Franke will come up big and Sarsland will have the Elks playing a solid, physical hockey game.
A lot of people on here are saying the Elks played "slow" hockey against CEC.... they supposedly played poorly and won 6-1, I'd love to see what they do playing good hockey!
Lets see the Elks win the section, have an uproar from the north so they'll finally move the Elks back down to the Metro sections where they belong.
3-2 Elks.
I think Franke will have a little trouble playing in a game this big with a such a talented East team. Sarsland will have his team ready but who's to say Rand won't have the Hounds ready? The Hounds want this more than anyone. Their favorite hockey memory is quoted by many as "hopefully it's still yet to come" Don't kid yourself the team also wants to help Tardy get the Mr. Hockey award, and that won't happen unless the Hounds are in the tourney.
The game against CEC was slow paced and close until the third period. To win big over CEC is not something to brag about. They are bad team with only five wins this season. You don't even have to play well to beat them. CEC's goalie didn't have a good game so that's why the Elks won. ER was flat, get over it.
One thing I will agree with you on is that ER and Anoka need to get out of our section. Moving them in was just a way to get more cities teams into the tourney. They need to leave.
HoundHockeyFanatic wrote: I think Franke will have a little trouble playing in a game this big with a such a talented East team.
Franke has played against Blaine, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Centennial, East (earlier this year), and the Holy Angels.... I don't think there's too much he hasn't seen and don't think he'll be "star-struck" by, as you put it, "such a talented East team."
HoundHockeyFanatic wrote: To win big over CEC is not something to brag about. They are bad team with only five wins this season. You don't even have to play well to beat them. CEC's goalie didn't have a good game so that's why the Elks won. ER was flat, get over it.
The southern teams can have an argument when they prove themselves within this section. For now, 16 of the 17 teams to win this one since its inception are northern, and though I could be wrong, I'd guess this was the first year in which there were only 2 northern teams in the semifinals. This year could go a ways to changing that, but it took the worst year in recent memory by Cloquet to force 2 of the northern teams into a first round matchup.
Otherwise, why bother scheduling something that forces the teams that are almost always involved to drive 150 miles out of their way?
And the DECC is big enough that teams can bring crowds that are comparable to the ones East draws. Cloquet and GR do. Let's see if the Improperly-Pluralized-Horned-Quadrupeds can do the same.
HoundHockeyFanatic wrote: I think Franke will have a little trouble playing in a game this big with a such a talented East team.
Franke has played against Blaine, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Centennial, East (earlier this year), and the Holy Angels.... I don't think there's too much he hasn't seen and don't think he'll be "star-struck" by, as you put it, "such a talented East team."
HoundHockeyFanatic wrote: To win big over CEC is not something to brag about. They are bad team with only five wins this season. You don't even have to play well to beat them. CEC's goalie didn't have a good game so that's why the Elks won. ER was flat, get over it.
OT vs. Flake is?
I never said he would be "star struck." I was referring to the fact that this is the section final. So far this is the biggest game of his career. I am not saying he is a bad goalie, you have to be talented to beat quality teams but East is no fly by night team. I don't know other team's stats but East puts up 40-50 shots a game. That's all I'm saying.
And back up, I never said anything about the Flake game. I give all the credit in the world to Flake and Moberg. He played the game of his life, and East struggled to win it. We played hard and it was an intense game and a fight until the end. The ER-CEC game was nothing like the East-Flake game. There was clearly little emotion in the ER game where as both Flake and East played with a lot of it. You can win a game by a big margin but that doesn't always mean you played well it could mean the other team played worse, and CEC did.
karl(east) wrote:The southern teams can have an argument when they prove themselves within this section. For now, 16 of the 17 teams to win this one since its inception are northern.
Otherwise, why bother scheduling something that forces the teams that are almost always involved to drive 150 miles out of their way?
Well Andover, CI, Princeton, Anoka, and Elk River have only recently been re-aligned into 7AA so that only leaves St. Francis and Forest Lake, so I would sure hope that a northern team has won 16 of 17 times.
The key to this game will be Easts ability to produce a goal or two early instead of pouring shot after shot into the goalies chest. If the Hounds can put one past the freshmen early it will put a lot of pressure on him and test his composure. But, if the kid starts making saves early and often, the more the odds swing towards Sarslands club.
karl(east) wrote:The southern teams can have an argument when they prove themselves within this section. For now, 16 of the 17 teams to win this one since its inception are northern.
Otherwise, why bother scheduling something that forces the teams that are almost always involved to drive 150 miles out of their way?
Well Andover, CI, Princeton, Anoka, and Elk River have only recently been re-aligned into 7AA so that only leaves St. Francis and Forest Lake, so I would sure hope that a northern team has won 16 of 17 times.
Move the tourney to St. Cloud.
Somewhere that's out of everyone's way?
At any rate, there was apparently some discussion about alternating it between the DECC and Mariucci recently. Money ended up doing the talking there. The DECC is comparatively cheap to rent.
youngblood08 wrote:Why do all 7AA finals have to be played at that crap-hole DECC?
How many other teams get "Home-Ice advantage" like this through the playoffs?
There is no better arena in the state for HS hockey playoffs than the DECC. There isn't a bad view in the entire place. The rink and arena are small and the fans are right over the rink. I've been to the Frozen Four, Stanley Cup playoffs, State Tournament, and nothing is better than a section final at the DECC.
HoundHockeyFanatic wrote: I think Franke will have a little trouble playing in a game this big with a such a talented East team.
Franke has played against Blaine, Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Centennial, East (earlier this year), and the Holy Angels.... I don't think there's too much he hasn't seen and don't think he'll be "star-struck" by, as you put it, "such a talented East team."
HoundHockeyFanatic wrote: To win big over CEC is not something to brag about. They are bad team with only five wins this season. You don't even have to play well to beat them. CEC's goalie didn't have a good game so that's why the Elks won. ER was flat, get over it.
OT vs. Flake is?
I wouldn't call 57 SOG "flat". I would call it closed eye hockey, but not flat by any means. I watched the whole Oversized Deer game, and they had no energy at all, student section was terrible, and they scored most of their points on breakaways or mistakes by Cloquet, not working the puck around. #18 is a snipe tho. You can't compare these two games and I'm glad everyone jumped off the East bandwagon and is now picking Elk. Makes victory that much sweeter.
After watching both games at the DECC yesterday and seeing several East games this year. The only way ER has a chance is if their young goalie (Franke) plays the game of his life. I wasn't overly impressed with ER yesterday. East will show why they were the #1 seed...
East's home rink is the Heritage Arena - DECC seats far more and is a solid facility for high school hockey.
The key to the East/ER game will be the play of Joe Arbour, East D. If he shows true leadership, avoids stupid penalties, plays D and let's the forwards make the Offensive thrusts, and doesn't go too far into the offensive zone, East will win in a landslide. His play dictates how the Hounds play - much has been said about Forbort and Tardy, but it's Arbour that makes East's world go 'round. If he comes out lazy and NOT hungry, like he has alot this year, ER by 2 with an EN. If he plays smart, East wins big.
When you've been on the varsity for 4 years, these things can happen. Gotta' believe Arbour has matured as a hockey player more than he shows - he needs to work hard for his team, not himself.
The key for Duluth East is simple... Cooper...will he come up big vs. ER?
How many quality scoring schances did he face per game in a typical regular season DE game...not that many (considering the quality of their defensmen). Will he be the goalie with all the shult-outs and great numbers....or the one that Cloquet scored 6 on last year at the DECC?
ER is an up-and-coming team, but they're best years are ahead of them for the core group of this team...and BTW congrats to CJ Pullar on scoring 4 goals vs. Cloquet...not bad for a converted defensman (his sophomore season).
I believe DE will win a hard fought game and advance to State....they got they're scare vs. Forest Lake and will be a better team for it in the 7AA Final...if Cooper plays well....and Forbort, McLean, Williams and Arbour play they're usual games....and Tardy creates and leads the forwards like he usually does...Duluth East wins by 2, maybe 3.
But if ER gets an earlly goal....watch out....because although he appears psycho (screaming and whisling from the bench)....Sarsland is one hell of an effective coach...his players play his style to a T...and any team that beat Blaine and Centennial...and plays an extemely tough schecule night in, night out in the NWSC, (similiar to DE's schedule) is certainly capable to beating DE...especially if they can get an early lead and the resulting momentum....because ER's freshman goalie appears to be...the real deal.
I predict Duluth East winning 3-1 or 4-2. But is it's a one goal game...all bets are off...in anty event...it will be an entertainig game.
youngblood08 wrote:Why do all 7AA finals have to be played at that crap-hole DECC?
How many other teams get "Home-Ice advantage" like this through the playoffs?
East played three regular season games at the DECC this season. Yep, big advantage there.
Actually, I think they wanted to book the St. Crotch Valley Rec Center. Knowing what gracious hosts they'd find down there, y'know.
Lee
elk River has to drive 150 miles to get there on a school day. Not only that duluth fans will alll be there and elk river fans have to travle that long journey
Last edited by talkofthetown17 on Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Franke will come up big and Sarsland will have the Elks playing a solid, physical hockey game.
A lot of people on here are saying the Elks played "slow" hockey against CEC.... they supposedly played poorly and won 6-1, I'd love to see what they do playing good hockey!
Lets see the Elks win the section, have an uproar from the north so they'll finally move the Elks back down to the Metro sections where they belong.
3-2 Elks.
I think Franke will have a little trouble playing in a game this big with a such a talented East team. Sarsland will have his team ready but who's to say Rand won't have the Hounds ready? The Hounds want this more than anyone. Their favorite hockey memory is quoted by many as "hopefully it's still yet to come" Don't kid yourself the team also wants to help Tardy get the Mr. Hockey award, and that won't happen unless the Hounds are in the tourney.
The game against CEC was slow paced and close until the third period. To win big over CEC is not something to brag about. They are bad team with only five wins this season. You don't even have to play well to beat them. CEC's goalie didn't have a good game so that's why the Elks won. ER was flat, get over it.
One thing I will agree with you on is that ER and Anoka need to get out of our section. Moving them in was just a way to get more cities teams into the tourney. They need to leave.
Dont get me wrong i love northern style of hockey but the city teams are prevailing lately why wouldnt they want more in there. Last year the northern teams had on win in the whole tournament in AA then the year befor that they did very good two northern teams in the championship. Lets not forget since 2000which is nine years Elk River Anoka Blaine and centennial have won the state tournament. I am just saying the numbers speak for them self
youngblood08 wrote:Why do all 7AA finals have to be played at that crap-hole DECC?
How many other teams get "Home-Ice advantage" like this through the playoffs?
East played three regular season games at the DECC this season. Yep, big advantage there.
Actually, I think they wanted to book the St. Crotch Valley Rec Center. Knowing what gracious hosts they'd find down there, y'know.
Lee
elk River has to drive 150 miles to get there on a school day. Not only that duluth fans will alll be there and elk river fans have to travle that long journey
150 miles is no obstacle for fans in the "state of hockey".
east hockey wrote:
East played three regular season games at the DECC this season. Yep, big advantage there.
Actually, I think they wanted to book the St. Crotch Valley Rec Center. Knowing what gracious hosts they'd find down there, y'know.
Lee
elk River has to drive 150 miles to get there on a school day. Not only that duluth fans will alll be there and elk river fans have to travle that long journey
150 miles is no obstacle for fans in the "state of hockey".
This is true. Folks up in Roseau will say "what, only 150 miles?"
tommyjosh wrote:C'mon ELKS beat the cake eaters, and i'm not even from elk river!!!
Your making it seem like since your not from ER this is a surprise? East deals with this all the time. No better example then at the Semi's last year. Third period, Rapids fans start piling in as well as Anoka and of course Cloquet. It was East's 1/3 of the fans vs. Everyone else. This type of thing is not uncommon. And East loves it, they thrive on it. So lets go Hounds, silence everyone yet again.
youngblood08 wrote:Why do all 7AA finals have to be played at that crap-hole DECC?
How many other teams get "Home-Ice advantage" like this through the playoffs?
East played three regular season games at the DECC this season. Yep, big advantage there.
Lee
And where is the DECC located?--DUlUTH. It doesn't matter how many times they've played on that ice sheet, DUlUTH East has a home-ice advantage with the game being played in DUlUTH!
Oh boo hoo cry me a river. Quit your whining. 3/4's of the city hates us, so its our 1/3 of the city versus people from Duluth that come to cheer on Elk, plus the Elk fans, plus everyone that comes to hate on East. And our student section will still own them. So don't be crying home field advantage on us.
