Alright Superior, time for a Cinderella run!

Time for me to crack open another Old Style for my BREW CREW!  It's ALWAYS sweet to get a playoff win on the road (as we've become quite experienced in doing), ESPECIALLY against a team as good as the Moose are.

Now only one thing stands between us and a trip to the Met Center...the current, reigning and defending Kellogg Cup Champions (who we've totally upset in the playoffs before, so it's not that hard).  As we prepare for our Crew to make it 2-for-2 against the Mighty Millers, we're also rallyin' behind our Badger State brothers the Superior Lakers in hopes that they can upset the other Moose...it would be a JOY to see 'em both in the Met Center, playin' to bring the Cup back to Wisconsin!

Let's BREW IT UP!

1968 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; First Round Day 2


South St. Paul Mavericks vs Alexandria Norsemen
This one started as it was expected with the Mavs applying the pressure early and taking a 1-0 lead after the first, out shooting the Norsemen 13-4. The second was again in favor of SSP, but the Norse did manage to draw a powerplay at the end of the period that will continue at the beginning of the third. The teams came out for the third with Alexandria on the powerplay. They won the draw and went in on the attack, firing a quick shot on goal that beat the goalie, tying the score at 1-1. The remainder of the period was pretty choppy and overtime was needed to decided things. The Mavericks got the first scoring chance of OT, getting a pass broken up on a two on one chance. A little past the midway point of the period, the Norsemen were able to get a 3 on 2 going. The puck carrier dipped to the corner and curled back, looking for an open teammate. Not finding any open passing lanes, he opted to shoot. The shot caught the goalie off guard, expecting a centering pass, finding the back of the net and sending Alexandria to the second round, upsetting the second seeded Mavericks.

St. Paul Victorias vs Fergus Falls Cyclones
The Cyclones blew into the capital looking to avenge their 3 prior losses to the Victorias during the last 6 playoffs. The Victorias simply replied with "no" and went on to keep a perfect record against the Cyclones all time, winning easily by a final score of 3-0.

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Osseo Screaming Eagles
Brainerd got on the board twice in the first, building quite a lead for themselves after 1. The Jacks would get another in the second to make it a commanding three goal advantage. Osseo managed to get one back in the third, only for it to be countered a few minutes later to give us our final score of 4-1 in favor of the Lumberjacks from Brainerd.

Rochester Robins vs New Ulm Bavarians
This was a first round rematch from two years ago, and like two seasons ago, it was the Robins who wound up getting the victory. The Bavarians played very close, nearly tying it a number of times, but they just don't seem to have the same luck against the Robins as they do the Mustangs.


Grand Rapids Moose vs Superior Lakers
The Moose kept on rolling along, cutting the Lakers playoff return short in a convincing 3-0 shut out win. Grand Rapids out shot Superior 36-21 in this game and Didi Miller had a 2 goal game.

Virginia Royals vs International Falls Ice
Another close match up, the Royals and Ice fought tooth and nail to get any chances against the other. Virginia got on the board on a powerplay goal in the final minute of the second, that would prove to be the only goal of the game as the Royals D managed to keep the Ice out of the goal for 60 minutes, sending the Royals to the second round.

Winnipeg Monarchs vs Ely Black Bears
It was the fourth time in the last six years that the Black Bears made the six hour trek to Winnipeg in what is becoming one of the fiercest Non-League rivalries in the MAHL. Ely pulled off a stunner the first time these two met, winning 2-1 in overtime, but the Monarchs came out on top of the next two 4-1 and 2-1. Winnipeg Arena was packed nearly to capacity as the puck was dropped. The two wasted no time setting the physical tone of the game, with a Monarch sending a Black Bear into his own bench. A fellow Black Bear took it upon himself to defend his teammate, dropping his gloves and grabbing hold of the Winnipeg player. A scrum ensued but no real punches were thrown, neither team got penalties and we went on. Ely got the scoring started with just over 6 minutes left in the first, holding onto a 1-0 lead until the Monarchs tied things up at the beginning of the third. At the end of regulation we were still tied at 1-1 in this physical hockey game. Winnipeg came out for overtime looking off. The nerves seemed to be getting to them being the high seed, as the favorites, in front of nearly 10,000 people. Whereas the Black Bears had nothing to lose, nobody expected them to even force overtime. A Winnipeg defenseman looked to make a pass to his d partner, but the pass was whiffed on. Intercepted, it gave a Black Bear winger a breakaway. He wasted no time, shooting from the dot. The shot was saved with the stick blade of the goalie, but the puck took a strange bounce, flipping up and over the goalie. The puck landed behind the goalie, laying in the crease. The tender had no idea where the puck had gone and by the time he flopped on his back, the Ely attacker was there to poke the loose puck into the net, shocking the Monarchs for the second time.

Thief River Falls Railers vs Cloquet Broncos
Cloquet took a one goal lead in the first that lasted until late in the second when the Railers tied it up before the third. The third was a completely different beast from the first two, offensive opportunities were frequent and the flow of play was fast paced. It was the Railers that got the scoring started in the third, riding the momentum from the game tying goal right before the period break. Thief River added another just a couple minutes later to make their lead 3-1. Cloquet bounced back midway through the period, getting some good offensive pressure and drawing a powerplay which led to a goal, bringing the Broncos back to within one. The clock ticked down to a minute and the Broncos pulled the goalie for the man advantage. No matter what Cloquet tried, it seemed like they couldn't keep possession as soon as they got into the TRF zone, allowing the Railers to chip it out of the zone and on one of these clears find a teammate who shoots the puck into the open net clinching the win for the Railers.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Maybe something is said when all but one of the Red River and Blue Earth teams lose their first games...

1968 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Second Round Day 1


Minneapolis Millers vs La Crosse Brewers
The Millers fell behind ear;y, but tied things up before the end of the first. Minneapolis then went on to score 3 more unanswered goals in the second to take a commanding 4-1 lead. La Crosse managed to convert on their only powerplay chance of the game to bring them back to within two, but the Millers were too strong to overcome, sending La Crosse home and Minneapolis back to the Super Series.

Edina Cake Eaters vs St. Cloud Bearcats
Edina and St. Cloud both play similar styles, so this one was expected to be close, and close it was. The Cake Eaters got on the board at the end of the first, taking a lad heading into the second. The second period was scoreless, but St. Cloud tied things up 8 minutes into the third. Edina would retake the lead with just over 5 minutes left, but blow their lead in under a minute as the Bearcats went down the ice and tied things once again, forcing overtime. The Bearcats came out for OT hard, getting a couple shots on goal in the first minutes of the period. They kept at the Cake Eater defense, until a Bearcat was left open on the far hash. He was fed a one timer which was drilled into the back of the net, upsetting the Cake Eaters and sending St. Cloud to their first Super Series.

St. Paul Victorias vs Alexandria Norsemen
Despite the run of recent luck the Norsemen have been on, the V's had no problem dealing with Alexandria. The Victorias struck twice in the opening period and twice again in the second to build a 4-0 lead. The Norsemen got on the board late in the second on a breakaway, but that would be the most that they could get done on offense as they lost 4-1 to St. Paul.

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Rochester Robins
It was the visitors from Rochester who got the scoring started in this one, fooling the Lumberjacks with a nifty passing play resulting in an easy tap in goal. The Lumberjacks seemed to make it a point to cover passing lanes from then out, allowing the Robins to skate a bit more, but it seemed to work as Rochester was kept off the board for the remainder of the game. Brainerd tied things up 3 minutes into the third, gaining a bunch of momentum as well as waking up the hometown crowd. The Jacks controlled play, keeping the Robins out for very long shifts and wearing them down. This opened up lanes for Lumberjacks to work in, creating a chance that led to a rebound goal to give Brainerd the lead with just under 9 minutes to go. The Jacks kept the pressure on, looking for a third goal, and the Robins looked gassed. Rochester just didn't have it in the tank at the end to get any consistent pressure and lost 2-1 to Brainerd.


Warroad Lakers vs Duluth Hornets
It was a packed house in the Castle on the Corner as nearly 2,000 squeezed in to watch the Lakers face off with the Hornets. After a scoreless first, Duluth got the scoring started on a shot that just beat the goalie on his blocker side. The Hornets added another in the second to add to their lead on the road. Warroad finally broke through in the third on a loose puck that was finally put home after about 4-5 attempts to slap it home were stopped. The arena became electric once again, and chants of "Lets Go Lakers" filled the air. Warroad was buzzing, they were once again on the attack. A shot was fired from the point and deflected off the stick of a fellow Laker. The tip sent the puck back to the left, the opposite way the goalie was moving, finding the back of the net and tying the game at 2-2. Regulation ended and we were still tied to it was on to overtime. Overtime was back and forth, but neither team had any high quality chances and we remained 2-2 after one overtime. A second overtime began, and it was much like the first for the first few minutes. A little over 7 minutes into the second overtime Warroad was called for tripping, though the fans and Lakers disagreed, claiming the Hornet player dove to make draw a penalty. The pleading did nothing as Duluth went on the powerplay. The Hornets set up down low, passing the puck behind the net, getting the goalie to move. As they passed back and forth, a defenseman slipped into the slot behind a Laker defenseman. The open defenseman was fed the puck, one timing a rocket into the top corner to give Duluth the win, sending the Hornets to their first Super Series.

Thunder Bay Giants vs Roseau Stars
This was a very low scoring contest, no goals were even scored there was only 3:42 left in regulation when the Giants capitalized on a 2 on 1 to give Thunder Bay the late lead. Roseau pulled their goalie in desperation, but it backfired as Thunder Bay managed to convert on the open net, clinching a 2-0 victory.

Grand Rapids Moose vs Virginia Royals
It was an Iron Range Hockey League match up in this section final. The Moose have had the Royals number all year, going 4-1 against them this season, and this game was no exception. Grand Rapids jumped out to a lead midway through the first, Virginia actually responded just over 2 minutes later to tie things back up, but from then on it was all Moose. Grand Rapids would score again in both the second and third while keeping Virginia off the board, winning 3-1 while out shooting their opponent 41-26.

Thief River Falls Railers vs Ely Black Bears
Ely seemed worn out after their physical overtime game against Winnipeg in the first round. The Railers used this to their advantage, opting to go for control in the offensive zone, looking for chances and wearing down Ely, rather than their usual run and gun style. The game plan worked as Thief River took the lead late in the second and added to it in the third. Those would prove to be the only goals of the game as the Railers knock off the Black Bears.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

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Last edited by Section30 (1/28/2020 5:01 pm)