Hill-Murray vs. Rochester Century

[jorda262]

I believe this will for sure be the best Quarterfinal Game... both teams bring a lot to the quality of this game.. zepeda larsen czeka and phillipi are all quality players and hill should have more depth than rochester but rochester is more indivually talented... Joe Knoepke, Colin Briscoe Garrett Grimstad and Bryce Wilcox all played in the Elite League this year and are all going to the USHL, Colin Briscoe was the 2nd Pick Overall in the entire country in the USHL... If these individuals play hot century will win, if they play normal it will be a good game... Both these teams are hot right now and one may argue Big Nine sucks... which it does.. but hill plays in the Classic Suburban which also sucks... Also with rochesters loses this season which were to Rosville Duluth East Edina and Tartan... The Tartan game grimstad knoepke and briscoe there stars were all injured and the duluth east game was close.. and the roseville game was 2-0 with rochester being short handed a majoirty of the game... but edina did whop them up... and someone said Duluth Marshall beat Century false... Century won that game.. Hill has the seasonal experience from a tough schedule in sections against white bear and in the schwan cup but century brings in the seniority experience bringing in mainly all 3 year or 4 year varsity players... Oh and going Back to Colin Briscoe he played for Mahtomedi his Sophomore year and was in the Classic Suburban and that year he had more points than Nick Larsen did even when Larsen played with Mike Hoeffel and Bryant Skarda... Larsen is a better player ecpsecially cuz Don Lucia said so by recruitting him but Colin Briscoe is a Solid 6' 2" force that could decide the outcome of the game... i believe colin briscoe or zepeda will win the game for either team in a margin of 3-2 possibly in OT...

[Ankles Pierre, Jr.]

Of course, Lechner is a great coach (his ability to bring out an entirely new style of play during Sections proves it, once again), but it still is fun to see what other armchair QB's would do!

Many fans would not have put Larson (nor Zepeda) at the point. Hill's "D" may not have the skills of Larson or Zepeda, but surely they can receive a pass, throw a low wrist-shot on net, or pass it back to one of the skilled players and just hold the zone? Don't they do alright 5 on 5?

[Spartanfan1]

and someone said Duluth Marshall beat Century false... Century won that game...

Century did lose this game. I think it was 2-1

[gopherhockey33]

hill is practiaclly the 1 seed.

Excuse me?

they play rochestor century the 1st round i mean give me a break. assuming roseau wins they are beatable.

[Sparlimb]

Of course, Lechner is a great coach (his ability to bring out an entirely new style of play during Sections proves it, once again), but it still is fun to see what other armchair QB's would do!

Many fans would not have put Larson (nor Zepeda) at the point. Hill's "D" may not have the skills of Larson or Zepeda, but surely they can receive a pass, throw a low wrist-shot on net, or pass it back to one of the skilled players and just hold the zone? Don't they do alright 5 on 5?

AP, The powerplay is without doubt the worst I can ever remember. They look awful. They can't gain the zone, get puck possession or get a decent shot even when they do. It is ugly. I hate Larson back on the point. He's our most skilled player and he's being wasted out on the blue line. He's the guy I want with the puck behind the net making a pass to Furne in the slot. That powerplay will be the death of this team. Hill should consider declining penalties...

[gopherhockey33]

i agree Hills powerplay is horrible!

[crash]

rochester is more indivually talented... Joe Knoepke, Colin Briscoe Garrett Grimstad and Bryce Wilcox all played in the Elite League this year and are all going to the USHL

I will bet you a house that they all don't play in the USHL! I would even bet one or two won't stick in the NAHL next year. OVERRATED talent and lack of gritty play is what kills Century when they play top end teams.

[mnhshockey00]

Well Garret ships out to Green Bay Sunday March 10th so he for sure will and when Briscoe was drafted as high as he was im sure they must have a lot of interest in him. Also with Knutsons large frame it would be hard to pass up him for Cedar Rapids

[goldy313]

Lakeville's top line held Century's top line to 0 points in the section final, yet Century still scored 5 goals. Unlike any team that's came out of Rochester since 1989 this team has more than 1 line. I don't believe Century has the defense or goaltending to pull the upset, but you can't score from your own end of the rink and Century has done a fairly good job of limiting shots and keeping the puck out of their own end, yes their section was weak, but Duluth Marshall was limited to about 20 shots.

[mnhshockey00]

That is a good point, i dont even think the line that everyone is saying is there 1st line is there best line. I think the line of Knutson, Briscoe, and Arens is more challenging to play against and they had there biggest game when it mattered most in the section finals. Also I think Hill Murrays weak defense will have a hard time breaking the puck out of there own zone and they wont get much help from there offensive minded forwards

[JRdeeez]

Hill-Murray 4 Century 3

Century will control the game for the most part and bottle up the Pioneers....however...Hill-Murray will make the most of their opportunities and sneak out a close one.

[mnwildhcky1611]

sure centurys goalie was shaky throughout the year but just like last year he has played pretty well in the playoffs and usually when a rochester team comes up to the state tournament they ussually only have one line but this year century comes up with 2 lines and their second line consistss of briscoe and knutson both most likely going to the ushl and the third line is to not be put on the back burner they're not the most talented kids but they sure play like rats on acid thats the thing about century there on you at all times hill better hope century doesnt score first or they could be in trouble

[Ankles Pierre, Jr.]

i agree Hills powerplay is horrible!

Okay, the Pioneers average one power-play goal per game, but Ankles Pierre is interested in what armchair QB's would do during a power play (without even mentioning what Lechner does)?

Would you treat each power play as more of an odd-man rush?

Would you be less deliberate with your passing and shoot into traffic?

Would you design a play to feed a certain player at a certain location?

What would you do (no deferring to Lechner & Co.)?

[Sparlimb]

Okay, the Pioneers average one power-play goal per game, but Ankles Pierre is interested in what armchair QB's would do during a power play (without even mentioning what Lechner does)?

Would you treat each power play as more of an odd-man rush?

Would you be less deliberate with your passing and shoot into traffic?

Would you design a play to feed a certain player at a certain location?

What would you do (no deferring to Lechner & Co.)?

There isn't much anyone can do. Either you have the talent to gain the zone and perform pin point passing, or you don't. I'm guessing Hill doesn't. Any pressure from the short-handed team gets the puck against the boards and eventually loose to dump down the ice. Hill needs to play the same way they have all year and hope it comes together finally. It just isn't and won't ever be a strength of this team. I don't see this as a coaching problem. It is a horses problem...

[southernmnscout]

Colin Briscoe was the 2nd Pick Overall in the entire country in the USHL...

NO!!

In fact he was the 9th pick in the 3rd round of the futures draft.

33rd pick Tri-City Storm Colin Briscoe 3/89 F Rochester, Minn. Rochester Century High School

54th pick Cedar Rapids RoughRiders Ryan Knutson 9/89 F Rochester, Minn. Rochester Century

[Ankles Pierre, Jr.]

Ankles Pierre has seen pretty nice puck-handling skills from Hills following HORSES:

LARSON
ZEPEDA
FURNE
CECKA
KOHLS
SINGERHOUSE
WIDING
WESTERHAUS

CAN'T YOU DESIGN A PLAY USING A FEW OF THESE GUYS?

Maybe limit them to a certain number of passes before heading to the net... 1, 2, 3, GO!

[Sparlimb]

Ankles Pierre has seen pretty nice puck-handling skills from Hills following HORSES:

LARSON
ZEPEDA
FURNE
CECKA
KOHLS
SINGERHOUSE
WIDING
WESTERHAUS

CAN'T YOU DESIGN A PLAY USING A FEW OF THESE GUYS?

Maybe limit them to a certain number of passes before heading to the net... 1, 2, 3, GO!

My assumption is the coaching staff knows a hell of a lot better what they are doing then I do. So I generally assume what I see on the ice is the best they can do. As a fan who's seen a lot of hockey in my day, I can only say if it is working or not. A smart opponent will pressure this powerplay. Any team that sits back and let's Hill move the puck around the outside is asking for trouble. I think it would be a very dangerous powerplay if both Furne and Zepeda had another year under them. On the other hand, Hill gets almost as many chances short-handed as they do on the power play. That unit seems to work like a well-oiled machine with Zepeda wandering out fot the break away pass more often then not. If I was designing the pp, the only thing I would change is Larson at the point. I want him down low making a play. He's a good passer and a good finisher and I think those skills are lessened while playing the point.

[jbhagel81]

Seeing how HM has fewer wins then I have fingers on my left hand against Century in the past 35 years, I'd have to lean Century...


12-1 Rochester...

maybe not 12 to 1 but i most def love the fingers on the left hand thing.


rochester 4-3 in a close one

[Ankles Pierre, Jr.]

No cheating!

Of course Hill's staff knows better, that's why they have the honor of coaching the Pioneers' 31st State Tournament team!

However, you are not allowed to defer to their judgment!

Ankles Pierre has seen many teams go from worst to first after minor adjustments to weaknesses or more focus on a strength or two!

Anyone else want to take a stab?

[Green and White Fan]

Ankles, I believe you meant 21st state tournament team. The Rams hold the all time record of 31 this year!

[wbmd]

Ankles, I believe you meant 21st state tournament team. The Rams hold the all time record of 31 this year!

He's talking 31 counting the private school tourney's.

[mnwildhcky1611]

my predictions for the two players of this game from each team

H-M Tyler Zepeda

RC- Bryce Wilcox

[goHMPioneers00]

I am predicting Nick Larson will get a hat trick for the second year in a row in State Quaterfinal play today
Hill also wins 5-2

[pucknutz]

HM 8

RC 2

[Warrior18]

i think HM will win this won by 4. I see RC keeping in close in the first and second but HM pulling away in the 3rd.