STA

[Marty Moose]

YES, STA should move up! And so should Breck, Blake, etc. Kudos to Holy Family for having the fortitude to do it. STA's championship means NOTHING. The coach was quoted in the St. Paul paper this week saying something to the effect of "we win because we teach the kids it's okay to excel. Their excellence in the classroom bleeds over into the hockey rink." Really? Please. I'm sure these are all fine young men, and I admire the school. I'm sure they do teach kids that it's okay to achieve. But C'mon! The PRIMARY reason they win is because there are excellent hockey players that choose to go to school there. I'm sure there are good coaches there, but I think even Don Lucia could coach this group to a state title. I think it's ten out of the last 13 titles have been won by small private schools. That's 10 times in the last 13 years that the title has been won by an all star team. That's ten times that entire communities have been robbed of a legitimate chance to experience a championship. I love the Class A tournament. Not beacuse of the skill level of the players, but because of the community and school support for their teams. You get that feeling at the A level even more than the AA level. The game between Hermantown and Hibbing was electric. Last year's game between Hermantown and Mahtomedi was awesome. Mostly because of the community involvement. If you want to attend a game at the state tournament with no energy, try watching a game between STA and Breck. Attendance would be about half of what it was for Saturday's game this year. Yuck. Might as well watch a Blades vs. Machine game. Nice skill but totally absent of the magic that makes the state tournament great. STA - move up.

[ALSECORD]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

[HockeyMN1]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

Nobody here is jealous of STA. The academics there are at best on par with the big metro publics, not to mention all the military BS they have to go through. They recruit. Period. It's no secret, so they belong in AA. BSM and Hill recruit as well and they opted up. STA is no different besides the fact that they are still too scared of the big boys.

[ALSECORD]

Nobody on here is jealous?... Yea ok :oops: Sorry.. So it sounds to me like your ok with STA recruiting as long as they opt up to AA and do it there just like Hill and Benilde do? Are we really suppose to buy that? Is that really your argument? I'd be willing to bet your probably jealous because they have a great school and the Vannelli's have built a winning tradition and your just one of those people that don't like a winner.
STA proves year in and year out they can play with the big boys as evividenced by schedule they play. As i said earlier they are right where they belong..

[Papa Bergundy]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

STA has a legitimate point to play Class A, you do not. You said, "12-17 year olds who don't want an education," as if to imply you can't get one at a public school. Minnesota has one of the best public schooling systems relatively speaking. I'm sure STA has great academics and "expects excellence", but what does that have anything to do with them being in Class A? It sounds like a recruiting pitch to go there not a reason why they belong in Class A. And if they want to be excellent so damn badly why not beat the best teams in the state to achieve this? 13-2 in the QF game come on there's nothing excellent about that.

It sounds like their hands are tied by the Headmaster on getting in to AA, which is too bad. But your little rant here provided nothing of any value regarding the issue of why they shouldn't be in A. You can "win a championship and get an education" plenty of places; don't think there aren't kids at Eden Prairie going to every top University in the Midwest.

And seriously, if you're going to make a point about what an education it is don't type like an idiot. "Jealosy" "expect's" "apart" "commical" "Bottem". Absolutely brutal.

[interestedbystander]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

Is that where you learned how to spell?

[ALSECORD]

I guess i didn't realize i was in a spelling contest with a couple of 3rd grade spelling champs..
At least you both have at least one thing to brag to your friend about.. Trouble is it doesn't look like either of you reached 4th grade reading yet.. Is that really all you can come back with? My spelling?.. Well i'll bet my dad can beat up your dad.
Nowhere in my post do i say anything about ever attending STA. Just don't like the Jealous/Non informed type's i guess. And it just so happens i do like a winner and i think STA... from the sounds of it is a great place to get an education and a great place to play hockey as well. It also looks like there are alot of anti STA-Private School posters here and i was just lending my support to STA and Private schools in general with my humble opinon on the subject.
Now, i think it's time you both run along before mom or dad finds you screwing around on their computer again.

[narpsauce]

keep it at 2 classes, no need for more or less, and to shut everyone up who wants just a one class tourney why not just have the two champions play saturday,

So........game time at when? Midnight? Or do you mean that the two teams play on Sunday?

I may be wrong but I believe it is against Minnesota State High School League rules to hold sporting events (practices/games) on Sundays.

[Marty Moose]

I love that argument... If you are critical of something, you are labeled as "jealous." Not much to be jealous of. Of my three boys, I think one (maybe two) would have the ability to play at STA. Honestly not sure. I live not too far away, so there really wouldn't be an issue with enrolling them there. If jealousy was the motive, wouldn't my kids be going there? Jealousy, my friend, has nothing to do with it. Now... I am definitely jealous of Hermantown, Roseau. Even Edina. Why? Because they have built programs there with their own talent. The communities have gotten behind it. The best athletes in school play hockey. And the success of those programs cannot be duplicated overnight. That, Al, is something I'm not ashamed to say that I'm jealous of. STA? Nope. Disgusted is a better word. Given a choice between achieving 2nd place consistently with a community team and home grown kids, vs. winning championships consistently with all stars? It's not even close - I'd rather be Hermantown.

[2good4u]

keep it at 2 classes, no need for more or less, and to shut everyone up who wants just a one class tourney why not just have the two champions play saturday,

So........game time at when? Midnight? Or do you mean that the two teams play on Sunday?

I may be wrong but I believe it is against Minnesota State High School League rules to hold sporting events (practices/games) on Sundays.

wouldnt be that hard, class a tourney starts tuesday and the ultimate championship game is saturday

[TheClipper]

The PRIMARY reason they win is because there are excellent hockey players that choose to go to school there. That's ten times that entire communities have been robbed of a legitimate chance to experience a championship.

Marty, you couldn't be more right--though I'm sure not in the way you intended. likewise, you couldn't be more wrong.

STA won exactly because they have "excellent" players. Were some of these players recruited? Certainly they were, but a school can only recruit--they can't kidnap. Players go to STA, and other privates, because they prefer it to alternatives. If these "alternatives" keep losing players to the "privates" then they need to take a hard look at their HS programs. Furthermore, players like Reid and Schroeder (to pull two names from memory) didn't arrive as "excellent" players, they arrived as promising players who worked incredibly hard over four years to become "excellent" players.

You, and so many like you, demonize private schools as evil empires that recruit (cheat) their way to success. I'd be much more willing to tolerate your many frivolous arguments if just once you'd concede that coaching and hard work are central to their success.

I saw a lot of spirit at STA's tourney games this year. The quality, quantity, and sincerity of this spirit was remarkably similar to that of all other schools I saw.

As to your belief that entire communities have been "robbed"; robbed of what? What was it they had? No team (community) has anything at the start of a season. You get to the hockey tourney on merit. The MSHSL guarantees you nothing. If you're good enough--you win. If you're not good enough--you lose. The private schools robbed your communities of nothing. You had nothing for them to steal. (By the way, exactly which communities had "legitimate" chances? And when did they have them?)

I'll make you a deal. I'll pull some strings at the MSHSL and at the State Capitol. I'll make it a crime for all registered PeeWee and Bantam players to play HS hockey outside their public school district. I'll move all private schools into a separate league. Finally, I'll place your favorite high school team in a cupcake section. If I do all this, do ya' think yer' team could bring home the trophy?

[HawkeyPower]

So, "lifes not fair move on" when is your team going to move on and play Rapids and East for a section title? Obviously your team has a great youth program and can play at that level, when are you guys going to step up and play the teams in sections that you should be playing? Rogers to go to state, give me a break.

Howie,
As soon as they have more than one State title and maybe win 2 out of 3 I am all for it. Besides Roseau in 99 and 07, name one public team that has moved up since the change to A and AA and won a State title. Rapids has made it to two finals in 06 and 07. Even BSM made the move and have had little success (3rd place 2008). Roeseau only has to play Moorehead to go to State virtually every year. What purpose would Hermanotwn have to move to AA. TO be able to say we play BIG BOY hockey. Yeah. If the team decides to move up then so be it. Play BIG boy hockey and get to State once every 10 years. I'll pass. Hermantown played 4 BIG BOY games this year and went 1-3. Move them up!
And the Lifes not fair statement is about not crying about the Privates. They are who they are and will always be there.

So, according to you, a team should play at the level which gives them the easiest road to winning the State title? Really?
We really need to get rid of this two class system. It used to be MAKING it to the Tournament was the goal for most teams....now I guess just making it isn't enough. Now, teams should be playing at the level that gives them the easiest shot at winning it. Hell, why don't we go to a five class system so teams like Crookston and Como also have a shot at a trophy?

The whole novelty of "making it to State" has been diluted withe the two class system. "Making it to State" doesn't mean as much when you are playing in the "B" tournament in an 1/2 empty building.

BTW - I voted "no"....I don't want any more classes. We have too many classes as it is.[/quote]

BTW I would vote no as well.

Its not about making it and winning State every year, its about playing at a level where you can compete day in day out. For everyone that doesn,t like the JV tournament, don,t watch it. Do something else. JV tournament seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year. Games are getting better because the teams are getting better. You pull STA, Breck and Hermantown out and what do you have. Then the next best teams that keep making it will be told they should move up. Move Warroad and Hibbing. When does it end?
I say have a AND 1 game or play a 16 team tourney.
I think I am through with this subject, its beaten down pretty good.

[MNpuck14]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

This guy is an idiot... must play hockey at STA. I mean that is what they go there for right? Hockey? Pretty sure most of the kids that go there to play aren't there mainly because of the education. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. But I think their there for the athletics.

P.s. learn how to spell. You're embarrassing yourself.

[wblhcky24]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

This guy is an idiot... must play hockey at STA. I mean that is what they go there for right? Hockey? Pretty sure most of the kids that go there to play aren't there mainly because of the education. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. But I think their there for the athletics.

P.s. learn how to spell. You're embarrassing yourself.

Yeah we are sooooo jealous we can't afford to go to STA (who the hell is this guy)

[nickmon3]

Heres my 2 cents. I go to a public school, and I am not a huge fan of private schools to begin with. The fact is that many private schools recruit their players when they are in bantams. Many of them are recruited before they even start high school. Its not just privates that do this because many public schools do it too. Bantam A's are scouted, and are offered to attend a certain high school because they are good at hockey. They can say yes, or no. Its their choice. It doesnt matter who wins the class A tourney, people will always complain that team should move to AA, when in fact taking all the teams that "dominate" in class A and can supposedly compete at the AA level will leave teams that can barely make state to win the whole thing. Is this good or bad? It depends how you look at it. If you take out teams such as TRF, Hermantown, STA, ect..., smaller, less skilled teams will win, and then this arguement will start all over about how the teams that are good should be AA. Up until a couple years ago, STA didnt have much of a hockey team. If they move to AA, whose to say in 2 more years their team will still be just as good? And anyone who complains about how private schools dont develop youth programs obviously does not know anything about youth hockey. Is there a Hermantown Hawks pee wee team? Kids play youth hockey and then decide where they will attend high school weather it is public or private. Thats all there is to it.

[MNpuck14]

Heres my 2 cents. I go to a public school, and I am not a huge fan of private schools to begin with. The fact is that many private schools recruit their players when they are in bantams. Many of them are recruited before they even start high school. Its not just privates that do this because many public schools do it too. Bantam A's are scouted, and are offered to attend a certain high school because they are good at hockey. They can say yes, or no. Its their choice. It doesnt matter who wins the class A tourney, people will always complain that team should move to AA, when in fact taking all the teams that "dominate" in class A and can supposedly compete at the AA level will leave teams that can barely make state to win the whole thing. Is this good or bad? It depends how you look at it. If you take out teams such as TRF, Hermantown, STA, ect..., smaller, less skilled teams will win, and then this arguement will start all over about how the teams that are good should be AA. Up until a couple years ago, STA didnt have much of a hockey team. If they move to AA, whose to say in 2 more years their team will still be just as good? And anyone who complains about how private schools dont develop youth programs obviously does not know anything about youth hockey. Is there a Hermantown Hawks pee wee team? Kids play youth hockey and then decide where they will attend high school weather it is public or private. Thats all there is to it.

yes, there is a Hermantown Peewee team....?

http://hermantownhockey.pucksystems.com ... 92-peewees

[wblhcky24]

I remember I was in 8th grade and I was talking to this kid in history who was a goalie on the WBL A bantam team and he said "im have a meeting with with coach lechner today" and people say they don't recruit...

[nipeshow18]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

Yep. Ryan Walters went there primarily for his education and has decided to continue his education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, a school that rivals the likes of Notre Dame in academic standards.

This guy is an idiot... must play hockey at STA. I mean that is what they go there for right? Hockey? Pretty sure most of the kids that go there to play aren't there mainly because of the education. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. But I think their there for the athletics.

P.s. learn how to spell. You're embarrassing yourself.

[MNpuck14]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

Yep. Ryan Walters went there primarily for his education and has decided to continue his education at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, a school that rivals the likes of Notre Dame in academic standards.

This guy is an idiot... must play hockey at STA. I mean that is what they go there for right? Hockey? Pretty sure most of the kids that go there to play aren't there mainly because of the education. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. But I think their there for the athletics.

P.s. learn how to spell. You're embarrassing yourself.

Well good, I'm glad one person went there for mainly for academics.

[MNpuck14]

Jealosy breeds Ignorance and nobody likes a winner.. Plain and Simple! Most of the complaints on this board come from either 12-17 year olds who don't want an education or parents who can't afford to send their kids to STA and can't admit that it's the main reason for there animosity towards the school and it's athletes,
What's wrong with wanting to excel? Or go to a HS that expect's excellence? I say all the more power to ya if you can get an education AND win a Championship and be apart of what sound's like a great high school experience. Isn't that any parent's dream for their child?.
It's commical how many jealous/ignorant people are still left out there and how often this subject continues to come up. Bottem line is STA is in Class A because that's where they belong. It's just too bad there are still so many "Marty Mice" left out there that just can't let go of their jealosy and envy.

This guy is an idiot... must play hockey at STA. I mean that is what they go there for right? Hockey? Pretty sure most of the kids that go there to play aren't there mainly because of the education. Who knows, maybe I'm wrong. But I think their there for the athletics.

P.s. learn how to spell. You're embarrassing yourself.

[muckandgrind]

So, "lifes not fair move on" when is your team going to move on and play Rapids and East for a section title? Obviously your team has a great youth program and can play at that level, when are you guys going to step up and play the teams in sections that you should be playing? Rogers to go to state, give me a break.

Howie,
As soon as they have more than one State title and maybe win 2 out of 3 I am all for it. Besides Roseau in 99 and 07, name one public team that has moved up since the change to A and AA and won a State title. Rapids has made it to two finals in 06 and 07. Even BSM made the move and have had little success (3rd place 2008). Roeseau only has to play Moorehead to go to State virtually every year. What purpose would Hermanotwn have to move to AA. TO be able to say we play BIG BOY hockey. Yeah. If the team decides to move up then so be it. Play BIG boy hockey and get to State once every 10 years. I'll pass. Hermantown played 4 BIG BOY games this year and went 1-3. Move them up!
And the Lifes not fair statement is about not crying about the Privates. They are who they are and will always be there.

So, according to you, a team should play at the level which gives them the easiest road to winning the State title? Really?
We really need to get rid of this two class system. It used to be MAKING it to the Tournament was the goal for most teams....now I guess just making it isn't enough. Now, teams should be playing at the level that gives them the easiest shot at winning it. Hell, why don't we go to a five class system so teams like Crookston and Como also have a shot at a trophy?

The whole novelty of "making it to State" has been diluted withe the two class system. "Making it to State" doesn't mean as much when you are playing in the "B" tournament in an 1/2 empty building.

BTW - I voted "no"....I don't want any more classes. We have too many classes as it is.

BTW I would vote no as well.

Its not about making it and winning State every year, its about playing at a level where you can compete day in day out. For everyone that doesn,t like the JV tournament, don,t watch it. Do something else. JV tournament seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year. Games are getting better because the teams are getting better. You pull STA, Breck and Hermantown out and what do you have. Then the next best teams that keep making it will be told they should move up. Move Warroad and Hibbing. When does it end?
I say have a AND 1 game or play a 16 team tourney.
I think I am through with this subject, its beaten down pretty good.

[/quote]

Easy answer. It ends with a single "Sweet 16 Tournament"....idealy.

And just so you know, I think Hermantown would have a legit shot at making that field of 16. Wouldn't you rather see a tournament where a "David" (Hermantown) can come down to St Paul and try and knock off a "Goliath" (Edina)? Instead, what we are seeing is that Hermantown is the Goliath, swatting away teams like New Ulm or Alexandria. BORING!!!!

[HawkeyPower]

So, according to you, a team should play at the level which gives them the easiest road to winning the State title? Really?
We really need to get rid of this two class system. It used to be MAKING it to the Tournament was the goal for most teams....now I guess just making it isn't enough. Now, teams should be playing at the level that gives them the easiest shot at winning it. Hell, why don't we go to a five class system so teams like Crookston and Como also have a shot at a trophy?

The whole novelty of "making it to State" has been diluted withe the two class system. "Making it to State" doesn't mean as much when you are playing in the "B" tournament in an 1/2 empty building.

BTW - I voted "no"....I don't want any more classes. We have too many classes as it is.

BTW I would vote no as well.

Its not about making it and winning State every year, its about playing at a level where you can compete day in day out. For everyone that doesn,t like the JV tournament, don,t watch it. Do something else. JV tournament seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year. Games are getting better because the teams are getting better. You pull STA, Breck and Hermantown out and what do you have. Then the next best teams that keep making it will be told they should move up. Move Warroad and Hibbing. When does it end?
I say have a AND 1 game or play a 16 team tourney.
I think I am through with this subject, its beaten down pretty good.

Easy answer. It ends with a single "Sweet 16 Tournament"....idealy.

And just so you know, I think Hermantown would have a legit shot at making that field of 16. Wouldn't you rather see a tournament where a "David" (Hermantown) can come down to St Paul and try and knock off a "Goliath" (Edina)? Instead, what we are seeing is that Hermantown is the Goliath, swatting away teams like New Ulm or Alexandria. BORING!!!![/quote]

Muck, I agree on the later.

[MNmade]

A 16 team tourney would be exciting, but I still don't think it would appease those who have a problem with private schools in class A.

A team like New Ulm could still meet and lose 13-2 to an STA team. Or N.U. could meet and lose 20-2 to an EP team. Does it make them feel better because the EP team wasn't a bunch of "all-stars" from private school?

The A tourney is still relatively new. Some may find it to be a joke because teams that have never been able to make the traditional tourney and make names for themselves like Edina, Rapids, East, Jefferson, are now competing. Furthermore, these A teams do not have the massive student bodies, alumni, and community numbers to fill the X on a Wednesday morning. The reason these fans sit and cheer on the teams in a half-empty arena is the reason their team is in class A: they are a smaller group.

I completely agree with the point that if winning A teams are continually forced to move up, then when does it stop? STA has been dominant, so has Breck, but they, just like the other A teams, saw no/very little tourney success before the two-class system. How can you blame them and label them "cheaters" for enjoying the success the two-class system aimed to create? Also consider the fact that when the MN State Tourney began, there were teams that dominated from the beginning, and for many years: Eveleth, St. Paul Johnson, I. Falls and then Grand Rapids and Edina about two decades later. How did programs like STA, Breck, Lourdes, Marshall feel about that? How did the whole state feel about that? Rivalries were formed and they are still rivalries that exist today, that are great for the competition and the sport.

Not because they (Breck, STA, etc.) simply "recruit" should they move up. Like I have said earlier, every kid who goes to a private school, COULD go elsewhere, so the schools NEED to make themselves more appealing. These teams SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER moving up to AA NOW, because their success has made the hockey programs and the SCHOOL (which almost all kids are there ultimately for) more appealing to students who play hockey - an advantage that smaller public schools, and less successful private schools do not enjoy. But I don't believe this wholly suggests that private schools be eradicated from competition. They are not "all-star" teams. Only one private school kid since 1985 has been named Mr. Hockey, and (although I don't know for sure) I would imagine that most of the all-metro and all-state teams that announce the "all-star" players are not dominated by private school kids.

Several seemingly "all-star" comprised teams have existed - Nearly all were of public school origin. One that comes to mind is the team of Edina kids a couple years back who were so good an article was written about their past success as youth and potential as a varsity squad in Sports Illustrated. DO NOT buy into or give merit to the stupid "jealous of us at STA" or "have vs. have-nots" arguments that seem to ignite in private/public team debates, but I must speculate that many parents of these Edina "all-stars" probably could have afforded to pay tuition at a private school. So why didn't they go play for "all-star" private teams and win the championship that they didn't the year everyone believed they would? Just a thought.

[HShockeywatcher]

Heres my 2 cents. I go to a public school, and I am not a huge fan of private schools to begin with. The fact is that many private schools recruit their players when they are in bantams. Many of them are recruited before they even start high school. Its not just privates that do this because many public schools do it too. Bantam A's are scouted, and are offered to attend a certain high school because they are good at hockey. They can say yes, or no. Its their choice. It doesnt matter who wins the class A tourney, people will always complain that team should move to AA, when in fact taking all the teams that "dominate" in class A and can supposedly compete at the AA level will leave teams that can barely make state to win the whole thing. Is this good or bad? It depends how you look at it. If you take out teams such as TRF, Hermantown, STA, ect..., smaller, less skilled teams will win, and then this arguement will start all over about how the teams that are good should be AA. Up until a couple years ago, STA didnt have much of a hockey team. If they move to AA, whose to say in 2 more years their team will still be just as good? And anyone who complains about how private schools dont develop youth programs obviously does not know anything about youth hockey. Is there a Hermantown Hawks pee wee team? Kids play youth hockey and then decide where they will attend high school weather it is public or private. Thats all there is to it.

yes, there is a Hermantown Peewee team....?

http://hermantownhockey.pucksystems.com ... 92-peewees

The point that was made, obviously missed, is that you are not playing for the high school, you are playing for the city organization. In public schools with no private school in them, especially the one city that does not accept open enrollies, those in both will be the same.

STA won exactly because they have "excellent" players. Were some of these players recruited? Certainly they were, but a school can only recruit--they can't kidnap. Players go to STA, and other privates, because they prefer it to alternatives. If these "alternatives" keep losing players to the "privates" then they need to take a hard look at their HS programs. Furthermore, players like Reid and Schroeder (to pull two names from memory) didn't arrive as "excellent" players, they arrived as promising players who worked incredibly hard over four years to become "excellent" players.

Regardless of the reason (whether it be athletics, religion, or many different aspects of education), why do we never blame the "community" they left for them leaving? Obviously by them leaving, it is not the community you talk about.

I can honestly say that if one of my children grows up to play with the same group of kids 10 ten years, it would be difficult to ask them to leave even to go to school with my alma mater. For that happen, especially in a sport like hockey, there must be very good reasons. Instead of asking the community they left to fix the reasons they left, we blame the "better alternative."

Nobody here is jealous of STA. The academics there are at best on par with the big metro publics, not to mention all the military BS they have to go through. They recruit. Period. It's no secret, so they belong in AA. BSM and Hill recruit as well and they opted up. STA is no different besides the fact that they are still too scared of the big boys.

[crickett75]

Private schools are here to stay. They are great schools, and most of the kids enrolled are there because their parents went there. When you denigrate the school just to do so, your jealousy comes through. Don't trash the school or the kids because coach/admins decide not to challenge themselves to be the best in hockey.