1984 Kellogg Cup Super Series Super 16


#1 Thunder Bay Giants vs Coon Rapids Bandits
UPSET ALERT! Met Center was filled to capacity as the top ranked and defending champs from Thunder Bay took the ice to take on Super Series newcomers Coon Rapids. The Bandits came out flying and were able to convert on their first shot on goal, opening the scoring only minutes into the game. Thunder Bay would answer back though late in the period to send us to the second tied at one. The Giants took advantage of a powerplay in the second to take the lead. Big Red was buzzing for the next few minutes and they were able to find a man down low to extend their lead to 3-1. Coon Rapids came back strong in the third though, getting one early. The Giants answered back to make it 4-2, but the Bandits dug deep and were able to grind out a pair of goals to tie the game and force overtime in the opening game of the 1984 Super Series. The teams went back and forth in extra time, but neither could get one to find the back of the net. It was looking like a second overtime would be necessary, but just then Coon Rapids got a shot through a screen, creating a rebound that they popped home to shock the league, upsetting the #1 ranked team in the MAHL by a score of 5-4.

#13 St. Paul Victorias vs #14 Eagan Oaks
It's a grudge match between two very skilled hockey teams, the V's took the win a year ago, but the Oaks came into this one with a chip on their shoulders and it showed. It was a classic playoff hockey game through two periods with both sides netting one in the first and playing good defensively in the second to keep it 1-1 heading to the third. The third is where the floodgates opened for Eagan, getting a shot from the point to find the twine to take a 2-1 lead then rattling off two more unanswered to bury St. Paul and advance with a 4-1 victory.

#6 St. Louis Park Louies vs Fergus Falls Cyclones
This game was actually much closer than the score might suggest, the deciding factor at the end of the day was penalties. There were only 3 penalties called in the game, two against the Cyclones, both led to Louies goals. St. Louis Park has feasted on the man advantage all season and tonight was no exception. The Louies were up 1-0 after two thanks to one of their pp goals. Fergus Falls actually tied the game 1-1 a couple minutes into the third, but the second goal with the man advantage propelled the Blues in front and they ran with it. St. Louis Park would score again a couple minutes later and again on the empty net in the final minute of play to advance with a 4-1 win despite being outshot 20-19 by Fergus Falls.

#7 Sauk Rapids Bulldogs vs #24 Red Wing Chiefs
Sauk Rapids sure looked comfortable under the bright lights for the first time, putting on a defensive clinic for 60 minutes, holding the Chiefs to only 12 shots on goal for the game. The Bulldogs offense was cooking in the first, lighting the lamp twice to put themselves firmly in the drivers seat going forward. A third goal in the second all but put it out of reach for Red Wing who couldn't get much of anything going. The final horn sounded and Sauk Rapids players celebrated with their goalie, shutting out the Red Wing Chiefs 3-0 to advance to the Great Eight.


#2 Minneapolis Millers vs Marshall Pheasants
UPSET ALERT! What a game, what a comeback. It started out looking great for the second ranked Millers, leading 1-0 after one and 3-1 after two. But there's a reason they're called the "Fightin' Pheasants", Marshall came out with nothing to lose in the third and were able to draw a powerplay early in the period that they converted on to pull within reach. The Millers scored again to make it 4-2 midway through the period, but Marshall just would not go away. The Pheasants made it a one goal game with under 5 minutes left to play and after drawing a powerplay late in the game, tied the score at four with under a minute left to play in regulation. The momentum was with Marshall in overtime and just past the 6 minute mark of the period, a shot from the high slot beat the Miller goaltender to send the Fightin' Pheasants to the Great Eight with a 5-4 win in overtime.

#10 Sioux Falls Packers vs #15 Blaine Spartans
A hockey game is split into three periods, and this game felt like each of those periods was a game of its own. The first went to Sioux Falls who netted a shot late in the period after getting a number of looks denied prior. Blaine bounced back in the second, controlling play and pinning the Packers in their own end with the long change. The Spartans popped home a pair of goals in the frame to take a 2-1 lead heading to the third. The third looked a lot more like the first with the Hogs controlling the play and Blaine looking a step or two behind. Sioux Falls found a man on the back door to tie the score at two and overtime was needed to decide the winner. Quite some time passed in overtime, both teams looking pretty solid, focused on not making any mistakes. Sioux Falls was called for slashing which gave Blaine a golden opportunity with a man advantage. They won the draw and took a shot quick off the draw that beat the Packer goalie and rippled the back of the net. The majority Minnesotan crowd at Met Center went nuts as Spartans flew over the boards in celebration, knocking off Sioux Falls 3-2.

#3 Warroad Lakers vs Tower-Soudan Miners
UPSET ALERT! After starting the game off strong, leading 2-1 after 20 minutes, the Warroad Lakers have been stunned by the Tower-Soudan Miners. The Miners rattled off three straight goals in the second to just out front. The Lakers got one back before the end of the frame to make it a 4-3 game heading into the final period. Warroad gave it their all, pushing as much as they could, but the Miners held strong on defense and were able to get an odd man rush on the counterattack. In 2 on 1, the puck carrier dished it over to his teammate who one timed it on net. The goalie got a piece of it, but not enough to stop it as it trickled across the line to give Tower-Soudan a 5-3 lead late in the game. That would be the final score as Warroad couldn't muster the comeback, the two little mining towns from the Iron Range with a combined population of just over 1,000 are moving on to the Great Eight.

#9 Bemidji Blue Ox vs #19 Hastings Rivermen
This was a very interesting hockey game, the Babes ended up tripling the Rivermen in shots 36-12 when it was all said and done, but Hastings was able to persevere and force overtime despite nothing going their way. The biggest disparity was penalties, Hastings found themselves in the box a staggering 8 times compared to Bemidji's 1. This gave the Blue Ox numerous chances with an extra attacker, leading to their inflated shots total. The Blue Ox weren't quite what they had hoped on the powerplay, but they did manage to score twice with the man advantage. Hastings was able to capitalize on whatever chances were given to them, scoring twice in the third to force overtime. Unfortunately for the teal and gold, they just wouldn't have quite enough to get across the finish line. Bemidji got the puck to the point man who carried it down to the slot before burying a wrister in the top corner to send the Ox to the next round with a 4-3 win in overtime.

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1984 Kellogg Cup Super Series Great Eight


#14 Eagan Oaks vs Coon Rapids Bandits
The Coon Rapids Bandits keep their hot streak going, rolling over the 14th ranked Oaks. The Bandits got out to a two goal lead before Eagan knew what even hit them. Coon Rapids extended their lead in the second on their second powerplay goal of the game to make it a 3-0 game. Coon Rapids kept up the pace in the third but couldn't get anymore on the board, they did manage to keep the Oaks at a goose egg on the board though as the final horn sounded to send the Bandits to the Semi Finals with a 3-0 shutout win over Eagan.

#6 St. Louis Park Louies vs #7 Sauk Rapids Bulldogs
This was the game everyone was tuning into, some even declaring it the "unofficial final" due to the Louies and Bulldogs being the highest remaining teams in the Super Series. The first period was back and forth, both teams getting chances. Sauk Rapids was able to convert on an odd man rush to open the scoring for the game. The Dogs held that 1-0 lead until the second when St. Louis Park was able to pop one home with the man advantage to make it a 1-1 game. The puck was dropped for the third with a winner still up in the air. The Louies were simply the hungrier team, wanting it more and doing what it took to win puck battles and create chances. It paid off as they bombarded the Sauk Rapids netminder until one finally found its way through to put the blues up 2-1. The offensive onslaught continued for the rest of the period with the Louies getting the dagger with just over 3 minutes left to play, extending their lead to 3-1. The final horn sounded to send St. Louis Park to the semi finals for the first time in team history, knocking out Sauk Rapids by a score of 3-1.

#15 Blaine Spartans vs Marshall Pheasants
This was just a matchup between a team who came to play and one who didn't. Marshall might not have lit up the goalie with a boatload of shots, but the shots they did get on target they made the most of. The Pheasants buried one in the first before unloading three in the second to put themselves comfortably in front up 4-0 heading into the third. The Spartans were able to avoid getting shut out with a goal in the final five minutes of play, but Marshall got it right back to remind Blaine that this one is over. The Fightin' Pheasants move on, blowing out Blaine 5-1.

#9 Bemidji Blue Ox vs Tower-Soudan Miners
What a way to round out the Great Eight, an absolute goalie duel between two physical northern squads. Bemidji struck first, holding that 1-0 lead until the Miners put home a rebound in the third to finally tie the score at one apiece. Tower-Soudan's goaltender was having a game to remember, making one highlight real save after the other to keep the score within one for the eventual tying goal. The Blue Ox had over twice as many shots as the Miners when the final horn sounded to send us to overtime at Met Center in Bloomington. Over half of the overtime period passed with still no winner. Bemidji was buzzing in the offensive zone for a bit, winning a a faceoff in the zone and working it around until a shot was ripped from the high slot that beat the Tower-Soudan goalie over the shoulder. The Bemidji bench and fans erupted, Blue ox flooded the ice in celebration. It was quite a run, but Tower-Soudan is heading home, falling to Bemidji 2-1 in overtime.

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Wow! Almost every games been an upset feels like. I think Bemidji has the best shot at winning here, but I think almost any team has a real shot seeing as though seeding doesn’t quite matter this year. I’ll reiterate Stickman in saying this is probably one of the most memorable Super Series yet, and if we see the Bandits and Pheasants advance, it could be the most exciting.

While Coon Rapids' story is now over (really awesome run for them though!), the fact that the 15th seeded Marshall Pheasants are in the final is still really epic.  Even better is if the underdog story ends in defeat, we would still get a first time winner in the St. Louis Park Louies, so there's plenty to be happy about with this tournament!

1984 Kellogg Cup Final


1st Period
SLP  - 0
MAR - 0
Met Center was sold out as the #6 St. Louis Park Louies took the ice to take on the unranked Marshall Pheasants who have been red hot at the right time. The first was a bit of a feeling out process with neither side getting on the board after 20 minutes of play.

2nd Period
SLP  - 4
MAR - 2
The floodgates burst early in the second with the Louies getting on the board twice in quick succession. Marshall was able to get one back on the powerplay, but the Louies would respond with two more goals. The Pheasants were able to get to within two before the end of the period though, ending a high flying period with 6 goals.

3rd Period
SLP  - 6
MAR - 3
St. Louis Park was only 20 minutes away from their first Kellogg Cup and you could just see how much they wanted it. The Blues came out firing in the third, peppering the Pheasants goalie and burying a rebound to make it 5-2. The Louies were able to put the final nail in the coffin with a powerplay goal with under 8 minutes left to play. Marshall would get one more with just over two to play, but the deficit was just too much to overcome. The final horn sounded and Louies flung their gear in the air in celebration. For the first time in team history, the St. Louis Park Louies are Kellogg Cup Champions!

The Tschida Trophy for League MVP was awarded to St. Louis Park defenseman Jonny Sneep. Sneep has been the backbone of the Louies defense for years and this season he really broke out and helped his team accomplish history by being the second team in MAHL history to Triple Crown (win their first League Title, first Super Series Appearance, and First Kellogg Cup all in the same season). Sneep played a huge role in blocking shots, leading the team in the category. His defensive play helped the Blues on their way to a 1.50 GAA through the post season. This is the first time a Louie has won the Tschida Trophy.

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