I...am...SO VERY PROUD OF MY LAKERS right now!

They are gonna WELL-equipped to make a dark-horse run at the cup...my dream Finals is closer to a reality now.

Now I'm ready to see my Brewers beat Sioux City!

1975 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; Second Round - Twin Cities


Edina Cake Eaters vs Maplewood Retrievers
Braemar Arena was packed as the puck was dropped and we began this section final. The Cake Eaters wasted no time setting a fast paced tempo, blowing past the Retrievers for a 2 on 1 that was stopped by the Maplewood goalie. Edina would eventually beat the goalie over the glove to get on the board before the end of the first. Maplewood is well equipped for a run and gun type of game and switched up their game plan between periods to use their speed to their advantage. The Retrievers jumped out to a 2-14 lead on a pair of early goals in the second, but Edina always finds a way to be better than you which is what they did here. They switched it up on the Retrievers, slowing it down and passing it around the zone, setting up beautiful passing plays leading to a pair of goals to give the Eaters back the lead 3-2. Nanne buried a shot from the slot in the third to extend their lead to 2 which they held until the final horn, advancing to their 7th Super Series.

St. Paul Victorias vs Minneapolis Millers
It's always a treat to see one of the fiercest and oldest rivalries in the MAHL. These two, and their fans, really do not like each other and with a ticket to the Super Series on the line. This it the 10th time these two have met in the playoffs, with the V's leading the all time series 5-4. The puck was dropped and we were underway in a packed St. Paul Auditorium. After a slow start with only 3 shots in the first ten minutes, things began to open up for the V's on offense. St. Paul worked the puck around the zone, feeding it to the point for a slapshot that was deflected in front and into the back of the net. This is where the game turned on the Mighty Millers. After getting on the board, the floodgates opened for the Victorias. St. Paul went on to score 4 more unanswered goals all while making their arch rivals look like lost children on the ice. Minneapolis looked like fish out of water by the end of the game with St. Paul making up for not winning the Veterans Cup by skating circles around their rivals form across the river. St. Paul makes their triumphant return to the Super Series after missing the playoffs a year ago, beating the Millers 5-0.

South St. Paul Mavericks vs White Bear Lake Braves
The Braves got off to a slow start, getting outshot by SSP 9-2 in the first period, but they managed to keep the Mavs off the board, keeping the game scoreless. White Bear turned it around in the second, getting more shots on goal and leveling the play a bit. South St. Paul still led 20-15, but it was beginning to look like anyone's game, and with only one period to play, any goal could be potentially critical. South St. Paul drew a powerplay 6 minutes into the third and just missed taking the lead thanks to an incredible diving block by a Brave who put his body in the way of the open net to keep the game scoreless. This play gave the Braves a lot of momentum as they went the other way and dropped a pass for a teammate who took a hard low shot that was saved but the rebound was loose and put home by a White Bear Lake forward. The Braves were buzzing after their go ahead goal and went right back on the attack, firing a shot from far out that the goalie had trouble with. What should have been an easy stick save turned disastrous as the puck took a bounce off a groove in the ice, hopping over the Maverick goalie's stick and into the cage. South St. Paul looked dead right then and there, all hope seemed gone after falling behind by two. The final horn sounded, sending the White Bear Lake Braves to the Super Series, upsetting the Twin Cities Hockey League champions 2-0.

Twin Cities Vulcans vs Little Canada Canucks
Augsburg Arena was electric as the puck was dropped for this one. The hometown crowd seemed to give the Vulcans a bit of a boost early on as they controlled the first period, scoring once to take a 1-0 lead into the second. The Nucks would not stay down for long though as they tied things up just 2:30 into the second, picking a spot in the top corner and nailing it to make the score 1-1. Little Canada would go on to win the second period, but that means nothing because they were unable to take the lead. Vinny Vulcans helped start the "Lets Go Vulcans" chants as the third began. Before long the Vulcans found themselves in control once again, controlling possession and getting good scoring chances. The Vulcans entered the Canucks zone 3 on 2 and began to work it towards the slot. A Little Canada defender was ready to smack the puck away from the Vulcan, but in doing so it was picked up by the third forward who took a quick shot, using the defenseman as a screen, that blew past the Nucks goalie to give the Vulcans a 2-1 lead which they held onto until the final horn to return to the Super Series.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

AJHFTW wrote:

Edina vs. St. Paul is going to be a barn burner!
Sad to see Little Canada lost to Twin Cities, here's hope for another good run from the Canucks next season.

St. Paul and Edina aren't actually guaranteed to meet in the Super Series since the 12 teams that make it are put into a new bracket. I can see how the graphic would make it look like that though.

1975 Kellogg Cup Super Series Playoff Tree

Looks like the perfect recipe for La Crosse vs Superior in the finals, eh Burmy?