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First batch of games last night with two upsets.

#7 Park-Cottage Grove over #2 CDH in 3AA

#5 Owatonna over #4 Mankato East


Looking at the box score, Park outshot CDH and had a 3-0 lead going into the 3rd. Its a clear coasting process of Lakeville North as not one team in the section can compete with them.

Northfield wins 18-0, up 9-0 seven minutes into the game. What are we doing? Why is Austin in AA?

Eagles93 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 4:48 pm Northfield wins 18-0, up 9-0 seven minutes into the game. What are we doing? Why is Austin in AA?

I agree. AL’s enrollment is only 760 and the MSHSL cutoff for AA was 1047 and above. That means they elected to play-up. Makes no sense.

Also, I would have no problem with a running clock starting in the 2nd period instead of the 3rd. I might not even have a problem with it after they get to 6 goal lead at any point in a game.

Ditto for New Prague, outshot 72-5 against Tonka. If we're gonna keep having these matchups, go to a play-in system so the top seeds get a bye and avoid these embarrassing games that are no good for anyone.

Or cap AA at top 40 or so enrollments plus opt-ups and put the rest in A. The enrollment cut-off is far too arbitrary particularly in this sport. Not sure what the exact solution is but MSHSL has to think outside the box and avoid these games.

Eagles93 wrote: ↑Fri Feb 09, 2024 10:25 pm Or cap AA at top 40 or so enrollments plus opt-ups and put the rest in A. The enrollment cut-off is far too arbitrary particularly in this sport. Not sure what the exact solution is but MSHSL has to think outside the box and avoid these games.

Right on, cap at 40 or 48 for class AA (or make it Class AAA).
This would cap sections at 5 or 6 teams. If you have 48 teams:
1. 1st Rd for all sections would be on Wed with #3 v #6; #4 v #5.
4. #1 & #2 seeds get byes.
5. Friday is the semis.
6. Saturday is the final.
No need to take up an entire week to figure this out. This kids played 3 games in 3 days in preseason scrimmages and their holiday tournaments. Plus it gets them ready for the 3-day state tournament.

Sparlimb wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:07 am First batch of games last night with two upsets.

#7 Park-Cottage Grove over #2 CDH in 3AA

#5 Owatonna over #4 Mankato East


Looking at the box score, Park outshot CDH and had a 3-0 lead going into the 3rd. Its a clear coasting process of Lakeville North as not one team in the section can compete with them.

Rosemount defeated North in OT tonight.

smhockey77 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 9:02 pm

Sparlimb wrote: ↑Thu Feb 08, 2024 11:07 am First batch of games last night with two upsets.

#7 Park-Cottage Grove over #2 CDH in 3AA

#5 Owatonna over #4 Mankato East


Looking at the box score, Park outshot CDH and had a 3-0 lead going into the 3rd. Its a clear coasting process of Lakeville North as not one team in the section can compete with them.

Rosemount defeated North in OT tonight.

Craziness I tell you. Top two seeds out in 3AA. Congrats on the huge win to Rosemount. We have a 3 vs 4 seed for a trip to state. Those are fun, anyone can win. Has either Rosemount or Apple Valley made it before?

Rosemount made it last year...it was definitely a surprise last year. Natalie Kendhammer played a fantastic game in net for the Irish. She is headed to Hamline to play next fall. Should be a great game Wednesday.

Exciting for seeds #3 and #4. Too bad for the state tournament. Lakeville North would have been an unranked team that could and has beaten top teams. Now section 3 will get abused in the quarterfinals.

Last Four years section 3AA has been outscored 22-1

girlshockey4ever wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:38 pm Exciting for seeds #3 and #4. Too bad for the state tournament. Lakeville North would have been an unranked team that could and has beaten top teams. Now section 3 will get abused in the quarterfinals.

Last Four years section 3AA has been outscored 22-1

Well, I didn't they had any chance to beat Lakeville North either. So maybe a team that's been there once can do some damage this time around. Granted, they still have to get by Apple Valley, who they lost to and then tied during the regular season. I like upsets, that's what sections are all about.

This is who we have left in Class AA as of Wednesday afternoon:

Roseau takes down Moorhead in the 8AA final!

A few days late, but a valiant effort by the Eagles to battle back from 2 down late only to lose a minute into overtime to HF. HF pretty much dominated the puck all game, but the Eagles fought until the end. They lose a lot, mostly with Swanson graduating so they won’t have the same luxury next season of being nearly in every game but Coach Steve definitely has the Eagles moving in the right direction. He’s a total class act and you can really see it in how his girls genuinely seem to care and like each other. Hate to throw it out there, but much much much different from what has now trickled down to Shakopee. Good riddance!

headsupsticksdown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:51 am A few days late, but a valiant effort by the Eagles to battle back from 2 down late only to lose a minute into overtime to HF. HF pretty much dominated the puck all game, but the Eagles fought until the end. They lose a lot, mostly with Swanson graduating so they won’t have the same luxury next season of being nearly in every game but Coach Steve definitely has the Eagles moving in the right direction. He’s a total class act and you can really see it in how his girls genuinely seem to care and like each other. Hate to throw it out there, but much much much different from what has now trickled down to Shakopee. Good riddance!

Let's leave Shakopee alone at least for this season. Based on what I read on my social media feeds, they had to deal with a terrible and fatal car accident involving one of their players the past month. Not an easy season for their team.

North losing was shocking, they had a potent offense but, like a few other games recently, their goaltending seems to have let them down. I didn't see the game, going off of stats.

Good for Rosemount for getting back to state, I'm afraid they will be in running time however as they're not a very strong team.

EP loses Swanson and their leading scorer, but after that it's a young team with almost the whole roster coming back. If the younger goalie is decent they could be just as good if not better next year.

Kudos to girlshockey4ever for the Roseau call in the other thread!

Random thing I just noticed, not sure if this has happened in previous years, but I see Holy Angels plays section final tonight against South St Paul at their home rink Richfield. Seems odd as other sections schedule at least the section finals and some semifinals at neutral sites. Would the game have been at Doug Woog arena if South St Paul were the #1 seed?

Humble Bow.

However, with moorhead and north out, my "best state tournament ever" idea is lost.

Don't forget HM plays at Aldrich tonight vs Stillwater. That's a home game for the Pios. How does that happen?

Ahh, yes, I forgot about Hill-Murray always hosting at Aldrich even if they're not the higher seed. Maybe that will change when St Thomas builds their arena?

In 4A, I went back and it appears the championship game is hosted by the higher seed. Last year Simley hosted at their home Vet's arena, the year before South St Paul hosted the final at Doug Woog. At least that's fair, the higher seed hosts the game.

jg2112 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:54 am

headsupsticksdown wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:51 am A few days late, but a valiant effort by the Eagles to battle back from 2 down late only to lose a minute into overtime to HF. HF pretty much dominated the puck all game, but the Eagles fought until the end. They lose a lot, mostly with Swanson graduating so they won’t have the same luxury next season of being nearly in every game but Coach Steve definitely has the Eagles moving in the right direction. He’s a total class act and you can really see it in how his girls genuinely seem to care and like each other. Hate to throw it out there, but much much much different from what has now trickled down to Shakopee. Good riddance!

Let's leave Shakopee alone at least for this season. Based on what I read on my social media feeds, they had to deal with a terrible and fatal car accident involving one of their players the past month. Not an easy season for their team.

Valid point. Nothing against the kids and feel for those kids and the families involved. I’m just not a fan of that guy…

5 Class AA Sections champions have been crowed. Here’s who’s left:

I get why on the boys side you need an arena that has seating on both sides (larger crowds). But on the girls side you could host a section final game at the high seed no problem and it would be so loud. Think about packing in the crowd at Northfield! Or think about AVHS full to capacity!

Eagles93 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 12:56 pm Ahh, yes, I forgot about Hill-Murray always hosting at Aldrich even if they're not the higher seed. Maybe that will change when St Thomas builds their arena?

In 4A, I went back and it appears the championship game is hosted by the higher seed. Last year Simley hosted at their home Vet's arena, the year before South St Paul hosted the final at Doug Woog. At least that's fair, the higher seed hosts the game.

Aldrich is no longer the home rink for the Hill Murray girls team as they moved to Polar Arena this season.
Also, did St. Thomas get the best player out of Section 4AA? Noreen with 2g and 1a for the Pioneers vs Stilly last night.

Boreen, silly auto correct

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but they still played games at aldrich during the season.

Looks like the Hill girls played three games at Aldrich this season, the rest of the home games were all at North St. Paul.