Links to Newspaper or Web Articles About MN Girls Hockey

[MNHockeyFan]

1-on-1 with Kristi King: Playoff Hockey, Development, the MN Model and More

https://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_ar ... ow/1259616

[MNHockeyFan]

Luverne punches ticket to state, River Lakes upsets Willmar in section tournament action

https://www.therinklive.com/high-school ... ent-action

[MNHockeyFan]

Pace of transferring worries some in high school hockey leadership

https://www.startribune.com/transfers-h ... 600251224/

[MNHockeyFan]

Meet the 2022-23 Star Tribune All-Metro teams

https://www.mngirlshockeyhub.com/news_a ... 1260998%22

[Lace'emUp]

Finally, some coaches speak out on Gentry:

Problem for Gentry Academy: Rival schools refusing to schedule its hockey team

https://www.startribune.com/high-school ... 600253183/

[MNHockeyFan]

Three of the five Senior Goalie of the Year finalists headed to 2023 Minnesota state tournament

https://www.therinklive.com/high-school ... tournament

[MNHockeyFan]

State tournament preps plow ahead despite approaching snowstorm

https://www.kare11.com/article/sports/h ... 0159f13232

[Sparlimb]

Finally, some coaches speak out on Gentry:

Problem for Gentry Academy: Rival schools refusing to schedule its hockey team

https://www.startribune.com/high-school ... 600253183/

Looks like their scheduling problems are going to get much worse next year. My prediction is they won't be an MSHSL school within a few years.

[jg2112]

Finally, some coaches speak out on Gentry:

Problem for Gentry Academy: Rival schools refusing to schedule its hockey team

https://www.startribune.com/high-school ... 600253183/

Any summary of what the coaches said, for the benefit of those who don't have a Strib subscription?

[Lace'emUp]

Finally, some coaches speak out on Gentry:

Problem for Gentry Academy: Rival schools refusing to schedule its hockey team

https://www.startribune.com/high-school ... 600253183/

Any summary of what the coaches said, for the benefit of those who don't have a Strib subscription?

Hopefully there's no copywrite issues. Here's the story:

Problem for Gentry Academy: Rival schools refusing to schedule its hockey team

By DAVID LA VAQUE, STAR TRIBUNE
February 21, 2023 - 8:31 AM

Billy Hengen, coach of the Gentry Academy Stars girls hockey team, acknowledges the public charter school's difficulties in building a full regular-season game schedule.

The process appears to be getting more challenging. Minnesota State High School League leadership approved Gentry Academy's membership four years ago, and coaches are expressing their dismay through their scheduling decisions.

Both Maple Grove's Jim Koltes and Stillwater's Annie Cashman came to their jobs late in the summer and inherited Gentry Academy games. Koltes, whose team split two games with Gentry in 2021-22 and then lost to the Stars in the Class 2A state tournament quarterfinals, declined to schedule them this season. Cashman's Ponies lost all three meetings with Gentry this season, including the Section 4 semifinals. She said, "They are off our schedule next year, and we won't schedule them again as long as I am coaching."

The sticking point? Neither Koltes nor Cashman considers Gentry Academy, which has made state tournament appearances in each of its first three seasons, to be on equal footing with the rest of the state's public and private schools when it comes to hockey training.

Gentry Academy students are permitted to play hockey about one hour per day at the nearby TCO Sports Garden as a physical education option. Hengen said he must "follow MSHSL rules" and does not provide formal hockey instruction during the school day.

Coaches aren't convinced.

"Their kids are skating when mine are in calculus," Cashman said. "They are not trying to conform to the values of the MSHSL. They want to be different and have everyone conform to them. Fine, then go be different and compete in Tier I like Shattuck-St. Mary's.

"I never want to punish kids for the adults' decisions. And it's great to give more kids opportunities. But the only way to stop these superteams is to stop scheduling them."

Andover's Melissa Volk has played Gentry Academy for the past two regular seasons. She isn't sure those games will continue, but not because of philosophical differences. Volk wants to play quality opponents, and Gentry Academy will lose 84% of its goal scoring and both goalies to graduation this spring.

"I understand if coaches don't want to play them," Volk said. "But by the same token, the MSHSL is allowing Gentry Academy to play."

Hengen and his staff "were surprised" by the Stars' No. 4 seed for this week's Class 2A state tournament, which was decided by coaches in an electronic voting process. They went 24-2-0 and beat Andover during the season and Hill-Murray in the playoffs. Gentry Academy opens play at 8 p.m. Thursday against No. 5 seed Moorhead.

"We didn't elaborate on it with our players," Hengen said. "But the way it looks now, [No. 1 seed] Minnetonka probably has the toughest road to the finals."

[jg2112]

Interesting. Does Stillwater not offer gym class?

Worth noting that Stillwater's current starting goalie went to Gentry and benefited from that daily training before moving back to the Ponies.

Volk's reason to not schedule Gentry going forward is far more valid than Cashman's.

[Lace'emUp]

Interesting. Does Stillwater not offer gym class?

Worth noting that Stillwater's current starting goalie went to Gentry and benefited from that daily training before moving back to the Ponies.

Volk's reason to not schedule Gentry going forward is far more valid than Cashman's.

It is an interesting concept for Gentry to offer "Edgework 101" within their range of Phy Ed classes. Other schools that have arenas on campus, like Blake, Centennial, Elk River, Rogers, Tonka, Warroad (to name a few off the top of my head) could do the same. However, Phy Ed is usually taught by a licensed teacher employed by the school. I'm guessing "Edgework 101" (or call it whatever you want) is not being taught by a traditional Phy Ed teacher.

[MNHockeyFan]

Breaking down the Minnesota girls state high school hockey tournament
https://www.therinklive.com/high-school ... tournament

Minnesota girls hockey tournament brackets sorted out by a state champion goaltender
https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-g ... 600253231/

‘It’s Everything:’ Darwitz on Community-Based Hockey
https://www.minnesotahockey.org/news_ar ... ow/1261108

Girls state hockey tournament: Class A primer
https://www.twincities.com/2023/02/21/g ... -a-primer/

[MNHockeyFan]

East Metro girls hockey Player of the Year: Centennial’s Lauren O’Hara

https://www.twincities.com/2023/02/21/e ... ren-ohara/

[MNHockeyFan]

Post-Tourney Notebook: Minnesota girls all-tournament teams, Ryan Kraft, Zoe Laming and more

https://www.therinklive.com/high-school ... g-and-more

[MNHockeyFan]

Girls hockey: Alexandria wraps up conference title-winning season

https://www.echopress.com/sports/prep/g ... ing-season