hmmmmm.......

[finance_gal]

A Hockey star is not someone who takes the temperature, who gauges the marketplace before she reacts. A star is someone who needs to create and is willing to tolerate the haters along with the fans. She’s someone who incites controversy just by existing. That’s what we have lost in the quest to mainstream hockey…. Unique players. I’m not saying we haven’t ended up with some pleasant games, but it just hasn’t hit you in the gut, Women’s Hockey has become the aural equivalent of Splenda, it might do the trick, but it’s not the real thing. The real thing grabs your attention, drives down deep into your heart and lodges itself there. A star player doesn’t follow conventions, doesn’t go do dryland or Summer training just because everybody else does. A Hockey star exists in her own unique space and trains because she loves it. If you met her you probably wouldn’t like her. Because she tends to be self-focused on getting better to the point of driving people who don’t understand this a little crazy. But it’s because she cares about more than hanging out, she cares about the sport of hockey.
With that being said I have been shouted down for the last time on this board and have decided it is time to quit. A lot of what I have said on here was just to get people talking, I would take the unpopular viewpoint because that would spur conversations and get people debating things. What many don’t understand about opposing viewpoints is the value they can bring to an issue by getting people exited on both sides? There can’t be a dialogue when there’s not another side? But that’s what were getting on this Women’s Hockey board and really throughout the sport, only one side. Everybody’s only speaking to like-minded people, and all others are shouted down. No one in Hockey today has the courage of a Herb Brooks to stand up and change this equation.

[Silent But Deadly]

A Hockey star is not someone who takes the temperature, who gauges the marketplace before she reacts. A star is someone who needs to create and is willing to tolerate the haters along with the fans. She’s someone who incites controversy just by existing. That’s what we have lost in the quest to mainstream hockey…. Unique players. I’m not saying we haven’t ended up with some pleasant games, but it just hasn’t hit you in the gut, Women’s Hockey has become the aural equivalent of Splenda, it might do the trick, but it’s not the real thing. The real thing grabs your attention, drives down deep into your heart and lodges itself there. A star player doesn’t follow conventions, doesn’t go do dryland or Summer training just because everybody else does. A Hockey star exists in her own unique space and trains because she loves it. If you met her you probably wouldn’t like her. Because she tends to be self-focused on getting better to the point of driving people who don’t understand this a little crazy. But it’s because she cares about more than hanging out, she cares about the sport of hockey.
With that being said I have been shouted down for the last time on this board and have decided it is time to quit. A lot of what I have said on here was just to get people talking, I would take the unpopular viewpoint because that would spur conversations and get people debating things. What many don’t understand about opposing viewpoints is the value they can bring to an issue by getting people exited on both sides? There can’t be a dialogue when there’s not another side? But that’s what were getting on this Women’s Hockey board and really throughout the sport, only one side. Everybody’s only speaking to like-minded people, and all others are shouted down. No one in Hockey today has the courage of a Herb Brooks to stand up and change this equation.

Did I miss something? I've be with you and against you in the past....but I fail to see where you were shouted down!

[Northland]

Hockey is still just a game. Most will not play in a collegiate environment after High School. As parents we have to support our children in anyway we can.

Stirring the pot, stimulating conversation, whatever ... this forum is just a forum. Anonymous voices.

Believe it or not there is more to life than hockey.

Good Luck

[joehockey]

Best of luck to your family and your player I hope she continues in the game. Thanks to Herb Brooks and all that he has inpired (how many of your kids can repeat every line from Miracle) Girls hockey in Minnesota has come a long way! Ask any parent and they are amazed at the skill of girls playing at every level - youth, HS, College, National...the game has attracted numbers, talented athletes and developed skills at a very fast rate. Many programs inspired by Brooks +10 years ago....CODP - STP - Upper Midwest Elite HS League have created other programs - OS - Total Hockey - Two Nations Female Hockey League - Upper Midwest Elite Girls HS League and many others......As discussed on this board there is every size and shape of training from beginner to advanced - you could go broke trying to do it all. Minnesota has more options for girls and women and has become a lifetime game for females as it has become for males. Hockey gives kids lifetime skills - it also can give great fun and enjoyment - here is to everyone finding a place to play - playing the game as long as they want (you can't choice where you play but you can always find a place to play - U19, women's League, the pond.....) and then giving back to the game to make it a greater game 10 years from now. Good luck always.

[hockeyheaven]

I always thought that the principle determinant in the make up and eventual fate of a Star was determined by its evolutionary history which was the end result of many different elements (skill, determination and opportunity) meld together by circumstance and consequence. Star quality is very rare, and it just doesn’t happen no matter how hard you try. Sometimes even the most deserving never reach this pinnacle of significance. For those who do their existence is truly magical. You are drawn to them and their sheer presence is simply hypnotic in how it takes a hold of your senses…

Nah...Stars are really just a bunch of suck ups…right.

finance_gal, you have to know that it hard to go against the establishment, to take the unpopular view…but you have to understand that in the end…at best… victory can only be yours…and you can either accept this…or you can’t.
I never got the sense that you challenged as much as you never seemed to be accepting of your own fortune or more importantly the fortune of others.

[Melvin44]

Sorry everyone and finace gal. I think it was my posts from Elite. I didn't mean anything by my comments. I've been told even my emails are angry sounding.

I took offense to your calling the Elite games/players, just a little better than a High school game with a lot of individual play. I was only defending the girls in the league who not only read these posts but also had to go through a very hard tryout process to make the league and didn't deserve the comment.

I did state normally I agree with you on most of your posts and am sorry to see you want ot leave. I have been blasted by some of my comments and probably rightfully so. I take this column as a fun read and love the fact that our girls can be praised by so many.

Just remember it doesn't matter if people always agree or not. It's just hockey banter.

One last thing I am friends with most around the rink and I think everyone knows who I am. I would never judge someone by comments made in a forum as some are from frustration, own opinions etc and I hope we all are friends no matter what comments are made.

[winnings not 4 everyone]

Just as I thought. Her kid didn't make the team.

[SuperStar]

Wnot4 everyone - That was the best response I have seen to these post yet!

[dochockey]

It's idiots like you that are the reason FG left, I don't know if her daughter even tried out but 10 weeks ago her daughter broke her clavical in a couple places, 3 weeks ago we seen her and she couldn't even lift her arm over her head and her left hand was still tingling, If she even tried out it would be amazing. Mean spirted, uninformed comments like yours are the reason good people leave this forum, why don't you clowns just go home and kick your dog or something instead of beating up someone you have no knowledge about.

[donomuch]

So most of us don't know that we aren't experiencing 'real' hockey? OK...
I guess we are just too thick or conventional.

We all love our kids and WE think they are special. To us. And if they are really good hockey players, other people will think so. But the above definition of a 'Star' is just self aggrandizing dribble.

I love posts that I don't necessarily agree with. That's what the forum is all about. But then there are posts that I don't agree with AND I don't value. I use my discernment and it doesnt jive with my experience of what is rational or healthy, etc. My daughter is a good player. I don't have to say that she is the all knowing maharaja of pureness of intent, drive, and hockey, misunderstood or overlooked or whatever.

Most of the good hockey players ARE great kids. Their families are great families. They are in hockey for the right reasons. And yeah, they like to hang out, and have fun. They might even want to go to a camp because -shudder- friends are going!!!!!! and of course to play a high level of hockey, push themselves to improve, all of it. I guess they, and their families will just have to keep muddling through with their limited understanding.

[winnings not 4 everyone]

I never got the sense that you challenged as much as you never seemed to be accepting of your own fortune or more importantly the fortune of others.

That would be the reason to have to "grandstand" on a final post. If you truly don't like what is going on, go out and "make change happen". Otherwise, just turn your computer off and walk away. Posting opinions won't make it happen. As for you Doc, you are the idiot. Regardless of Fin-gals daughters injury, she constantly feels dis-enfranchised with what others outside her circle are doing. Whether it's because of a lack of invite or not, I don't know. I do know certain organizations recruit not only good players, but who the parents are play a key role. Not because of who they are, but because of how they handle themselves in the presence of others. I don't know this to be the case here, but know firsthand that it happens. Bashing programs trying to develop players falls into this category, though.

[nmnhockeydad]

I am new here, I will continue to post and you can agree with me disagree with me, shout me down or give me props. It just doesn't matter because my daughter loves playing hockey. It is difficult for us as parents to be objective about our own daughters and impossible for us to be objective about our daughters in relation to someone elses daughter. So lets sit back and enjoy watching our daughters play regardless of whether they are a mite, JV, Varsity, College or anywhere in between. Remember this is about them.

[MNHockeyFan]

I am new here, I will continue to post and you can agree with me disagree with me, shout me down or give me props. It just doesn't matter because my daughter loves playing hockey. It is difficult for us as parents to be objective about our own daughters and impossible for us to be objective about our daughters in relation to someone elses daughter. So lets sit back and enjoy watching our daughters play regardless of whether they are a mite, JV, Varsity, College or anywhere in between. Remember this is about them.

Great advice!

[OntheEdge]

I am new here, I will continue to post and you can agree with me disagree with me, shout me down or give me props. It just doesn't matter because my daughter loves playing hockey. It is difficult for us as parents to be objective about our own daughters and impossible for us to be objective about our daughters in relation to someone elses daughter. So lets sit back and enjoy watching our daughters play regardless of whether they are a mite, JV, Varsity, College or anywhere in between. Remember this is about them.

Good advice nmnhockeydad! I suggest that everyone calm down. I think issues and opinions can be discussed calmly. If you disagree with someone say so and why without the name calling, etc. People have a right to their opinions. I have a few pet peeves. One is when people give an opinion or criticism and are summarily dismissed by saying they are a whiner instead of just disagreeing with that person and giving reasons why. "Critics are our friends, they tell us our faults" - Ben Franklin. Critics while not always right can help frame a problem, if there is one, so that it can be fixed in the future. I don't always agree with critics however its good to hear opinions, good and bad.

[northwoods oldtimer]

Some parents out there in hockey land are complete numb skulls. The game takes a team effort, always has and always will and that will never change. The sum (team) is always greater than its parts (individual) in the game of ice hockey.

[Central]

I must have missed some heated discussion or something as I have not been on in awhile.

This is a forum so there will be varying points of view and participate or not, that is a person's choice!

Looking forward to the first games coming up!