Second Round Preview - Twin Cities


West St. Paul Waves vs St. Louis Park Louies
It's a battle of two ranked opponents with the Waves coming in ranked #2 and the Louies #23. John V. Hoene Arena is a really tough place for opponents to play, especially in the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how St. Louis Park deals with that, never having made it past the first round of the playoffs before. Will West St. Paul keep their Cup dreams alive and return to the Super Series for the 4th straight year? Or will St. Louis Park pull off the upset and punch their first ticket to St. Paul?

Twin Cities Vulcans vs Anoka Warriors
This is gonna be a great game, the #9 Vulcans against #13 Anoka for a trip to the Super Series. The Vulcans looked REALLY good in their last game, but Cottage Grove is no Anoka. Anoka has some extra fuel as they are just one game away from finally making it to the Super Series. Will the Vulcans get back to the promised land for the first time since the St. Anthony name change? Or will the Warriors finally get over the hump and advance?

Roseville Rockets vs Falcon Heights Raptors
Well we're guaranteed at least one new face in the Super Series this year as the Rockets and Raptors are both one win away from making it for the first time. On paper Roseville should be the safe bet being the #4 team in the MAHL and are coming off a nice win against Mound View. Falcon Heights is a team on the rise though, coming out of nowhere to make the playoffs and looking legit in their first playoff game as they took down White Bear. Will the Rockets blast Roseville to the Super Series? Or will Falcon Heights keep this improbable season going?

Richfield Roosters vs Maplewood Retrievers
The pissed off Roosters have their eyes set on their next target from Maplewood. Richfield looked scary good in their first round matchup, but Coon Rapids is not nearly as talented as the Retrievers. Maplewood has had a nice bounce back season after a couple down years and a win here could really emphasize their return to power. Will the defending champs keep their dreams of going back-to-back alive? Or will the Goldies pull off the upset and get back to the Super Series after 8 years?

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

1981 Kellogg Cup Playoffs: First Round - South


Mankato Moose vs Worthington Zephyrs
The #8 Moose had no problem with the Zephyrs in this one. It was all Mankato from start to finish with the cherry and gray netting 6 by the time the final horn went. Worthington capitalized on perhaps their only legitimate scoring chance of the game to prevent a shutout, but it was never really close. Mankato advances with a 6-1 shellacking of Worthington.

Inver Grove Heights Lions vs Winona Wildcats
It was a cat fight at the VMCC as the Lions took on the Wildcats in a highly anticipated first round bout. Despite neither team being ranked in the top 25, both IGH and Winona received votes from analysts. The puck was dropped and we were underway in Inver Grove. The first was a bit of a feeling out process and it ended as it started 0-0. Winona found the twine on a deflection in front to get the games first goal 7:42 into the second. Despite their best efforts, the Lions could not get anything past the Wildcat goaltender who stopped all 33 of their shots on goal. Winona put one in the empty net in the final minute of the game to secure the victory, shutting out Inver Grove on the road by a final score of 2-0.

Burnsville Bucks vs Rochester Robins
Burnsville comes into this game with some pressure being ranked #21 in the MAHL and going up against a team with zero players having playoff experience. To Rochester's credit, the young group didn't look out of place in the playoffs, actually keeping up with the favored Bucks through one tied 1-1. The rest of the game would keep that theme with Burnsville taking the lead only for the Robins to get it back to tie the score. Five minutes left to play, the game is tied 3-3. Rochester is called for tripping, giving the Bucks powerplay unit a chance late in the game. Rochester was able to win the draw and ice it, then picked a Bucks pocket and dumped it again before getting a change, killing half the penalty off. The second pk unit came out as Burnsville was rushing up ice. The puck was passed to the winger on the far side of the ice. He turned on the after burners and was able to slip between the defender and the boards at the top of the circle, going in all alone on a breakaway. He deked and lofted a backhander towards goal that the goalie was unable to get a piece of, flying into the back of the net to put Burnsville up 4-3 with 3:32 to play. Rochester had no answer for the momentum swing the Bucks had in the final minutes and couldn't even get a shot on goal. Burnsville holds on and advances with a 4-3 win.

New Ulm Bavarians vs Luverne Flying Dutchmen
Bavarians vs Dutchmen, a battle of heritage and teams returning to the playoffs. Luverne got off to an early start, scoring on their second shot of the game to take a 1-0 lead under 3 minutes into the game. The Dutchmen would strike again late in the period on a rebound to extend their lead to 2 and silence the 1,200+ at New Ulm Ice Arena. The Bavarians success this year was quickly being forgotten as the Dutchmen extended their lead even further 7 minutes into the second, making it a 3-0 game. New Ulm just looked flat, it was like a completely different team than the one we had seen all season long. The Diamonds were able to at least prevent the embarrassment of a shutout with a goal after many fans had already left the building. It was not the showing New Ulm had hoped for, but Luverne is more than happy to take advantage of it, knocking off the New Ulm Bavarians 3-1.


Rochester Mustangs vs Shakopee Six
This one really wasn't as close as the score might make it look. #14 Rochester was the far better team in this one of 55 of the 60 minutes. Shakopee was outshot 30-14 in this game, but the Six were able to capitalize on what few chances they did get. In the end though those two goals wouldn't mean much with the Mustangs scoring 1 in the first, 2 in the second, and 1 in the third on their way to a nice 4-2 win over Shakopee.

Austin Mavericks vs Mason City Musicians
It was like Deja Vu all over again in Austin as the Mavericks lit up the Musicians in the first round for the second year in a row. Mason City was able to improve ever so slightly, only losing 4-1 instead of 5-1, but other than that this one was largely the same as last year. Austin was just the better hockey team yet again, Mason City just couldn't keep up.

Brookings Buffaloes vs Albert Lea Dragoons
Unlike many of the other games in the south, this one was a defensive duel between Brookings and Albert Lea. Both goalies were on top of their games, keeping the game scoreless through two periods. The Buffs finally broke the deadlock on a 2 on 1 11:21 into the third. The Drags gave it their all in the waning minutes of play, but the Buffaloes wouldn't budge on defense. Albert Lea pulled their goalie with a minute and a half left and Brookings was able to gain control and capitalize on it. The final horn sounded to send Brookings to the second round with a 2-0 shutout win over Albert Lea.

Sioux Falls Packers vs Apple Valley Cardinals
The Packers and Cardinals have played each other once in the past, back in the second round of the 1976 playoffs, which saw Sioux Falls advance with a 2-0 shutout win. This time around Apple Valley was hoping they could get on the board, but as it turned out that wouldn't happen. Both the Hogs and Cards were still scoreless as the final horn sounded, sending us to overtime in a game of first team to score wins. Over half of the overtime period came and went with still no score, but finally Sioux Falls was able to get one past the goalie, smacking home a 3rd rebound attempt to send the Packers to the second round.

1981 Kellogg Cup Playoffs: Second Round - North


Warroad Lakers vs Roseau Stars
Warroad Memorial Arena was shoulder to shoulder, filled with over 2,000 fans to come see which of these historic rivals will advance to the Super Series. The Lakers got on the board first, ripping a shot past the Stars goalie 9:20 into the game. Warroad would extend their lead to two a few minutes into the second, but Roseau would get it back only 2:09 later to make it a 2-1 game. It was high paced, physical hockey for the remainder of the period, but neither team could net another before the second came to an end. Warroad was called for high sticking midway through the third to give Roseau their first powerplay chance of the game, a part of their game they have excelled at all year long. The Stars won the draw and worked it around the zone before finding a man wide open in the high slot who picked his spot and tied the game 2-2. The final horn went off with the score still tied at two, giving those in attendance some free hockey and high blood pressure. The puck was dropped and we were off to decide a winner. A few minutes passed with both team getting shots from non scoring areas that were steered aside. Roseau was breaking out of their zone when a Laker winger picked off a pass just inside the line, sending it up to his teammate, Eddy Christian, who was still back all by himself on the far dot. It was 1 on 1 between Christian and Baumgartner. Eddy pulled it to his backhand, but quickly brought it back to his forehand and fired a shot high blocker side that whizzed past the Roseau goaltender into the back of the net. The ceiling felt like it was about to collapse from the thundering celebration in the stands. Warroad players flung themselves over the boards to embrace their teammate. Eddy Christian has etched himself into the history books of this long and storied rivalry, scoring the game winning goal to send Warroad back to the Super Series.

Fort Frances Trappers vs Superior Lakers
It was not the start that the home team had hoped for as Superior capitalized on their first shot of the game, a rather flukey goal on a shot from the corner of the blueline that took a lucky bounce that tricked the goalkeeper and went in. On the positive side for the Trappers is that after that fluke goal, their goalie went on to stop all 26 Superior shots through the remainder of the game. The bad news is that none of that matters if your offense doesn't show up. Fort Frances could not get any sustained pressure going in the offensive zone, turning over the puck or getting their shots blocked were ultimately the downfall of the Trappers. Credit to Superior for putting their bodies on the line over and over, stopping 22 shots and holding the Trappers to 28 shots on goal. Superior goaltender, Arthur Nelson, was in the zone for all 60 minutes, keeping the 7th ranked team in the MAHL off the scoreboard and carrying Superior to their 4th Super Series appearance with a 1-0 win.

Winnipeg Monarchs vs Chisholm Flames
This was as close to a war as a hockey game could get with the Monarchs and Flames battling in the corners, on the scoreboard, and once with the benches clearing. Chisholm opened the scoring in the first with Winnipeg tying it not too long after. The Monarchs were given a powerplay late in the first with a Chisholm forward getting called for slashing after two handing a Monarch in the back of the legs. What wasn't called was the spear that said Monarch player did on the Flame prior to him retaliating with a slash. Tempers began to flare from there with Chisholm players and coaches yelling about the missed call and Monarchs yelling that the slash was only a minor. Winnipeg capitalized on the powerplay and went into the second leading 2-1. Chisholm had a bit of a chip on their shoulders early in the second, setting the tone with a couple of heavy hits along the boards. An offensive rush was capped off with a shot from the dot that beat the goalie short side, tying the game at two. The Flames got a boost of momentum after the goal and quickly buried a rebound to put themselves into the lead for the second time in what is now a 3-2 game. Winnipeg would come back and tie the score at three in the final minute of the period. After scoring the goal, a Monarch forward tapped the Flame goalie's leg pad in a taunting way which caused some Chisholm players to take offense and go after him. The rest of the players on the ice heard the commotion and quickly turned around and went back to back their teammate. Before long the benches had cleared and all hell was breaking loose. Things were finally taken care of and after ejections and penalties were dolled out we were able to run out the end of the second. The teams took the ice for the final period with the score tied 3-3 and both benches considerably smaller due to ejections and men in the box. Chisholm had a 3 on 1 chance heading into the Monarch zone a little past the midway point of the period. The puck carrier took it wide with one man trailing and the other rushing to the net. He decided to take a shot hard and low on goal. It was stopped by the goalie, but the rebound popped right out to the rushing winger on the far side who was there to tap it home and give Chisholm the lead yet again. This time though they would be able to hold on with Winnipeg unable to tie it up in the end. Chisholm has finally done it, advancing to the Super Series for the first time in their 60 year history!

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs St. Cloud Bearcats
Granite Hockey League rivals Brainerd and St. Cloud facing off for only the second time ever in the playoffs, the first was back in 1969 which saw Brainerd win on their way to their first and only Kellogg Cup. The Lumberjacks are hoping that history repeats itself after this one. St. Cloud was absolutely no match for the Jacks with Brainerd outshooting the Cats 35-20. Brainerd's defense was solid all game long, letting their goalie see the shots coming and making their presence felt physically. The Jacks netted one in the first and two in the third to put it away, shutting out their archrivals 3-0 to return to the Super Series for the 4th time in the last 6 years.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Hey Superior! That's The Way To Play.

WI GOT THIS!!!!  SO happy to see Superior back in the Super Series...you know I'm pulling for 'em to take the Cup back to the Badger State so we can party like it's 1949!

So happy for Chisholm and Roseville too, joining the "First-Timers Club"...but also bummed for Anoka, missing out on ANOTHER close call...