Wilbur

4-1 Minot Midway through the second period.

After one period of play Minot 2 Hazen 1: I have to give credit to Hazen. From the sound of it they are playing gritty hockey, and with nothing to lose against a team with more depth thats what you have to do. Minot scored two quick goals, but then Hazen came back and got a goal with about 7 minutes left.

Midway through the first period: Minot 2 Hazen 1 The North Stars playing pretty well.

Very classy comments from all. I know everyone has their opinions, but I guess integrity runs a little low in some people. I'm done posting here. I try to post something constructive, and it goes to hell in a hurry. I compliment Red River, yet the only reason they obviously won is because Minot is horrible. Have good discussions from now on...christ.

Final Score Red River 7 Minot 1: Well, let me first say one thing....wow. I've watched a lot of high school hockey in my day, but I have never seen a team pass as well as this Red River team does. Its like they've got magnets on their sticks. Some pretty pretty passing goals by the Riders, and hard working gritty goals as well. I don't have my mind made up about who Red River's best player is. I'm leaning towards Meland, but they've also got some great defensement in Galbreath and Ladoucer, and the goaltender Pat Arnason was great as well. Minot had some great chances off of some turnovers to get a goal but Arnason shut the door on them. I'm really impressed with his lateral movement for a big guy, and how he doesn't waste movement when making the save. The only goal Minot scored was in the third period when Arnason was taken out for Gilbertson? Is that right? Minot in my opinion is a pretty decent hockey club, but Red River is just in a class of their own. There were points in the game when I think I was cheering for Red River because I was that impressed with their puck movement, and overall team speed, it was a lot of fun to watch. I tried to think of a weakness that Red River has, but I really can't find one. Just give them the trophy now. Note to Hakstol, Players to recruit: ~Meland ~Ladoucer (sp) ~Galbreath ~Russel Crary (in a couple of years) ~Arnason Thats all I got, hope I didn't miss anything.

I completely agree with that assessment, very well said. I hope that is something discussed in the future with the meetings and what not, but I guess we'll see. The last time I talked to Rody Selk was over the break and he didn't really have any indications of where he was going to play college hockey. I know that he has one more year of Junior hockey eligibility left, so I imagine he'll use it before signing with someone.

I would say I agree with Chewey that some of those years Minot was outclassed by the team they were playing. But there have been a couple times where Minot was the better squad and just didn't get any bounces. I remember a game against Fargo North, Minot is leading the whole game, only to have a screened shot go in the net with like a minute left and lost in OT. Another time against West Fargo where both of West Fargo's goals go off of Minot players and in the net (from behind the goal line mind you). When I played at Minot we were tied with Central 1-1 going into the third period, only to have a horrendous bounce go to Central to give them a 2-1 lead, and eventually win the game 3-1. I think likening it to the Red Sox is about right. Also, take a look at White Bear Lake. They are on a similar streak in the state of Minnesota. I think they have last 17 in a row of their first round games at the Minnesota state tournament. You can't tell me that the talent is lacking there. A friend of mine from college played at WBL before going to Hill-Murray, he said it was almost a sure thing that WBL would end up losing their first round game at state even when they had the most talent.

Happy....posting at SS.......is this a sign of the apocolypse?

Josh actually ended up playing DIII out east somewhere. I can't remember where exactly, but I think he was a case of hockey burnout. After the Americans came the Top Guns, and after the Top Guns we had the Muskies for one season. I thought the muskies would make it because they had a good core of Minnesota and North Dakota kids, but they could never get a deal worked out with the all seasons arena. Its funny some of those guys you mention. I play mens league in Minot and play with Morrelli, Olson, Hanson, Philion, current Minot coach Pete Fiske (played at Bottineau) and Grubb just to name and few, pretty fun guys to be around, and the hockey gets pretty intense too! I almost wish that they went away from the Region Tournaments and went back to the old playoff system where they did the cross brackets east and west playoffs. That way we wouldn't hear as much complaining about four western teams automatically being in the tournament. I still think we'd see at least three western teams in the tournament every year. PS: To find this thread and other high school hockey ones, just go to the non-collegiate sports forum. You click into the community forum, and it is at the top of the page.

Great post Chewey. You mean Josh Cartier though! I'm one on the side of the whole "mental" problem. Last year Minot gets a new coach, a guy who has won a lot, and they still end up losing their first round game. That team in 2005 might have been the best Minot team ever, yet they just had that mental block in the first game of state, and cost them a state championship that I think they could have won. With every year that goes by it seems like more and more of a curse starting to form. It seems like Minot gets no bounces, and every single time that the team they're playing gets a chance, they score. Its funny to me how the easterners always bring up Minot's success at state. Its almost like gopher fans talking about the "back to back championships". Minot has never or will never be a hockey town IMHO. I bet half the people in Minot don't realize there is a high school hockey team. Pretty amusing actually! Should be some fun games this weekend. But I guess I shouldn't go to the Red River one, because that will be 11-0.

Well said BigGame. A lot of former UND students like myself and many of my friends very much agree with you. West Region Scores: Minot 7 Hazen 1 Jamestown 4 Fargo North 4

Anybody at the Red River-Devils Lake game? Looks like a nice showing from the Firebirds against the best team in the state.

Some scores from tonight from Bob Gillen's website: Century 3 Bottineau 1 Williston 3 Hazen 2 Minot 1 Bismarck High 1 If Minot and Bismarck both win out they finish in a tie for the West Region. But Minot holds the tiebreaker because of the head to head records.

Yeah, okay. "Riders06" Still classy though!

Exactly the class I expect from a Grand Forks citizen.

Yep, that post made you look like the true dope you are! You could have saved it with saying Friday, but you tried to cover your mistake with something that makes no sense. My answer: I know its the Thursday of the state tournament when others go out of their way to make comments against the quality of hockey in the west region, and the quality of players in the west region. It reminds me a lot of gopher fans. Pretty arrogant... PS: And honestly, if a couple of western teams did manage to win their first round game, what difference would it make? All the bashers would go with, "ohhh, one year, this doesn't mean anything", or come up with some stat about the west's all time record in the first round. Its funny to think this argument started with me complimenting Red River...

Great post.... If it was anyone else I would probably care, but you've proven yourself over and over....

That Broten goal is just stupid. What a great individual play. Although its a gopher goal, thats one I don't mind seeing once in a while.

Holy moly.... Congrats to Red River on winning the EDC. Clearly the best team in the state right now. I'm looking forward to seeing them come to Minot in early February. Hopefully Minot keeps the game kind of close.

Nice post HWSTS. I think I almost 100 percent agree. I could see Central and West Fargo switched around, but more than likely thats the way the region will finish up. If these standings hold true you could have some interesting first round matchups, besides the first game. Red River-Shanley Devils Lake-North Fargo South-GFC Grafton-West Fargo

I'll throw out a score: Red River 4 South 2 (empty netter for Red River) Thus Red River is virtually assured of the EDC crown unless they have some drastic letdown against teams they should beat.

Some scores I've heard from tonight: Minot 11 Mandan 1 Roseau 4 Red River 1 Anybody got a score from the Bismarck-Jamestown game?

Well, if you feel that way then hats off to Minot for working through tough officiating to get a road win. Its getting to a point in the season where region games (especially on the road) are huge for postseason standing, good teams find ways to win when the chips are stacked against them, and getting the win on the road should be a confidence booster for the magi. I guess the paper said that the penalties were 8 for Minot and 7 for Jamestown. I don't know if it was that bad....

Scores that I heard from tonight: Minot 6 Jamestown 3.....Was this game played in Jamestown? Are they still having ice difficulties??? Also heard Bottineau over Dickinson. Its nice to see Bottineau winning some games again. The numbers definately make a difference.

Minot 4 Dickinson 0 Didn't go to the game, but from the sound of it, Minot is starting to play really well in their defensive end.