Lets go Lumberjacks!

I'm going Millers, Railers, Moose and Lumberjacks.

Let’s go Hornets!

1968 Kellogg Cup Super Series; Great Eight


Minneapolis Millers vs St. Cloud Bearcats
St. Cloud jumped out to an early lead, scoring the first MAHL at Met Center and giving the Bearcats the lead. The Millers responded with a few minutes left in the first to send us to the second tied at one apiece. Minneapolis took their first lead of the game in the second period. The Millers increased their lead to 3-1 in the third, but St. Cloud brought it back to within one midway through the period. The Bearcats pulled their goalie with just over a minute left and Minneapolis found the open goal to solidify the win and get to the semi finals for the third year in a row.

Thunder Bay Giants vs Thief River Falls Railers
This one was a close fought battle, with both the Giants and Railers boasting very impressive rosters. The first was scoreless with both sides just kinda feeling the other out, getting a good idea of how they play. The Giants drew first blood on a point blast from Joshua Staal. Thief River came out for the third determined and quick, getting a couple opportunities that were stopped by the Thunder Bay defense. The Railers finally broke through on a 2 on 1 with the Smith twins that led to another clutch playoff goal for the pair of brothers, tying the game at one apiece and forcing overtime. OT came and it was more of what we saw in regulation with two good teams trying to get anything on net. Thunder Bay managed to get a bit of time in the Railers zone, looking for a scoring chance. Finally the puck carrier decided to fire a shot from the dot. The shot got through the attempted block by a Thunder Bay player, blocking the goalies view of the puck, and ultimately beating the goalie and winning the game for Thunder Bay.

Grand Rapids Moose vs Duluth Hornets
A lot of talk prior to the game was of how Grand Rapids, before moving to the Iron Range Hockey League in 1947, was a member of the Lake Superior Hockey League, and how this will be the return of an old rivalry that hasn't been played in over 20 years. The game was pretty good, nothing too crazy or too slow happening, but the score remained 0-0 after 1. The second was more of the same with shots being 7 apiece, however the Moose managed to get an extra chance in the waning seconds of the period, firing a shot before the buzzer that somehow beat the Hornets goalie before the horn sounded, giving Grand Rapids a 1-0 lead going into the final frame. Duluth gave it their all, but Grand Rapids was too solid defensively too give the Hornets any high scoring opportunities. The Moose are loose and off to the semi finals with a 1-0 win over Duluth.

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs St. Paul Victorias
You a fan of scoring? This is your game. The Lumberjacks and Victorias looked like a pair of heavyweights chucking hay makers at one another. The two combined for 9 goals in the game, with Brainerd coming back from a 4-3 deficit after two to win the game 5-4 in regulation, punching their ticket to the semi finals.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

1968 Kellogg Cup Super Series; Semi Finals


Minneapolis Millers vs Thunder Bay Giants
It was a low scoring game, but that doesn't mean it wasn't without action. Thunder Bay came close in the first, hitting the pipe on a one timer. The Millers got on the board only 27 seconds into the second period. Winning the faceoff and going into the Giants zone and firing a shot from the dot. The shot was saved with the blocker, but the rebound went right to a wide open Miller who simply tapped it home, sending the Met Center into chaos. Thunder Bay would crawl back as the period progressed, out shooting Minneapolis 13-7 in the period but being unable to find the twine. The third period came and Thunder Bay continued to apply the pressure, drawing a powerplay a couple minutes into the third. Minneapolis set up the box to keep everything to the outside. The Giants looked for any openings, eventually trying to force a pass into the slot that was dealt with by the Millers. Minneapolis would kill off the penalty and gain momentum, turning the tides and beginning to get some chances. The clock ticked on as Thunder Bay tried to comeback, but the Millers didn't break, keeping the shutout and advancing to their third Kellogg Cup Final in a row for an opportunity to defend their title. This will be the Millers 9th Kellogg Cup Final appearance, passing the Eveleth Redbirds and Duluth Voyageurs for the most finals appearances.


Grand Rapids Moose vs Brainerd Lumberjacks
Brainerd got on the board first, buzzing a shot past the goalie just under halfway through the first. Grand Rapids would bounce back though, tying things back up with just over 2 minutes left in the first. The second and third were scoreless, with both teams playing rather cautiously, not wanting to make any mistakes, overtime was required. A few minutes into OT, the Moose were working the puck behind the net, trying to find an open man in front. Nothing was available so the pass went to the point instead. The defenseman tossed the puck to his partner who rifled a one timer towards goal. The goalie was unable to see the puck through the screen, letting the puck soar into the corner of the goal untouched, sending Grand Rapids to the Kellogg Cup Final with an overtime winner.

Will the Millers go back to back? Or will the Moose get loose at the Met Center and walk away with the Cup?

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

So, we got two straight back-to-back Cup winners...I believe the Mighty Millers are gonna be a force for quite some time to come (the fact that they won the last Super Series at the Aud AND the first at the Met Center will NEVER stop being a cool accomplishment).

Bring on the offseason!