Honestly, was the AA title game as good as it gets?

TTpuckster · Post by **TTpuckster** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:49 pm

ChrisK wrote:
HockeyMN1 wrote:And by the way, it went off the stick. Here's proof:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60569139@N03/5522852533/
I don't think it's proof either, but what a great picture! The goalie looking back and Rau completely laid out trying to knock the puck in.

It wasn't a pretty goal but it was a great effort by Rau. You have to respect a guy who was knocked around all game but kept coming at DE until he got his opportunity and somehow got the puck into the net.

Agreed Chris,

As far as I am concerned it was a great game to watch, no matter who won.

And, as for Rau;

Rau got knocked around a lot in that game.
Maybe 1 or 2 of those would have been penalties if it wasn't for the fact that it was the 3rd period and beyond in the ship game.

But he didn't appear to slow down for a minute.
In fact, in the overtimes, when others appeared to be getting tired, he continued to move very well.
He deserves the credit for the hustle to get that winner.

shakey · Post by **shakey** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:36 pm

Listen2me wrote:I have never spent much time dreaming, and if I did it would not be about things most productive adults won't remember two weeks from now. Enjoy the parade!

Hmmm.....weren't you the one crowing a few weeks back about how many state titles Edina has? I believe you boasted that the number was 142. What was that you said about productive adults?

HockeyMN1 · Post by **HockeyMN1** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:44 pm

Listen2me wrote:I have never spent much time dreaming, and if I did it would not be about things most productive adults won't remember two weeks from now. Enjoy the parade!

It's something that these kids will remember for the rest of their lives. When Herb Brooks was asked about his proudest moment as a coach, he said it was winning state. That says something about just how wrong you are on this one.

Listen2me · Post by **Listen2me** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:06 pm

Really wasn't crowing, just responding to Eagles comments. Here's what he had to offer.
Okay, lets take a look at the EP athletic program as a whole, shall we? There's this trophy out there called the challenge cup, awarded to one A and one AA high school every year that has the best athletic program overall. Since its inception four years ago, EP has won it three times. We have six football championships, two baseball championships (btw baseball got second in the nation in the legion world series this summer), countless individual and team cross country and track state championships, and one hockey championship, which is one more than Minnetonka. It's tough to be an Eagle because we're the team in EVERY sport that everyone is trying to beat. You can deny it all you want but it's the truth. We have had, indisputably, the BEST athletic program in the state three out of the last four years. Even the state high school league has recognized that. And by the way, you need a question mark at the end of that sentence. You know why I know that? Because we also have the most National Merit Finalists and AP scholars in the state. Out of anybody.

Listen2me · Post by **Listen2me** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:17 pm

HockeyMN1 wrote:
Listen2me wrote:I have never spent much time dreaming, and if I did it would not be about things most productive adults won't remember two weeks from now. Enjoy the parade!
It's something that these kids will remember for the rest of their lives. When Herb Brooks was asked about his proudest moment as a coach, he said it was winning state. That says something about just how wrong you are on this one.

Really, do you think! I'm not talking about the kids goof. Ask someone in the room to start reading these to you. And Bill Clinton ( he was our President at the time) said "I didn't have sex with that women."

Post by **east hockey** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:46 pm

Listen2me wrote:Really wasn't crowing, just responding to Eagles comments. Here's what he had to offer.
Okay, lets take a look at the EP athletic program as a whole, shall we? There's this trophy out there called the challenge cup, awarded to one A and one AA high school every year that has the best athletic program overall. Since its inception four years ago, EP has won it three times. We have six football championships, two baseball championships (btw baseball got second in the nation in the legion world series this summer), countless individual and team cross country and track state championships, and one hockey championship, which is one more than Minnetonka. It's tough to be an Eagle because we're the team in EVERY sport that everyone is trying to beat. You can deny it all you want but it's the truth. We have had, indisputably, the BEST athletic program in the state three out of the last four years. Even the state high school league has recognized that. And by the way, you need a question mark at the end of that sentence. You know why I know that? Because we also have the most National Merit Finalists and AP scholars in the state. Out of anybody.

An AP scholar wouldn't construct a fragmented sentence as you did at the end.

And no basketball championships? I thought Eden Prairie was good.

Lee

mn man · Post by **mn man** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:58 pm

Listen2me wrote:Really wasn't crowing, just responding to Eagles comments. Here's what he had to offer.
Okay, lets take a look at the EP athletic program as a whole, shall we? There's this trophy out there called the challenge cup, awarded to one A and one AA high school every year that has the best athletic program overall. Since its inception four years ago, EP has won it three times. We have six football championships, two baseball championships (btw baseball got second in the nation in the legion world series this summer), countless individual and team cross country and track state championships, and one hockey championship, which is one more than Minnetonka. It's tough to be an Eagle because we're the team in EVERY sport that everyone is trying to beat. You can deny it all you want but it's the truth. We have had, indisputably, the BEST athletic program in the state three out of the last four years. Even the state high school league has recognized that. And by the way, you need a question mark at the end of that sentence. You know why I know that? Because we also have the most National Merit Finalists and AP scholars in the state. Out of anybody.

If this came from HockeyMN1, please recall that he is kind of the Eagles' mj

HockeyMN1 · Post by **HockeyMN1** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:08 pm

mn man wrote:
Listen2me wrote:Really wasn't crowing, just responding to Eagles comments. Here's what he had to offer.
Okay, lets take a look at the EP athletic program as a whole, shall we? There's this trophy out there called the challenge cup, awarded to one A and one AA high school every year that has the best athletic program overall. Since its inception four years ago, EP has won it three times. We have six football championships, two baseball championships (btw baseball got second in the nation in the legion world series this summer), countless individual and team cross country and track state championships, and one hockey championship, which is one more than Minnetonka. It's tough to be an Eagle because we're the team in EVERY sport that everyone is trying to beat. You can deny it all you want but it's the truth. We have had, indisputably, the BEST athletic program in the state three out of the last four years. Even the state high school league has recognized that. And by the way, you need a question mark at the end of that sentence. You know why I know that? Because we also have the most National Merit Finalists and AP scholars in the state. Out of anybody.
If this came from HockeyMN1, please recall that he is kind of the Eagles' mj

Hey now I don't go out and call high school kids Dbags. And just for the record I was a National Merit Scholar back in the day, not that it matters much anymore.

mn man · Post by **mn man** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:37 pm

HockeyMN1 wrote:
mn man wrote:
Listen2me wrote:Really wasn't crowing, just responding to Eagles comments. Here's what he had to offer.
Okay, lets take a look at the EP athletic program as a whole, shall we? There's this trophy out there called the challenge cup, awarded to one A and one AA high school every year that has the best athletic program overall. Since its inception four years ago, EP has won it three times. We have six football championships, two baseball championships (btw baseball got second in the nation in the legion world series this summer), countless individual and team cross country and track state championships, and one hockey championship, which is one more than Minnetonka. It's tough to be an Eagle because we're the team in EVERY sport that everyone is trying to beat. You can deny it all you want but it's the truth. We have had, indisputably, the BEST athletic program in the state three out of the last four years. Even the state high school league has recognized that. And by the way, you need a question mark at the end of that sentence. You know why I know that? Because we also have the most National Merit Finalists and AP scholars in the state. Out of anybody.
If this came from HockeyMN1, please recall that he is kind of the Eagles' mj
Hey now I don't go out and call high school kids Dbags. And just for the record I was a National Merit Scholar back in the day, not that it matters much anymore.

Sorry. I'll take it back. But you are a very vocal EP supporter that sometimes rubs other fans the wrong way.

clutterbuck22 · Post by **clutterbuck22** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:58 pm

The only thing that could've made it better was Gus Johnson with the call. "OHHHHHH!!!! Kyle Rau with the game winner!!!! AHAHA!!!"

TTpuckster · Post by **TTpuckster** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:43 am

clutterbuck22 wrote:The only thing that could've made it better was Gus Johnson with the call. "OHHHHHH!!!! Kyle Rau with the game winner!!!! AHAHA!!!"

True enough

MN Moose · Post by **MN Moose** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:48 am

OK, I have to comment here. The goal by Rau was UNBELIEVABLE. He had the speed, sense, and incredbile athletic ability to dive and get to that puck at just the right time. Whether it went in off a skate or not is irrelevant. He made the play.

It was stated earlier that anyone could have made that play. I have to absolutely disagree. Very few players would have the speed and timing to get to that puck. Incredible play to end a great game.

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:59 am

MN Moose wrote:OK, I have to comment here. The goal by Rau was UNBELIEVABLE. He had the speed, sense, and incredbile athletic ability to dive and get to that puck at just the right time. Whether it went in off a skate or not is irrelevant. He made the play.

It was stated earlier that anyone could have made that play. I have to absolutely disagree. Very few players would have the speed and timing to get to that puck. Incredible play to end a great game.

Yea, like he swatted it at the precise time because of his skill

He swiped and go lucky. Its irrelevant, because he did not make the play as everyone is crowing about. He missed the net. He hit the puck and it went off the pipe. Luckily for him, it hit Kerr's skate and went in.

MN Moose · Post by **MN Moose** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:19 pm

I would say his skill and ability is exactly what enabled him to make that play.

If you think your average HS hockey player could have made that play you're fooling yourself.

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:40 pm

MN Moose wrote:I would say his skill and ability is exactly what enabled him to make that play.

If you think your average HS hockey player could have made that play you're fooling yourself.

Must be a fool then.

mn man · Post by **mn man** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:13 pm

EHSHack wrote:
MN Moose wrote:OK, I have to comment here. The goal by Rau was UNBELIEVABLE. He had the speed, sense, and incredbile athletic ability to dive and get to that puck at just the right time. Whether it went in off a skate or not is irrelevant. He made the play.

It was stated earlier that anyone could have made that play. I have to absolutely disagree. Very few players would have the speed and timing to get to that puck. Incredible play to end a great game.
Yea, like he swatted it at the precise time because of his skill
He swiped and go lucky. Its irrelevant, because he did not make the play as everyone is crowing about. He missed the net. He hit the puck and it went off the pipe. Luckily for him, it hit Kerr's skate and went in.

I agree that there was some luck involved, but the weird thing is, Kyle has been getting "lucky" just like that, over and over and over again through the last 6 years on the way to a 5 state championships.

It is good to be good, and it is good to be lucky, but it is better to be good and lucky. To downplay this goal in this game makes people look small so cut it out.

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:43 pm

Proclaiming him the god of high school hockey for swatting and not putting a puck in the net makes you look dumb too. Yeah it was a goal and stuff happens, but to make it sound like Kyle is a god on earth is ridiculous.

observer · Post by **observer** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:11 pm

What I told my son is most every other player just skates to the end boards with the East player and battles there. No goal. Obviously, the East player slightly wiffed on his clear or it wouldn't be available for poking in. Not your average play by an average player.

Hey, all players have holes. Look hard enough and Crosby and Ovie aren't perfect either. Rau has a knack for scoring big goals which makes him a special player.

TheClipper · Post by **TheClipper** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:23 pm

That game was every bit as good as it gets. The game winner may not have been a "pretty", bang-bang play, but it was perfectly in character with the race horse hockey both teams delivered. DE had at least two dandy chances to end it in each overtime period, but......................

EP and Mr. Rau are deserving champs They took everything the Hounds could dish out (some great hits by DE in the game, by the way) and they prevailed. Congratulations.

HockeyMN1 · Post by **HockeyMN1** » Tue Mar 15, 2011 9:49 pm

Pretty cool video I found on YouTube, modeled after those "History will be made" NHL commercials, except MN State Championship style:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZoTIIMc ... r_embedded

O-townClown · Post by **O-townClown** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:47 am

EHSHack wrote:Proclaiming him the god of high school hockey for swatting and not putting a puck in the net makes you look dumb too. Yeah it was a goal and stuff happens, but to make it sound like Kyle is a god on earth is ridiculous.

Wow, Shack, these posts baffle me.

Anyone that has played hockey knows how hard it is to make effort plays late in the game or late in the shift. This was DEEP into the game as they had already played three periods, an 8, and a 17 minute overtime. Oh, and he'd been beaten silly.

Seriously, there aren't many people in the whole state that make plays like that. A little credit?

(Guy told me tonight that the skate it went in off belongs to the guy that had PASTED Rau a few times earlier. If true, that's just weird.)

I'm reminded of an NBA coach (Pat Riley I think) that heard someone say a more-than-halfcourt shot by Tim Hardaway was lucky. He said it was definitely not luck; Hardaway worked on this for a couple minutes every practice. I guess it was fun, but he also knew every quarter ends with a chance to heave something and invariably he'd have a couple chances each season.

Like Hardaway, Rau didn't just catch a lucky bounce. He's played his whole career with a high energy level. Often it pays off.

hockeyforevr72 · Post by **hockeyforevr72** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:57 am

bitter east fans, ill tell ya

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:09 am

Pretty much everyone on this board believes Rau earned the Mr. Hockey title and his team winning.

Rau has got a lot of credit throughout the entire season.

It was a clutch play on his part; however, not just Kyle Rau could have made that play.

PuckU126 · Post by **PuckU126** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:10 am

hockeyforevr72 wrote:bitter east fans, ill tell ya

The humble outweigh the bitter.

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:11 am

Why are there not kids in the state that can make plays like that? All he did was dive... I cannot fathom how people keep saying this was a great goal. He missed the net. Badda Bing Badda Boom end of discussion of it being a great goal. Great hustle? Yes. Great play? Yes. Great goal? No.