Opting up?

[warriors41]

The biggest problem with the Tier system was you were rewarded for being 9th. They seeded every team in the section, #1 through #16 or however many teams you had just like they always did, then the top 8 were Tier 1, the rest Tier 2. A few tweaks in the system and it would have worked better.

The biggest problem with the tier system was the attention given to tier II. In college basketball they have a tier system, "Road to the Final Four" and the NIT. Nobody cares about the NIT except for the participating schools, and I think its only broadcast at 2am on ESPN 4.

Rewarding middling hockey with television is ludicrous. Only the participating schools will like it, everyone else will say how much it sucks...

I don't agree completely with your analogy here. The problem with the NIT in college basketball is that if a team wins, they are still the 66th best team in college basketball. That's why people don't care.

In high school hockey (where you can't recruit and have to play with cards you are dealt) it's a different story. The team that wins the class A tournament isn't normally the 20th best team or so in the state, although I will grant you that this is the perception. The A champ normally can't beat the AA champ, I'll give you that, but the quality of hockey of isn't as bad as some make it out to be.

If we are in fact the state of hockey as we like to claim, why would we tell class A schools their games won't be televised.

[goldy313]

The fact is getting through your A section is far easier than getting through an AA section. 7 of the 8 AA sections have their top 4 teams ranked in the top 41 in the state while no A section has more than 2. If you put all the A teams in their corresponding AA sections only 5 teams would get home games in the quarterfinals if seeded by Lee's rankings; Lourdes (#2 1AA), New Prague (#4 1AA), STA (#2 4AA), Hermantown (#4 5AA), and Warroad (#3 8AA).

Lourdes would get beat by South by at least 4 goals, they just don't have the depth. Watch the 1A title game then watch the 1AA game, the difference in size and speed is striking. Lourdes plays class A teams for a reason while the AA teams they play are Owatonna, Monticello, Dodge County, and Tartan. Not exactly the cream of the crop.

[crickett75]

The biggest problem with the Tier system was you were rewarded for being 9th. They seeded every team in the section, #1 through #16 or however many teams you had just like they always did, then the top 8 were Tier 1, the rest Tier 2. A few tweaks in the system and it would have worked better.

The biggest problem with the tier system was the attention given to tier II. In college basketball they have a tier system, "Road to the Final Four" and the NIT. Nobody cares about the NIT except for the participating schools, and I think its only broadcast at 2am on ESPN 4.

Rewarding middling hockey with television is ludicrous. Only the participating schools will like it, everyone else will say how much it sucks...

I don't agree completely with your analogy here. The problem with the NIT in college basketball is that if a team wins, they are still the 66th best team in college basketball. That's why people don't care.

In high school hockey (where you can't recruit and have to play with cards you are dealt) it's a different story. The team that wins the class A tournament isn't normally the 20th best team or so in the state, although I will grant you that this is the perception. The A champ normally can't beat the AA champ, I'll give you that, but the quality of hockey of isn't as bad as some make it out to be.

If we are in fact the state of hockey as we like to claim, why would we tell class A schools their games won't be televised.

You don't have to agree with me. What you should do is re-read my post and realize I was comparing NCAA/NIT to Tier I/Tier II, and not Class AA/Class A.

[DubCHAGuy]

The biggest problem with the Tier system was you were rewarded for being 9th. They seeded every team in the section, #1 through #16 or however many teams you had just like they always did, then the top 8 were Tier 1, the rest Tier 2. A few tweaks in the system and it would have worked better.

The biggest problem with the tier system was the attention given to tier II. In college basketball they have a tier system, "Road to the Final Four" and the NIT. Nobody cares about the NIT except for the participating schools, and I think its only broadcast at 2am on ESPN 4.

Rewarding middling hockey with television is ludicrous. Only the participating schools will like it, everyone else will say how much it sucks...

Similar to how Class A is looked at now...

As I've always said, don't allow teams to opt up and you fix it

Fix what? We have the best HS tournament in the country. And it is that way for a lot of reasons, but one is that schools like Roseau come down to play teams like Edina in front of 19,000 people (plus the TV audience).

[crickett75]

The fact is getting through your A section is far easier than getting through an AA section. 7 of the 8 AA sections have their top 4 teams ranked in the top 41 in the state while no A section has more than 2. If you put all the A teams in their corresponding AA sections only 5 teams would get home games in the quarterfinals if seeded by Lee's rankings; Lourdes (#2 1AA), New Prague (#4 1AA), STA (#2 4AA), Hermantown (#4 5AA), and Warroad (#3 8AA).

Lourdes would get beat by South by at least 4 goals, they just don't have the depth. Watch the 1A title game then watch the 1AA game, the difference in size and speed is striking. Lourdes plays class A teams for a reason while the AA teams they play are Owatonna, Monticello, Dodge County, and Tartan. Not exactly the cream of the crop.

Good points Goldy. But I'd drop the A privates from the comparison. When you get to pick who enrolls at your school, attendance numbers mean little. Add to that the ability not to be limited in hiring the best coach.

[HShockeywatcher]

Which is only a hockey opinion. If you read the article, only 25% of it was on hockey. Look at wrestling; if you know anything about wrestling around the state, you know most of the best teams in the state are not in the biggest class.

Do you want tournaments to represent the best teams from around the state while getting a chance to see schools of all sizes? Or do you want one champion?

Read your own post. YOUR even arguing against yourself. If most of the best teams are not the biggest, why wouldn't we see teams of all sizes in one class?

1. I believe you meant "YOU'RE"

2. Your question doesn't make sense. Obviously we'd see all teams in a one class system.
What I was saying is that it is a system based on school enrollment, not ability. Other sports recognize that. Hockey followers don't.

The biggest problem with the tier system was the attention given to tier II. In college basketball they have a tier system, "Road to the Final Four" and the NIT. Nobody cares about the NIT except for the participating schools, and I think its only broadcast at 2am on ESPN 4.

Rewarding middling hockey with television is ludicrous. Only the participating schools will like it, everyone else will say how much it sucks...

Similar to how Class A is looked at now...

As I've always said, don't allow teams to opt up and you fix it

Fix what? We have the best HS tournament in the country. And it is that way for a lot of reasons, but one is that schools like Roseau come down to play teams like Edina in front of 19,000 people (plus the TV audience).

Fix the issue of how the Class A tournament is viewed. While I don't mind being able to watch my alma mater from any seat I want, it is quite silly how the games are viewed.

The 19,000 people aren't there to see Roseau specifically, they are there to see Class AA hockey. Roseau/Benilde could play in front of a sell out crowd this year, go back down and play in front of a couple thousand in the coming years. It isn't the teams playing in the tournament, it is how the classes are viewed.

The best teams of the lower enrollment class leaving the class ruins the perception.

The fact is getting through your A section is far easier than getting through an AA section. 7 of the 8 AA sections have their top 4 teams ranked in the top 41 in the state while no A section has more than 2. If you put all the A teams in their corresponding AA sections only 5 teams would get home games in the quarterfinals if seeded by Lee's rankings; Lourdes (#2 1AA), New Prague (#4 1AA), STA (#2 4AA), Hermantown (#4 5AA), and Warroad (#3 8AA).

Lourdes would get beat by South by at least 4 goals, they just don't have the depth. Watch the 1A title game then watch the 1AA game, the difference in size and speed is striking. Lourdes plays class A teams for a reason while the AA teams they play are Owatonna, Monticello, Dodge County, and Tartan. Not exactly the cream of the crop.

Good points Goldy. But I'd drop the A privates from the comparison. When you get to pick who enrolls at your school, attendance numbers mean little. Add to that the ability not to be limited in hiring the best coach.

You pick from a pool of applicants. In many cases it is taking all who apply. You make it seem like they can just hand pick who comes. People can be denied, but you don't "pick who enrolls at your school."

[PuckU126]

You pick from a pool of applicants. In many cases it is taking all who apply. You make it seem like they can just hand pick who comes. People can be denied, but you don't "pick who enrolls at your school."

You are correct there, HShw.

“All guests who present themselves are to be welcomed as Christ.” RB 53:1

It's in front of HM's school.

[crickett75]

You pick from a pool of applicants. In many cases it is taking all who apply. You make it seem like they can just hand pick who comes. People can be denied, but you don't "pick who enrolls at your school."

St. Thomas is a great school, I think most everyone agrees with that. If you're a good hockey player and you're presented the opportunity to go there and play for great coaches why wouldn't you? I'd leave any public school within 10 miles of the place to go there. So St. Thomas has this pool of applicants, to choose from. Of course St. Thomas has a huge advantage over similar "sized" schools, who are limited by attendance boundaries and have to accept everyone. Like Goldy said, the economic disparity alone gives privates a huge advantage.

You're looking for respect for your school. You want to disallow others from opting up to give legitimacy for St. Thomas playing Class A.

Good luck with both.

[HShockeywatcher]

You pick from a pool of applicants. In many cases it is taking all who apply. You make it seem like they can just hand pick who comes. People can be denied, but you don't "pick who enrolls at your school."

St. Thomas is a great school, I think most everyone agrees with that. If you're a good hockey player and you're presented the opportunity to go there and play for great coaches why wouldn't you? I'd leave any public school within 10 miles of the place to go there. So St. Thomas has this pool of applicants, to choose from. Of course St. Thomas has a huge advantage over similar "sized" schools, who are limited by attendance boundaries and have to accept everyone. Like Goldy said, the economic disparity alone gives privates a huge advantage.

You're looking for respect for your school. You want to disallow others from opting up to give legitimacy for St. Thomas playing Class A.

Good luck with both.

Ha, this has nothing to do with a specific school, but nice try.

Sure, if a school that could only accept 200 freshman got 500 applicants, those who previously participated in extracurricuars may be toward the top of the list. But that isn't the case. Did you read the article? One of the reasons Totino hasn't opted up is declining enrollment...an economics thing.

Private schools are a business, period. I don't know what goes into the selection process, but I know you need athletes at your school to attract others. I was simply responding to the "hand picking" comment, which is far from the truth.

As for the specific example, if you'd read my posts in this thread you'd know I could care less what class St Thomas is specifically in. How a school playing in the class they were assigned is not legitimate I do not know.

[The X]

The fact is getting through your A section is far easier than getting through an AA section. 7 of the 8 AA sections have their top 4 teams ranked in the top 41 in the state while no A section has more than 2. If you put all the A teams in their corresponding AA sections only 5 teams would get home games in the quarterfinals if seeded by Lee's rankings; Lourdes (#2 1AA), New Prague (#4 1AA), STA (#2 4AA), Hermantown (#4 5AA), and Warroad (#3 8AA).

Lourdes would get beat by South by at least 4 goals, they just don't have the depth. Watch the 1A title game then watch the 1AA game, the difference in size and speed is striking. Lourdes plays class A teams for a reason while the AA teams they play are Owatonna, Monticello, Dodge County, and Tartan. Not exactly the cream of the crop.

I have a hard time thinking South would beat Lourdes by 4 goals.
Lourdes had St. Thomas on the ropes the other day and lost in OT. St. Thomas gave #1AA Hill Murray everything they wanted only to lose by 1 goal in the last minute of regulation. Lourdes is loaded, they have some top players in their age groups on that team. They are no fluke.

[eastsideguy]

Depth? I believe it's lakeville south with a depth problem after their first line, Lourdes would compete with either lakeville, to say they would lose by 4 is ludicrous

[The X]

You pick from a pool of applicants. In many cases it is taking all who apply. You make it seem like they can just hand pick who comes. People can be denied, but you don't "pick who enrolls at your school."

St. Thomas is a great school, I think most everyone agrees with that. If you're a good hockey player and you're presented the opportunity to go there and play for great coaches why wouldn't you? I'd leave any public school within 10 miles of the place to go there. So St. Thomas has this pool of applicants, to choose from. Of course St. Thomas has a huge advantage over similar "sized" schools, who are limited by attendance boundaries and have to accept everyone. Like Goldy said, the economic disparity alone gives privates a huge advantage.

You're looking for respect for your school. You want to disallow others from opting up to give legitimacy for St. Thomas playing Class A.

Good luck with both.

Ha, this has nothing to do with a specific school, but nice try.

Sure, if a school that could only accept 200 freshman got 500 applicants, those who previously participated in extracurricuars may be toward the top of the list. But that isn't the case. Did you read the article? One of the reasons Totino hasn't opted up is declining enrollment...an economics thing.

Private schools are a business, period. I don't know what goes into the selection process, but I know you need athletes at your school to attract others. I was simply responding to the "hand picking" comment, which is far from the truth.

As for the specific example, if you'd read my posts in this thread you'd know I could care less what class St Thomas is specifically in. How a school playing in the class they were assigned is not legitimate I do not know.

Private schools are a business as you say, which is what some of us have been trying to convey for a long time. Since it is a business, they either belong at the top level 'AA" or like the shattuck "business" not with the public non-corporate entities.

Nobody is disputing the fact that St. Thomas is assigned to the smaller school "A" class, what most of us longtime fans want to know is why?? So far the answers have been lots of fluff, spin, and utter non-sense from those trying to justify it.

[crickett75]

How a school playing in the class they were assigned is not legitimate I do not know.

You really don't have a problem understanding it. Accepting the facts it is something else...

[eastsideguy]

When do we find out if Lourdes, STA, or Totino(football) moved up?

[defense]

St. Thomas is a great school, I think most everyone agrees with that. If you're a good hockey player and you're presented the opportunity to go there and play for great coaches why wouldn't you? I'd leave any public school within 10 miles of the place to go there. So St. Thomas has this pool of applicants, to choose from. Of course St. Thomas has a huge advantage over similar "sized" schools, who are limited by attendance boundaries and have to accept everyone. Like Goldy said, the economic disparity alone gives privates a huge advantage.

Probly because they were assigned to class A. This argument is old beaten, burried, dug up and burned, burried again, dug up and beaten even more. Bottom line is, the MSHSL divides the schools playing varsity hockey into two classes based on enrollment, not how good they are. I have my own opinion on this subject, but that is not the point. The point is that St. Thomas Academy was put into class A, is that their fault?? NO. Breck was put into class A, is that their fault?? NO. Ditto many small private schools.

You're looking for respect for your school. You want to disallow others from opting up to give legitimacy for St. Thomas playing Class A.

Good luck with both.

Ha, this has nothing to do with a specific school, but nice try.

Sure, if a school that could only accept 200 freshman got 500 applicants, those who previously participated in extracurricuars may be toward the top of the list. But that isn't the case. Did you read the article? One of the reasons Totino hasn't opted up is declining enrollment...an economics thing.

Private schools are a business, period. I don't know what goes into the selection process, but I know you need athletes at your school to attract others. I was simply responding to the "hand picking" comment, which is far from the truth.

As for the specific example, if you'd read my posts in this thread you'd know I could care less what class St Thomas is specifically in. How a school playing in the class they were assigned is not legitimate I do not know.

Private schools are a business as you say, which is what some of us have been trying to convey for a long time. Since it is a business, they either belong at the top level 'AA" or like the shattuck "business" not with the public non-corporate entities.

Nobody is disputing the fact that St. Thomas is assigned to the smaller school "A" class, what most of us longtime fans want to know is why?? So far the answers have been lots of fluff, spin, and utter non-sense from those trying to justify it.

[hockeydad]

When do we find out if Lourdes, STA, or Totino(football) moved up?

New sections are usually announced in early to mid-March. Then there is usually a short period of adjustment when a team might discontinue a cooperative agreement (Delano-Rockford-Watertown Mayer cut watertown mayer loose rather than play in 6AA about six years ago, and New Prague cut Montgomery-Lonsdale loose rather than play in 2AA a few years back. The league also let the St Peter/Le Sueur co-op drop down from 2AA two years ago because one of the schools (Le Center) only had one kid competing)

[HShockeywatcher]

Does anyone have the links to the maps of the section teams around the state? I had them at one time. It is always curious to me how certain teams end up in certain sections.

[High Flyer]

Does anyone have the links to the maps of the section teams around the state? I had them at one time. It is always curious to me how certain teams end up in certain sections.

http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/competitiveS ... tivity=410

If you look on the left, you can click on "map" and this gives you a great idea of geo-relationship of the schools

[dontcallmeshirley]

St. Thomas is a great school, I think most everyone agrees with that. If you're a good hockey player and you're presented the opportunity to go there and play for great coaches why wouldn't you? I'd leave any public school within 10 miles of the place to go there. So St. Thomas has this pool of applicants, to choose from. Of course St. Thomas has a huge advantage over similar "sized" schools, who are limited by attendance boundaries and have to accept everyone. Like Goldy said, the economic disparity alone gives privates a huge advantage.

You're looking for respect for your school. You want to disallow others from opting up to give legitimacy for St. Thomas playing Class A.

Good luck with both.

Ha, this has nothing to do with a specific school, but nice try.

Sure, if a school that could only accept 200 freshman got 500 applicants, those who previously participated in extracurricuars may be toward the top of the list. But that isn't the case. Did you read the article? One of the reasons Totino hasn't opted up is declining enrollment...an economics thing.

Private schools are a business, period. I don't know what goes into the selection process, but I know you need athletes at your school to attract others. I was simply responding to the "hand picking" comment, which is far from the truth.

As for the specific example, if you'd read my posts in this thread you'd know I could care less what class St Thomas is specifically in. How a school playing in the class they were assigned is not legitimate I do not know.

Private schools are a business as you say, which is what some of us have been trying to convey for a long time. Since it is a business, they either belong at the top level 'AA" or like the shattuck "business" not with the public non-corporate entities.

Nobody is disputing the fact that St. Thomas is assigned to the smaller school "A" class, what most of us longtime fans want to know is why?? So far the answers have been lots of fluff, spin, and utter non-sense from those trying to justify it.

Just because private schools are businesses does not mean that their athletes and teams have to be treated as professionals. Professional leagues are the ones that switch up placement as a result of success. High school leagues are in place to encourage participation. It is the school, not the team, that is a business. It doesn't make sense to punish all private schools for the perceived crimes of one (and I say "one" here, and not St. Thomas, because it does not seem to matter which one. Whichever team is currently successful in Class A is apparently the guiltiest). Look at the track records of teams. Duluth Marshall was, for a time, completely dominant in the north. Did they expect to see a drop in their success? Probably not. Let us not forget that St. Thomas used to be bad. It would have been difficult for them to foresee exactly the quality of their success. What's more, they haven't even gone to the tournament for the last two years. The only team with a relentlessly consistent track record of quality is Hill, and they have already opted up. If it is "fluff, spin, and utter non-sense" that St. Thomas should benefit from doing what they are told, then you should get in touch with the policymakers. It is difficult for us, as posters on an online forum, to presume to know what is best for an institution in this year or years to come. Their choice not to opt up could reflect the belief that their success will not last, after all. There is no way to know.

Also, as far as "rewarding middling hockey with television" being "ludicrous" goes, you should consider writing a pleasant (or unpleasant, considering your tone on the board) note to FSN about why they should drop the Gophers. Seriously, if it offends you so badly, just don't turn it on. Don't begrudge a team of HS athletes part of a prize that they rightfully earned.

[PuckU126]

Just because private schools are businesses does not mean that their athletes and teams have to be treated as professionals. Professional leagues are the ones that switch up placement as a result of success. High school leagues are in place to encourage participation. It is the school, not the team, that is a business. It doesn't make sense to punish all private schools for the perceived crimes of one (and I say "one" here, and not St. Thomas, because it does not seem to matter which one. Whichever team is currently successful in Class A is apparently the guiltiest). Look at the track records of teams. Duluth Marshall was, for a time, completely dominant in the north. Did they expect to see a drop in their success? Probably not. Let us not forget that St. Thomas used to be bad. It would have been difficult for them to foresee exactly the quality of their success. What's more, they haven't even gone to the tournament for the last two years. The only team with a relentlessly consistent track record of quality is Hill, and they have already opted up. If it is "fluff, spin, and utter non-sense" that St. Thomas should benefit from doing what they are told, then you should get in touch with the policymakers. It is difficult for us, as posters on an online forum, to presume to know what is best for an institution in this year or years to come. Their choice not to opt up could reflect the belief that their success will not last, after all. There is no way to know.

Also, as far as "rewarding middling hockey with television" being "ludicrous" goes, you should consider writing a pleasant (or unpleasant, considering your tone on the board) note to FSN about why they should drop the Gophers. Seriously, if it offends you so badly, just don't turn it on. Don't begrudge a team of HS athletes part of a prize that they rightfully earned.

[HShockeywatcher]

dontcallmeshirley, great post, but there's ultimately little point in making it. I've tried with very similar posts, as have others. I assume the majority of posters on here are from public schools (would make sense). I didn't know much about them til later in life, and I'm sure the same can be said of the reverse for most. I've never understood why ignorance of a topic brings rudeness, but it probably will continue.

Does anyone have the links to the maps of the section teams around the state? I had them at one time. It is always curious to me how certain teams end up in certain sections.

http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/competitiveS ... tivity=410

If you look on the left, you can click on "map" and this gives you a great idea of geo-relationship of the schools

AA makes sense for the most part, but parts of A have always confused me, assuming the goal is to be geographic, not talent based. Litchfield and Wilmar are right next to each other but in different sections; Proctor, Hermantown and Central, Park Rapids, etc, etc. But thanks for the link.

[stpaul]

I hope STA gets placed in 4AA. 3AA makes sense by geography but it already has 10 schools. 4AA has only 8. The annual competition with HM & WBL to go to state would be great fun. It'll drive those private school haters crazy to have both HM & STA.

[PuckU126]

I hope STA gets placed in 4AA. 3AA makes sense by geography but it already has 10 schools. 4AA has only 8. The annual competition with HM & WBL to go to state would be great fun. It'll drive those private school haters crazy to have both HM & STA.

Agreed.

[The X]

Ha, this has nothing to do with a specific school, but nice try.

Sure, if a school that could only accept 200 freshman got 500 applicants, those who previously participated in extracurricuars may be toward the top of the list. But that isn't the case. Did you read the article? One of the reasons Totino hasn't opted up is declining enrollment...an economics thing.

Private schools are a business, period. I don't know what goes into the selection process, but I know you need athletes at your school to attract others. I was simply responding to the "hand picking" comment, which is far from the truth.

As for the specific example, if you'd read my posts in this thread you'd know I could care less what class St Thomas is specifically in. How a school playing in the class they were assigned is not legitimate I do not know.

Private schools are a business as you say, which is what some of us have been trying to convey for a long time. Since it is a business, they either belong at the top level 'AA" or like the shattuck "business" not with the public non-corporate entities.

Nobody is disputing the fact that St. Thomas is assigned to the smaller school "A" class, what most of us longtime fans want to know is why?? So far the answers have been lots of fluff, spin, and utter non-sense from those trying to justify it.

Just because private schools are businesses does not mean that their athletes and teams have to be treated as professionals. Professional leagues are the ones that switch up placement as a result of success. High school leagues are in place to encourage participation. It is the school, not the team, that is a business. It doesn't make sense to punish all private schools for the perceived crimes of one (and I say "one" here, and not St. Thomas, because it does not seem to matter which one. Whichever team is currently successful in Class A is apparently the guiltiest). Look at the track records of teams. Duluth Marshall was, for a time, completely dominant in the north. Did they expect to see a drop in their success? Probably not. Let us not forget that St. Thomas used to be bad. It would have been difficult for them to foresee exactly the quality of their success. What's more, they haven't even gone to the tournament for the last two years. The only team with a relentlessly consistent track record of quality is Hill, and they have already opted up. If it is "fluff, spin, and utter non-sense" that St. Thomas should benefit from doing what they are told, then you should get in touch with the policymakers. It is difficult for us, as posters on an online forum, to presume to know what is best for an institution in this year or years to come. Their choice not to opt up could reflect the belief that their success will not last, after all. There is no way to know.

Also, as far as "rewarding middling hockey with television" being "ludicrous" goes, you should consider writing a pleasant (or unpleasant, considering your tone on the board) note to FSN about why they should drop the Gophers. Seriously, if it offends you so badly, just don't turn it on. Don't begrudge a team of HS athletes part of a prize that they rightfully earned.

Class "A" state champs

2000- Breck
2001- Benilde (Played Lourdes in final)
2002- Totino Grace
2004- Breck
2005- * Totino lost in finals in 2 ot's
2006- STA ( Played D. Marshall in final)
2008- STA ( Played D. Marshall in final)
2009- Breck
2010- Breck

This seems a little lopsided, dont you think? The privates have taken over this class because of the recruiting advantage, yes I said recruiting. How do I know this? I coached a "AAA" team that was top two in the state for their age group. 5 of the players are at AHA, 3 at STA, 2 at Edina, and 2 in the USHL. If I let it be known what I have seen and heard at our tournaments and practices in regards to these players being propositioned by said entities, I think you would have a different opinion. Be careful what you wish for. Or perhaps you are aware of these facts? My posts are not about the kids at all, in fact I still talk to several of them because they remain great kids! This is all about the parents and adults and the manipulation of kids and denials of whats going on here. Personally, my only opinion remains that the privates should play "AA", for the obvious reasons. The hope here is that the policymakers, which I believe you might be one, will see these posts and do the right thing. This will be my last post regarding this subject so feel free to get the last word and try to change the overwhelming opinion on this site. Take care.

[The X]

dontcallmeshirley, great post, but there's ultimately little point in making it. I've tried with very similar posts, as have others. I assume the majority of posters on here are from public schools (would make sense). I didn't know much about them til later in life, and I'm sure the same can be said of the reverse for most. I've never understood why ignorance of a topic brings rudeness, but it probably will continue.

Does anyone have the links to the maps of the section teams around the state? I had them at one time. It is always curious to me how certain teams end up in certain sections.

http://www.mshsl.org/mshsl/competitiveS ... tivity=410

If you look on the left, you can click on "map" and this gives you a great idea of geo-relationship of the schools

AA makes sense for the most part, but parts of A have always confused me, assuming the goal is to be geographic, not talent based. Litchfield and Wilmar are right next to each other but in different sections; Proctor, Hermantown and Central, Park Rapids, etc, etc. But thanks for the link.

HSHW, the types of posts like the one above by you is what keeps these going. For someone who admits you never played, coached, or anything, you sure are high on yourself as a hockey mind. When you accomplish any of the above, you can call the rest of us ignorant, until then realize that you are the minority on this site.