Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Attendance at 1st semi was sad. By the middle of the game, there were more Cloquet fans in the arena than Elks-Huskies fans combined. Cloquet always travels well and easily had the most fans in the building. I think that East being on winter break last week had an impact on their representation. I anticipate East fans stepping it up Thursday.
Cloquet travels wellmnmouth wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:29 amAttendance at 1st semi was sad. By the middle of the game, there were more Cloquet fans in the arena than Elks-Huskies fans combined. Cloquet always travels well and easily had the most fans in the building. I think that East being on winter break last week had an impact on their representation. I anticipate East fans stepping it up Thursday.
It’s not exactly traveling when you’re driving all of 15-20 minutes 
Now does Cloquet consistently follow their team well, whether at the Lumberdome or Duluth, clearly YES. 
Bemidji makes zero sense, not a central geographical location. Fogerty South would be another neutral site option. Sure adults will travel thru MN winter to see a game, but I wouldn't let my newer driver take the trek up to Duluth or Bemidji for that matter. This effects the amount of students at a game. Also, younger players are still playing districts, thus a 2-3 hour drive also effects the number of "kids" that can make it to a game, especially on semi Saturday. As long as section remains a 218/cities split, semi's should be at high seed and finals rotate each year between north and south....We all know that won't happen though as it is a "north" section, blah, blah, blah!hockey59 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:12 am Look, whoever wins Thursday wins. But, Section 1AA plays its final in Rochester, and with how bad the Rochester teams have been, especially recently, it’s 90% of time a neutral site game. 2AA at Mari, neutral site. 3AA at Braemar, neutral site. 4AA at Aldrich, not neutral site, (that game should be played at Ridder) 5AA at Aldrich, neutral site (great rink for 5AA), 6AA at Mari, neutral site, 8AA at NHC, neutral site. Bottom line, if Hermantown and a few other schools from Northern Pride don’t show some pride and opt up (allowing TC teams to play in the Section they actually belong in)...then 7AA final should be (at least rotated) between St Cloud (NHC), Amsoil or even Bemidji. The argument that 7AA desperately needs the money relating to playing the final at Amsoil is a bunch of baloney.
Fogarty South is simply too small (attendance capacity wise) I’d have no problem rotating the Semifinals & Finals between Amsoil & NHC in St Cloud. Since it would be rotated every other year, both UMD & SCSU could set their schedules accordingly to allow for thisMWS coach wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:28 amBemidji makes zero sense, not a central geographical location. Fogerty South would be another neutral site option. Sure adults will travel thru MN winter to see a game, but I wouldn't let my newer driver take the trek up to Duluth or Bemidji for that matter. This effects the amount of students at a game. Also, younger players are still playing districts, thus a 2-3 hour drive also effects the number of "kids" that can make it to a game, especially on semi Saturday. As long as section remains a 218/cities split, semi's should be at high seed and finals rotate each year between north and south....We all know that won't happen though as it is a "north" section, blah, blah, blah!hockey59 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:12 am Look, whoever wins Thursday wins. But, Section 1AA plays its final in Rochester, and with how bad the Rochester teams have been, especially recently, it’s 90% of time a neutral site game. 2AA at Mari, neutral site. 3AA at Braemar, neutral site. 4AA at Aldrich, not neutral site, (that game should be played at Ridder) 5AA at Aldrich, neutral site (great rink for 5AA), 6AA at Mari, neutral site, 8AA at NHC, neutral site. Bottom line, if Hermantown and a few other schools from Northern Pride don’t show some pride and opt up (allowing TC teams to play in the Section they actually belong in)...then 7AA final should be (at least rotated) between St Cloud (NHC), Amsoil or even Bemidji. The argument that 7AA desperately needs the money relating to playing the final at Amsoil is a bunch of baloney.
Won’t happen though...too much politics.Can't they send a fan bus like the Northern Teams do for the State Tournament? $10 will get you there and back. Can't even drive for that price.MWS coach wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:28 amSure adults will travel thru MN winter to see a game, but I wouldn't let my newer driver take the trek up to Duluth or Bemidji for that matter. This effects the amount of students at a game.hockey59 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:12 am Look, whoever wins Thursday wins. But, Section 1AA plays its final in Rochester, and with how bad the Rochester teams have been, especially recently, it’s 90% of time a neutral site game. 2AA at Mari, neutral site. 3AA at Braemar, neutral site. 4AA at Aldrich, not neutral site, (that game should be played at Ridder) 5AA at Aldrich, neutral site (great rink for 5AA), 6AA at Mari, neutral site, 8AA at NHC, neutral site. Bottom line, if Hermantown and a few other schools from Northern Pride don’t show some pride and opt up (allowing TC teams to play in the Section they actually belong in)...then 7AA final should be (at least rotated) between St Cloud (NHC), Amsoil or even Bemidji. The argument that 7AA desperately needs the money relating to playing the final at Amsoil is a bunch of baloney.
That’s a great ideaJeffy95 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:58 amCan't they send a fan bus like the Northern Teams do for the State Tournament? $10 will get you there and back. Can't even drive for that price.MWS coach wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:28 amSure adults will travel thru MN winter to see a game, but I wouldn't let my newer driver take the trek up to Duluth or Bemidji for that matter. This effects the amount of students at a game.hockey59 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:12 am Look, whoever wins Thursday wins. But, Section 1AA plays its final in Rochester, and with how bad the Rochester teams have been, especially recently, it’s 90% of time a neutral site game. 2AA at Mari, neutral site. 3AA at Braemar, neutral site. 4AA at Aldrich, not neutral site, (that game should be played at Ridder) 5AA at Aldrich, neutral site (great rink for 5AA), 6AA at Mari, neutral site, 8AA at NHC, neutral site. Bottom line, if Hermantown and a few other schools from Northern Pride don’t show some pride and opt up (allowing TC teams to play in the Section they actually belong in)...then 7AA final should be (at least rotated) between St Cloud (NHC), Amsoil or even Bemidji. The argument that 7AA desperately needs the money relating to playing the final at Amsoil is a bunch of baloney.
Comparing this group to past teams makes no sense. This was a group of kids that had a lot of success in Pee Wees and Bantams. They’re completely different kids. The routines/system/familiarity Esse and his staff had created would definitely have made a difference. They likely (yes, likely) would have had greater regular season success that would have translated to being a more challenging, tougher out in the playoffs. Esse could also get into Randolph’s head like no other coach. Would it have meant success against East or Andover or any other team in the playoffs? We’ll never know.
Sure send one down to Fogerty for a semi final game...… A semi-final game on a Saturday is no where close to a state tournament game. Yeah, just delete the part of other commitments that get in the way of a 7 hour day.Jeffy95 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:58 amCan't they send a fan bus like the Northern Teams do for the State Tournament? $10 will get you there and back. Can't even drive for that price.MWS coach wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:28 amSure adults will travel thru MN winter to see a game, but I wouldn't let my newer driver take the trek up to Duluth or Bemidji for that matter. This effects the amount of students at a game.hockey59 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 11:12 am Look, whoever wins Thursday wins. But, Section 1AA plays its final in Rochester, and with how bad the Rochester teams have been, especially recently, it’s 90% of time a neutral site game. 2AA at Mari, neutral site. 3AA at Braemar, neutral site. 4AA at Aldrich, not neutral site, (that game should be played at Ridder) 5AA at Aldrich, neutral site (great rink for 5AA), 6AA at Mari, neutral site, 8AA at NHC, neutral site. Bottom line, if Hermantown and a few other schools from Northern Pride don’t show some pride and opt up (allowing TC teams to play in the Section they actually belong in)...then 7AA final should be (at least rotated) between St Cloud (NHC), Amsoil or even Bemidji. The argument that 7AA desperately needs the money relating to playing the final at Amsoil is a bunch of baloney.
I think they’ll handle it well. They have the better goalie, that’s not even debatable. A goalie having a bad game has derailed many very good teams. There defence core is at least on par with DE, I’d argue slightly better. They are deep at forward, just like DE. If DE has a slight edge, it’s at forward. And Manney appears to be a good guy & a good coach, not on par with Randolph, but solid. They’ve only lost to Tonka (when Tonka was undefeated) and Blaine. And Andover experienced the fan fare of playing in HDM. It will a hard fought, likely low scoring, but entertaining game. DE has a great record at Amsoil, no ones arguing that, but they’re not the juggernaut (talent wise) of last years Hounds team. They appear to be playing quite well, but when (no offense KnivenUsthockey13 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 10:01 am It will be interesting to see how Andover handles the pressure all season with the "target" on their back. Their matchup on Hockey Day could be a 1 vs 2. I have a feeling Coach Randolph likes the "underdog" role
) Cloquet is the best team you’ve beaten in the last month, questions still linger. But handling the pressure, I don’t see that as a problem for Andover. I asked the HC of a pretty successful varsity team this year whether he thought Andover would make it to AA State. His answer was succinct...”They should but I’m not sure they will”I can't speak for the Cities teams, but I think the Rapids, Cloquet and East fans would disagree with that. The Section playoffs are like Christmas for those folks. They would be sending buses regardless of where the games were played.MWS coach wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 12:30 pmA semi-final game on a Saturday is no where close to a state tournament game.
Cloquet would fill 3+ busses. AbsolutelyJeffy95 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:47 pmI can't speak for the Cities teams, but I think the Rapids, Cloquet and East fans would disagree with that. The Section playoffs are like Christmas for those folks. They would be sending buses regardless of where the games were played.
. And no offense taken, five-nine. Cloquet under achieved this year.True statement. She is a whine fest up in here today. Roseau, Rapids, Hermantown, Cloquet and East have been traveling to metro for games for many, many years now, squirt through HS. Part of getting better and playing great competition. Ask any parent up north, its a helluva commitment playing hockey year to year but you travel to get better. It is reality that comes with living out state.Jeffy95 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:47 pmI can't speak for the Cities teams, but I think the Rapids, Cloquet and East fans would disagree with that. The Section playoffs are like Christmas for those folks. They would be sending buses regardless of where the games were played.
Ha yeah, guess we don't know if that is factual or a presumption since 2 of those 3 teams just have to drive down the hill and are not getting on a bus for a day long adventure.....but you believe what you want!Jeffy95 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 2:47 pmI can't speak for the Cities teams, but I think the Rapids, Cloquet and East fans would disagree with that. The Section playoffs are like Christmas for those folks. They would be sending buses regardless of where the games were played.
That’s actually a very logical suggestion Old Timer! Problem would be all the whining about a maximum of one northern out-State team making the tourney.northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 3:05 pmTrue statement. She is a whine fest up in here today. Roseau, Rapids, Hermantown, Cloquet and East have been traveling to metro for games for many, many years now, squirt through HS. Part of getting better and playing great competition. Ask any parent up north, its a helluva commitment playing hockey year to year but you travel to get better. It is reality that comes with living out state.
To be honest I'd like to see section 7 and 8 combined into one north AA section. We can split between Sanford and Amsoil alternating years and avoid the whining.
And rotating between Bemidji & Duluth would be perfect for the Final & KBJR could still broadcast the final on TV Those are the families with kids that play that travel for games, not the 500 or so students that head west to the arena....Sorry I disagree that the fan base of students would be the same for east or Cloquet if semi's were in the cities. I said there should be 1 northern section several years ago on this site and was lambasted by the 218er's as then only 1 northern team could make it. Interesting how it is always portrayed as whining, I guess it is difficult for you to figure out that it takes an entire day to go up to Duluth for the game, guess what if it was held at Fogerty, my wife and I could have both watched our son play a HS Semi game, our PW son play a district game and still could have made it to our daughters dance competition. Nothing to do with the game itself and any advantage/disadvange, but have you ever thought of maybe people have other things going on with their lives as well? Hmmm I guess if you live in Duluth or Cloquet and the semi games are ALWAYS in Duluth, how would you know any different.northwoods oldtimer wrote: ↑Mon Feb 25, 2019 3:05 pmTrue statement. She is a whine fest up in here today. Roseau, Rapids, Hermantown, Cloquet and East have been traveling to metro for games for many, many years now, squirt through HS. Part of getting better and playing great competition. Ask any parent up north, its a helluva commitment playing hockey year to year but you travel to get better. It is reality that comes with living out state.
To be honest I'd like to see section 7 and 8 combined into one north AA section. We can split between Sanford and Amsoil alternating years and avoid the whining.
That’s easy to say when your team lives 20 minutes from Amsoil. You might care more if (your team was) driving to St Cloud for the Semifinals & Final.
Nope. We drive always to the metro for youth hockey tournaments. And I’m a fan, not a parent of a player. Northern teams are driving forever and ever squirts to bantams.