Section Realingment for Girls Hockey

goalzilla · Post by **goalzilla** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:27 am

Melvin44 I agree you didnt say that Stillwater didnt deserve to win, but you had to throw in the unnecessary comment "Won on a questionable goal" with what intent, but to deminish the win. Obviously if you thought they were as good of a team as Roseville you wouldnt have found the need to make the comment. As far as your other comment regarding next year and possibly losing and not going all the way through even after only losing 2 games all season? Been there done that! Last year Stillwater only lost 3 games and didn't go all the way through and I believe they lost 2 of those games to Roseville as well. No where on any thread did you ever hear anyone mention the missed goal Stillwater scored in the conference championship against Roseville until Hockeywild7 mentioned it in this thread; because what good would bringing it up do? Change the outcome or make yourself feel better?':oops:'

I apoligize to every one else on this thread for my comments, but one can only go so long with out refuting such statements.
Regarding this thread Section realignment; by all means do something with section 4.

keepitreal · Post by **keepitreal** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:17 am

Section 4AA reminds me how this was pretty much the case in 2007 when the top four ranked teams in the state all resided in section 6AA, including the #1 Eden Prairie team that was either undefeated or only lost a game, I don't recall for sure. There was a lot of criticism over the fact that four of the top five teams in the state were all stuck in one section. The section games were crazy-- standing room only at Parade for a girls hockey game.

What happened next? EP was knocked out in sections by Wayzata and Benilde emerged from 6AA as the clear favorite to win state. After defeating Grand Rapids, BSM lost in the state semifinals to what would today be an unseeded North Metro Stars. North Metro took runner-up, falling to then 8th-ranked Stillwater Ponies in the championship.

Shows you just never know what will happen when it comes down to one game. A mere two years later the only team out of these perennial powerhouses who even made it to their section final is Stillwater. Things change. Sometimes quickly.

Interesting fact: In the past three seasons, only one outstate AA team has finished the year ranked in the LPH top eight (Bemidji and GRG twice). If this is the criteria we use to put teams in the tournament, it would be a disaster for girls hockey and our state traditions.

royals dad · Post by **royals dad** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:06 am

I actually like 6AA right now, if the Armstrong and Cooper Co-op rumors are true it will be a fairly solid section top to bottom. I don't think you could predict a winner before the season in any year. Parade is a good place for the games as well, fun to have these games in this size arena with stands on both sides.

If Blake or Breck moved to AA is where they would land?

IMO Even if it invites a blowout in the first round we should keep at least a couple sections with non twin cities teams. No offense to Lakeville or Elk River but the tradition of outstate teams is more important than college scouts.

Melvin44 · Post by **Melvin44** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:27 am

Goalzilla,

Again I was only stating that the game was very close and it would've been nice to see another. Sorry if it bothered you that I mentioned a questionable call. If you still feel like I offended Stillwater in any way. It wasn't my intention. If I recall you handled my team pretty easily and by more than Roseville. Stillwater was the best team in girls hockey this year. How's that!

My intentions are only to keep girls hockey on TV and build the sport by trying to put the best teams at state. Everyone deserves/wants to see the best hockey possible.

Why did they feel a need to realign 2 years ago? If they would have left it we might not be talking about this.

As for the comment about EP, BSM. That's my point exactly. Wouldn't have been awesome to see both EP and BSM in the same state tournament??

jumpstart · Post by **jumpstart** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:11 pm

Let me throw out another idea:

When my daughter played at the U12 and U14 levels, there were more opportunities to make it to state even if you didn't win your district. I don't recall the exact number of districts or regions, or quite how it all worked, but I do know that district winners automatically went to regions, and then there were a number of districts that were allowed to send the district runner-up team to a region. At regions, the winner automatically went to State, and then there was a back-door entrance for two teams to also get to State.

Maybe something similar could be done at the high school level. The top four seeded section winners go directly to state. The tougest four sections in the state [determined by the year-end Krach rankings] each send their runners-up to try to advance to state through a play-in pre-game with the bottom four seeded section winners.

Or, resection so there are seven sections instead of eight. The winners of these sections go directly to State. Have a play-in pre-state tournament with the runners-up from each section and 1 at-large bid [picked from the toughest section as determined by the year-end Krach rankings]. The winner of this tournament goes to State as the 8th seed.

So maybe a little convoluted, but some type of back door system might work. Any thoughts?

goalzilla · Post by **goalzilla** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 1:49 pm

Thanks Melvin44, I was just a little thin skinned yesterday. Doesn't happen often, but it was just one of those days :o)

SECoach · Post by **SECoach** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 6:44 pm

In every sport, at every level, there are good teams that do not make it to the championship series in their respective sport.

I'm a bit surprised to hear so many posters, whose opinions I generally have a lot of respect for dreaming up ways to make things more "fair". I do think the arguement that it is to promote the sport falls short. One has to simply look at the likely home teams of the posters to see through it.

There will always be sections that have more than one tournament quality team. There's no fixing that unless you make every conference game meaningless and even then, go by the opinions of others to determine the section or tournament teams.

It seems that although there are several great teams in section 4AA, there was only one good enough on the right day to get to state. That's life. It's also the lesson that should be learned. I don't think the right lesson is to manipulate the system so that some teams that are assumed to be better than others can play at state. Some get the lesson from the dream coming true, some get lesson from not. I bet there are very, very few girls high school players that spend their spare time talking about section realignment so the best teams are at the state tournament.

I do wish the NFL conference structure would have been different for the '98 Vikings though. Oh that's right. They just plain blew it.

nmnhockeydad · Post by **nmnhockeydad** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:52 pm

Thanks SECoach!
There is no reason to manipulate the sections on the basis of competition. It would be interesting to know how many teams outside of the "POWER SECTIONS" actually beat teams within those sections but didn't make the state tournament? The girls play the game and we parents are along for the ride.

SECoach wrote:In every sport, at every level, there are good teams that do not make it to the championship series in their respective sport.

I'm a bit surprised to hear so many posters, whose opinions I generally have a lot of respect for dreaming up ways to make things more "fair". I do think the arguement that it is to promote the sport falls short. One has to simply look at the likely home teams of the posters to see through it.

There will always be sections that have more than one tournament quality team. There's no fixing that unless you make every conference game meaningless and even then, go by the opinions of others to determine the section or tournament teams.

It seems that although there are several great teams in section 4AA, there was only one good enough on the right day to get to state. That's life. It's also the lesson that should be learned. I don't think the right lesson is to manipulate the system so that some teams that are assumed to be better than others can play at state. Some get the lesson from the dream coming true, some get lesson from not. I bet there are very, very few girls high school players that spend their spare time talking about section realignment so the best teams are at the state tournament.

I do wish the NFL conference structure would have been different for the '98 Vikings though. Oh that's right. They just plain blew it.

Melvin44 · Post by **Melvin44** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 9:57 pm

SEcoach and others who seem to not get what I'm saying.

I want what's best for the girls and girls hockey. Not for a section. Leave my team (WBL) with the best teams next year. But move at least 1 if there's 5 top 15 teams. or leave it if there's at least a top 15 team in all sections.

3 top ten teams didn't get a chance to go to state. Roseville, HM, Mtka. Blake, Warroad, Breck should have been in AA. I don't have a problem where 2 and sometimes 3 top 20 teams are in a section. I have a problem when 3 top 5 teams and 4 or 5 top 12 teams are in one section and no top 20 teams in another.

Hockey fans do not want to see blowouts at state. They also aren't going to attend the 1st round games unless it changes. Scouts aren't going to attend unless it changes. Which means fewer opportunities for Minnesota girls. Which means less money generated. Therefore less respect.

Yes, Teams are still going to be upset like Centennial this year and that is great as we got to see Irondale.

Do you see my point yet? Some will never get it and that is why it will take longer for girl’s hockey to be taken as serious as the boys...

Sorry, It seemed like you were slamming us for having opinions on a forum. Do you really think I care if they realign or not. Hockey's just a game. Can't believe I just said that.

SECoach · Post by **SECoach** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:16 am

Melvin44 wrote:SEcoach and others who seem to not get what I'm saying.

I want what's best for the girls and girls hockey. Not for a section. Leave my team (WBL) with the best teams next year. But move at least 1 if there's 5 top 15 teams. or leave it if there's at least a top 15 team in all sections.

3 top ten teams didn't get a chance to go to state. Roseville, HM, Mtka. Blake, Warroad, Breck should have been in AA. I don't have a problem where 2 and sometimes 3 top 20 teams are in a section. I have a problem when 3 top 5 teams and 4 or 5 top 12 teams are in one section and no top 20 teams in another.

Hockey fans do not want to see blowouts at state. They also aren't going to attend the 1st round games unless it changes. Scouts aren't going to attend unless it changes. Which means fewer opportunities for Minnesota girls. Which means less money generated. Therefore less respect.

Yes, Teams are still going to be upset like Centennial this year and that is great as we got to see Irondale.

Do you see my point yet? Some will never get it and that is why it will take longer for girl’s hockey to be taken as serious as the boys...

SEcoach. What section are you from? Just curious.

Didn't you post this? Did your opinions change?

SECoach

Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 9:35 am Post subject: 12A

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You basically have nailed it with the exception of missing White Bear Lake. Brooklyn Park gained entry to the state tournament by winning a very weak district.

Sorry, It seemed like you were slamming us for having opinions on a forum. Do you really think I care if they realign or not. Hockey's just a game. Can't believe I just said that.

Melvin...Not slamming at all..just stating my opinion like you are....you are the last person.....based on the respect i have gained from your previous posts....that i thought i would get into it with..but here goes...

My previous post that you dug up...from some time ago...was referring to people predicting teams that would go to state at U12A. I stand by my opinion at that time that Brooklyn Park was unlikely to repeat their state tournamament appearance, as sections had changed and they faced a much tougher road ahead. I compliment them on their appearance at state, it was just unlikely to be repeated. None the less, i'm sure each season gave them a great expirience....assuming the had good guidance.

I prefer to keep my neutality on this site, so I will not disclose my section affiliation except to say I am quite familiar with the Suburban East Conference. The team I'm affiliated with did not make the state tournament. I can assure you that we are hard at work planning to make a run next year. None of our planning involves section realignment. It involves player improvement, team building, and the understanding that you can do all the right things and it it may not happen the way we want. We will grow as individuals and as a team regardless of things working in our favor or not.

You say move one team. I say move no one. If you move only one team, you diminish all that we have tried to teach the players about life and all it's challenges. As i said, I respect your thoughts on trying to make girls hockey a more "viable spectator sport", I just think it's more valid coming from a team that doesn't think they got screwed because they are in the unquestionably toughest conference and section in the state. Our girls are proud of the fact that they can compete and beat some of the toughest teams in the state of minnesota. We will never lose the desire to compete in a state tournament, but we will never beg for it to be easier to get there.

As i have read on this forum, some of the greatest moments you have with your daughter is when she faces a dissapointment. Where would your relationship be if all she had was success?

Sections should be arranged by geographic locations and not based on who can win. I promise you that who can win, can and will change on a seasons notice.

hockeya1a · Post by **hockeya1a** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:01 am

I guess I can see both sides of the argument, and this would not affect my kids one way or the other.
Some say we should leave the sections like they are and some of the points is girls need to understand that. That's life! It's also the lesson that should be learned. I don't think the right lesson is to manipulate the system so that some teams that are assumed to be better than others can play at state. And you diminish all that we have tried to teach the players about life and all it's challenges

I guess one could also argue, is it right that because of someone geographic area they should get a free ride? They must know they are not the best, But get to go anyway because of where they live.
Where is the lesson in that?

I bet there are very, very few girls high school players that spend their spare time talking about section realignment so the best teams are at the state tournament.
You are right they probably do not sit around and talk about section realignment, but they sure know who the better teams really are and do say why are they there, they are not that good! The lesson learned you do not have to be the best team to go to state just in the right area?

You say move one team.. As I said, I respect your thoughts on trying to make girls hockey a more "viable spectator sport", I just think it's more valid coming from a team that doesn't think they got screwed because they are in the unquestionably toughest conference and section in the state.

My team of choice is not from the toughest conference this year but right up there and if 2 teams from the other section would have made it to state that would have been fine with me because if they were better they would have deserved to go, And I do not like the Idea of sending subpar teams to state just because of where they are located.
I want the privilege earned not given! We try to teach our kids to work hard and be your best.

Now I understand they have sections and that is the way it is right now, like it or not. And I also know that life is not always fair and that is fairly obvious. but there has to be a better way to get top teams to state not just teams to state, so the big question is how do we achieve that?

hockeywild7 · Post by **hockeywild7** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:32 am

First of all everyone does have a chance to go to state so I would disagree with that statement. Some may have an easier route depending on section strength that year. Secondly the boys do exactly the same thing the girls do so I am not sure why we say we want to be like them and get the same attendance and attention from scouts. They have exactly the same issues as the girls in regards to sections. The fact is you will never get the top 8 teams in the state tournament unless you do what college football does and just go by a ranking system which personally I think sucks. This is what makes it all exciting. You never know what team will step up at the end of the year and try to make a run at a state title.

Bensonmum · Post by **Bensonmum** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:54 am

jumpstart wrote:Let me throw out another idea:

When my daughter played at the U12 and U14 levels, there were more opportunities to make it to state even if you didn't win your district. I don't recall the exact number of districts or regions, or quite how it all worked, but I do know that district winners automatically went to regions, and then there were a number of districts that were allowed to send the district runner-up team to a region. At regions, the winner automatically went to State, and then there was a back-door entrance for two teams to also get to State.

Maybe something similar could be done at the high school level. The top four seeded section winners go directly to state. The tougest four sections in the state [determined by the year-end Krach rankings] each send their runners-up to try to advance to state through a play-in pre-game with the bottom four seeded section winners.

Or, resection so there are seven sections instead of eight. The winners of these sections go directly to State. Have a play-in pre-state tournament with the runners-up from each section and 1 at-large bid [picked from the toughest section as determined by the year-end Krach rankings]. The winner of this tournament goes to State as the 8th seed.

So maybe a little convoluted, but some type of back door system might work. Any thoughts?

Yes, please throw this idea out. All the way out.
U12 and U14 only have 3 regions--that's why they end up sending runners-up and 3rd place to state.

Would you like to have your team eliminated from regions because their 'goal differential' wasn't sufficient or from some other bogus 'tie-breaker'? Yuk.

hockfan1980 · Post by **hockfan1980** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:55 am

Everyone has to look at it this way. Take our favorite team and put it in a section like 4 this year and in tough sections in years past. If our team was in this section would't we want it changed? my section is 7 and I like it the way it is. If my team was in sec 4. not so sure i'd like it. I see both arguments. Do whats best for the girls game. Whatever that is. Start by having state at Ridder!

nmnhockeydad · Post by **nmnhockeydad** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:12 am

A couple of questions to think about....

Did the best team from each section win and advance?

If not take care of business in your own section before you complain about section alignment!

Would you want to advance because you were the second best team in your section?

Just win your section and you will advance.

jumpstart · Post by **jumpstart** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:06 pm

Bensonmum wrote:
jumpstart wrote:Let me throw out another idea:

When my daughter played at the U12 and U14 levels, there were more opportunities to make it to state even if you didn't win your district. I don't recall the exact number of districts or regions, or quite how it all worked, but I do know that district winners automatically went to regions, and then there were a number of districts that were allowed to send the district runner-up team to a region. At regions, the winner automatically went to State, and then there was a back-door entrance for two teams to also get to State.

Maybe something similar could be done at the high school level. The top four seeded section winners go directly to state. The tougest four sections in the state [determined by the year-end Krach rankings] each send their runners-up to try to advance to state through a play-in pre-game with the bottom four seeded section winners.

Or, resection so there are seven sections instead of eight. The winners of these sections go directly to State. Have a play-in pre-state tournament with the runners-up from each section and 1 at-large bid [picked from the toughest section as determined by the year-end Krach rankings]. The winner of this tournament goes to State as the 8th seed.

So maybe a little convoluted, but some type of back door system might work. Any thoughts?
Yes, please throw this idea out. All the way out.
U12 and U14 only have 3 regions--that's why they end up sending runners-up and 3rd place to state.

Would you like to have your team eliminated from regions because their 'goal differential' wasn't sufficient or from some other bogus 'tie-breaker'? Yuk.

I don't recall anything about goal differentials playing a part in advancing to state in U12A or U14A. Maybe the system has changed since my daughter played. If so, that is too bad. Neither of my proposals above contemplate a goal differential.

I have proposed three different ideas. I don't necessarily think any of them are perfect or even doable, and I am not advocating one over the other or even over the present system. I simply made them so others can comment and maybe a new idea can be advanced.

Unfortunately, I have another commitment Friday night and will not be able to attend the meeting -- I will be interested to hear what transpires.

northshore guy · Post by **northshore guy** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:57 pm

Melvin44 wrote:Just for the record. I love our conference. MY team has not been considered one of the stronger teams in recent years. My desire for slight realignment is so that the 2 or 3 top teams in the state make it to the tourney so that all can enjoy the best hockey available to grow the sport.

Three years ago when Roseville was in section 5 you at least had a better state tourney. If Roseville hadn't been moved we wouldn't be talking about this. I love that our section had 4 top 12 teams in it as we had many college scouts in attendance. But I don't feel it was best for girl’s hockey. Also better for attendance.

Girls hockey MUST have as many top teams get to state or at least (try) because then you'd get college scouts from all over wanting to attend! Now we only get a few, as they know only 3 or 4 are truly top teams. That is also why sometimes Minnesota is thought to be weak for scouting.

Tweak it or leave it. Just do what's best for girl’s hockey. Not just representation from N, S, E, W. There should not be 9-0 games at state if possible. No one wants to see that.

Some of the holiday tournaments are better than the State tournament in my opinion.

Conference and section are 2 different things
Conference- Lake, Missota, Norht Wrigth county. Suburban, classic suburban etc
section... section 4A, section 7AA

and... there are college scouts at many, many gmaes and tournaments... go see the schwan cup once or the Kaposia

Melvin44 · Post by **Melvin44** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:21 pm

northshore guy wrote:
Melvin44 wrote:Just for the record. I love our conference. MY team has not been considered one of the stronger teams in recent years. My desire for slight realignment is so that the 2 or 3 top teams in the state make it to the tourney so that all can enjoy the best hockey available to grow the sport.

Three years ago when Roseville was in section 5 you at least had a better state tourney. If Roseville hadn't been moved we wouldn't be talking about this. I love that our section had 4 top 12 teams in it as we had many college scouts in attendance. But I don't feel it was best for girl’s hockey. Also better for attendance.

Girls hockey MUST have as many top teams get to state or at least (try) because then you'd get college scouts from all over wanting to attend! Now we only get a few, as they know only 3 or 4 are truly top teams. That is also why sometimes Minnesota is thought to be weak for scouting.

Tweak it or leave it. Just do what's best for girl’s hockey. Not just representation from N, S, E, W. There should not be 9-0 games at state if possible. No one wants to see that.

Some of the holiday tournaments are better than the State tournament in my opinion.

Conference and section are 2 different things
Conference- Lake, Missota, Norht Wrigth county. Suburban, classic suburban etc
section... section 4A, section 7AA

and... there are college scouts at many, many gmaes and tournaments... go see the schwan cup once or the Kaposia

I LOVE OUR SECTION AND OUR CONFERENCE. I DON'T CARE IF IT CHANGES. MY TEAM HAS NO GRIPE!

What I've been trying to say over and over is that. I can see where we could make it better from year to year so that more top teams have the CHANCE to get to state. It would make for a much better state tounament. If it can be made better. Shouldn't it be? Of course it won't change and that's ok.

What was attendence this year?
What could it be if more top teams had a chance to play?
Why put 3 top 5 teams in one section?
How do we get the girls game more popular?
How do we get girls noticed?

This is a forum to get opinions. I got and understand yours. You like your section. How many top 10 ranked teams are in it?

Like HF1980 mentioned put your team in sec 4 where the #1, 2 and 4 ranked teams were when sections started and then tell me your opinion.

I love this passion. Keep it going.

State Champ 97 · Post by **State Champ 97** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:24 pm

Conference and section are 2 different things
Conference- Lake, Missota, Norht Wrigth county. Suburban, classic suburban etc
section... section 4A, section 7AA

I said that same thing a few months ago and got my butt chewed. Conferences mean very little except for local bragging rights and trophies.

B-Ray · Post by **B-Ray** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 6:34 pm

Its starting to seem that this topic is starting to get a little personal for some people, but I think that we all agree something needs to be done with the sections. When you have teams traveling upwards of 5 to 6 hours to play in a section quarter final game you know something is wrong excspecialy when the MSHSL is taking about cutting the number of games to cut cost.
Now granted there is no perfect system to chose who is in which section, but I think that choosing the teams geographicaly is proabably the best way, they just might want to do a little better job of it. . . It seems that probably the best senerio would be for them to keep the same format but completely overhaul all the sections not only to help cut costs but to change things up and not have the same teams representing the same sections year after year.

allhoc11 · Post by **allhoc11** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:23 pm

nmnhockeydad wrote:A couple of questions to think about....

Did the best team from each section win and advance?

If not take care of business in your own section before you complain about section alignment!

Would you want to advance because you were the second best team in your section?

Just win your section and you will advance.

Spoken like the dad of a daughter who's team wasn't in 4AA this year

I don't think any changes will increase attendance greatly, but as a fan of the game, the games that are viewed by the most people (TV), are the semi's and finals of the state tourney.

Although I don't have a kid at either school, I for one would've liked to see the Roseville vs Stillwater game on TV in the semi's or finals this year. All other things aside it's a shame that we couldn't have. Extra bonus for the Roseville fans who are still crying foul about the game winning goal, if that game was at state we would've had instant replay to know for sure.

OldGirlsCoach · Post by **OldGirlsCoach** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:10 am

Not to change the subject but if the boys thursday games are on tv and one team manages 4 shots for the GAME, why can't the girls have thursday tv time. I know it is because of cost, well, someone should look into it. I would agree that more section final games should be on tv. Fox covers the boys games every week, and what 2 girls games all year. Take a couple of sections and put them on tv, may increase interest to go watch the winner of a section at state.

royals dad · Post by **royals dad** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:09 am

I have read every post in this thread and I still am not convinced we should have Roseville, Stillwater, and Hill in seperate sections. These schools are all within a few min of each other. It would make no sense to break up the sections based on who is good this year. Growing up we had the same 4 teams in the section quarters each year, they were all perenial top ten teams, year after year. Its part of the identity of the school and community, its why Tonka and Edina hate each other. Warroad and Roseau, WBL and Hill, Virgina and Eveleth, Appolo and Tech... The passion comes from the section finals. Some of the best teams this state has every produced didn't make it to state, and thier rivals did.

When the Hopkins girls lost to BSM at section finals last year it stung and everyone of them worked thier tail off over the summer. I hope that seeing Stillwater hoist the trophy and skate around the ice this year stung and pushes them the same way this summer. IMO there is no way Becky becomes Miss Hockey without her on and off ice training over the last year. I have never seen anyone work that hard.

I hope this year has added to the rivalry over on the east side, I hope games are getting circled on the next year scheduled. I hope every player is working just a little bit harder this summer.

I don't think the TV ratings or the attendence would have been better with #1 vs #2 instead of #2 vs #3.

You want to know what will make the girls game more popular, more skill, more speed, more passion. Minnesota girls have come along way but it can still get better. You want to up the attendance at the tourney give girls youth teams the weekend off instead of having them all in the first weekend of thier playoffs. There were so few younger ones there it was sad, the elks in the semi game had only about 5 youth girls in jerseys. We need to fix that. Sorry for the overly long post

Melvin44 · Post by **Melvin44** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:44 am

royals dad wrote:I have read every post in this thread and I still am not convinced we should have Roseville, Stillwater, and Hill in seperate sections. These schools are all within a few min of each other. It would make no sense to break up the sections based on who is good this year. Growing up we had the same 4 teams in the section quarters each year, they were all perenial top ten teams, year after year. Its part of the identity of the school and community, its why Tonka and Edina hate each other. Warroad and Roseau, WBL and Hill, Virgina and Eveleth, Appolo and Tech... The passion comes from the section finals. Some of the best teams this state has every produced didn't make it to state, and thier rivals did.

When the Hopkins girls lost to BSM at section finals last year it stung and everyone of them worked thier tail off over the summer. I hope that seeing Stillwater hoist the trophy and skate around the ice this year stung and pushes them the same way this summer. IMO there is no way Becky becomes Miss Hockey without her on and off ice training over the last year. I have never seen anyone work that hard.

I hope this year has added to the rivalry over on the east side, I hope games are getting circled on the next year scheduled. I hope every player is working just a little bit harder this summer.

I don't think the TV ratings or the attendence would have been better with #1 vs #2 instead of #2 vs #3.

You want to know what will make the girls game more popular, more skill, more speed, more passion. Minnesota girls have come along way but it can still get better. You want to up the attendance at the tourney give girls youth teams the weekend off instead of having them all in the first weekend of thier playoffs. There were so few younger ones there it was sad, the elks in the semi game had only about 5 youth girls in jerseys. We need to fix that. Sorry for the overly long post

Great post and I'm pretty sure I had Hopkins as my #1 pick at the beginning of the year. Great team with many great players and a great group of girls.

I agree Rivalry's are something that is needed and important. I also loved watching the championship game and the fans for both teams were incredible. It was a great championship game! But I feel you can have those types of atmosphere games in every game if more top rated teams had the chance. Maybe have 3-5000+ fans for every game/session. Then this sport will grow because everyone will be talking about what a great state tournament it was

nmnhockeydad · Post by **nmnhockeydad** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:54 am

You are right. It is spoken like a dad of a daughter in 7AA where #4 seed beat #1 seed and #3 beat #2 in the section semifinals. Then #4 seed beat #3 in the section championship. I know that I still wouldn't want to destroy rivalries to try and ensure the "best" teams make the tournament. Cloquet, Duluth, PHM, and Grand Rapids beat up all year on each other and, yes, did beat some of the other top teams in the state. This includes both those in the tourney and those who didn't make it. Put my daughters team in Section 4AA and yes I would still feel the same!

allhoc11 wrote:
nmnhockeydad wrote:A couple of questions to think about....

Did the best team from each section win and advance?

If not take care of business in your own section before you complain about section alignment!

Would you want to advance because you were the second best team in your section?

Just win your section and you will advance.
Spoken like the dad of a daughter who's team wasn't in 4AA this year

I don't think any changes will increase attendance greatly, but as a fan of the game, the games that are viewed by the most people (TV), are the semi's and finals of the state tourney.

Although I don't have a kid at either school, I for one would've liked to see the Roseville vs Stillwater game on TV in the semi's or finals this year. All other things aside it's a shame that we couldn't have. Extra bonus for the Roseville fans who are still crying foul about the game winning goal, if that game was at state we would've had instant replay to know for sure.