Winona doesn't totally suck? What is the new world we live in?

Dan O'Mac's first round predictions:

North:
With the Titans, Pilots, Jets and Hornets already having eliminated the Walleye, Wood Ducks, Flames and Norsemen, let's get into it.

First off, let's pick our Upset of the round. I see a couple options, but I'm going to go with the St. Cloud Bearcats over the East Grand Forks Pointers.

Look for the Brainerd Lumberjacks and Duluth Voyageurs, a pair of teams with postseason pedigree, to play a very close one in the game of the round.

I expect the Silver Bay-Mountain Iron to be a good game as well, look for the Beavers to nab a win there.

And finally, the Eveleth Redbirds-Duluth Hornets game is another of those "classic teams meeting in the playoffs" games. I personally don't like the Hornets, so I'm pulling for Eveleth in this one.

Twin Cities:
The Vulcans are back on top, as is come to be expected. They'll handle the Chargers in their first round matchup by at least 3 goals.

Richfield is going to face a challenge from Osseo, but I don't think the Screaming Eagles will come out with the "W".

No Cinderella run this year for the Foxes, they'll be knocked out by the Millers.

My upset pick is Anoka over West St. Paul. It's good to see the Waves back in the postseason, but I'm liking the Warriors in this one.

South:
I'm getting my upset pick in right away on this one, as I'm going to go with the Sioux City Shockers to upset the Northfield Outlaws.

The matchup to watch is going to be Apple Valley and Brookings. The Cardinals and the Buffaloes are going to have a close one, and will be playing some extra time.

It's always fun to see the Brewers and Governors in the playoffs together. They won't be able to meet until the Super Series, but I can see them both making it.

Austin and Owatonna will have a gorgeous matchup from the uniform side of things.

Sorry Duluth, it had to be done. Way to go Reds! Also, has it really been 26 years since the last time we played them? I mean that sounds right but man has time flown.

1977 Kellogg Cup Playoffs; First Round - Twin Cities


St. Anthony Vulcans vs Golden Valley Chargers
Upset Alert! The top ranked St. Anthony Vulcans have fallen to the Golden Valley Chargers in the first round. Nobody expected the Chargers to even compete, let alone beat, the Vulcans on the road. Yet here they were, playing good fundamental hockey and converting on whatever chances they could get. The Vulcans were the overall better team in this one, no disputing it, they just couldn't seem to keep Golden Valley from getting these odd man rushes that led to 4 Charger goals. The final horn sounded and Augsburg Arena was in a stunned silence as Golden Valley finished on top 4-3 to knock off the number 1 seed in the MAHL.

Plymouth Militia vs Minnetonka Muskies
Despite touching one another, Plymouth and Tonka have never played a game against one another, that all changed right now. Despite the lack of history between these two, the pride in representing their cities became clear early, bragging rights were on the line. Two teams normally known for their speed and skill were throwing their bodies at one another as if it were an Iron Range game. The high physical aspect of the game didn't seem to effect scoring as the Militia and Muskies combined for a total 10 goals in the game. In the end it was the North Metro champs who were victorious by a score of 6-4. 

White Bear Lake Braves vs Mounds View Gunners
It was an East Metro matchup in White Bear as the EMHL champs welcomed the Gunners to their first ever playoff game. Things turned out to be much closer than their regular season meetings where the Braves winning their only 2 meetings. The Gunners managed to pop home a rebound in the second to break the deadlock, extending their lead to 2 in the third. White Bear Lake was snake bit on offense, seemingly unable to find the back of the net despite their best efforts. The final horn sounded with Mounds View up 2-0 to advance with the upset win.

Edina Cake Eaters vs Bloomington Bears
Two West Metro powers facing off to see who will advance. As they say, history often repeats itself and that is what happened here. The Cake Eaters have had the Bears number for years now, leading the all time series by a staggering margin. Bloomington did fins the back of the net first, but 3 unanswered goals in the first for Edina would put them in front and they wouldn't look back. When it was all said and done it was another Edina win over Bloomington with the Cake Eaters winning 5-2.


Minneapolis Millers vs Fridley Foxes
In a rematch of last years first round matchup that set Fridley on a run to the Kellogg Cup Final, the Millers were the ones coming out on top this time. Minneapolis was firing on all cylinders, firing shots from all over, getting an incredible 51 shots on goal in the game. Dahlquist did all he could in net for the Foxes, stopping 45 shots, but it would not be enough as the Mighty Millers advance with a 6-2 blowout win.

Maplewood Retrievers vs St. Paul Victorias
Maplewood vs the boys from the East Side for the first time. The disdain for one another became clear early with a scrum of all players on the ice wrestling and sucker punching one another. Maplewood got on the board at the end of the first to electrify Aldrich Arena. The Retrievers began to take control in the second, cheered on with "Go Dogs Go" and "Lets Go Goldies" chants. The V's were given a powerplay midway through the second and as they set up in the offensive zone a pass was picked off by a Retriever who went in all alone on a breakaway. He faked a shot to get the goalie to drop, then pulled it to his forehand and tucked it around the goaltender to give his team a 2 goal lead. St. Paul would remain scoreless, falling to Maplewood by a score of 2-0.

Richfield Roosters vs Osseo Screaming Eagles
It was a Battle of Birds in Richfield that turned into a classic. Both sides came ready to play, going back and forth with opportunities and ending regulation tied at 3. Overtime saw the pace slow down a bit with both sides playing more cautious, but there were still scoring chances for both teams. It was beginning to look like a second overtime would be needed as we reached the final minute of the period. Richfield broke out of their zone and worked the puck along the boards in the Osseo zone. A winger dropped it for his teammate and curled into the slot where he got a quick pass back. Wasting no time, the Rooster put the puck on goal. The Eagle goalie got a piece of it with his shoulder, but it was not enough to stop it from hitting the twine. Richfield Ice Arena exploded with celebration, the Roosters advance with a 4-3 win in overtime.

West St. Paul Waves vs Anoka Warriors
West St. Paul was in the drivers seat after two, sitting pretty up 2-0 with 20 minutes left to play. Anoka had been kept off the board to this point and they really hadn't done much of note thus far. The third period though, was where the Warriors came to life. Anoka became a goal scoring machine, finding the back of the net 4 times in the period as they held the Waves to 2 shots on goal in the period, advancing with a comeback to remember, winning 4-2 over West St. Paul.

Let me know what you think, comments are appreciated!

Atta boy Chargers! Show those Vulcans who's boss! Now keep up the momentum - I see Fridley 2.0 in our future!