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Separately regarding the three Hermantown players, Gotz, Biondi, Pierce. Gotz is a talented offensive D with a really good shot. Not great size, but he has a high battle level & will play a year or 2 of juniors before joining UMD. And obviously, UMD has had a lot of success with Pionk & Samberg, which helps a player like Gotz join the fold. As far as Biondi, Donovan is the only player on DE (ability wise) who is (even) in the same ballpark, and Biondi is clearly the more complete player, especially finishing around the netAnd Pierce, while the same birth year as Biondi, but only a sophomore, likely has a hand full of D1 offers at this point (although possibly as a D) not as a forward. And he’s damn near as good as Biondi.

A little off topic , but once again agree with my good friend 59 that Pierce is an early favorite for a top junior in state next year along with Luke M , with approximately a dozen others close behind with already announced D1. A few others where D 1 is probably in the works . Shaping up to be a good class

Work isn't going to allow me to attend but I really wish I could. This should be another 7AA classic. I'm going to say OT.

I don't have a clue on the winner but think it will be a game remembered for a long time.

Andover by 3

2 keys for each team:

Andover
1. Ben Fritsinger. He's one of the best goalies in the state, and has only allowed more than two goals once this season. He very nearly stole this game a season ago when his Huskies were nowhere near the Hounds' level, and if they skate fairly evenly, he could well be the difference-maker. Still, even he has had the occasional game where things snowball out of control (Blaine, regular season vs. East last year). He just needs to rise to the occasion on this stage.
2. Special teams. Before the Elk River semifinal got out of hand, the Huskies were good but not exceptional at even strength. But when they went shorthanded, it seemed like they really came to life. They'll look to do that again on Thursday against a team that will definitely be looking to bring a physical game to slow them down. And if/when they press their advantage on the PP, they'll also need to protect against Ryder Donovan going the other direction.

Duluth East
1. Breakouts. Unlike a lot of East defenses over the years, this D corps outside of F.H. Paine is not wildly dynamic. It's at its best when the other members aren't trying to do too much and just calmly break the puck out. They struggled with that in the early going against Cloquet, and if they repeat that performance, Andover will roll. If they play within themselves, East will have a good chance.
2. Star power. Production on Ryder Donovan's inevitable breakaways is the easiest way for East to put goals on the board; Ricky Lyle has been on a playoff tear, too. But I think Paine might be the biggest key, especially because last season's comeback ran through Luke LaMaster bombs from the point that got deflected past Fritsinger. He needs to be the leader from the blue line.

karl(east) wrote: ↑Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:34 pm . . . 2. Star power. Production on Ryder Donovan's inevitable breakaways is the easiest way for East to put goals on the board; Ricky Lyle has been on a playoff tear, too. But I think Paine might be the biggest key, especially because last season's comeback ran through Luke LaMaster bombs from the point that got deflected past Fritsinger. He needs to be the leader from the blue line.

East needs Donovan to step up his game even more tonight. He seems to have found himself the past few games, but he hasn't played a team of the caliber of Andover in weeks. I am not underestimating Andover's team speed or playmaking ability. They have what it takes to get to the state title game. But can they contain a player of Donovan's stature, especially if he takes his game to another level tonight? Do Huskies need to for them to get the win? A great player can wreck the game plan of another team and I'm especially interested to see what Donovan brings to this match-up.

If I have to choose who to cheer for based on head coaches....

Go Andover.

I have been told Coach Manney has been preparing for this game for three weeks.

mnmouth wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 11:17 am

karl(east) wrote: ↑Tue Feb 26, 2019 6:34 pm . . . 2. Star power. Production on Ryder Donovan's inevitable breakaways is the easiest way for East to put goals on the board; Ricky Lyle has been on a playoff tear, too. But I think Paine might be the biggest key, especially because last season's comeback ran through Luke LaMaster bombs from the point that got deflected past Fritsinger. He needs to be the leader from the blue line.

East needs Donovan to step up his game even more tonight. He seems to have found himself the past few games, but he hasn't played a team of the caliber of Andover in weeks. I am not underestimating Andover's team speed or playmaking ability. They have what it takes to get to the state title game. But can they contain a player of Donovan's stature, especially if he takes his game to another level tonight? Do Huskies need to for them to get the win? A great player can wreck the game plan of another team and I'm especially interested to see what Donovan brings to this match-up.

That great player needs to FINISH on the chances he creates for HIMSELF threw the neutral zone We all know RD has the ability to create chances, can he finish when it really counts? DE very well may pull it off tonight, who knows, as Karl aptly put it, FH Paine play may turn out even more pivotal than Donovan & DE has a good team. Just...as a teammate of mine (his late Father) used to say to us boys as teenagers “Don’t flower you nuts” into believing Andover won’t be ready, willing and able to take the Section 7AA Title tonight

Karl gets a mention in today's "Puck Drop" blog in the Star Tribune!

I also liked this quote from Andover's coach, Mark Manney: “Everybody up north hates Duluth East until they play a southern school. Then all of 218 [area code] gets behind them.”

51 Hours of Fury: North vs. South
http://www.startribune.com/51-hours-of- ... 506435942/

I'm hoping for an Andover victory, but my gut says DE 5 - 4.

Andover

I’ve taken my seat at Amsoil on the top of section 18 on the blue line. It will be time to drop the puck (in 30-35 minutes)...so as Jack Morris once said “In the words of the late, great Marvin Gaye...LETS GET IT ON!” Best of Luck to both teams, this should be an instant classic game

After one period Andover 1 DE 1. To me it’s surprising how much stuff the refs are letting go...2 or 3 times Hounds players hung a leg & either went knee to knee (or damn close to it) on Andover players and it wasn’t called. DE strategy is to play very physical, since they don’t have the speed to keep up...I have no problem with this strategy when the hits are made CLEANLY Aside from that, a hard fought, exciting first period.

Thanks for updates 59! GB

GoldenBear wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 7:39 pm Thanks for updates 59! GB

I have no problem with guys throwing hits like the Hammer did, forcing guys to play with their heads up or KABOOM..but this sorta missing lining a guy up open ice hit and then hanging a leg to compensate, knocking the guy down with your leg rather than your shoulder...is NOT kosher Hopeful if it continues, the refs will get the whistles out of their pockets.

2-2 4 min left in 2nd. Lyle red hot for East.

2-2 after 2 periods. Refs have not called a single penalty tonight

Tied 3-3, 6:05 remaining 3rd Period:
UPDATES: https://twitter.com/UpNorthHockey18

JerseyDave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:52 pm Tied 3-3 at 10:55, 3rd Period:
UPDATES: https://twitter.com/UpNorthHockey18

Is it worth it to spend the $10 to watch the last 10ish minutes?

kpryan88 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:54 pm

JerseyDave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:52 pm Tied 3-3 at 10:55, 3rd Period:
UPDATES: https://twitter.com/UpNorthHockey18

Is it worth it to spend the $10 to watch the last 10ish minutes?

My bad, it was 10:55 into the third period, so 6:05 remaining. By now, it's less time.

UPDATE: Going into OT.

UPDATE: DE wins 4-3.
https://twitter.com/UpNorthHockey18/sta ... 7710142464 (video of goal)
https://twitter.com/UpNorthHockey18/sta ... 8568026112 (another angle)

More game highlights on WDIO's Twitter feed:
First period highlights: https://twitter.com/wdiowirt/status/1101299100644003841
Second period highlights: https://twitter.com/wdiowirt/status/1101308627997155328
Third period highlights: https://twitter.com/wdiowirt/status/1101318895967895552
OT goal: https://twitter.com/wdiowirt/status/1101321876180217857

HOLY CRAP. East wins in OT!

Lee

JerseyDave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:59 pm

kpryan88 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:54 pm

JerseyDave wrote: ↑Thu Feb 28, 2019 8:52 pm Tied 3-3 at 10:55, 3rd Period:
UPDATES: https://twitter.com/UpNorthHockey18

Is it worth it to spend the $10 to watch the last 10ish minutes?

My bad, it was 10:55 into the third period, so 6:05 remaining. By now, it's less time.

UPDATE: Going into OT.

Spent $10 to watch the last 45 seconds of the 3rd and OT. Solid Ciccerelli dive by East gets them to state!

Sounds like one of the Lyle goals shouldn't have counted and the penalty that led to the OT goal was a bad call. More home cooking up in Duluth?

Welcome to the club Huskies.

Tough to win when you have to play against the team and the refs. IMO that was bs.