Dan O'Mac wrote:

Wow, the Ice going down is HUGE! Taking trips to International Falls out of the playoffs is a big boon to those teams.

The Bavarians winning is awesome. The Diamonds have such a good look, and it's nice to see a team with such a good look play more games while looking good.

And, of course, it's great to see my Superior Lakers moving on.

Yeah, not having to play in International Falls will be a big plus for everyone else, this makes it back to back years where the Ice didn't make it past their first playoff game.

It's a bit disappointing that these games had little to no late drama. It's playoff hockey, and all were a bit of blowouts.

I'm surprised that the Railers got beaten handily. Brainerd should be enough to beat the Millers in the next round though.

Holy cow Superior! I wouldn't have picked them to blowout the Broncos, but I'll take it.

1961 Kellogg Cup Playoffs, Great Eight


Duluth Voyageurs vs Roseau Stars
One of the best overall games in MAHL playoff history saw the Voyageurs and Stars battle for over 112 minutes in this 3 overtime thriller. Roseau came into Duluth with something to prove, after a few deep runs and a Cup early on as a team, the Stars have been a team that has struggled in the playoffs as of late. Compared to the Voyageurs who are coming off of a Kellogg Cup of their own and a finals appearance the year prior. Duluth came out fast, striking in the first 5 minutes to take an early lead. The Stars would tie the score in the second only for le bleus to reclaim the lead just over a minute later. Roseau would come back to tie it yet again with just over 3 minutes left in the third to force overtime. The first overtime came to an end with both teams not taking any risks, shots were few and far between. The second period was a little more open with both teams getting chances, but neither were able to convert, leading to a third overtime. Roseau came out looking much more conditioned than their counterparts who were gassing out much sooner. This led to a scoring opportunity for the Stars in the 12th minute of the period when a Roseau defenseman was left open on the point where he received a pass and fired a slap shot on net. A teammate of his who was in front of the goal tipped the shot, deflecting it off the crossbar and in, sending the Stars to the semi finals.

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Minneapolis Millers
Brainerd seemed to have kept the momentum going after blowing out New Ulm, shutting down the Millers on all fronts and looking very good in a 2-0 shut out win over the Mighty Millers.

Hibbing Greyhounds vs Virginia Royals
These bitter neighbors had no love lost between the two in this match up. But the scoreline was all in favor of the Greyhounds in this one, like it has so often the last decade or so, as the Hibbing Greyhounds shut out their next door neighbors in a convincing 3-0 victory.

Superior Lakers vs Grand Rapids Moose
A former Lake Superior League rivalry was reborn in this one as the Moose went to Wisconsin for a very physical game. The hitting began early on with a Moose player sending a Laker over the boards into his own bench, causing a bit of a scrum around the bench. The physical play would continue throughout the game with 2 fights breaking out along the way. Hitting wasn't the only thing on display though, as goals were a plenty with both teams tied at 3 at the end of regulation. About midway through the first overtime, the Moose blocked a shot from the point that deflected into the neutral zone where a Grand Rapids player was there to swoop it and go in on a breakaway. He pump faked, getting the Superior goalie to drop, then went to his backhand and fired the puck just over the outstretched stick of the goalie, winning the game and sending the Moose to the semi finals.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

1961 Kellogg Cup Playoffs, Semi Finals


Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Roseau Stars
Both teams came out in full force, exchanging chances back and forth, leaving the scoreline at 2-1 in favor of Brainerd. The second period had a much slower flow of play with stoppages slowing the game so much that neither team could get any momentum going, the score remained 2-1. Brainerd began the third looking like the better team and scored about midway through to give themselves a two goal cushion. Roseau turned the tides late in the game, netting one to get back into the game. But Brainerd was able to keep the Stars off the board for the remainder of the game, sending the Lumberjacks to their first ever Kellogg Cup Final.


Hibbing Greyhounds vs Grand Rapids Moose
Two Iron Range Hockey League foes did battle in the notorious Hibbing Memorial Building. Neither team gave the other any good looks in the first, but Hibbing was able to get on the board thanks to a bouncing dump in that fooled the Moose goaltender to give the Hounds a 1-0 lead after 1. The second period was all Rapids as the Moose owned time of possession and struck once to tie the game at one apiece. The third period was a defensive stalemate as neither team took any chances, forcing overtime. The first overtime looked like a carbon copy of the third as both teams played very cautiously, not wanting to risk anything this far into the post season. A second overtime was needed, and that is where it would end. Hibbing dumped the puck into the Grand Rapids zone where a Greyhound beat out a Moose to the puck down low. Hibbing set up on offense, cycling the puck around the zone until a shooting lane opened up. The shot came from the face off dot to the goalies glove side, the puck was just out of the goalies reach, finding the twine and sending Hibbing to the finals.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!