Whats going on in Stillwater?

PointBlank · Post by **PointBlank** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:01 pm

A private school kid tried to leave Stillwater earlier this year. He was a B player who wanted to play with his friends on the private school B bantam team, and Stillwater refused to give him a waiver. Don't want them, don't want to let them go....

carpenterguy · Post by **carpenterguy** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 3:03 pm

PointBlank wrote:A private school kid tried to leave Stillwater earlier this year. He was a B player who wanted to play with his friends on the private school B bantam team, and Stillwater refused to give him a waiver. Don't want them, don't want to let them go....

That makes No sense!

original6 · Post by **original6** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 9:39 pm

That makes No sense![/quote]

That makes perfect sense. The kid tried out for the assoc "A" bantam team and didn't make it(probably because he goes to a private school) so he decided to go and play for his schools "B" bantam team rather than the assoc. "B" team.

If you don't want your assoc. "developing" private school kids they should be given a waiver so they can go play with their schools "B" team.

You don't want them, but you don't want to let them go go.

Stillwater continues to step in it.

tuffpucker · Post by **tuffpucker** » Sat Oct 20, 2007 10:41 pm

I did not know that private schools had youth hockey teams???????????
Is this new?????

Charliedog · Post by **Charliedog** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 7:21 pm

I don't know how much of this story is fact and how much is rumor and/or sour grapes, but here is what I heard today.

Last year's A bantam starting goalie was a 1st year bantam. This year he did not make the A team. According to the rumor mill, when Housley found out the kid was attending Hill-Murray he insisted that the kid not be selected and instead chose a goalie who would be guarenteed to attend Stillwater High School.

Something just doesn't seem rigt at this association!

Rocket78 · Post by **Rocket78** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:30 pm

Hey I watched the last 10 minutes of Stillwater vs Rochester this weekend. Both teams looked a little out of synch but nothing time on the ice won't fix. The ponies seem to be weathering their preseason storm pretty well.

hockey411 · Post by **hockey411** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:30 am

About the stillwater goalie, it's true, Housley didn't want him, made a big stink to the "A" coach, they had words and rumor has it, that was part of the reason he quit and then came back a few days later. Same things are happening with the girls program too. Scheid has issues with family members of some of the coaches and has blacked balled them from coaching in the program. Too bad, they are losing some real good coaches and rumor has it the program is in big trouble. Since when do the HS coaches run the association and why are people afraid to stand up to them? Is it because everyone on the boards have kids skating for these guys? Anyone hear about any of this?

Off2Hockey · Post by **Off2Hockey** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:13 pm

About the stillwater goalie, it's true, Housley didn't want him, made a big stink to the "A" coach, they had words and rumor has it, that was part of the reason he quit and then came back a few days later. Same things are happening with the girls program too. Scheid has issues with family members of some of the coaches and has blacked balled them from coaching in the program. Too bad, they are losing some real good coaches and rumor has it the program is in big trouble. Since when do the HS coaches run the association and why are people afraid to stand up to them? Is it because everyone on the boards have kids skating for these guys? Anyone hear about any of this?

All true with a bit of a twist. Turns out the NEW A Bantam coach does a bunch of business with a certain builder. Turns out he sells a ton of lumber to the the first year goalie they took. Think that had anyting to do with cutting a second year returning goalie that started the majority of the games last year? The other goalie that "made it" is the god son of the NEW A Bantam coach.

Best thing to do is boycot Stillwater Boys Hockey. Dump them from your tournament, refuse to scrimmage them. All Bantam coaches need to protect themselfs from tyranical HS coaches like Housley. Just ask the one Stillwater blew up in the spring of 07!

Pucknutz69 · Post by **Pucknutz69** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 6:45 am

Yeap boycott the team because of the coaches. That is the reason parents shouldn't be let in the arena any more. Leave them alone and let Stillwater work out thier issues. Yes it was sad to see the Bantam A coach lose his spot but he wasn't paid and their are other teams that would love a successful coach like him. I think some people are making this a bigger deal then it really is due to the fact that it might involve Housley. Unless you were there you don't know what happened.

jancze5 · Post by **jancze5** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 7:30 am

"I think some people are making this a bigger deal then it really is due to the fact that it might involve Housley".............

I think some people are making this a bigger deal than it is because it involves a 14 year old getting screwed by some idiot adult. And yes, in this case, its involves an idiot adult..no matter what his background may be...

It's a big deal because that young man dedicated his whole youth hockey life to the organization NOT to the flippin high school, only to have years of friendships, practice, games and dedication go down the tubes..

It's a big deal because this young man's parents want him to attend Hill Murray for reasons OTHER THAN HOCKEY..imagine that. I would rather send my child to a private school with an 1/8 of the students on campus and a much higher college entrance rate...go figure! Hill Murray has 100+ or so kids walking around that "play" hockey...only 40 or so will play with a jersey sporting HM on it...the schools boasts a population far beyond that.

It's a big deal because this goaltender is lights out above the player taken and was THE MAIN reason last year's Bantam A team stayed afloat.

BLUF: this kid got axed for the wrong reasons and I applaud the Coach for trying to stand up for him..

tourneytickssince59 · Post by **tourneytickssince59** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:07 am

Word around the rink is that the A bantam team is having a hard time getting teams to scrimmage them and getting their tournament entrance forms returned to them. It's sad to see long time SAHA supporters kids get the shaft because of what school they attend.

wannagototherink · Post by **wannagototherink** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:04 pm

tourneytickssince59 wrote:Word around the rink is that the A bantam team is having a hard time getting teams to scrimmage them and getting their tournament entrance forms returned to them. It's sad to see long time SAHA supporters kids get the shaft because of what school they attend.

It is too bad that the kids got screwed out of having one of the best bantam a coaches in the state as their coach. I was at the Centennial event going on this weekend and listening from the outside all the coaches were still in full support of their boycott of the Stillwater program. For those who don't know the former sw coach is now an asst. at White Bear and from what I've heard the kids and the program are excited as can be that they are there.

I can tell you want else I observed...those coaches are tight. I heard several of them talking about their high school coaches asking them to bend on the boycott and it was obvious not one of them is going to give in. I even heard them talk about sending letters before the firing came down warning the board this was going to happen and they still did it. I heard one of the coaches say, "what they thought we were bluffing?" It is kind of interesting if you think about...

you had the Duluth, WBL, EP, Cent, Shattuck, and Edina coaches all there standing firm and not one of them was worried the high school coach was going to oust them because they didn't do what they were told. The best part is, everyone of the high school coaches at those programs have had a great deal more success at the high school level as a coach than Housley has ever come close to having.

From the sounds of it the stillwater board blew it big time. They also picked one helluva year to do it, because stillwater had a lot of potential for this year at the bantam level.

Personally, I applaud the coaches for sticking together and standing up for one another. Youth coches have very little protection from their boards and parents with agendas. Maybe the next association will think twice before running a volunteer coach out because someone doesn't agree with his/her philosophy

fanatichockeyguy · Post by **fanatichockeyguy** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 8:32 pm

as a stillwater fan all i have to say is that stillwater really messed up on this one, now all of their best players left. Talk about shootin yourself in the foot my god. The high school team deserves all the losing seasons ahead of them, as for the kids i feel sorry for them because they are paying for other peoples mistakes. And my hat is off to the former A bantam coach, i dont care what anyone else says the guy was one of a kind. Good luck to him and to the boys of Stillwater

"Some people change, some don't"
Lets hope that the people behind this are willing to change

Off2Hockey · Post by **Off2Hockey** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:25 pm

Yup, Stillwater really messed up this time. Too bad. The "premier" Bantam A hockey team that every player wanted to make prior to playing high school is no more.

What's really hilarious is the youth assoc president let his kid tryout for the team 2 years in a row. The kid never made the team and he was the first one to back Housley to get the coach fired. With that mission accomplished, he promptly resigned leaving the assoc in the hands of a rookie. (Oh, did I mention that his kid will be playing for Housley?)

The next idiot parent, former VP of the assoc is on the traveling committee and actually allowed his kid to play for the A team 2 years in a row and then blamed the coach for the kids' emotional problems. He will also be playing for Housley this year.

It's the way they went about running the coach that was all wrong and has resulted in the present situation. It's a simple case of adults behaving badly and the kids and the entire association will suffer the consequences.

all4hockey · Post by **all4hockey** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:42 am

Yeap boycott the team because of the coaches. That is the reason parents shouldn't be let in the arena any more. Leave them alone and let Stillwater work out thier issues. Yes it was sad to see the Bantam A coach lose his spot but he wasn't paid and their are other teams that would love a successful coach like him. I think some people are making this a bigger deal then it really is due to the fact that it might involve Housley. Unless you were there you don't know what happened.

I was there last year and know what happened. It was a big deal and unfortunately the childish behavior has continued. The fact that people are still talking about it doesn’t surprise me. It’s incredible how Coach Tolle was treated. What a waste of talent to let him go all for the fact that he stuck up for the HM kid.

Being a member of the SAHA, I am sad to see the present state of affairs. I honestly thought last year’s captain issue would have taught many people a valuable lesson. Yet history repeats itself with another HM kid-- this time, not even getting a chance to play after doing such a great job in the nets last year as an A-Bantam.

People say it’s terrible to boycott the Stillwater program as the kids suffer, but this behavior will only continue unless others are willing to stand up to the high school coach and let the youth association operate independently as its bylaws state it should.

I’m glad the other Bantam coaches are behind Tolle. It’s good some people have the guts to stand up for what’s right. It's more than I can say for the Stillwater hockey board.

White Bear Lake definitely got a winner in Coach Tollefsbol. Go Bears!

Pucknutz69 · Post by **Pucknutz69** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:47 am

So a 14 year old can't make any memories or have fun playing at the B level? Like everyone on this board states "If you are good enough they will find you." Lets just put this to the test.

Stillwater will be just fine they have plenty of transfers and OE kids there now. They have lost kids to Hill for years and will continue to do so.

all4hockey · Post by **all4hockey** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:51 am

So a 14 year old can't make any memories or have fun playing at the B level? Like everyone on this board states "If you are good enough they will find you." Lets just put this to the test.

Stillwater will be just fine they have plenty of transfers and OE kids there now. They have lost kids to Hill for years and will continue to do so.

You missed the point. Of course you can have fun at the B level. We were talking about the SAHA and HS coach making a debacle of the A-Bantam team and cutting their "A" goalie from last year. He should go to the B level because he goes to Hill?

Yes, Stillwater has been "losing" kids to Hill for years, but you have to admit this past year was exceptional as far as number of kids leaving.

ExCollHockGuy · Post by **ExCollHockGuy** » Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:05 pm

.....

wannagototherink · Post by **wannagototherink** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:05 am

[quote="ExCollHockGuy"]"Personally, I applaud the coaches for sticking together and standing up for one another. Youth coches have very little protection from their boards and parents with agendas. Maybe the next association will think twice before running a volunteer coach out because someone doesn't agree with his/her philosophy"

Think we are missing the real point here.... Who is losing out in all of this? The kids. Im sure just being able to practice and not play any teams is great for the kids. They should be applauded? Please. Who are they to tell these kids who they can play, and send back checks for tournements.... Are you kidding. Sorry to break it, but A Bantam coaches are not that special. One of Cent's coaches, didnt even pull a high school jersey over his head in his life..... Who are they kidding to boycott kids!![/quote/]

I don't think you get it. The kids aren't losing their ability to play games. They just aren't being played against those certain teams. Which I believe is any teams perogative when it comes to who they schedule. If you want to blame someone, blame the Stillwater board. They have actually taken away oppurtunities from kids...cutting the returning goalie because he goes to a private school for one. No matter how you shake it, it is still the Stillwater board that screwed up. They are discriminating against kids because of where they choose to go to school. The coaches who run these tournaments trust each other to bring their teams in and that those teams will conduct themselves as gentlemen on the ice and off the ice.

Fire and Ice · Post by **Fire and Ice** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:30 am

who says there not special...you excollhockeyguy? By the way over 90% of youth hockey players never done the HS sweater. And the percentage could be higher from program to program. Just another disgruntled parent talking smack. Stillwater blew it and there are a couple more that have followed suit. I'll bet your an ex college hockey guy

more like a ........ parent.

Charliedog · Post by **Charliedog** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 6:50 am

The three Stillwater A bantams who left to go to Hill (2 this year and 1 last year) all made the JV or Varsity team.

my2cents · Post by **my2cents** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:49 pm

So we are left with....

From the players point of view, they should NOT be discriminated against as a youth hockey participant by their association.

From the Association boards point of view, it is up to them to decide who to put on A teams.

From the HS coach's point of view, we need our associations to develop those players who will eventually play for that School's program.

Bottom line. The association has the final say. Parents have remidiation opportunity through their local district director and eventually Minnesota Hockey. Not every association will treat the kids the same, nor should they be expected to. "Fairness" is in the eye of the beholder and therefore an illogical argument.

I do have a philisophical problem when a player is not allowed to particpate at the A level due to enrolling in a private school, AND, the association will not release him. That just plain stinks. Whether or not this happens, I cannot say, even though there are mentions of that on this thread.

I also have a problem if associations boycott other associations for tournament entries. That is just childish. Again, whether or not this really happens, I cannot say.

I also have a problem with a gifted player that decides to play Bantam A for part of the season while fully intending to try out for a HS/JV team. If that player signs up for Bantams as a backup plan in case they might not make the HS/JV team, then they are not of the quality ready to make that jump, and the Bantam level is probably best for them anyway. If they are obviously of the quality to make a HS/JV team, then don't hurt your teammates and coaches by taking a spot away for part of a season and creating a domino effect for the players and coaches of the B levels.

ExCollHockGuy · Post by **ExCollHockGuy** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:13 am

I didnt really put alot of solid points in my last post. So please see below.

1. I am not a parent, and far from it.

You can look at the situation in a few ways, and I think the above post made some great points. Thanks for the post. I enjoyed it.

I would like to start by saying that I am in no way connected to Stillwater. I am actually connected to an associtation who will not play this team. I understand that there are teams who will play them, but lets get something out there. How does a player get better?

If I played 20 games a season vs. very very very subpar teams, do I really challenge myself as a player to get better? If everything comes easy to me and my team, do we really accomplish anything? If the top teams in the state wont play me, what are my options? Play subpar teams, and get subpar results.

I played the game long enough to know these things. Why do you think coaches want to get in the best tourns? Well lets see, good teams are there. You want t to play good teams, and when the top teams boycott you, do you really improve, challenge youself, your team?

I think not.

Pucknutz69 · Post by **Pucknutz69** » Sat Nov 17, 2007 10:15 am

So it is okay to "blackball" 16 other players due to 1 kid? How does that make sense? You are acting like this kid is the next Brodeur or something. What about the B kid that was moved up to replace him he gets to develop now with better kids and coaching. And as for the Waiver it is a D2 rule that they will not issue waivers to go play else where in thier district. Read their rule book. Also from what everyone is saying he goes to Hill correct since when does Hill have a Bantam team???

People are adding their own little spin on this whole story. Last year Housley voiced his opinion about the captians and walked away from it, this year it seems to have effected only 1 player. This stuff happens in more aasociations where kids make the A team and are moved to B the next year for various reasons, this just has a "Equirer" type feel for it due to Housley's involvment.

fan4thegame · Post by **fan4thegame** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:48 pm

Charliedog wrote:The three Stillwater A bantams who left to go to Hill (2 this year and 1 last year) all made the JV or Varsity team.

There were 4 that left this year and 1 was already attending last year. The number would be 6 and 2 if you count the girls now attending Hill.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Whats going on in Stillwater?

Puck

it is too bad...

I will be more clear.