Warroad

Puckguy
Posts: 175
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:56 pm

Warroad

Post by Puckguy » Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:52 am

The following article is taken from the Grand Forks Herald. Pretty tough situation to work in.<br><br><!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Posted on Thu, Apr. 28, 2005 <br> <br> <br> <br><br><br>BOYS HOCKEY: Coaching opening in Warroad?<br><br>Warroad advertises for hockey coach after the 2004-05 team goes 29-0-2<br><br>By Kevin Fee<br><br>Herald Staff Writer<br><br><br>Dennis Fermoyle and Albert Hasbargen were the most successful coaching combination in Minnesota high school hockey last season.<br><br>The first-year co-coaches guided Warroad (Minn.) High School to a state Class A championship and a 29-0-2 record.<br><br>Warroad was the only undefeated team in Minnesota high school boys hockey.<br><br>But a group in Warroad may force the coaching tandem of Fermoyle and Hasbargen to end after one season. The Warroad Arena Board is concerned that Hasbargen is stretched too far while trying to handle both the head varsity hockey-coaching position and his arena manager duties.<br><br>The arena board also says it wants a long-term coach for the varsity boys team.<br><br>"I guess we shouldn't have had those two ties," Fermoyle said.<br><br>The hang-up for having Hasbargen and Fermoyle back together for a second season is the arena board, Fermoyle said.<br><br>Warroad is advertising locally for a new hockey coach.<br><br>"The problem is they would have to give Albert Hasbargen permission to coach," Fermoyle said of the arena board. "They seem unwillingly to do that at this time. They feel that Albert and I are not the right guys for the future of the program."<br><br>Fermoyle, a longtime Warroad assistant until Cary Eades left as head coach following the 2003-04 season, says he isn't sure whether he would remain on as head coach without Hasbargen along for the ride.<br><br>Mike Bahnmiller, one of seven arena board members, says he can understand why Fermoyle feels the way he does.<br><br>But, Bahnmiller said, "We felt for the long-term health of the program, we needed to see if there was somebody who could come in and be the head coach and make it a long-term proposition."<br><br>In a letter from the Warroad Arena Board to the Warroad School Board dated April 5, arena board president Conway Marvin said:<br><br>"In late summer of 2004, the arena board made a one-year commitment to allow Albert to pursue the position of co-coach for the 2004-05 boys high school hockey season. This was a short-term solution related to the sudden departure of the team's head coach. We believe that the long-term solution is the installation of a permanent head coach to keep building the youth hockey program and ensure its vitality.<br><br>"With this in mind, the board suggests that Warroad High School create a cross-functional team to address the boys high school hockey coaching situation for the 2005-06 season. The arena board has thus voted to reserve a decision on Albert's availability until the results of the team's action is complete."<br><br>As a result of the letter and ensuing meetings, Warroad decided to advertise for a varsity boys hockey coach. The board felt it had no choice, because it doesn't know whether Hasbargen will be available next season.<br><br>While the position is being advertised, Warroad Superintendent Dave Kragness left no doubt who he would like to coach the team next season. He wants Fermoyle and Hasbargen.<br><br>"The School Board and the administration would like to go with what we had last year," Kragness said. "We thought it was a good marriage."<br><br>Fermoyle and Hasbargen were strong in different areas.<br><br>"My strengths were his weaknesses," Fermoyle said. "His strengths were my weaknesses."<br><br>The arena board hasn't flat-out said it won't allow Hasbargen to coach. "But they have told us they would like us to look elsewhere," Kragness said.<br><br>Fermoyle, a teacher in the school district, said he won't decide whether he will return until he learns Hasbargen's fate.<br><br>"We just want to see what's out there," Bahnmiller said. "That was our request for the School Board, just go out and take a look. Albert has stated that he doesn't see himself as a long-term coach. Dennis Fermoyle still feels his responsibilities (as a teacher) preclude him from being a head coach on his own."<br><br>But Hasbargen says he would like to coach next season.<br><br>"I've indicated that," he said. "Things worked fairly well last year. Everything went well at the arena. You're actually there more, because you're putting in your work time, plus you're there with the hockey team."<br><br>Hasbargen said the arena board might have somebody in mind to coach the team.<br><br>"Hockey is a big-time sport in that town," Hasbargen said. "Maybe they want somebody there with a big-time name."<br><br>Losing Fermoyle as a head coach would be a blow. The district, which is facing $800,000 in budget cuts, doesn't have teaching openings for next season. And Kragness said the district prefers to have school district employees involved in coaching the hockey team.<br><br>Fermoyle said it would be difficult for somebody with a full teaching load to coach the team alone. Eades, who is now an assistant coach at UND, didn't have as heavy a workload outside of hockey when he was the only head coach.<br><br>Eades said it would be difficult to teach full time and be the only Warroad coach. Some do it, he said, but the demands on the hockey position in Warroad are greater than in many communities.<br><br>After all, Warroad bills itself as Hockeytown USA. It has sent several players to the Olympics and the NHL.<br><br>"I'm very disappointed that Albert and Dennis haven't been given the respect they deserve after what they accomplished this year," Eades said. "They're the right two guys to run the program."<br><br>Eades said Warroad always has found a way to work things out. He said he hopes the same holds true in this situation.<br><br>As of Wednesday afternoon, Warroad activities director Craig Oftedahl said he had no applicants for the head hockey coaching position. The job posting closes Friday.<br><br>"It's interesting," Oftedahl said of the coaching situation. "We're just waiting to see what happens."<br><br>So are Hasbargen and Fermoyle.<br><br>"I'm all for them being able to participate in discussions, but they should not have this power," Fermoyle said of the arena board. "And it's just wrong the way they're treating one of the most decent men I've ever known."<br></strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>Great job by Dennis and Albert getting the story out!</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

boosioux
Posts: 9
Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2005 9:28 am

warroad

Post by boosioux » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:25 am

Stuff like that gives the town of Warroad a bad reputation, and gives justification to those who are looking for a reason to bash the town and the hockey team. It is not the arena boards job to replace coaches. That is the school board and districts responsibility. I realize we are talking about Warroad hockey but this is still high school not college or pro sports. I hope nobody applies for the job and the arena board can stick there recommendation up their @$$.<br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

Eddie Shore
Posts: 240
Joined: Fri Apr 25, 2003 8:38 am

Re: Warroad

Post by Eddie Shore » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:32 am

Thank God that all coaches are not held to the same standard - there would be nobody left! <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>It's really an unfortunate situation. Hasbargen and Fermoyle did a wonderful job this year with a talented group of kids. <br><br>I doubt anyone with the necessary experience and ties to high school hockey in this state will apply before the deadline. Of course, who knows what will happen if Albert and Dennis are terminated or forced out. The Summer Santa will have another project on his list. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :smokin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... smokin.gif ALT=":smokin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

wcha fan
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:10 pm

Re: Re: Warroad

Post by wcha fan » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:09 am

I am sure that Warroad is going to try and get a top caliper coach, maybe searching the junior ranks or college assistant. With an arena board calling the shots it will be a tough situation to walk into as you will be a pawn to them. Warroad is hurting themselves when they do stuff like this as they just won the state tournament and went undefeated. Why would you move coaches after that?? Granted they had lots of talent going in but now you have turmoil and friction. Not a good situation. <p></p><i></i>

flipshot
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:24 pm

Re: Re: Warroad

Post by flipshot » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:52 pm

Let's see how many hockey players/children did Albert put through the Warroad hockey program. If my memory serves me right, I believe 5. Let's see they have all graduated, no more high school hockey players from the Hasbargen household. O.K. let's drive him and his wife out of Warroad so we can offer his arena job to a different family with lots of young children, who just happen to play hockey!!!!!!!!! Get my point? <p></p><i></i>

TRFan
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2005 3:31 pm

players

Post by TRFan » Thu Apr 28, 2005 12:55 pm

I heard Warroad will have 8 new players next year. <p></p><i></i>

spectator8
Posts: 10
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2004 3:57 am

8 players?

Post by spectator8 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:07 pm

TRFan- please inform us on who the 8 new players are. id kind of like to know so i can check this out. <p></p><i></i>

SectionFan
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2004 3:56 pm

Warroad Arena Board

Post by SectionFan » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:12 pm

Who is all on the Warroad Arena Board? And, what do they have to do with the local high school?<br><br>I thought the high school coach was employed by the school district - or, is it the arena board? <p>SectionFan</p><i></i>

flipshot
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:24 pm

Re: Warroad Arena Board

Post by flipshot » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:15 pm

The arena board employees Albert Hasbargen and they are saying they will not let him do both jobs. They have know control over the school board or do they? We'll see! <p></p><i></i>

RLStars
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Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: State of Hockey

Re: Warroad Arena Board

Post by RLStars » Thu Apr 28, 2005 1:57 pm

I'm assuming that the Arena Board is saying that his employment hours and his coaching duties cross over time slots. The Arena board gave him the OK to do both last year as an interim, but does not want the two to overlap this year if a suitable coach can be found.<br><br>My feeling is, and I'm very far removed from the area and situations in Warroad and only know what I've read here, that he Arena Board isn't calling the shots. Its up to the School Board to employ coaches. But the Arena Board told the School Board that it did not intend to allow the Arena Manager to schedule around coaching. The board must feel that his duties as Arena Manager has suffer due to his coaching.<br><br>Did the Arena suffer from the Manager splitting his time?<br><br>Don't beat me up for my comment, that's just what I got out of reading the earlier post. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... RLStars</A> at: 4/28/05 2:36 pm<br></i>

Cool Guy1
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:52 pm

Re: Warroad Arena Board

Post by Cool Guy1 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:29 pm

After reading this WHO would want the Warroad job? I am sure this is an inside deal and they (who ever doesn't want the coaches back) probably already have someone picked out or they want the job themselves. <br><br>Where is Rams81. Is he banned. If so I think you should let him back because he would inform us all on what is going on with this. I betcha its smalltown politics. <br><br>I guess they shouldn't have went to OT in the championship, it must of made people mad. <p></p><i></i>

Renegade Ram
Posts: 334
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:37 pm

What do you do.

Post by Renegade Ram » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:45 pm

A couple posts back someone came with the slant that Albert's kids are done let's dump the guy and hire another one with kids that happen to play. That may be the motive as they've got to make room for the new batch of Summer Santa's gifts. What the Arena Board has done if they get their way is painted themselves in a corner though. It would be pretty hard to hire their guy whoever it is make him the Rink Manager who just happens to coach and say it's acceptable for the new guy to do both. What makes this even more beautiful is I believe Mike is the guy driving this change because of his like or dislike of the coaches. I think he may be finding out what kind of feelings all of us have had for years, having to have him pretend to coach our youth teams when nobody wanted him there and being powerless to effect the change. Although, in this case he seems to be the only one with the problem. It would be awful tough for him to send his son somewhere because he doesn't like the coaching staff because of all the effort he has expended trying to bring kids in, that would cry of hypocrisy. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... m>Renegade Ram</A> at: 4/28/05 2:47 pm<br></i>

RLStars
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Location: State of Hockey

Re: What do you do.

Post by RLStars » Thu Apr 28, 2005 2:51 pm

I may be wrong, but I didn't read that Alberts was in leopardy of losing is Arena Manager job. His employer just didn't want him coaching and managing. <p></p><i></i>

Renegade Ram
Posts: 334
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:37 pm

Re: What do you do.

Post by Renegade Ram » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:18 pm

Never said that, that was someone elses spin on it. I just took the next step. Tell me this then..What happens if THEY want to still coach after all the BS of the situation; which I hope they do and the school board keeps it just like this. From the article it looked pretty clear the school is happy just the way it is. It would make almost everybody else happy too. Will the Arena Board then get a fat lip and say get out of our sandbox or will they follow the will of the general public and let this issue die. The problem lies in the Arena Board, right? In fact, I think these guys would do fine indefinitely. That would bring the stability to the program that they say they are looking for. We are looking only at a part of the problem by discussing just Albert. Denny is affected in this as well; as the article clearly stated he wasn't real pleased with the Arena Board's monkeying. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... m>Renegade Ram</A> at: 4/28/05 3:19 pm<br></i>

RLStars
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Joined: Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: State of Hockey

Re: What do you do.

Post by RLStars » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:25 pm

Yeah, it will be interesting to see what happens if no really serious applications are sent in. If the Arena hasn't suffered in anyway, the managers job is getting done, then I'd have to say it's a win/win situation there. Let the man continue to co-coach and manage the arena. <p></p><i></i>

crosscheck
Posts: 113
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 8:37 pm

simple solution?

Post by crosscheck » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:38 pm

Why not keep Fermoyle as head coach. The school is content with him, he did a great job, they kids played hard for him.<br><br> Keep Hasbargen as an associate coach, bearing in mind his first job is Arena Manager. Find a solid "hot shot" from the community(should be able to in "Hockey Town") or the school, to help Fermoyle on a daily basis and let the program flourish as it did last season! <p></p><i></i>

Puckguy
Posts: 175
Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2003 2:56 pm

Arena Board

Post by Puckguy » Thu Apr 28, 2005 3:39 pm

Albert's position with the arena, is as an at-will employee. Now that he is done feeding the program, maybe there are shinier stars for the Christmas tree that Summer Santa lays his gifts under. In Warroad, when it has to do with hockey - never say never.<br><br>Here is what I don't understand. In a majority of programs around the state, coaches teach or work full-time jobs. What makes Warroad so different? It would be hard to justify just coaching at the high school level, but I do believe Warroad has done it before.<br><br>Hard to believe that the arena suffered with the arena manager working his job, and being around for the high school games, when the season is 17 weeks long.<br><br>Just my opinion, but I agree with those that think the arena board's agenda runs deeper than concern for the facility. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :hat --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

birdmister
Posts: 218
Joined: Wed Jan 01, 2003 7:27 pm

Re: Arena Board

Post by birdmister » Thu Apr 28, 2005 7:58 pm

This is taking it too far in Warroad, but I do wish Roseau would try half as hard in their head coach choices. <p>Moorhead sets a new state tournament record!</p><i></i>

Cool Guy1
Posts: 49
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 12:52 pm

Re: Warroad

Post by Cool Guy1 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:51 pm

How hard is it to run a Youth/High School hockey arena?<br>You turn some water on, flood the rink, drive the Zam around in circles shovel for 2 minutes and then take a break for an hour. <p></p><i></i>

wild77
Posts: 375
Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2004 8:54 am

Re: Warroad

Post by wild77 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:19 pm

I hope that is tongue in cheek....If you think the manager is nothing more than a janitor or zamboni driver then you must be extremely young or sheltered. Driving the Zamboni is probably the last thing on their list. The manager in most associations is responsible for selling ice time and keeping the rink in repair among a hundred other responsibilities. More than a full time job for a decent manager. <p></p><i></i>

wcha fan
Posts: 57
Joined: Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:10 pm

Re: Warroad

Post by wcha fan » Fri Apr 29, 2005 6:56 am

I may be wrong but I was under the impression that these two guys were parkboard coaches for many years under Eades. Now is the arena board saying it was ok to coach parkboard and do the weekend tourneys and the 50-60 games but its taking too much time to coach at the high school level of 25 games?? If this is true they do have some problems up there. <p></p><i></i>

RochHockeyDad
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 2:44 pm

Re: Warroad

Post by RochHockeyDad » Fri Apr 29, 2005 7:59 am

Take the Arena Board out of the picture. Someone in Warroad find the Co Coach another acceptable job and keep him coaching.<br><br>I'm guessing someone on the arena board doesn't like the coaching job he is doing at the HS and is using the arena job issue as a front. <p></p><i></i>

flipshot
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:24 pm

Re: Warroad

Post by flipshot » Fri Apr 29, 2005 8:00 am

Thank you WCHAfan, that was going to be my next comment. High school hockey coaching cannot be near as time consuming as youth coaching. At a high school level you have 1/2 as many games, you have an AD doing all your scheduling, and ground work. On a youth level most coaches do their own scheduling and handle most of the fine details themselves and that in itself is very time comsuming. So if they are trying to say high school coaching is taking up to much of his time then why was he allowed to coach youth hockey all these years. Double standard if you ask me. We all know what their end motive is! <p></p><i></i>

Renegade Ram
Posts: 334
Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:37 pm

Coaching Preps

Post by Renegade Ram » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:12 am

I have to disagree somewhat about the coaching prep discussion. I agree with the time-consumption with the travel and 60 game schedule which by the way Albert did for about ten years as successful rink manager and successful Bantam coach. But I feel that the actual prep is far greater. I know very few youth coaches which study & breakdown game film of both your own teams performances and upcoming opponents. This is where the biggest difference lies. Also, a good practice usually takes at least an hour of prep to put together. Although recommended and taught by USA hockey how many youth coaches take the necessary time to really put an effective practice together. As far as scheduling; in Warroad most of the youth coaches are handed a schedule or work with the scheduler to put their schedules together. Unless, of course, you want to keep your motel booked and get the money for the bus. Guess who does that scheduling for most teams in Warroad - right - the rink manager. The fine details are usually done by the team's manager which most now have; which is usually a dad that wants to get the free hotel rooms and/or get his kid off the try-out bubble if necessary. And yes, it's getting more and more obvious there is an underlying motive - it's Mike ain't happy. I say that's just too bad. <p></p><i></i>

flipshot
Posts: 16
Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 12:24 pm

Re: Coaching Preps

Post by flipshot » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:59 am

If Albert has been coaching Bantams that many years I would like to believe he can run a pretty intense hockey practice without a lot of prep time. If he doesn't know how to run a good practice by now then he hasn't watch enough high school hockey practice in the last 10 years. don't get me wrong, I realize there is always new ideas and coaching techniques out there, but the basic will always be the basics. I don't really know how much time a rink manager a Warroad needs to put in, but I dare to bet you it requires a lot more hours than what you actually get paid for, most jobs like that do! I just feel bad for the guy after all the time and dedication he has given to Warroad. <p></p><i></i>

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