1975 Kellogg Cup Super Series Playdowns


Superior Lakers vs White Bear Lake Braves
The opening game of the 1975 Super Series was a classic between the Lakers and Braves. White Bear got on the board in the first, bombarding the goalie until a rebound finally found the back of the net. Superior turned it around in the second, playing much better hockey and tying the game at 1. Superior would score again in the third to take a 2-1 lead, but it would not last for long as the Braves went tick tack toe for the game tying goal only 47 seconds later. Overtime was needed for the first MAHL game at the St. Paul Civic Center. Superior was called for too many men on the ice 5 minutes into the period, giving White Bear a grade A chance. The Braves won the draw and set up the attack. A winger received the puck along the boards and took a step towards the slot, firing a shot hard and low far side. The shot got through and the Laker goalie made the save, but the low shot caused a rebound that fired right out to the winger on the far side who one timed it back into the open net. White Bear Lake advances with a thrilling 3-2 overtime win over Superior.

St. Paul Victorias vs Apple Valley Cardinals
The V's made the journey to the new building next door to play host to Super Series newcomers Apple Valley. The Civic Center was electric as this one kicked off As "Go V's Go!" began to ring throughout the arena. Before long St. Paul began to take over, out skating the Cards and looking like the much better team in this one. The damage after one left the V's in the drivers seat up 2-0, outshooting Apple Valley 18-5. Apple Valley had a great start to the second, seeming to have found that extra gear they had been lacking, getting some high quality looks early and lighting the lamp on a shot from the point 3:26 into the second. The Cardinals continued to play well for the next few minutes and it was looking like we had a game on our hands. Then the Cardinals were called for interference, setting up the potent St. Paul powerplay which went to work and found pay dirt, extending their lead back to 2. From then on it was like the first period all over again, St. Paul had taken over, doing what they wanted when they wanted and there was nothing Apple Valley could do about it. The V's added two more on their way to a convincing 5-1 blowout victory to advance to the Great Eight for a date with their neighbors.

Roseau Stars vs La Crosse Brewers
The Brewers were ready to go, once again opting to wear their "Lucky number yellow" jerseys, embracing a quote from the teams coach in an interview prior to the Super Series. Meanwhile the Stars were in their iconic green and gold. The first was pretty even, but neither side was able to get on the board. Roseau was the much more physical team in the first, they also outshot the Brewers 12-8. We had our first goal of the game in the second on a 2 on 1 chance for La Crosse. Roseau had been controlling play in the Brewers zone, getting some good looks but getting stuffed. The Brewers finally regained control and head manned the puck up to a winger who took off down the other way with a teammate and a Star defenseman. The defenseman took away the pass, allowing the Brewer a point plank shot which he buried low glove side to give his team the lead. The Brewers would extend their lead to 2 on a pass from the corner that deflected off a defenseman's skate and into the back of the net. You could see the heads beginning to hang on the Roseau bench, such an unlucky bounce at such a bad time, plus the frustration of trailing 2-0 when outshooting La Crosse 28-19. The Stars finally got on the board with a little under 2 minutes to play, calling a timeout right after to set up their plan to tie it up. Roseau won the draw and went on the attack, pulling their goalie. They got a shot on goal that was pushed aside by the goalie and gathered by his d man. La Crosse went the other way with it, converting on the empty net to secure the 3-1 upset over Roseau.

Grand Rapids Moose vs Rochester Mustangs
It was a battle of Herbivores as the Moose and Mustangs battled for over 75 minutes in St. Paul. To many peoples surprise, Rochester was able to shut down the Moose attack, perhaps one of the most feared in the MAHL. The Moose were left off the board until the third period, trailing for the majority of the game with Rochester holding a 1-0 lead since early in the second. We were tied at 1 when the final horn sounded, sending us to overtime for the second time in the opening day, tied 1-1. Both sides played very cautiously in overtime, not risking anything. This obviously slowed the speed of the game, with neither side getting any real good chances through 10 minutes. Grand Rapids decided to finally put an end to things with 4:49 left in overtime number 1. The Moose held the puck in the offensive zone and the puck carrier moved it down low to a teammate below the goal line. He caught the pass and was pressured so he booked it behind the net. The Mustang goalie rushed to the pipe to prevent a wrap around, but instead of that, the Moose forward passed it out into the slot where a teammate was there to one time it home. Grand Rapids swarmed over the boards to celebrate as they knock off Rochester and advance with a 2-1 win.

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1975 Kellogg Cup Super Series Great Eight


Edina Cake Eaters vs White Bear Lake Braves
White Bear Lake came out with speed, matching the Cake Eaters and keeping them off the board in the first. Things began to take the usual turn in favor of Edina as the second progressed. The Ben Hankinson took a shot off a faceoff that caught the Braves goalie by surprise, giving Edina the lead. They would score one more in the second before White Bear would bounce back with a goal of their own to make the score 2-1 after 2. Edina extended their lead back to 2 thanks to a powerplay goal from Nanne. White Bear would not go away however, pressuring the Eaters goalie and popping home a rebound to once again get within one. Edina put the dagger in the hearts of Braves fans on a 2 on 1 chance that ended with a one timer roofed into the top corner of the net. Edina would hold on to the 4-2 lead, knocking off White Bear Lake and keeping their dreams alive as they head to the Semi Finals for the 4th time.

Twin Cities Vulcans vs St. Paul Victorias
East Side vs Northwest Side and Minneapolis, who will be the final team standing out of the Twin Cities Hockey League? The Civic Center was filled to the gills as this one started. The atmosphere was electrifying and both teams fed off of it, producing a great game of hockey. Overlapping "Go V's Go!" and "Lets Go Vulcans" chants rang out as both sides lit up the scoreboard twice. It was only fitting that such a classic would go to overtime with the game tied at 2. Overtime kept the up tempo, fast pace, that we had seen during regulation. This led to some good scoring chances for both teams. The Vulcans got the puck in the V's zone. A winger carried it towards the slot but dumped it to a teammate in the corner who passed it right back into the slot for a give and go one timer that blew past the St. Paul goalkeeper. The Vulcans lost their marbles as they dove over the boards to celebrate, perhaps a new TCHL rivalry is forming. The Vulcans will look to get back to the Finals for the first time since 1925 as they win 3-2 over the St. Paul Victorias.

Bemidji Blue Ox vs La Crosse Brewers
La Crosse gave it their all in this one, unfortunately for the Brewers the Ox are just a much larger and faster team. Bemidji was willing and able to throw their bodies around, ringing a couple Brewers bells early and setting the tone right from the get go. La Crosse seemed timid or scared out there, taking the long route to loose pucks to avoid getting hit. This allowed Bemidji to do as they pleased as they unloaded 2 goals in the first and 2 more in the second to take a commanding 4-0 lead after 2. La Crosse realized that it was now or never down by 4 with only one period to go and they appeared to have found their spark again. The third was a really competitive period with La Crosse even burying a shot blocker side to get on the board. It would not be nearly enough for them to overcome however as the Babes continue their hunt for a repeat, winning by a final score of 4-1.

Sioux Falls Packers vs Grand Rapids Moose
It was a firing range in the St. Paul Civic Center for the final game of the night as Sioux Falls and Grand Rapids exchanged in an arms race on the scoreboard. Both teams are known for their offense and both of them were ready to go in this one. Grand Rapids got on the board first, Miller picked his corner to give the Moose the lead. The Hogs responded with a point blast a few minutes later to tie it at one. Sioux Falls took their only lead of the game in the second which was short lived with the Moose rattling off 3 in the second to jump out to a 4-2 lead. Of course the Packers could not stay down for long, coming out flying in the third and scoring to make it 4-3. The deciding moment of this game was a breakaway for Grand Rapids where the player went to the backhand and tucked it five hole to secure the win for Grand Rapids 5-3.

It looks like it's gonna be North vs Twin Cities in the final, who do you think is gonna advance?

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Did I hear that the Moose are loose?

The Moose are gonna win this, aren't they?

From the top of a cliff just outside of Ely, Minnesota I present the 1975 Kellogg Cup Semi Finals


Edina Cake Eaters vs Twin Cities Vulcans
Game one of the night was a treat as the Cake Eaters had their hands full with the Vulcans who managed to slow down the Cake Eaters dynamic duo. Neither of Edina's came from Hankinson or Nanne, but they count on the scoreboard just the same. Edina found themselves in the lead where they are most comfortable, up by 2 with one period to play. The Vulcans made things interesting thanks to a shot through a screen early in the third that got the boys in red on the board and within one. The arena broke into "Lets Go Vulcans" chants despite only about a a third of those on hand actually being Vulcans fans. Edina was on their heels, forced to ice it a couple of times just to get a break. The Vulcans just could not seem to get that game tying goal. No matter what they tried the Cake Eater goalie would come up with the save. The final horn sounded sending Edina to the Finals where they'll look to finally bring it home, knocking out a very good Vulcans squad 2-1.


Bemidji Blue Ox vs Grand Rapids Moose
Facing off for the first time in 30 years are the Blue Ox and Moose, and the stakes have never been higher. The first was run and gun with the Moose playing the only way they know how, leading 3-1 after 1. Bemidji had a bounce back period in the second where they really looked like the better team. The Babes put on a clinic in the second, shutting the Moose attack down, only allowing 4 shots against. Meanwhile on the other side of the ice the Blue Ox were setting up the attack. Bemidji buried a pair of goals 1:09 apart to tie the game at 3. We went to the third with the momentum all in favor of Bemidji. But then something weird happened, the Ox just lost their edge. There's no way to really explain it besides the domination Bemidji showed in the second just was not present in the third. Grand Rapids was more than willing to expose the Ox defense, using their explosive attack to their advantage, turning the tides in their favor. It was only a matter of time before the Moose jumped out into the lead. Of course it was Grand Rapids legend Didi Miller who was credited with the deflection in front that got Rapids back in front 4-3. Grand Rapids was able to hold onto the lead this time, knocking off the defending champs for their 4th Finals appearance.

Will the Cake Eaters finally have their cake and eat it too? Or will the Moose stay loose and claim their first Cup in 23 years?

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