And you extend your claim in saying they would have had no trouble beating the No. 1, 2 and 3 teams in the state? Again we will never know as all we can do is speculate, but I don't see the logic here.
That is a valid point you brought up with those teams. My answer to you on the majority of those is simply, they did win. Cretin, Moundsview, and Hastings are dangerous teams. If they get up on you, or if you keep it close, they are tough. Only when you jump on them and put them away early will they fold. Moundsview has a nice goalie and will keep them in games they have no business being in. They played a very physical style game and when the refs let it go, they were tough. When the refs didn't, they spent the night killing penalties. Alot of it has to do with matchups as well. Why did Stillwater struggle with Forest Lake and beat Roseville, while Roseville would pound Forest Lake all year and not be able to beat Stillwater?
Getting back to the thread topic, I was wondering why Roseville is outpolling Stillwater to win the section in '07-'08? As the state's No. 1 team with almost everybody coming back, I would think Stillwater should be favored.
Stillh2ofan wrote:Gopher that's all you got.I was hoping for a _ _ _ _ for brains comeback
also but you must be at a loss for words.
No loss for words here just dont feel like arguing with someone with _ _ _ _ for brains!
Dear gopher9,
I'm guessing that the 9 stands for your IQ? The more you write in this forum the more I laugh!!! Why? Because I really did not think anyone in this world could be so stupid.
MNHockeyFan wrote:Getting back to the thread topic, I was wondering why Roseville is outpolling Stillwater to win the section in '07-'08? As the state's No. 1 team with almost everybody coming back, I would think Stillwater should be favored.
I would think the same thing, but remember it is just a poll.
i see roseville and stillwater as equals in this section, Both programs are in similar places right now with relitively young teams, they both skate well and move the puck around like very few teams are capable. Many people feel that stillwater was playing over thier heads when they won the state championship last year and will have a hard time repeating with every team they play looking to knock off the champions. with that all said I see roseville having a small edge because they should be hungrier but there are really 5 teams capable of winning this section
Stillh2ofan wrote:Gopher that's all you got.I was hoping for a _ _ _ _ for brains comeback
also but you must be at a loss for words.
No loss for words here just dont feel like arguing with someone with _ _ _ _ for brains!
Dear gopher9,
I'm guessing that the 9 stands for your IQ? The more you write in this forum the more I laugh!!! Why? Because I really did not think anyone in this world could be so stupid.
Thanks for the laugh
Dear hockeyfan#4
I'm guessing that the #4 stands for YOUR IQ!
No loss for words here just dont feel like arguing with someone with _ _ _ _ for brains!
Dear gopher9,
I'm guessing that the 9 stands for your IQ? The more you write in this forum the more I laugh!!! Why? Because I really did not think anyone in this world could be so stupid.
Thanks for the laugh
Dear hockeyfan#4
I'm guessing that the #4 stands for YOUR IQ!
finance_gal wrote:i see roseville and stillwater as equals in this section, Both programs are in similar places right now with relitively young teams, they both skate well and move the puck around like very few teams are capable. Many people feel that stillwater was playing over thier heads when they won the state championship last year and will have a hard time repeating with every team they play looking to knock off the champions. with that all said I see roseville having a small edge because they should be hungrier but there are really 5 teams capable of winning this section
Stillwater played as a TEAM more than they played over their heads. And yes everyone is going to be trying to beat the State Champions. I could see Roseville trying to settle the rivalry between the 2 teams. They have been very competitive between each other for several years. I believe Stillwater is 5-1-1 against Roseville in the past 3 years. That is a great record against a great TEAM. Next year should be incredibly fun to watch how it unfolds in Section 4, also the South Eastern Conference. I give the edge to Stillwater.
You can never tell this early but looks like Stillwater and Roseville are very tough most of the talent is back and both teams have great experience and very strong youth programs. That said this may be the deepest and toughest road to state for any team all the games should be tough.
Roseville will have to replace Cody's scoring but have the talent to and great coaching have to be the favorite. Brausen a '92 NDP should really emerge as top scorer.
Stillwater has the experience of winning state and the ability to win every game.....Schwab, Charpentier, Dahl '91 NDP may be one of the top lines in the state this year. Plus a number of talented 10th graders - King a '92 NDP -she led scorers in St. Cloud, Tuuri, Solomen and their goaltender Sobchek (sp?). Stillwater also has back Philipchek (sp?) who is a talented 9th grade goal scorer who will add to the offensive mix. They have such a strong youth program they will be a force for several years to come.
Hill Murray (school started today) has a good returning core in goal both startersWenzel and Paul, upfront Heller, Stumpf, Saad and at the blueline Knajdek, Gallagher plus at least two sophmore transfers a defender Pendleton a '92 NDP who was at Cretin and a very talented forward from Totino Doyle. They also have a lot of young talent the two Brandts from White Bear and Zepada (sp?) from Woodbury who could have impact as 8-9 graders. They have a new coach who knows the game and is an expereinced coach. Watching their summer camp they could really be a surprise and fun to watch for the next few years.
NSP has a very young team and lots of talent....watching Steph Anderson a 9th grader this summer she could become a big time scorer. With Strom all season in goal, solid D including Schendel who was a '91 NDP and improved scoring this group could really surprise some of the favorites.
White Bear - This group is a wild card....this is the year with lots of expereinced seniors, great goaltending and a young group who have run the table as U12 and U14.
The most dangerous team though may be Cretin coming off an 18 game winning season they have lots of talent and two very good coaches Keyes and Williams who want to win it all. They have 3 NDP 17-18 - Keyes, Wild, Carlson...plus Chlebeck, Welch and the new addition of Lea Jondahl will be a force as a goalie. This talented group of 6 are all seniors so come February they could run the table. They also have a cast of younger players Fisher, Mancinni that can contribute and two proven Jr goaltenders returning. If they get help from 9th graders this could be a complete team.
Last edited by joehockey on Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:10 am, edited 1 time in total.
my pick to win the section will be Cretin or RV as they will get revenge on Stillwater for getting the #1 seed and winning the conference.
Can someone from Stillwater explian to me why Phillipczek(sp) is back? IN my opinion this is exactly why the transfer rule was much needed. A kid plays varsity as a 7th grader, doesn't get enough playing time. Moves to Eagan to get more PT, and does. However Stillwater wins state so she goes back becuase they realize the grass wasn't as green as her parents/her thought it would be. NOt to mention the kid is not even from Stillwater in the first place.
Stillwater has a great youth program and I am sure there are a lot of girls that would be very happy to just make the team over there. Now there is a kid coming back to play who doesn't even belong there in the 1st place and taking a kid's spot who has been loyal to the program and the community. I guess if I were the HS coach i would be a little skeptical of this whole situation, which I am sure Coach Scheid is, as he is one of the best around.
gopher25 wrote:Can someone from Stillwater explian to me why Phillipczek(sp) is back? IN my opinion this is exactly why the transfer rule was much needed. A kid plays varsity as a 7th grader, doesn't get enough playing time. Moves to Eagan to get more PT, and does. However Stillwater wins state so she goes back becuase they realize the grass wasn't as green as her parents/her thought it would be. NOt to mention the kid is not even from Stillwater in the first place.
Stillwater has a great youth program and I am sure there are a lot of girls that would be very happy to just make the team over there. Now there is a kid coming back to play who doesn't even belong there in the 1st place and taking a kid's spot who has been loyal to the program and the community. I guess if I were the HS coach i would be a little skeptical of this whole situation, which I am sure Coach Scheid is, as he is one of the best around.
I'm not from SW nor do I know the rationale of the player in question, but...
I think the good part here is that a kid can try it elsewhere and decide it really wasn't so bad where they were to begin with.
As a coach, all you can do is see who shows come tryouts. You should be taking the best players and playing them the most yet developing the whole team through practice, scrimmages, off-ice, etc. and as much as you can in games without giving the opposition too much of an advantage.
There are kids out there that have played in 3 different HS programs before 10th grade. There are a ton of reasons for this, each one unique in certain ways, and I guess I'm just not one to question and tell people what to do.
my pick to win the section will be Cretin or RV as they will get revenge on Stillwater for getting the #1 seed and winning the conference.
One thing for sure is that whoever survives the SubEast and then the new Section 4 will be battle ready for state. Every one of these teams looks to be improved on paper (except maybe RV). Sleeper pick: WBL people have quietly been acting very confident this summer. I think they feel their seniors (10 of them?) are on a mission.
Of the 'others', Tartan returns everybody (one more year of experience can't hurt); the Blades have a new exciting coach, an outstanding senior goalie, and return some talent; the Novas only lose one of their top ten scorers; one more rebuilding year for NSP?
In a related prediction, the realignment allows Hastings to cruise to state (no more Roseville in the way in new Section 3) meaning the SubEast still ends up with 2 at the X.
I see Cretin and Stillwater as being a little better than the rest of the group with HM, Roseville and WBL just slightly behind them..it's going to come down to the team that moves the puck around better is going to win this section.
Don't underestimate the HM defense, they slamed shut the gates of mercy on some very good teams last season and the look to be even better on D this year.
White Bear Lake still looks to be a couple years away from truely contending because they're very young but youthful enthusiasim can win alot games.
As for Roseville, they are a machine that keeps chugging along, year after year. everytime a good player graduates they seem to replace her as though they have a box of spare parts.
The new Goalie at Cretin gives them an advatage come playoff time that may not be reflected in there record because she won't be eligible until halfway through the season.
and Stillwater..defending state champions... what else can be said about them, they have been there before and know what it takes to win
Stillwater has to be the favorite untill someone knocks them off. Roseville should be the class once again. Cretin and Hill have talent but thay also have depth issues. WBL and NSP have young talent that should play more minutes so they will be unpredictable and inconsistent. WBL's goalie may take them far. Stillwater, Roseville, Cretin, WBL, Hill, NSP.
Hill Murray has had one of the best groups of girls for a few years now, they were just being out coached in big games and even then they managed to beat stillwater last year. now that they have a very good coach they should be much improved and will contend for the title. based on their schedule they should be the #2 seed in their section and beat Roseville to go to state in a defensive struggle. bold prediction i know but i can see it happening
Seems to be a lot going on to build a top program at HM - many of the kids are in fall sports and skating in various programs. They have been working on strength/speed this fall and have intense Captains program....I guess in this Sec you don't have a choice but to be prepared. All said pretty young team.
My daughter went to Hill Murray last year, from everything that I hear they have some top young talent and are commited to doing everything the right way. I can see they are looking to get the same type of success with the ladies program as they do with the boys. I predict they will be hard to beat this year.
Untils Stillwater gets knocked off they are the team to beat. They did have a rocky start last year and gelled, put it together when it counted. HM is going to be solid, may suprise. CDH has added some transfers don't know if it will be enough. Roseville still solid. Anyone's game at this point. The excitement will come in the next 2-3 years. Hill will be extremly strong as will Stillwater, possibly White Bear. This is when all of the young talent should hit their stride.
