What was your first state tournament memory??

[Pucklvr]

I remember going to State Tournaments for the first time in 1990 when I was in 2nd grade. My parents would not let us go until then. I remember walking out of the St. Paul Hotel walking across the Ordway Theater and reaching at that time what I thought was "Heavens Gates." I had watched the tournaments before this time on tv but to see the glass boards, the exploding beams coming out of the scoreboard it looked like, and the "popcorn, peanuts, frosty malts" guy that seemed like he was there for YEARS. I still remember the first game, the players hitting the ice, the bands, the rows of cheerleaders, the atmosphere. Also watching my favorite Roseau teams of all times win the tournament. WOW, I still get a rush thinking about it. This year will be the 19th year of me going to the tourney and still look forward to this more than any other vacation I take. So, what are some of your first memories?? New or old! I would love to hear some of the stories you all have.

[grindiangrad-80]

My first memory watching on TV was when Warroad, with Henry Boucha, made a great run.
The first time I was at the tourny was 1981 when Jefferson beat GR in OT in the quarterfinal. That was 2 very good teams.

[SEMinnHockeyNut]

My first crystal clear memory was 1980 and The Halloween Machine! Jon Casey was the man. And I was furious when the Gophers did not land him. At least he gave us the magical 1991 run with the North Stars!

I just really remember watching Grand Rapids and not even knowing who they were and where in the state they came from, but they totally captivated this kid and I still cheer for them to this day even though I've never seen them play a game in their home rink!

[pucknutz]

Guy having a heart attack at the Civic Center. I also remember listening to Henry Boucha get cheap shotted by the Edina player.

[karl(east)]

I remember watching snippets of the tournament growing up, and a bit of East's run under Todd Wentworth on TV, but my first real state experience was in my freshman year. The whole school piled on to a bunch of buses and rolled down to the X for the quarterfinal against White Bear Lake. There was some confusion about ticketing and student sections, so somehow the entire freshman class ended up in the upper deck, separate from everyone else. I was immediately in front of a middle-aged couple (WBL grads) who insisted upon sitting in their ticketed seats despite the large number of free ones in the area, ordered us to sit down, and spent the entire game screaming obscenities down at the WBL players. It was quite the freshman class bonding experience. We were redeemed when one of our own, Keegan Flaherty, buried the game-winning goal.

It was a wonderful day, and I'd offer this advice to other freshmen who get to go watch their team: enjoy your first one, because it just might end up being your only one.

[DoubleDeuce]

My actual first memory would be back in 1979. My 5th grade teacher must have been a big fan. He brought in a TV. I remember watching Grand Rapids. And now after I looked it up, they played Roseau. By the way, Lance Pitlick was in that class.

It wasn't until a couple years later watching Bloomington Jefferson and their Columbia Blues. They became a favorite of mine back then because of their color as did UNC basketball. (The Jordan era I might add.) Because the high school I was going to be going to in a couple years at the time was Columbia Blue. (Blaine) They ruined that tradition, although they used to occasionaly wear a "throw back sweater" with the B like Boston's.

Then in 1983 is when the tradition started. I got to miss school to watch it on TV with my neighbor. He used to live in Columbia Heights. So we cheered on Reggie Miracle and the Hylanders. They beat Edina, lost to Burnsville and then lost to Henry Sibley. Since that year I did get to miss school every year on the Thursday of the Tournament. I also have taken off work most of the Thursday's since then.

I remember listening to the Blaine vs I think St Cloud Tech game on the radio as I shot hoops in the driveway in 1992. I must have been a warm February or March. They won! I couldn't believe Blaine had finally made the big show. They took third that year.

In 1996 I made it to my first game in person. Although it was a consolation game. Blaine vs Alexandria at Marriucci Area. Then again in 1999 when Blaine beat Eden Prairie for the Consolation Championship. I never did make a game to the St. Paul Civic Center.

In 2000, Blaine finally won it all. Not until 2004 did I make it to a championship round game. Centennial vs Wayzata and Moorhead vs Duluth East. My wife and I got a babysitter and we watched Centennial beat Moorhead 1-0 at Damon's in Blaine. Stutz had 3 shut out games!

Since then I have been to first round games, both sessions, in 2006, 2007 and 2008. I now own the Tournament Ticket Package and will not be missing to many more tournament games from here on out. I also have started the tradtion of missing school on Thursday's with my kids! I know this is alot more then my FIRST State Tournament memory, but I felt like just going and going!

[RamWarrior]

The 1990 Rams!!!

W.B.L. 5-1 won consolation
Minnatonka 5-2 won 3rd place
Grand Rapids 3-1

This Tourney was awesome every team Roseau beat took home hardware!!!

[totaldominance]

TJ OSHIE

[ndirishfighting]

The year was 1987. I was 7 yrs old. My DAD told me that tuesday that I was going with him to the MN Boys State Hockey Tournaments. Being 7 yrs old I was like sweet. Before this time and about 10 yrs ago now, did I know my dad had been going to the State TOurnaments since 1965, that streak tragically was interupted in 2001. R.I.P. DAD. Now I have not missed one since 1987, keeping a tradition that DAD started.
Anywhoo back to my first memory, a huge building, with clear boards, and watching teams fulfill childhood dreams.

[TooManyEagles]

My first memory was the great 5 OT East/AV game. My cousin was a cheerleader at East and thus the whole family had to get together and watch the game. I think I was like 6 or so when that happened. Pretty good game to have your first memory of the tournament and HS Hockey in general of.

[MNHockey75]

'99
Martin vs. Taffe and Welch
Jake Brandt and Roseau
Holy Angels and STA arrive
The Riddle's from Benilde

'00
Edina beating Hill in 2 OT's (My Dad got ripped by a tipped slap shot from an Edina player, they didn't have protective netting at the Target Center, I still have the puck)
Lacari and East
Bochenski, Hendricks, Frischmon and Blaine
Raduns and Sauk Rapids in Black
Critter and I. Falls
A loaded Breck team vs. a loaded Warroad team

I missed '01 because I had regionals, we beat Brainerd, Hibbing, Cloquet, and Duluth East to make it to state! Only to lose to Kennedy, then Ryan Flynn and Centennial.

Haven't missed a tourney since, '02-'05 as a fan, '06 as a player, and '07-'08 as a fan once again.

[gopherhockey99]

Greatest tournament in sports. First recollection from the state tournament I had was coming home from elementary school to turn on the afternoon game and thinking the pace was equivalent to the NHL. Would go to sleep with the nightcap games on. Finally, after attending in middle school realized it would become a tradition. Had the privilege of playing in one, and will never forget that.

[TheHockeyDJ]

After a 15 year drought, watching Grand Rapids step on the Xcel Energy Center ice for the first time in 2006 against Roseau and then watching White light the lamp 4 times!

[Messier]

what a great thread. For me a have a few.

1st time watching on tv and loving the 77' Roch. John Marshall Rockets.

1st time live at this great event, 80' GR vs. Hill and everyone in the building cheering for GR. The Rapids cheer.

Best Run 92-94 Jags 79-3-3 3 titles, maybe one if not the greatest runs in MN HS Hockey history.

All time favorite game, since I never got to play at the Civic Center, 95' quarterfinals East 5 Jefferson 0. The next day t-shirts being sold. Front East 5 Jefferson 0 back ANY QUESTIONS? love that.

Sadest day, 91' Hill vs East, the end of the one class tournament. Bring back one class. Love old school.

Bring back the clear boards maybe once every 5-10 years, the boards where so cool.

In HS was there anything better then skipping school on Thurs/Friday and going downtown St. Paul meeting girls from other HS. (End of Story)
Going to McGovern's and seeing all the past players and players you played with or against and shoting the bs and telling some great stories, some very fun and good times had by all. No better place to hold this event then St. Paul.

[greenway1969]

1st Memory: "Huffer" Christianson scoring against Greenway in the 1962 semifinals. it was the third time the Falls beat Greenway by one goal that year. There was more smoke in the St. Paul Aditorium than any bar on the Range.

Best Memory: This is a tough one. Gary Lawson's rush to score the winning goal against Hibbing in the 1967 semi-finals or Greenway's comeback against Eden Prairie in the quarterfinals in 2001.

Worst Memory: Moorhead's win over Greenway in the 2001 semifinals.

Funniest Memory: In 1967 Greenway's goalie (Bill Joy) would skate down to the offensive zone as the extra skater when there was a delayed penalty. To see him screening the other goalie was a real kick.

[chester1991]

1st memory: 1982 White Bear Mariner run to the championship game.
Best Memories: 1984 Johnson beating Hill-Murray, 1985 Jefferson and Minnetonka finishing the game the next morning,1988 Larry Olimb and the Warroad team, 1990 Roseau winning state, 1991 Duluth East beating Burnsville in overtime to play for the championship, 2001 Greenway beating Eden Prairie. WCCO bradcasting the tournament with music videos.

Worst Memories: 1986 Hill-Murray beating Hibbing and playing Burnsville again for the title, 1987 Burnsville beating Warroad in the semi's, 1988 Edina beating Warroad in overtime in the semi's, 1989 Jefferson beating John Marshall in overtime for the championship, 1992 Jefferson beating Cloquet scoring with under a minute in regulation to tie and scoring a o.t. to beat them, 1996 Apple Valley beating Duluth East, 2001 Moorhead beating Greenway

[stpaul]

1983 - Jim Jirele scores with 3 min. left to break a 3-3 tie. Hill-Murray beats Burnsville 4-3 to go 28-0. A St. Paul school wins for the first time in 20 years since Johnson's 1963 title.

1991 - HM rallies from 3-1 down to beat Duluth East 5-3 for their 2nd state title. One week earlier they rallied from 3-0 down to beat WBL 4-3 in the section final at Met Center.

2008 - Ryan Furne scores twice in the 1st period. The second goal goes in on a shot from center ice with 1 second left. Joe Phillippi stops Edina 31 times to win 3-0. HM win it's 3rd title. Coach Bill Lechner, a great guy, finally gets his due.

1995 - Dave Spehar for Duluth East has the greatest individual tournament of all time. 3 hat tricks in 3 nights as East wins it's first title in 35 years.

[stillwildinIL]

2008
I was 16, came up from Bloomington IL to see my first state tourney, and I had relatives Mike Lee and Adam Knochenmus playing for the Rams. Everyone from the county of Roseau were staying in the same hotel. My little cuz was makeing signs to raise during the games to support RHS. I was being spoiled with tickets to two games of each night of the tourney. I sat right next to the penalty box during the first AA games. Roseau came in as the huge favorite and were ready to defend the title. They went smoothly through the first round. After seeing Hill Murrays first game Roseau looked to move on to the championship game for an Edina vs Roseau showdown but HM faced an injured Mike Lee in net and shut down Mr Hockey Aaron Ness to beat the Rams. I was devastated but will never forget the Edina band and upper deck fans chanting "Public School" and "Here We Go Roseau" during the HM vs RHS game. I watched the consolation game and the championship game. The X was not full becuase many of the fans either hated HM or wanted to see a Ram vs Hornet final. It was one of the greatest weeks of my life and I want to do it again.

[Penalty Shot]

Fuzzy memories of St. Paul Johnson coming on the ice with their Govenors jerseys, International Falls-Tim Sheehy. Clear memory watching Greenway win then painting my stick, puck and the porch stairs green and shooting that green puck.

[Teak]

I grew up in a state beside Minnesota and watching some tournament games on my neighbor's t.v. set. She was an older woman, who didn't seem to mind us inviting ourselves over to watch after having curried her favor by shoveling snow off her driveway and sidewalk. I don't remember why she was able to pull in a Minneapolis station while we were not.

The years were probably 1973 and 1974, but I do specifically remember one John Rothstein from Grand Rapids making an end-to-end rush and scoring with a back-hander whilst falling over. If you remember Rothstein, perhaps you can help me with the year.

I also remember Edina being Edina East and Edina West in those years.

[ordeal]

1974 .. An undefeated Edina -East team beats Harding 9-0 on Thursday. It was 2-0 two minutes into the game. The real memory was the Friday night game vs. Henry Sibley. Edina was losing 2-0 going into the 3rd period. Edina comes out and gets an early penalty. Sibley scores to make it 3-0. With 9 minutes and some odd seconds left in the game, Edina scores 5 goals in 6 and a half minutes to win 5-3. The Met Center was stunned! One section up near the top was going nuts and the rest of the place was silenced!

OK, I was on that team, that's why it is such a vivid memory! The best memory out of all, was being on the bench when we tied it and watching Coach Ikola (normally quite reserved) take his famous Hounds Tooth hat off and was jumping up and down on the bench waving his hat !!

He was a great coach who always had his team playing their best hockey in March.

[SEMNHOCKEYFAN]

I dont recall my 1st memory but i beleve there r way to many to count and reading this just makes me even more ready for march!

[behonestbenice]

1973 Hibbing 6 Alexander Ramsey 3 Now Roseville State Champs
5 D1 including Gopher superstar and NHL player Joe Michelleti hat trick
Have not missed a tournement since 35 staright years every game.
It would be nice to see the Jackets back this year after being so close the past 3 years.

Good Luck
HHS

[yurmyboyblue!]

My absolute first memory of the state tournament is hanging out at the Civic Center Holiday Inn when the city of Coleraine came down for the 1987 tourney. My cousin played for the Raiders, and although I was 8 and wasn't able to attend the game, I remember watching in the hotel room with my other aunt while they lost to Kennedy. Being from West Bloomington that stung doubly hard! My best memory was of Nick Checco scoring the tying goal against Cloquet in the 91-92 semi's with under a minute to play, and then Tim McDonald getting the game winner after Dutch Barrett had an amazing game in net for the Lumberjacks (although watching the webcast of the overtime Greenway win over EP while living in Chicago was pretty sweet!). And my worst memory was the 5-0 Duluth East loss in '95 (which I know is many of your best memories). Best or worst, nothing competes with "state", as it always seems to gently close the chapter on winter and finally starts to feel like summer's knocking on the door.

[yurmyboyblue!]

I almost forgot that my uncle would tell the receptionist (concierge) at the Civic Center Holiday Inn that he was a heart surgeon (oviously he wasn't) and that he was on call and would need to park directly outside in case he needed to leave on a surgery call. Somehow, they always bought it. I'll tell you, it wasn't until many years after he passed until I understood how funny this was!

Martuni's forever