The Hermantown Thread

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Slap Shot
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Slap Shot » Tue Jan 15, 2019 2:10 pm

kniven wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 2:06 pm
Hermantown vs Duluth East would instantly become the very best rivalry in the state (and it wouldn’t be close).
=;

GopherHockey
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by GopherHockey » Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:27 pm

rainier2 wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:47 pm
Yoopskater wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:26 am
If the court of public opinion says that Hermantown needs to move up because of incoming transfers, then every team that accepts transfers should move up. Otherwise you are just penalizing success.
The transfers are only the tiniest tip of the iceberg. Hermantown needs to move up because:

2016-beat AA champ Wayzata
2017-beat AA champ GR
2018-played AA champ Tonka tough in 5-3 loss
2019-tied undefeated AA favorite Tonka

They play and compete well at AA all throughout youth hockey.

They play a AA-heavy HS schedule.

Have gone to state 9 years in a row, including 8 straight A title games, and have 3 A titles in the last 11 years, which would have been several more had a certain metro private not been sandbagging at an even higher level. They have nothing left to accomplish in Class A.

They are a suburban school in a metro area who gets plenty of open enrollees and transfers.

The grand patriarch of their program (Plante) complained publicly on a yearly basis about how metro teams that get kids from all over shouldn't be in Class A beating up on small community teams. Many hawk fans and parents said the same thing.

Mark Parrish, Lou Nanne, and Mike McGraw have all stated on TV that Hermantown should move up to AA.

Hermantown's current head coach has stated publicly that they should be in AA.

The players deserve the opportunity to compete against teams of their same caliber in the postseason, not just during regular season and in youth hockey.

Moving to AA is a promotion, not a penalty.
That’s funny. Hermantown pissing and moaning for all those years they couldn’t get past the Cadets or Breck and now they’re no different than they were back then. Not sure how many times Plante was $&@$ing they should move up and then his team although he’s no longer there never had the stones to move up. Embarrassing

hockey59
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by hockey59 » Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:15 pm

Attended HT vs Greenway tonight...and with all due respect to Greenway, just a boring game. 4-0 final and it really wasn’t even that close. Greenway is a good Single A team, in all phases of their game. The problem is Hermantown is a good AA team, in all phases of their game. ANYBODY who thinks it’s kosher for Hermantown to remain in Single A after this season concludes is simply DELUSIONAL. Any team that’s defeated the AA Champion (Wayzata in 16, GR in 17) lost to Tonka in 18 & now tied Tonka in 19...has no business playing post season single a hockey PERIOD...END OF STORY.

kniven
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by kniven » Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:09 pm

As long as AA schools keep Hermantown on their many regular season schedules the Hawks can stay in A because they can. They are winning in A and AA during the regular season, they go to the state tournament every year, hockey players and their parents, all across northern Minnesota, want to play hockey for Hermantown, they are consistently sending hockey players to D1, and the kids and parents are having a blast. Unless the MSHSL police come to Hermantown to arrest them, they are living the dream.
“218 hockey” Boys of the NOrth ❤️

northwoods oldtimer
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by northwoods oldtimer » Wed Jan 16, 2019 5:56 am

GopherHockey wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 8:27 pm
rainier2 wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 1:47 pm
Yoopskater wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:26 am
If the court of public opinion says that Hermantown needs to move up because of incoming transfers, then every team that accepts transfers should move up. Otherwise you are just penalizing success.
The transfers are only the tiniest tip of the iceberg. Hermantown needs to move up because:

2016-beat AA champ Wayzata
2017-beat AA champ GR
2018-played AA champ Tonka tough in 5-3 loss
2019-tied undefeated AA favorite Tonka

They play and compete well at AA all throughout youth hockey.

They play a AA-heavy HS schedule.

Have gone to state 9 years in a row, including 8 straight A title games, and have 3 A titles in the last 11 years, which would have been several more had a certain metro private not been sandbagging at an even higher level. They have nothing left to accomplish in Class A.

They are a suburban school in a metro area who gets plenty of open enrollees and transfers.

The grand patriarch of their program (Plante) complained publicly on a yearly basis about how metro teams that get kids from all over shouldn't be in Class A beating up on small community teams. Many hawk fans and parents said the same thing.

Mark Parrish, Lou Nanne, and Mike McGraw have all stated on TV that Hermantown should move up to AA.

Hermantown's current head coach has stated publicly that they should be in AA.

The players deserve the opportunity to compete against teams of their same caliber in the postseason, not just during regular season and in youth hockey.

Moving to AA is a promotion, not a penalty.
That’s funny. Hermantown pissing and moaning for all those years they couldn’t get past the Cadets or Breck and now they’re no different than they were back then. Not sure how many times Plante was $&@$ing they should move up and then his team although he’s no longer there never had the stones to move up. Embarrassing
That's the irony of it all, when that hypocrite started calling out every other program that was successful at the single A level. Lost interest in the tiny team from Hermantown when the windbag coach started flapping his whoa is me mouth.

Mite-dad
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Mite-dad » Wed Jan 16, 2019 10:41 am

hockey59 wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 10:15 pm
Attended HT vs Greenway tonight...and with all due respect to Greenway, just a boring game. 4-0 final and it really wasn’t even that close. Greenway is a good Single A team, in all phases of their game. The problem is Hermantown is a good AA team, in all phases of their game. ANYBODY who thinks it’s kosher for Hermantown to remain in Single A after this season concludes is simply DELUSIONAL. Any team that’s defeated the AA Champion (Wayzata in 16, GR in 17) lost to Tonka in 18 & now tied Tonka in 19...has no business playing post season single a hockey PERIOD...END OF STORY.
Wait a minute! They're not even one year removed from a single A loss!

StanleyCup55
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by StanleyCup55 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:07 am

kniven wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:09 pm
As long as AA schools keep Hermantown on their many regular season schedules the Hawks can stay in A because they can. They are winning in A and AA during the regular season, they go to the state tournament every year, hockey players and their parents, all across northern Minnesota, want to play hockey for Hermantown, they are consistently sending hockey players to D1, and the kids and parents are having a blast. Unless the MSHSL police come to Hermantown to arrest them, they are living the dream.
Good for the parents and kids. I would actually like to see a competitive Class A tournament but instead you get 10-0 blowouts all day Wednesday. How is that a state tournament? The Class A tourney blows and here’s one reason why.

I remember watching Litchfield when they made it a few years ago. Prior to their quarterfinal game the tv did a great story on them and how they overcame odds to make it to state and the whole town rallied around them. I think it was their first trip to state. Tons of excitement and the town shut down that Wednesday and had a great fan base. Great story.

Then, they got blown out 11-3 by Hermantown in the quarterfinal game. I’m not the type that feels bad for Litchfield but I am the type that sees how that is complete BS for a state tournament and needs to be addressed. It would be great if we could have some good games to watch on Wednesday instead of a bunch of mismatches.

bardown27
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by bardown27 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:37 am

StanleyCup55 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:07 am
kniven wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:09 pm
As long as AA schools keep Hermantown on their many regular season schedules the Hawks can stay in A because they can. They are winning in A and AA during the regular season, they go to the state tournament every year, hockey players and their parents, all across northern Minnesota, want to play hockey for Hermantown, they are consistently sending hockey players to D1, and the kids and parents are having a blast. Unless the MSHSL police come to Hermantown to arrest them, they are living the dream.
Good for the parents and kids. I would actually like to see a competitive Class A tournament but instead you get 10-0 blowouts all day Wednesday. How is that a state tournament? The Class A tourney blows and here’s one reason why.

I remember watching Litchfield when they made it a few years ago. Prior to their quarterfinal game the tv did a great story on them and how they overcame odds to make it to state and the whole town rallied around them. I think it was their first trip to state. Tons of excitement and the town shut down that Wednesday and had a great fan base. Great story.

Then, they got blown out 11-3 by Hermantown in the quarterfinal game. I’m not the type that feels bad for Litchfield but I am the type that sees how that is complete BS for a state tournament and needs to be addressed. It would be great if we could have some good games to watch on Wednesday instead of a bunch of mismatches.
2017-2018 class A quarterfinals
4-2
6-1
4-2
1-0

2016-2017 class A quarterfinals
3-2
3-1
3-2 OT
6-3 (this was the 4 vs. 5 game)

Games have been closer in the last two years, showing more parity and less blowouts in class A. Hopefully it continues in this trend.

Mite-dad
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Mite-dad » Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:54 am

StanleyCup55 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:07 am
kniven wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:09 pm
As long as AA schools keep Hermantown on their many regular season schedules the Hawks can stay in A because they can. They are winning in A and AA during the regular season, they go to the state tournament every year, hockey players and their parents, all across northern Minnesota, want to play hockey for Hermantown, they are consistently sending hockey players to D1, and the kids and parents are having a blast. Unless the MSHSL police come to Hermantown to arrest them, they are living the dream.
Good for the parents and kids. I would actually like to see a competitive Class A tournament but instead you get 10-0 blowouts all day Wednesday. How is that a state tournament? The Class A tourney blows and here’s one reason why.

I remember watching Litchfield when they made it a few years ago. Prior to their quarterfinal game the tv did a great story on them and how they overcame odds to make it to state and the whole town rallied around them. I think it was their first trip to state. Tons of excitement and the town shut down that Wednesday and had a great fan base. Great story.

Then, they got blown out 11-3 by Hermantown in the quarterfinal game. I’m not the type that feels bad for Litchfield but I am the type that sees how that is complete BS for a state tournament and needs to be addressed. It would be great if we could have some good games to watch on Wednesday instead of a bunch of mismatches.
Two ways to address this. 1. Make the sandbaggers move up, or, 2. Don't allow teams to move from A to AA.

hockey59
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by hockey59 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:02 am

Mite-dad wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:54 am
StanleyCup55 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 10:07 am
kniven wrote:
Tue Jan 15, 2019 11:09 pm
As long as AA schools keep Hermantown on their many regular season schedules the Hawks can stay in A because they can. They are winning in A and AA during the regular season, they go to the state tournament every year, hockey players and their parents, all across northern Minnesota, want to play hockey for Hermantown, they are consistently sending hockey players to D1, and the kids and parents are having a blast. Unless the MSHSL police come to Hermantown to arrest them, they are living the dream.
Good for the parents and kids. I would actually like to see a competitive Class A tournament but instead you get 10-0 blowouts all day Wednesday. How is that a state tournament? The Class A tourney blows and here’s one reason why.

I remember watching Litchfield when they made it a few years ago. Prior to their quarterfinal game the tv did a great story on them and how they overcame odds to make it to state and the whole town rallied around them. I think it was their first trip to state. Tons of excitement and the town shut down that Wednesday and had a great fan base. Great story.

Then, they got blown out 11-3 by Hermantown in the quarterfinal game. I’m not the type that feels bad for Litchfield but I am the type that sees how that is complete BS for a state tournament and needs to be addressed. It would be great if we could have some good games to watch on Wednesday instead of a bunch of mismatches.
Two ways to address this. 1. Make the sandbaggers move up, or, 2. Don't allow teams to move from A to AA.
Exactly! Little Falls is an example of what the Class A Tourney is all about, had a great run with the Hanowski brothers & Festler in the late 2000’s and now has a hell of a time making State, but at least has a shot. Making State is suppose to be HARD...that’s what makes achieving it GREAT ☝️ Not the joke Hermantown has turned it into :roll:

elliott70
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by elliott70 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:16 am

"Two ways to address this. 1. Make the sandbaggers move up, or, 2. Don't allow teams to move from A to AA."

This would not help much as Roseau Bemidji CEC Grand Rapids would have similar problems in reaching the X at A as AA.
Now some of the privates may change the complexion in the metro.

elliott70
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Location: Bemidji

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by elliott70 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:50 am

Perhaps we need to go to a new and improved Tier 1 & 2 (&3) program.

The top 16 by page-stat as of February something are tier 1.
The next 32 are Tier 2.
The balance Tier 3.

Top 16 play-off on Saturday to get the top 8 for state.
The next 32 playoff on Tues - Friday for the top 8 to state.
These are at the X
The balance have some sort of sections to determine state competitors and play at Ridder.
The Tier 3 would include teams such as

WARROAD EAST RIDGE FARMINGTON ROCHESTER CENTURY ROCHESTER MAYO THIEF RIVER FALLS
ROBB ARMSTRONG/COOPER PARK (C.G.) ST LOUIS PARK MONTICELLO DULUTH DENFELD ST CLOUD_
CHANHASSEN ROGERS MARSHALL DELANO DULUTH MARSHALL OWATONNA NORTHFIELD MOUND WESTONKA
WOODBURY NORTH BRANCH PRINCETON ANOKA VIRGINIA EVELETH GILBERT
LITCHFIELD ST PAUL ACADEMY MANKATO EAST BRECK NEW PRAGUE MINNESOTA RIVER

The tier 1 (AAA) would be
EDINA MINNETONKA BLAINE ANDOVER HERMANTOWN MAPLE GROVE EDEN PRAIRIE WAYZATA
CHASKA ST THOMAS ACADEMY DULUTH EAST ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL HILL MURRAY
EAGAN LAKEVILLE SOUTH HOLY FAMILY
The usual teams minus one or two.

And tier 2 would be a great group.

Of course, we are putting pressure on Lee to continue to run pagestat at the high level to which we have grown accustom.

kniven
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Location: Duluth area

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by kniven » Thu Jan 17, 2019 12:25 pm

elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:50 am
Perhaps we need to go to a new and improved Tier 1 & 2 (&3) program.

The top 16 by page-stat as of February something are tier 1.
The next 32 are Tier 2.
The balance Tier 3.

Top 16 play-off on Saturday to get the top 8 for state.
The next 32 playoff on Tues - Friday for the top 8 to state.
These are at the X
The balance have some sort of sections to determine state competitors and play at Ridder.
The Tier 3 would include teams such as

WARROAD EAST RIDGE FARMINGTON ROCHESTER CENTURY ROCHESTER MAYO THIEF RIVER FALLS
ROBB ARMSTRONG/COOPER PARK (C.G.) ST LOUIS PARK MONTICELLO DULUTH DENFELD ST CLOUD_
CHANHASSEN ROGERS MARSHALL DELANO DULUTH MARSHALL OWATONNA NORTHFIELD MOUND WESTONKA
WOODBURY NORTH BRANCH PRINCETON ANOKA VIRGINIA EVELETH GILBERT
LITCHFIELD ST PAUL ACADEMY MANKATO EAST BRECK NEW PRAGUE MINNESOTA RIVER

Something needs to be done. Old high school hockey fans are mostly comparable to Major League Baseball purest. Times have changed. You can’t run things the same way you did 60 years ago. Come on, man.....

The tier 1 (AAA) would be
EDINA MINNETONKA BLAINE ANDOVER HERMANTOWN MAPLE GROVE EDEN PRAIRIE WAYZATA
CHASKA ST THOMAS ACADEMY DULUTH EAST ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL HILL MURRAY
EAGAN LAKEVILLE SOUTH HOLY FAMILY
The usual teams minus one or two.

And tier 2 would be a great group.

Of course, we are putting pressure on Lee to continue to run pagestat at the high level to which we have grown accustom.
“218 hockey” Boys of the NOrth ❤️

7TIMECHAMPS
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by 7TIMECHAMPS » Thu Jan 17, 2019 12:54 pm

elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:50 am
Perhaps we need to go to a new and improved Tier 1 & 2 (&3) program.

The top 16 by page-stat as of February something are tier 1.
The next 32 are Tier 2.
The balance Tier 3.

Top 16 play-off on Saturday to get the top 8 for state.
The next 32 playoff on Tues - Friday for the top 8 to state.
These are at the X
The balance have some sort of sections to determine state competitors and play at Ridder.
The Tier 3 would include teams such as

WARROAD EAST RIDGE FARMINGTON ROCHESTER CENTURY ROCHESTER MAYO THIEF RIVER FALLS
ROBB ARMSTRONG/COOPER PARK (C.G.) ST LOUIS PARK MONTICELLO DULUTH DENFELD ST CLOUD_
CHANHASSEN ROGERS MARSHALL DELANO DULUTH MARSHALL OWATONNA NORTHFIELD MOUND WESTONKA
WOODBURY NORTH BRANCH PRINCETON ANOKA VIRGINIA EVELETH GILBERT
LITCHFIELD ST PAUL ACADEMY MANKATO EAST BRECK NEW PRAGUE MINNESOTA RIVER

The tier 1 (AAA) would be
EDINA MINNETONKA BLAINE ANDOVER HERMANTOWN MAPLE GROVE EDEN PRAIRIE WAYZATA
CHASKA ST THOMAS ACADEMY DULUTH EAST ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL HILL MURRAY
EAGAN LAKEVILLE SOUTH HOLY FAMILY
The usual teams minus one or two.

And tier 2 would be a great group.

Of course, we are putting pressure on Lee to continue to run pagestat at the high level to which we have grown accustom.
Hate this. Just create more state tournaments so more parents can say their little Johnny is going to state? No thanks. This would just continue to water down the true exclusiveness and achievement of the state tournament.

On another note has anyone thought that maybe the “both tournaments are equal” mentality has contributed to Hermantown stayinging in A? Everyone knows it isn’t the true state tournament. So why not have class A at Mariucci (will be better environment anyway) and only televise AA games (consolation included). Maybe something like that would push these teams that people want to move up to actually want to do so. Right now it seems like a lot of people think of them as the same but different. Not everyone but there are a fair amount.

Doc Holliday
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Doc Holliday » Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:34 pm

Interesting discussions.....

A few questions I'm wondering.....
-If Hermantown was playing youth hockey at the A level, rather than the AA level, would people be any less upset?

-----For me, I think that would be a big thing for me. Bottom line is they are a Class A school, enrollment wise. Sure they have some advantages for sure, but they still are a Class A school. But playing the youth hockey at the AA level tells me that they are confident enough in their ability to compete with the big programs. Discuss....

-Tier 1 in '92 & '93 gets a bad rap. Why is that?

-----Elliot proposed a 3 tier system. Did the Tier I & II system get a bad rap simply due to because it immediately followed the single class system and whatever came next was going to be hated regardless? It definitely had it's flaws and they showed right away with a 1 win Rosemount going all the way to the title game in Tier II the first year. But it also only lasted two years & I think would have been void of any trophy chasing, something Hermantown is accused of. Discuss.....

-Would we be better off without any "opting up?" & go straight enrollment for Class AA & A?

-----I know some would be disappointed (i.e.: Roseau, Hill-Murray & Benilde to name 3), but would that be the easiest, least controversial? Obviously it would have controversy because the question of whether a private that has lower numbers be considered the same as a true "A" school. But if enrollment was the hard guideline, the Class A tournament would be pretty spectacular, perhaps rivaling the AA tournament in interest. You could make the north into 3 or 4 sections compared to the 2 they are now. Perhaps the least controversial tournament, other than just 1 tournament for all, is Class AA, Class A, & a Private tournament & straight enrollment numbers? Discuss.....

I think Hermantown should move up, but I don't want them moving up purely because they win more often than not, if that makes any sense. It's more because of what they have in their toolbox compared to their competition. Every level usually has a dominant program, but it seems as if Hermantown is competing on a different playing field. Then again, as soon as they move up, somebody else will do something, whether it's EGF raiding North Dakota kids or Luvurne raiding the Sioux Falls kids....

elliott70
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Location: Bemidji

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by elliott70 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:03 pm

The problem with hockey is that school enrollment does not mean much.
The quality of the youth program is the most determining factor (and ability to keep kids in your program/high school) that really matters.

We don't want a tier 1-tier 2 thing but yet we want the best in AA.

What we really want (just us old fans perhaps) is a one class tournament.

But do we?
Did we not enjoy Luverne making their first appearance? Don't we go wild when little Roseau shows up? Do we not want to see Minnetonka vs. Edina?
We want to see Hermantown (STA, EGF fill in the blank) go up against the Wayzata's of the world.
We want everything all wrapped up into one.

I think we have it pretty good right now.
No where else in the whole country do you get this type of tournament (yes BB in Indiana, FB in Texas, BB in Calif or Fla).
I for one enjoy BOTH tourneys because they bring us what we want.

Sorry, just expressing my frustration against the MSHSL for not calling me and letting me be the dictator.


:evil:

:lol:

:( :shock: :? :D all a the same time.

Jeffy95
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Jeffy95 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:18 pm

Doc Holliday wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:34 pm
Interesting discussions.....

A few questions I'm wondering.....
-If Hermantown was playing youth hockey at the A level, rather than the AA level, would people be any less upset?

-----For me, I think that would be a big thing for me. Bottom line is they are a Class A school, enrollment wise. Sure they have some advantages for sure, but they still are a Class A school. But playing the youth hockey at the AA level tells me that they are confident enough in their ability to compete with the big programs. Discuss....
Yes, of course this would make a huge difference. If they played A in Youth they could logically say, "We're an A program, so leave us alone." Nobody could really argue with that. Instead, they themselves provide the very proof that they know full well that they are not an A Program. So they can't make that claim. Those who have tried looked like idiots and have since stopped doing it. And they wouldn't have as many top players transfer in to fuel the fire.

Their entire System is set up to attract top players from the outside. They have a system that nobody else in the state has. Their pitch is, "You have a top player? Send them to Hermantown. They will play AA all through youth which will push them to be the best they can be. They will continue to play top AA teams in High School regular season to further their development. And then for the last two weeks of each season, we will drop them down a Class so they are guaranteed to play on TV and you can go nuts on Facebook." Today's parents cannot resist that.

Most likely it would all be a moot point. Because if they played A in Youth, they wouldn't have the same success that they've had in the Class A tournament and it probably wouldn't even be a topic. They would probably still go to State quite often, but there's no way they win those last two titles without all the transfers on those teams.

They know exactly what they're doing.

Jeffy95
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Jeffy95 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:29 pm

elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:03 pm
The problem with hockey is that school enrollment does not mean much.
The quality of the youth program is the most determining factor (and ability to keep kids in your program/high school) that really matters.
Absolutely. Enrollment only matters to those very few that are trying to hide behind it. If enrollment was that important, none of us in the Hockey world would have ever heard of Eveleth, I-Falls, Roseau, Rapids, Bemidji, Warroad, Cloquet, Hermantown, EGF, TRF, list goes on an on. And Minneapolis would have won the last 5 AA Championships!

kniven
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Location: Duluth area

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by kniven » Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:08 pm

Again, my goal is to split with Duluth East each year in the regular season and get a home playoff game. The state tournament? That’s not something I even think about year in and year out. But again, I’m an idiot. I cheer for 218 in the state tournament. CEC is my regular season squad and the 218 in the tournament. That’s my reality, and I am great with it 😊. I know plenty of kids and their parents/coaches from our north. 👍
“218 hockey” Boys of the NOrth ❤️

Goose21
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by Goose21 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:13 pm

Jeffy95 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:29 pm
elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:03 pm
The problem with hockey is that school enrollment does not mean much.
The quality of the youth program is the most determining factor (and ability to keep kids in your program/high school) that really matters.
Absolutely. Enrollment only matters to those very few that are trying to hide behind it. If enrollment was that important, none of us in the Hockey world would have ever heard of Eveleth, I-Falls, Roseau, Rapids, Bemidji, Warroad, Cloquet, Hermantown, EGF, TRF, list goes on an on. And Minneapolis would have won the last 5 AA Championships!
I would add that Hermantown has one of the largest, if not the largest Youth Program in Northern Minnesota. I'm not sure if it is larger than Moorhead, but heard its numbers surpassed East and is ahead of CEC, GR, Brainerd, Bemidji, and Roseau.
Forecheck, Backcheck, Paycheck

kniven
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Location: Duluth area

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by kniven » Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:21 pm

It’s large that’s for sure! They rent out all available indoor ice in the area including Indoor ice in Cloquet and Carlton.
“218 hockey” Boys of the NOrth ❤️

rainier2
Posts: 720
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Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by rainier2 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 4:50 pm

Jeffy95 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 2:18 pm
Doc Holliday wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 1:34 pm
Interesting discussions.....

A few questions I'm wondering.....
-If Hermantown was playing youth hockey at the A level, rather than the AA level, would people be any less upset?

-----For me, I think that would be a big thing for me. Bottom line is they are a Class A school, enrollment wise. Sure they have some advantages for sure, but they still are a Class A school. But playing the youth hockey at the AA level tells me that they are confident enough in their ability to compete with the big programs. Discuss....
Yes, of course this would make a huge difference. If they played A in Youth they could logically say, "We're an A program, so leave us alone." Nobody could really argue with that. Instead, they themselves provide the very proof that they know full well that they are not an A Program. So they can't make that claim. Those who have tried looked like idiots and have since stopped doing it. And they wouldn't have as many top players transfer in to fuel the fire.

Their entire System is set up to attract top players from the outside. They have a system that nobody else in the state has. Their pitch is, "You have a top player? Send them to Hermantown. They will play AA all through youth which will push them to be the best they can be. They will continue to play top AA teams in High School regular season to further their development. And then for the last two weeks of each season, we will drop them down a Class so they are guaranteed to play on TV and you can go nuts on Facebook." Today's parents cannot resist that.

Most likely it would all be a moot point. Because if they played A in Youth, they wouldn't have the same success that they've had in the Class A tournament and it probably wouldn't even be a topic. They would probably still go to State quite often, but there's no way they win those last two titles without all the transfers on those teams.

They know exactly what they're doing.
This. A million times over, this.

rainier2
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:24 pm

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by rainier2 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:58 pm

elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:50 am
Perhaps we need to go to a new and improved Tier 1 & 2 (&3) program.

The top 16 by page-stat as of February something are tier 1.
The next 32 are Tier 2.
The balance Tier 3.

Top 16 play-off on Saturday to get the top 8 for state.
The next 32 playoff on Tues - Friday for the top 8 to state.
These are at the X
The balance have some sort of sections to determine state competitors and play at Ridder.
The Tier 3 would include teams such as

WARROAD EAST RIDGE FARMINGTON ROCHESTER CENTURY ROCHESTER MAYO THIEF RIVER FALLS
ROBB ARMSTRONG/COOPER PARK (C.G.) ST LOUIS PARK MONTICELLO DULUTH DENFELD ST CLOUD_
CHANHASSEN ROGERS MARSHALL DELANO DULUTH MARSHALL OWATONNA NORTHFIELD MOUND WESTONKA
WOODBURY NORTH BRANCH PRINCETON ANOKA VIRGINIA EVELETH GILBERT
LITCHFIELD ST PAUL ACADEMY MANKATO EAST BRECK NEW PRAGUE MINNESOTA RIVER

The tier 1 (AAA) would be
EDINA MINNETONKA BLAINE ANDOVER HERMANTOWN MAPLE GROVE EDEN PRAIRIE WAYZATA
CHASKA ST THOMAS ACADEMY DULUTH EAST ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL HILL MURRAY
EAGAN LAKEVILLE SOUTH HOLY FAMILY
The usual teams minus one or two.

And tier 2 would be a great group.

Of course, we are putting pressure on Lee to continue to run pagestat at the high level to which we have grown accustom.
Here is a simple idea:

• Keep the classes as they are now.
• Institute two different AA “promotion triggers”
o Metro trigger-applies to any Class A school within 10 miles of a metro area. (Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Mankato, and maybe EGF.)
o Outstate trigger-applies to all other Class A schools.

• How it works
o Metro trigger-if any team in this group wins the Class A title, they are sent to AA for the next two years, after which time they may opt back to Class A until they win another title.
o Outstate trigger-if any team in this group wins three class A titles, they are sent to AA for the next two years, after which time they may opt back to Class A until they win another title.

This system prevents any Class A team from dominating indefinitely, with an extra incentive for metro-area programs to just stay in AA if they are competitive. And by breaking it into 3 year periods for the teams that win titles (1 year in A, 2 years in AA), the entire cohort of kids (soph-junior-senior) that won the title would have had a chance to be a part of a title run, and when the 2 years in AA is complete, the next 3 year cohort of kids would all have at least one shot in A, should the program choose to go back down.

Any reason why this system wouldn't work and be an improvement?
Last edited by rainier2 on Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:19 pm, edited 3 times in total.

GopherHockey
Posts: 293
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:47 pm

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by GopherHockey » Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:07 pm

rainier2 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:58 pm
elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:50 am
Perhaps we need to go to a new and improved Tier 1 & 2 (&3) program.

The top 16 by page-stat as of February something are tier 1.
The next 32 are Tier 2.
The balance Tier 3.

Top 16 play-off on Saturday to get the top 8 for state.
The next 32 playoff on Tues - Friday for the top 8 to state.
These are at the X
The balance have some sort of sections to determine state competitors and play at Ridder.
The Tier 3 would include teams such as

WARROAD EAST RIDGE FARMINGTON ROCHESTER CENTURY ROCHESTER MAYO THIEF RIVER FALLS
ROBB ARMSTRONG/COOPER PARK (C.G.) ST LOUIS PARK MONTICELLO DULUTH DENFELD ST CLOUD_
CHANHASSEN ROGERS MARSHALL DELANO DULUTH MARSHALL OWATONNA NORTHFIELD MOUND WESTONKA
WOODBURY NORTH BRANCH PRINCETON ANOKA VIRGINIA EVELETH GILBERT
LITCHFIELD ST PAUL ACADEMY MANKATO EAST BRECK NEW PRAGUE MINNESOTA RIVER

The tier 1 (AAA) would be
EDINA MINNETONKA BLAINE ANDOVER HERMANTOWN MAPLE GROVE EDEN PRAIRIE WAYZATA
CHASKA ST THOMAS ACADEMY DULUTH EAST ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL HILL MURRAY
EAGAN LAKEVILLE SOUTH HOLY FAMILY
The usual teams minus one or two.

And tier 2 would be a great group.

Of course, we are putting pressure on Lee to continue to run pagestat at the high level to which we have grown accustom.
Here is a simple idea:

• Keep the classes as they are now.
• Institute two different AA “promotion triggers”
o Metro trigger-applies to any Class A school within 10 miles of a metro area. (Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Mankato, and maybe EGF.)
o Outstate trigger-applies to all other Class A schools.

• How it works
o Metro trigger-if any team in this group wins the Class A title, they are sent to AA for the next two years, after which time they may opt back to Class A until they win another title.
o Outstate trigger-if any team in this group wins three class A titles, they are sent to AA for the next two years, after which time they may opt back to Class A until they win another title.
I think I would do it a little different but same idea. I think if a team has top 3 finishes 2 or 3 years in a row then bump them up for 2 years. I mean look at the past champions or runner up in A. St. Thomas, Breck, Hermantown and East Grand Forks have all had sustained success over the years. I wouldn’t bump a team to AA just for one year where they had a good run.

rainier2
Posts: 720
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 4:24 pm

Re: The Hermantown Thread

Post by rainier2 » Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:26 pm

GopherHockey wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 7:07 pm
rainier2 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 6:58 pm
elliott70 wrote:
Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:50 am
Perhaps we need to go to a new and improved Tier 1 & 2 (&3) program.

The top 16 by page-stat as of February something are tier 1.
The next 32 are Tier 2.
The balance Tier 3.

Top 16 play-off on Saturday to get the top 8 for state.
The next 32 playoff on Tues - Friday for the top 8 to state.
These are at the X
The balance have some sort of sections to determine state competitors and play at Ridder.
The Tier 3 would include teams such as

WARROAD EAST RIDGE FARMINGTON ROCHESTER CENTURY ROCHESTER MAYO THIEF RIVER FALLS
ROBB ARMSTRONG/COOPER PARK (C.G.) ST LOUIS PARK MONTICELLO DULUTH DENFELD ST CLOUD_
CHANHASSEN ROGERS MARSHALL DELANO DULUTH MARSHALL OWATONNA NORTHFIELD MOUND WESTONKA
WOODBURY NORTH BRANCH PRINCETON ANOKA VIRGINIA EVELETH GILBERT
LITCHFIELD ST PAUL ACADEMY MANKATO EAST BRECK NEW PRAGUE MINNESOTA RIVER

The tier 1 (AAA) would be
EDINA MINNETONKA BLAINE ANDOVER HERMANTOWN MAPLE GROVE EDEN PRAIRIE WAYZATA
CHASKA ST THOMAS ACADEMY DULUTH EAST ST CLOUD CATHEDRAL HILL MURRAY
EAGAN LAKEVILLE SOUTH HOLY FAMILY
The usual teams minus one or two.

And tier 2 would be a great group.

Of course, we are putting pressure on Lee to continue to run pagestat at the high level to which we have grown accustom.
Here is a simple idea:

• Keep the classes as they are now.
• Institute two different AA “promotion triggers”
o Metro trigger-applies to any Class A school within 10 miles of a metro area. (Twin Cities, Duluth, Rochester, St. Cloud, Mankato, and maybe EGF.)
o Outstate trigger-applies to all other Class A schools.

• How it works
o Metro trigger-if any team in this group wins the Class A title, they are sent to AA for the next two years, after which time they may opt back to Class A until they win another title.
o Outstate trigger-if any team in this group wins three class A titles, they are sent to AA for the next two years, after which time they may opt back to Class A until they win another title.
I think I would do it a little different but same idea. I think if a team has top 3 finishes 2 or 3 years in a row then bump them up for 2 years. I mean look at the past champions or runner up in A. St. Thomas, Breck, Hermantown and East Grand Forks have all had sustained success over the years. I wouldn’t bump a team to AA just for one year where they had a good run.

Say it's Mankato West, who hasn't had a ton of success. They have a great run and win the Class A title, and are put in AA for two years. The juniors and sophomores on the title team will be in AA the next one and two years, respectively, but they did get to be a part of a title run, and if there is a steep drop in talent they can still have a fun year playing the A-heavy schedule they always do, they'll just likely be bounced earlier in their AA section. This shouldn't make much difference, because if they really did drop off that much after their title season, they probably weren't going to win their Class A section anyway.

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