4AA Hill-Murray (16-9-1) vs. W.B.L. (14-10-2) March 4th

[justwalksouthwestward]

Every year i look forward to these two playing in the colloseum. Great atmosphere, great rivalry, and not to mention the public address guy who fits that arena perfectly! Great game by these two teams and i look forward to seeing them play next year on the same stage!

[sachishi4]

i was a little worried going into OT. WBL played a GREAT 3rd period, i was damn scared at that 2.5 mark.

[TheNightman]

Every year i look forward to these two playing in the colloseum. Great atmosphere, great rivalry, and not to mention the public address guy who fits that arena perfectly! Great game by these two teams and i look forward to seeing them play next year on the same stage!

Hopefully they don't screw up the seedings next year by making Tartan the top seed, and we get to see these teams in the final again, the way it should be.

[pucknutz]

Haha next years group of players at WBL is historically not very good. WBL and Tartan, poor coaching and master choke artists.

[pucknutz]

Haha next years group of players at WBL is historically not very good. WBL and Tartan, poor coaching and master choke artists.

[wbmd]

There is nothing better than when WBL loses yet another big game (especially to Hill) and all of the WBL posters disappear on the board. Love it.

Just like you vanished after Woodbury lost to Apple Valley.

[BodyShots]

IMO, if WBL couldn't beat this "average at best" HM team, they will never beat them. The lake is drying up and we better get used to middle seeds and early exits.

[pioneers]

Wasn't it kind of Karma that White Bear would have a goal disallowed because the net was off? Considering that Collette has been the king of knocking the net off during his career.

[MedleyWR]

Wow, this one hurts! The Bears definitely outplayed Hill and won the game, only to have it taken away by a bad call. We can argue all day as to whether the net was off before the puck was in (I think the puck was clearly in the net before the net was dislodged from behind). Without a video replay there is no clear answer. However, there was no whistle! If the net is dislodged, the refs must blow their whistle to stop play. They didn't, so the puck went in while play was in progress and the goal should count. I feel sorry for the players, especially the seniors, who had the final game of their careers decided, not by the efforts of the players on the ice, but on the whims of the striped shirts.

[cclavin]

first of all both teams are no factor to be playing Friday next week..but they put on a whale of a show tonight...

WBL is never a threat to play Friday night during the state tourney.

[BarryMcConnell]

Does anyone know Sager's record against Hill???

Fishy, I hope your date ended better than the game did!

[BodyShots]

Actually Barry, you are again wrong. Hill is definately the favorite. Hill has 5-7 potential division I players on this team. They are underclassmen but still very highly skilled. This Hill team that all of you are discounting just beat ST. Thomas a few short weeks ago and is the odds on favorite to win the section.

I will take Hill in a slower than normal matchup 3-2.

People in White Bear need to realize that this isn't a very talented team this year. Normally they have a couple div. I type players and a bunch of junior talent type players. I don't believe I have seen 1 player that looks to be that type out of the seniors. I have watched this group of players for 3 years and talent wise it just isn't there. You can try and blame the coach but after some of your earlier comments Barry frankly what you have to say doesn't carry much merit to me.

I would love to hear what level you scout for? I know I've asked this in the past and never got an answer. I'm guessing you were a boy/girl SCOUT who played HOCKEY. Looking back on all your posts, it appears that most of your comments fall into WBL threads. Are you a special scout for this team or something?

You stated, "Hill has 5-7 potential division I players". Give me a break. Zepeda was by far their best player and I don't know if he is even big enough to play D1. Castro in my opinion has the size and skill to maybe get there.

Now for WBL, you make the comment "I don't believe I have seen 1 player that looks to be that type (D1 or Junior type) out of the seniors" Well, for your information, two seniors were asked last night to join Junior teams.

We all can live in fantasy worlds and make up really neat usernames. I think my next one will be "NHL General Manager". [/b]

[Pioneerprideguy]

Congrats Pioneers on once again ending WB's season...that never gets old. You made a lot of alumni proud!

As for the game itself, I thought WB outplayed HM the majority of the game. The Bears missed on several scoring chances early & the Pioneers seemed to capitalize every time they had a chance (which were few). Lex seems to have a formula for beating WB & it appears to be a conservative style & make the most of chances when you get them. Smart approach, especially this year with limited fire power up front. Hill's D seem to struggle getting the puck out of their end, often just throwing high off the glass to get it out.

Zepeda was the player of the game. His presence was felt almost everytime he stepped on the ice. However, his line was the only line that was effective last night. Hopefully the other lines will relax a little & be more involved tomorrow night. Shaughnessy did what he had to last night. He seemd out of place a few times, but he made the plays he needed and didn't give up any really soft goals. Big win for the Soph.

I can't see HM taking Stillwater for granted. Lex appears to have the kid's full attention & he will have their heads on straight by this afternoon. I suspect Hill will open things up a little more & look to use their speed against Stillwater. I wasn't impressed with Stillwater's first two periods last night, but they showed some jump in the 3rd. Housley's kids are living a dream and the Pioneers believe things are finally coming together.

You are one step away from accomplishing something pretty special. Good luck Pioneers!

[youngblood08]

Actually Barry, you are again wrong. Hill is definately the favorite. Hill has 5-7 potential division I players on this team. They are underclassmen but still very highly skilled. This Hill team that all of you are discounting just beat ST. Thomas a few short weeks ago and is the odds on favorite to win the section.

I will take Hill in a slower than normal matchup 3-2.

People in White Bear need to realize that this isn't a very talented team this year. Normally they have a couple div. I type players and a bunch of junior talent type players. I don't believe I have seen 1 player that looks to be that type out of the seniors. I have watched this group of players for 3 years and talent wise it just isn't there. You can try and blame the coach but after some of your earlier comments Barry frankly what you have to say doesn't carry much merit to me.

I would love to hear what level you scout for? I know I've asked this in the past and never got an answer. I'm guessing you were a boy/girl SCOUT who played HOCKEY. Looking back on all your posts, it appears that most of your comments fall into WBL threads. Are you a special scout for this team or something?

You stated, "Hill has 5-7 potential division I players". Give me a break. Zepeda was by far their best player and I don't know if he is even big enough to play D1. Castro in my opinion has the size and skill to maybe get there.

Now for WBL, you make the comment "I don't believe I have seen 1 player that looks to be that type (D1 or Junior type) out of the seniors" Well, for your information, two seniors were asked last night to join Junior teams.

We all can live in fantasy worlds and make up really neat usernames. I think my next one will be "NHL General Manager". [/b]

That explains it!.

Anyone else notice how Collette would stop the puck behind the net and when the D got close he would throw the puck the opposite way? making the D scramble for the puck. He did it a few times it was like he had no idea where the D was.

[The Gumper]

Lex seems to have a formula for beating WB & it appears to be a conservative style & make the most of chances when you get them.

I thought the Pioneers were doomed the moment I noticed that "Lex" (Lex? Lex Luthor?) wasn't wearing the hideous green and white-striped monstrosity of a sweater.

Guess I was wrong.

[stpaul]

That's his section finals Charlie Brown sweater. I expect to see it tomorrow night.

[GreekChurch]

Wasn't it kind of Karma that White Bear would have a goal disallowed because the net was off? Considering that Collette has been the king of knocking the net off during his career.

Absolutely, the score keeper even had to hit the horn last night to get the ref's attention when Collettes net was off, and nobody was within 150 feet of him. Great win, it just never gets old!

[biscuit in the basket]

Actually Barry, you are again wrong. Hill is definately the favorite. Hill has 5-7 potential division I players on this team. They are underclassmen but still very highly skilled. This Hill team that all of you are discounting just beat ST. Thomas a few short weeks ago and is the odds on favorite to win the section.

I will take Hill in a slower than normal matchup 3-2.

People in White Bear need to realize that this isn't a very talented team this year. Normally they have a couple div. I type players and a bunch of junior talent type players. I don't believe I have seen 1 player that looks to be that type out of the seniors. I have watched this group of players for 3 years and talent wise it just isn't there. You can try and blame the coach but after some of your earlier comments Barry frankly what you have to say doesn't carry much merit to me.

I would love to hear what level you scout for? I know I've asked this in the past and never got an answer. I'm guessing you were a boy/girl SCOUT who played HOCKEY. Looking back on all your posts, it appears that most of your comments fall into WBL threads. Are you a special scout for this team or something?

You stated, "Hill has 5-7 potential division I players". Give me a break. Zepeda was by far their best player and I don't know if he is even big enough to play D1. Castro in my opinion has the size and skill to maybe get there.

Now for WBL, you make the comment "I don't believe I have seen 1 player that looks to be that type (D1 or Junior type) out of the seniors" Well, for your information, two seniors were asked last night to join Junior teams.
We all can live in fantasy worlds and make up really neat usernames. I think my next one will be "NHL General Manager". [/b]

Can you reveal who these two players were and which teams? Just curious since I did like this senior class I was hoping someone would be on the next level.

[sddave]

Where do I begin. I guess I want to make it known to people that haven't seen Tyler Zepeda play. He is one heck of a high school hockey player. He was the best player on the ice tonight, and without him, they're not playing Friday for the section championship. I thought overall WBL was the better team tonight. More puck control, more scoring opportunites, more overall speed, but really failed to capatilize on numerous scoring opportunities. I still don't know how Slator missed that open net 2 minutes in. It happened right in front of me! I'm also quite disappointed in OOOOwen Collette. He really let some softy's in during the 1st and 2nd periods. You need to have better than a .700 save percentage if you want to win. It's unfortunate that his high school career had to end with yet another below average performance against Hill Murray. I think the key point in this game was Hill always answering after a WBL goal, with a goal of their own. They never trailed in this game, and Shaughnessy was the better goaltender tonight. I'm disappointed that WBL didn't pull this one off, because I thought they played their best hockey of the year in the 3rd period tonight. But Hill Murray is a well coached, good hockey team. And players like Zepeda deserve to be rewarded for what they've been through.

Also, for those questioning the disallowed goal with 2.5 seconds left. I probably had a better angle than just about anyone. I was directly right of the goal, in the 1st row area. The net was bumped off, right when the shot was being taken. It was a good call by the officials, and shouldn't be used as an excuse in this one. I really couldn't tell if a Hill player knocked it off, but it was off right when the shot was being taken.

Thanks for the net-dislodge info. On the scores page a couple folks were saying the opposite. You, and a few others on this page sound more believable, maybe cuz of your screen name.

[stpaul]

Stats & Game Recap from Ryan Shanley at HM Pioneers Hockey website:

http://www.hmpioneers.net/hockey/gamebo ... 2009-03-04

[sachishi4]

that shot from zepeda that hit the crossbar was one of the hardest shots ive seen lately. that was an absolute bomb labeled for the corner. For someone who has been reportedly injured all year he is still playing fantastic. He has really stepped up when the incident occured and has shown how good of a leader he can be. im hoping for 4 more games of heroics from him but just making it to state this year will be an accomplishment in itself. This team was left for dead and he carried them.

[BodyShots]

that shot from zepeda that hit the crossbar was one of the hardest shots ive seen lately. that was an absolute bomb labeled for the corner. For someone who has been reportedly injured all year he is still playing fantastic. He has really stepped up when the incident occured and has shown how good of a leader he can be. im hoping for 4 more games of heroics from him but just making it to state this year will be an accomplishment in itself. This team was left for dead and he carried them.

Since nobody touched it, I would say it was labeled for the crossbar!

[wbhockey02]

The Disallowed goal with 2 seconds left was a no brainer - the net shifted about a foot forward clearly before the puck went in. There really wasn't any complaining on the ice, as it was just that obvious. It think it was the 3 open net chances White Bear missed early in the first period when it was still a scoreless game that they should be shaking their heads at. The Bears were buzzing in the first, but couldn't score. Hill scored, and never was behind in the game.

Did Hill cause the net to move forward, or...?

BTW, does anyone have the name of Lechner's assistant? I could be wrong, but I think he's the man in the wheel chair who played on the runner-up '88 team.

I agree the net was off right at the shot but the goalie knocked it off and that should be a penalty shot for a delay of the game
The net moved when two players were battling for position, there was an argument from Lechner, because he felt the faceoff should have been out of the zone. Pat Schaffhauser is the Assistant. I'm still trying to figure out why the Bears fans thinks the ref's screwed them. The worst call of the night went against Hill, when a phanton slash call was made ( maybe a very slight hook ) which resulted in the tying 4th goal

[The Gumper]

That's his section finals Charlie Brown sweater. I expect to see it tomorrow night.

Wearing that monstrosity should result in game misconduct. Rule 23.7 states:

"Any player, goalkeeper, or non-playing club personnel who physically interferes with spectators... shall automatically incur a game misconduct penalty..."

That sweater physically interferes with every spectator who has to look at it. If not a game misconduct, then at least a bench minor that renews itself every two minutes until he takes it off...

[wbmd]

That's his section finals Charlie Brown sweater. I expect to see it tomorrow night.

Wearing that monstrosity should result in game misconduct. Rule 23.7 states:

"Any player, goalkeeper, or non-playing club personnel who physically interferes with spectators... shall automatically incur a game misconduct penalty..."

That sweater physically interferes with every spectator who has to look at it. If not a game misconduct, then at least a bench minor that renews itself every two minutes until he takes it off...