2005 SECTION 1A/1AA Elite II Roster as of 08/30/2005

[puckhead89]

I understand the biggest point isn't about the numbers....this is just an area where I feel Elite II lacks... in its details which ultimately play a part in a program's credibility and success. The program's success is arguably a very big point. <br><br>If the commissioner, or others like Sioux Fan who are intimately involved with this league, read this site, I hope they take the constructive criticism found herein and use it as an aid to make the league what it is intended to be....not what each individual section thinks it should be. Hey, Rome wasn't built in a day, right? <p></p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

Parker,<br><br>One thing I want to address when we were finishing 1st or 2nd in the Project Prep league and getting 2 or 3 or 5 kids in the USHL all the time it was great. Now that the Elite 1 league has been going the kids from down here are lucky to get a NAHL job. <br><br>That sucks to me. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i></i>

[puckhead89]

Sioux Fan, trust me.....it sucks like that for many a kid in central Minnesota too. <p></p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

Here is a novel idea teams that are successful should be copied by other sections.<br><br>Sections that are learning what to do and how to get the players excited about the opportunity need to make it something they work hard to get and are not likely to want to let go of.<br><br>If it is not about being fair and making evaluations that are accurate and based in performance head to head than how do you expect to compete with any other section that is actively recruiting the best players and working with them and making them fight like heck to get in the lineup and coaching them as well as they can. That would be a very fun league and all the games would be excellent. <br><br>Last season we had a lot of good games. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... xfan>Sioux Fan</A> at: 9/1/05 12:04 am<br></i>

[puckhead89]

Quote from defencewins games....."its about the ability to compete." Yes, it should be. But, just as an example, ask West Metro if they took that into consideration in their grand scheme of things. Tryouts are over and they continue to have ongoing issues down there and why?<br><br>Could it be because the league just didn't involve itself enough to make certain each section prepared in a way to ensure good, solid tryouts so the evaluators could make strong decisions to help create the most competitve teams for great competiton? A standard that should be in place?<br><br>Did West Metro have evaluators who didn't have an interest as to which athletes were selected? No.<br><br>Did they have a tryout that adequately tested the athletes? No. Instead what I saw was the weakest tryout format I have witnessed in a very long time. While only an observer, I believe most, if not all, of the tryout time was 5 x 5 scrimmage...no 4 x 4, no 3 x 3...just full strength for too much of the time. Skill sometimes shines more prominently when tested. <br><br>Combine the efforts of Section 8 with much of SiouxFan's approach and this league will have a very strong impact and support from whom it needs the most: coaches and athletes. <p></p><i></i>

[scottparker]

PuckHead, you are correct!! In fact, why doesn't this league just decide to go it's own way, and start getting committments earlier. One thing I've heard is that the Tier II (I still hate that name) is more open to playing other sports. The Elite League has a pretty hard rule about how many games can be missed (and yet every team ends up sitting players due to roster size??).<br><br>Anyway, the point I tried to make earlier is that this organization needs consistancy. Sioux Fan, don't just say "you should copy my way", but get out there and help the other groups do it right. As long as you have public items like this Buffalo team, I mean West Metro, hanging over your heads, the program will be considered second tier... just step it up and get serious ALL THE WAY, or fold and wish it would start up again.<br><br>Good luck fellas!! <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

I hate to add another 2 cents.<br><br>But...<br>elite league's John Russo sets the rules - it is his way - not perfect but it is league first - they (we) try and find the 120 or so best kids (that want to play) no matter where they are from and put them on teams. Again it is not perfect but everyone is following the same formula.<br>Project Prep - and I was there as much as John and Charlie - had individuality - some sites dropped because ???? - some of us struggled becasue of size of area and kids could not commit to the mid-week practice and we became more of a small area section team.<br><br>And...<br>When we had Klema's, Brandt, Miller, DeMars, Welle... (we did not have DeMarchi) we were the league champs.<br><br>And...<br>It is not a competition between the two leagues (which is the better way, who can compete wtih who (we know they can compete - they do two weeks after the fall season is over).<br>But rather it is opportunity for 250 - 300 kids that MN HOckey has endorsed and is trying to promote.<br><br>More like a nickel's worth, sorry. <p></p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

Yes Mr Elliot you did win but we lost in OT in the Semi's to a well coached team of Pat Westrums Area and we outshot by over a 2-1 margin and made a turnover in OT. I don't think we would have lost to you as the week or so before was the 7-1 game. I thought DeMarchi played against us at Blaine one time. It was when he was at North Iowa in the Spring League. We had Colin Stuart Cory Huck and My son Matt and many good players on our team. We won something like 11-4 that day. <br><br>So I guess DiMarchi was on another team we punished up at Blaine. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i></i>

[elliott70]

No, you are right.<br>DeMarchi played in the year end tourney that spring as we had very few players and less quality players that one spring league we had. And you guys were very tough. We were happy with the outcome (moral victory). <p></p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

That is not true our guys are not on the short list due to the process not due to thier ability Period... <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

1) Remove Limit on the number of seniors.<br><br>2) Make sure that every good player in each area gets invited (have former players help you locate them) and knows that the league will be competitive and fun and will be scouted. If you look at our last years team there were a lot of good players that the USHL should have gotten a look at. Several good junior prospects didn't even tryout because of the senior rule.<br><br>3) Make sure coaches are independent of any individual HS program.<br><br>4) Have tryouts that allow players to compete with thier peers head to head before they don't get the opporunity. I think we should spend as much money and effort to get the right players as we do for the regular season. Find sponsors to cover tryout camp costs and support teams and lower costs. <br><br>5) Our league champion or a league All Star team should be able to play in the year end Elite I tourney to show the scouts that we have good kids. IE the AFL vs NFL in Super Bowls gave legitimacy to the AFL. That is what I would like.<br><br>6) After Our league (Elite II) has filled 8 rosters <br>Another League for the underclassman should be manned in each section for the next best 120 players who would be more likely to be underclassmen. This should be done if there are good players that are willing to commit to being at the practices and games. I am for expanding opportunity. That is the strenght of MN Hockey the number of good players.<br><br>The reason for this is that I hate to see so many good seniors not have a challenging fall schedule of hard competitive practices and games that is due to the Administrators of MN Hockey and the programs they sponsor.<br><br>As you know I think that if a kid is willing to work hard and focus in I think they can make great progress as seniors and get good enough to play some more hockey if someone who matters can get a look and notice em. Also if they get to play in an intense league that will help them in junior camp. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... xfan>Sioux Fan</A> at: 9/5/05 5:24 pm<br></i>

[Pucknutz69]

You couldn't make a league for 8th and 9th graders, most are still bantam eligible. It would be awesome if every kid could get his shot and every area could have a team to represent. I think this Elite1 and Elite 2 is a huge step in the right direction for Mn hockey players. Maybe we can get the District AAA teams started for the younger players and weave all of these programs together. We have a huge amount of resources available to use here and hopefully we can get down to the continued development of future hockey stars. I already want to Thank the people involved with these leagues for their time and devotion to our kids and sport. <p></p><i></i>

[buffalo1]

After all the talk about Cory being one of the best and ignored by the elite teams I decided to take a look myself at St. Cloud. I will say that with a puck he is good, without the puck he lacks anticipation and positioning himself to get the puck. He is a good player, but compared to the rest of the state you can find someone of his calibar on most other teams. I don't think that just because he is from Marshall or a smaller program is the reason he was left off of the elite rosters, there are a lot of holes in his game, just like the others on the ice during the elite II games. <p></p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

Cory had his homecoming last night at Marshall and I think he played pretty well considering he was out all night last night.<br><br>He also was playing with some of our weaker guys today because JM had homecoming. <br><br><br>We will be much better from here on out. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i></i>

[Sioux Fan]

I think Cory Krogen,<br><br>Would get better if he was playing with the best guys in MN instead of playing with the underclassmen. Also when he is playing with the rest of our top guys he had 3 goals last weekend. <p>Hockey Nut in So. MN</p><i></i>

[hockey1417]

What about tony sackett and kevin donohue ? <p></p><i></i>

[cbizz99]

I have seen Krogen play, he has the ability to completely take over a game, you can't find someone like him on every team. He is fast, physical and amazing with the puck. He certainly should have been given a chance at Elite I <p></p><i></i>

[HOT SHOT]

sioux fan. you really talk up the kids that didnt make the real elite teams. they are on the elite 2 roster for a reason. did they get there butts up and try to get any extra exposure like trying out for the advance teams 15 \16 \ 17 ? i dont know about krogens but i did see tim kirby there. he didnt make it to the final 51 cut. just because they play elite 2 as a jr doesnt mean they will make it with the big boys on the elite teams. john i think you are a wannabe elite coach. with a bad taste in your mouth towards the elite systems. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... t@mnhs>HOT SHOT</A> at: 11/30/05 7:56 pm<br></i>

[topofgame]

tim kirby not making the final 51 is a joke..what he does week in and week out for his team is irreplaceable(if thats a word)..i would challenge anyone to find even 10 players at the high school level who play that position better...not possible.<br><br> -Petersen-<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[sterfry9]

alright tim kirby is GOOD for real hes GOOD but im POSITIVE that you could probably find 10 people better at that position..<br>section 1 has GOOD players its just there spread out on different teams but when u put all the good players together they make a pretty damn good team <p></p><i></i>

[puckhead89]

I think several kids trying out for Elite II were exposed to the Selects...in fact that's part of the radar for this as I understand it.<br><br>And....who is Tim Kirby? <p></p><i></i>

[HOT SHOT]

there is alot of tim kirbys in the metro. and there is alot of players that are way better than him too. tim has a big heart and size but i dont think he has the hockey head. the final 51 advance try outs had 20 def that would be hard to pick the top 8 out of. tim is a super star in the south but just another good player in the metro hockey world. <p></p><i></i>

[One Smooth Operator]

Kirby is not just a star in the south. He can, does and will compete with any of the top defenseman in the state. He is very competitive, aggressive, tough, offensive minded defenseman.<br><br>Just because he didn't go beyond the Advance 17 final 51 doesn't mean he isn't a great player. Sometimes they (MN Hockey) look for players with a certain skill set and that skill set they are looking for can change from one year to the next.<br><br>He is fun to watch. <p></p><i></i>

[topofgame]

what ive heard is that they took someone else with the reasoning that kirby doesnt need more ice time to work on his skills where as the other guy could use the extra time....i believe that the players arent selected based on there hockey talent alone but other factors that in my opinion destroy the purpose of a tryout....<br><br> -Petersen-<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[HOT SHOT]

petersen. where is your hockey head? what coach wouldnt take the best players at try outs? tim is a good def man but he didnt make the cut for a good reason. if you were to pick an all star team and you picked it on who had more ice time vs talent i wouldnt want to be on your team. talent does not have anything to do with ice time. NO EXCUSES. <p></p><i></i>