Both semis...were AMAZING!  I know the Final is gonna be a true CLASSIC in every sense (For the first time since 1961, neither the Twin Cities League nor the Northland League will have a team in the Final)

As cool as it's been to hate 'em...let's go Eaters!

I want to see the Moose beat the Cake Eaters, but right now I'm more envious of your cliffside seat near Ely, Minnesota.

1975 Kellogg Cup Final


1st Period
EDA - 2
GR - 1

The St. Paul Civic Center was filled to capacity as the puck was dropped and we began the 1975 Kellogg Cup Final. The Cake Eaters jumped out to a picture perfect start with the dynamic duo of Hankinson and Nanne going to work and creating a chance that got Edina on the board 4:22 into the game. The Edina supporters belted out chants of "E-D-INA, E-D-INA" getting progressively faster as they went until breaking out into just applause and cheering. It began to feel like a really big Braemar Arena as the Cake Eaters began to wear on the Moose, opening up the Grand Rapids defense to open up a one time pass that was bound for the netting, giving Edina a 2-0 lead. It wasn't all bad for Grand Rapids in the first however as the Moose began to turn it around as the period wound down. A quick breakout caught Edina on their heels, giving the Moose an odd man rush. The offensively loaded Moose had no problem popping it past the Edina keeper to get on the board and pull themselves to within one.

2nd Period
EDA - 2
GR - 1

After a high action first, the second was like a completely different game. It seemed there was a whistle every 30 seconds, not allowing either side to get into a rhythm. Neither team had much to show on the attack in the second, ending the same as it began with Edina up 2-1 with one period to play.

3rd Period
EDA - 2
GR - 4

When I tell you that the Moose are loose... you better believe that those Moose are damn loose. Grand Rapids came out for the third with a hunger that was unrivaled. The Moose would not and could not be denied in the third period of this one. It began with a goal from who else but Miller to tie the game at 2 and it slowly turned into one of the most impressive performances in MAHL history. After knotting the game at 2, Grand Rapids smelled blood, bombarding the Eaters goalie with 12 shots within a 5 minute span. Edina somehow managed to survive the onslaught, but the dam was bound to crack at some point. That point came when a shot was saved and the rebound was loose in the slot where a Moose was there to smack it home and take the lead 3-2. Edina was still as dangerous as ever on offense, coming so close to tying it at 3 but hitting the pipe instead. The sound of that puck hitting the iron will haunt Edina fans for years to come as Grand Rapids went the other way and beat the goalie five hole. Grand Rapids celebrated on the bench like a bunch of giddy kids. The final horn sounded and the Moose swarmed their goalie, throwing their gear in celebration. Grand Rapids defeats top seeded Edina with a 4-2 comeback win to claim their second Kellogg Cup in franchise history.

The Tschida Trophy for the leagues MVP was awarded to Edina's Ben Hankinson for leading his team to the Kellogg Cup finals and for setting a new MAHL scoring record for goals in a season. This is Hankinson's third time winning the award, moving into second all time for winners of the award. This also means that the trophy remains with Edina as teammate Cole Nanne won it last season.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

As I said, the annual tradition of the Cake Eaters choking on their cake and falling short. You love to see it in a live performance.

The Moose are loose indeed, rollin' right through one of the toughest roads to the Cup I've seen in a while. First the Granite's juggernauts in Brainerd, then the two teams tied for the longest active playoff streak in the Bearcats and Mustangs, then the Southwest's prize Hogs, then the defending champion Babes, and finally the top-ranked team in the league-all to win their first Cup in 23 years and the Iron Range's first in 14.  Congratulations Grand Rapids...these are glory days indeed!

And now...In Major Hockey News.

NHL: Once again, the Philadelphia Flyers lift Lord Stanley's Cup high, as the "Broad Street Bullies" defeated the Buffalo Sabres 4-2 in the Finals.  Your North Stars had a season they'd like to forget, finishing a distant fourth in the Smythe Division of the Campbell Conference at only 53 points (ahead of only the hapless expansion Kansas City Scouts).

This coming season will see the NHL put on "Super Series '76" (for which the NHL paid the MAHL a good deal of money to use the name) in celebration of America's coming bicentennial and as an international goodwill mission between us and the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War.  Between December 28 and January 11, HC CSKA Moscow (the "Red Army Club") and Krylya Sovetov Moscow (the "Soviet Wings") will each play four exhibition games against NHL teams.

WHA: Once again, Gordie and Sons led the way for the Houston Aeros to win their second Avco World Trophy, sweeping the Quebec Nordiques 4-0 in the Finals.  Your Fighting Saints made the playoffs once again, beating the New England Whalers 4-2 in the quarters before falling 4-1 to the Nordiques in the semis.  As for the Winnipeg Jets, despite a strong finish at 81 points, they finished just behind the Phoenix Roadrunners to miss the playoffs.

After the Baltimore Blades (the former Michigan Stags who relocated in the middle of the previous season) and Chicago Cougars folded, the WHA filled in the gaps, adding the Cincinnati Stingers and the Denver Spurs to their lineup to stay at 14 teams.  In addition, the former Vancouver Blazers moved to Calgary, Alberta, adopting the Calgary Cowboys name.

And this has been "In Major Hockey News" for this season...I'm Michael Burmy, bidding you good day, filled with anticipation for what is to be another busy offseason.