Bummer of an ending...but a FANTASTIC run by my Superior Lakers!  Above all, these runs by the Lakers and Brewers prove that TALENT is aplenty in the Badger State...my hope for this offseason is that the expansion committee will Make It Three!

In the meantime...time for Warroad to get the job done!

1973 Kellogg Cup Final


1st Period
GR - 0
WAR - 0

It was a sold out crowd in the Met Center with fans from both Grand Rapids and Warroad making the trek south to watch their team fight for the Kellogg Cup. Things started off slow in the first with both sides testing the waters so to speak. 20 minutes came and went in a flash with very few stoppages and no goals for either side.

2nd Period
GR - 0
WAR - 1

The second started off like the first with few stoppages, but unlike the first there were some good chances in the middle frame. Warroad gained control of the puck int their defensive zone while the Moose happened to be in a line change. Seeing an opening, the far winger took off down the ice where he received a picture perfect pass to his tape right before he entered the offensive zone. A pair of Moose were hot on his heels when he finally got his shot off, beating the goalie glove side to give the Lakers the lead.

3rd Period
GR - 1
WAR - 1

Grand Rapids is not a team accustomed to losing, so this was unfamiliar territory for the Moose, but they made it work. It was a tightly contested period with both sides getting shots from high scoring areas. The powerplay has been Grand Rapids bread and butter all year long, boasting an incredible 46.7 pp% for the season. The Lakers had been doing a great job of staying out of the box to this point, but a crosscheck in front of goal gave the Moose their first opportunity of the game. Grand Rapids worked the puck down low, feeding the puck behind the net to one another as they tried to open up the defense. Didi Miller caught the puck in the corner and called his center down where he gave him the puck and took off into the slot for a quick give back pass which he one timed into the back of the net, tying the game at one. The final horn sounded with the game still tied, sending us to overtime in the Final for the second year in a row.

Overtime
GR - 1
WAR - 2

The atmosphere was electric as the puck was dropped for overtime, you could feel the tension on both benches as well as in the crowd, next goal wins. Things got ugly for the Moose early getting called for too many men on the ice, a simple error at the worst possible time. Luckily for Rapids, Warroad was unable to get much of anything going on their powerplay chance and we resumed 5 on 5. We passed the midway point of the period and things were beginning to pick up with both sides getting odd man chances before the puck went out of play in neutral ice. The faceoff was won by Grand Rapids, but a Laker got his stick in there and knocked the puck off the Moose defenseman, Warroad gained control and went in 2 on 1 with speed. Oshie carried the puck and faked a shot at the top of the circle, getting the goalie to drop and the defenseman to step up to try and block it. He dumped a quick pass under the defenseman's stick to his teammate just outside the crease who simply put his stick on the ice and tipped into the back of the net. The Lakers hopped over the boards, throwing their sticks and gloves in the air in celebration on their way to mob their teammate. For the first time in their 27 year history the Warroad Lakers are Kellogg Cup Champions!

The Tschida Trophy was awarded to Grand Rapids Didi Miller for his outstanding playoff run as well as for leading his Moose to another Iron Range title. This is Miller's second time winning the award, his first came back in 1962.

Well, I guess a shout out to all the Warroad fans... oh wait...

Jokes aside this one hurts, taking it from Superior then losing it leaves a bitter taste. And that lack of scoring when it counts is even more bitter.

All I can say is, Jamheronark, I’ll give you a round on me, friend. Anything to numb that sting.

Those meese need to be released.

Last edited by Thehealthiestscratch (4/14/2020 12:29 am)

MAKE IT THREE!

But congrats to Warroad. You may not be the Lakers I root for, but it's great to see you bring home the cup.

Lmao thanks for the comments, sorry about your guys losing Thehealthiestscratch and JamHeronArk, but let's get into the offseason.

1973/74 Offseason Highlights

- 6 expansion teams are set to join the MAHL

- 4 current teams made adjustments to their identities

- 4 new mascots were introduced

- 2 new rivalry trophies were introduced

- 1 team moved arenas
               - Twin Cities: After 45 years of sharing Williams Arena with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, the Twin Cities Vulcans have made the decision to move into brand new 1,000 seat Augsburg Arena. The move was made due to the high costs involved with renting ice at the U. Augsburg Arena might not be as large as Williams, but it is more intimate and the team is hoping it will become a very difficult place for opponents. The Vulcans will be sharing their new arena with Augsburg College.

- 6 teams are making the move indoors
                - Albert Lea: The Dragoons are upgrading to the Albert Lea City Arena which seats 1,400 spectators.
                - Cottage Grove: After two years outdoors, 1,178 seat Cottage Grove Ice Arena is finally completed and will be home of the Yellow Jackets from now on.
                - Hastings: Much like the Jackets, the Rivermen are moving indoors due to the Hastings Civic Arena being completed. The Arena will be able to fit 1,555 in for home games.
                - Mason City: Down in Iowa, the Musicians are moving indoors to 1,500 seat North Iowa Ice Arena.
                - Moorhead: The Huskies are looking to catch up with their bigger neighbors, finally making the move indoors. The Huskies will call the 3,000 seat Moorhead Sports Center (MSC) home beginning this upcoming season.
                - Mounds View: The Gunners will be calling 500 seat Shoreview Arena home. The rink is one town over from Mounds View and will be shared with an expansion team.