Freshman leaves Benilde mid-season for the WHL

[GatorLand]

Do WHL youngsters go to high school? This boy has 3+ years of high school to finish. Is there a GED equivalent in Canada?

[Bruins]

Are you cracked? The coach told him if he goes there would be consequences. So he goes and gets the boot. That is the way life works and it should send a message. Why didn't he wait a few weeks until after the season. This was bad planning/advice or pressure from the WHL.[/quote]

"Consequences" for a ninth grader missing a practice. And Minnesota hockey is just about playing hockey with your friends? The reality is that the business of hockey has dipped into the high school level also.

[WarmUpTheBus]

Do WHL youngsters go to high school? This boy has 3+ years of high school to finish. Is there a GED equivalent in Canada?

No. In Canada the sixth grade is also called "your senior year"

[puck81]

Are you cracked? The coach told him if he goes there would be consequences. So he goes and gets the boot. That is the way life works and it should send a message. Why didn't he wait a few weeks until after the season. This was bad planning/advice or pressure from the WHL.

Thank you for this quote! Bad planning and advice from this kids PARENTS. If you start the season with a team then you finish it with that team.

D3Ref claims that if the kid was going to talk to a college it would have been acceptable. He's wrong. Besides, how many college programs are recruiting 9th graders? I stated before that I have watched this kid play and he was getting plenty of playing time and guess what? He wasn't Mr. Superstar like he and or his parents think he is. He's 150 pounds soaking wet and he found out that 11th and 12th graders are bigger and stronger then his is. BSM is also playing it's toughest schedule ever since going independent. I hope this kid learns a life lesson about commitment and being a member of a TEAM.

[Bruins]

Wow!!! what a great life lesson for a ninth grader. Kick him off the team! Lesson learned. If other teams want to chat with you keep quiet or be terminated. Very sad state in the "state of hockey".

[oldpuck]

I am not privy to all the facts here - only his parents and BSM are, but I do know that I'm a closer to the facts than most anyone here.
I find it interesting that since this story hit, nearly all post save 1 or 2 have been from folks that seem to have a vested interest in the coach'actions.
Almost every post has attacked Alec or his family with insinuations that are completely fabricated. I suppose that a HS Freshman is an easy target - same view the Coach seems to hold.
The story will continue
.

[AMERICAN]

The problem this topic illustrates should never happen. We need to know the exact facts of what did happen before casting legitimate comment with regards to the individuals involved.

The facts as set forth on this forum indicate that we have two individuals; one kid and one coach who are extremely talented, dedicated and passionate about hockey. I think everyone would agree that the coach has a difficult job and cannot allow one kid to distract the entire team. The kid also has a difficult job trying to please everybody and getting pulled in different directions. We also know that both coaches and kids make mistakes and that with mistakes come consequences. The big question is should the consequences be specifically communicated and what the penalty should be for breaching a rule.

Now, here as the facts have unfolded on this board, the kid was honest with the coach and told him that he was going to miss practice to go visit a WHL team. Does it really matter what the unexcused absence was for? We can all certainly agree that it was unexcused however.

Now, if the coach told the kid that if he misses practice that he would be kicked off the team and the kid ignored the warning, then it's a no brainer and the kid should have to except the punishment of getting kicked off the team. If on the other hand, there was simply a statement by the coach that there would be "repercussions" or "consequences" for missing then we have to ask ourselves whether the coach should have spelled out the consequence for the kid and told him that if he misses practice that he would be kicked off the team. It seems to me that rules are much easier to apply and follow if all the participants know the punishment first. I doubt the coach would want a ref to arbitrarily and without warning decide a game without first knowing what the consequence was first. That's why there are rules for the game of hockey.

The question is was there a rule in place and was the rule communicated to the kid that he would be kicked off the team if he went. If not, is a season sentence reasonable for the kid? If an unexcused absence from practice is grounds getting thrown off the team for the season at BSM then I hope it was fully communicated to both the kid and parents and evenly applied to the entire team.

[MrBoDangles]

Whether Baer should ultimately play in the WHL is not the issue here.
He contacted his coach on Thur to say he would miss Fri practice. I believe he also told him that he was visiting Vancouver to watch a Giants game. The coach then told him that going could affect his continuing relationship with the team
I believe that sometime over the weekend his name was removed from the Benilde website roster.
Apparently, a number of emails went back and forth between the coach and Alec (maybe also his father). At no time was there any verbal contact, although his father requested it.
On Sunday nite the coach contacted the father to sayom clas he would be talking to Baer at school on Mon. His father requested that he also be present. The request was ignored and the coach removed Baer from class and spoke to him without his parent being present.
Baer, a Freshman, has been cut from the team with only a short time before playoffs begin.
As far as have heard and seen, he has always been a model player, at Benilde, SLP, Wisconsin Fire, and Machine.
The coach took this extreme action against a kid that he had probably recruitted from SLP
Baer's sin? He visited a WHL team that the coach sees as vultures.
Baer is now moving on.
The issue? The arrogance and apparent power of this coach to be accuser, judge, and jury over a young persons life and career.
If unchecked, it sends a powerful message to anyone that wishes to visit a WHL team.
This is wrong and I believe Coach Pauley must be called to explain.

Are you cracked? The coach told him if he goes there would be consequences. So he goes and gets the boot. That is the way life works and it should send a message. Why didn't he wait a few weeks until after the season. This was bad planning/advice or pressure from the WHL.

Drugs/Drinking/Sex tape equals a few game suspension.

Going to watch another team and your life with your current high school team is snuffed out.

Pauley should be fired and the MSHSL examined for allowing this to take place.

Amazing!

[Toomuchtoosoon]

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Freshmen Alec Baer who played last year at St. Louis Park and just got back from MN Advanced 15's in NY started school yesterday at Benilde.


You win with upper classmen. My prediction he is in the WHL or USHL in one or two years. Nice pick-up, but will be gone before his eligibility is up.

I called it this summer. Pauley realized his recruit was going hardship on him and got rid of him. It is the ugly side of choosing your current team to better set you up for your next team.

[MrBoDangles]

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Freshmen Alec Baer who played last year at St. Louis Park and just got back from MN Advanced 15's in NY started school yesterday at Benilde.


You win with upper classmen. My prediction he is in the WHL or USHL in one or two years. Nice pick-up, but will be gone before his eligibility is up.

I called it this summer. Pauly realized his recruit was going hardship on him and got rid of him. It is the ugly side of choosing your current team to better set you up for your next team.

We now see Pauley's motives.

This just makes the MSHSL the Gambino crime family if they back him.

$

[oldpuck]

Went the "hardship" route? What does that mean?

Kinda comes down to what rule was disobeyed.

Reminds me of "double secret probation" as it was used in "Animal House"

Even if someone can produce a rule, the punishment was well beyond the crime.

I think the message that the coach gave to the team was far worse than any message they got from Alec missing a practice.

Baer found out out what "consequences" were. I wonder when/if the other side will feel any.

[mulefarm]

Not a big Pauly fan but I back him on this. Where does a coach draw the line for missing practice or a game. More than the kid who left, what about the kids that follow team rules and does what the coach says? We don't know what the exact cicumstances, but I doubt this was a knee jerk decision. He was on a team for this season and should do what the coach asks. I'm sure the junior team would have had him come out after the HS season for a visit. Shows the ME in the parents and possibly the players attitude. Tomorrow at work, go tell your boss you are going to visit another company to see if you want to work there next year and report back to us on his or her response.

[oldpuck]

Still waiting to hear what rule was broken. Clue: there isn't any.

A lot of posters here somehow think that this was a problem caused by stupid, selfish, power-driven player and parents. If that's you, you're showing your lack ofbknowledge of the situation.

[mulefarm]

If he would have scheduled a visit after the HS season there would't be an issue. Why was it so important that he missed a team fuction to visit at this time? Junior teams regular season go through March and there was plenty of time to visit. Seems logical to me that when you commint to a team, you see it through to the end of the season.

[Mailman]

Still waiting to hear what rule was broken. Clue: there isn't any.

A lot of posters here somehow think that this was a problem caused by stupid, selfish, power-driven player and parents. If that's you, you're showing your lack ofbknowledge of the situation.

Why couldn't the visit have taken place after the season, which is less than a month away ?

No other players in the past seemed to have had a problem in waiting in such a way.

[Granttenn]

So what are chances that Joey Anderson from Hill who is playing on Hill's second line as an 8th grader and has 5 goals in 6 games since being called up, will stick around.. And the bigger question, if you are competitive at an early age is it sensible to play 5 years of High School hockey.. I would say after a few years, you are ready to move up as long as you have been developing.. So I couldn't blame a kid like that for leaving for development purposes.

[HockeyTalk18]

For those that agree with him being kicked off the team due to what he might do next year (you know he didn't get kicked off for 1 miss), you now are agreeing with those associations who take care of their own puplic community players over those kids who are moving to greener pastures.

Whats good for the goose ought to be good for the gander,

[smittyfun15]

Baer should be able to make a visit to the WHL or to a college. His timing might not have been the best but he did tell or ask coach. He knew that he would be sat for doing so. The choice he made makes me think that he went to Vancouver to sign and that his intention is to play there as soon as the high school season is over.

Pauly should have explained that he would be off the team. Alex might still have gone, who knows.

The big problem is that he shouldn't go to the WHl. He would be better off going to the USHL for a couple of years. If he does well there, then maybe the WHL, but not now. The Whl will tell him whatever he wants to hear to get him there. Its not worth the risk, he will get the same from the USHL without giving everything up...

Joey should do the same thing. Look at what Nanne-Lucia-Rielly's did. Those are guys that know hockey and they all avoided the lure of the WHl. Take your time..

[AMERICAN]

Does anybody know if the punishment was communicated to the kid before the unexcused absence by way of a verbal warning by the coach or by a team/school handbook?

[O-townClown]

So the kid that doesn't seem to want to play HS hockey for long is now not playing HS hockey.

I'm not sure why this thread is on its 4th page.

[puck81]

Wow!!! what a great life lesson for a ninth grader. Kick him off the team! Lesson learned. If other teams want to chat with you keep quiet or be terminated. Very sad state in the "state of hockey".

That's what's wrong with this country today Bruins. No consequences for your actions. I dont care if your a 9th grader, a 12th grader or an adult. Personal behavior has consequences. Leaving your team and missing practice is NOT having a "chat" with another team. You want to shop your services around have at it, when the current season is over.

[dlow]

Wow!!! what a great life lesson for a ninth grader. Kick him off the team! Lesson learned. If other teams want to chat with you keep quiet or be terminated. Very sad state in the "state of hockey".

That's what's wrong with this country today Bruins. No consequences for your actions. I dont care if your a 9th grader, a 12th grader or an adult. Personal behavior has consequences. Leaving your team and missing practice is NOT having a "chat" with another team. You want to shop your services around have at it, when the current season is over.

punishment does not fit the crime, period.

[AMERICAN]

Puck81- Don't disagree you that personal behavior should have consequences. The question is whether or not the consequences were spelled out before punishment is handed out. Why wouldn't the coach simply tell the kid the consequence since the coach knew what the kid was up to. I for one am glad that I know the consequence for speeding with a fine of a couple hundred bucks rather than to leave the sentence arbitrary including capital punishment. I hope the coach told the kid the consequence up front. If he did I have no problem with the punishment.

[MrBoDangles]

So the kid that doesn't seem to want to play HS hockey for long is now not playing HS hockey.

I'm not sure why this thread is on its 4th page.

Would Julie the freshman flute player at BSM be kicked out of the band for taking a day to check out Juilliard?

These are supposed to be ACTIVITIES for students to enjoy while attending the school. Has it now become big business and ownership rights?

Shame on BSM, they should make right for the boy and his family.

[Bluelightspecial]

Couldn't agree more!!!!