Second Round Preview - South


#14 Brookings Buffaloes vs Eau Claire Rubber Kings
Two teams coming off big wins in the first round, Brookings over Hastings and Eau Claire over Red Wing in an overtime thriller. Brookings is a team with a lot of playoff experience and they'll look to that in their matchup with the Rubber Kings. Eau Claire is a team on the rise who will have some momentum behind them after their big win in the first round. Will the Buffaloes come storming to the Super Series for the third consecutive year? Or will Eau Claire punch their first ever ticket to the SS?

#23 Mankato Moose vs Willmar Posse
Both of these teams put together solid performances in their first round matchups, and many are considering this to be the most even of the Second Round matchups in the South Region. Mankato has managed to make the Super Series the last 3 years to end in an odd number (1977, 1979, & 1981) and are now one win away from adding another year to that list. Will Mankato keep the odd year Super Series streak going? Or will Willmar make their second Super Series appearance in their second season?

#15 Rochester Mustangs vs Sioux Falls Packers
All eyes are on Rochester this year, the Mustangs have been a powerhouse since their inception, only missing the playoffs in their inaugural season. Despite their success in the regular season, the Mustangs have only made the Super Series 4 times, the last coming 8 years ago only to lose in the Playdowns. Sioux Falls is coming in with little to no pressure, despite being one of the biggest hockey teams in the South Region. After their performance against Austin in the first round though, anything is possible. Will Rochester end the drought and keep their Kellogg Cup dreams alive? Or will Sioux Falls upset the two biggest VHL powers on their way to their 9th Super Series?

#17 New Ulm Bavarians vs Faribault Flickertails
It's a Blue Earth Hockey League battle in the final section of the South Region. New Ulm finished in first during the regular season and won the season series against the Flickertails, but the Tails are coming off a big win at Cottage Grove and as we all know anything is possible in the playoffs. Will the Bavarians take care of their BEHL foes and make their 9th SS appearance? Or will Faribault pull off the upset and punch their ticket to St. Paul for the first time ever?

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

1983 Kellogg Cup Playoffs: Second Round - North


#1 Fort Frances Trappers vs #16 Winnipeg Monarchs
Broadcasting live across Canada, the Fort Frances Trappers are taking on their Northland Hockey League rivals, the Winnipeg Monarchs, in a Section Final matchup for a trip to the Super Series. The Trappers got on the board in a hurry, getting their first shot past the Winnipeg netminder. The Monarchs tied it up before the end of the period though. Fort Frances retook the lead in the second on a snipe from the top of the circle. It was all Trappers for the next few minutes and they made it count, burying their third goal of the game to take a 3-1 lead heading into the third. The Monarchs were giving it their all in the final period with their backs up against the wall. They drew a powerplay and made it count to get to within one, but when Fort Frances slapped home a rebound with 4:20 left in the game it was all but over. Top ranked Fort Frances killed off the remainder of the game, holding on to a 4-2 lead to advance to their third Super Series in the last 5 years.

#7 Fargo Titans vs Cloquet Broncos
Cloquet knew it was going to be tough if they were going to keep their hopes of repeating as Kellogg Cup champs alive, but Fargo was just too much to handle on the night. The Titans were lighting the lamp all game long, scoring 2 in the first, 1 in the second, and 2 more in the third. The Broncos were able to get a pair of goals in the second, but it was not nearly enough as the Red River champions advance to the Super Series with a 5-2 victory over Cloquet.

#2 Thunder Bay Giants vs #11 Hermantown Huskies
The top two teams in the LSHL battling for a ticket to St. Paul. The perennial powerhouse from Thunder Bay vs the playoff newcomers from Hermantown. The play on the ice was textbook Northern hockey, a low scoring, high hitting kind of game. The shots were 18-16 in favor of the Giants as we went to the third, but the score was still at zeros for both teams. It wasn't until Hermantown converted on a 2 on 1 3:19 into the third that the game had its first score. Thunder Bay withstood a Husky onslaught for the next minute or two to keep it a one goal game. The Giants were gifted a powerplay on a penalty that Hermantown thought was a weak call. Big Red made it count and tied the game at 1-1 just over a minute into the powerplay. Fort William Gardens came to life after the game tying goal and you could just feel the momentum swing firmly in favor of the home team. Booming "Go Big Red" and "Lets Go Giants" chants rang out for the next few minutes as the Giants dominated play on the ice. The go ahead goal finally came and the roof felt like it was about to blow off from how loud the crowd got. An empty netter with 47 seconds left put the game away, sending Thunder Bay back to the Super Series for the 5th time in team history, ending Hermantown's first playoff run with a 3-1 win.

#9 Warroad Lakers vs International Falls Ice
UPSET ALERT! Down go the Lakers! International Falls has done the unthinkable by not only beating, but shutting out the Warroad Lakers at the Castle on the Corner. The Ice put together a complete game from start to finish, having crafted a game plan specifically to shut down the explosive Warroad offense. Ice players will surely be black and blue for the next few days with the sheer amount of shots they threw their bodies in the way of to block, but they would all gladly do it again if it meant getting the result they got here. International Falls scored one in the first and added two more in the third to carry them to their first ever Super Series birth with a 3-0 win.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

1983 Kellogg Cup Playoffs: Second Round - Twin Cities North


#10 Roseville Rockets vs Blaine Spartans
UPSET ALERT! The Blaine Spartans are heading to the Super Series in their very first playoffs! Roseville's history of playoff heartbreak continues, failing to get to the Super Series for the third time in the last 4 years when they were heavy favorites to make it. This was a defensive battle with Blaine playing very contained, keeping the Rockets to the outside and blocking shots. The Spartans were able to make the most of an odd man rush in the second, getting denied on the one timer, but putting home the rebound to give them a 1-0 lead. The explosive Roseville offense was held off the board until they tied it up at one apiece 4:47 into the third. Blaine was able to keep it a tie game despite being outshot 21-3 in the third period, forcing overtime in Roseville. The Rockets came out fast and nearly ended it 2 minutes in, ringing a shot off the crossbar. Blaine was able to finally get some offensive zone pressure for a couple minutes midway through the overtime period. The puck was worked up to the point for a slap shot into a mass of people in front of the net. The puck took a couple deflections before skidding past the Roseville goaltender and into the back of the net. Blaine is heading to St. Paul for the first time in team history, taking down the 10th ranked Rockets in overtime by a score of 2-1.

Alexandria Norsemen vs Lino Lakes Herons
Alexandria kept their mojo cooking from their 6-0 blowout in the first round, coming out hot and heavy. The Herons found themselves in a 2 goal hole before they knew what had even happened. Alec upped the physical play in the second, something that this inexperienced Lino Lakes team hasn't really ever had to deal with. The Herons looked almost scared to go to pucks in the corners, giving the Norsemen plenty of chances that they capitalized on, extending their lead to 4-0 before the horn sounded for the end of the second period. Runestone Community Center was buzzing as the teams returned for the third, and the Norse gave them plenty to cheer about early as they extended their lead to five just 32 seconds into the third. Lino Lakes popped home a rebound midway through the period, but that was about all Great Blue could muster in terms of offense for the night. Alexandria holds on to advance to the Super Series for the first time in the Norsemen's 33 year history, taking down Lino Lakes 5-1.

#12 Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Brooklyn Park Panthers
It was a classic in Brainerd between the Lumberjacks and Panthers. The hometown Jacks struck first, but Brooklyn Park would tie it up and later take the lead themselves up 2-1 after 1. Brainerd tied it up at two on a 5 on 3 powerplay in the second and the Cats looked like their backs were up to the wall with the Lumberjacks dominating play for the next 5 or so minutes. We went to the third tied at two, who was going to be the hero and get that next goal? It turned out to be a visitor in white and green who made a nice move to get around a Brainerd defensemen before crashing to the net and getting a shot past the netminder to give his team a 3-2 lead. Despite their best efforts, the Granite Hockey League champs would have no response. Brooklyn Park is heading back to the Super Series, taking down #12 Brainerd by a final score of 3-2.

#21 Maplewood Retrievers vs Stillwater Volunteers
Two very evenly matched teams who know all about one another, it's Maplewood vs Stillwater in an East Metro clash with a Super Series birth on the line. The play on the ice didn't disappoint as the Goldies and Vols went back and forth, up and down the ice in a high tempo affair. The score was as even as expected, tied 1-1 after 1 and 2-2 at the end of regulation. The tension was palpable at a sold out Aldrich Arena as the teams returned to the ice for overtime. The play on the ice picked up right where it left off with both teams getting some decent looks early. Stillwater won a faceoff in their defensive zone and broke out and down the ice. The puck carrier took it low and cycled it with his winger before beelining it to the front of the net. The Volunteer winger saucered a pass past the defenseman's stick to his teammate in the slot who was ready for a one time tap in. The Retrievers goalie dove back in desperation, scooping the puck out just a split second too late as it had just crossed the line. The referee signaled that the puck had crossed the line and was a good goal. The Stillwater bench was cleared in celebration as the Maplewood goalie pleaded with the official saying it hadn't crossed to no avail. The Stillwater Volunteers are heading to their second Super Series in team history, taking down their EMHL foes Maplewood 3-2 in overtime.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Fresh off of an o-fer in the TC North, I look to pick things up in the TC South.

Twin Cities over Eagan

Edina over Mound

St Paul over South St Paul

Minnetonka over Burnsville

What an upset by Eagan, that's gotta hurt for the Vulcans