Brainerd Warriors

[BRDFAN11]

What are your thoughts on the team this year now since they have moved from section 7AA to 8AA? How do you think they will end up doing this year?

[elliott70]

Team will be better, but since they have moved to a tougher section they will fare no better.

[5 Hole]

Team will be better, but since they have moved to a tougher section they will fare no better.

Wrong, Wrong

4 of their top 9 forwards are gone
2 of their top 3 defensemen are gone
Their ONLY goalie from last year is gone, who also was the MVP of the team.
Better TEAM this year? No.

BUT

Last year the Warriors finished 5th in 7AA. If they were to finish 5th this season in 8AA they would be behind the likes of Buffalo and St. Cloud Tech, not going to happen. The Warriors will be meeting up with Moorhead at the mini Ralf (semis) come March. . . Also, last year the Warriors were second in the conference, with Jared Festly gone, the Warrios should walk threw the conference this season.
Fare better then last year? Yes.

3rd in 8AA
1st in CLC

[boblee]

Buffalo will be better than you think. Between them and Brainerd it should be a good battle for #3.

[RLStars]

Team will be better, but since they have moved to a tougher section they will fare no better.

Wrong, Wrong

4 of their top 9 forwards are gone
2 of their top 3 defensemen are gone
Their ONLY goalie from last year is gone, who also was the MVP of the team.
Better TEAM this year? No.

BUT

Last year the Warriors finished 5th in 7AA. If they were to finish 5th this season in 8AA they would be behind the likes of Buffalo and St. Cloud Tech, not going to happen. The Warriors will be meeting up with Moorhead at the mini Ralf (semis) come March. . . Also, last year the Warriors were second in the conference, with Jared Festly gone, the Warrios should walk threw the conference this season.
Fare better then last year? Yes.

3rd in 8AA
1st in CLC

Why are you dissin the Tigers? I believe that your Warriors split the series with them last year (5-2 loss, 5-4 win). I see them fighting for fourth with Tech. It'll go alittle something like this:

Rams
Bison
Spuds
Warriors\Tigers
Blah
Blah
Blah

[Undercover Hockey Lover]

Why are you dissin the Tigers? I believe that your Warriors split the series with them last year (5-2 loss, 5-4 win). I see them fighting for fourth with Tech. It'll go alittle something like this:

Rams
Bison
Spuds
Warriors\Tigers
Blah
Blah
Blah

Bold...Let's go a step further
Rams

Bison/Spuds/Warriors/Tigers-there will definitely be some series splits here it's nice parity. The team with the best performing goalie wins this group. Who's got him? On a side note: Bemidji wouldn't have had a real chance here A was a good choice for them at the moment.

Blah
Blah

If the Rams play to potential this section is a great battle to see who gets a shot at them in the Section Finals. The key is getting one of the opening round "free passes" that the top two teams get while the others guys beat themselves silly for a shot at you. That is the reason the second seed is so big this season. The semi-final games are even going to be interesting match-ups regardless of seeding...this is no cakewalk for anyone.

As for Brainerd they happened to get reassigned into a packed section and they should be just as competitive as the next guys. Looking at the 20 games currently listed on the MSHSL I'm seeing a solid 12-13 wins minimum right off the bat if they have less out of those they aren't going anywhere in the post season.

[Can't Never Tried]

Why are you dissin the Tigers? I believe that your Warriors split the series with them last year (5-2 loss, 5-4 win). I see them fighting for fourth with Tech. It'll go alittle something like this:

Rams
Bison
Spuds
Warriors\Tigers
Blah
Blah
Blah

I'm not trying to hijack this thread and we can take it to the 8AA thread and discuss, but let's hear a little about Tech.
I saw them last year, when they won a shootout game against Rogers @ the GCC and they were a decent team.
What have they lost? who's come up?

Otherwise I think the answer might just be that the Bison have Zitter in net, and he's solid, so I look for them to be a true contender in 8AA.

Edit to 8AA thread

[5 Hole]

Buffalo will be better than you think. Between them and Brainerd it should be a good battle for #3.

With respect boblee, I just find it hard for the Bison to be "battle" the Warriors for the 3rd spot. . . Also, it is completely upbsurd to slot in the Bison ahead of MOORHEAD in a preseason thread. Yes, the Spuds have lost a lot from last years squad, but that doesn't mean the Bison should be slotted ahead of them. . . Finally let's not forget that the Warriors are the only team in the sectoin that have D1 prospects (2) that come from teams not called the Spuds or Rams. . . Oh and the only thing Tech has going for them is the National Hockey Center

P.S. boblee, we seem to never agree

[northwoods oldtimer]

I know you are kidding about that moving to a tougher section part. With Brainerd, Elk River, Duluth, Cloquet, Grand Rapids the past 2 seasons 7AA was very tough. With Bemidji pulling out of 8AA the old section just ain't quite as tough elliot

[The Best 4th Liner]

in 8@@ far worse

[Undercover Hockey Lover]

I know you are kidding about that moving to a tougher section part. With Brainerd, Elk River, Duluth, Cloquet, Grand Rapids the past 2 seasons 7AA was very tough. With Bemidji pulling out of 8AA the old section just ain't quite as tough elliot

No really...you DID read elliott right...tougher section.

And Bemidji would have been one of the Blah's.

[boblee]

Buffalo will be better than you think. Between them and Brainerd it should be a good battle for #3.

With respect boblee, I just find it hard for the Bison to be "battle" the Warriors for the 3rd spot. . . Also, it is completely upbsurd to slot in the Bison ahead of MOORHEAD in a preseason thread. Yes, the Spuds have lost a lot from last years squad, but that doesn't mean the Bison should be slotted ahead of them. . . Finally let's not forget that the Warriors are the only team in the sectoin that have D1 prospects (2) that come from teams not called the Spuds or Rams. . . Oh and the only thing Tech has going for them is the National Hockey Center

P.S. boblee, we seem to never agree

I've never put anyone ahead of Moorhead other than Roseau.

[RLStars]

I know you are kidding about that moving to a tougher section part. With Brainerd, Elk River, Duluth, Cloquet, Grand Rapids the past 2 seasons 7AA was very tough. With Bemidji pulling out of 8AA the old section just ain't quite as tough elliot

No really...you DID hear me right...packed section.

And Bemidji would have been one of the Blah's.

Tougher how?????????????????????????

Tougher for the 8 or 9 teams behind the perrenial top two? YES
Tougher because any of the top four or five could walk away with the section title? No

[HOFam'r]

Buffalo will be better than you think. Between them and Brainerd it should be a good battle for #3.

With respect boblee, I just find it hard for the Bison to be "battle" the Warriors for the 3rd spot. . . Also, it is completely upbsurd to slot in the Bison ahead of MOORHEAD in a preseason thread. Yes, the Spuds have lost a lot from last years squad, but that doesn't mean the Bison should be slotted ahead of them. . . Finally let's not forget that the Warriors are the only team in the sectoin that have D1 prospects (2) that come from teams not called the Spuds or Rams. . . Oh and the only thing Tech has going for them is the National Hockey Center

P.S. boblee, we seem to never agree

Hmmm...no respect for the Bison...ask Eden Prairie if the Bison have a couple kids who can play???

[Undercover Hockey Lover]

Tougher to win.

[RLStars]

Buffalo will be better than you think. Between them and Brainerd it should be a good battle for #3.

With respect boblee, I just find it hard for the Bison to be "battle" the Warriors for the 3rd spot. . . Also, it is completely upbsurd to slot in the Bison ahead of MOORHEAD in a preseason thread. Yes, the Spuds have lost a lot from last years squad, but that doesn't mean the Bison should be slotted ahead of them. . . Finally let's not forget that the Warriors are the only team in the sectoin that have D1 prospects (2) that come from teams not called the Spuds or Rams. . . Oh and the only thing Tech has going for them is the National Hockey Center

P.S. boblee, we seem to never agree

Hmmm...no respect for the Bison...ask Eden Prairie if the Bison have a couple kids who can play???

And they were?

[HOFam'r]

With respect boblee, I just find it hard for the Bison to be "battle" the Warriors for the 3rd spot. . . Also, it is completely upbsurd to slot in the Bison ahead of MOORHEAD in a preseason thread. Yes, the Spuds have lost a lot from last years squad, but that doesn't mean the Bison should be slotted ahead of them. . . Finally let's not forget that the Warriors are the only team in the sectoin that have D1 prospects (2) that come from teams not called the Spuds or Rams. . . Oh and the only thing Tech has going for them is the National Hockey Center

P.S. boblee, we seem to never agree

Hmmm...no respect for the Bison...ask Eden Prairie if the Bison have a couple kids who can play???

And they were?

The freshman from last season has grown and had a hat trick in the scrimmage, a junior defensemen is as solid as anybody I have seen, first line junior can play at an elite level on both offense and defense, big and fast senior forward, big and not so fast senior forward can lay a lick on you, junior defensemen made 91 final 51 last season and can shoot, hit and skate. Senior defensemen 3 year starter, junior forward who can hit and is always around the net, junior forward who is tenacious and smart, has 3 assists in scrimmage...a heavy hitting checking line....not to mention a possible all state goalie or two.

both the sophomore forward and two juniors took Alex Rush and company to school in scrimmage.

[Can't Never Tried]

Hmmm...no respect for the Bison...ask Eden Prairie if the Bison have a couple kids who can play???

And they were?

The freshman from last season has grown and had a hat trick in the scrimmage, a junior defensemen is as solid as anybody I have seen, first line junior can play at an elite level on both offense and defense, big and fast senior forward, big and not so fast senior forward can lay a lick on you, junior defensemen made 91 final 51 last season and can shoot, hit and skate. Senior defensemen 3 year starter, junior forward who can hit and is always around the net, junior forward who is tenacious and smart, has 3 assists in scrimmage...a heavy hitting checking line....not to mention a possible all state goalie or two.

both the sophomore forward and two juniors took Alex Rush and company to school in scrimmage.

HOF I think he asking for names, and I think you knew that.
All that freshman, Soph., Jr. and Sr. stuff is hard to read.
But I suppose given tryouts are going on you want to wait with that to see how things shake out, as you don't want your powerful influence to skew things.

Why such a big difference in the 2 scores?
Did EP do the same thing of splitting?
Which goalies played in which scrimmage?

[elliott70]

Brainerd will be in the run for 3rd, may end up #4, but Tech may push them to #5.
#1 will be Roseau
and #2 will be Moorhead.


7AA has what, let's say Duluth East... they lose to Roseau
then Anoka... they lose to Moorhead

then Cloquet... they lose to Buffalo
then Grand Rapids... they lose to Brainerd

then Elk River... they may beat Tech but it would be close....

So top 5 belongs to 8...

bottom 3 ???? Does it matter???

Brainerd will be good, but not good enough.

Slappy, I need your 2008 slogan...
Slappy where are you?????

Go Rams!

And Bemidji in 8A!

[RLStars]

My point is that in 7AA, you have 4 to 5 teams that have a legit shot at the section title year in and year out. In 8AA, it seems that there are two, maybe three that have a chance. In years past, there was no chance for the number three team.

Tougher to knock of the top dog (win) ...........goes to 8AA
Tougher road to the chanpionship (more higher quality teams to get past) .............goes to 7AA

[Indian Head]

Back to the topic. Wll Brainerd be better? I guess only time will tell. They do return their top scorers from last year in Shepherd and Frazer[D-1 recruit] and a top d-man in the state in Olson. With another year under their belts they will be better. There are other seniors this year who logged plenty of icetime last year and will be solid performers. I think the seniors from last year can be replaced in the scoring deptartment. On D along with Olson, Junior Ring will be a force in the corners. And two other seniors will be on the blue line also.
The goalie position is a question. The talent is there and should solidify as the season goes on. Last years bantams made a good run and should bring some sophs who can contribute. Moving to 8AA will should move the Warriors up to the final four in sections. Last year in 7AA there were 6 or 7 solid teams that were competative all year. In 8AA there are really only 4.

[boblee]

Grand Rapids... they lose to Brainerd

Actually, this has never happened.

[breakout]

Grand Rapids... they lose to Brainerd

Actually, this has never happened.

Seriously? Never?

[Can't Never Tried]

Grand Rapids... they lose to Brainerd

Actually, this has never happened.

Better knock on wood boblee, there's always a 1st time! and it could be this year on the road, on a cold Dec. evening.

[Indian Head]

Brainerd will beat the Thunderchickens on December 11 2007.