Press Box Notes 2016

[karl(east)]

As usual, I'll use this thread to feed you whatever random information I can find from up here. I'll attend a few postgame press conferences as well. And update you on the number of free cookies and plates of popcorn I eat. (We're at one and one already.)

[SFA1992]

have fun up there. excited for the pod tomorrow night.

[karl(east)]

Nothing too exciting from the first presser.

Curtis Doell, MW coach: the first penalty "took the wind out of our sails...we were for the most part fine 5 on 5." He also lamented their inability to hit the net or get second chances. Tyler Loe said the experience was "still surreal."

Breck: Les Larson explained Breck's PP success by saying they "worked really hard on it" and talked up both PP units. He spun the two major penalties as giving his team "the advantage to play shorthanded for ten minutes," giving them the opportunity to work the PK. Okay.

On the quality of Breck's shot blocking: "It's a gradual thing, and it's a heart thing...it's a great sign."

On West's quick start: "That's every game...they're here because of their character. Good teams stay the course." Getting the first one is important, and getting the second one is also important, because "then they need three...it's simple math, but even a liberal arts student can understand that part."

On Chase Ellingson: "I've never seen a guy that consistent. I've never seen him play bad."

Will Blake, on winning today after losing in the first round last year: "We knew Mariucci's not that fun."

[green4]

He spun the two major penalties as giving his team "the advantage to play shorthanded for ten minutes," giving them the opportunity to work the PK. Okay.

On Tv they mentioned Breck's goal differential on the PK was only minus 3, and that was before the last shorthanded goal. It was a pretty interesting stat I thought.

[karl(east)]

He spun the two major penalties as giving his team "the advantage to play shorthanded for ten minutes," giving them the opportunity to work the PK. Okay.

On Tv they mentioned Breck's goal differential on the PK was only minus 3, and that was before the last shorthanded goal. It was a pretty interesting stat I thought.

The stat packet had them at -4 (12 GA, 8 SHG) coming in. So, if they said that after the first one, it would've been true. Crazy.

[karl(east)]

I skipped the TRF-Princeton press conference for Cossetta's purposes, but naturally, I couldn't miss one involving Bruce Plante.

First, LDC's Chris Olson said the team "dodged grenades" to keep it within striking distance for most of the first two periods, despite their nerves. He also talked about how his team rarely brings second sticks on to the bench because they rarely break them, but were doing so all over the place today, and Pederson had a breakaway with a backup stick that was 4 inches too short. Perhaps we've learned a lesson about backup sticks tonight?

David Raisanen: his second goal was "purely by accident." His coach: "You should take credit for that!" Raisanen also added that it was "fun playing against good teams." So I'm glad someone thought that game was fun.

Plante entered with two players and sat there for a moment before being reminded to introduce them. "Oh, yeah, forgot that part. That one's Cole Koepke...I think." He didn't say a whole lot by his standards, and mostly let his players do the talking. Koepke and Sandelin said all the right things, and nothing too unique.

Is this stressful, Bruce? "Look, I live on a lake. For fifty weeks out of the year, I'm fine. These two weeks just beat me up. My body's just screaming at me, what are you doing?"

So, Bruce, any thoughts on playing a private school tomorrow night? "None." (pause) "Not for you guys, anyway. I'm not sucking into that this time."

[karl(east)]

A few late-night notes from SCC-SPA:

Derrick Brown of SCC, who somehow looks even younger than he did two years ago with Luverne, had lots of praise for his goalie, Keegan Karki. He also gave a fair amount to praise to SPA, saying he was impressed with how they ran just two lines most of the night. Logan Neu added that the Crusaders "didn't see a team that fast this year," which is notable considering they played Hermantown, Breck, and Holy Family.

SPA's Funk on Dev McCabe: "He's a big game player. He perfects his craft. This is a team full of a big players." Their goal? "Have them chase us." Funk also praised his senior leadership, saying it was "nothing but positivity," even after giving up the game-tying goal in the 2nd.

Justin Jallen on the looming Hermantown game: "It's gonna be the biggest game of my life...we can skate with anyone. Just don't think about it too much."

Funk on Jallen: "He's played for us for 4 years." At the start he was "just a scrappy kid from Woodbury, always smiling, and I think he got popped on his first shift." And then there's some scrawled note I can't read, so that's all you're getting for tonight.

Back at it tomorrow! Should be a lot of fun, and a lot less running time.

[Jeffy95]

I skipped the TRF-Princeton press conference for Cossetta's purposes, but naturally, I couldn't miss one involving Bruce Plante.

First, LDC's Chris Olson said the team "dodged grenades" to keep it within striking distance for most of the first two periods, despite their nerves. He also talked about how his team rarely brings second sticks on to the bench because they rarely break them, but were doing so all over the place today, and Pederson had a breakaway with a backup stick that was 4 inches too short. Perhaps we've learned a lesson about backup sticks tonight?

David Raisanen: his second goal was "purely by accident." His coach: "You should take credit for that!" Raisanen also added that it was "fun playing against good teams." So I'm glad someone thought that game was fun.

Plante entered with two players and sat there for a moment before being reminded to introduce them. "Oh, yeah, forgot that part. That one's Cole Koepke...I think." He didn't say a whole lot by his standards, and mostly let his players do the talking. Koepke and Sandelin said all the right things, and nothing too unique.

Is this stressful, Bruce? "Look, I live on a lake. For fifty weeks out of the year, I'm fine. These two weeks just beat me up. My body's just screaming at me, what are you doing?"

So, Bruce, any thoughts on playing a private school tomorrow night? "None." (pause) "Not for you guys, anyway. I'm not sucking into that this time."

Bruce can't say anything about the Privates anymore. If he loses to one he might not be able to resist though. That's the press conference I'm waiting for!

[InYourFace09]

Bruce can't say anything about the Privates anymore. If he loses to one he might not be able to resist though. That's the press conference I'm waiting for!

We should have two cracks at it. Go SPA and Breck so Plante can speak his mind!!

[karl(east)]

Farmington-Stillwater:

Greg May of Farmington was pleased with the first two periods and thought his team outplayed Stillwater at times. But the team "gave up a little after the third goal." He thought the matchup and the teams' lack of knowledge of each other would work in their favor, said Stillwater's D is "underrated," and called them a "pretty complete" team with "two lines that can move." They played the schedule they did to prepare for games like this.

Erik Holmstrom also added that he though the team became "pretty deflated" after the 3rd goal after having "just as many chances through the first two periods."

Matt Doman talked up how disciplined and team-oriented his group has been, and was especially happy that they only allowed "one or two" odd-man rushes all game. Jackson Cates talked about how experience helps, and he could tell Stillwater's players in their first Tourney how "it's gonna be a circus." Noah Cates added that their goal this season was to win three banners, and they have two of them. Just need one more.

And then I bailed so I didn't miss any quality flow during player introductions.

[karl(east)]

Burnsville-Wayzata notes*:

Burnsville: Kivihalme said the Blaze made three "uncharacteristic mistakes" that did them in: the stretch pass, D zone coverage, and 1-on-1 play. Cade Borchardt: "we've enjoyed it, it's a fun run, but it's not over yet." Kivihalme on Borchardt: "cheerleader in the locker room after every period," telling everyone to stay positive. Profound advice from the Finn: "You go to the net hard, you'll be surprised what you find there."

Wayzata: O'Leary described Schilling's play in the first period as "the difference in the game...The biggest difference was depth...especially in the third period." How do you stop Cade Borchardt? "Put Hank Sorensen on him every time he's out there." Senden, Schilling, and Patterson were all there, but didn't have a whole lot to say.

*Notes are from Danny, who attended for me while I went and ate a swordfish at St. Paul Grill. Blame him for any inaccuracies.

[karl(east)]

Grand Rapids-Bemidji notes:

Section 7 coaches are always the most quotable coaches. On the type of game, Klatt said it was "exactly what I expected."

How do you prepare for a semi, coach? "I have no idea." To get them going, he just "harps on competing."

He also was no fan of the Xcel ice. "The ice was awful. We had to change our style...it was slow and bumpy."

But this game had some of the best passing of the day, coach. "Maybe I was facing the wrong way."

Why didn't Alex Adams score in overtime against Bemidji the first time around? "We were saving him." For his part, Adams was very deferential: "I've gotten pretty lucky. It's all a team effort."

On the absent Rapids player: "I've been told not to comment on it." Will he play in this tournament? "No."

Wade Chiodo, Bemidji: the goal was just to "play simple hockey." He thought they "gave them too much room." In the second intermission, Bemidji didn't talk about the goal getting waved off. "I wasn't too worried."

Alex Pollock on his breakaway goal: "I wasn't really thinking. I've done that move a couple of times and it's worked well for me."

I later shared a sad elevator with Chiodo at the InterContinental, though didn't say anything.

[karl(east)]

TRF-Breck:

Bergland on the early Breck goal: "It didn't change our approach, but it did put us back on our heels. Our goalie would probably like that one back."

On the whole game: "We were playing too much D. We had some breaks. [Breck] getting the lead was the biggest thing." He also noted no ice issues, unlike Klatt last night.

Breck, Tyler Scott: "We're a fighting team, and we won't back down. That start was huge."

Describe your role, Tyler? "Coach calls me the straw that stirs the drink." Larson: "Hey, he remembered something! That's good. He's the impetus, the catalyst. The's the guy in the middle" on the top line... and he has "Hobey Baker character."

How did you contain Ethan Johnson, Coach? "I don't know." (laughs) "Our D-men did a nice job. You make sure you have a man on him and move your feet. When he gets the puck, hold on."

"The Berglands are a class act, and I like the way that team plays. Thank goodness we got off to a quick start."

On two straight shutouts: "I'm a defenseman, so I love it. It all starts from our end." And tomorrow? "No regrets, just go after it...this team is on a mission, and it has a collective will."

"We have a philosophy on how the game should be played. We have two rules. One, we do everything we can to succeed. Two, comport yourself with respect. Don't dishonor the game. [As coaches] we're just here to guide them."

What have you learned since your last trip to the title game 6 years ago? "I've learned a lot about team culture and getting everyone to buy in. There is a right way to do things."

[zamboniexhaustinhaler]

Yeah, both games this year, Breck has outshot Trf badly, and the total scores of 8-1 reflect that.

[karl(east)]

Eden Prairie-Grand Rapids:

So how's that Casey kid, coach Smith? "He completely took over the game. It was 2-2, and he took it up a notch. He led the way on the ice and on the bench."

Casey, on his second goal: "My stick was flopping around a lot and I didn't really get a good shot off." On the comparisons to Kyle Rau: "It's an honor...I'm following in his footsteps....we've been hungry for a win after the last two years...I remember two years ago [when he was still a bantam] sitting and staring at the rink for about twenty minutes after we lost, I was pretty rattled. We've just got to go out there, make a few plays, and get a W."

Credit Casey with this: he's one of the most articulate kids I've seen in a press conference. Confident, says intelligent things, and is totally at ease. Is anyone surprised?

Smith on the Wayzata matchup: "I don't like having an opponent who's that good defensively. It'll be a thriller, a battle for every inch of turf.

He also stopped to embrace Klatt as he left while Trent made his entrance. "He makes it look easy in year one."

Klatt: "We didn't play the way we wanted to in the first," he said, crediting it to both GR's preparation and EP's quality. The two goals were "a breath of fresh air" early in the 2nd," but "no one is hanging their heads...the season's not done. Ask me tomorrow about how our season's been."

On stopping Casey: "It's not easy. He picked us apart pretty good tonight. He's very hard to defend."

[karl(east)]

Breck-Hermantown:

Les Larson, lamenting the first period: "Our chances were great, but we didn't capitalize...Hermantown beat us to pucks, and was stronger on the puck. They won the little battles. They're a formidable opponent."

Chase Ellingson: "Hats off to Luke Olson...they didn't give us much room."

Larson on playing a team that had lost six straight: "It helped that they went up three, four to nothing. It's a lot easier to play like that. I though there would be some chinks in the armor, but we didn't capitalize."

Hermantown--how do you feel, Bruce? "I feel a lot lighter." Did you ever relax during the game. "Not at all. Not even during that last penalty at the end."

Were you texting someone on the bench during the timeout, Bruce? "No, I just have a little book with their lines on it."

"I thought we were more conservative when we were up 3-0, but they had to go through everybody to get tho the net...the PK did a great job. We played too much D sometimes."

Wyatt Aamodt: "It was there, but we tried not to worry about it." And on the pressure of the six straight: "Yeah, some random guy would come up and ask, [are you going to win it this year?] "I just said, one game at a time. Now I can answer that question."

James Lindberg, on his goal, the third one right before the end of the first: "It was a big lift. A 2-goal lead is the worst lead in hockey. I just saw a little opening and thought, it's the state championship game, why not?"

Again, how do you feel, Bruce? [It felt like people asked the same 10 questions over and over again at this one] "Wonderful. It's one of the greatest moments of my hockey life." (He reflects back on his first Tourney berth and the 2007 championship.) "All the mounting stuff, the things that get said, wanted to get it over with, really."

Luke Olson, you were great today. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

"I had the hotel buffet: some potatoes, some eggs, actually a donut...and some oranges." On his season overall: "It was a downer not to make the Elite League. But they [Team North] went and won the league anyway so that's alright."

Bruce: "I was upset Luke didn't make the Elite League. He hasn't had one bad game in two years."

Same sort of question to Bruce: "I was scared about what was going to happen to me personally. If we'd lose again they would've taken me out of here in a straightjacket. But that streak thing motivated them."

So are you going to start a winning streak now? "I'm not gonna be around long enough to have a streak." [In reference to the old guys in WalMart who used to come up to him and ask him if he was going to finally win] "I'm going to get hugs from those oldtimers now. It was mostly harmless. They weren't jabs, though some of them...no, I'm not going to say anything." (laughs)

Are you going to retire, Bruce? "I'm gonna have to think hard about that. I've thought about it both ways."

No one asked about moving up to AA, though that is a moot point for another year anyway.

[karl(east)]

AA Championship notes--good stuff on both sides here.

Lee Smith, EP: "I would have though that scoring three would give us a good chance to win. I didn't expect four. The majors ended up being a disaster. They caught us at the end of the period with a couple of guys who had played a lot, and scored on our second power play [unit]...we should've made em pay. We've played them three times this year and outshot them, we out-opportunity them, but it didn't work out."

On the go-ahead goal: "We ha two chances to get it out, and a chance to block the shot. They probably shouldn't have scored. Our goalie got kinda trapped in the net.

Casey Mittlestadt was still in tears when he came into the room, and I was worried we'd be in for one of those very painful press conferences where the kids can't even talk. But, he pulled himself together admirably. When asked if he ever doubted they could win it, he said, "No. I don't know. If we had the chance, we would've buried it...Schilling was rocky at the start of the year but he's hands-down the best goalie I've seen." On playing against Sorensen: "I'm just gonna go at him, I'm not gonna shy away from him. I'm not gonna change the way I play. I don't care if I get hacked or slashed. If the ref doesn't see it, he doesn't call it; that's kinda how they play."

Graham on Schilling: "He's the best in the state. We had our chances, we just didn't score."

Lee Smith then grew the most emotional I've ever seen a coach in one of these press conferences, choking over his words: "These are two of the classiest guys you'll ever meet. Michael Graham stayed, he could have left, but he's a winner. A class act. Casey's got tons of options now too, and we're lucky to have him."

"Their defensive game beat ours at the end of the day." Did you get sucked in to playing their style? "I don't know. We were up 3-1, had a major, and wasted it. That was the turning point."

Smith ended by repeating his love for Ollinger: "I love Olly. He was the first guy to talk to them after the loss, tell them they're still great kids."

After EP exited, a drenched Coach O'Leary entered the room with Logan Lindstrand, Hank Sorensen, and Alex Schilling, and explained that he'd just been given "a water bath."

The first question was about killing off the majors. "That wasn't the game plan, but...I was happy with the way we bounced back. We got physical play from all four lines...when we were playing all four lines lots of people questioned that and that's fine, but we wear people down."

Lindstrand on the game-winner: "I was just trying to get it on net." Hank: "He practices that a lot. He spends 45 minutes practicing after practice. It's usually just him." O'Leary, jokingly: "He's just out there dancing around the blue line. He visualized the other five guys there."

Did the shot go in clean, Logan? "I dunno." (Hank volunteers that he was on the bench, and therefore could not see either.) O'Leary: "Well, he only visualizes the first six feet. After that, I don't care if it's like Plinko off the goalie, it's okay if it gets in."

Hank: "Now he's a part of history. It couldn't have happened to a better person."

Hank, on his physical play: "I knew how to do it, so that's all I'm going to say about that. Whatever."

It looks like you say a lot, Hank. Are you trying to get into your opponents heads? "Yeah. But it's nothing I can say right here."

Hank (who at this point has basically hijacked the entire press conference) on watching the major penalty from the box: "It was a great show. It was like I'd paid for a ticket, and just sat there and watched it myself."

Alex Schilling, upon being told Casey had called him the best player in the state: "It took the whole team. That's a great compliment from Casey." (He spent most of the press conference just grinning manically.)

Lindstrand: "He's been a rock all year." Hank: "A brick wall."

Hank, on the experience: "It felt like I was playing for the Wild, to be honest."

O'Leary wrapped things up by reflection on the program's first state title, what it's meant and the work he's put in being "pretty visible in the community" to build up his youth program. He also thanked his predecessor, Carl Davis, "a big advocate of mine" at the start of his tenure.

As Alex Schilling said on multiple occasions, "unbelievable."

[WestMetro]

Great report Karl!

( couldn't believe schilling didn't get one of the Brimsek nominations)