March 5- (2) Elk River vs (1) Duluth East- 7AA Final @ DECC

[HoundHockeyFanatic]

This is orginally a northern section it should be played up here. It's hard enough when there are really only three northern teams left in the section and everybody wants to see all cities teams in the tourney. Stop complaining! So many people cheer against East because they just hate us. I guarantee people from Cloquet will come just to cheer on the Elks. It's not our fault no other arena is large enough to hold that many people, especially for a Cloquet East semifinal game. No matter what arena you will choose a team will always be closer to it giving them an edge. People are just ticked off because East is closer to the DECC than ER. What if the game was played in ER? No one would be mad, except East fans. If you don't want a home ice advantage then the schools need to get on getting coach busses for the students. Per person it cost 15 dollars or so, and you don't have to be a cake eater to afford that. Don't get mad we have such a large and loud student section. There were plenty of Flake people at the game and they really didn't cheer at all until the third period. It's only a home ice advantage when the fans change the game, and ER fans yesterday did nothing either. Don't be mad just because East students love hockey games and go to the games and cheer.

[mj79]

Thats where its always been....

Which is another excellent reason to boot er anoka etc out of the section so we dont have to hear abut you whine about it all the time


If east goes to state and does not win i'm gonna blame it on the xcel, cuz its in st paul

How many times are we gonna hear this annoying complaint... ... always has to be an excuse for everything... Hell we might as well just make section7 3/4 of minnesota so then you can split the other 7 sections south of 494

boohoo

[Lord Stanley]

It goes in a cycle, East used to have to make the trip down to the fair grounds to play in the Region 2(?) final. I can recall at least once they had to play Denfeld in the cities. Eventually, they moved games up to the DECC. But that could've been due to the Hounds move into a new section. So it's not exactly like East has ALWAYS had a home ice advantage

[Ilovethe212]

This is orginally a northern section it should be played up here. It's hard enough when there are really only three northern teams left in the section and everybody wants to see all cities teams in the tourney. Stop complaining! So many people cheer against East because they just hate us. I guarantee people from Cloquet will come just to cheer on the Elks. It's not our fault no other arena is large enough to hold that many people, especially for a Cloquet East semifinal game. No matter what arena you will choose a team will always be closer to it giving them an edge. People are just ticked off because East is closer to the DECC than ER. What if the game was played in ER? No one would be mad, except East fans. If you don't want a home ice advantage then the schools need to get on getting coach busses for the students. Per person it cost 15 dollars or so, and you don't have to be a cake eater to afford that. Don't get mad we have such a large and loud student section. There were plenty of Flake people at the game and they really didn't cheer at all until the third period. It's only a home ice advantage when the fans change the game, and ER fans yesterday did nothing either. Don't be mad just because East students love hockey games and go to the games and cheer.

I bet there would be more fans there from other teams if it were in there home town now wouldnt there. Home ice advantage doesnt just come from the fans and how loud they are or how much they do. Its home ice advantage because they play there. I know theyve only played a few games there this year, but every kid on that team has played there in past years and now this year. Elk River playes there once every two years and sections. even when Elk River makes the regular season trips they play in stupid pioneer hall. East has an advantage but its not big enough to propel them to state every year. Havent been there since 05.

[big_thurst]

I understand that there really is nothing the section can do about moving it because of the money issue... but saying DE doesn't benefit from it is a crock...

Saying they only played "x" amount of games there and so on and it isn't their regular season rink... It's like having the section tournament in Elk River but making them play in "the barn" the rink next to the olympic sheet and justifying it by saying they don't play on it for regular season games...

Other than changing it to the cities or St. Cloud, even then not everyone would be happy, so might as well let it be, it is what it is.

[karl(east)]

East doesn't seem to have benefitted too much from playing their section tourney in the DECC the past few years...

[EHSFan16]

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.

Agreed. About time the man got some recognition. Im pretty nervous for the game. Why can't East be clutch like the 90's again. 3-1 East

[talkofthetown17]

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.

Do the teach you those math skills in duluth i believe if 3/4's of the town were against you that would make 1/4 of the town on your side. I mean am i right

[elliott70]

No contest.
DEast by four.

[EHSHack]

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.

Do the teach you those math skills in duluth i believe if 3/4's of the town were against you that would make 1/4 of the town on your side. I mean am i right

No. I was talking about 3 of the 4 HS in Duluth hates us, and 2/3's of the city, those areas being Eastern, Central and Western.

[HoundHockeyFanatic]

The DECC has a smaller sheet of ice but there is not a huge difference between the DECC or any other high school arena. You could start yelling if ER had an Olympic sheet of ice but I'm assuming they don't. The size of the ice is a very small factor. It's not like ER hasn't played their before. The boards, nets, and benches are all the same. Quit your whining! If ER is a state quality team then playing at an arena where they don't play often shouldn't bother them.

[Ilovethe212]

The DECC has a smaller sheet of ice but there is not a huge difference between the DECC or any other high school arena. You could start yelling if ER had an Olympic sheet of ice but I'm assuming they don't. The size of the ice is a very small factor. It's not like ER hasn't played their before. The boards, nets, and benches are all the same. Quit your whining! If ER is a state quality team then playing at an arena where they don't play often shouldn't bother them.

Elk River plays on an olympic sheet of ice!!!

[Duluth 4]

The DECC has a smaller sheet of ice but there is not a huge difference between the DECC or any other high school arena. You could start yelling if ER had an Olympic sheet of ice but I'm assuming they don't. The size of the ice is a very small factor. It's not like ER hasn't played their before. The boards, nets, and benches are all the same. Quit your whining! If ER is a state quality team then playing at an arena where they don't play often shouldn't bother them.

Elk River plays on an olympic sheet of ice!!!

Even though he said that, if they dont like it up here get out of our section.

[Ilovethe212]

The DECC has a smaller sheet of ice but there is not a huge difference between the DECC or any other high school arena. You could start yelling if ER had an Olympic sheet of ice but I'm assuming they don't. The size of the ice is a very small factor. It's not like ER hasn't played their before. The boards, nets, and benches are all the same. Quit your whining! If ER is a state quality team then playing at an arena where they don't play often shouldn't bother them.

Elk River plays on an olympic sheet of ice!!!

Even though he said that, if they dont like it up here get out of our section.

I dont think Elk River has much of a choice of where they are placed. They were in 7 for a few years then went to 4 and now back at 7. Maybe they will move back to 8 and everyone can be happy.

[Sars outcoaches Randolph]

EHSHack, you are kind of defensive once your team gets up against the wall. No offense man, i am sure you are a pretty decent guy!! You said a team that won in the semis by a score of 6-1 looked like a JV team?

In '99 as a top seed we had to play at the DECC when I was a senior on the team. One thing about the DECC is that the ice is awful, very poor. I see people on here saying the game was slow yesterday, yeah doesnt surprise me. Everytime I have played there the ice has been poor, especially after a couple periods. By the way, it was one of the greatest athletic moments in my life waving the ER flag in the DECC after the semifinal win against East.

Us city guys then had to go on to Hibbing for the final and won there as well.

This group of youngsters that Mr. Sarsland is bringing has a very bright future and I really think they can make some noise this year.

[east hockey]

Elk River plays on an olympic sheet of ice!!!

Even though he said that, if they dont like it up here get out of our section.

I dont think Elk River has much of a choice of where they are placed. They were in 7 for a few years then went to 4 and now back at 7. Maybe they will move back to 8 and everyone can be happy.

Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree.

But here is the problem...there aren't enough schools who opt up to fill 7AA. If you had more teams will to do that (like Cloquet, East and Grand Rapids), you'd have a section of all northern teams. So the MSHSL has to do something (unless you think having a three or four team section will work). Sure, you could move Brainerd (who played for a number of years in 7AA) and St Cloud Tech move to 7AA. This would make sense as they're geographically closer than Elk River, Anoka, and Andover (possibly Forest Lake, also). But then who do you put into 8AA to replace them? Same argument applies; Brainerd and Tech are closer to most 8AA teams than Elk River, Anoka and Andover.

You can look at this a number of ways but it keeps coming back to the cause; not enough teams up here choose to opt up, so we're stuck with a situation which, while not ideal, is probably the best we can do.

Lee

[Duluth 4]

EHSHack, you are kind of defensive once your team gets up against the wall. No offense man, i am sure you are a pretty decent guy!! You said a team that won in the semis by a score of 6-1 looked like a JV team?

In '99 as a top seed we had to play at the DECC when I was a senior on the team. One thing about the DECC is that the ice is awful, very poor. I see people on here saying the game was slow yesterday, yeah doesnt surprise me. Everytime I have played there the ice has been poor, especially after a couple periods. By the way, it was one of the greatest athletic moments in my life waving the ER flag in the DECC after the semifinal win against East.

Us city guys then had to go on to Hibbing for the final and won there as well.

This group of youngsters that Mr. Sarsland is bringing has a very bright future and I really think they can make some noise this year.

Great name. Not.

[east hockey]

EHSHack, you are kind of defensive once your team gets up against the wall. No offense man, i am sure you are a pretty decent guy!! You said a team that won in the semis by a score of 6-1 looked like a JV team?

In '99 as a top seed we had to play at the DECC when I was a senior on the team. One thing about the DECC is that the ice is awful, very poor. I see people on here saying the game was slow yesterday, yeah doesnt surprise me. Everytime I have played there the ice has been poor, especially after a couple periods. By the way, it was one of the greatest athletic moments in my life waving the ER flag in the DECC after the semifinal win against East.

I rather preferred the outcome the previous year myself.

Lee

[Sars outcoaches Randolph]

Even though he said that, if they dont like it up here get out of our section.

I dont think Elk River has much of a choice of where they are placed. They were in 7 for a few years then went to 4 and now back at 7. Maybe they will move back to 8 and everyone can be happy.

Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree.

But here is the problem...there aren't enough schools who opt up to fill 7AA. If you had more teams will to do that (like Cloquet, East and Grand Rapids), you'd have a section of all northern teams. So the MSHSL has to do something (unless you think having a three or four team section will work). Sure, you could move Brainerd (who played for a number of years in 7AA) and St Cloud Tech move to 7AA. This would make sense as they're geographically closer than Elk River, Anoka, and Andover (possibly Forest Lake, also). But then who do you put into 8AA to replace them? Same argument applies; Brainerd and Tech are closer to most 8AA teams than Elk River, Anoka and Andover.

You can look at this a number of ways but it keeps coming back to the cause; not enough teams up here choose to opt up, so we're stuck with a situation which, while not ideal, is probably the best we can do.

Lee

"Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree."

Although I do think that Elk River is proud to be able to play up with the northern teams because we fit in there from a town/culture perspective.

We bring that same style of play to the game that is brought about by the small, blue collar town.

[EHSHack]

EHSHack, you are kind of defensive once your team gets up against the wall. No offense man, i am sure you are a pretty decent guy!! You said a team that won in the semis by a score of 6-1 looked like a JV team?

I dont really think East is up against any walls. What I meant by JV was that neither team looked like they were playing with any intensity. Im sure Elk will be ready for this game, but so will East. I have heard the DECC ice is fairly slow sometimes, not sure why that is.

[east hockey]

I dont think Elk River has much of a choice of where they are placed. They were in 7 for a few years then went to 4 and now back at 7. Maybe they will move back to 8 and everyone can be happy.

Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree.

But here is the problem...there aren't enough schools who opt up to fill 7AA. If you had more teams will to do that (like Cloquet, East and Grand Rapids), you'd have a section of all northern teams. So the MSHSL has to do something (unless you think having a three or four team section will work). Sure, you could move Brainerd (who played for a number of years in 7AA) and St Cloud Tech move to 7AA. This would make sense as they're geographically closer than Elk River, Anoka, and Andover (possibly Forest Lake, also). But then who do you put into 8AA to replace them? Same argument applies; Brainerd and Tech are closer to most 8AA teams than Elk River, Anoka and Andover.

You can look at this a number of ways but it keeps coming back to the cause; not enough teams up here choose to opt up, so we're stuck with a situation which, while not ideal, is probably the best we can do.

Lee

"Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree."

Although I do think that Elk River is proud to be able to play up with the northern teams because we fit in there from a town/culture perspective.

We bring that same style of play to the game that is brought about by the small, blue collar town.

Plus, Tony, with those boots of his, just wouldn't be a good fit in any metro section. He just needs one of those hats ala Hanson Brothers.

Lee

[Lord Stanley]

I think it's because of all the conventions and concerts and all of the of the other things going on at the DECC. They have the same problem at places like Madison Square Garden

[HoundHockeyFanatic]

I dont think Elk River has much of a choice of where they are placed. They were in 7 for a few years then went to 4 and now back at 7. Maybe they will move back to 8 and everyone can be happy.

Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree.

But here is the problem...there aren't enough schools who opt up to fill 7AA. If you had more teams will to do that (like Cloquet, East and Grand Rapids), you'd have a section of all northern teams. So the MSHSL has to do something (unless you think having a three or four team section will work). Sure, you could move Brainerd (who played for a number of years in 7AA) and St Cloud Tech move to 7AA. This would make sense as they're geographically closer than Elk River, Anoka, and Andover (possibly Forest Lake, also). But then who do you put into 8AA to replace them? Same argument applies; Brainerd and Tech are closer to most 8AA teams than Elk River, Anoka and Andover.

You can look at this a number of ways but it keeps coming back to the cause; not enough teams up here choose to opt up, so we're stuck with a situation which, while not ideal, is probably the best we can do.

Lee

"Even Tony Sarsland didn't like it when Elk River was placed back into section 7; he said it wasn't a good fit and I tend to agree."

Although I do think that Elk River is proud to be able to play up with the northern teams because we fit in there from a town/culture perspective.

We bring that same style of play to the game that is brought about by the small, blue collar town.

Duluth is no blue collar town buddy, especially the east end. East is a "cake eater" school. East has a totally different style of play than ER.

Okay so my bad, ER has an Oympic size sheet of ice. I'm sure there is another rink in ER somewhere or in the surrounding area that is not an Olympic sheet where they can practice for another week. And why in the world would you need and Olympic sheet for a high school? Even at the X they don't have one. That would not be our fault, blame ER for making their ice too big.

[HoundHockeyForever]

Oh come on, the DECC is the really the only large arena in 7AA's range.. besides, how would you fit all the fans from East and Cloquet in a section final? I've been to a few sold out games at the DECC for section finals. If you can give me another arena at a neutral site that can fit 5,333 people, I'd like to hear about it. The DECC has a great atmosphere for like section finals because so many people come out to watch. It really doesn't matter who plays, even single A finals are pretty full as well.

Anyway, I would like to see the Hounds come out with a good solid win, but I think this will be a close game. I think East will outshoot ER, but it definitely depends on how well Arbour, Forbort, and McLean do on defense. If they can manage only getting 2 or 3 penalties, and hold ER to a low number of shots, I think East will succeed. Especially if they can hold the puck in ER's end because I believe they would wear out ER's goalie.

Hopefully we'll see the Hounds down at the Xcel!

[karl(east)]

On the discussion of ER's effort vs. Cloquet...I obviously did not see the game, but in the numerous times I have seen Elk River play over the past few years, they have always kinda looked slow and perhaps a bit "JV-ish." I think it's just the style of hockey they play. Aesthetically, it's disgusting, but it sure seems to work. That's a direct contrast to East, who often has a lot of pretty passing going on, and sometimes too much of it.

On the flip side, though, they were playing a pretty bad Cloquet team, all things considered. I would never have expected the shots to be as close as they were, particularly after what GR did against Cloquet. While I have a lot of respect for Cloquet, beating them 6-1 this year isn't a miraculous accomplishment.