New venue for Section 8A & 8AA championships

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 10:02 am

There really shouldn't be any debate on this subject. Thief River Falls is the place to be; at least for the championship games in sections. Thief River Falls' Englestad Arena is by far and away the best facility to host the section finals bar none. Best parking period. Best seating period. Best locker rooms. Most attractive arena. Excellent staff. Most secure. Best views to the ice period. Best pressbox by far. Best location for all teams in the section, 8A or 8AA. Best atmosphere and will attract the best crowds. People will drive from Brainerd, Bemidji, Grand Rapids, Detroit Lakes, Wadena, Grand Forks, Fargo to watch the championships. Forget about the rotation. Warroad has a great facility but is too far, too small, and has a press box that is exclusive to Warroad. East Grand Forks has a decent facility also but also has a lousy press area and is too small. More money will be had for the MSHSL if it were in TRF. TRF has invested {with Ralph's help of course} the most $$ and because of it's location -- deserves the job as section host - every single year, until a better venue comes along. Good luck. If the coaches have a say in this they should vote it in. 8AA may struggle with this a bit, but I'm pretty sure Moorhead, Roseau and Bemidji would go along. I believe the numbers would be even higher if the 8AA finals were held there over the Nat'l Hockey Center, because 8A fans would come out in droves to see this game. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> - What do you all think? Am I wrong here?

scheids316 · Post by **scheids316** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 10:05 am

I second the motion.

oletimer · Post by **oletimer** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:05 am

Ditto to everything you just said. Theres a chance the building could be a tad to small to hold the AA final especially if droves of A fans showed up, but maybe not. At any rate there is no question the A tourney should be held there permanently for all the above-mentioned reasons. Section 8A hockey deserves the best and now it is located in their own NWMINN backyard.

Ram Hockey · Post by **Ram Hockey** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 12:02 pm

Video Scout, I couldn't agree with you more. It would be a much better venue than St. Cloud. The only people you get at the AA finals are the fans from the teams participating. I would have loved to go to the Moorhead/Tech final yesterday but who is going to drive five hours for a game that has no ties to you. If this was TRF or even EGF I would have been there. The coaches & MSHSL have to look at this as an option as it would mean more cash for the league. Same thing goes for the single A as it would be more centralized and a better venue for the size of crowds than both Warroad and East Grand Forks. Ram Hockey

rizzy7TRFProwlers · Post by **rizzy7TRFProwlers** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 1:52 pm

I agree with you guys as well. Both A and AA should hold the sections there. It would be the perfect size for section championship games and would hold quarterfinal and semifinal games no problem. Also, I think TRF is kind of in the middle of most teams in the sections, especially in A. AA it really isn't. I still don't know the exact seating capacity the new Ralph has. I want to say 3500 seats, plus the bar seats around the rink. But I am not sure. At one time they talked about putting up temporary seating for the bigger crowds that would then expand the capacity to 4500. Not sure if they have acquired that temporary seating equipment that would allow that. What I do know for sure is that the new Ralph would be perfect for section playoff games. If you were at the opening of new Ralph, the game TRF vs. EGF earlier in the year when the Ralph was completely packed, you know how good the atmosphere could be for section playoff games. Man what a rush that must have been for those kids.

slapshooter · Post by **slapshooter** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 1:55 pm

No Brainer! S<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> S

benc14 · Post by **benc14** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 3:19 pm

Thats a good idea to move the section tournament to TRF. I also think they should move the section 7AA tournament to somewhere other than the DECC, because keeping it at the DECC gives East a home-ice-advantage. They should move it to Hibbing.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 4:29 pm

The little ralph is great but the staff at EGF did a wonderful job last week. And there is something to be said about watching a game while standing along the glass. But the AA would be much better in TRF than in no personality St Cloud natl whatever. Also, Hibbing IS THE ONLY place for section 7.

1hockeyluver · Post by **1hockeyluver** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 6:56 pm

One thing video scout........the town of Thief River Falls sucks. Screw your big Pressbox issue. How Callous of you to think that everyone in the section feels like driving to TRF every year. Especially if TRF is playing in the Championship! Home Ice advantage every year?? Use your head already! And By the way, TRF better head to state sometime in this CENTURY<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"> before they would ever earn the right to have Section tourney full time there!

veery · Post by **veery** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 7:28 pm

Keep 8A like it is...rotate.

theunknown2 · Post by **theunknown2** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 10:01 pm

i agree with video scout with it being the best place for the tournament because of the nice vacilities....i cant wait to see what section 8a's playoffs r like next year there...Ive had the full tour and the locker rooms r the best ive seen and the press box is huge with two tables and chairs and a mini fridge and a whole bunch of office chairs to sit and watch the game...but home ice advantage is a big thing and it wouldnt be fair to give it to trf every year but u could maybe have the a and aa championship game there cause that is what draws the most ppl and packs the smaller arenas

blueliner10 · Post by **blueliner10** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 10:46 pm

The little ralph is everything you guys have said but you are forgetting that it is still home ice advantage to the prowlers

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:25 pm

Well 1hockeyluver ... sounds like you are in the minority. 10 people agree with me and you are the lone ranger on this one so far. 10:1 sounds like a majority to me. Get off my high horse? Are you kidding me? If the tournament ends up in Thief River Falls I end up driving nearly 200 miles to see the games. The 60-mile drive to St. Cloud is much more convenient for me but the mini-ralph blows away the National Hockey Center ... but I guess some people have their own selfish agendas as to why they don't want it in Thief River. Maybe you need a little slap along side the head by bluesbuddy to knock some sense into you about section 8. Section 8 belongs in northwestern Minnesota. Not St. Cloud. Not Alexandria. Not even Moorhead. It was born in the Roseau, Crookston, Warroad, Thief River Falls domain and it's high time that it should remain there regardless of class. St. Cloud teams were bottom feeders when teams from section 8 were dominating the state, along with their northern counterpart, Section 7. I believe this area of the state has earned the right to host it's own tournament, again, regardless of class. It's a joke that the MSHSL even allowed a team such as Monticello to compete in AA hockey, let alone section 8AA. Elk River got fed up as a competitor within the section because they could never get to state so they whined until they got moved to 4AA. Warroad won't move up to AA hockey because no AA teams are willing to make the trek to Hockeytown, USA partially because of the vast distance involved in travel. Warroad is willing to travel ... but opponents won't. Who do you blame there? Roseau has a lot of guts to stay in AA, but at the same time ... I don't blame Warroad for not opting up. Your statement about Thief River Falls having home ice advantage year in and year out along with their failure to get to state is contradictory in nature. Why you complaining then? They never win according to you. What's the threat? Unless you're from Roseau (which I doubt highly) you might be impressed that Thief River Falls has had their fair share of state tournament appearances. They've been there at least nine times when the tourney was one class ... winning the state championship at least two times, while taking 2nd place once, 3rd place once and consolation championship at least 3 times. Not bad for a tiny town in northwestern Minnesota. They've won at least 64% of their games at state; a hell of a lot more than you can say for your school, pretty boy. Are you even willing to tell us where you're from? So in answering your inquiry as to whether or not they deserve to host the tourney, according to your own criteria ... you lose: Thief River wins. Like I said ... I'm not from Thief River, I'm not from Roseau, I'm not from East Grand Forks. I'm not the bit biased in that regard. If I'm going to ride on my "high" horse ...I'll ride him 200 miles to see a hockey game whether he's high or not ... I'll make damn sure he isn't smoking the same stuff you are with your common senseless thinking on this issue. I'll eat these words if you can provide me with a better place to play, stating all your reasons for believing so, and showing me the numbers to support your inane postition. How's that for an ass-kicking<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"> ? Hey ... just kidding hockeyluver .... <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"> ... I'm 100% behind your point of view .... NOT!!! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> - "From compromise and things half done, Keep me with stern and stubborn pride; And when at last the fight is won, God, keep me still unsatisfied. -- Louis Unterneyer, Prayer

SpudsPUCKemUP · Post by **SpudsPUCKemUP** » Sun Mar 07, 2004 11:35 pm

wow, how long did it take you to think of all of that v scout, im guessing you started writing it about the time you woke up from you 8aa post champioship party hangover. nicely said<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat">

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:11 am

It didn't take long and I wasn't in the best of m<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/mad.gif ALT=">:"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/mad.gif ALT=">:"> ds when I wrote it, as our men's league team got beat in the championship game tonight, 4-2. To top that off ... we had to watch the team that beat us, drink from the championship cup at the bar we were at. Oh well ... live and let live. btw ... hockeyluver ... don't take it personal.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> - "One catches more flies with a spoonful of honey than with twenty casks of vinegar." -- Henri IV of France, Maxim

slapshooter · Post by **slapshooter** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:34 am

That's great if you like flys! <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"> L<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /alien.gif ALT="0]"> E, SL<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> PSH<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> TER. (...a legend in his <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> wn mind...)

Busch League 11 · Post by **Busch League 11** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 1:52 am

I was waiting for this topic to come up; I heard wind of it last fall and was upset at the possibility of it happening. Sure this is what People are thinking now. TRF has a brand new facility, most seating, Etc. But think about this, Did EGF make a motion to keep the section tourney solely in EGF in '74 when the Civic Center was built? How about Warroad when the new Gardens was built? These communities and possibly others will have their time with a new arena so don't be so fast to pull the trigger and say TRF should host it every year. I thought EGF put on an excellent tournament as well, and believe the host sites should be rotated as it is.

slapshooter · Post by **slapshooter** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 3:10 am

Hey Busch League 11, Agreed. That's why I say its a no brainer! S<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"> S

neutralzonetrapper · Post by **neutralzonetrapper** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 6:52 am

bush, i am going to side up with you on thiis one. check the region 8 records and you will see that a very high number of the roseau ram region 8 titles were won on home ice. nuff said

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 8:46 am

That's what I wanted boys ... a little debate on this one. Everyone has their opinions but why not treat the players and coaches to a first class venue, year in and year out? When East side built their place in '74, I still prefered Thief River Falls' Huck Olson Arena even though I lived closer to East Side. As our famous friend Mr. Spock once said, "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few"; As they say in the Real Estate business ... "Location, Location, Location". The majority prefers Thief River Falls mainly because of the superior facilities and the location. I still haven't heard any legitimate reasons why the tournament should be rotated. Don't give me this home ice advantage crap. It doesn't hold water. How long have we had the new Huck Olson Memorial Arena in Thief River Falls? Well over 30 years. How many times have the Prowlers been to state in that time span? I rest my case. Like Slapshooter said ... <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> It's a no-brainer!!<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol">

rams1981 · Post by **rams1981** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:00 am

I believe from a AA side it might make more sense at least to rotate North and South. But I wouldn't be real thrilled with it in TRF every year as the home ice advantage year in and year out is in my opinion very unfair. I would give the concession that take the current rotation now and go out say fifteen-twenty years to set where a TRF game would be played if it wasn't an actual TRF year to host the tourney, but play all games in the Ralph except those involving the Prowlers in the building where the rotation would be at if not a TRF year to host. Or something to that effect, we just can't say, you've got the best so you host it. There is also the issue of revenue derived by hosting the tourney for the community's that host it. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing it at different venues other than the three that hold it right now if facilities are built in the future in other section towns which can handle the job of putting it on. neutralzonetrapper, those Region Eight titles you talk about are all ancient history. None of them won since WELL before 1977 have been at home for the Rams, in fact they may have hosted Regions because of the facilities they had in the fifties and sixties compared to most schools were just terrific, in fact I'm unsure but WAS the game held at the higher seeds, if so it's good to be the king. Maybe Rusty can help us out....<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... smokin.gif ALT=":smokin">

edgeon · Post by **edgeon** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:08 am

come on video--why dose top seed have home ice early in play offs??

Videoscout · Post by **Videoscout** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:21 am

East Grand Forks stands to benefit the most as far as revenue generated from the tournament. It's a bigger market ... people will stay the night to shop at the mall the next day ... or catch a Fighting Sioux game ... or do whatever because chances are ... they have relatives living there. Whitey's, Applebee's and Cabella's are good enough reasons to keep East Side into the rotation. Okay, EGF can still be in the rotation. I don't think there is much of a windfall in Warroad when they host. Most everyone leaves town (except Slappy and yours truly, of course ... we spend around $5,000 at the Main Street Bar & Grill and Franks -<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"> ) after the game - hold it ... I take that back ... ice fishing is huge. Okay ... Warroad is in. TRF. Like I said ... ask the players, not guys like Rams1981 who only have to walk from Franks Bar to the rink to see the contest.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"> Like I said ... location, location, location ... that's what this is about. It all depends on where you live. Here's my concession: All 8A QF's & SF's at TRF. QF's will have 2 games Fri night, 2 games Sat night (just like the 1970's, early 80's). SF's - 2 games - same night 6pm/8pm starts. The Championship game in 8A can be rotated. All 8AA games to be played at high seed. SF's either at National Hockey Center (to appease the south half) or high seeds again. Championship at Thief River Falls (on a different night than the 8A championship). Sound more attractive you guys? <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/pimp.gif ALT=":hat"> "In the field of world policy I would dedicate this nation to the policy of the good neighbor."-- Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address

neutralzonetrapper · Post by **neutralzonetrapper** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 9:40 am

now you are headed down a better path. all great ideas need to be massaged and nurtured a little before implementation.

edgeon · Post by **edgeon** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:16 pm

EGF-TRF-Warroad i think in the past have spent the $$$ it takes to meet the qualifications to host the tourney. $10.00 means more to a smaller town like TRF or Warroad then EGF. So i disagree that EGF has the most to gain. I heard that TRF needs to sell a lot of consesions to suport there new gift. I would imagin Warroad could also use the suport. I agree that Grand Forks does benifit when EGF does host. Small towns need all the help they can get now more then ever.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

New venue for Section 8A & 8AA championships

New venue for Section 8A & 8AA championships

Agreed

"little ralph"

Re: "little ralph"

Re: "little ralph"

Section 8 A and AA at the 'Little Ralph' in TRF?...by SS

moving section tournaments

Re: moving section tournaments

Videoscout........get off your high horse already!

ralphie

Re: ralphie

Re: ralphie

How dare I be so pompous and callous!!

Re: How dare I be so pompous and callous!!

Not too long Puck 'em up ...

VS's quote from Henry IV of France....by SS

moving section tournaments

Agreed...........................by SS

Re: moving section tournaments

Poll the players...but they have to exclude own rink.

Don't fully agree on this one.

videoscout

okay ... let's think this over then....

Re: okay ... let's think this over then....

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