What a rise from International Falls. I feel like they'll make a deep run this year

1984/85 Regular Season - Twin Cities South


Make that three in a row for the Mound Marauders, winning the Hennepin Hockey League for the third consecutive season. It wasn't easy though, fighting back and forth with eventual second place finishers Minnetonka. The Muskies are no joke and look capable of a deep run if everything goes to plan. Eden Prairie returns to the post season for the second year in a row, moving up to third. Chanhassen slides into the four spot to make their first playoff appearance in Badger history. Shakopee, Chaska, and Wayzata were all solid teams, but they wound up on the bottom half of the bracket bringing their seasons to an end. Orono would bring up the rear, really struggling in goal all season long, ending with a goals against average of over 5.


It was a two team battle for first place in the South Metro with the Burnsville Bucks pulling away at the end of the season to clinch their fifth league title. Apple Valley was the other squad in contention and despite not winning their league look like a team that could possibly go on a deep playoff run. Finishing in third is a playoff newcomer in Rosemount. The Wolfhounds have always been a bit of a basement dweller, but they have been gradually improving over the past few seasons before finally getting over that hump to clinch a playoff birth. Eagan had a bit of a drop after winning the league a year ago, due in large part to injuries, but now that they are back to full strength anything could happen. Lakeville, Mendota, Inver Grove, and Prior Lake all have seen their seasons come to an end, finishing with losing records.


Guess who's back atop the Twin Cities Hockey League, the now 18 time league champion St. Paul Victorias of course. The V's were led by 1982 Tschida Trophy winner Mark Parker who became a scoring machine, leading the whole of the MAHL in goals with 43 in 30 games. It was a good year for the Original Ten franchises in the league with South St. Paul and Minneapolis both having successful years, winning hardware and finishing in second and third. Even the Saints had a good year, finishing above .500 for the first time in a long time and winning back the Holy War Trophy after 5 years in Vulcan hands. Como would be the lucky team to get that four spot to keep their season alive. The Sea Lions fought with the Trojans and Saints for that spot for most of the year, but St. Anthony was the one really giving them a run for it, falling just short in the end finishing fifth. The parity in the TCHL was great this year, with no teams being easily labeled a loss from night to night. Highland Park and West St. Paul came after the Saints in 7th and 8th and despite their records, had pretty good hockey teams. The Bakers, East Siders, Vulcans, and Raptors would be the unlucky teams to finish near the bottom despite their best efforts.


The Terriers of Bloomington West have clinched their second League Title in team history. The real story for West though is in the playoffs where they have failed to reach the Super Series in over a decade. The defending champs from St. Louis Park would finish in second, bringing back nearly the exact same team as a year ago. Richfield and Edina round out the playoff teams and it wasn't really close with a sizeable gap from 4th to 5th. All four playoff teams from the West Metro are genuinely top tier and are all built for a deep run. After a bit of a drop you get to Hopkins in fifth, followed by a fairly decent New Hope team. Golden Valley, Bloomington, and Crystal weren't bad, but they weren't nearly up to the standards of the top dogs in the league and as a result finished with lopsided records.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

1984/85 League Power Rankings


Now we wait for the MAHL Analysts to make their rankings and the playoffs can begin!

1985 Playoff Brackets

1985 Kellogg Cup Playoffs: First Round - North


#2 International Falls Ice vs East Grand Forks Pointers
International Falls Arena was filled with over 2,500 to watch their Ice take on the Pointers of East Grand Forks. It was a high scoring affair with both sides exchanging goals in a back and forth game open for the taking. The Ice were able to net a late go ahead goal to make it a 4-3 game with only 3:11 left to play. The already intimidating home crowd was deafening for the remainder of the game and EGF couldn't get anything on net. The final horn sounded and the crowd erupted again, International Falls is moving on, surviving a good effort from East Grand Forks.

#19 Bemidji Blue Ox vs #21 Ely Black Bears
Blue Ox vs Black Bears, two ranked teams facing off for the first time in nearly 40 years to keep their season alive. The Glas was rocking in Bemidji as the puck was dropped and we got underway. The first was scoreless, but it wouldn't take long for Ely to get on the board in the second to open the scoring. Bemidji would tie things up on the powerplay 12 minutes later to send us to the third even at one. It was anyone's game as the third began, both teams getting decent scoring chances denied by their respective goalies. It wasn't until a Blue Ox turned the puck over on a breakout pass, giving the Black Bears a quick chance in the offensive zone. The far winger dropped to the back door where he received the pass, tapping it home to put Ely up 2-1 with 6:58 left in the game. Bemidji poured it on offensively until the horn sounded, but the Bears were able to hold on and win their first playoff game in 12 years.

#6 Thunder Bay Giants vs Moorhead Huskies
It was a defensive masterclass in Thunder Bay as the Giants and Huskies went the distance and then some in a scoreless affair. Both goalies were on top of their game and the defense first mentality of both teams caused a scrappy night. Still at zeros at the end of regulation we went to overtime. The high hitting, low shot, style of play didn't let up and as a result there weren't many scoring chances. You just knew that this was the kind of game that was only gonna end on a fluke of some sort, and of course that's what it came down to. The Giants held the puck in the Moorhead zone, curling up the corner along the boards and looking to the slot. He threw the puck out front, looking for a teammate in the high slot. Instead, it hit off a Huskies skate a redirected on net, surprising the goalie and leaving him flat footed as the puck beats him low glove side. Fort Williams Garden exploded in cheer as Giants leaped over the boards. Big Red moves on, knocking off Moorhead 1-0.

#7 Fargo Titans vs Superior Lakers
The first period was wide open with both teams getting open skating lanes and taking it to the net to get on the board. The visitors from Superior struck first, but three goals in just over 5 minutes would put Fargo up by a couple. Things slowed down dramatically after the first with the Titans playing very conservatively. It wasn't the most entertaining game for the final two periods, but it went exactly as Fargo had intended, strangling the Lakers offense to hold their 3-1 lead and advance to the Section Final.


#3 Two Harbors Wolfpack vs Virginia Royals
Although the final score may make it look like a one sided affair, this was actually a great hockey game. Two Harbors was clicking on the offensive side of things, opening up the Royals defense a multiple times during the span of this one. Virginia got a lot of help from their goaltender who was able to make some stellar saves. The Royals were also getting their fair share of scoring chances as well, but the Wolfpack defense was able to clear the sightlines for their goalie as well as clearing rebounds, not giving Virginia any second or third chances. The Wolves scored one in the first and converted on not one, but two empty nets on their way to a 3-0 victory.

#18 West Fargo Wasps vs #23 Hermantown Huskies
This game between two ranked up and coming towns lived up to the high hype it had heading in. Fans were on the edge of their seats for 60 minutes as the Wasps and Huskies flew up and down the ice in an incredible all around hockey game. Both goalies came to play, making excellent saves time and time again. Both offenses were dynamic, creating chances on both sides of the ice. And both defenses were on top of their games as well, keeping the score low and bringing the physical side of the game with a couple big hits. West Fargo broke first blood on a snipe late in the first, ringing off the post and in. Hermantown answered back in the second on an odd man rush, but West Fargo would regain the lead only 3 minutes later on a one timer that beat the Husky goalie short side. Neither would light the lamp in the third, sending West Fargo to the Second Round with a 2-1 win over Hermantown.

#5 Eveleth Redbirds vs Grand Rapids Moose
UPSET ALERT! In a battle between Iron Range Heavyweights, the underdogs from Grand Rapids were able to go into the Hippodrome and escape with a win over the IRHL Champs. It was a high scoring affair with the two combining for 8 goals on the night. The Redbirds struck first, but the Moose netted the next two to take a 2-1 lead after 1. Eveleth tied it midway through the second, but Grand Rapids would regain their lead on a one timer in the final seconds of the period to make it 3-2. Grand Rapids would carry that momentum into the third where they buried two in the first five minutes, silencing the 3,000+ on hand. Eveleth gave the fans something to cheer about with just under 6 to play when they scored on a wraparound to make it a two goal game. It would be too little too late though as the Moose shut it down for the remainder of play, completing the upset and winning their first playoff game in 9 years. Grand Rapids moves on, taking down Eveleth by a score of 5-3.

#10 Roseau Stars vs Warroad Lakers
Arguably one of the biggest rivalries in all of sport, from high school to the MAHL, Roseau vs Warroad hockey. It's always a big deal when these mortal enemies face off, even more so in the post season, and for the 7th time ever, the Stars and Lakers are battling in the playoffs. The Green Army came out in force, filling the stands an hour before warmups even began. By the time the puck was finally dropped you could feel the electricity in the air. Both teams came out flying, feeding off the atmosphere and rivalry. Things began to get chippy later on in the first, scrums forming after seemingly every whistle. Roseau lit the lamp in the second, beating the goalie over the glove and nearly blowing the roof off Roseau Memorial Arena. Warroad didn't let it get to them though, keeping their composure and withstanding the Star attack that came for the next several minutes. The Lakers poured on the pressure after failing to convert on the man advantage, keeping the Roseau penalty killers on the ice for nearly two minutes before finding a man on the back door to tie the game at 1-1. The third came and went with the pace as high as ever, but no goals were scored, sending us to overtime. It wouldn't take long to decide a winner in extra time as Roseau won the opening face off and took it into the Warroad end, working the puck around the zone looking for a shooting lane. Two Stars crossed at the top of the circle, dropping the puck to the man cutting to the middle. He picked it up and made a move around a Laker to create some space before letting a shot go. He had a teammate in front of the goalie for a screen who got his stick on the shot, deflecting it between the wickets of the Warroad netminder. The goal light lit red and the arena erupted, Roseau has knocked off their arch rivals 2-1 in overtime to advance to the Section Finals!

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!