BANTAM A STATE TOURNAMENT

payday · Post by **payday** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:03 pm

elliott70 wrote:
outofsite wrote:I feel kinda sorry that the Sunday games are in the Little Raph. The Huck has much better ICE. Games in the Raph seem slow to watch. and Definently slow to play on.
Maybe they will all be at the Huck with all the whining going on.

And I know the guy that can make that happen.

Oh scary

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:09 pm

lol Both places are great places to play and watch. Everyone just needs to get over this. WHO CARES?!!! Enjoy the excitement of the tournament, have fun, be excited, and go watch or play some great hockey!!

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:10 pm

payday wrote:
elliott70 wrote:
outofsite wrote:I feel kinda sorry that the Sunday games are in the Little Raph. The Huck has much better ICE. Games in the Raph seem slow to watch. and Definently slow to play on.
Maybe they will all be at the Huck with all the whining going on.

And I know the guy that can make that happen.
Oh scary

Payday! Do you know elliott? I'd be scared!!!

payday · Post by **payday** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:13 pm

I do not know him...
But i was not being sarcastic. People should not bicker any longer. I don't think it is going to be changed

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:15 pm

payday wrote:
elliott70 wrote:
outofsite wrote:I feel kinda sorry that the Sunday games are in the Little Raph. The Huck has much better ICE. Games in the Raph seem slow to watch. and Definently slow to play on.
Maybe they will all be at the Huck with all the whining going on.

And I know the guy that can make that happen.
Oh scary

It wasn't meant to scare you, but to vent my frustration with beating the dead horse.

hockeyma · Post by **hockeyma** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:20 pm

elliott70 wrote:
payday wrote:
elliott70 wrote: Maybe they will all be at the Huck with all the whining going on.

And I know the guy that can make that happen.
Oh scary
It wasn't meant to scare you, but to vent my frustration with beating the dead horse.

Did you see the smiley face? ha! ha! I am just agreeing with the whole thing being ridiculous!! Last post from me on this!!

Good luck all!

blainehockeymom · Post by **blainehockeymom** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:23 pm

sniper87 wrote:
Do they know that they scheduled the State Tournament the same weekend as the 3 A/AA Select 16 tryouts?

Now here is a real problem which I am involved.

Section 8 and I believe secton 7 select 16 try-outs are teh same weekend as the VFW tournament.
We have to make arrangements for Moorhead, Bemdiji, and Duluth East bantam A 93 births to be evaluated.
Now I will put section 3 kids on my list.

Also section 2A/AA tryouts are the week of the state tourney. What do you mean by adding them to your list? If they dont go through the section tryout could they still have any chance of being put on the team?

Titan2020 · Post by **Titan2020** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:54 pm

titan

1_2_Know · Post by **1_2_Know** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:56 pm

Not THAT big a deal. Select 15 & 16 is just a money making sham anyway.
If your son misses out on it and is good enough, someone will find him down the road. And no, I don't have son that wasn't picked, I have friends who's kids have participated and told me as much. I also have seen the picks and in most years you could pick a group equally as talented that did not make it out of the various district tryouts.

Air Force 1 · Post by **Air Force 1** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:03 pm

hockeyman16 wrote:I would guess that the Bantam A State Hockey Tournament would bring in quite a bit more money than a basketball tournament in a northern Minnesota town. Just a guess? So wouldn't you think you could move the basketball tournament to a gym where the sport is supposed to be played? And use the Ralph Engelstad HOCKEY Arena for the Bantam A State Tournament? This is the State of Hockey isn't it? Keep it that way.

Ah...NO. It may be the state of hockey but up in this area, there a lot more schools that play basketball than hockey and it WILL be a better draw than the Bantam A tournament. Sorry. How many bus loads of fans are coming from Duluth, or the metro area for the Bantam A tourney? For the basketball tourney there will be probably a couple bus loads for each school that participates plus all the fans that drive themselves. Based on the attendance I personally witnessed at the State Pee Wee A last year, the basketball tourney will outdraw the Bantam A Tourney 4:1

The 'lil Ralph in TRF, as great a building as it is, is a business and they have bills to pay. It is a multi use facility and they accept all paying customers, and they need to. Ovechkin may have skated on it, as another poster put it, but that don't pay the bills.

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:51 pm

Here is my intel and predictions on the state tourney:

Duluth East (49-6-1) vs Minneapolis Park (32-13-3)

Duluth East has been impressive and powerful most of the year but have shown that the wheels can fall off with a tie to Tartan, barely beating Armstrong/Cooper in overtime. They are on a roll however entering the tourney with 18 consecutive wins (with a convincing 5-1 thrashing of Rochester Red in there). While Minneapolis Park could play the spoiler, it depends which team shows up --- one that has the desire to stand down to no one (Rochester Red, Woodbury, Bemidji) or one that is scared of their shadow (Duluth East 6-1, Eagan 6-0, Woodbury 5-0, Moorhead 3-0). I think this one will be close, but I give it to Duluth East as Minneapolis Park hasn't proven they can handle the pressures of tournament play. Duluth East wins 5-3.

Osseo/Maple Grove (26-12-3) vs Rochester Red (38-7-3)

Wow, here is a test between two fast teams. Both are solid. No upsets here. Whoever wins this game is the better team as it is a photo finish game. OMG is better finesse and speed while Rochester Red plays a more balanced defensive game with a strong backstop. Rochester Red had their way against OMG earlier in the year. Both teams have had their bumps --- Rochester Reds came earlier in the year. They are on a tear right now going 21-1-1 in their last 23 games with a 5-1 loss to Duluth East. Meanwhile, Maple Grove has not been as hot with losses to Centennial and Whitebear in addition to Duluth East in their last 18 games. Barnburner well into the third with RR opening it up late and a final empty netter to seal it! - Rochester Red 6 - OMG 3

Bemidji (31-16-0) vs Highland (14-14-1)

Huh? While Bemidji isn't top 20 they will have their way over Highland who ended the season with 2 wins in their last thirteen games ---- stumbled into a weak regional and edged a few District 4 and 5 teams. Out of their league and don't have a chance of even being a spoiler here against a Bemidji team that is marginal, but solid. Bemidji on the other hand has been well above 500 since January but has suffered losses to Thief River Falls, Roseau, and a couple of OTs to Moorhead. Could they be a tourney spoiler, naw, they will walk through this one, but hit a brick wall in the second game. Bemidji 6 - Highland 1

Apple Valley (36-10-3) vs Wayzata (36-5-2)

This one alone could determine the next Minnesota State Bantam A Champion. Winner of this game essentially gets a bye into the Championship. Vegas oddsmakers are laying down the odds with a slight edge to Wayzata. Both are solid, AV coming out of D6 where they are tested almost every game has racked up an 18-3 record since the first of the year (losses to Wayzata, Duluth East---and Eden Prairie?). They have proven they can skate with anyone. Wayzata---what can you say? They have won their last 19 games with their last loss being Shattuck '94s. This one is going to overtime. Wayzata 3 - Apple Valley 2.

I have Duluth East in the final with Wayzata. With Duluth East upsetting the Trojans to take the title.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:18 am

blainehockeymom wrote:
sniper87 wrote:
Do they know that they scheduled the State Tournament the same weekend as the 3 A/AA Select 16 tryouts?

Now here is a real problem which I am involved.

Section 8 and I believe secton 7 select 16 try-outs are teh same weekend as the VFW tournament.
We have to make arrangements for Moorhead, Bemdiji, and Duluth East bantam A 93 births to be evaluated.
Now I will put section 3 kids on my list.
Also section 2A/AA tryouts are the week of the state tourney. What do you mean by adding them to your list? If they dont go through the section tryout could they still have any chance of being put on the team?[/quote]

That is what I am working on.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:21 am

1_2_Know wrote:Not THAT big a deal. Select 15 & 16 is just a money making sham anyway.If your son misses out on it and is good enough, someone will find him down the road. And no, I don't have son that wasn't picked, I have friends who's kids have participated and told me as much. I also have seen the picks and in most years you could pick a group equally as talented that did not make it out of the various district tryouts.

Who is making this money?
How much do they make?
How do yo know this?
Why does USA Hockey hold this program, if that is all it is?

Can you give me some details?

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:25 am

Thanks, conditioning, nice summary.

puckboy · Post by **puckboy** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:56 am

great summary on the games- I agree

Just talked to a friend who's son made it- counds like their team cannot find hotel rooms in TRF. Are the Baskeball teams sataying the weekend ?

Duluth East Hockey Fan · Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:08 am

puckboy wrote:great summary on the games- I agree

Just talked to a friend who's son made it- counds like their team cannot find hotel rooms in TRF. Are the Baskeball teams sataying the weekend ?

I have heard that there are several families from several teams having a hard time finding rooms up there. Does anyone know where the next best place to get a room is?

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:46 am

puckboy wrote:great summary on the games- I agree

Just talked to a friend who's son made it- counds like their team cannot find hotel rooms in TRF. Are the Baskeball teams sataying the weekend ?

Probably AV.
Someone is working on it.

Part of the porblem is rooms that were double booked for a team by 2 separate people and people anticipating they would be there and are not.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:49 am

Duluth East Hockey Fan wrote:
puckboy wrote:great summary on the games- I agree

Just talked to a friend who's son made it- counds like their team cannot find hotel rooms in TRF. Are the Baskeball teams sataying the weekend ?
I have heard that there are several families from several teams having a hard time finding rooms up there. Does anyone know where the next best place to get a room is?

The casino justaout of town a little bit has a large hotel.
Red Lake Falls (10 miles out) has a motel, but I know nothing about it.
Northland Inn in Crookston, about 40 minute drive.
Casino in Mahnomen, about 50 minute dirve.
Motel in Erskine, I believe, about a 30 minute drive.

But they should talk to Tony Dorn in Thief.

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:17 pm

All right, let's dig into these teams a little bit. If you are a parent or player that played against these teams this year, provide your feedback (please, if you are bitter because you got knocked off by one of these teams keep your bitterness to yourself!):

Duluth East -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Minneapolis Park -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Rochester Red -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Osseo/Maple Grove -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Bemidji -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Highland Central -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Apple Valley -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

Wayzata -
Strengths/Weaknesses
Forwards
Defense
Goaltending
Intangibles

conditioningsucks · Post by **conditioningsucks** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:27 pm

Let's make this even better:

If you beat one of these teams this year, was there a specific strategy/coaching decision that you believed helped your team match up against your opponent. Be interesting to see what teams employed to give them an advantage.

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 1:23 pm

Duluth East -
Strengths/Weaknesses – Overall team play and power play/penalty kill are outstanding.
Forwards: Strong, skilled, move the puck.
Defense: The 4 man rotation is highly skilled, big and strong and can bury the puck. The 3rd set of defense rarely gets any ice.
Goaltending – Starter is very solid.
Intangibles – Duluth East team play exceeds any other teams who I have managed to watch this winter. Picture last seasons Detroit Red Wings as a good example of great puck controlling team. Rarely give up the puck, never “cough up” and never throw the puck. Always hit the open man!

Minneapolis Park - Did not see them play.

Rochester Red -
Strengths/Weaknesses- Look like a high school team on Bantam ice will wear you down.
Forwards- Not overly skilled but team play is exceptional. No super stars but play a 3 man front as good as any team in Bantam hockey.
Defense – About ditto to Duluth East but perhaps do not quite have that one key guy back their that rips the puck like some of the Duluth East defensemen.
Goaltending – Outstanding goal tending. Best goaltending I have seen this season.
Intangibles - Rarely give up the puck, never “cough up” and never throw the puck. Always hit the open man! Control the play.

Osseo/Maple Grove -
Strengths/Weaknesses- Size, strength, physical maturity of this team is the key to their success.
Forwards – Can scoot with the best of them. Do not bang like you would expect for a team with very good size.
Defense – Big, strong, great range.
Goaltending – Good goaltending.
Intangibles – Like most metro clubs their team defense is pretty solid.

Bemidji -
Strengths/Weaknesses – Very strong D-Corp, big team. Large group of second year kids is strength of the team. Prone to taking penalties.
Forwards – Gritty in your face type forwards but miss the overall skill of a Duluth East type of team. Still deep enough in role playing forwards to spring a goal or two and beat you.
Defense – Strength of the team, especially against smaller finesse type teams.
Goaltending – Average goaltending.
Intangibles – Always a workmen type effort for 3 periods and very physical team. Could possibly tire out on the warm soft Mini Ralph ice.

Highland Central - Did not see them play.

Apple Valley - Did not see them play.

Wayzata -
Strengths/Weaknesses – Speed kills and this team has it! Weakness- 15 year olds!?!
Forwards – Speed baby.
Defense – super skilled in all aspects of the game.
Goaltending – not contested when I have seen them play.
Intangibles- speed, speed and more speed. Unless I picked the wrong time to watch them they buzz like no other.

No slight to any team but when I think of Bantam A 2008-2009: Wayzata, Duluth East and Rochester Red are tops with Apple Valley right on the heels. Will be some great action up in TRF.

218er · Post by **218er** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:33 pm

Highland Central has the best Goalie in the tourney hands down. I don't envision them making much noise at State, but I can promise that they won't give up a lot of goals and they'll be very physical. They are a pretty good team considering they lost their best players to High School. I saw them play against Apple Valley early in the year (before they lost their players) and they dominated the entire game. I know the community is very proud of these kids.

BogeyMan · Post by **BogeyMan** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:37 pm

218er wrote:Highland Central has the best Goalie in the tourney hands down. I don't envision them making much noise at State, but I can promise that they won't give up a lot of goals and they'll be very physical. They are a pretty good team considering they lost their best players to High School. I saw them play against Apple Valley early in the year (before they lost their players) and they dominated the entire game. I know the community is very proud of these kids.

Sniper87?

hockeyman84 · Post by **hockeyman84** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:43 pm

218er wrote:Highland Central has the best Goalie in the tourney hands down. I don't envision them making much noise at State, but I can promise that they won't give up a lot of goals and they'll be very physical. They are a pretty good team considering they lost their best players to High School. I saw them play against Apple Valley early in the year (before they lost their players) and they dominated the entire game. I know the community is very proud of these kids.

He is very good but not at the level of Brock.

Hoops · Post by **Hoops** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 4:46 pm

AV/Wayzata is return bout from Pee Wee A state title 2yrs ago..minus a few players. This should NOT be a 1st round match. Also is this double elim? Can the loser of this still get to the title game.