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Such excitement...

I was in high school the last time Denfeld was poised to make a trip to state, and was in fact AT the game - ironically against Cloquet, but it was UP in Hibbing in 1993. Denfeld hasn't been closer to state ever since.

I was in Iraq in 06 lisitening to Denfeld and Cathedral play over the internet, and the two teams sound like they've come to know each other well as post season powers to be dealt with.

As an avid hockey fan, and former player and high school ref in the area, I've seen Denfeld play several times this year. And I have some concerns if they are to make it past Cathedral.

While they have a high scoring first line, they lack depth. Should they make it past Cathedral, this could be a problem. Stafne and Johnson are incredible playmakers - maybe among the best in this area since Spehar and Locker as a tandem, but if you shut that line down, Denfeld is in real trouble against a solid defense like Cathedral.

Another point seen that really annoys me - is a lack of team discipline. I see a lot of individualilty, and I'm not talking about glory hunting. I'm talking about taking dumb - really dumb penalties when the team least needs them. It's easier to sleep at night walking away from a trash talker on the ice, than to sit in the sin bin and watch your teaml ose on a goal that was scored while you were sitting in there. Case in point, when I watched the East/Denfeld game, the Hunters were right with them up until the middle of the second period, when I saw a melt down of disciplined hockey. Key penalties resulted in East goals and that's what sunk Denfeld in that game...a game a lot of people were watching as a measuring stick of area hockey.

I've also seen Denfeld make poor choices in passing in critical areas, resulting in game changing goals. At the Marshall game, an ill-advised pass while in their own end during a penalty kill was picked off and resulted in a power play goal, which changed the tide of the game in favor of Marshall...again, Marshall won and it changed the tides of area hockey.

While these are some minor examples, they are part of a bigger picture I've seen all year. Denfeld IS a good team. There is no doubt in my mind, nor should there be in most peoples, for they are indeed a good team. But I'm wondering if a balanced team is going to show up tonight to meet what is, a balanced Cathedral team.

I was set to go to the State Tournament in 93, only to have my hopes ruined by a kid prodigy from Cloquet named Jamie Langenbrunner. Almost 20 years later, I'm hoping that Denfeld can come out on top and avenge the memories of a game gone bad for some of us alumni out there...the time is now, and from Gary to West End, the community is looking at this team to carry their hopes to St. Paul....as a team.

I almost wish East had won their semi game (my cousin plays for East anyways, so I'm somewhat biased) but could you imagine this scenario: East beats Anoka....Duluth East goes to the X. The Hunters beat Cathedral....Duluth Denfeld goes to the X. Marshall beats Hibbing. Duluth Marshall goes to the X. THREE Duluth teams? THe Twin Cities faithful would be in damage control mode!!!! But.....alas, not to be.

I smell upset. Denfeld 5-4 anyone?

SCC 5 (EN)
DD 3

what time does this game start? 7 or 7:30?

hookman wrote:what time does this game start? 7 or 7:30?

7 pm start time...Get there early as I am assuming there will be tons of Denfeld folks in the building and I'm hearing a respectable about of Cathedral fans will be making the haul.

George Blanda wrote:

hookman wrote:what time does this game start? 7 or 7:30?

7 pm start time...Get there early as I am assuming there will be tons of Denfeld folks in the building and I'm hearing a respectable about of Cathedral fans will be making the haul.

Anyone know if any tickets are left? If so do you just get them at the barn, or should I drop Denfeld?

Kurdatz wrote:

George Blanda wrote:

hookman wrote:what time does this game start? 7 or 7:30?

7 pm start time...Get there early as I am assuming there will be tons of Denfeld folks in the building and I'm hearing a respectable about of Cathedral fans will be making the haul.

Anyone know if any tickets are left? If so do you just get them at the barn, or should I drop Denfeld?

They should be available at the door. I didn't hear of any tickets going on sale at Cathedral.

George Blanda wrote:

Kurdatz wrote:

George Blanda wrote: 7 pm start time...Get there early as I am assuming there will be tons of Denfeld folks in the building and I'm hearing a respectable about of Cathedral fans will be making the haul.

Anyone know if any tickets are left? If so do you just get them at the barn, or should I drop Denfeld?

They should be available at the door. I didn't hear of any tickets going on sale at Cathedral.

I wasn't going to go originally, but a bunch of us from the 93 team are going to be there, so I guess I'm going now - to see if these guys can redeem our fault (losing to a guy who is now in the pros, isn't exactly a fault I guess, but you know what I mean.) I'm sure the barn will look like Mr. D's on a Friday night.

Are you going to watch the game tonight?

mikemodano09 wrote:Hey MVP3 wasn't that the night you started a fight after the game in the parking lot??

um no I did not. but i did get hit in the head with a full coke bottle by some denfeld "thugs"

Kurdatz wrote:

George Blanda wrote:

Kurdatz wrote: Anyone know if any tickets are left? If so do you just get them at the barn, or should I drop Denfeld?

They should be available at the door. I didn't hear of any tickets going on sale at Cathedral.

I wasn't going to go originally, but a bunch of us from the 93 team are going to be there, so I guess I'm going now - to see if these guys can redeem our fault (losing to a guy who is now in the pros, isn't exactly a fault I guess, but you know what I mean.) I'm sure the barn will look like Mr. D's on a Friday night.

Are you going to watch the game tonight?

You bet. Gonna hit the road here in about an hour and will grab a bite to eat in Cloquet. Have a buddy picking me up some tickets.

mvp3 wrote:

mikemodano09 wrote:Hey MVP3 wasn't that the night you started a fight after the game in the parking lot??

um no I did not. but i did get hit in the head with a full coke bottle by some denfeld "thugs"

Thugs? THUGS? Hey, some of those kids are "professionals"! ha ha ha!!

I'm just kidding. I never really cared for fights before or after games...senseless stuff really.

George Blanda wrote:

Kurdatz wrote:

George Blanda wrote: They should be available at the door. I didn't hear of any tickets going on sale at Cathedral.

I wasn't going to go originally, but a bunch of us from the 93 team are going to be there, so I guess I'm going now - to see if these guys can redeem our fault (losing to a guy who is now in the pros, isn't exactly a fault I guess, but you know what I mean.) I'm sure the barn will look like Mr. D's on a Friday night.

Are you going to watch the game tonight?

You bet. Gonna hit the road here in about an hour and will grab a bite to eat in Cloquet. Have a buddy picking me up some tickets.

I haven't been in the barn since they had the old one, and that was a LONG time ago. Now THAT place had some nostalgia to it, even if it must give away to progress I guess. So I guess I'll have my first look at the new one.

I haven't watched Cathedral yet this year, I' ve just done my homework on them so far and been checking on tips from others....so tonight will be an interesting game to watch to say the least.

I can't help but be biased to the alma mater, but in the interest of fair match-ups, I'd hate to say it, but I think Cathedral is the better team in this game. I forsee Cathedrals defense shutting down Denfelds big three scorers and that's going to cause frustration, and when you get frustration amidst players who are used to scoring, two things happen. Individuality sets in, the glory goal hunting. And two, because of the effects of the first one, game control is lost - ie, effective passing, reading the ice, knowing position, etc. When these two things happen, it leaves the defense open to vulnerability and I expect that to happen if I were Cathedral.

If I were Denfeld, DO NOT make the mistakes all of the teams of your fore fathers have made, that is get a few goals, and then rest back on assureability that the game is won. I've seen TOO many GOOD teams, teams that could EASILY have been in the great 8 from 93 - 97. Do this and it'll bit them square in the butt. Play all three periods like they are you're last, because for some of those players, it may be. With a lack of scoring depth, the key point for DD is a 1 two punch. Hard and fast in the red light dept.

So I'm going to go ahead and say: Ugh, this is painful,

Saint Cloud Cathedral: 5 (ENG)
Duluth Denfeld: 3

I hope like hell I'm wrong, but that's what I foresee.

I'm sure things will change next year. Especially if Denfeld and Central combine and go AA. :[/quote]

I know it sounds a ways off, but DC hasn't had the numbers they once had...and although DD has the numbers now, I foresee them falling off as well in the next 2 or 3 years...I could actually see this happening in a few years. I know it's actually been talked about two years ago.

Does DC even hace a JV team?

What a far cry from their State appearance in the 90's.

Denfeld will be going to the big "X" in St.Paul, Cody H. will have a couple including the winner again, and J.Johnson and Stafne also a couple points. 6-4 Hunters!

eastranger19 wrote:Denfeld will be going to the big "X" in St.Paul, Cody H. will have a couple including the winner again, and J.Johnson and Stafne also a couple points. 6-4 Hunters!

I like that call. It's been a few years since I played for Denfeld but even I'm nervous for this one. Come on fellas, time to earn yourself some ice time at the Xcel Energy Center!

fkahckyprofessor20 wrote:

eastranger19 wrote:Denfeld will be going to the big "X" in St.Paul, Cody H. will have a couple including the winner again, and J.Johnson and Stafne also a couple points. 6-4 Hunters!

I like that call. It's been a few years since I played for Denfeld but even I'm nervous for this one. Come on fellas, time to earn yourself some ice time at the Xcel Energy Center!

I too want to see the Big D back in it...the last time they were on the state boob tube, they still had the clear boards of the old Civic Center!!! Anybody else remember that??? Good times!!! Come on boys!!! Light that candle and go to work!!!

Kurdatz wrote:

fkahckyprofessor20 wrote:

eastranger19 wrote:Denfeld will be going to the big "X" in St.Paul, Cody H. will have a couple including the winner again, and J.Johnson and Stafne also a couple points. 6-4 Hunters!

I like that call. It's been a few years since I played for Denfeld but even I'm nervous for this one. Come on fellas, time to earn yourself some ice time at the Xcel Energy Center!

I too want to see the Big D back in it...the last time they were on the state boob tube, they still had the clear boards of the old Civic Center!!! Anybody else remember that??? Good times!!! Come on boys!!! Light that candle and go to work!!!

The glass boards were awesome, the only bad thing was the teams that would wear the cooperalls.

eastranger19 wrote:

Kurdatz wrote:

fkahckyprofessor20 wrote: I like that call. It's been a few years since I played for Denfeld but even I'm nervous for this one. Come on fellas, time to earn yourself some ice time at the Xcel Energy Center!

I too want to see the Big D back in it...the last time they were on the state boob tube, they still had the clear boards of the old Civic Center!!! Anybody else remember that??? Good times!!! Come on boys!!! Light that candle and go to work!!!

The glass boards were awesome, the only bad thing was the teams that would wear the cooperalls.

Ha ha ha!!!! nice touch!!!!

Puck you St cloud is the best sign thus far

3-1 Cathedrals goin the X!!!!!!!!

George Blanda wrote:Puck you St cloud is the best sign thus far

Twas a funny one. Got a pic of it. I'll post it in a day or two.

Lee

I wish the Duluth News Station would have gotten a clip of Nick Maiers save to keep the game at 2-1. It was one of, if not, the most remarkable and clutch saves I have seen in a while.

In the end, I thought Cathedral was the better team and it showed on the scoreboard. Their D-core showed why they are so highly touted by keeping Denfeld's high-powered offense in check. Cathedral was also deeper at forward than Denfeld, IMO.

Props to Denfeld, their fans sure packed that place making for a great atmosphere and exciting game. Good luck to Jake Johnson and the rest of the departing Denfeld seniors.

As for Cathedral, they have a really good young team and a definite chance to make some noise at state. Hopefully they don't take a big dig at the X like we did in '04.

east hockey wrote:

George Blanda wrote:Puck you St cloud is the best sign thus far

Twas a funny one. Got a pic of it. I'll post it in a day or two.

Lee

Anything???

George Blanda wrote:

east hockey wrote:

George Blanda wrote:Puck you St cloud is the best sign thus far

Twas a funny one. Got a pic of it. I'll post it in a day or two.

Lee

Anything???

Bump.

I'd like to see that.

Just an update for the fans, especially from DD. Jake Johnson headed down to Sioux City on Thursday and played in two games for the USHL Sioux City Musketeers, getting an assist on Friday (along with Matt Crandell no less, ironic?) and a goal on Saturday. He's stepped in and is ready to play down there.