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Duluth Central vs Eveleth 1999:Greatest playoff shocker?
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:08 am
by hermantown2000
With the section playoffs starting next week, I was wondering if anyone still remembers Duluth Central upsetting Eveleth in 1999?The Golden Bears were the defending state champs and where expected to easily advance to state and perhaps repeat. But an inspired Central Trojan team went up to Eveleth and pulled an absolute shocker. I remember everybody on some old message board was like "What in the world happened?". Eveleths program was never the same again and Duluth Central would close a decade late. Probably the biggest upset I can remember in the sections.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:43 am
by Traxler
Stillwater beating Hill-Murray last year was pretty big. First ever trip to state and denied Hill-Murray a trip when they were a contender for the title.
Re: Duluth Central vs Eveleth 1999:Greatest playoff shocker?
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:50 am
by ILTG
hermantown2000 wrote:With the section playoffs starting next week, I was wondering if anyone still remembers Duluth Central upsetting Eveleth in 1999?The Golden Bears were the defending state champs and where expected to easily advance to state and perhaps repeat. But an inspired Central Trojan team went up to Eveleth and pulled an absolute shocker. I remember everybody on some old message board was like "What in the world happened?". Eveleths program was never the same again and Duluth Central would close a decade late. Probably the biggest upset I can remember in the sections.
I was there....it was unbelieveable. The whole building sat there in shock except for the small group of Central people and the team.
Re: Duluth Central vs Eveleth 1999:Greatest playoff shocker?
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 11:54 am
by rainier
ILTG wrote:hermantown2000 wrote:With the section playoffs starting next week, I was wondering if anyone still remembers Duluth Central upsetting Eveleth in 1999?The Golden Bears were the defending state champs and where expected to easily advance to state and perhaps repeat. But an inspired Central Trojan team went up to Eveleth and pulled an absolute shocker. I remember everybody on some old message board was like "What in the world happened?". Eveleths program was never the same again and Duluth Central would close a decade late. Probably the biggest upset I can remember in the sections.
I was there....it was unbelieveable. The whole building sat there in shock except for the small group of Central people and the team.
Did the Central goalie stand on his head, or did they just get some serious puck luck? What seeds were the two teams?
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:20 pm
by hermantown2000
The section 7a brackets were set up differentely back then. The teams were designated north or south 1-4 I think. Eveleth was the north 1 seed and Central was the south 4 seed. Eveleth was ranked # 2 in the state A rankings if I remember(Benilde St Margaret's was the number # 1 team in class A).
Playoff upsets
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 12:39 pm
by blueblood
Damien Rhodes over Edina 4-3 in semifinals and then backed that up with 2-1 win over Tonka in finals in 1986.
Re: Duluth Central vs Eveleth 1999:Greatest playoff shocker?
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 1:18 pm
by ILTG
rainier wrote:ILTG wrote:hermantown2000 wrote:With the section playoffs starting next week, I was wondering if anyone still remembers Duluth Central upsetting Eveleth in 1999?The Golden Bears were the defending state champs and where expected to easily advance to state and perhaps repeat. But an inspired Central Trojan team went up to Eveleth and pulled an absolute shocker. I remember everybody on some old message board was like "What in the world happened?". Eveleths program was never the same again and Duluth Central would close a decade late. Probably the biggest upset I can remember in the sections.
I was there....it was unbelieveable. The whole building sat there in shock except for the small group of Central people and the team.
Did the Central goalie stand on his head, or did they just get some serious puck luck? What seeds were the two teams?
As well as you can play in a 6-5 game. The Central goalie had 35 saves (some huge ones) and the Eveleth goalie had 22. Shots were almost even after the first period. Central had to ride out a tough first period.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:45 pm
by boblee
Didn't an 8 seed knock off a 1 seed in AA sections a few years back? I feel like Tartan was involved...
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:52 pm
by green4
boblee wrote:Didn't an 8 seed knock off a 1 seed in AA sections a few years back? I feel like Tartan was involved...
I remember Armstrong was a 7 that beat EP
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:55 pm
by pioneers
boblee wrote:Didn't an 8 seed knock off a 1 seed in AA sections a few years back? I feel like Tartan was involved...
Johnson beat Tartan 8 vs 1
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 2:59 pm
by VicKevlar
How about the Mankato West team knocking off New Ulm in 95 in Class A? First time an 8 seed knocked off a 1 seed.
There was book written about it and that team.
http://www.amazon.com/Scarlet-Ice-Minne ... ota+hockey
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:06 pm
by pekyman
LS over DE 2012
Unseeded and given virtually no chance at advancing by the "experts," Lakeville South (21-8-0) shocked top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Duluth East (27-2-0) with a 3-2 victory in the Class 2A quarterfinals Thursday, March 8, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:10 pm
by greenway1969
Johnson upset White Bear in OT after being down by 3 goals in the 3rd period. I think Johnson was a 7 seed and White Bear a 2 seed.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:27 pm
by Wblhcky2424
greenway1969 wrote:Johnson upset White Bear in OT after being down by 3 goals in the 3rd period. I think Johnson was a 7 seed and White Bear a 2 seed.
Can we PLEASE stop talking about that awful day? Still gives me nightmares.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:37 pm
by almostashappy
pekyman wrote:LS over DE 2012
Unseeded and given virtually no chance at advancing by the "experts," Lakeville South (21-8-0) shocked top-seeded and No. 1-ranked Duluth East (27-2-0) with a 3-2 victory in the Class 2A quarterfinals Thursday, March 8, at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.
The fact that the second seed, third seed, and fourth seed also lost in the QFs that year probably takes a little bit of luster away from that upset.
But since it sounds as if you were reading right off of a framed press clipping, I'm certain that one meant more to you personally.

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 4:51 pm
by Sats81
How about in 2000 when a Paul Martin led Elk River squad who I believe was #1 ranked team in the state the majority of the season an favorite to win state got dropped in QF or SF (can't remember exactly) to Osseo? Majority of that elks team returned next yr and won it all.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 7:01 pm
by jonandrews13
Sats81 wrote:How about in 2000 when a Paul Martin led Elk River squad who I believe was #1 ranked team in the state the majority of the season an favorite to win state got dropped in QF or SF (can't remember exactly) to Osseo? Majority of that elks team returned next yr and won it all.
This is the one I always think of. I've only heard about it for years, but I believe the Elks had a 4 goal lead as well and let it get away.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:03 pm
by Bayside Tigers
Sarsland went into a defensive shell after going up 4-0, I want to say early in the second period, and the entire house of bricks collapsed on them. Nobody Osseo went on to lose to Matt Hendricks' Blaine, who Elk River beat twice by scores of 4-2 & 7-1 that year. Blaine wins the state tournament, at the Target Center, beating Duluth East 6-0 in the championship. Elk River breaks into Blaine high school, steals trophy. So technically, they did win. The following year was the first year Xcel hosted the tournament.
Also in the 99-00 season, Eden Prairie can also be brought up. Perhaps to a lesser extent. Who were led by Peter Collins, and ranked #2 all year behind the Elks, with that exception of about 2 weeks mid-season when Elks lost to John Hart, Tim Jackman and Blake Williams' Park Center Pirates. (Interesting fact, that after Elk River 98-99 went about 10-0, and also took their first loss of the season to Park Center) But after that 2 weeks ranked #1, the Eagles took their mid-season fluke loss to Apple Valley putting the Elks back on top. Anyways, in the section championship game against Edina, the Eagles were up by 1 with a minute remaining, and their student section taunted the Hornets with the old "Season's Over!" chant. Well that sparked a Hornet goal, and they went on to win in overtime. I guess their season wasn't over after all.
2 overtime stingers. Ouch.
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 10:14 pm
by Sparlimb
greenway1969 wrote:Johnson upset White Bear in OT after being down by 3 goals in the 3rd period. I think Johnson was a 7 seed and White Bear a 2 seed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2Z31jEuEYQ
Johnson came back from a 5-1 deficit with 4 minutes left without ever pulling their goalie. Best comeback I've ever witnessed.