Where did most of these St Thomas kids play their yth hockey

[centennialhockey]

Bravo to all the STA and private school comments. It is puzzling why STA would choose to play down when they clearly play a AA year long schedule.

I guess filling that trophy cabinet is very important to them. Who even remembers who won class A. I had no idea Breck had won it two years in a row.

Good luck to all

[zamboni14]

St. Thomas has enrollment of 533 boys in grades 9-12, not over 1000. Your notion of public high schools representing towns or city neighborhoods may have been true in the distant past but is long gone. Private schools have always existed and have been in the MSHSL for 37 years. Parents looking for the best athletic opportunities for top athletes has been going on for decades and is not limited to private schools. Private schools are the obvious bad guys in your view. But how about when a kid moves through open enrollment, an actual housing move or other means to play for a better public high school team. Check out Hopkins basketball for instance. They certainly don't represent the town of Hopkins anymore. How about all the kids to go play in the NAHL, USHL or NDTP? Are you just as upset if, for example, Moorhead makes it to state with a star player from Fargo or a goalie from Alexandria? The fact is high school hockey and other sports are played by kids who are enrolled and attending that high school no matter how they got there. As long as the school abides by MSHSL rules it will remain as it is. I too have fond memories of International Falls playing the eastsiders from St. Paul Johnson in the state final but that was nearly 50 years ago. Times have changes and St. Thomas Academy is not the reason. It's a great school. They don't have to apologize for having nice facilities, top coaches, top academics, expectations & discipline, a great history & traditions, religion, supportive parents & alumni...or for beating New Ulm 13-2.

The only issue I have with this, is that even though actual enrollment at STA is 500+ it's counted as over 1000 due to being an all boys school (MSHSL doubles the numbers in secular schools to determine enrollment.) So in that case, they shouldn't be in class A (and should've opted up after it was obvious how they dominate against the smaller schools.)

Beyond that, you are spot on. And this is why I have no problems with the private schools in class AA. Many of the programs in class AA do pull in kids from other districts, and have been doing so for more years then people realize. When I entered HS in the early 90s, I found out that my own school had 3 straight years where the starting goalie was either from EP or Mound (also on the team was an exchange student from Finland who played on one of the Finish junior national teams.) Add in another kid from Osseo (before MG took most of their talent away) and you start to get a picture of how much might be going on with other teams. Even Jefferson during their "run" had kids playing for them from outside of the district (one of their goalies actually had moved to Colorado in grade school, but then he moved in with a relative back here so he could play hockey in MN.)

[High Flyer]

St. Thomas has enrollment of 533 boys in grades 9-12, not over 1000. Your notion of public high schools representing towns or city neighborhoods may have been true in the distant past but is long gone. Private schools have always existed and have been in the MSHSL for 37 years. Parents looking for the best athletic opportunities for top athletes has been going on for decades and is not limited to private schools. Private schools are the obvious bad guys in your view. But how about when a kid moves through open enrollment, an actual housing move or other means to play for a better public high school team. Check out Hopkins basketball for instance. They certainly don't represent the town of Hopkins anymore. How about all the kids to go play in the NAHL, USHL or NDTP? Are you just as upset if, for example, Moorhead makes it to state with a star player from Fargo or a goalie from Alexandria? The fact is high school hockey and other sports are played by kids who are enrolled and attending that high school no matter how they got there. As long as the school abides by MSHSL rules it will remain as it is. I too have fond memories of International Falls playing the eastsiders from St. Paul Johnson in the state final but that was nearly 50 years ago. Times have changes and St. Thomas Academy is not the reason. It's a great school. They don't have to apologize for having nice facilities, top coaches, top academics, expectations & discipline, a great history & traditions, religion, supportive parents & alumni...or for beating New Ulm 13-2.

Some good points St Paul

I would add that this is not just an issue in hockey nor is it just a pubic/private issue. It goes much deeper than that. Just go to the http://s7.zetaboards.com/The_Guillotine ... rum/21756/ and read any of the threads about the number #1 ranked team in the country, a public school (not private) Apple Valley and listen about all their transfers, huge D1 coaching staff, scheduling advantages, depth, off season training program and all the money the "wrestling booster club" raises. FYI team scores for this years AAA team state tournament:

Quarter Finals 71-12 (a 6pt loss was a forfeit, because of a reporting error, should of been 77-6)
Semi Final 70-0
Final 61-6

Or look at the #6 ranked team in the country, another public school Simily who is the second best team in Minnesota, who won't move up from "AA" to "AAA". Why might you ask? Because they can’t beat Apple Valley and would end up in the same section as Apple Valley and never make it to state.

[MrBoDangles]

St. Thomas has enrollment of 533 boys in grades 9-12, not over 1000. Your notion of public high schools representing towns or city neighborhoods may have been true in the distant past but is long gone. Private schools have always existed and have been in the MSHSL for 37 years. Parents looking for the best athletic opportunities for top athletes has been going on for decades and is not limited to private schools. Private schools are the obvious bad guys in your view. But how about when a kid moves through open enrollment, an actual housing move or other means to play for a better public high school team. Check out Hopkins basketball for instance. They certainly don't represent the town of Hopkins anymore. How about all the kids to go play in the NAHL, USHL or NDTP? Are you just as upset if, for example, Moorhead makes it to state with a star player from Fargo or a goalie from Alexandria? The fact is high school hockey and other sports are played by kids who are enrolled and attending that high school no matter how they got there. As long as the school abides by MSHSL rules it will remain as it is. I too have fond memories of International Falls playing the eastsiders from St. Paul Johnson in the state final but that was nearly 50 years ago. Times have changes and St. Thomas Academy is not the reason. It's a great school. They don't have to apologize for having nice facilities, top coaches, top academics, expectations & discipline, a great history & traditions, religion, supportive parents & alumni...or for beating New Ulm 13-2.

Some good points St Paul

I would add that this is not just an issue in hockey or is just a pubic/private issue. It goes much deeper than that. Just go to the http://s7.zetaboards.com/The_Guillotine ... rum/21756/ and read any of the threads about the number #1 ranked team in the country, a public school (not private) Apple Valley and listen about all their transfers, huge D1 coaching staff, scheduling advantages, depth, off season training program and all the money the "wrestling booster club" raises. FYI team scores for this years AAA team state tournament:

Quarter Finals 71-12 (a 6pt loss was a forfeit, because of a reporting error, should of been 77-6)
Semi Final 70-0
Final 61-6

Or look at the #6 ranked team in the country, another public school Simily who is the second best team in Minnesota, who won't move up from "AA" to "AAA". Why might you ask? Because they can’t beat Apple Valley and would end up in the same section as Apple Valley and never make it to state.

So "Simily" is a lot like STA?

[Rossbury21]

I really hate to burst the bubbles of some of you guys, but it is not just private schools doing this, nor is it just city teams. It happens in every sport, in every state. St. Thomas having kids go to their school from other towns is more ethical than Warroad moving kids into the town for hockey. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the parents wanted to send their son to a Military Academy for education?

[MrBoDangles]

I really hate to burst the bubbles of some of you guys, but it is not just private schools doing this, nor is it just city teams. It happens in every sport, in every state. St. Thomas having kids go to their school from other towns is more ethical than Warroad moving kids into the town for hockey. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the parents wanted to send their son to a Military Academy for education?

STA's best players came from an association (LVS) where the parents thought there was no future. So no, I don't think a military education was high on the list.

The main discussion is moving up to AA.

Warroad hears it too..

[Rossbury21]

I really hate to burst the bubbles of some of you guys, but it is not just private schools doing this, nor is it just city teams. It happens in every sport, in every state. St. Thomas having kids go to their school from other towns is more ethical than Warroad moving kids into the town for hockey. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the parents wanted to send their son to a Military Academy for education?

STA's best players came from an association (LVS) where the parents thought there was no future. So no, I don't think a military education was high on the list.

The main discussion is moving up to AA.

Warroad hears it too..

No, the main discussion here was where the players came from.

[MrBoDangles]

I really hate to burst the bubbles of some of you guys, but it is not just private schools doing this, nor is it just city teams. It happens in every sport, in every state. St. Thomas having kids go to their school from other towns is more ethical than Warroad moving kids into the town for hockey. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe the parents wanted to send their son to a Military Academy for education?

STA's best players came from an association (LVS) where the parents thought there was no future. So no, I don't think a military education was high on the list.

The main discussion is moving up to AA.

Warroad hears it too..

No, the main discussion here was where the players came from.

As in this case.....The main discussion will always turn to moving up when it comes to STA.

[HShockeywatcher]

Seven Observations from this thread

1. It's funny how this thread was started about where kids played their youth hockey and there has been all of TWO posts on that.

2. 30+ different people are posting the same thing; they should play AA. Not a single poster on in this thread is arguing with that. Keep the venting going guys

3. One point that keeps coming up is the number of games St Thomas plays against AA teams. I only looked into it with one team, but SSP plays more. So I'm guessing they should be AA too, right?

4. As mentioned by others, transferring is not a thing having only to do with private schools. There was another thread where a poster commented that had Alex Lyon done what most hockey players from Baudette do and transferred to Warroad, he may be working on his 3rd title.

5.

Frankly, I think it's cost STA, and Breck, some of the top players because the players and families do want to play for the best teams and AA. Kinda second tier privates and players. It costs the players, some of whom are very good, the attention that the AA players receive.

Oh yeah, you're right, the St Thomas players aren't getting any attention this week

6. No MSHSL hockey player in the state of MN is playing for their city's team. You are playing for the high school you attend. I just tried to get a map of Centennial, MN and came up short...

7. Ultimately, I think the state needs to reexamine what "we" (the state of hockey want) for the system, go with it and people need to stop complaining.
-First we had a one class system. (It was great, but with how sections are aligned for participation and the way conventional thinking it going in sports, I doubt we'll go back)
-Then we had a tier system, that people didn't like. (The first year the team getting 2nd at the tournament ended with 6 wins and the second year the winner was .500)
-Since we've had a class/tier system, where teams can play where they're assigned but according to most people if they're good and in the lower class, they don't have integrity.

So basically what I get from this is that we don't want a class system, many fans actually do want that tier system that didn't work. Think of what would happen if all the private schools, SSP, Warroad, TRF, Hibbing, Virginia and Hermantown were in AA. The lower class is diminished as it is and all people want is to diminish it more.

If you're going to give two trophies, why do most want to make only one mean anything instead of give both meaning?

8. Similar to my point in #7; I have mentioned this in a couple threads with no responses, as I believe there isn't really a good one. The idea that your class defines your ability is seen no where else in high school sports that I've ever seen before, not even in MN sports. Why then should this be the case in hockey?

9. What would be the harm in allowing teams to opt up for a year? Would it simply be too much work to re-align sections yearly? Or is part of it that we really don't want too many opting up?

10. The dreaded R-word. Food for thought and added discussion; why have open enrollment and rules about recruiting? As long as no $/gifts are being exchanged, why not have anyone able to enroll to any school they like, with those within the boundaries have "first dibs"? There is such a sense of entitlement with schools, that they are entitled to the students coming through; why not have more competition amongst schools to have students/families WANT to send their kid there?

[Rossbury21]

6. No MSHSL hockey player in the state of MN is playing for their city's team. You are playing for the high school you attend. I just tried to get a map of Centennial, MN and came up short...

Well played

[MrBoDangles]

Seven Observations from this thread

1. It's funny how this thread was started about where kids played their youth hockey and there has been all of TWO posts on that.

2. 30+ different people are posting the same thing; they should play AA. Not a single poster on in this thread is arguing with that. Keep the venting going guys

3. One point that keeps coming up is the number of games St Thomas plays against AA teams. I only looked into it with one team, but SSP plays more. So I'm guessing they should be AA too, right?

4. As mentioned by others, transferring is not a thing having only to do with private schools. There was another thread where a poster commented that had Alex Lyon done what most hockey players from Baudette do and transferred to Warroad, he may be working on his 3rd title.

5.

Frankly, I think it's cost STA, and Breck, some of the top players because the players and families do want to play for the best teams and AA. Kinda second tier privates and players. It costs the players, some of whom are very good, the attention that the AA players receive.

Oh yeah, you're right, the St Thomas players aren't getting any attention this week

6. No MSHSL hockey player in the state of MN is playing for their city's team. You are playing for the high school you attend. I just tried to get a map of Centennial, MN and came up short...

7. Ultimately, I think the state needs to reexamine what "we" (the state of hockey want) for the system, go with it and people need to stop complaining.
-First we had a one class system. (It was great, but with how sections are aligned for participation and the way conventional thinking it going in sports, I doubt we'll go back)
-Then we had a tier system, that people didn't like. (The first year the team getting 2nd at the tournament ended with 6 wins and the second year the winner was .500)
-Since we've had a class/tier system, where teams can play where they're assigned but according to most people if they're good and in the lower class, they don't have integrity.

So basically what I get from this is that we don't want a class system, many fans actually do want that tier system that didn't work. Think of what would happen if all the private schools, SSP, Warroad, TRF, Hibbing, Virginia and Hermantown were in AA. The lower class is diminished as it is and all people want is to diminish it more.

If you're going to give two trophies, why do most want to make only one mean anything instead of give both meaning?

8. Similar to my point in #7; I have mentioned this in a couple threads with no responses, as I believe there isn't really a good one. The idea that your class defines your ability is seen no where else in high school sports that I've ever seen before, not even in MN sports. Why then should this be the case in hockey?

9. What would be the harm in allowing teams to opt up for a year? Would it simply be too much work to re-align sections yearly? Or is part of it that we really don't want too many opting up?

10. The dreaded R-word. Food for thought and added discussion; why have open enrollment and rules about recruiting? As long as no $/gifts are being exchanged, why not have anyone able to enroll to any school they like, with those within the boundaries have "first dibs"? There is such a sense of entitlement with schools, that they are entitled to the students coming through; why not have more competition amongst schools to have students/families WANT to send their kid there?

The benefit package is way better at a private school for a talented athlete. Gift of lower cost always almost always happens.

[MHGr8ness]

Let me get you a map of the metro area...

You need to expand your map a little more............. Christian Isackson was from Pine City.

Do I have to get a State map?

more than a state one.. at the tourney yesterday I talked to the St. Thomas's goalie's father. They're from Milwaukee, WI. Don't worry I didn't get infected..

[thorhockey]

Kreiger - Tartan

Yet Another private school transfer to win a state title for a CSC enemy.
When STA takes the crown for the B squad tourney it'll be like the proverbial feel of kissing your sister.

[Rossbury21]

You need to expand your map a little more............. Christian Isackson was from Pine City.

Do I have to get a State map?

more than a state one.. at the tourney yesterday I talked to the St. Thomas's goalie's father. They're from Milwaukee, WI. Don't worry I didn't get infected..

Ok, that is absolutely ridiculous, did he say if they recruited him? I still don't believe they legitimately recruit, just word of mouth that schools like Hill and STA are the places to go. You don't need Lechnar or Vannelli to tell you the programs are good.

[MHGr8ness]

Seven Observations from this thread

1. It's funny how this thread was started about where kids played their youth hockey and there has been all of TWO posts on that.

2. 30+ different people are posting the same thing; they should play AA. Not a single poster on in this thread is arguing with that. Keep the venting going guys

3. One point that keeps coming up is the number of games St Thomas plays against AA teams. I only looked into it with one team, but SSP plays more. So I'm guessing they should be AA too, right?

4. As mentioned by others, transferring is not a thing having only to do with private schools. There was another thread where a poster commented that had Alex Lyon done what most hockey players from Baudette do and transferred to Warroad, he may be working on his 3rd title.

5.

Frankly, I think it's cost STA, and Breck, some of the top players because the players and families do want to play for the best teams and AA. Kinda second tier privates and players. It costs the players, some of whom are very good, the attention that the AA players receive.

Oh yeah, you're right, the St Thomas players aren't getting any attention this week

6. No MSHSL hockey player in the state of MN is playing for their city's team. You are playing for the high school you attend. I just tried to get a map of Centennial, MN and came up short...

7. Ultimately, I think the state needs to reexamine what "we" (the state of hockey want) for the system, go with it and people need to stop complaining.
-First we had a one class system. (It was great, but with how sections are aligned for participation and the way conventional thinking it going in sports, I doubt we'll go back)
-Then we had a tier system, that people didn't like. (The first year the team getting 2nd at the tournament ended with 6 wins and the second year the winner was .500)
-Since we've had a class/tier system, where teams can play where they're assigned but according to most people if they're good and in the lower class, they don't have integrity.

So basically what I get from this is that we don't want a class system, many fans actually do want that tier system that didn't work. Think of what would happen if all the private schools, SSP, Warroad, TRF, Hibbing, Virginia and Hermantown were in AA. The lower class is diminished as it is and all people want is to diminish it more.

If you're going to give two trophies, why do most want to make only one mean anything instead of give both meaning?

8. Similar to my point in #7; I have mentioned this in a couple threads with no responses, as I believe there isn't really a good one. The idea that your class defines your ability is seen no where else in high school sports that I've ever seen before, not even in MN sports. Why then should this be the case in hockey?

9. What would be the harm in allowing teams to opt up for a year? Would it simply be too much work to re-align sections yearly? Or is part of it that we really don't want too many opting up?

10. The dreaded R-word. Food for thought and added discussion; why have open enrollment and rules about recruiting? As long as no $/gifts are being exchanged, why not have anyone able to enroll to any school they like, with those within the boundaries have "first dibs"? There is such a sense of entitlement with schools, that they are entitled to the students coming through; why not have more competition amongst schools to have students/families WANT to send their kid there?

class is determined by enrollment, not skill. Therefore, it's no reason to move someone up because they're successful. Once the Warroads and Hermantowns leave, eventually someone else will be regualars at the tourny and they'll get moved up, too. The cycle will continue and should never be started.
Due to advantages, I think privates should be AA.
Small towns play for their city. #6 is way off. I play for myself, my family, friends, school, and city. Throughout town, I've had so many people wish me luck and ask me about the team. They ask, "how's our team looking?" not how is they high school's team? What are the privates playing for?

[Northsider]

more than a state one.. at the tourney yesterday I talked to the St. Thomas's goalie's father. They're from Milwaukee, WI. Don't worry I didn't get infected..

I'd take a few more showers just to be sure.

Small towns play for their city. #6 is way off. I play for myself, my family, friends, school, and city. Throughout town, I've had so many people wish me luck and ask me about the team. They ask, "how's our team looking?" not how is they high school's team? What are the privates playing for?

Walk into any Catholic Church on Sunday morning in Oakdale, North St Paul, WBL, etc on a Sunday Morning and when the locals discuss "their" team, they aren't talking about Tartan, North, or White Bear. My priest is a huge Hill fan and routinely brings the team up during the homily. He also comes and does masses at school. Other churches in the area are the same and a large chunk of the parishes went to HM. Hill hockey's kind of a big deal.

I know Cretin has a similar community feeling in Highland Park and Mac-Groveland. I don't know about the others though.

[HShockeywatcher]

The benefit package is way better at a private school for a talented athlete. Gift of lower cost always almost always happens.

Since when is the cost of a private school cheaper than that of the public education we ALL pay for, including those who attend private schools?

class is determined by enrollment, not skill. Therefore, it's no reason to move someone up because they're successful. Once the Warroads and Hermantowns leave, eventually someone else will be regualars at the tourny and they'll get moved up, too. The cycle will continue and should never be started.
Due to advantages, I think privates should be AA.
Small towns play for their city. #6 is way off. I play for myself, my family, friends, school, and city. Throughout town, I've had so many people wish me luck and ask me about the team. They ask, "how's our team looking?" not how is they high school's team? What are the privates playing for?

If Class is simply determined that way and have zero to do with skill, why do good schools opt up and why are certain teams looked down on for where they are? Simply put, fans do use class as an ability meter and teams are looked down on for where they are.

You are correct that in many places there is only one high school in the area and you are in effect playing for the school of the area. But unlike youth programs, you play for a school's team, not a city's. The way it is looked at doesn't change what it is.

The idea for a 2 class tournament was for the New Ulm's, Little Falls, and teams like that, not for metro private all star teams.

Under the "all private schools play AA" blanket New Ulm would be a AA team. Part of why I'd prefer the "all the current AA, 2A, 4A and 7A private schools" blanket.

[pucker52]

My guess is this conversation will get more heated over the next few years. Providence is rapidly growing a program under Tearse and St Paul Academy is beginning to get going with their new coach. Blake and Breck will be challenged in their conference and in the near future by Providence in the section. Any re-alignment of the section and you could end up with four or five privates from the metro in the final 8.

[zamboni14]

Do I have to get a State map?

more than a state one.. at the tourney yesterday I talked to the St. Thomas's goalie's father. They're from Milwaukee, WI. Don't worry I didn't get infected..

Ok, that is absolutely ridiculous, did he say if they recruited him? I still don't believe they legitimately recruit, just word of mouth that schools like Hill and STA are the places to go. You don't need Lechnar or Vannelli to tell you the programs are good.

ok, how's this then...

when I was in 8th grade, I was attending a private school in Hopkins. Half the kids either moved onto BSM or Hopkins high school. Now I (on the other hand) lived in 'Tonka school district, but was only a mile from the EP district line and 2 blocks from the Hopkins district line. My sister ran track for BSM (when their girls track team was one of the better small school) so I spent a day at BSM first, and knew I didn't want to go there (didn't want to be known as "_____ lil bro.") So I already told my parents I didn't want to go there, and after one call from BSM's athletic director, never heard back from him. Now suddenly, after the hockey season was over I get a call from the STA AD for an invite. Mind you, this was back when STA was a "nobody" private school in hockey. I turned down the invite. The following week he calls back and asks me "how old are your pads?" He then tells me that they will set me up with all new goalie pads and a spot on the JV squad as their starting goalie. I turned them down a second time and said that I was going to go to a public school (my parents had already agreed to my request to no longer attend private catholic schools.) Before the school year starts, the head of EP youth hockey calls me and asks that I consider playing in the EP youth hockey association (I was going to be a 2nd year bantam my freshman year.) Turned it down. The following year (OTH) after the 'Tonka tryouts were done, I get called by EP to attend their tryouts for Junior Gold/Midgets so that I could possibly play for the high school my junior year.

Still think teams don't recruit?

Speaking of BSM, my brother-in-law went there (he's not even catholic) and his parents didn't pay a dime for him to go there.

There you go... nothing is "hearsay" or second hand story telling.

[PuckU126]

ok, how's this then...

when I was in 8th grade, I was attending a private school in Hopkins. Half the kids either moved onto BSM or Hopkins high school. Now I (on the other hand) lived in 'Tonka school district, but was only a mile from the EP district line and 2 blocks from the Hopkins district line. My sister ran track for BSM (when their girls track team was one of the better small school) so I spent a day at BSM first, and knew I didn't want to go there (didn't want to be known as "_____ lil bro.") So I already told my parents I didn't want to go there, and after one call from BSM's athletic director, never heard back from him. Now suddenly, after the hockey season was over I get a call from the STA AD for an invite. Mind you, this was back when STA was a "nobody" private school in hockey. I turned down the invite. The following week he calls back and asks me "how old are your pads?" He then tells me that they will set me up with all new goalie pads and a spot on the JV squad as their starting goalie. I turned them down a second time and said that I was going to go to a public school (my parents had already agreed to my request to no longer attend private catholic schools.) Before the school year starts, the head of EP youth hockey calls me and asks that I consider playing in the EP youth hockey association (I was going to be a 2nd year bantam my freshman year.) Turned it down. The following year (OTH) after the 'Tonka tryouts were done, I get called by EP to attend their tryouts for Junior Gold/Midgets so that I could possibly play for the high school my junior year.

Still think teams don't recruit?

Speaking of BSM, my brother-in-law went there (he's not even catholic) and his parents didn't pay a dime for him to go there.

There you go... nothing is "hearsay" or second hand story telling.

Until you can prove what you just posted, it is all "hearsay."

Those schools don't have recruiters; their program recruits itself.

[zamboni14]

ok, how's this then...

when I was in 8th grade, I was attending a private school in Hopkins. Half the kids either moved onto BSM or Hopkins high school. Now I (on the other hand) lived in 'Tonka school district, but was only a mile from the EP district line and 2 blocks from the Hopkins district line. My sister ran track for BSM (when their girls track team was one of the better small school) so I spent a day at BSM first, and knew I didn't want to go there (didn't want to be known as "_____ lil bro.") So I already told my parents I didn't want to go there, and after one call from BSM's athletic director, never heard back from him. Now suddenly, after the hockey season was over I get a call from the STA AD for an invite. Mind you, this was back when STA was a "nobody" private school in hockey. I turned down the invite. The following week he calls back and asks me "how old are your pads?" He then tells me that they will set me up with all new goalie pads and a spot on the JV squad as their starting goalie. I turned them down a second time and said that I was going to go to a public school (my parents had already agreed to my request to no longer attend private catholic schools.) Before the school year starts, the head of EP youth hockey calls me and asks that I consider playing in the EP youth hockey association (I was going to be a 2nd year bantam my freshman year.) Turned it down. The following year (OTH) after the 'Tonka tryouts were done, I get called by EP to attend their tryouts for Junior Gold/Midgets so that I could possibly play for the high school my junior year.

Still think teams don't recruit?

Speaking of BSM, my brother-in-law went there (he's not even catholic) and his parents didn't pay a dime for him to go there.

There you go... nothing is "hearsay" or second hand story telling.

Until you can prove what you just posted, it is all "hearsay."

Those schools don't have recruiters; their program recruits itself.

hang on, I'll find a "wiki" page for it

[PuckU126]

hang on, I'll find a "wiki" page for it

Ahh Wiki... The "answers" to everything.

[HShockeywatcher]

My guess is this conversation will get more heated over the next few years. Providence is rapidly growing a program under Tearse and St Paul Academy is beginning to get going with their new coach. Blake and Breck will be challenged in their conference and in the near future by Providence in the section. Any re-alignment of the section and you could end up with four or five privates from the metro in the final 8.

What I want to know is what people would actually want in this scenario. My #7/#8; in the scenario that all the private schools were in AA, the Class A tournament would be less worth while than it is now AND in that case I would bet that some other publics would follow.

ok, how's this then...

when I was in 8th grade, I was attending a private school in Hopkins. Half the kids either moved onto BSM or Hopkins high school. Now I (on the other hand) lived in 'Tonka school district, but was only a mile from the EP district line and 2 blocks from the Hopkins district line. My sister ran track for BSM (when their girls track team was one of the better small school) so I spent a day at BSM first, and knew I didn't want to go there (didn't want to be known as "_____ lil bro.") So I already told my parents I didn't want to go there, and after one call from BSM's athletic director, never heard back from him. Now suddenly, after the hockey season was over I get a call from the STA AD for an invite. Mind you, this was back when STA was a "nobody" private school in hockey. I turned down the invite. The following week he calls back and asks me "how old are your pads?" He then tells me that they will set me up with all new goalie pads and a spot on the JV squad as their starting goalie. I turned them down a second time and said that I was going to go to a public school (my parents had already agreed to my request to no longer attend private catholic schools.) Before the school year starts, the head of EP youth hockey calls me and asks that I consider playing in the EP youth hockey association (I was going to be a 2nd year bantam my freshman year.) Turned it down. The following year (OTH) after the 'Tonka tryouts were done, I get called by EP to attend their tryouts for Junior Gold/Midgets so that I could possibly play for the high school my junior year.

Still think teams don't recruit?

Speaking of BSM, my brother-in-law went there (he's not even catholic) and his parents didn't pay a dime for him to go there.

There you go... nothing is "hearsay" or second hand story telling.

Until you can prove what you just posted, it is all "hearsay."

Those schools don't have recruiters; their program recruits itself.

Stating that a private school asked you to attend their school is what they do. No one will deny they recruit, they are a business, period. As is BSM. I don't know the rules on telling a student how good they are relative to other students in the program. I personally have no issue with recruiting, as I know that schools all over do it; officially making it legal as long as no gifts were exchanged would be great for the schools in my opinion.

[Gophs_Fan 12345]

You must've been one hot commodity zamboni

[The X]

Mendota Heights, of course

I find it interesting how people think that the only justifiable way that a person would play hockey for a private school is if they lived next door to it. People don't go to St. Thomas, the only school of its kind in Minnesota, because it is convenient. I go to BSM (yes, I realize that according to high school hockey fans, that makes me a terrible person) and probably only 15% of the student body lives in St. Louis Park. Why should the hockey team be any different?

I went to STA, just a little joke. I agree with you though, STA was garbage at hockey ten years ago, and the first wave of good players did not go there because of hockey, but many people are too dumb to understand this. And if a hockey player is from the area, they were obviously recruited shortly after birth when the parents were looking for a house.

So you are saying Jordan Schroeder did not go to STA for hockey as an 8th grader? Would you agree that this was put STA on the hockey map? If so, please explain to me why he left STA for the NTDP as a sophomore, then left the U of M as a sophomore to go pro? In addition, where did the last 9 waves of players come from, did the Cadets not hire Vannelli to build a strong program 10-11 years ago? Wow,