The new leagues are turning out (almost) exactly how I've expected...nice to see Maplewood and Richfield make it to the playoffs in year one, Roseville and Coon Rapids finally clinch their very first playoff berths, Anoka finally make it back, and Osseo and Edina finally winning league titles.  (If the pattern holds up, Burnsville's gonna make it back too..I'm excited to see which other South Metro teams make it)

All in all...this series just KEEPS GETTING BETTER!  Thank you for giving us this fantastic fictional (though we all wish it was for real) league history...

1971/72 Regular Season; South


The defending champs made it three straight BEHL titles, finishing well ahead of the competition and being ranked 5th in the MAHL at the end of the season. St. Peter had a good season, battling with Mankato for the second spot and coming out on top with the Moose in third. It was Faribault who punched the final ticket to the playoffs, edging out the Musicians who came in fifth. Down in the bottom three were the Dragoons, Green Giants and Hawks who all had pretty disappointing seasons.


Back in the cities, the South Metro was a two man race between Burnsville and Apple Valley with the Bucks earning the first SMHL title by only 2 games. Behind them it was a four team battle in the middle of the pack between Hastings, Cottage Grove, Eagan and Lakeville who were all within 5 games of one another at the end of the season. It was the Rivermen and Yellow Jackets who finished strongest however, clinching playoff births in their first season.  Down at the bottom of the table were Shakopee and Rosemount who both had seasons to forget. The Six just couldn't get anything going on offense, averaging only 1.42 goals per game, while Rosemount struggled keeping up with their larger neighbors, finishing in last place.


Sioux Falls is back on top of the Southwest, dethroning the Dutchmen who dropped to second. The Packers finished the season ranked tenth, the only SWHL team to finish in the top 20. Rounding out the top four are the Shockers and Stamps who held their positions from a year ago. Marshall had a decent season, barely missing out on their second playoff appearance. At the bottom of the league were once again Yankton and Brookings.


The story of the season in the Valley was the drop of the Brewers who went from a first place finish just 2 years ago to missing the playoffs completely. The Brewers decline was mainly caused by a slew of injuries and the Brewers should be able to bounce back next year, but nobody can be certain. The top two slots were taken by Rochester with the Mustangs going back to back to earn their 12th Valley Hockey League title as well as being ranked 17th in the MAHL. Behind the Robins in second were the Red Wing Chiefs who had another solid season. Rounding out the playoff teams were the Austin Mavericks who is returning to the post season after missing the last 5 years. The aforementioned Brewers came in fifth with Northfield on their heels in sixth. As per usual there was a drop off before we got to Winona and Cannon Falls in seventh and eighth.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Last edited by Section30 (3/19/2020 1:11 pm)

Heads up, looks like you labelled the Southwest as the South Metro

Last edited by Section30 (3/19/2020 2:15 pm)

1972 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Knockout Round


Virginia Royals vs Duluth Voyageurs
The Royals and Voyageurs squared off for the first time in 44 years in what turned out to be a very evenly matched game between two of the most successful teams in MAHL history. Le Bleus got on the board first, silencing the 2,000 on hand at the Miners Memorial Building. Virginia would come back hard in the second, having their way through the middle frame and taking a 2-1 lead heading into the third. Duluth regrouped after the second and came out looking much better, breaking up passes and applying the pressure, drawing a powerplay which they capitalized on to tie the game at 2. We went to overtime with this one looking like it could go either way. A few minutes in, a Royals breakout pass was intercepted at the top of the circle by a Voyageur who wasted no time dishing it to his teammate down low who had nobody around him. He shot five hole but it was stopped. The rebound was loose still and he got a good whack on it, slipping it past the Virginia goalie, giving Duluth the ot win on the road.

Fargo Titans vs Little Falls Pilots
Things started off pretty even, remaining scoreless after 1, but the tide turned in favor of the hometown Titans in the second with Fargo lighting the lamp a whopping 4 times in the middle period to take a commanding lead over the Pilots. Little Falls looked a little better in the third, finding the back of the net once to end the shutout, but they would not be able to come back, losing 4-1.

Bemidji Blue Ox vs St. Cloud Storm
Bemidji made the most of their long awaited return to the post season, packing the John S. Glas Fieldhouse with over 2,500 people. The atmosphere was electric at puck drop and remained that way until the final horn as the Ox gave the hometown fans plenty to cheer about. This one was all Babes with the Blue Ox getting on the scoreboard once per period while keeping the Storm at nothing. The final shots were 37-16 in favor of Bemidji and the scoreboard was 3-0 Ox.

Grand Rapids Moose vs Thief River Falls Railers
For the third time in the last 4 years, the Moose and Railers meet one another in the playoffs. The IRA Civic Center was filled to the gill with spectators as the puck was dropped in this one. The Moose wasted no time finding the twine, beating the Railers goalie with a wrist shot under the arm in the opening minute, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Grand Rapids would build on their lead late in the first, going up 2-0 after one. The second was a defensive battle with the Railers trying to keep it close and the Moose not wanting to give up any chances, the score remained 2-0. Thief River finally slipped one past the Grand Rapids goalie midway through the third, giving them new life. The Railers, led by veterans, gave it their all, but Rapids held strong, forcing everything to the outside and blocking any shots they could. The final horn sounded and the crowd erupted once more as their Moose punch their ticket to the first round with a 2-1 victory over Thief River Falls, taking the all time series lead 2-1.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!