A NEW POTENTIAL OPTION FOR WOMENS HOCKEY

Media · Post by **Media** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 6:52 am

http://www.greenway.k12.mn.us/ghs/Quickskills/

Check this website for a potential new option for the ladies wishing to continue their hockey career FOLLOWING high school in MInnesota. Then still having 4 years of eligibility left at the college level. Similar to a boys Jr program, check it out tryout information will soon be available.

eastsidehockey · Post by **eastsidehockey** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:55 am

sounds pretty cool!

hocktang · Post by **hocktang** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 2:56 pm

Well... if girls are good enough to play in college, then they will play and not need to play "juniors".

hockeygod · Post by **hockeygod** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:24 pm

I don't see it working very well because your talent pool consists of girls that wern't smart enough to take the normal route to college or not good enough to play hockey in college. If your going to do this I recommend following the Thoroughbreds model and try to make it an alternative hockey team to High school.

MNHockeyFan · Post by **MNHockeyFan** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 3:43 pm

I think it's a good idea but the potential may be limited if the team is based in Grand Rapids and most practices are held in that area. There would be a much larger pool of girls who might be interested in the Twin Cities.

eastsidehockey · Post by **eastsidehockey** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:05 pm

If your going to do this I recommend following the Thoroughbreds model and try to make it an alternative hockey team to High school.

From what i understand this is to promote HS hockey not deter girls from playing it. I personally dont see the appeal in Thoroughbreds, i mean this is the state of hockey and although girls HS hockey doesnt get the following of boys, the boys had to start somewhere as well. I think this is a great idea, have girls play HS hockey but i would say there are some tweeners between DI and DIII that WANT to play DI but need skill enhancement. Why do you think boys go player JR's? Because they have the ability to play DI but are not ready.

I think it's a good idea but the potential may be limited if the team is based in Grand Rapids and most practices are held in that area. There would be a much larger pool of girls who might be interested in the Twin Cities.

Sounds like the appealing part is that they can take courses and play hockey, and yet still have college eligibility. So your not "wasting" your academics by taking this step to play hockey. Correct me if i am wrong but i do believe Itasca Community college is one of the best in the state for 2-year colleges. Granted it will be a tough sell for girls in the metro to make the trip up north, or that may be the sell?

get away from the metro.

boblee · Post by **boblee** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:25 pm

This would be like a junior team. These girls would move to Grand Rapids to participate. It would likely draw very well from Canada, ND/SD, Wisconsin. There are many girls who want to play D1 hockey but may not be really ready in a hockey sense. This is the choice for them. It is a great idea.

HOCKEYFREAK · Post by **HOCKEYFREAK** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 7:26 am

This is a great idea...There have been many post grad. Kids on the Thoroughbred's....To make this team more than a "Post Grad" & apply the Thoroughbred model would take an act of God with MN Hockey. Girls hockey has grown to the point where more than just prep options should be available, the rest of the world seems to think that way!

eastsidehockey · Post by **eastsidehockey** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 8:45 am

really what is wrong with giving girls this option?

Promotes HS hockey and gives options and college credit, while keeping 4 years of eligibility, to play hockey!

hawkyfan · Post by **hawkyfan** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:40 am

This is an awesome idea for womens hockey! As for any nay-sayers, you must also be against mens Junior leagues huh? Guess those 'unskilled, not smart enough young men should just hang up their skates too eh? Didn't make D1 or D3 their first year out of HS so they aren't any good?????? Get over yourselves! This is an awesome chance to bring some excellant hockey to northern MN and not have to have it all based out of the cities as well as a super oppurtunity for some young ladies! Looking forward to this happening here in the GR area and at the IRA arena!

SportsMa · Post by **SportsMa** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 10:04 am

A benefit that has not been mentioned yet is quite simply that this would give the girls another year of playing hockey in their careers.

Northern Minnesota is a great venue for this opportunity and should have a nice talent pool to draw from. Getting some of the basic academics done during that time would likely only help when they transferred to a four year in terms of the course load. Hard to understand why anyone would be against another option for our girls' hockey players to look at.

I wish Claftons well as they pursue this opportunity through the various requirements of all organizations involved.

goalzilla · Post by **goalzilla** » Fri Dec 14, 2007 11:55 am

I agree, great idea! Somtimes more options are necessary. A player can do everything right to try to make it to the college level, but let's say you are a goalie on a team fortunate enough to have multiple goalie talent with college potential; some of those kids wont get exposure until their senior season and may need that extra year to get scout exposure. Also with the change in HS tranfer elgibility rules this year I think it may be possible we see more teams such as the thourhbreds form; not only at U19 level but possibly U16 still giving kids the option of playing where they want to play not where they are mandated to. New rule may actually hurt HS programs more top level talent may leave HS programs and go to such independant teams. This is a totally different subject thread we might need to start. Back on subject a post-HS program will be a good thing.

Central · Post by **Central** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:03 pm

Nice idea to give the girls more options. With the talent pool becoming deeper and deeper in girls hockey, it will be interesting to see how this takes off.

Media · Post by **Media** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:17 am

We continue to make preliminary arrangments for implementation pending the outcome of the Minnesota hockey meeting. Team staff are being positioned and legal and accounting practices put in place in preparation. Support continues to run high and we remain optimistic. Watchthis and the QuickSkills website for on going updates. Questions can be addressed to me at 218-259-2503.

Tyev · Post by **Tyev** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:45 am

[quote="boblee"]This would be like a junior team. These girls would move to Grand Rapids to participate. It would likely draw very well from Canada, ND/SD, Wisconsin. There are many girls who want to play D1 hockey but may not be really ready in a hockey sense. This is the choice for them. It is a great idea.[/quote]

I agree great idea. As for drawing from Canada? There is a womens junior league based in Winnipeg Mb. In the end, its a personal choice.

Hux · Post by **Hux** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:19 pm

hockeygod wrote:I don't see it working very well because your talent pool consists of girls that wern't smart enough to take the normal route to college or not good enough to play hockey in college. If your going to do this I recommend following the Thoroughbreds model and try to make it an alternative hockey team to High school.

I would think for this very reason it would work well. There are many athletes (in various sports) that realize too late that they needed to put more effort into their schoolwork. And there are others that needed to put more effort into their athletic careers. And as has been noted, there are those that slip through the cracks or are late bloomers. (Grant Standbrook found Dustin Penner playing for a local team while attending Junior college. He blossomed at Maine, became a free agent upon graduating and signed with Anaheim. Wins a Stanley Cup in his second season, and goes on to sign a ridiculous contract with Edmonton)

Having an option like this, especially with the educational aspect, will allow those players a second chance at realizing their dream, or at the very least allow them to continue playing competitive hockey while they work towards a degree.

Media · Post by **Media** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:54 pm

Today at the Minnesota Hockey Winter meetings Minnesota Hockey approved and supported the Minnesota Crunch Proposal. The Team will only take players who have completed their highschool eligibility regardless of state or country. Applications have already began to come in for the April 5th and 6th tryout in Grand Rapids. Contact Dan Clafton at 218 259 2503 for more information . Also in attendance at this years meeting was the President of USA hockey. I would like to express my appreciation to all of those at Minnesota Hockey for thier support in making this effort come alive .

SportsMa · Post by **SportsMa** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:15 am

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! Good luck as you continue to plan for this inaugural season!!

Media · Post by **Media** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 2:15 pm

All players who will graduate this Spring are invited to Tryout for the Minnesota Crunch Winter U-19 team . Tryouts are April 5th and 6th at Grand Rapids. Applications can be obtained by calling 218 259-2503 The team will consist of 20 players , play 40 games, receive an equiptment package travel, must attend community college and take 5 but no more than 11 credits Call for all the additional details. looking for players at all positions

chickendance · Post by **chickendance** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:30 pm

Great idea! I hope it draws the qualities your looking for. I can't see this as a big draw for Canadians either. They have more similar options to choose from.

I hope it spurs additional growth.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:44 pm

It is already spurring action with USA Hockey to develop policy and procedures for women junior league (similar to the mens side) rather than having to classify them as 19U.

boblee · Post by **boblee** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:06 pm

elliott70 wrote:It is already spurring action with USA Hockey to develop policy and procedures for women junior league (similar to the mens side) rather than having to classify them as 19U.

That would be a great thing. Only problem is, there would probably be only 6-8 teams. Maybe not even that many to begin with.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:17 pm

boblee wrote:
elliott70 wrote:It is already spurring action with USA Hockey to develop policy and procedures for women junior league (similar to the mens side) rather than having to classify them as 19U.
That would be a great thing. Only problem is, there would probably be only 6-8 teams. Maybe not even that many to begin with.

I think the initial goal is 6 teams - maybe 3 or 4 in the midwest and 3 or 4 on the east coast.
8 would be the top end for a while as more girls gear up to this level and of course, teh college #'s need to bump up a bit, also.

SportsMa · Post by **SportsMa** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:31 pm

Have to start somewhere even if it is only with a few teams!

boblee · Post by **boblee** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:41 pm

SportsMa wrote:Have to start somewhere even if it is only with a few teams!

Good point.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

A NEW POTENTIAL OPTION FOR WOMENS HOCKEY

I would be interested in this option if it was avaialble

A NEW POTENTIAL OPTION FOR WOMENS HOCKEY

post 8861

Great idea

update

Re: post 8861

Crunch approved by Minnesota Hockey

Minnesota Crunch

post 9662

Re: post 9662

post 9676