Article on High School Elite League

falcons30 · Post by **falcons30** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:03 pm

See link to Article in todays St. Paul Pioneer Press regarding the Upper Midwest Elite League. <a href="http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/11023105.htm" target="top">www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/110 ...  Lee, you move this elsewhere if necessary.

BabyBlueFan4Life · Post by **BabyBlueFan4Life** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:07 pm

Great article. Happy to see something was done to keep players in high school hockey.

slap my shot · Post by **slap my shot** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:18 pm

"We still lose six or seven to juniors and six to Ann Arbor," Russo said. "Then there's another five that go to juniors who wouldn't make our league. They're bad students, or they got talked into it, or their team is really bad and they don't want to move to *Hill Murray*." Struck me as funny.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:24 pm

Nice story on Intl Falls (THE Falls) also.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:37 pm

I dont have anything against the league but I think its effect on the world of hockey might be a little over stated. The league is keepin kids here? Really. Which ones? We have lost a lot and most of them were from good programs. Its extra hockey and I guess its football and baseball friendly so fine, but thats about it.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:39 pm

Ask Mitch Ryan what he feels about the elite league. Ask Tyler Hawkins. Ask Jared Hummel. Ask... I can go on.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:43 pm

Why would I ask them anything? Why dont you contact the tens of players who have left and ask them " Say, ah didnt you hear about the elite league?"

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 1:47 pm

I am talking about the impact on the players that stayed. Some players will leave for Juniors no matter what. Some of them should go - it is the best for them. But there is more to the league than just keeping kids home. And it is doing a good job of develping player skills, exposing them and promoting hockey in and outside of Minnesota. Bantam kids are excited about playing elite or elite 2. More excitement... more dedication... more preparation... thus better players.

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 2:04 pm

Read my first post..slowly. I agree if its more hockey and it helps develop kids , fine. But the proponents of the league sell it as the savior of high school hockey, as we know it, and thats crap. We have had fall leagues around here for as long as I can remember. They started their own league and slapped an elite tag on it. Not all that glitters is gold in the business end of hockey. We lose kids because they are "looking out for #1". They care about developing their own skills to the max so they can advance to what ever level. Regardless of how you feel about that and I offer no judgment, are you sure the elite leagues dont foster the very attitude that result in kids leaving.

mnhshock29 · Post by **mnhshock29** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 11:32 pm

I read your post... If you read the article, you've seen the facts: more than 40 players left their high schools for Juniors, Ann Arbor, etc. in the first year of the league in 2002 (when it was still very much in the conceptual stage) as part of a rising trend. In the past two years, that number has shrunk to just over 10. While HS hockey would likely exist without the Elite League, it would, at the very least, not be the same as what we see today. The previous fall leagues were not viable. They had too many teams, too many players and did not go to the lengths the Elite League does to promote its players and its product to not only the media, but college and NHL scouts. When USHL coaches or NCAA coaches called and said "you need to move up, HS doesn't offer you good enough competition, or enough games" the player really didn't have a viable development alternative. The leagues weren't scouted, didn't offer a level of play much better than HS and didn't take steps to promote their players. This one does. More than 50 Elite Leaguers have committed to/are playing at D-1 schools in three years. All nine MN HS players drafted in last year's NHL Draft were from the Elite League--including RJ Anderson, who chose to stay this year and play again. As for saving HS hockey on the whole, realize that the nationwide trend is to go to AAA Midgets, where players can play more games. A common remark from scouts to the Elite League is, "this is the greatest thing, you should do it year-round." Fortunately, that is not going to happen. It's not what it's about. It's about keeping the Elite in high school hockey, to keep the level of play great. Not only for the 110+ who play in the league, but for the players that play with and against them who benefit from the challenge of having an Alex Goligoski, Tom Gorowsky, R.J. Anderson, Brian Lee, Rob Page, J.T. Wyman, T.J. Oshie, or Robbie Dee as either the linemate they have to keep up with, or opponent they have to defend. Nowhere has the league claimed to be a "savior." This non-profit operation is operated by two paid employees (John Russo is not one of them, and their total salary wouldn't make minimum wage), paid coaches who have unbelievable experience and passion, and a host of volunteers. The amount of media relations and marketing efforts of the league don't even compare to that of the USHL in terms of success of coverage. Stories like these merely help the league fight its battle to establish itself as viable in the eyes of potential players and their parents. It's also a true story. We'll probably never agree, but I encourage you to think about this state tournament without the 44 Elite League alums who are playing in it. It would still be the state tournament, but believe me, the stars are a big part of what makes it great and I assure you (as Duluth Marshall's Scott Kozlak--an Elite League alum--scores his fourth of the game), they're getting heavy pressure to play in some far away city, rather than with their friends in St. Paul. Thankfully, if they want to do so, these players now have a viable development and exposure option that allows them to stay at home, and still improve their status among NHL and NCAA Division I teams. Thanks for reading my longest post ever....

defencewinsgames · Post by **defencewinsgames** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 11:41 pm

with you or in spite of you-- way too much politics-- just look at the goalies you picked 50 % at best<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/mad.gif ALT=">:">

mnhshock29 · Post by **mnhshock29** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 11:55 pm

The selection process is probably never going to be perfect. We're always working on it, however, actively scouting the actual HS season and also using other opportunities like the Select tryouts as criteria AND picking the final few through tryout, seems to be more successful than relying on a few days of tryout alone. In its three years, the Frank Brimsek-award winning goalie has played in the league (Anderson, Lundin and Richards). In addition, Justin Kowalkoski (Blake/2 yrs in league) committed to D-1 Colgate directly out of HS. Dodds, Wanvig, Keaton Smith, Hittle, Paul, Lee, Deutz, Clark...there are limited spots at this position, but I don't see a lot of glaring errors. Among others that our selection process, and no other (Selects, etc.) have unearthed, are: Goligoski, Dey, Mitch Ryan...to name a few.

defencewinsgames · Post by **defencewinsgames** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:06 am

you claim to get imput from section coaches-false-unless one per section-- 3 moorhead goalies-one who never played a hs game--section se started with ssp goalie and a moorhead goalie--ssp went to jrs and moorhead goalie got hurt--back up was coaches kid from somewhere who ended up on the n?? team-all along a at least 2 so mn goalies were bypassed one from faribault who has been to the select 2nd round and one from rochester who has been a 3 yr starter with almost 60 hs win and a gaa under 2--no politics--ask judge judy<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)">

mnhshock29 · Post by **mnhshock29** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:25 am

I stood at the MN Hockey Coaches Association annual meeting at the State Tournament last spring and witnessed every coach in attendance (this was in addition to a mailing to every HS coach and the ongoing opportunity to nominate players via email/phone) fill out forms to nominate players from their section. Each coach did so. Beau Christian played for Team GP and was chosen because he advanced to the requisite round of selects. If he wasn't chosen, Lee--an alternate who was one of the top goalies in the state this year and will have the opportunity to participate on a full time basis next year--would've filled that spot. The goalies from Faribault and Roch, who did not receive signficicant section coach nomination, were considered, but did not "lose their spot" because of Christian. I see where you're going, but there are plenty of kids with association to coaches and administration who will never play in the league. And, Beau proved more than capable in the Elite League. Should we blame the kid for being stuck behind two equally capable goalies? Know that the Select criteria exists to ensure that the league takes only a select few younger players. Unfortunately, only 12 goalies can gain final selection.

juniorhockey · Post by **juniorhockey** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:33 am

How often do they get to practice? Does it depend on the team and it's location?

defencewinsgames · Post by **defencewinsgames** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:33 am

the league was for upperclassmen not bantams unproved with a name-- rosemount and coaches kid took valuable spots from deserving kids in a position with few spots--shame on the elite league for saying they only want the best and to keep away from jrs<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /devil.gif ALT=":evil">

defencewinsgames · Post by **defencewinsgames** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:55 am

credit for all the shoe ins who everybody can pick but polipicks gets the rest<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... lasses.gif ALT="8)">

RochHockeyDad · Post by **RochHockeyDad** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:10 am

How many Elite league slots are still open right now? How many are filled as a result of the Advanced tournament evaluation process? How many kids are invited to the tryout after the Advanced tournament? How many kids are selected from these tryouts?

Skatingslow · Post by **Skatingslow** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:31 am

I am truly puzzled how people take credit away from the elite league. The elite league is one of the best things that could have been done and everyone who wants to watch a superb high-school hockey game should be thankful for the elite league. Without the elite league many of the top players in the state would leave in order to propel themselves to greater ability. Even with the elite league some kids chose to go to juniors, you'll always have a couple that leave, but what the elite league does and stand for should be appreciated by many. THe elite league allows for more games to be played by the better players in the state, allows us northern boys a little exposure, and gives a chance to be in better shape come high-school. Dr. Russo needs to be given praise and thanks for all the hard work that he puts into the system. Without him many kids would leave, but knowing that they can be seen staying home keeps quite a few kids at home.

Spartan9 · Post by **Spartan9** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:37 am

whenever any kid has success its always credited to the elite league. How can this be when three goalies from moorhead make it? As is in most things, the league has politics up the wazoo, and i believe that the players who are succeeding from this, would succeed anyway.

Whatwillwork · Post by **Whatwillwork** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:56 am

"whenever any kid has success its always credited to the elite league. How can this be when three goalies from moorhead make it? As is in most things, the league has politics up the wazoo, and i believe that the players who are succeeding from this, would succeed anyway." I think the point is, would you prefer they succeed at their HS or in the USHL?

slapshooter · Post by **slapshooter** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:58 am

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

packerboy · Post by **packerboy** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:16 pm

mnshock29, You are takin credit for the 50 D1 players? You are taking credit for the NHL draftees? There may have been a few players and coaches who made these kids what they are today and it wasnt a result of elitism. For you to associate the success of these kids with your elite league is a crock. The previous fall leagues werent viable? For who? Too many players? Too many for who and what? I have never heard any body associated with hockey development say we had to many players What we are watching right now is not elite hockey. What we are watching right now and what came before it is the reason we have 200+ kids in D1 hockey. Again, I dont care if you have an Elite league. But you take way too much credit and it damages the credibility of it. Its like reading the camp brochures at the rink that promise a "whole seasons worth of ice time" in just 2 short weeks. Right , you are going to develop a kid in 2 weeks the same as the youth program just did from Oct to March. I think you are doing the same thing.

blackeye · Post by **blackeye** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:20 pm

Look around people we already have AAA hockey for all season. It's called open enrollment and Private Schools....

edinagreen · Post by **edinagreen** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 12:54 pm

Will Tonly Lucia play in the USHL next fall instead of the Elite League? Will he play in the USHL instead of his senior year of high school? Say anything you want about the value of the Elite League keeping players from leaving high school for the USHL, what will we be left to think of the value of the Elite League if the University of Minnesota's coach sends his son to the USHL insteadof the Elite League or high school? It'll be good enough for everybody else but not the Minnesota coach's son? Let's all wait and see. Then we can decide if we want to continue pretending the Elite League keeps more than a small number of Mr. Hockey candidates from accelerating their hockey development. EG

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