The Quiet Is Deafening In Section 4AA

The Gumper · Post by **The Gumper** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:10 am

Sparlimb wrote:Many HM fans have noted throughout the season this wasn't a great team.

They had the fewest losses (3) in all of AA and hadn't lost in nearly two months coming into the section final. And they were ranked #3 in all of the recent polls. That's not a great team?

meridian90 · Post by **meridian90** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:23 am

Gotta sting for the slattery kid watching the centennial game before this one went down.

Sometimes, leaving for greener pastures isn't always the best idea.

Yes, they went to a state championship game last year, but where would the centennial team have ended up last year had he stayed? or this year? We will see!

Sk8 Str8 · Post by **Sk8 Str8** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:32 am

Sometimes, leaving for greener pastures isn't always the best idea.

How many Stillwater kids on HM feel the same way (or worse)?

Flipside is Jack Jenson at Eagan--leaves perennial A tourney champ STA for AA Eagan, and leads team in scoring and is the difference maker in a AA Section final...vs STA!

meridian90 · Post by **meridian90** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:42 am

Sk8 Str8 wrote:
Sometimes, leaving for greener pastures isn't always the best idea.
How many Stillwater kids on HM feel the same way (or worse)?

Flipside is Jack Jenson at Eagan--leaves perennial A tourney champ STA for AA Eagan, and leads team in scoring and is the difference maker in a AA Section final...vs STA!

I'll be the first to admit I don't know association of origin for most of Hill, I know about the andersons from Roseville, Slattery from Centennial and I think Illgen and Davis Z. are from WB. Not entirely up to date on my Stillwater youth hockey.

But you are right, it probably feels amazing for those Stillwater kids. And congrats to them.

I didn't know that about Jack Jenson. Interesting note.

puckbreath · Post by **puckbreath** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:44 am

meridian90 wrote:Gotta sting for the slattery kid watching the centennial game before this one went down.

Sometimes, leaving for greener pastures isn't always the best idea.

Yes, they went to a state championship game last year, but where would the centennial team have ended up last year had he stayed? or this year? We will see!

Many times.

Nuts&Bolts · Post by **Nuts&Bolts** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:52 am

To blame Lex for a loss calling for his head is ridiculous along with saying the talent is dwindling at HM or that Willie wasn't given a fair chance. Laws of probability indicate that at some point a team is going to lose a game when it matters most. So a very good team lost to a decent team? It happens especially these days with defensive lock downs and a goalie that gets hot at the right time. Looking at this playoff year it happened alot - Wayzata losing to BSM, Blaine losing to Centennial, STAA losing to Eagan, etc. I am a bit disappointed the 6 of the top 10 ranked teams won't be playing next week but it is what it is.

It was covered back in December but I give credit to a school/team like HM for having integrity and a higher standard when it comes to expectations. Standards for more stringent punishment than MSHSL policy probably wouldn't fly in a public school at least without involving bunches of attorneys (at the expense of the taxpayer).

meridian90 · Post by **meridian90** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 11:55 am

Nuts&Bolts wrote:To blame Lex for a loss calling for his head is ridiculous along with saying the talent is dwindling at HM or that Willie wasn't given a fair chance. Laws of probability indicate that at some point a team is going to lose a game when it matters most. So a very good team lost to a decent team? It happens especially these days with defensive lock downs and a goalie that gets hot at the right time. Looking at this playoff year it happened alot - Wayzata losing to BSM, Blaine losing to Centennial, STAA losing to Eagan, etc. I am a bit disappointed the 6 of the top 10 ranked teams won't be playing next week but it is what it is.

It was covered back in December but I give credit to a school/team like HM for having integrity and a higher standard when it comes to expectations. Standards for more stringent punishment than MSHSL policy probably wouldn't fly in a public school at least without involving bunches of attorneys (at the expense of the taxpayer).

I don't blame Lex anymore than I blame Sager for WBLs loss.

Neither teams kids showed up to play against Stillwater. If you can't show up to play in an elimination game, well, you deserve to be eliminated.

Some motivation has to come from within.

Nuts&Bolts · Post by **Nuts&Bolts** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:03 pm

I agree with motivation needing to be there but there are also nerves of pretty young kids, maybe questionable calls by refs, flukey bounces, etc. that can swing the momentum in a game when its closer competition and 1 team goes in with the defensive game plan.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:16 pm

Maybe WBL and HM did show up against Stillwater. Could it be that Stillwater was a better team?

meridian90 · Post by **meridian90** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 12:21 pm

mulefarm wrote:Maybe WBL and HM did show up against Stillwater. Could it be that Stillwater was a better team?

As a person that was at both games. No, they didn't show up.

As a result of that, Stillwater was a better team on both those nights.

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 1:08 pm

mulefarm wrote:Maybe WBL and HM did show up against Stillwater. Could it be that Stillwater was a better team?

Agree. Defense wins championships

hockeymachine · Post by **hockeymachine** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 1:36 pm

Mr. Otto couldn't keep quiet about willies chaw, and boom goes the dynamite

ChrisK · Post by **ChrisK** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 2:13 pm

meridian90 wrote:
mulefarm wrote:Maybe WBL and HM did show up against Stillwater. Could it be that Stillwater was a better team?
As a person that was at both games. No, they didn't show up.

As a result of that, Stillwater was a better team on both those nights.

When a team does the same thing to two very good teams on two different nights it's time to give props to that team instead of saying the other two teams didn't show up. I was at both games too and I think you're selling Stillwater short.

What Stillwater did this week in beating both Hill and WBL to get to State is very rare if not unprecedented. Since 1980 there have only been 3 other occasions where Hill or WBL didn't represent the section and in one case it was White Bear Mariner. Since 1990 it's only happened one time, Centennial in 2004 and they squeaked by Hill in the section championship.

I see that the Ponies drew Edina in the opener on Thursday. If any team can match Stillwater's discipline it would be Edina and they've got more skill but after the games this week it wouldn't surprise me to see Stillwater pull off another upset.

youngblood08 · Post by **youngblood08** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:26 pm

BlueLineSpecial wrote:
bkrrrrr wrote:Sounds like Hail-Money is getting nervous. You'll hear plenty of noise once the puck drops. Until then...shhhhhh
Nope. This is the least nervous I've been in years. Stillwater has no shot. They also have no fans on this forum so it's a one sided debate

So....how are you feeling now?

Laker Guy · Post by **Laker Guy** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 3:35 pm

BlueLineSpecial wrote:
bkrrrrr wrote:Sounds like Hail-Money is getting nervous. You'll hear plenty of noise once the puck drops. Until then...shhhhhh
Nope. This is the least nervous I've been in years. Stillwater has no shot. They also have no fans on this forum so it's a one sided debate

BlueLineSpecial ... Hello? Anyone out there?

Sk8 Str8 · Post by **Sk8 Str8** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 4:56 pm

This thread is aptly named...

The Quiet Is Deafening In Section 4AA

BlueLineSpecial · Post by **BlueLineSpecial** » Sat Mar 01, 2014 8:07 pm

Laker Guy wrote:
BlueLineSpecial wrote:
bkrrrrr wrote:Sounds like Hail-Money is getting nervous. You'll hear plenty of noise once the puck drops. Until then...shhhhhh
Nope. This is the least nervous I've been in years. Stillwater has no shot. They also have no fans on this forum so it's a one sided debate

BlueLineSpecial ... Hello? Anyone out there?

Sorry. I mentioned in another thread I was heading out for a couple days. Wife, anniversary, I promised no hockey obsessing

Woke up to about 15 'wow' or 'ha ha' texts and I knew what had happened. Obviously I'm upset, shocked, and somewhat speechless. This was a team that I had doubts about all year. I'm sure doubters can easily find them in my history throughout the year. With that said I didn't see this coming.

I didn't see the game of course, so I can't give any analysis. I was clearly wrong about my bravado (some of which is more for show; I like rustling feathers from time to time) and I was wrong about Stillwater. They are better than 'mediocre' as I called them. They earned it and I wish them luck, I really do. What a great memory the whole community now had. Congrats young men.

As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach. I know there is a lot of pain for the players, some blaming themselves and apologizing to their teammates. It just shows how much these kids love the game we all do and it hurts like hell when that thing ends. But this team can hold their heads high. My sage advise is to see this as an opportunity to grow. In time you look back at these moments as the greatest time of your lives. Good luck to the seniors in whatever they do next.

The tourney this year should be a lot of fun. I'll enjoy the games and hope for some more upsets, great games, and moments we get get talk about 20 years from now.

Thanks Pioneers.

The Gumper · Post by **The Gumper** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:11 am

BlueLineSpecial wrote: As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach.

You lose three games all regular season and the season is a "colossal failure" because you didn't make it to state? Wow.

Ugottobekiddingme · Post by **Ugottobekiddingme** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:53 am

BlueLineSpecial wrote:
Laker Guy wrote:
BlueLineSpecial wrote: Nope. This is the least nervous I've been in years. Stillwater has no shot. They also have no fans on this forum so it's a one sided debate

BlueLineSpecial ... Hello? Anyone out there?
Sorry. I mentioned in another thread I was heading out for a couple days. Wife, anniversary, I promised no hockey obsessing

Woke up to about 15 'wow' or 'ha ha' texts and I knew what had happened. Obviously I'm upset, shocked, and somewhat speechless. This was a team that I had doubts about all year. I'm sure doubters can easily find them in my history throughout the year. With that said I didn't see this coming.

I didn't see the game of course, so I can't give any analysis. I was clearly wrong about my bravado (some of which is more for show; I like rustling feathers from time to time) and I was wrong about Stillwater. They are better than 'mediocre' as I called them. They earned it and I wish them luck, I really do. What a great memory the whole community now had. Congrats young men.

As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach. I know there is a lot of pain for the players, some blaming themselves and apologizing to their teammates. It just shows how much these kids love the game we all do and it hurts like hell when that thing ends. But this team can hold their heads high. My sage advise is to see this as an opportunity to grow. In time you look back at these moments as the greatest time of your lives. Good luck to the seniors in whatever they do next.

The tourney this year should be a lot of fun. I'll enjoy the games and hope for some more upsets, great games, and moments we get get talk about 20 years from now.

Thanks Pioneers.

Good luck to Stillwater and Luverne at state! Someone needs a reality check towards "more name calling and over reacting" but at least TJ in Sochi made most of us proud. Hang in there HM and Lech as next year brings about new opportunities...some just don't know when to close their trap.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:21 am

The Gumper wrote:
BlueLineSpecial wrote: As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach.
You lose three games all regular season and the season is a "colossal failure" because you didn't make it to state? Wow.

Just what I was thinking. Maybe they should have went 3 and 22 in the regular season and won the section so they won't be such a colossal failure.

BlueLineSpecial · Post by **BlueLineSpecial** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 10:59 am

mulefarm wrote:
The Gumper wrote:
BlueLineSpecial wrote: As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach.
You lose three games all regular season and the season is a "colossal failure" because you didn't make it to state? Wow.
Just what I was thinking. Maybe they should have went 3 and 22 in the regular season and won the section so they won't be such a colossal failure.

I would take that right about now! Are you guys the same ones that post "regular season means nothing, it's what you do in sections" comments? Of course doing well in the regular season is great, but if you never dip below 4th in the state rankings and you fail to make it to state...then yes that is a huge failure.

BlueLineSpecial · Post by **BlueLineSpecial** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 11:01 am

Ugottobekiddingme wrote:
BlueLineSpecial wrote:
Laker Guy wrote:
BlueLineSpecial ... Hello? Anyone out there?
Sorry. I mentioned in another thread I was heading out for a couple days. Wife, anniversary, I promised no hockey obsessing

Woke up to about 15 'wow' or 'ha ha' texts and I knew what had happened. Obviously I'm upset, shocked, and somewhat speechless. This was a team that I had doubts about all year. I'm sure doubters can easily find them in my history throughout the year. With that said I didn't see this coming.

I didn't see the game of course, so I can't give any analysis. I was clearly wrong about my bravado (some of which is more for show; I like rustling feathers from time to time) and I was wrong about Stillwater. They are better than 'mediocre' as I called them. They earned it and I wish them luck, I really do. What a great memory the whole community now had. Congrats young men.

As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach. I know there is a lot of pain for the players, some blaming themselves and apologizing to their teammates. It just shows how much these kids love the game we all do and it hurts like hell when that thing ends. But this team can hold their heads high. My sage advise is to see this as an opportunity to grow. In time you look back at these moments as the greatest time of your lives. Good luck to the seniors in whatever they do next.

The tourney this year should be a lot of fun. I'll enjoy the games and hope for some more upsets, great games, and moments we get get talk about 20 years from now.

Thanks Pioneers.
Good luck to Stillwater and Luverne at state! Someone needs a reality check towards "more name calling and over reacting" but at least TJ in Sochi made most of us proud. Hang in there HM and Lech as next year brings about new opportunities...some just don't know when to close their trap.

I guess the US didn't win gold because they didn't actually have a player from Warroad on the team. Shouldn't test fate. Sometimes it's best to close your trap in those scenarios

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 11:14 am

How about the great season and all the hard work and dedication these players put in. You are now saying because they lost a close sectional game, their season was a faliure, great supporter you are. I'm sure they are disappointed, but to insinuate they failed, grow up. HS athletics teaches many more life lessons than just if you win or lose.

BlueLineSpecial · Post by **BlueLineSpecial** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 11:22 am

mulefarm wrote:How about the great season and all the hard work and dedication these players put in. You are now saying because they lost a close sectional game, their season was a faliure, great supporter you are. I'm sure they are disappointed, but to insinuate they failed, grow up. HS athletics teaches many more life lessons than just if you win or lose.

I made it clear in my original post about life lessons, using this opportunity to grow,, and continue supporting each other. I also thanked them for the season (both on this forum and to them). But as far as the season itself, there isn't a single person with the program that doesn't consider this a failure ON THE ICE. Don't try to pick one sentence out of dozens and spin it. It's the lowest form of debating.

East Side Pioneer Guy · Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:28 pm

The Gumper wrote:
BlueLineSpecial wrote: As far as Hill and their season it has to be considered a colossal failure, some of which needs to be placed on the coach.
You lose three games all regular season and the season is a "colossal failure" because you didn't make it to state? Wow.

If you haven't heard we set the bar high.

And when we do win a section tournament, we're never "just happy to be there." Oh those teams annoy me.