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Back in the day, there was the "back door" rule where if you lost in Region 7 finals you could go to Region 8, win there and still get to state.
That's how Greenway won their 1968 title.

I think that’s how Rapids made their first trip in ‘72.

It started where region 7 runner up would go one year and then region 8 the next then changed it to a playoff.
It ended in 75msybe.

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 4:24 pm No more dyed blonde hair please. Blue, red, or purple?

I like zebra myself but imagine it's expensive.

I tweeted that and Tony yelled at me!

SEC Scotty wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 12:19 pm

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 11:00 am Club level- $16 for a slice of pizza.

Popcorn and a coke $18
Bottled water $7 and then they want a tip.
They make a fortune on Maui Wowies. Never had one. I'm a malt guy and now Snuffies is gone too.

Most of the people working in the concession stands are volunteers, working for their kid's college tuition, summer band trip, youth athletic fees, etc. I know one guy who made enough to buy his Scout troop a trailer.

SEC Scotty wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 12:19 pm

Nostalgic Nerd wrote: ↑Fri Mar 06, 2026 11:00 am Club level- $16 for a slice of pizza.

Popcorn and a coke $18
Bottled water $7 and then they want a tip.
They make a fortune on Maui Wowies. Never had one. I'm a malt guy and now Snuffies is gone too.

Two diet cokes and a water was $25. I about fell over.

Talked to a man who is a St.Paul Johnson alum last night. He said only 3 players played for the co-op this year from that area of the East Side.
Edina's cheerleaders were booed last night by upper level students who also started the F Edina chant in the 3rd period. Pretty bush league.

It’s the championship, announce all the players!

Nice to see cheerleaders.

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 12:16 pm Nice to see cheerleaders.

Definitely making a comeback!

Hibbing is buzzing. Just can’t get the bounces.

Since I'm here making my annual state tourney appearance, here are my thoughts on this year's experience.

First, the weather. I have a saying that I annoy friends and family with every year, which is that the State Fair starts in the summer and ends in the fall. Since the Fair is ten days long this actually happens more often than not. The corollary to this has been that the State Hockey Tournament starts in winter and ends in spring. Unfortunately, much like the GR player who got flipped/tripped at the end of Thursday's game, things are upside down this year. Mother Nature, give us a break and save the #*$&#&!! snow for the basketball tourney!

This year, for the first time in years, I didn't go to the evening Thursday session. TBH, I didn't totally miss it and wasn't seeing pucks getting chipped up the boards in regular rotation while I slept. I do kind of miss the craziness of the Thursday between sessions board related get togethers of the past but not the Friday mornings after. Lately, my tourney buddy and I have been taking a walk out to the edges of St.Paul, so we stretch our legs a bit and get some exercise before sitting for another 5+ hours and have enjoyed food and beverages at places like Alary's, the Gopher Bar and Waldmann Brewery (which I particularly recommend). We did get in the pre-tourney Bloody Mary and breakfast buffet at the Bar Formerly Known As The Liffey this year.

I also wanted to point out that three AA teams this year brought cheerleaders, which may be a 21st century record. The bands are always great, though Gentry didn't have one. I know they're a small hockey factor--er academy, but c'mon, bring some kazoos and squawk out some AC/DC riffs if nothing else! And two teams brought their mascots, the Thunderhawk and the Spud were both present.

Finally for your entertainment and with apologies for the blurriness (the zoom feature on my phone camera is embarrassingly bad) here's a link to photo I took of the Moorhead Spud which serendipitously happened to be positioned above the 'Old Dutch' sign: https://app.screencast.com/bEQzKOCHnaQlV .

Hi Kris.

One of the best games ever

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 2:06 pmHi Kris.

Hey Elliott, hope all's well up north!

Quick shoutout before tonight’s big game

Rapids loses a heart breaker to Rosemount in OT and then goes on to win their next two for the consolation

Warroad downs Hibbing in an epic championship game

Rosemount wins an OT thriller on Thursday and loses an OT thriller to the 1 seed Tonka and then takes 3rd over Edina

Pretty good stuff so far

1 more tonight to cap off an entertaining tournament

Where are the "This seeding thing is joke! We need to stop doing this!" folks this year?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

ChrisK wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 2:24 pm

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 2:06 pmHi Kris.

Hey Elliott, hope all's well up north!

Life is good

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 7:06 pm Where are the "This seeding thing is joke! We need to stop doing this!" folks this year?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Agree. Having this game tonight used to happen on Thursday morning some years. I get the 1-8 game can be ugly at times but at least the chance for a ridiculous upset is there. Regular season should mean something.

The folks at the back of the ice cream line can plan on missing an entire period.

Me and SEC Scotty should grab a beer over the summer.

Ripping off your 2nd place medals is getting old. I’ve been watching hockey for over 50 years and I promise you that you aren’t too good for it. First time I saw it was Hermantown a few years back. I’m as bad a sore loser as there is.

You don't look like competitors to me. You look like your parents are losers. Live with that.

And you also look like your coaches weren’t smart enough to tell you that before the game.

1 more thing. Not all of today’s 2nd place players did that. I remember those more than the ones who did.

grindiangrad-80 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 07, 2026 10:57 pm 1 more thing. Not all of today’s 2nd place players did that. I remember those more than the ones who did.

Respect to the kids that didn’t. Dunno what point that makes. “I only put first place medals on my neck”. So lame.