I like the new style. It gives a level of care I didn't know I had.

I think what makes this just a little better is that we also get to see every team's uniform every season.

1971/72 Regular Season; Twin Cities


The story of the season was the battle at the top of the table between Maplewood and White Bear Lake. The Retrievers and Braves alternated the league lead for most of the season, finishing with Maplewood in the top spot, earning their first league title in their first season as well as being ranked 20th at the end of the season. Behind the Braves it was Stillwater and Roseville who managed to slide into the final playoff spots, using their experience to their advantage. That left the Canucks on the outside looking in, missing the playoffs despite finishing with a winning record. After them it was the Dots who got off to a slow start but began to pick it up near the end of the season, surpassing Mounds View in 7th. In last place were the Fridley Foxes who did not have the season they had hoped, only winning 4 games this year, all at home.


The trend of former TCHL teams doing well continued in the North with Osseo, Coon Rapids, and Anoka all clinching playoff births. The Screaming Eagles took the first ever NMHL championship, holding off Brooklyn Park who finished in second. Golden Valley was so close to punching their ticket to the playoffs, but a slump late in the season saw them fall to fifth and the Chargers were unable to crawl back into the top 4. Blaine and Plymouth both had mediocre seasons, finishing below .500 and coming in sixth and seventh. At the bottom of the table were the Raiders who struggled for most of the season.


It was a bloodbath in the Twin Cities with 5 very good teams battling it out all season long for a playoff birth. The Millers earned the top ranking the the MAHL this season, winning their league for the 11th time as well as holding onto the Veterans Cup over the Victorias. Speaking of the V's, they were hot on the Millers tails coming in second place, managing to keep the Milk Jug as well as being ranked 7th. Coming in third was South St. Paul who looked very good yet again this year, earning the 12 rank and keeping the Wood Slab for the sixth straight year. In what seems to be an annual tradition at this point, the Holy War rivalry was in full swing this year, coming down to rivalry week (the last game of the year) to decide both the Holy War Trophy as well as the final playoff spot. The Saints came out on top by a score of 4-1 at home to punch their ticket to the playoffs, extending their streak to 12 years in a row while keeping their arch rivals out for the second year in a row. There was a noticable gap between the Vulcans and the next three teams, with the Bakers coming in sixth followed by the Waves and Raptors.


To nobody's surprise it was the Cake Eaters who won the first WMHL crown, finishing 4 games ahead of a very good Richfield team that was ranked 18th at the end of the season. Rounding out the top four were Bloomington and West who both look like possible dark horses come playoffs, riding under the radar with all the eyes on Edina and Richfield. St. Louis Park had a good first season, keeping in the playoff hunt for the majority of the season, but ultimately coming in fifth. Minnetonka had an alright season, but still had areas of concern, especially goaltending which caused them to finish in sixth. Hopkins and Eden Prairie both had rough first seasons, finishing at the bottom of the table.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

sportsfan7 wrote:

South Metro?

South Metro drew the short straw and is going to be in the "South" region for playoffs so I will be posting them tomorrow along with the Blue Earth, Southwest, and Valley.

Well would you look at that Maplewood [Hill-Murray] and White Bear Lake are battling for the top stop in the east metro once again.
I think this calls for a Retrievers sig now