Anyone fielding a 14B team this year?

[GumpFace]

I've heard that there may only be half a dozen in the entire state. I don't get it. D10 had only 2 legitimate A teams last year, yet had 7 teams in the league. When will associations stop being ashamed to field B teams at this level? When the high schools are already thin, there's no way the "leftovers" can compete at an A level with the big suburban programs.

Are Edina and Wayzata the only ones who "get it"? Did the girls who played for Champlin Park, Irondale, Coon Rapids, etc. have enjoyable hockey seasons last year playing the likes of Anoka, CentRed, EdinaGreen, EP, NWC et al?

Statewide last year, were there more than a dozen legitimate A teams?

[NPC]

The problem is you have to declare to Mn. Hockey in August or September which teams that you are going to field. At that point these teams believed they had A teams. Then when the high school was done they realized that what they had left was a B team but Mn. Hockey told them that it was too late to change so they were stuck with a B team playing in an A league even thugh they didn't want to. Someone from Mn. Hockey has to look at this whole 14U situation it's a mess.

[Pens4]

The problem is you have to declare to Mn. Hockey in August or September which teams that you are going to field. At that point these teams believed they had A teams. Then when the high school was done they realized that what they had left was a B team but Mn. Hockey told them that it was too late to change so they were stuck with a B team playing in an A league even thugh they didn't want to. Someone from Mn. Hockey has to look at this whole 14U situation it's a mess.

It's flawed because of the statewide depth and the talent coming up from the 14U's. It is not unlike the bantams that we view as the most stable level in youth hockey. Six or seven years ago even the biggest programs started taking 9th graders on varsity. The skill of the kristo's was as good as anything playing HS at the time.
The evolution of skill has been faster with the girls and I'm not sure why but it seems to be prevalent in this years 9th grade group. Even the big programs have found room for them.
The bottom line is that there will always be moving parts in selecting teams. It is a huge responsibility for the association to work with the HS program to make sure the girls are playing at the best level for them.
The girls coordinator really demonstrates their Passion and dedication at 14 level as they make sure every girl has the best possible experience. My hat goes off to our coordinator...well done.

[GumpFace]

Minneapolis/Hopkins
Osseo Maple Grove
Wayzata
Blaine/Centennial
River Falls
Hudson
Burnsville/Chaska/Chanhassen
Eden Prairie
Edina
Minnetonka
Woodbury/Cottage Grove
Rochester


I wonder how many 14A teams will regret not playing B this year

[luckyEPDad]

Do you know who is hosting 14B? Last year it was D6.

[GumpFace]

I think D2 is hosting 14B this year

[NE14HKY]

Do you know who is hosting 14B? Last year it was D6.

Little birdie told me it was D3. Anyone confirm??

[luckyEPDad]

Minneapolis/Hopkins
Osseo Maple Grove
Wayzata
Blaine/Centennial
River Falls
Hudson
Burnsville/Chaska/Chanhassen
Eden Prairie
Edina
Minnetonka
Woodbury/Cottage Grove
Rochester


I wonder how many 14A teams will regret not playing B this year

Looking at the EP 14B schedule I see the following teams:

Blaine/Centennial
Chaska/Chan/Burnsville
Eden Prairie
Edina
Hudson
Minneapolis/Hopkins <- Not River Falls.
Minnetonka
Osseo/Maple Grove
Rochester
Wayzata
Woodbury/Cottage Grove

Looks a lot like last year with 1 EP team, no White Bear Lake, and CCB stepping in for Faribault. What a mess.

I don't know if the girls hockey has the numbers for 14B, or 14A for that matter. Might be time to take a good hard look at 15U. A bigger pool for better competition. Fewer girls dropping out their freshman or sophomore year. Might even give U19 (or is it 18) a shot in the arm.

[observer]

How many new mite girls registered with your association this year?

[luckyEPDad]

How many new mite girls registered with your association this year?

Hard to say for sure. There are 27 playing 8U. Looking at the mites roster it is quite often difficult to determine gender base on the name. Really interesting names out there these days. Pretty sure they aren't old family names.

[observer]

Hard to say for sure. There are 27 playing 8U.

Probably not your responsibility but the number is there if you'd like to find it. That is not a good number as 8U could include 4 years of registrations so now you're down to a potential 6-7 new mite girl registrations this season. The number in EP has to be 15-20 new mite girl registrations each year.

Anyone else have their association's new mite girls registration number they'd like to share?