Section 3A (2012-13 Season)

[BuffaloRidgeHockey]

Stayed off this board most of the year. Wanted to say thanks to all 3A teams for a fun year. Everyone had a chance at the end which made the year very fun to watch. Obviously I am a Luverne guy which makes you pretty much hated on this board why I have stayed away.

Wanted to say Congrats to Coach Coudert and the Marshall Tigers. The guy was just shredded on here early in the year. Now no one has anything to say. He did an outstanding coaching job this year! Congrats to him he has a bright future should he decide he wants to stay in Marshall. Have heard many good things from the Kitties crew regarding the young Weiss kid asst. coach from Moorhead. Marshall should be proud and enjoy the next few days YOU EARNED IT!

As far as Luverne is concerned many in the community are searching for answers as to how this happened. This was a talented bunch of kids the first that dedicated themselves to playing "A" hockey all the way through the youth. The Parents pushed these boys to new heights and the youth guys did a really wonderful job in helping form a really nice squad this year.

Right now have to echo the statements of LuverneHockeyAlumni many in the town want the High School guys out. Have to see what happens but they really did a poor job this season. The team simply did not show up last saturday night. That falls on the coaching staff they did not have the boys ready. The team had numerous boys out on suspensions during the year because they lack any sort of discipline in the program. The lack of discipline shows in their play has they have no evidence of any direction in terms of playing a system.

Been a tough week in Cardinal Land......... Would have to agree a change in the High School Coaching is something that needs to be looked at. We have some nice youth teams or Pee Wee A will be starting Regions tonight Good Luck to them.

A new coach could maybe change things like what Coach Coudert did at Marshall.... Maybe Asst Coach Weiss??

Just some thoughts.

Anyways thanks again to all teams this year was a fun year and good luck to Marshall at State and good luck to all leaving Seniors in Life!

[notTONIGHT]

When i grew up, parents were responsible for off ice and education issues. Coach doesn't do homework, and coach didn't tuck me in to bed at night. This is the new generation of parenting that loves to blame other people for their parenting faults. The suspensions are the coaches fault? Unbelievable

[new2coachin]

When i grew up, parents were responsible for off ice and education issues. Coach doesn't do homework, and coach didn't tuck me in to bed at night. This is the new generation of parenting that loves to blame other people for their parenting faults. The suspensions are the coaches fault? Unbelievable

I have to agree with you. If LuverneAlumni & BuffaloRidge are accurate & the parents/fans succeed in ousting their coaches.............prospective coaches beware!!! They will blame you for everything......even falling short of expectations.

Nice lesson to teach the younger hockey players in the association. Hope you prepare your kids better for life because it will not always work out, no matter how talented you are.

[theoldref]

Windom has always turned dismal youth teams into decent high school teams. I agree that ammerman has done a good job in windom and i'm not trying to take away from that, but it needs to be mentioned that they could be a lot better if they had a youth program that would work with their head coach. Also if they had some decent youtb coaches, which is the problem with a lot of southwest conference teams. Ammerman has done great in windom, but his predecessor didn't do bad with the hand he was dealt either. Once again, it doesn't matter how good the high school coach is if the players he's receiving barely know the basics, which is a problem in a lot of the programs.

That seems to be the problem in so many Southern MN hockey programs. Too many dads who think they get to move up mites-high school and coach their kid and too many associations without any balls to tell him to go pound pavement. 10 years of the same voice?

The reality is many of those associations have worthless board members who's only thought is whats best for their own kid.

Who are you referring too with 10 years of the same voice?? Or is that just a general statement toward all southwest conference teams. I agree that most associations have parents on their hockey boards that are only thinking of their own kids. You can see this in programs like Windom that insist on playing 'B' hockey. Last year windom had enough kids for 2 squirts and instead of an A and a B they had 2 B teams, come on!! Everyone wants their kid to win now, they don't think about when they get to high school and have to compete against kids who have played A hockey their entire careers. All these parents are short-sighted and think they know more than the people they have hired to run things. Ammerman has done well in Windom and if he leaves he will be replaced by a bunch of fools who have ever only coached their kids in B hockey and most who have never even played the game.

[giantslayer]

Luverne - we would LOVE for you to recruit Coudert and get him out of our program. Marshall needs to do everything they can to keep Weiss.

[jeffpv]

I just looked, and it appears as though Windom has a squirt 'A' team this year, and they just won their district championship. However, it looks as though their peewees and bantams are 'B' still; I'm unsure how they're doing.
As I said before, it will always be a challenge for the most 'remote' parts of southernwestern MN (historically a basketball/wrestling area) to find capable youth coaches. I mean, what are the chances that a former college hockey player will relocate to a town like Luverne or Windom and will coach the peewee team (whether A or B)? Not great.
Up north (say, in Roseau or Warroad) it's a different situation, as we all know, due to hockey being basically the best thing in town combined with the long history. In the Cities, I know a Squirt 'B' coach who played four years at a D1 program; that just isn't likely to happen in a place like Windom.
This is why a system is essential. There need to be basic systems presented in such a way that non-high-level hockey minds can easily implement them at the youth levels. Even standard break-outs would be advantageous. Obviously, youth coaches have to 'buy in' to such systems, but I'm sure that the coaches and players in lower levels will be convinced if the situation is approached tactfully and clearly.
Although I eventually played small college hockey, I grew up in such a situation as we find in many 3A towns. My squirt's, peewee's, and bantam's coaches were all fathers of players and had no real hockey background: in fact, some of them couldn't even skate. It was a tough lesson once we started playing midgets and eventually high school teams from other areas.
I happen to know some people in the Windom program, and all of them have nothing but positive things to say about Coach Ammerman. My biggest hope is that he, and coaches like him, stick around long enough to have lasting effects on the quality of coaching and playing in the 3A region.
I do not lay much blame on the coaches at Luverne; I think some should lay off of them a little bit (although I understand the criticism). What they have been able to start building in that town is really quite something. Unfortunately, with some success come higher expectations, and they are not in a position to realize those expectations once faced with better-coached squads. They should not be vilified for this; I truly believe they are doing the best they can with what knowledge and experience they have. This is true for any job.

[Section 3A HockeyScout]

I just looked, and it appears as though Windom has a squirt 'A' team this year, and they just won their district championship. However, it looks as though their peewees and bantams are 'B' still; I'm unsure how they're doing.
As I said before, it will always be a challenge for the most 'remote' parts of southernwestern MN (historically a basketball/wrestling area) to find capable youth coaches. I mean, what are the chances that a former college hockey player will relocate to a town like Luverne or Windom and will coach the peewee team (whether A or B)? Not great.
Up north (say, in Roseau or Warroad) it's a different situation, as we all know, due to hockey being basically the best thing in town combined with the long history. In the Cities, I know a Squirt 'B' coach who played four years at a D1 program; that just isn't likely to happen in a place like Windom.
This is why a system is essential. There need to be basic systems presented in such a way that non-high-level hockey minds can easily implement them at the youth levels. Even standard break-outs would be advantageous. Obviously, youth coaches have to 'buy in' to such systems, but I'm sure that the coaches and players in lower levels will be convinced if the situation is approached tactfully and clearly.
Although I eventually played small college hockey, I grew up in such a situation as we find in many 3A towns. My squirt's, peewee's, and bantam's coaches were all fathers of players and had no real hockey background: in fact, some of them couldn't even skate. It was a tough lesson once we started playing midgets and eventually high school teams from other areas.
I happen to know some people in the Windom program, and all of them have nothing but positive things to say about Coach Ammerman. My biggest hope is that he, and coaches like him, stick around long enough to have lasting effects on the quality of coaching and playing in the 3A region.
I do not lay much blame on the coaches at Luverne; I think some should lay off of them a little bit (although I understand the criticism). What they have been able to start building in that town is really quite something. Unfortunately, with some success come higher expectations, and they are not in a position to realize those expectations once faced with better-coached squads. They should not be vilified for this; I truly believe they are doing the best they can with what knowledge and experience they have. This is true for any job.

Jeff you basically said there I am not blaming the coaches but then talked about them being out coached. Hmmmmm........

Just face it the Luverne Coaches are awful sounds like the youth alumni and community wants them out! Turning into a Stefano situation.

Luverne will never go anywhere with the current clowns running the bench. Ton of talent not one bit of hockey sense. Coaches made the team actually perform worse this year?? Sometimes the coaches are the ones to blame looks like that is the situation down in Luverne.

[woodpencil]

3a - Players still play the game. That is the only reason Marshall won. Can't give any credit to the head coach, although the new assistant was probably a benefit for Marshall after losing the former head coach. I am assuming the senior Marshall players were still influenced by Pearson and his system.

Luverne coaches do not deserve the hated 3a dishes out. must be jealous or something???

[woodpencil]

3a - Players still play the game. That is the only reason Marshall won. Can't give any credit to the head coach, although the new assistant was probably a benefit for Marshall after losing the former head coach. I am assuming the senior Marshall players were still influenced by Pearson and his system.

Luverne coaches do not deserve the hated 3a dishes out. must be jealous or something???

[Air Force 1]

For those of you who remember the Roseau coach Oliver, I believe he had a football background and was a great motivator, he had asst do all the xo stuff.

Coach Oliver is currently an Assistant Coach for East Grand Forks, the 2013 Section 8A Champions. He is also the Head Football Coach for EGF.

[Teak]

Luverne - we would LOVE for you to recruit Coudert and get him out of our program. Marshall needs to do everything they can to keep Weiss.

[jeffpv]

I just looked, and it appears as though Windom has a squirt 'A' team this year, and they just won their district championship. However, it looks as though their peewees and bantams are 'B' still; I'm unsure how they're doing.
As I said before, it will always be a challenge for the most 'remote' parts of southernwestern MN (historically a basketball/wrestling area) to find capable youth coaches. I mean, what are the chances that a former college hockey player will relocate to a town like Luverne or Windom and will coach the peewee team (whether A or B)? Not great.
Up north (say, in Roseau or Warroad) it's a different situation, as we all know, due to hockey being basically the best thing in town combined with the long history. In the Cities, I know a Squirt 'B' coach who played four years at a D1 program; that just isn't likely to happen in a place like Windom.
This is why a system is essential. There need to be basic systems presented in such a way that non-high-level hockey minds can easily implement them at the youth levels. Even standard break-outs would be advantageous. Obviously, youth coaches have to 'buy in' to such systems, but I'm sure that the coaches and players in lower levels will be convinced if the situation is approached tactfully and clearly.
Although I eventually played small college hockey, I grew up in such a situation as we find in many 3A towns. My squirt's, peewee's, and bantam's coaches were all fathers of players and had no real hockey background: in fact, some of them couldn't even skate. It was a tough lesson once we started playing midgets and eventually high school teams from other areas.
I happen to know some people in the Windom program, and all of them have nothing but positive things to say about Coach Ammerman. My biggest hope is that he, and coaches like him, stick around long enough to have lasting effects on the quality of coaching and playing in the 3A region.
I do not lay much blame on the coaches at Luverne; I think some should lay off of them a little bit (although I understand the criticism). What they have been able to start building in that town is really quite something. Unfortunately, with some success come higher expectations, and they are not in a position to realize those expectations once faced with better-coached squads. They should not be vilified for this; I truly believe they are doing the best they can with what knowledge and experience they have. This is true for any job.

Jeff you basically said there I am not blaming the coaches but then talked about them being out coached. Hmmmmm........

Just face it the Luverne Coaches are awful sounds like the youth alumni and community wants them out! Turning into a Stefano situation.

Luverne will never go anywhere with the current clowns running the bench. Ton of talent not one bit of hockey sense. Coaches made the team actually perform worse this year?? Sometimes the coaches are the ones to blame looks like that is the situation down in Luverne.

Yes, I don't blame the coaches. This doesn't mean they can't be out-coached. I have already stated that the coaches obviously have a lot to learn. However, can you really blame someone for not having sufficient experience or a high-level coaching background?

I mean, if you want to place blame, it would be put on whoever hired the coaches. Since I assume they started coaching back when Luverne was terrible, one could say they've actually don't a wonderful job (I don't actually know when the coaches started, so correct me if I'm wrong).

Have they hit their "ceiling"? Perhaps. If that's the case, it is incumbent upon their bosses to realize this and find coaches who are suited to take their team to another level. But can the coaches themselves be blamed for that? I don't know.

I suspect these coaches have minimal hockey experience past high school (if any), but they are working within the natural limitations (geography) and knowledge limitations (lack of higher-level hockey exposure); with this in mind, perhaps the coaches are actually OVERperforming?

I'm just offering a different perspective. I do agree with you that in order for Luverne to take that next step they probably need new coaching. The AD is responsible for bringing that change about.

[notTONIGHT]

Thats why - you play - the game!!

A group of 14 - 18 year olds had an off night. Good grief. They ran into a goalie that was hot as pistol. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN THE GAME WE LOVE!!

The team won twenty games this season. In the early 2000's Luverne had a bad coach. He was a negative effect on a program. A team atleast as talented as this years squad, only won 15 games, and didnt do anything in the playoffs. That is not the case here. I'm convinced these people who claim to be from Luverne are either imposters (not from Luverne) or parents of kids who havent put in the work to become a good player, and therefore claim their kids are "victims" of poor coaching. No one in any hockey circle in Luverne that I know of is calling for a coaching change. The dedication these coaches have is second to none.

I understand parents and fans are concerned. It sucks, nobody wants to lose. But your blind agression towards the coaching staff is embarrassing. Way more embarrasing than someone having fun pumping up the kids with a harmless chirp. IMO

[TheSiouxSuck]

Windom has always turned dismal youth teams into decent high school teams. I agree that ammerman has done a good job in windom and i'm not trying to take away from that, but it needs to be mentioned that they could be a lot better if they had a youth program that would work with their head coach. Also if they had some decent youtb coaches, which is the problem with a lot of southwest conference teams. Ammerman has done great in windom, but his predecessor didn't do bad with the hand he was dealt either. Once again, it doesn't matter how good the high school coach is if the players he's receiving barely know the basics, which is a problem in a lot of the programs.

That seems to be the problem in so many Southern MN hockey programs. Too many dads who think they get to move up mites-high school and coach their kid and too many associations without any balls to tell him to go pound pavement. 10 years of the same voice?

The reality is many of those associations have worthless board members who's only thought is whats best for their own kid.

Who are you referring too with 10 years of the same voice?? Or is that just a general statement toward all southwest conference teams. I agree that most associations have parents on their hockey boards that are only thinking of their own kids. You can see this in programs like Windom that insist on playing 'B' hockey. Last year windom had enough kids for 2 squirts and instead of an A and a B they had 2 B teams, come on!! Everyone wants their kid to win now, they don't think about when they get to high school and have to compete against kids who have played A hockey their entire careers. All these parents are short-sighted and think they know more than the people they have hired to run things. Ammerman has done well in Windom and if he leaves he will be replaced by a bunch of fools who have ever only coached their kids in B hockey and most who have never even played the game.

The 10 years of the same voice was referring to the dads who coach their kids at every level up to high school.

[p_cku]

Not to tonight
Thank you for finally voicing something other than negative comments toward the Luverne coaches. I am amaze how all these people love to bash them. Does anyone really know the background of the coaches? I think not.
If it is true that the Luverne parents and community want to blame the coaches and think they should be fired. I guess do not appreciate all the time that the coaches have put in. I challenge any of them to come to a practice and watch these coaches. They are teaching the players the right way plus they go down and work with all the youth programs teaching the players and working with the youth coaches teaching them the right way. They have model their program after Little Falls and what they have done up there. Any time your program is on the rise you can run into a bump in the road unfortunately for the Luverne Hockey team their bump had a huge disappointing effect on everyone players, parents and even the dumb coaches. Luverne you have two options you can play the blame game or you can man-up. It easier to play the blame game and never get any better. If everyone man's up you still have s great deal of talent so who say that we won't be going to state next year.
3A Scout lay off the Luverne team and coaches you don't know what you are talking about when talking about them. Oh I forgot your the expert my bad.

[Section 3A HockeyScout]

Luverne Coaches are a joke and they ruined a great team. They have no idea what they are doing. Jeff, Alumni, Buffalo Ridge have all echoed these statements. They NEED TO BE GONE!! Luverne will get so much better once these clowns are canned. They put no time or effort into the program. Heard they dont even know the kids until they get to High School sad. They cost their team a section title. No one had close to the talent they had this season. They deserve to be FIRED! Sounds like community feels the same. These guys are a joke if they get to stay the kids wont believe in them. If they get to stay their teams will continue to always get worse as the season goes on. If they get to stay then you can always count Luverne out these coaches are awful and have no leadership skills.

Anways if Luverne wants to keep these clowns have it. However, anyone a cardboard cutout a cone on the bench would be better.

Marshall finds out their match up today.... Who is going to be?

[urban iceman]

Luverne Coaches are a joke and they ruined a great team. They have no idea what they are doing. Jeff, Alumni, Buffalo Ridge have all echoed these statements. They NEED TO BE GONE!! Luverne will get so much better once these clowns are canned. They put no time or effort into the program. Heard they dont even know the kids until they get to High School sad. They cost their team a section title. No one had close to the talent they had this season. They deserve to be FIRED! Sounds like community feels the same. These guys are a joke if they get to stay the kids wont believe in them. If they get to stay their teams will continue to always get worse as the season goes on. If they get to stay then you can always count Luverne out these coaches are awful and have no leadership skills.

Anways if Luverne wants to keep these clowns have it. However, anyone a cardboard cutout a cone on the bench would be better.

Marshall finds out their match up today.... Who is going to be?

WOW!! Did this coach steal your girlfriend or something??

[TheSiouxSuck]

Not to tonight
They are teaching the players the right way plus they go down and work with all the youth programs teaching the players and working with the youth coaches teaching them the right way. They have model their program after Little Falls and what they have done up there.

What you're saying about them teaching the kids the right way seems to be contrary to what everyone else has seen.Usually teaching kids the right way to play involves some sort of system instead of the on the fly stuff I saw. When I watched Luverne this season they won games simply because they had a very weak schedule and had overwhelmingly more talent than the teams they played. That has very little to do with your high school coach as the majority of that talent is developed in the youth ranks. Sure the HS coach can come out and put in some facetime, but its the youth coaches who spend 5-6 months a year with these kids that are responsible for their development.

Modeled their program after Little Falls? Do they have a plethora of Hanowski's with a Festler or two sprinkled in coming through the ranks?

[jeffpv]

Marshall vs. Breck in the first round of state.
Oh well, it could've been worse...they could have STA!

[computerguy]

In the new format there is no way 3a could be competitive. Seeding 1-5 hurts there chances. In the last 3 years New Ulm played two competitive games. Last year vs. Thief the #4 seed was 5-1 and three years ago in the const bracket they lost 4-2 to Lourdes. There is something wrong with the tournament not 3a!

[Gretzky9]

My take:

Game 1- I think Breck knows trying to play three games in as many days is hard and using 4 lines is a must. Breck 12- Marshall 0

Game 1- Hermantown 6- D. Marshall 2

Game 3- St. Thomas 7- Apollo 1

Game 4- EGF 5- Lourdes 3

[SEpuck]

There is nothing wrong with the tournament... Your claim to fame is a 4 goal loss and a 2 goal loss in the consolation bracket. Its the way it is... the talent is not as strong in this part of the state... To say they should play the 4 seed every year so its more competitive is a bit ridiculous.

[notTONIGHT]

Luverne Coaches are a joke and they ruined a great team. They have no idea what they are doing. Jeff, Alumni, Buffalo Ridge have all echoed these statements. They NEED TO BE GONE!! Luverne will get so much better once these clowns are canned. They put no time or effort into the program. Heard they dont even know the kids until they get to High School sad. They cost their team a section title. No one had close to the talent they had this season. They deserve to be FIRED! Sounds like community feels the same. These guys are a joke if they get to stay the kids wont believe in them. If they get to stay their teams will continue to always get worse as the season goes on. If they get to stay then you can always count Luverne out these coaches are awful and have no leadership skills.

Anways if Luverne wants to keep these clowns have it. However, anyone a cardboard cutout a cone on the bench would be better.

Marshall finds out their match up today.... Who is going to be?

Thanks 3A, You continue to prove your knowledge to all of us on the board. bravo!

[Bettman's Bender]

In the new format there is no way 3a could be competitive. Seeding 1-5 hurts there chances. In the last 3 years New Ulm played two competitive games. Last year vs. Thief the #4 seed was 5-1 and three years ago in the const bracket they lost 4-2 to Lourdes. There is something wrong with the tournament not 3a!

Are. You. Serious. Right Now.

[notTONIGHT]

In the new format there is no way 3a could be competitive. Seeding 1-5 hurts there chances. In the last 3 years New Ulm played two competitive games. Last year vs. Thief the #4 seed was 5-1 and three years ago in the const bracket they lost 4-2 to Lourdes. There is something wrong with the tournament not 3a!

Are. You. Serious. Right Now.

Can someone get Iowa on the horn?? Let's model our tourney off theirs.