Let's do something this year Redbirds! Or Saints!
Speaking of, I no longer have room for both of their sigs, you don't mind fusing them for me do you?

MyTeamIsDr.Pepper wrote:

Let's do something this year Redbirds! Or Saints!
Speaking of, I no longer have room for both of their sigs, you don't mind fusing them for me do you?

Here ya go

Thehealthiestscratch wrote:

Don’t see my Roosters doing anything besides getting throttled in the first round this year, but the Moose have a pretty good setup. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it really seems the Moose and the Railers have put together a very strange post season rivalry in the time after the Railers dominated the league. I think this is why my favoritisms towards them has died off a little. It just feels like they are always playing each other first round.

On another note, the accomplishment of winning the title at this time is a success that many probably couldn’t comprehend unless they made it to the super series. From experience, the likelihood of winning it all in the MAHL is less than winning the national championship at the youth level in the USA. These tournament games must be special and losing must hurt so much more every step closer to that grand prize.

It'll be tough for the Roosters in the first round having to play the Vulcans, but anything is possible in the playoffs.

You're right, the Moose and Railers have played each other in the first round three of the last four years and if Thief beats Ely that'll make it 4 in the last 5.

Yeah the Tschida Trophy is becoming very difficult to win, the closest comparison I have would be the NCAA Basketball tournament.6.8.0

1973 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; First Round - North


Roseau Stars vs East Grand Forks Pointers
The Pointers had a steep hill to climb, falling behind 2 goals to none after the first period. The Green Army made it nearly impossible for EGF to get any momentum going, helping give their Stars a 3-0 lead heading into the third. The Pointers did manage to get one on the powerplay midway through the third, but a 5 minute major against all but ended their comeback dreams, Roseau advances with a 3-1 win.

Warroad Lakers vs St. Cloud Storm
Warroad came out sloppy, allowing the visitors from St. Cloud to jump out to an early lead. The Lakers woke up midway through the first though and managed to tie it up. Warroad took their momentum into the second where they buried two unanswered goals to take a 3-1 lead. The Storm capitalized on a 2 on 1 8 minutes into the third to bring themselves to within one, but the Lakers regained a two goal lead with 5:44 left in the game. St. Cloud pulled their goalie with 2 minutes to go and it paid off, getting them on the board. They called a timeout to try and tie the game with 37 seconds to go. The Lakers won the draw and dumped it deep, killing precious time off the clock. The Storm regrouped and desperately tried to get it up ice, but it was out of the reach of his teammate for icing. The Storm had to return their goalie for the faceoff with 11 seconds left and the draw was tied up. The Storm just gained control and got out of their zone as the horn sounded, sending Warroad to the second round.

Superior Lakers vs Duluth Hornets
These bitter rivals are squaring off against each other for the second year in a row, this time in Wisco. The Lakers got the better of the Hornets last year by a score of 3-2 and that game was fresh in the memories of everyone in Wessman Arena. Superior came out determined to do what they did last year, and they wound up doing much more. What was hyped up as anyone's game turned into a one sided beat down with the Superior Lakers taking it to their arch rivals, winning by a final score of 5-1. This is something that Superior wont let their rivals forget for quite some time to come.

Bemidji Blue Ox vs Hibbing Greyhounds
The John S. Glas Fieldhouse was packed to see the Blue Ox take on the Greyhounds for the first time since 1960. Hibbing came into this game with a perfect 2-0 playoff record against Bemidji and were looking to keep their record perfect. The first was slow and scoreless, as was the second. Things finally opened up in the third when a Bemidji shot from the point was tipped in front, beating the Hibbing goalie to give the Ox the first lead of the game. Bemidji pushed for the next few minutes, nearly extending their lead, but Hibbing held strong and eventually turned the momentum in their favor. The Hounds worked the puck around the zone, getting it to a winger at the dot who fired a shot off the crossbar and in, tying the game with just under 7 minutes to go. We went to overtime and Hibbing was buzzing from their game tying goal, going on the attack in the opening minutes. A pair of shots were stopped but the Greyhound kept control. The puck carrier was in the corner and he banked a pass behind the net to his teammate who caught it and tucked it towards the near pipe, beating the Bemidji goalie to the post, slipping it into the net to send Hibbing to the second round.


Grand Rapids Moose vs Ely Black Bears
Moose vs Bears, two of the most feared animals in the Iron Range battling one another on the ice. One would think that a Bear would win in that fight, but you would be wrong. The Moose were the better team in this one throughout, holding a lead for 53 of the 60 minutes. To Ely's credit, they did a very good job of keeping up with the far faster Grand Rapids squad, burying three goals, something few teams have been able to do, but in the end the Moose were too much to handle. Grand Rapids advances to the second round with a 5-3 win over their Iron Range rivals to the north.

Thunder Bay Giants vs Winnipeg Monarchs
The big boys from north of the border and facing off for the first time in a game that gathered national attention throughout Canada, even being televised on CBC. The game was a physical battle, as most are when the Bruisers are involved, with both teams playing very solid defensively. The first was low on shots but high on action with both sides delivering some big hits and even a scrum. Winnipeg finally broke through in the second getting a surprisingly loud cheer in Fort Williams Garden due to the amount of fans who made the trek east. Thunder Bay pulled their goalie with a minute to go in the game down one. The Giants worked the puck down low, but a Monarch defender got to the puck carrier, pinning him along the boards. The Giant broke free and was tripped up, losing possession. The trip went uncalled, causing the crowd to blow a gasket in disbelief. The Monarchs gathered the puck and went down the ice, dumping it in on goal to secure the win as boos rained down from the crowd who felt they had been robbed. Winnipeg advances with the 2-0 upset win in a game that has mixed feelings depending on who you ask.

Brainerd Lumberjacks vs Eveleth Redbirds
This one was a much tighter game than most had expected with most anticipating the Lumberjacks to roll over the Redbirds on home ice. Eveleth played much more aggressive than Brainerd was expecting, jumping out to a 1-0 lead late in the first and nearly extending their lead a couple of times. Brainerd came to life in the third though, thoroughly dominating the final frame, outshooting the Birds 19-6 and tying the game at one, forcing overtime. Things continued to go in favor of the Jacks in ot as Eveleth looked gassed. Brainerd was in the Eveleth zone for what seemed like the first five minutes of ot before the Birds could finally clear the zone. Shortly after, the Lumberjacks were back on the attack, taking a shot from the high slot that caused a rebound at the edge of the crease. The loose puck was gathered by a Jack who lofted it backhand over the goalie's leg to secure the overtime win for Brainerd.

Fargo Titans vs Grand Forks Jets
Fargo and Grand Forks prepared for the "Battle of North Dakota" playoff edition. The Coliseum was packed with over 4,500 at puck drop between these rivals to see who would advance and who would go home disappointed. Things got off to a scary start with Fargo center Marc Nicoles going into the boards funny, getting carried off the ice. Things didn't get any better from there for the Titans as Grand Forks popped in a pair of quick goals to lead 2-0 after 1. The second was slow and scoreless with countless whistles. The Jets all but put the final nail in the Titans coffin with a powerplay goal 3 minutes into the third to take a 3 goal lead. That would prove to be the final goal of the game as the Jets hold onto the shutout to advance with a 3-0 win over their rivals.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!
 

Last edited by Section30 (4/07/2020 3:56 pm)

1973 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; First Round - Twin Cities


South St. Paul Mavericks vs Little Canada Canucks
In an absolute shocker, the top seed in the Twin Cities were taken out by the 16 seed from Little Canada. The Canucks went into Wakota Arena and came out victorious, stunning the 1,200 on hand by holding the Mavericks off the scoreboard for 60 minutes. The Canucks managed to get the crowd out of it early with a goal 5 minutes in, adding another late in the first and adding a third in the third to take all the wind out of South St. Paul's sails on their way to a 3-0 upset win over the TCHL champs.

Bloomington West Terriers vs Golden Valley Chargers
The champs from the north made the trip south to the Ice Garden to battle the Terrible Terriers. West got on the board first, blowing past a Charger defender and tucking the puck inside the pipe. Golden Valley tied it up before the second, but the Terriers took back the lead and added to it in the middle frame. The Chargers managed to get one on the powerplay to get within one with 7 to go, but an empty net goal would put their dreams to bed, sending Bloomington West to the second round with a 4-2 win.

Twin Cities Vulcans vs Richfield Roosters
It was an offensive battle in Williams Arena as the Vulcans lit up the Richfield goaltender with a whopping 41 shots on goal in the game. The Rooster tender did his damndest to keep his team in the game, but the Vulcans managed to beat him 5 times. Richfield managed to get two for themselves, but the Vulcans were just the better team in this one and they advance with a convincing 5-2 victory.

Minneapolis Millers vs Stillwater Volunteers
Over 5,600 were in attendance for the first playoff game at the Parade. Chants of "Let's Go Millers" rang out before the puck had even dropped, giving the Millers an extra jump in their step once it did. The Mighty Millers dominated the opening period, burying two goals in the first 5 minutes and another with 6:29 to go in the period. Things were looking bad for the Vols, looking lethargic when they returned for the second, but a fluke goal gave them a bump midway through the period. Stillwater played much better in the third, competing with the Millers and even getting another goal to get within one. But it was too little too late as Minneapolis holds on to advance with a 3-2 win.


St. Paul Victorias vs Brooklyn Park Panthers
Perhaps the most one sided game of the first round was the matchup between the V's and Panthers. St. Paul took control immediately and refused to let up, pounding Brooklyn Park for 60 minutes straight on their way to a convincing 5-0 shutout victory.

Maplewood Retrievers vs St. Louis Park Louies
The Louies broke first blood, setting up a nifty one timer from the slot to take the lead 8 minutes into the first. Quite some time would go by before Maplewood managed to respond with a goal of their own, but once they did they added another only 24 seconds later to take the lead and blow the roof off of Aldrich Arena. St. Louis Park held on, riding out the Retriever attack. The third began and Maplewood was called for high sticking, setting up the Louies who wasted no time finding the twine to tie things up. We got to the final 5 minutes of the game and Maplewood gained control in their defensive zone. The far winger took off down the ice, slipping behind the defenders. A pass was launched up ice to the winger who was all alone on goal. He faked backhand and ripped a shot forehand, beating the goalie under the blocker to give Maplewood the lead with just over 4 minutes to go. The Retrievers would hold on to their lead and punch their ticket to the second round.

Edina Cake Eaters vs Coon Rapids Bandits
Coon Rapids got the scoring started with a shot from the point with eyes that went untouched and unseen through the slot to give the Bandits their only lead of the game. From then on things weren't very good for the Bandits with Edina taking control and refusing to let up, burying 4 unanswered goals to advance to the second round.

White Bear Lake Braves vs Osseo Screaming Eagles
Two evenly matched squads, the Braves and Eagles game was expected to go either way and that's exactly how it went. The hometown Braves got on the board first with Osseo tying it up before the end of the first. This happened again in the second, sending us to the third tied 2-2 with shots 22-20 WBL. The third is where things took a turn with Osseo defenseman Andy Darwin getting a 5 minute major and a game misconduct for high sticking, breaking the nose of a White Bear player. This set up the Braves with a huge chance which they didn't let go to waste, capitalizing on the pp to take back the lead. Osseo pulled their goalie late int the game but it backfired and White Bear took control and sent the puck into the empty cage to send them to the second round.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Last edited by Section30 (4/08/2020 4:03 pm)

I can't believe that the Mavericks lost to the Canucks in a bad way. But it's nice to see the Cake Eaters moving on to the next round.