Holy Angels was no joke though, I believe they were ranked #2 in State going in and AV #1. And as you mentioned Holy Angels went on to win the tournament.
In the Semis Holy Angels beat Eastview in numerous OTs, like 3-4. Eastview was also very good that year. The section was loaded.
2006 & 2007: Holy Angels. This is when Holy Angels was still loaded and these teams were State favorites. The 06' team had one loss and lost to Apple Valley in the Semis. AV would open the door for Eagan to go to State. The 07' team may have been undefeated if I remember right. They lost to Burnsville in the Section Finals.
I was at both those games. Walking out at Braemar after the Holy Angels game and Stars fans were not happy. Complaining the only reason they lost is cause, AV's goalie played lights out.
That is what makes they Boy's Tourney so magical and mythical. All the history from sections to the Tourney. From the upsets to the blue bloods, private vs. public schools, north vs. city schools and all the story lines. It's makes a special time of year.
In the Semis Holy Angels beat Eastview in numerous OTs, like 3-4. Eastview was also very good that year. The section was loaded.
It was a loaded section and conference. I remember in the regular season the fire marshal closed the doors before the jv game even started between Apple Valley/Eastview.
Tonka had a 2 loss team that was looking for a repeat championship that lost to an 8-loss Holy Family in the section semis in 2019.
1986 Edina with only 2 or 3 losses was beat by a barely .500 Richfield team in the semis, and Tonka which only had 5 losses then lost to that same Richfield team in the section final.
Richfield had a goalie (Damien Rhodes?) that I believe had a few games for Toronto that played out of his mind in both games, with Richfield getting outshot pretty much 2 to 1 in both combined. He also had some of the weirdest mannerisms for a goalie I've ever seen even to this day.
Surely WBL has had some chokes vs. lesser known HM teams?
btw the 2010 Tonka team with 1 loss lost to a 7-loss Edina team in the state final. They beat Edina twice during the regular season. Tonka had I think 12 Div I players. So not a section upset but eff them. 🤣
Thursdays QFs may not be that sexy outside of personal rooting interests knowing that two of Edina/Wayzata/Tonka/Chan won't state meaning that at most 3 Top 10 teams will get in. Remaining ranked teams:
1. Tonka 2. Wayzata 3. Edina 4. Chanhassen 6. Maple Grove 11. Hill-Murray 12. St. Thomas 13. Andover 18. Centennial 20. Stillwater 22. Gentry 23. Cretin 25. Grand Rapids 28. Lakeville South 29. White Bear Lake 30. Elk River 39. Buffalo 61. Rochester C/JM
1996 both highly ranked Hill-Murray and St Paul Johnson were upset before getting to state, their sections were scheduled to play in the second Thursday afternoon game.
Why is the Hill/WBL section championship always the last for AA. Some sections even have their championship done before their semi's.
I am not sure why they are the last but I think the timing of that affected Hill-Murray in 2021 because it was less than a week between the final and the State Tournament.
'29, '40, '74, '76, '79, '02, & '03
GPL's Resident Cabin Enthusiast & Cadets Hockey Fan
My partner (Kiwi) really enjoys hockey when we are in the US May-November. After that it is too cold for her! 😆 I can't pick up games that are streamed by BIG or other outlets for some reason. Unfortunately most young Kiwis are into basketball or rugby.
Growing up in NW Minnesota in the 60's (I'm old 🤣), I don't like to see teams like Buffalo representing the section. It's still the best high school event in the country IMO yet. Cheers
Comparing Aldrich (3,200) to Ridder (3,400) wouldn't make sense both financially and travel. And where else could 4AA play a section championship that would work better than Aldrich. If Mariucci is available have 4AA and either 3AA or 5AA join them for a double header.
2AA and 6AA:
With Braemar (2,600) and BIG (2,500), both sections could use Ridder (3,400) on individual nights. Or go back to the double header at Mariucci.
I don't have the pricing on what Aldrich, Braemar, BIG charges the MSHSL to what 'U' charges for Ridder and Mariucci.
D@MN! I was pulling for Northern Lakes. It's a conglomerate of 10 small schools in the Brainerd Lakes area, one of which is my home town (Aitkin). Of course, one of the other schools (Crosby) is our hated rival in all other sports.
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
Last nights game at Braemar demonstrates why a team (specifically Hermantown) is being short changed by their (sandbagging) school administrators. Advancing to State needs to mean something & not just be ho-hum easy like it is for Hermantown in 7A. To see a tremendous Chan team take down the undefeated defending State Champs in front of a sold out crowd was compelling. And the same can be said for pretty much all the AA sections, with section 1 being the only iffy one, but even there Roch made State for first time since 2009. And it's not the Hermantown players fault, they compete in PWAA & Bantam AA growing up. I'm sure the majority of not all of them would prefer playing in 7AA, that's my rant for today!
Last nights game at Braemar demonstrates why a team (specifically Hermantown) is being short changed by their (sandbagging) school administrators. Advancing to State needs to mean something & not just be ho-hum easy like it is for Hermantown in 7A. To see a tremendous Chan team take down the undefeated defending State Champs in front of a sold out crowd was compelling. And the same can be said for pretty much all the AA sections, with section 1 being the only iffy one, but even there Roch made State for first time since 2009. And it's not the Hermantown players fault, they compete in PWAA & Bantam AA growing up. I'm sure the majority of not all of them would prefer playing in 7AA, that's my rant for today!
Is there anyone not from Hermantown who thinks it is fine they stay in A?
The section 3AA final is a bit of an inter-family rivalry game between my sister and I except she doesn’t care a single iota and I do.
There is an 81% chance she doesn't know CDH is playing tonight.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Is there anyone not from Hermantown who thinks it is fine they stay in A?
It’s an entitlement for them. It’s a badge of pride to make it to State 13/14 years. I’ve said before, I rather be Roseau and make State 1/14 years in AA than be Hermantown and make it 13/14 in A.
The section 3AA final is a bit of an inter-family rivalry game between my sister and I except she doesn’t care a single iota and I do.
There is an 81% chance she doesn't know CDH is playing tonight.
I'll take the over on that ha!
You win, not even on her radar.
She did know the wrestling tourney is this week; of course it helps she works at the DT library. 🤣
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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This year's girls tourney seeded teams 1-5 so I presume the boys tourney will do the same.
EDIT: It is. From the MSHSL site
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Is State seeding 1-5 still or did they ever make it 1-8?
It’s 1-5 and 3 random draws. From what I heard, it’s go to continue this way. Staying away from 1-8, making coaches pick 6-8 and especially 8, is something MSHSL wants to stay away from.
