Another way to look at peewee A teams (State Tourney Summary

[frederick61]

he following summarizes the Peewee A State Tourney held at Willmar on March 14 to March 16. Last week I summarized the four Regional tourneys and predicted their finish. There were few upsets and only one team, Grand Rapids, is truly a surprise entrant in this elite group of teams. Some may disagree, pointing to EGF as another surprise, but not here. The Green Wave had improved their play in the last month and are not a real surprise.

I have summarized the opening games below. As a lead to each game summary, I have kept my comments from last week including how I initially rated them in the over all (1 to 32). There are a couple of interesting points to note. This draw matches four city teams against four out state teams. The quarterfinal games match teams that have not played each other before.

First game Friday @1:00
8. Edina-The Hornets seemed restless in the D6 playoffs and it showed losing twice to a dedicated Chaska team. The problem that they have is the flag the Hornets carry is not D6, but one that says “all year hockey”. Has their interest sagged?
11. East Grand Forks- A team I have not seen, but seem to have come together for the playoffs. (Saw them on Sunday)

The first game is between East Grand Forks and Edina and is one of those games that most people will predict an Edina victory without any hesitating. I watched Edina lose to Eden Prairie on Friday and EGF beat Roseau on Sunday and have a different view.

Edina lost to Eden Prairie on Friday in the second game of the South Regional. Eden Prairie won that game by taking a 3-1 lead into the third period. The Eagles played the third period in a defense mode that clogged the ice from the center line to their blue line. They played a staggered box between those two lines with four of the forwards and used the fifth player on the point to attack the Edina forward carrying the puck. It worked. Edina could not gain the offensive zone and did not get a shot on goal until 5 minutes were left in the game.

On Sunday, leading by one goal with 10 minutes left in the third period, EGF went into a similar defensive zone against Roseau. At first, Roseau gained the zone, only to lose control of the puck and have to re-load for the attack behind their blue line. But by the end of the game, EGF had the defense working for them, a defense similar to Eden Prairie’s. The Chaska ice is a smaller (to me) sheet then the Brainerd ice that EGF played on. Their staggered box was more open in the center; but the Green Wave played a good disciplined defense.

Both EGF and Edina have depth, but the EGF play is slower because of the teams they have played have not pushed them to the same level that Edina has been pushed. If the Green Wave can settle down at the start of the game and adjust to the up tempo puck movement of Edina, the game will tighten.

Then the Green Wave will have to contend with an attacking set of forwards. Edina loves to find the opportunities for two on one type rushes and have excellent puck and shot skills off of those rushes. The EGF goalie will be tested. He will see those type of rushes and he can’t afford to lose control of the rebounds. The Edina forwards have a knack for putting rebounds into the net. Note that the Edina lines are rarely three set players such as 1-2-3. Instead they are pairs with a third player often added based on game situation. On a line change the Green Wave will see 1-2-X on one shift and 1-2-Y on another shift. They rarely break the pair and that pair spearheads the rushes.

The EGF forwards are similar in size to Edina. Their forwards are as quick, but the Edina defense will be testing them if they have no room to maneuver. If the Willmar sheet is large with depth behind the net, EGF may have room in the attacking zone. This will help the Green Wave because they do hold position well and if they have the quickness to move the puck in the offensive zones, they will get their chances. The problem is Edina constantly looks to create that two on one rush using their speed. If the Green Wave forwards get caught too deep, they will really have to move to get back into the back check.

This will be an interesting game. My hope is that tight low scoring game with both teams contending till the end. If so, the small town factor may kick in and get the fans behind the Green Wave team. But that is just a hope. Edina should win.

Second Game Friday @ 3:00
3. Cloquet Ended-#1 in D11 by beating Duluth East twice 4-0 and 3-1. The greenness their defense had at the start of the year is gone and they are playing well just before Regionals. Being at home will help them.
1. Wayzata-In the 60’s, Southwest had the derisive name “Cake Eaters”. After Hopkins upended Maple Grove in the semifinals of D3 playoffs, Wayzata now has that title. Playing poorly they still managed to beat Hopkins in the finals. Because of there season play, they are #1 going into the regionals.

These two teams match up very well. Cloquet personal is very similar to Woodbury’s in size and skills, except Cloquet has two excellent puck handlers to drive their offense.

In the East Regional, Wayzata got caught in a scoring donnybrook with Woodbury that resulted in a 7-7 tie in regulation. They then caught a break when the Woodbury defense went into a funk at the onset of the overtime period and allowed Wayzata’s best player to slowly skate through them (all five players) and kill the goalie on a hard shot to win the game.

Wayzata defense has been suspect lately. In the last five games they have played their offense has averaged 7 goals a game against some good teams. But their defense has given up an average of 5 goals a game. Cloquet knows how to play defense. So this game should be a lower scoring game especially since the Lumberjacks have been on the brink of elimination more then once before they got here. Wayzata on the other hand has felt little pressure. They have avoided playing an elimination game until last Sunday’s game against Maple Grove-a team they had beaten easily more then once before.

They difference in this game is which team really wants to win. The Trojans have not won a single tourney all year and manage to find a way to lose. Cloquet has had to work hard to get here. My vote is Cloquet eliminates the defending champion in a low scoring game.

Third Game @5:00
4. Eden Prairie-A physical team with a smart coach, but can they kept the intensity needed for their style of play to win through regionals. Their loss in a tough Roseau tourney to TRF is still bothering.
9. Little Falls-A team I have not seen, but has impressed by winning some tough tourneys and dominating D15. (Saw them on Sunday)

This should be the toughest game of the day. Eden Prairie is has been playing a very disciplined game of hockey and it showed in the regional. Little Falls is a smart team with an excellent defense and a balanced first line that wears down their opponents. Both can play physical and both can pass. Both teams have won tourneys this year. Both teams move the puck.

One of the keys to this game will be the play of the Little Falls goalie. He will be challenged, but he looks up to it based on the Moorhead game. The Eden Prairie team will not be intimidating to him. A second key will be the match up of the second lines pitting the skills of the two coaches. One of the line sets for Little Falls will have two girls at wings. The production of this line will be a factor in the game. But don't be fooled by gender.

Another factor will be the containing of Eden Prairie defensemen that like to rush the puck. The Eagles defense pick their spots wisely, but Little Falls has defensemen that easily match the best Eden Prairie’s skills and will counter. Finally, buried in the Little Falls 2/3 line combinations are a couple of excellent skaters and stick handlers. They come out of a fog at different points in the game to pressure the defense.

In a real donnybrook, the nod has to go to the Eagles over the Flyers, but I wouldn’t bet a nickel on that result.

Fourth Game @7:00
2. Woodbury-Their forwards are not as dominant as early in the season, but still dangerous. They play their positons very well and put in an excellent game in the D10 finals beating Eagan.
16. Grand Rapids-A mystery team that has struggled from mid-January on when they beat the last significant team (Eden Prairie in Roseau tourney). They really struggled on their January swing through the cities.

Woodbury being in the state tourney is no surprise. They have played well all season. But they almost stumbled in their first D8 game (beating Hastings 4-3 in OT), then they went on a roll losing only to Wayzata in the regionals in a non-elimination game. The real question for the Woodbury team maybe where are the Gophers playing on the weekend of the 14th (Their coach has a tie in with the Gophers).

Grand Rapids truly is a mystery team. The have played Cloquet four times winning two, they have lost to Wayzata, beat Eden Prairie, lost to EGF, and lost to Little Falls. They have not played Edina or Woodbury. They will not be strangers in this competition. Still the Rapids team played uninspired hockey on their city tour in January. They really came on in the North Regional, beating Cloquet (on home ice) and Coon Rapids on the same day. Then on Sunday they struggled to beat Duluth East in the game to get to State.

Woodbury’s first line should dominate the Thunderhawks. The Royals should win in another close game.

[SuperStar]

F61 - Thanks for the update - But I did notice your comments on the EP team - They are the only group that you keep on mentioning a SPECIFIC previous game loss that happened almost 2 months ago. No other team on this post do you mention that..This is your 3rd post on the TRF/EP game.

Okay, it's bothering too you. Great - I am proud of ya.... stop talking about it - EP outshot TRF 40 something to 9 and the puck didn't find the back on the net - So what. I am sure it's happened to every team at some point in time, but you gotta try and throw your little "digs" in on the red & black, And you weren't even there..

How about you mention the av game vs ep. EP shutout out AV 2-0 - IS that bothering to you? That was a awesome game for EP and it happened 2 months ago I don't see you mentioning the 90% of the good games EP has had..?. Like I said, I do like your post, but the "smackdown" of the Red & Black on 1 single game that happened 2 months ago is has gotten old, fast.

[OnFrozenPond]

RELAX Superstar.

The TRF comment was a carryover from a previous post as F61 said he would do..."As a lead to each game summary, I have kept my comments from last week including how I initially rated them in the over all (1 to 32)"


F61 said plenty of nice things about the EP squad.

[SuperStar]

I am relaxed. He does say some good things about the squad..And I do enjoy his post and insight..but thats the 3rd or 4th "carryover" of that 1 game..Just One eagles fan opinion. No harm, no foul.

[O-townClown]

Frederick, you certainly do offer analysis that is appreciated. If I remember, at mid-year I told you these fringe teams you were following so closely at the Bloomington tournament would not be able to wrestle the crown from a short list of well-established programs.

I know I took Edina, Eden Prairie, and Wayzata. You wound up with Woodbury and a bunch of other clubs that you expected to rise to the occasion. He we are more than two months later and it will be interesting to see if the big SW suburban powers prevail like I think they will.

Wasn't too long ago someone posted that Edina might not make it out of D6 in Bantams or Pee Wees because each team lost their first game. Two weeks later they're still here.

Should be a good tournament.

[love2skate]

Fredrick61...where are you? I miss your thoughts on PeeWees. Were you at the state tournament?

[Air Force 1]

Fredrick61...where are you? I miss your thoughts on PeeWees. Were you at the state tournament?

Yes, he was there, I had a nice visit with him on Friday and I saw him again on Saturday.

Fredrick61, I too wonder where you are!