It was not to be, Brew Crew...White Bear Lake's been waitin' for a moment like this for so long...let 'em have this, but we'll be back and stronger than ever next year!

As for you, Lakers, I am ECSTATIC for you!  You showed 'em who the original and BEST Lakers are...now it's time to #BeatWinnipeg and punch your ticket to the Met Center!

I'm sorry to everyone else, but the Robins have taken down the Mighty Millers, the enders of Cinderella seasons. There is no force that can stop them now.

1971 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Second Round


South St. Paul Mavericks vs White Bear Lake Braves
The Braves went into South St. Paul looking to advance to their first Super Series, but the Mavs had their own plans. SSP came out slow, getting out shot by White Bear 12-6 in the first, but came out flying in the second, netting a pair of goals to take a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks added a powerplay goal in the third to solidify the win, shutting out the Braves by a final score of 3-0.

New Ulm Bavarians vs Mankato Moose
It was a Blue Earth rivalry at South German park between the Bavarians and Moose. This has been a fairly even series the last few years so nobody knew what was gonna happen. The Diamonds broke first blood 7 minutes in, building their lead to 2 in the final minute of the first. Mankato regrouped between periods, coming out flying in the second and drawing a powerplay which they capitalized on. The Moose tied things up early in the third, making it anyone's game. The Bavarians got a 2 on 1 chance around the midway point of the third. The puck carrier looked pass but it was taken away by the defenseman so he ripped a shot over the goalies shoulder, giving the diamonds back the lead. Mankato pulled their goalie late, and New Ulm managed to pop the puck into the empty cage to send them back to the Super Series.

Edina Cake Eaters vs St. Paul Victorias
This one was about as close as they can get with the V's taking an early lead and the Eaters responding in the second to tie things up. The shots were 32-29 in favor of St. Paul at the end of regulation, but the score was still tied 1-1, sending us to overtime. The Victorias were called for tripping a little over 8 minutes into overtime in what would become one of the biggest controversies of recent years. St. Paul players swear up and down that the Cake Eater was never even touched by the Victoria and that he dove to draw a penalty. The Victorias coach called over the referee to plead his case and tempers flared. The coach was kicked out of the game and St. Paul was given a bench minor, giving Edina a 5 on 3 powerplay. It wasn't long before a rebound found its way to an Edina stick and was buried into the back of the net, sending Edina back to the Super Series thanks to one of the most controversial calls in MAHL history.

Sioux Falls Packers vs Rochester Robins
All eyes were on the Robins after their monumental upset over the Millers in the first round. Perhaps it was the pressure after the upset, or maybe it was the quick turnaround after going to overtime. Whatever it was, Rochester looked... different. The Robins were a step or two behind the Packers for the majority of the game. Sioux Falls had their way in the offensive zone, setting up beautiful passing plays leading to goals, quickly finding themselves up 3-0. Rochester managed to pop one in in the third on a powerplay, but the Hogs responded less than a minute later to regain a 3 goal lead. The final horn sounded and the final score was 4-1 in favor of the Packers.


Roseau Stars vs Thunder Bay Giants
There wasn't an open seat in the Roseau Memorial Arena as the Green Army prepared to defend their home for one last time this season. The atmosphere was electric at puck drop and it only got worse for the visitors when the Stars found the back of the net less than 3 minutes in. Thunder Bay managed to knot things up in the second, but Roseau would lead 2-1 by the end of the period. Thunder Bay tied things up once again and things were beginning to look like we were gonna need extra time. That was until the Giants took a penalty with 51 seconds left. Roseau sent out their top line and won the draw, setting up behind the Thunder Bay goal. The puck was passed back and forth between the forwards down low until Isaac Broten broke towards the front of the goal. The puck was saucered over the goalies stick to the far side of the crease. It looked like it was just too far in front of the Star, but at the last second he launched himself towards the puck, batting it towards the goal. The Giants goalie got a piece of it with his outstretched arm, but he was unable to stop it from trickling past the goal line. The clock had 3 seconds remaining as the crowd erupted, nearly blowing the roof off the building. The Stars return to the Super Series thanks to what the Roseau Times dubbed as "The Goal".

Superior Lakers vs Winnipeg Monarchs
Winnipeg has been a team on a mission these playoffs and they started this one looking well on their way to return to the Met, leading 2-0 after 1. The Monarchs added another midway through the second to take a 3 goal lead. Things were not looking good for the lads from Wisconsin, not until a shot from a seemingly harmless area in the corner somehow found its way past the Monarch goalie with just over a minute to go in the second. The Lakers went into the period break with a bit of a spark and turned that spark into a flame in the third, outshooting Winnipeg 20-7 and managing to tie the game at 3-3. Overtime began and all the momentum was with the Lakers. Winnipeg was pinned in their zone, just looking to chip it out and get a line change. Superior kept their foot on the gas until a shot from the dot beat the goalie under the glove, winning the game for Superior and sending them to their first Super Series.

East Grand Forks Pointers vs Fergus Falls Cyclones
All good things must come to an end, and today was the end of the nice run Fergus Falls put on these playoffs. EGF was the far better team in this one, controlling play for most of the game on their way to a 3-0 shutout win. The Pointers just punched their ticket to the Super Series for the first time.

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Steinbach Barbarians
Things started slow in this one, with no score in either the first or second. Steinbach finally broke the deadlock 5 minutes into the third on a deflection in front. The Barbs netted another one in quick succession to take a 2 goal lead. Brainerd pulled their goalie with a minute and a half to go after Steinbach took a penalty for cross checking. With a 6 on 4 advantage, the Jacks moved the puck around with relative ease into scoring areas, managing to bring the score to within one with just under a minute to go on a rebound that was loose in the slot. Brainerd returned their goalie for the faceoff and it was won by Steinbach. The Barbarians skated into their own zone with the puck, playing keep away to kill the clock. The Lumberjacks eventually pinned the puck carrier in the corner where he pinned it against the boards. A pair of Lumberjacks went to the corner to try and pry the puck out and by the time they finally got it out the clock was down to 10 seconds. They tried to force a pass to the point and it was picked off by a Barbarian who banked it off the boards and down the ice. The final horn sounded, sending Steinbach onward with a 2-1 upset win over Brainerd.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!6.7.0

Go... Cake Eaters? Sure, go Edina!

My Millers just had to lose in the first round didn't they? Oh well, they're still a good team. There's always next year...