STA to field BB1 team for 07-08?

[original6]

Heard a rumor. Wondering if anyone can confirm

[Pucknutz69]

looks like the start of the old Catholic school league.

They have asked to play D-8. I think they should be forced to play at the A level, Breck or Benilde should too. Which ever school has the B Bantam.

[original6]

That would be Blake

[Around the boards]

Haven;t heard for sure...I know Minnehaha Academy had a BB team last year. It's a way for private schools to offer a hockey program to students in that age group. This way the can play with the kids they go to school with and not have to actually play in the community they live in.

[Neutron 14]

looks like the start of the old Catholic school league.

They have asked to play D-8. I think they should be forced to play at the A level, Breck or Benilde should too. Which ever school has the B Bantam.

Its my understanding Minnesota Hockey doesn't allow them to have an A team. B level is allowed for the reasons mentioned by Around the boards.

[cclavin]

SPA has asked permission to have a team, too.

[WASABEMIDJIFAN]

The reason they wont let them play A hockey is because many of the best players wont play there if they are playing B hockey. It bothers Minnesota Hockey that the privates recruit at the highschool level and dont want them to get an even earlier start. I think its wrong though. I think the more programs and opportunities available the better. Shame on MN hock.

[keepyourheadup]

Can't see where it really makes a difference if they have a team or at what level it would play. St. Lakeville...I mean St. Thomas will be fine either way. Maybe it would save the students a little money on association fees to off set the cost of a 50,000 dollar high school education. If my count is accurate there will be at least 6 sophomore or freshman hockey players from Lakeville attending STA this year. Tough pill for lakeville to swallow but just the way things are these days. Best of luck to all of them. Hope they have enough jerseys, last I heard they actually have a few kids that can play allready there.

[Around the boards]

They should play at no higher than a B1 level.....allowing private schools to field peewee and bantams teams has nothing to do with creating additional opportunities. It's about not allowing private schools to field "AAA" or All-Star teams since MN Hockey is basically community-based programs. The players who want to play for the private school's peewee or bantam team are not being denied an opportunity to play, they can still play the game, only in the community they live in.

[freighttrain]

It was brought up at the last D8 board meeting and they voted it down to allow them play in D8.

[cclavin]

It was brought up at the last D8 board meeting and they voted it down to allow them play in D8.

But told them they could talk with D1.

[jancze5]

How far fetched is it that the Private Schools get together and create an
independant middle school league....despite Minnesota Hockey or anything else...what's stopping them?

Not being a pessimist, just wondering why they couldn't...

how many Privates have 7/8th graders?...If you had 8 schools around the TC's and toss in Shattuck for kicks...you suddenly have a 9 team league capable of playing probably a 8x4 schedule...home and away...you get 32 games...sounds like a possibility if someone was willing to get all the AD's and schools on line and run with it...then the Minnesota Made Mite AAAAAAAAAA program suddenly becomes a middle school recruiting ground for a 7th grade full ride (joking guys RELAX)...

[cclavin]

Far fetched? No. Heck, the CAA had a hockey league this year, about 8-9 schools from St. Paul and 'burbs had teams.
The problem is if at team isn't registered with MN/USA Hockey they can't play in tournaments or scrimmage other teams in the area. If not for that....

Off the top of me head, private high schools that have 7th/8th graders (and I'm sure I'm missing some)
BSM
STA
H-M
SPA
Minnehaha
Breck
Blake
Mounds Park
St. Bernards
St. Agnes

[Pucknutz69]

There used to be such a league. You could play for your private school and your local association.

Teams like
St Bernards
St Pascals
St Angnes


all had teams that played 7th and 8th grade hockey.

[Pucknutz69]

Far fetched? No. Heck, the CAA had a hockey league this year, about 8-9 schools from St. Paul and 'burbs had teams.
The problem is if at team isn't registered with MN/USA Hockey they can't play in tournaments or scrimmage other teams in the area. If not for that....

Off the top of me head, private high schools that have 7th/8th graders (and I'm sure I'm missing some)
BSM
STA
H-M
SPA
Minnehaha
Breck
Blake
Mounds Park
St. Bernards
St. Agnes

add
Totino Grace
Providence
Holy Family
Roch Lourdes
Duluth Marshall
St Cloud Cathedral
Cretin
Roseau......sorry I was thinking recruiting schools

[skillbuilder]

Based on this topic, the MM mites, and some other winter venues there are rumblings of, it appears club hockey will need to begin offering a better product pretty quick. Those that do already like Edina, have less to worry about. I don't think most clubs can change their spots overnight which would nip this in the bud to a great degree.

To all the board members of clubs who visit this forum and read this, it's time to end the political shinanigans, find coaches that have a passion for developing kids, and get your high school coaches better involved or the alternative hockey venues that are popping up will stick, and will impact your clubs in a variety of ways down the road. History has shown that revolt is common in supressed cultures (or sub-cultures in this case) The competition will likely be good for youth hockey in the long run but there will be a lot of angry words, denial, and discredidation as seen by the varied responses within the above mentioned topics. The only thing certain in life is change and it appears to be on the horizon. MN Hockey can and I believe will continue to improve their product and we will continue to be able to claim ourselves as the state of hockey.