Cadets16 wrote:
Goes to show if we are going make an argument on income, and its affect on hockey programs, then some schools should be far better than they are. I mean, look at Shakopee... only about $2,000 less of an income, but about 12 fewer wins than Edina.
Goes to show that there's different kinds of money, and that money isn't everything when it comes to premiere hockey programs.
Imagine a Venn diagram with 3 intersecting circles. Label one "money," the second "culture" and the third "school tradition." Edina is one of the few programs that sits within the intersection of all 3 circles.
Money - self-evident. Hockey is an expensive sport. Striving to be an elite hockey player is even more expensive (e.g. summer camps, personal coaches, off-season programs like FHIT). But "old money" is better than "new money" because just as important is....
Culture - Kids born in Minnesota are more likely to play hockey than kids who move into the state. Kids whose parents and grandparents lived here are even more likely, particularly if dad played. Some of this "culture" is ethnic (not a lot of Hispanic skaters), but White parents who grew up in non-hockey states before moving to MN also aren't as likely to have rink rats.
School Tradition - Schools that have a tradition of excellent hockey programs are more likely to draw in hockey-focused families, and are also more likely to capture the school's best athletes if/when they decide to focus only on one sport. Schools that are better known for other winter sports (e.g. Apple Valley and wrestling, Hopkins and basketball) will always be at a disadvantage, even if they're large suburban districts.
So what does this all mean? Edina is a wealthy first-ring suburb with older housing stock and (probably) a higher percentage of hockey-playing native Minnesotans than communities like Eagan, which was nothing but farm fields back in the 1970's. Eagan is almost as wealthy, but has a higher percentage of families who moved in from out of state (with parents who didn't play hockey). Eagan has established itself as a first-rate hockey program over the last few years, but has nowhere near the pedigree as Edina. So Edina has a built-in advantage over Eagan, but Eagan has a built-in advantage over neighboring Apple Valley.
That's my theory, at least.
As for Shakopee...wealthy, but mostly younger housing stock, probably lower % native hockey playing parents, and not much of a hockey tradition in school (their boys basketball team is giving Hopkins fits, even as I type). Give them 1 circle.
basketball.