High School Players/Teams Observations

[ARM]

And you can virtually see him bringing in that talent. He or one of his assistants has been at nearly every high school game that I have seen over the past three years. St. Cloud and Wisconsin are very visible as well.

[brookyone]

Those are two very fine players indeed. I think we can all expect some WCHA upward mobility from MSU next season. Hope they can fill those BIG skates in goal.

[MSUMavsPuckFan]

Originally posted by brookyone
Those are two very fine players indeed. I think we can all expect some WCHA upward mobility from MSU next season. Hope they can fill those BIG skates in goal.
I think those skates are closer to being this BIG. Brennan will be back and they are bringing in a Canadian named Britny Kehler. My knowledge of Kehler is limited to the previous sentance.

Only 1 forward will be leaving (Osborn), so Stohr and Bunker will have to step up to crack the lineup.

[sevenpucks]

I overheard the Main Team Canada scout talking about 2 weeks ago at an MSU game and he was telling some people that Kehler is one of the top three goalies in all of Canada, so that should be a nice addition for the Mavs next year. Vogt will never be replaced, but its nice to hear a person with that much knowledge of womens hockey say something like that. Go Mavs

[brookyone]

I think both Amanda Stohr & Kristina Bunker are talented enough to make the adjustment to D 1 relatively quickly. I suspect they'll contribute in their freshman seasons. Kinda interesting sometimes to speculate on what experienced centers / wings you might put on a line with them.

[bulldogfan]

Eden Prairie Upsets South Saint Paul (http://startribune.com/stories/526/4632011.html)

Just thought I'd mention that EP ended SSP's winning steak at 86 by beating them 3-1 today at Ridder in the state semis. Nice job Eagles!!! (which I say since I am an alumni of EP :D )

[brookyone]

Hats off to the Packers. That was one helluva run. The likes of which aren't likely to be repeated...ever. The SSP girls have themselves a nice piece of Minnesota state high school hockey history.

[brookyone]

I do apologize for the cliche but as they say, all good things must end. Hope the SSP girls don't take it too hard, certainly they should be very proud of their unbelievable accomplishment.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/high_school/8051711.htm

And a recap of another quarterfinal matchup

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/high_school/8052338.htm

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/high_school/8052342.htm

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/high_school/8053811.htm

[ARM]

An exciting state tournament wraps up with Elk River (AA) and Benilde-St. Margarets (A) winning the titles. The private schools pretty well dominate the A bracket every year. If a team like Benilde is really interested in competition, they might want to think about playing up at the AA level.

For the third straight year, the game-winner in one-goal AA title game is scored by a senior defender: Ashley Albrecht of SSP in 2002; Sammy Jo Miller of SSP in 2003; Anya Miller of Elk River in 2004.

A very balanced field in AA, where the games were competitive. Saw a lot of good teams rather, than one or two good players dominating.

[GOFALCONS!]

Congrats to Erica McKenzie who was named Ms. Hockey yesterday!! I can't wait to see her in maroon and gold!

[brookyone]

I would like to second GOFALCONS! congratulations to Erica for receiving this well deserved recognition. Here is the Pioneer Press release.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/high_school/8074587.htm

All the girls selected as candidates should be congratulated as any one of them would have been a fine choice for the Ms. Hockey award. Several of this years nominee's are headed to what are already talented WCHA rosters...all will be exciting to watch next season.

[brookyone]

http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/high_school/8081633.htm

Here's this season's Minnesota all state team.

[ARM]

I don't agree with all of their choices, but everybody has an opinion. (Stohr 1st team, Young 2nd team, Nelson 3rd team, Fisher hon. mention?) Also, I think both Olson and Plude of E.R. should have made the list. In any case, a lot more talented players than just a few years ago.

[brookyone]

I'm with you on some of their choices. Maggie Fisher as honorable mention was particularly surprising to me. I think part of their dilemma is there are more talented / deserving players than there are spots for.

A couple other surprises for me. I didn't realize Bunker had turned down Minnesota and Harvard to play at MSU. The Mavs grabbed themselves a good one there. Also didn't know Elk River's Pullar was coming to Minnesota.

[MN. Fan]

I agree with you Arm, there are a lot of great players in the state of Minnesota but to put Fisher as Honorable Mention when she was 1st team last year is a mistake.
I also did not know that Pullar was going to the University of Minnesota.

JESSICA PULLAR

Elk River, sr.Forward

One of the state's top players, she helped the Elks to the Class AA state championship. Played in the title game despite a badly sprained ankle. Started the tournament with 83 points, including 54 goals. Had points in all of the tournament games, finishing the week with three goals and four assists. Will play at the University of Minnesota.

CONGRATULATIONS!

[MSUMavsPuckFan]

Originally posted by brookyone
I didn't realize Bunker had turned down Minnesota and Harvard to play at MSU. The Mavs grabbed themselves a good one there.
Why go to Harvard when you can go to the Harvard of southern Minnesota?

[brookyone]

Originally posted by MSUMavsPuckFan
Why go to Harvard when you can go to the Harvard of southern Minnesota?

Right !! I'm sure that's exactly what Kristina thought too. ;) Happy to see her play in the WCHA.

[ARM]

I bet that is a typo on Pullar. They don't mention the U of M in the bio of her teammate, Anya Miller, who is going to Minnesota. I heard talk of one other senior going to Minnesota, but it wasn't Pullar.

[brookyone]

I was thinking that was a possibility, but there is mention in Anya's bio of her attending the U of M. Still, I'd think we'd have heard something on Pullar prior to this.

[binnyrus]

They'll all be sorry they didn't pick UMD!!! :p :D :p :D :p :rolleyes:

It is nice though, to see so many of the players chosing to stay in Minnesota . . . or at least the WCHA. Makes for a bright future for Western Hockey . . .