WBL vs East Ridge 1-05-10
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:06 am
I will get this thread going as to my thoughts. Game Tuesday, 7:30 at Cottage Grove Arena.
This is what is called the proverbial "trap game" where on paper, WBL should handle East Ridge in the manner it handled Hastings and Cloquet.
East Ridge has won 3 of its last 4, and finished 3rd in the Forest Lake Invite defeating the host team. Although the wins have been against St. Paul Como, Forest Lake and a weekend victory versus Shakopee, a win is a win and confidence building.
East Ridge head coach, Doug Long, was an important member of the WBL coaching staff the previous few years. This will be his first game back vs his old team, and although the respect for WBL coach, Tim Sager, is there, you can bet your last dollar that Coach Long would love nothing better than to beat Sager. Personally, Coach Long has my greatest respect and I wish him all the success - not this time though.
Coach Long will have enough player knowledge on what it will take to beat WBL, but does he have the players to operate the plan? Goalie Andrew McDonough will have to be extremely ready to play.
For WBL, Sager wants to avoid losing to Long. So, it will be up to him to get his players ready to play and not overlook this as a cakewalk and be focused on looking ahead to Saturday's Cretin game. A bad loss vs St. Thomas 7-0, a nice rebound game with a 6-3 W vs Holy Angels and a great effort vs Hill-Murray in a 4-3 loss shows the Bears may be figuring it out.
The Bears players shouldn't have to get the extra motivation to give a rude welcome to Long and East Ridge into the SEC, but they have to be on high alert. This is the kind of oppponent/game we should see the line of Brandon Wahlin, Max Birkinbine and either Ryan Wolter or Justin Hauswirth light the lamp 5 times. The Bears cannot afford to take East Ridge lightly.
My heart says Bears 7-0 or higher... SERIOUS!!! It could be 10-1...... My critical analysis says the Bears better not let East Ridge get ANY moral victory, by allowing ER within a two-goal margin. A moral victory for East Ridge will give them the confidence it needs to finish the SEC strong.
This is what is called the proverbial "trap game" where on paper, WBL should handle East Ridge in the manner it handled Hastings and Cloquet.
East Ridge has won 3 of its last 4, and finished 3rd in the Forest Lake Invite defeating the host team. Although the wins have been against St. Paul Como, Forest Lake and a weekend victory versus Shakopee, a win is a win and confidence building.
East Ridge head coach, Doug Long, was an important member of the WBL coaching staff the previous few years. This will be his first game back vs his old team, and although the respect for WBL coach, Tim Sager, is there, you can bet your last dollar that Coach Long would love nothing better than to beat Sager. Personally, Coach Long has my greatest respect and I wish him all the success - not this time though.
Coach Long will have enough player knowledge on what it will take to beat WBL, but does he have the players to operate the plan? Goalie Andrew McDonough will have to be extremely ready to play.
For WBL, Sager wants to avoid losing to Long. So, it will be up to him to get his players ready to play and not overlook this as a cakewalk and be focused on looking ahead to Saturday's Cretin game. A bad loss vs St. Thomas 7-0, a nice rebound game with a 6-3 W vs Holy Angels and a great effort vs Hill-Murray in a 4-3 loss shows the Bears may be figuring it out.
The Bears players shouldn't have to get the extra motivation to give a rude welcome to Long and East Ridge into the SEC, but they have to be on high alert. This is the kind of oppponent/game we should see the line of Brandon Wahlin, Max Birkinbine and either Ryan Wolter or Justin Hauswirth light the lamp 5 times. The Bears cannot afford to take East Ridge lightly.
My heart says Bears 7-0 or higher... SERIOUS!!! It could be 10-1...... My critical analysis says the Bears better not let East Ridge get ANY moral victory, by allowing ER within a two-goal margin. A moral victory for East Ridge will give them the confidence it needs to finish the SEC strong.