Hermantown sophomore class

[Bigfoot12]

Hermantown now playing 7 10th graders on varsity. Very strong class with huge potential. If Andrews keeps developing these kids look out section 7,

[kniven]

Hermantown now playing 7 10th graders on varsity. Very strong class with huge potential. If Andrews keeps developing these kids look out section 7,

Yep! SquirtA, PeeWeeAA, and BantamAA were all top 5 in the state last year.

[hockey59]

JFC...unless you are referring to these sophomores making some noise in 7AA next season...LOCK THIS THREAD NOW

[Bigfoot12]

Those boys have watched and rink ratted with the older boys since they were little. Now is their time to continue the tradition

[kniven]

Those boys have watched and rink ratted with the older boys since they were little. Now is their time to continue the tradition

Absolutely!!

[rainier2]

Those boys have watched and rink ratted with the older boys since they were little. Now is their time to continue the tradition

...of punching below their weight?

[kniven]

Those boys have watched and rink ratted with the older boys since they were little. Now is their time to continue the tradition

...of punching below their weight?

At least 4 of these sophomores will go D1 and they will get to the X for the state tournament several times. Sounds like fun and rewarding. What else is there?

[O-townClown]

What else is there?

Some teams whose enrollment for their school(s) that qualify for Class A opt up. Examples are Roseau, Blake, and Cloquet-Esko-Carlton. I won't speculate as to how they'd answer your question.

[rainier2]

Those boys have watched and rink ratted with the older boys since they were little. Now is their time to continue the tradition

...of punching below their weight?

At least 4 of these sophomores will go D1 and they will get to the X for the state tournament several times. Sounds like fun and rewarding. What else is there?

Playing in AA playoffs, just like they did all throughout youth hockey? That would even be more fun and rewarding.

[north_bear]

Hermantown now playing 7 10th graders on varsity. Very strong class with huge potential. If Andrews keeps developing these kids look out section 7A,

Fixed it for you.

[Jeffy95]

Hermantown now playing 7 10th graders on varsity. Very strong class with huge potential. If Andrews keeps developing these kids look out section 7,

The crazy part is this used to be their weakest class in years until Pierce and Lund transferred in and Antcliff open-enrolled. That would be a huge shot in the arm to any program, but especially one with a lot of kids of their own. That gives them a huge advantage over small Class A teams that only have their own program as a feeder and have to deal with departures also. As long as they can keep pulling in these top kids they will be in great shape. Go Hawks!

[kniven]

Hermantown now playing 7 10th graders on varsity. Very strong class with huge potential. If Andrews keeps developing these kids look out section 7,

The crazy part is this used to be their weakest class in years until Pierce and Lund transferred in and Antcliff open-enrolled. That would be a huge shot in the arm to any program, but especially one with a lot of kids of their own. That gives them a huge advantage over small Class A teams that only have their own program as a feeder and have to deal with departures also. As long as they can keep pulling in these top kids they will be in great shape. Go Hawks!

If a parent wants their kid to play D1 hockey, play at the X, and get a great education. It’s a nice option to have. Kids and parents flock there for a reason. And that reason is that Hermantown has a great school and community. Don’t get me wrong.....I love to beat the snot out of Hermantown in everything sports. And Cloquet and Esko do this quite routinely in sports, except for hockey.

[Jeffy95]

Hermantown now playing 7 10th graders on varsity. Very strong class with huge potential. If Andrews keeps developing these kids look out section 7,

The crazy part is this used to be their weakest class in years until Pierce and Lund transferred in and Antcliff open-enrolled. That would be a huge shot in the arm to any program, but especially one with a lot of kids of their own. That gives them a huge advantage over small Class A teams that only have their own program as a feeder and have to deal with departures also. As long as they can keep pulling in these top kids they will be in great shape. Go Hawks!

If a parent wants their kid to play D1 hockey, play at the X, and get a great education. It’s a nice option to have. Kids and parents flock there for a reason. And that reason is that Hermantown has a great school and community. Don’t get me wrong.....I love to beat the snot out of Hermantown in everything sports. And Cloquet and Esko do this quite routinely in sports, except for hockey.

Agreed. That auto trip to the X every year is too much for most parents to resist. As long as they stay in Class A for the playoffs they will keep coming.

[hockey59]

The crazy part is this used to be their weakest class in years until Pierce and Lund transferred in and Antcliff open-enrolled. That would be a huge shot in the arm to any program, but especially one with a lot of kids of their own. That gives them a huge advantage over small Class A teams that only have their own program as a feeder and have to deal with departures also. As long as they can keep pulling in these top kids they will be in great shape. Go Hawks!

If a parent wants their kid to play D1 hockey, play at the X, and get a great education. It’s a nice option to have. Kids and parents flock there for a reason. And that reason is that Hermantown has a great school and community. Don’t get me wrong.....I love to beat the snot out of Hermantown in everything sports. And Cloquet and Esko do this quite routinely in sports, except for hockey.

Agreed. That auto trip to the X every year is too much for most parents to resist. As long as they stay in Class A for the playoffs they will keep coming.

But I’ll add that playing in the A tournament is not the same (experience) as playing in the AA Tournament. That’s simply a FACT. Not playing AA is denying/cheating blue chip players like Biondi, Pierce, Gotz (and before them...Samberg, Koepke, Sandelin, Jacques, to name a few) the opportunity to compete for the true prize (and a chance to play in prime time). For a team the caliber of Hermantown, playing in the Single A Tourney is 2nd rate.

[Jeffy95]

If a parent wants their kid to play D1 hockey, play at the X, and get a great education. It’s a nice option to have. Kids and parents flock there for a reason. And that reason is that Hermantown has a great school and community. Don’t get me wrong.....I love to beat the snot out of Hermantown in everything sports. And Cloquet and Esko do this quite routinely in sports, except for hockey.

Agreed. That auto trip to the X every year is too much for most parents to resist. As long as they stay in Class A for the playoffs they will keep coming.

But I’ll add that playing in the A tournament is not the same (experience) as playing in the AA Tournament. That’s simply a FACT. Not playing AA is denying/cheating blue chip players like Biondi, Pierce, Gotz (and before them...Samberg, Koepke, Sandelin, Jacques, to name a few) the opportunity to compete for the true prize (and a chance to play in prime time). For a team the caliber of Hermantown, playing in the Single A Tourney is 2nd rate.

No, it obviously isn't the same, but the Parents and Admin don't care about that. That Facebook post of little Jimmy at the X is what the parents are after. The Admin's job is to keep the kids (and their State Aid) coming in. It's up to around $12,000 per kid now. That's A LOT of money on the line and those annual trips to the X are what brings them in.

[ironranger2]

It's the helicopter parent mentality. Parents don't want to see there kids feelings hurt. If they lost in the 7AA finals, even though they may have had to work 1000% harder to get there, it is lost on the parents. They see it as them failing their kids.

I guess I am still old school...I wish we would just go back to one class for most sports. You would still need multiple classes in football, but can anyone honestly say there is a need for 3 or 4 classes of baseball, tennis, swimming,track, volleyball, basketball, etc.?

[Slap Shot]

Is it really the parents demanding they remain in A? Which is an odd concept given parents change one year to the next and yet there's been a consistent drumbeat from the majority of parents pounding the ears of the decision makers, "Don't you dare go to AA!!"? Really? So what separated the parents at STA finally allowed them to take that leap?

[Jeffy95]

Is it really the parents demanding they remain in A? Which is an odd concept given parents change one year to the next and yet there's been a consistent drumbeat from the majority of parents pounding the ears of the decision makers, "Don't you dare go to AA!!"? Really? So what separated the parents at STA finally allowed them to take that leap?

They haven't really had to demand anything at this point. The AD is dead-set against moving to AA so it's never really gotten off the ground. She realizes being guaranteed State every year is great for the school and keeps the kids coming. Scott Pionk was quoted in the Duluth News Tribune that he estimates 75% of parents in the program are against a move to AA. He knows as much about that program as anyone. It's a much different mindset there compared to other successful programs.

[Slap Shot]

Is it really the parents demanding they remain in A? Which is an odd concept given parents change one year to the next and yet there's been a consistent drumbeat from the majority of parents pounding the ears of the decision makers, "Don't you dare go to AA!!"? Really? So what separated the parents at STA finally allowed them to take that leap?

They haven't really had to demand anything at this point. The AD is dead-set against moving to AA so it's never really gotten off the ground. She realizes being guaranteed State every year is great for the school and keeps the kids coming. Scott Pionk was quoted in the Duluth News Tribune that he estimates 75% of parents in the program are against a move to AA. He knows as much about that program as anyone. It's a much different mindset there compared to other successful programs.

Ok ok makes sense. Too bad though because I think seeing them fight it out with DE would not only make the AA tournament more interesting but the A tournament as well.

[Bigfoot12]

Will play DE anytime Randolph will allow it. Most of these sophomores have beem with the program since mites. This class has beaten up DE for years. As far as a trip to state why do people care what class your school is in. IT'S FOR THE KIDS.

[hockey59]

Will play DE anytime Randolph will allow it. Most of these sophomores have beem with the program since mites. This class has beaten up DE for years. As far as a trip to state why do people care what class your school is in. IT'S FOR THE KIDS.

Exactly...regarding THE KIDS...AA PeeWee’s & AA Bantams are being CHEATED, being forced to play Single A HS hockey...by out of touch, gutless HS administrators & others influencing the decision

[SpOilerfan]

Its very simple. East will not play them until they go AA. If the other AA teams refused to play them also they would be forced to go AA. What do the AA teams have to gain by playing them??

[Bigfoot12]

By playing them they get a high quality opponent who will draw a lot of fans(revenue)
I dont see single A as hurting the kids. Lots more D1 kids coming out of H Town than all other places in the area combined. The kids dont care, they just want to have fun

[CanAm Hockey]

Those boys have watched and rink ratted with the older boys since they were little. Now is their time to continue the tradition

Yes, I’ve heard Joe Pierce would drive down from Ely every weekend since he was 7 to watch and rink rat until he enrolled in Hermantown this year.

[hockey59]

By playing them they get a high quality opponent who will draw a lot of fans(revenue)
I dont see single A as hurting the kids. Lots more D1 kids coming out of H Town than all other places in the area combined. The kids dont care, they just want to have fun

You obviously don’t have a clue what these HS players would actually prefer. These kids arent mites or squirts, they have pride in themselves and their abilities, and I suspect prefer to compete at the highest level.