7AA Final: Elk River vs. Duluth East

alcloseshaver · Post by **alcloseshaver** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:48 pm

Always next year for the Elks...

FREDFLINTSTONE · Post by **FREDFLINTSTONE** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 9:48 pm

Maybe if they decide that the home ice advantage for East exists, they can make it so East doesn't get a home section championship playoff game........Elk river flat out got screwed because of the home ice given to East......

north_bear · Post by **north_bear** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:09 pm

Gotta feel for Elk River they played a great game, this will leave a bad taste in their mouth's for a long time. Tough way to go.

Best of luck to whoever is matched against the dirty dogs. And best of luck to all of 7AA next year except you know who.

Must be nice to always play on home ice...

CB00 · Post by **CB00** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:14 pm

Everybody goes on this thread and explains why each team will win. This goalie, that player, home ice, etc.... Only one reason in my mind, Coach Randolph hands down. Took a team with questionable talent and finds a way to win the game. My son played for ER for 4 years and each year ended with a disappointing finish to East. Wish Randolph would move south for a few years

. Good luck to East at state, again....

Post by **east hockey** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:16 pm

CB00 wrote:Everybody goes on this thread and explains why each team will win. This goalie, that player, home ice, etc.... Only one reason in my mind, Coach Randolph hands down. Took a team with questionable talent and finds a way to win the game. My son played for ER for 4 years and each year ended with a disappointing finish to East. Wish Randolph would move south for a few years. Good luck to East at state, again....

Yeah, he's going to coach White Bear Lake.

Seriously, while losing Beaulieu will be big, they have a ton of good players coming back next season. I think he'll be back for at least one more season.

Unless they win State this year.

Lee

Duluth 4 · Post by **Duluth 4** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:18 pm

Love the home ice comments. If ER plays intelligently and doesn't cross check a guy from behind with 4 minutes left this probably has a very different ending. That's just unintelligent hockey. It was a great game though, back and forth. Good saves both ways, great chances and very up and down. Bottom line, Randolph gets his guys ready to play in these games, 16-1 speaks for itself. Good luck to the Pups at the X.

alcloseshaver · Post by **alcloseshaver** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:21 pm

Elk River stopped playing in the third, Did not play aggressive, sat back. Still tough to take the only penalty of the game with 3:31 left. Lot's of no calls both ways throughout? Devastating loss but that's the tough part of sports. If Jaremko stays for his senior year he and Lutz will be lethal and they have some great young defenseman. Top bantam team will provide some help. Selfish move by Zerban leaving with ten games left, he might have scored the difference maker in a game like this. Credit to Randolph for in game adjustments, Is he retiring soon?

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:24 pm

Zerban's just put a for sale sign in the snow bank..

alcloseshaver · Post by **alcloseshaver** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:25 pm

They have another son that is a good two way player for the bantams.

TheInsider · Post by **TheInsider** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:31 pm

6 straight?!! Always finding a way to win these big games? Mike Randolph. Wow, you are brilliant

Post by **east hockey** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:32 pm

TheInsider wrote:6 straight?!! Always finding a way to win these big games? Mike Randolph. Wow, you are brilliant

Think Flaherty is interested after Mike retires?

Lee

bemused · Post by **bemused** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:50 pm

east hockey wrote:
TheInsider wrote:6 straight?!! Always finding a way to win these big games? Mike Randolph. Wow, you are brilliant
Think Flaherty is interested after Mike retires?

Lee

Not a Randini fan but don't even joke like
that. There are 500 guys in Duluth who
would be a better choice!

Hawkyfan70 · Post by **Hawkyfan70** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:50 pm

east hockey wrote:
TheInsider wrote:6 straight?!! Always finding a way to win these big games? Mike Randolph. Wow, you are brilliant
Think Flaherty is interested after Mike retires?

Lee

If only so he won't have to face the Hawks every year

Post by **east hockey** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 10:53 pm

bemused wrote:
east hockey wrote:
TheInsider wrote:6 straight?!! Always finding a way to win these big games? Mike Randolph. Wow, you are brilliant
Think Flaherty is interested after Mike retires?

Lee
Not a Randini fan but don't even joke like
that. There are 500 guys in Duluth who
would be a better choice!

Oh, that seems an exaggeration. Maybe 200-300.

Lee

EHSHack · Post by **EHSHack** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:01 pm

FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:Maybe if they decide that the home ice advantage for East exists, they can make it so East doesn't get a home section championship playoff game........Elk river flat out got screwed because of the home ice given to East......

Is home ice the reason Elk River had ONE shot on goal in the entire third period or am I missing something.

alcloseshaver · Post by **alcloseshaver** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:08 pm

EHSHack wrote:
FREDFLINTSTONE wrote:Maybe if they decide that the home ice advantage for East exists, they can make it so East doesn't get a home section championship playoff game........Elk river flat out got screwed because of the home ice given to East......
Is home ice the reason Elk River had ONE shot on goal in the entire third period or am I missing something.

Bottom line is you have to keep playing like they did in the first two periods. Gordy needed to coach them up. If they don't take the penalty they most likely win. House of horrors two years in a row. Only thing they can do is get it done next year. East owns this section, be it seeding, home ice, no travel ect. Teams must get their programs to their level and just beat them, get it done. In 7AA to be the best you must beat the best.

Froggy Richards · Post by **Froggy Richards** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:18 pm

CB00 wrote:Everybody goes on this thread and explains why each team will win. This goalie, that player, home ice, etc.... Only one reason in my mind, Coach Randolph hands down. Took a team with questionable talent and finds a way to win the game. My son played for ER for 4 years and each year ended with a disappointing finish to East. Wish Randolph would move south for a few years&#55357;&#56843;. Good luck to East at state, again....

There's no question that guy is one hell of a coach. Same story two years in a row. East is down this year, ripe for the picking, losing too much, not much coming up. Early in the year they play like it too. Then a couple of months later he has them knocking off great teams and winning the Section. Who knows how long he'll be there but he sure seems to still enjoy it. Somebody told me when his son graduated that he needed one more year of teaching to qualify for his pension. No idea if that's true but you do wonder sometimes if watching his son play in college will play a part in his decision. I'm sure he could get an Assistant job at Omaha if he wanted it.

Post by **karl(east)** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:27 pm

Doesn't get much more fun that that. Whew.

Congrats to Elk River on a fine season. They were the better team for good stretches of the 1st and 2nd. They weren't intimidated at all, coming out flying on the first few shifts and immediately striking back after the first East goal. They brought a nice little fan section (complete with the guy in the Elk suit!), and while it couldn't top last year's, the atmosphere was still very good in Amsoil.

I'd agree there were no-calls the entire way; the refs were letting them play. The one ER penalty was blatant, though...I was on my feet with my arm in the air in case the refs needed any help on that one.

Berglove was phenomenal; you've got to feel for him. East knew they weren't going to beat him cleanly and spent the entire night trying to set up tips and create traffic. The first East goal came on the third attempt, and the second was by the screen-man in front of the net; only the game-winner was clean.

Credit to the Hounds for plugging away, sticking with the plan, taking over in the 3rd, and eventually making it work. Hard work pays off. This young team has come a long way since that narrow escape against Cambridge back in December. We Hounds fans have enjoyed a lot of section titles over the years, but this one is right up there among the most rewarding.

One little correction for everyone; Randolph is now 15-1 in section finals. (He wasn't the coach in 2004.) Still, it speaks for itself. He's had his high points and low points, of course, and I've had some moments of disagreement. But these past two years, I have noticed a different feel around the program. There's no dissent, no whining, no backbiting parents...everyone buys in and lets him do his thing, and when everyone is on the same page like that...again, the results speak for themselves.

Off to the X next week...they won't be a favorite, but they have less pressure on them and have nothing to lose, either. Hopefully Jack Kolar is alright; he wasn't skating particularly well after his injury in the 3rd. No matter what, this season's been a fun ride.

alcloseshaver · Post by **alcloseshaver** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:30 pm

Hard to watch the emotions for Berglove, not unlike Shepard.

Post by **karl(east)** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:32 pm

Froggy Richards wrote:Somebody told me when his son graduated that he needed one more year of teaching to qualify for his pension. No idea if that's true but you do wonder sometimes if watching his son play in college will play a part in his decision. I'm sure he could get an Assistant job at Omaha if he wanted it.

He's eligible for district retirement after this year.

He's been coy about it, but the hints he's dropped here and there (including this morning's paper) make me think he's not in a rush to call it quits. He's having a lot of fun doing what he's doing right now, and he's made some jokes to the effect of "what else would I do with my life?"

That's not to say it couldn't change, but that's what I'm reading in between the lines.

RalphCox · Post by **RalphCox** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:39 pm

Incredible that East just finds a way to win every year. Is it true that Randolph has had his fair share of issues over the years, as people were trying to get him out? From outside looking in, he has to be one of the best MN HS coaches ever.

Slammer · Post by **Slammer** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:41 pm

What a game.

From going to OT with Cambridge, to going to state.

Mike Randolph deserves coach of the year. Best damn coach this state has ever seen.

HSH1212 · Post by **HSH1212** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:46 pm

This is one of East's most impressive seasons given the inexperience they had. They have proven to be a program that is not phased by deficits late in games. Elk River was better through two periods but East played so well in the 3rd that they deserved this game.

If I could define Duluth East in Section games in one word: Clutch.

Post by **karl(east)** » Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:59 pm

RalphCox wrote:Incredible that East just finds a way to win every year. Is it true that Randolph has had his fair share of issues over the years, as people were trying to get him out? From outside looking in, he has to be one of the best MN HS coaches ever.

He was forced out for a year in 2003-2004, and it basically took a school board election to get him back in. It's a very long story.

He's a very intense, demanding coach, and that isn't necessarily for everyone. His success in the 90s brought a lot of expectations with it, sometimes unrealistic ones, especially at a school that was obviously the dominant power in its region. He's also had some painful upset losses over the years, which some people have pinned on him.

When the dust settles, though, and we can look back at his record dispassionately, with an accurate understanding of the talent he's had to work with and the reality of high school hockey in Minnesota...yes, I think legacy is secure.

This will be his 15th trip to State. That ties him with Tom Saterdalen for 2nd on the all-time list, behind only Willard Ikola (19).

tezer13 · Post by **tezer13** » Fri Feb 28, 2014 12:43 am

karl(east) wrote:
RalphCox wrote:Incredible that East just finds a way to win every year. Is it true that Randolph has had his fair share of issues over the years, as people were trying to get him out? From outside looking in, he has to be one of the best MN HS coaches ever.
He was forced out for a year in 2003-2004, and it basically took a school board election to get him back in. It's a very long story.

He's a very intense, demanding coach, and that isn't necessarily for everyone. His success in the 90s brought a lot of expectations with it, sometimes unrealistic ones, especially at a school that was obviously the dominant power in its region. He's also had some painful upset losses over the years, which some people have pinned on him.

When the dust settles, though, and we can look back at his record dispassionately, with an accurate understanding of the talent he's had to work with and the reality of high school hockey in Minnesota...yes, I think legacy is secure.

This will be his 15th trip to State. That ties him with Tom Saterdalen for 2nd on the all-time list, behind only Willard Ikola (19).

I don't have the numbers in front of me, but since his first trip to State in '91 East had the best record in the State Tournament - not sure how close Edina was with them winning last year. I will get my DB off my laptop later and look it up.

My son is 1, so I hope he has another 17 years left

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7AA Final: Elk River vs. Duluth East

Who advances to state?