Immigrant Fan wrote:Other than XO on a different thread saying he heard Mattson is staying in Bloomington all season, has anyone seen any verification of this as fact? The GR website is not showing any such news or announcements that I can find.
Call it Orange Crush and Tang induced denial, but it would be nice to know this is a fact before I throw myself off the ledge...at least I think that is what I am supposed to do to fit the GR fan stereotype.
kniven, that is just the Thunder putting their spin on it. Of course they are going to try to put their influence on their players and write an article on their web site at least making their fans believe what they want them to. Everything I've heard is Mattson is returning for his senior season at GR.
TheHockeyDJ wrote:kniven, that is just the Thunder putting their spin on it. Of course they are going to try to put their influence on their players and write an article on their web site at least making their fans believe what they want them to. Everything I've heard is Mattson is returning for his senior season at GR.
I hope he does return. We die-hard fans of high school hockey will always like to see our hockey players finish out their high school careers in the home arena. We locals put our spin on what we want just like they do. Let's just hope all local hockey players always play through high school.
Immigrant Fan wrote:Other than XO on a different thread saying he heard Mattson is staying in Bloomington all season, has anyone seen any verification of this as fact? The GR website is not showing any such news or announcements that I can find.
Call it Orange Crush and Tang induced denial, but it would be nice to know this is a fact before I throw myself off the ledge...at least I think that is what I am supposed to do to fit the GR fan stereotype.
Like the DJ said, its simply the Thunder trying to sell tickets to the fan base - hyping their first ever draft selection - with an article written back in July.
I'd put money on him being in uniform at the IRA against Bermidji, come 11/24.
TheHockeyDJ wrote:kniven, that is just the Thunder putting their spin on it. Of course they are going to try to put their influence on their players and write an article on their web site at least making their fans believe what they want them to. Everything I've heard is Mattson is returning for his senior season at GR.
Same as I've heard locally. I'd be shocked if he doesn't come back for his senior season to finish up with a state championship with his buds.
TheHockeyDJ wrote:kniven, that is just the Thunder putting their spin on it. Of course they are going to try to put their influence on their players and write an article on their web site at least making their fans believe what they want them to. Everything I've heard is Mattson is returning for his senior season at GR.
Same as I've heard locally. I'd be shocked if he doesn't come back for his senior season to finish up with a state championship with his buds.
Will this years state AA boys high school championship be Grand Rapids's 4th?
GR finally has a chance this year with the new coach. Last I checked he played youth and HS hockey in the metro. Along the same line the best player on the team played most of his youth hockey in the metro also. Good luck to the new coach from Osseo and the stud from Elk River. Let's Play Hockey
TheHockeyDJ wrote:Speaking of coaches, with the season so close, I have not heard any announcement on who Klatt's assistant coaches will be. Anyone know?
Assistants - Chris Marinucci and Todd Rohloff. JV - Josh Solem.
karl(east) wrote:I started to go through some rosters today in preparations for the Breakdown's annual handbook predictions. Might as well toss out a very early 7AA list:
1. Grand Rapids
Pros: Incredibly deep at forward, with a full lineup of returners, including a great all-senior top line, and two very good bantams coming in. This should be Rapids' most talented team since the early 90s, if not earlier.
Cons: The D is decent but not especially deep. Goaltender hyped but has yet to play a high school game.
Big question: Can they conquer any mental demons and finally get by East?
2. Duluth East
Pros: Returning a lot of bodies, including their top scoring line and 5 defensemen. Deep program as always. They've been there before.
Cons: Don't have the overwhelming offensive talent of Rapids. The D may return a lot, but had some issues last season. Inexperience in goal.
Big question: Can last year's talented freshmen break out this season and make this team deep enough for another title run?
3. Elk River
Pros: Some very good junior forwards get to step into the limelight. Return a goalie and a couple D. Program depth means they should have no trouble filling out the lineup with respectable players.
Cons: There are a lot of holes left by graduation and departure, and they leaned an awful lot on their top players last season. No glaring issues, but need people to step up across the board.
Big question: The Elks crumbled with the "favorite" tag last season. Can they fly under the radar this year and surprise people?
4. Cloquet
Pros: Return a very good forward, respectable depth, and two goalies. Should start seeing the fruits of some very strong youth teams feeding in.
Cons: Will be inexperienced, and probably lack the depth of the three above them, at least for this year.
Big question: What sort of season is this for the Jacks--the start of a youth movement, or will they just ride Bender as far as they can?
5. Duluth Marshall
Pros: The defense will be good. A handful of young forwards worth watching. Could easily flip them with Cloquet.
Cons: Have to replace a ton, including most of the offense and a good goalie. Not the ideal year to make the jump to a much deeper section.
Big question: How do they adjust to life in AA?
6. Andover
Pros: Zach Sitarz. A couple other returners with decent point totals.
Cons: Not much in the cupboard here beyond that handful of players. No more Maddie Rooney, either.
Big question: Do they have any chance at anything higher than a 6 seed?
7. Forest Lake
Pros: Return a few more bodies than Andover, including a goalie, and could give them a run.
Cons: No impressive point totals among the returners, and no obvious help on the horizon.
Big question: Can they still make Grand Rapids' life interesting even when the talent gap between them is this big?
TheHockeyDJ wrote:For Northwoods. Educate yourself for a change.
karl(east) wrote:I started to go through some rosters today in preparations for the Breakdown's annual handbook predictions. Might as well toss out a very early 7AA list:
1. Grand Rapids
Pros: Incredibly deep at forward, with a full lineup of returners, including a great all-senior top line, and two very good bantams coming in. This should be Rapids' most talented team since the early 90s, if not earlier.
Cons: The D is decent but not especially deep. Goaltender hyped but has yet to play a high school game.
Big question: Can they conquer any mental demons and finally get by East?
2. Duluth East
Pros: Returning a lot of bodies, including their top scoring line and 5 defensemen. Deep program as always. They've been there before.
Cons: Don't have the overwhelming offensive talent of Rapids. The D may return a lot, but had some issues last season. Inexperience in goal.
Big question: Can last year's talented freshmen break out this season and make this team deep enough for another title run?
3. Elk River
Pros: Some very good junior forwards get to step into the limelight. Return a goalie and a couple D. Program depth means they should have no trouble filling out the lineup with respectable players.
Cons: There are a lot of holes left by graduation and departure, and they leaned an awful lot on their top players last season. No glaring issues, but need people to step up across the board.
Big question: The Elks crumbled with the "favorite" tag last season. Can they fly under the radar this year and surprise people?
4. Cloquet
Pros: Return a very good forward, respectable depth, and two goalies. Should start seeing the fruits of some very strong youth teams feeding in.
Cons: Will be inexperienced, and probably lack the depth of the three above them, at least for this year.
Big question: What sort of season is this for the Jacks--the start of a youth movement, or will they just ride Bender as far as they can?
5. Duluth Marshall
Pros: The defense will be good. A handful of young forwards worth watching. Could easily flip them with Cloquet.
Cons: Have to replace a ton, including most of the offense and a good goalie. Not the ideal year to make the jump to a much deeper section.
Big question: How do they adjust to life in AA?
6. Andover
Pros: Zach Sitarz. A couple other returners with decent point totals.
Cons: Not much in the cupboard here beyond that handful of players. No more Maddie Rooney, either.
Big question: Do they have any chance at anything higher than a 6 seed?
7. Forest Lake
Pros: Return a few more bodies than Andover, including a goalie, and could give them a run.
Cons: No impressive point totals among the returners, and no obvious help on the horizon.
Big question: Can they still make Grand Rapids' life interesting even when the talent gap between them is this big?
Check grhshockey.com for a roster within the next week I would guess. Both goalies are wrong and it's missing McLaughlin and Hain. There is zero chance in hell those two aren't on the varsity roster.
Check grhshockey.com for a roster within the next week I would guess. Both goalies are wrong and it's missing McLaughlin and Hain. There is zero chance in hell those two aren't on the varsity roster.
Looks like the mshsl has the current GR roster, but not yet separated into varsity and JV.
TheHockeyDJ wrote:Speaking of coaches, with the season so close, I have not heard any announcement on who Klatt's assistant coaches will be. Anyone know?
Assistants - Chris Marinucci and Todd Rohloff. JV - Josh Solem.
Rohloff not one of the assistants...my bad. Guess you can't believe everything you hear. Looks like Beau Geisler as the other assistant.
Check grhshockey.com for a roster within the next week I would guess. Both goalies are wrong and it's missing McLaughlin and Hain. There is zero chance in hell those two aren't on the varsity roster.
Looks like the mshsl has the current GR roster, but not yet separated into varsity and JV.
That list is WAY updated in the few hours from when I last looked at it. There were only 3 sophomores when I first hit that link. Seeing it now I would totally agree it is all V and JV players combined.
Check grhshockey.com for a roster within the next week I would guess. Both goalies are wrong and it's missing McLaughlin and Hain. There is zero chance in hell those two aren't on the varsity roster.
Looks like the mshsl has the current GR roster, but not yet separated into varsity and JV.
TheHockeyDJ wrote:
Check grhshockey.com for a roster within the next week I would guess. Both goalies are wrong and it's missing McLaughlin and Hain. There is zero chance in hell those two aren't on the varsity roster.
Looks like the mshsl has the current GR roster, but not yet separated into varsity and JV.
Well, with GR's defense bolstered by a talented new addition, it certainly makes them look like a complete team on paper. I'd say the two questions I have about them are:
1. Will their sophomore goalie be ready for the intensity of varsity? I know he did well in the Elite League, but Team North's defense was ridiculously good and those Elite games aren't exactly pressure-filled situations with 1,500 fans cheering like crazy. He's as good as there is for his age group, so I'm inclined to believe he will do well, but we'll see.
2. How will the new coach affect the team? Sounds like early reports from scrimmages have the T-Hawks playing with more intensity, and one would expect this to increase when the games start counting. If he can do what good coaches do and get his team to play above their talent level, then GR will be as good as anybody this season.
3. (bonus question) Anybody know why Brazerol isn't on the roster? He was a great player for their bantam team last year and he isn't on varsity of JV roster.
Your point No. 1 is a good one. How did Stej do against HM last nite?
Hunter Huson, the player discussed earlier in this thread. With Stampohar, Huson, Anderson, and Heitkamp, GR has an excellent top 4 at defense. Even Mark, who I think would be their 5th D, is a solid player.
I'm drinking the orange kool-aid this season. The best part is, as a Hibbing fan, I get to cheer for a northern school if they win, and if they lose, I get to cheer because Rapids lost. Best of both worlds!
Who's your buddy DJ?