A State Tournament Proposal: Consider the Possibilities...

[OgieOglethorpe]

Here is an idea - give it some thought and see what you think:
The two-class format is designed to be more inclusive to the state tournament experience. Fine. Classes are divided by enrollment, which though not perfect, is probably the best way to divide classes simply because its uniform though certainly not perfect, is at least standardized. Fine. The private versus public debate continues as it has for decades, and will never go away. Given. Fifteen years after the single class system was scrapped, the debate rages. Here is a proposal that perhaps deserves some merit and consideration.

Retained:
* Two class system, divided by enrollment
* State tournament experience for 16 teams
* The seeding process at state
* In some years a 'AA' and 'A' championship (see below)
Avoided:
* Unfortunate early round match ups (Edina v. Litchfield or Roseau v. Academy of the Sisters of the Poor)
* The issue of schools that 'should play up/down' in the attempt at winning a state title by playing the 'class system (AA v. A)
NEW:
* The potential for a SINGLE 'TRUE' State champion in some years, or (as current) a 'AA' champ and 'A' champ
* The best of AA and best of A play each other on Friday and potentially Saturday

PROPOSED MSHSL BOYS STATE HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIPS
* AA and A teams are seeded 1-8.
* AA and A teams are grouped in fours to ensure AA/AA and A/A matchups for first two days; crossover games DO NOT occur in Sweet Sixteen and Quarterfinal matchups.
* if one AA and one A team win Friday Semis, it sets up a 'True' state championship. If two AA or two A teams win on Friday Semis, it sets up a 'AA' championship and 'A' championship on Saturday.
AA: Wednesday at XCel, A: Wednesday at Mariucci
(hypothetically, top seeds prevail to Friday)

2008 Boys State Tournament (hope this bracket formats okay)
1AA Roseau
Roseau
8AA Lakeville South
(semifinalist)Roseau
4AA Hill-Murray
Hill-Murray
5AA Woodbury

2A Duluth Marshall
Duluth Marshall
7A Blake
(semifinalist)Duluth Marshall
3A Warroad
Warroad
6A Mankato West

1A St. Thomas Academy
STAcademy
8A Litchfield
(semifinalist)St Thomas Academy

4A St. Cloud Cathedral
StCloudCathedral?
5A Little Falls

2AA Edina
Edina
7AA Cloquet
(semifinalist)Edina
3AA Benilde St. Margarets
Benilde St.Margarets
6AA Blaine

This would potentially set up: Roseau/D.Marshall semi and an Edina/St. Thomas Academy semifinal Friday. In some years, you might see a Roseau/St. Thomas Academy or Edina/Duluth Marshall "True" State Final, or, at WORST: AA Championship Roseau/Edina and A Championship STAcademy/Duluth Marshall.

Consolation rounds continue at Mariucci. After you lose your second game, you are eliminated. Teams that lose on Thursday in the Championship bracket continue on to play for fifth in crossover games (in this case at Mariucci it would be: Hill-Murray v. Warroad, St. Cloud Cathedral v. Benilde St. Margarets).

Thoughts??

[OldTexasRam]

Ogie You put a lot of thought into your idea. I think it has a lot of merit, especially for a guy like me who never bought into the AA & A thing. Since that started I have felt that there have been several class A champs that would have liked a shot at being the overall champion. But, the challenge was witheld from them.

I also do not agree with those who want to exclude private schools. Any time some are excluded you water down the value and prestige of the chamionship because it no longer is the championship OF ALL.

Your proposal pretty much solves it all, except:

1 - When an AA team and an A team are semi-final winners, what do you do with the simifinal losers?
2 - What would be the names of the various trophies and titles?
3 - How do you answer those who would say it would defeat the purpose of have a 2 class tournement?

I would like to see more discussion. I don't think there has been many that really read and understood it.

[IrishStiff]

One class with 8 teams!

[marchmadness]

if both double a or single a teams won...people and the teams would not consider the "other championship game" a championship game but just a 3rd place game. and thats what it would be. good thing...one champion.

[Cabela10]

I don't think this would work. I don't think it's fair that the class A schools would get an easier schedule to get to the final 4 teams. I think that would make a lot of the smaller schools stay down at Class A just to get an easier road to the finals.

This plan is well thought out but I do not think it would work out the way you want it too.

[goldy313]

It rewards SBA (Sand Baggers Academy) Why is it fair to allow a team, any team who could choose top opt to not do so? Look, if SBA could play in the adapted hockey state tournament they would. Their coach was on WCCO tonight and actually said that they shouldn't be in AA, after all they've only been good on the A level for 5 or 6 years in a row. 90% of the teams in A would take being good 1 out of 6 years, he's not sure 5 or 6 is enough to warrant going to AA.

As long as the MSHSL allows teams to opt up there is no way they should allow A team the same chance as an AA team to play for 1 championship.

[Cabela10]

I do not care what other say about this, but if you win the State Championship in Class A, you should have to move up for atleast 2 years, no matter what, then you can go back down to Class A if you choose too.

Hermantown and St. Thomas should be Class AA teams right now.

[Nostalgic Nerd]

"A" tournament teams have no business playing AA tournament teams. They would get the lovely advantage of not having to face all those tough sectional AA opponents. It favors them, and unfavors the "other" AA teams. The "A" tourney is a MOR tournament with a few teams that can compete at a higher level.

[pondyplayer93]

i like it a lot

but just to make sure i understand it completely are you saying have

1AA = Top seed in aa (not section 1aa champ)

1AA
8AA

4A
5A

3AA
6AA

2A
7A

2AA
7AA

3A
6A

4AA
5AA

1A
8A

that would set up some great matchups in the second round

[Can't Never Tried]

Ogie's thread!