Hibbing Hockey- What happened?

[Mightydog]

Item of thought- Class AA to A ? Did the population drop off the map or just the level of hockey? Rumor has it that If Davey Johhnson was coach of the varsity the Navy and White would be hoisting banners in the rafters of the Memorial. I don't ever remember the Bantams losing to many games - but I could be way off!

[AngusYoung]

The 'Jackets haven't done jack ship since Michelleti and Krmpotich took off the HHS sweater.

AY

[theref]

Just like almost all programs, especially small northern schools, there are going to be up and down periods. I'm sure they will recover and be just fine.

[Mightydog]

But with the history of their Bantam teams something seems off kilter?

[AngusYoung]

But with the history of their Bantam teams something seems off kilter?

They all left to go to Virginia!

AY

[elliott70]

But with the history of their Bantam teams something seems off kilter?

What's Hibbing's recent bantam history?
GR has been #1 in the DIR (12) for quite sometime.

[nikebauer_07]

I don't think they are having any problems at the varsity level. They have been in the section 7A finals for the last 5 years, gone to the State Tournament twice, and could have gone again last year but they had the top team in the state to beat with Hermantown. I saw a few of Hibbing's Bantam games last year and I thought they were absolutely terrible. Decenzo always has a team ready come playoff time.

[eastsidehockey]

speaking of down years from time to time when is greenway gonna get out their funk? Are they A or AA?

[Goldy Gopher]

speaking of down years from time to time when is greenway gonna get out their funk? Are they A or AA?

They are in section 7A

[Hockeyguy_27]

speaking of down years from time to time when is greenway gonna get out their funk? Are they A or AA?

They are in section 7A

It is a shame the Iron Range just doesn't have the population it once did. Many of the old power-house schools have fallen off and some don't even have teams anymore or have teams that are marginal at best.

[eastsidehockey]

It is true, areanas are becoming ghost towns. Programs will seriously have to look into mergin in the near future on the range

[koko0011]

Would have to agree that Hibbing hockey has gone downhill somewhat and it does have something to do with playing single A.

At some point the guys decided that they did not want to compete at the highest level (Hibbing was never required to play AA when they were in the late 90's - they had to petition like roseau does now).
Playing single A takes you out of the spotlight a little and it is also a mindset - these guys that are there no are not as competitive and do not have the goals that prior teams did.
Hibbing had some great teams in the late 90's - regarded by most as top 5 teams in AA although they didn't make the tourneys due to a Duluth East team that had one loss and one tie (the tie coming to Hibbing during the regular season and the loss coming in the state championship) and an Elk River team with Paul Martin in 99 who lost in the state semis. So the comment about Hibbing doing nothing since Krampotich and Michelletti is not accurate.

As far as Davey Johnson coaching and having success, it is probably true. Arguably one of the more successful youth coaches in recent memory... would that have translated to high school?

I would agree that the bantam team has not been dominate in the last 10 years or so. They won some state championships in the mid 90's - the same teams that had success in AA high school.

By the way... Davey Johnson is now coaching bantams again with his youngest kid there now.

[nikebauer_07]

Hibbing would get smoked if they played AA. Look at last years Roseau game in Hibbing. Yeah, it's a lot different playing A vs AA, but I just don't think Hibbing has enough kids in the program to put out a competitive AA team every year. What's Davey Johnson going to do better than Decenzo? Just sounds like some unhappy parents complaining to me...

[TheHockeyDJ]

Grand Rapids is similar in size and they were not competitive in the late 90's early 00's. Still I was glad they atleast tried to play AA instead of throwing up the white flag. I think in some of the more recent seasons Hibbing would have atleast made it to the semi's at the DECC in 7AA and would have been competitive. I know as a fan of GR I am just too accustomed to Rapids competing in AA. If they dropped down to A it just wouldn't be the same anymore. My interest would be completely gone.

[east hockey]

Grand Rapids is similar in size and they were not competitive in the late 90's early 00's. Still I was glad they atleast tried to play AA instead of throwing up the white flag. I think in some of the more recent seasons Hibbing would have atleast made it to the semi's at the DECC in 7AA and would have been competitive. I know as a fan of GR I am just too accustomed to Rapids competing in AA. If they dropped down to A it just wouldn't be the same anymore. My interest would be completely gone.

Fans of East and Cloquet feel the same way, no doubt. It's clear to them that AA is the class they want to play in. As to Hibbing, my memory might be a little fuzzy, but weren't the players asked to decide that issue when they decided to step down to Class A? As I recall, Mark Decenzo was certainly not in favor of the move.

Other than what I recall from that situation, I don't know what the numbers have done in the Hibbing youth program over the past several years, but they've certainly been competitive in 7A. Whether that would translate into being successful in 7AA is a different question.

Lee

[Golden Bear 10]

Hibbing only lost to Duluth East 5-4 in 2004 and 2005. They beat Moorhead 3-0 in 2004 and lost to Moorhead 3-1 in 2005. I don't see Hibbings Bantams ranked anymore. When I drove through hibbing a couple of years ago, there were still alot of kids on the rinks. though the population is still about the same, Their enrollment is slightly declining.

[rangehockey14]

Hibbing is a good fit for 7A and Mark recognized that... and no, he was not in favor of the move to Class AA. I don't blame them either. Hibbing is in a competitive 7A every year with Virginia, Hermantown, Falls, and theres always that darkhorse every year. Although Hermantown left this year they now have a good Marshall squad to compete with. They're happy where they are in 7A but at the same time keeping 9 or 10 good Class AA games on the schedule.

[uidahohockey]

I played for Davey Johnson for two years while in Bantams (with a state VFW championship my first year), and I must say he would get results. However, with the way things are now (i.e. strict by the book administrators, and just plain old whiney parents) I don't think he'd make it. I don't see anything wrong with the way DeCenzo is coaching now though. Davey will turn the Bantam A program around and by doing that he will be helping DeCenzo build better hockey teams.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been told a key reason for the subpar youth teams in Hibbing is because a few years ago parents starting whining about the lack of games in the younger level. And to pacify parents they added more games and cut away from skills. That could be totally wrong, I just moved back to town after 7yrs, but that's what I was told.

[eastsidehockey]

For years Hibbing had great bantam teams that didnt translate into anything for HS. You have schools like Roseau and even Greenway in the past that do not even compare in enrollment size but played AA, although greenway is now A?

Does anyone know the actual enrollment at Hibbing?

[Jackets_19]

For years Hibbing had great bantam teams that didnt translate into anything for HS. You have schools like Roseau and even Greenway in the past that do not even compare in enrollment size but played AA, although greenway is now A?

Does anyone know the actual enrollment at Hibbing?

752

[elliott70]

If the new steel mill gets built that will help all of the range with more than just hockey.

[metroplayers=state champs]

The falls boys up there should have a heck of a year boy should be fun to watch and keep track of them!!!!!! FOR YEARS TO COME

[rangehockey14]

falls boys?

[east hockey]

falls boys?

Meh. He got confused and thought this topic was about the Broncos.

Lee

[nikebauer_07]

The falls boys up there should have a heck of a year boy should be fun to watch and keep track of them!!!!!! FOR YEARS TO COME

Nice third post..