1975 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; First Round - South


Sioux Falls Packers vs Eagan Oaks
The heavy favorites from South Dakota jumped out to an early 3 goal lead, extending it to four in the second before Eagan ended the shutout in the third. The Packers advance with a convincing 4-1 win.

Hastings Rivermen vs Northfield Outlaws
If you wanted goals, you got em. The Rivermen and Outlaws went back and forth in a game of who get more goals. Defense was miserable for both sides, allowing countless chances and goals. The two combined for a staggering 11 goals in the game with Northfield just barely edging out the South Metro champs 6-5 to advance.

Rochester Mustangs vs Burnsville Bucks
Burnsville stunned the hometown crowd as the Bucks jumped out to an early lead in Rochester. The Mustangs tied it back up in the second only to cough up the lead once again. The third was where the Mustangs began to show their true colors, having their way in the Burnsville zone and tying the game at 2. The goal only made it more difficult for the Bucks as the 2,500 on hand became more and more vocal, chanting "Lets Go Mustangs!". The Stangs had all the momentum and quickly found themselves back on the attack. The puck was worked low and sent into the slot where it was deflected by a Mustang forward and into the back of the net. Rochester would hold on to the lead, knocking out the Bucks with a 3-2 comeback win.

Marshall Pheasants vs Luverne Flying Dutchmen
SHA counterparts and bitter rivals Marshall and Luverne met at the Fairgrounds to see who would advance and who would be sent home. After a slow start, things picked up in the second when 4 goals were scored, three of which for the hometown Pheasants. Marshall would add two more before Luverne would get back on the board. By then it was far too late as the Pheasants knock off their rivals 5-2, winning their first playoff game.


La Crosse Brewers vs Austin Mavericks
It was a much tighter game than the Brewers anticipated against their fellow Valley Hockey League members. Despite being swept in the season series, Austin was confident that they were just as good as the Brewers and they looked like it in this one. THe Mavericks got on the board first and held their lead until the Brewers finally scored 7 minutes into the third. Austin got a powerplay and made the most of it shortly after, regaining the lead, but La Crosse would not go away, slamming home a rebound with under 5 minutes to play to tie the game at 2. We went to overtime and it was anyone's game. La Crosse made a d to d pass that was intercepted for a Maverick breakaway which ended with a shot ringing off the pipe. The Brewers managed to get a whistle and regroup, going down ice shortly after and firing a shot from the slot that beat the Maverick goalie five hole, winning the game for La Crosse.

Sioux City Shockers vs New Ulm Bavarians
The Shockers came ready to play, leading 2-0 after one and 3-1 after 2. New Ulm drew a 5 minute major for high sticking, converting once on the chance to bring themselves to within one. The clock was ticking against the diamonds and they pulled their goalie as a last ditch effort. It ultimately didn't work as a rebound was gathered in the corner by a Shocker and flipped out of the zone where a teammate gathered it and fired it into the empty cage to win the game for Sioux City 4-2.

St. Peter Governors vs Faribault Flickertails
St. Peter is looking to end their years of playoff futility and they made some noise in game one, blowing out the Flickertails form Faribault. The Gophers had a good game from their goalie, allowing only 5 of the 47 shots against him in. St. peter was just the better team in this one, only allowing two goals against, one on a powerplay and one fluke. The Governors advance with 5-2 win, building momentum as they look to finally reach the Super Series.

Owatonna Owls vs Apple Valley Cardinals
Owatonna made their return to the postseason, welcoming Apple Valley who was in search of their first playoff win. Things got off to a great start for the home side with the Owls finding the back of the net in the opening minute of the game and ringing a shot off the pipe only a few minutes later. Things took a dark turn when their goalie lost an edge behind the net, falling awkwardly and being unable to skate off on his own power. Without their starting goalie in, they needed to turn to their emergency backup who has only played in parts of 3 games in his 5 years with the team. The new goalie was a big set back for the Owls who found themselves trailing 2-1 after the first. The Cardinals went on to net one more in the following two periods to win their first playoff game by a final score of 4-1.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Thehealthiestscratch wrote:

I just realized Sioux City and Apple Valley have the same exact jersey, but Apple Valley wears it much better. Same with Sioux Falls and Rochester, but that one is harder to say. In this fiction, knowing that these teams aren't sitting on large contracts with manufacturers or anything like that, do some teams get a catalog from a local vendor or something and buy through them? I don't know if you have thought of that, but if that was the case the company doing it must be counting up their cash!

I hadn't really thought of it, I just figured that in real life multiple teams use the same stripe pattern so it made sense, especially for the time.

Man, these 2nd round matchups is going to be good!

1975 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Second Round - North


Bemidji Blue Ox vs Warroad Lakers
Things got off to a rough start for the Ox, finding themselves trailing 2-1 after 1. But Bemidji continues to find a way to win as a team rather than needing individuals. The Babes had a turn around second, striking thrice to take a 4-2 lead. They added a powerplay goal in the third to put away any doubt. Warroad is sent home, knocked out by Northland Hockey League rival Bemidji by a final score of 5-2. The Ox return to the Super Series for the second time where they'll look to defend their title.

Grand Rapids Moose vs St. Cloud Bearcats
We had a classic at the IRA Civic Center as the Moose and Bearcats duked it out for the right to play in the Super Series. The visitors got on the board first, but Rapids tied it up in the second. The Moose got loose in the third, dominating possession and popping a go ahead goal in with just over half the period to play. Grand Rapids continued to thrive after their goal, now with the crowd re energized and vocal. The Moose drew a powerplay and went to work, nearly adding to their lead but not being able to finish. The penalty expired and the Bearcat returned to the ice. It just so happened that St. Cloud had just flipped the puck out to center ice where the penalized player was immediately the closest to it. He picked it up and went in all alone on a breakaway, pulling it to his backhand and lofting it past the Moose goalie to tie the game at 2. We went to overtime to decide a winner but no goals were scored. It wasn't until 6:05 into the third overtime period that Grand Rapids finally managed to smack home a rebound. The arena erupted and the Moose swarmed over the boards to celebrate their triple overtime victory to return to the Super Series for the 5th time.

Eveleth Redbirds vs Superior Lakers
Two MAHL mainstays faced off for the first time ever in this one at the Eveleth Hippodrome. The Hipp was as electric as always when the puck was dropped for this one. Unlike most Eveleth games, this one was the definition of run and gun hockey. The Redbirds and Lakers went back and forth up and down the ice on scoring chances. There was a combined total of 10 goals in this one with Eveleth scoring 4 in the opening two periods to the Lakers 1. Things took an unexpected turn in the third though when Superior came out of nowhere to unload 5 unanswered goals in the final 20 minutes to come back and beat Eveleth 6-4. The 3,000+ on hand were in a stunned silence as the final horn sounded, unsure of what they had just witnessed.

Thunder Bay Giants vs Roseau Stars
Two of the most storied franchises in the MAHL did battle for the fourth time. It was clear from early on that this was going to be a very hard hitting, defensive game, and that any goals scored will be huge. It wasn't until the halfway point of the game that we saw our first goal, the visitors from Roseau got a shot from the slot that the Giants goalie couldn't get enough of. The Stars would score the second goal of the game as well, sniping a shot inside the pipe on a 2 on 1 chance to take a 2-0 lead and suck the life out the of Fort Williams Gardens. Thunder Bay was in desperate need of a goal and their answered were miraculously answered when a bit of miscommunication by a couple Stars led to a Giants breakaway which was buried five hole to get Thunder Bay within one. Unfortunately for the Giants that would be the only goal they could manage to produce, falling to Roseau by a final score of 2-1. Roseau extends their all time series lead over the Giants to 3-1 and will be making their 8th Super Series appearance after missing the last 2 years.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Superior into the Super Series! Alright La Crosse, time to join them...