Richfield - tough sledding

F14 · Post by **F14** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:18 am

Saddened my heart to see the Spartans outshot 55-4 tonight at Park.
I don't know what the modern record is for fewest shots in a game?

I hope they cancel the game against SPA upcoming.

They have 16 players returning next year and lost a lot last year, with only two seniors I hope they can improve.

I know there hasn't been a jv for quite a while -- sad to see the Steve Christoff, Damian Rhodes and Darby Hendrickson school with so few players.

76-86-91 state tourney appearances they were always a club to pull for.

Kennedy has made a strong rise under Dave Dillon I am hoping something can be done to change the demographic changes that have taken place.

first year for Coach Dave Shute a former RF player and 15 year minor leaguer at the helm.

I love there arena I sure hope that the tide can be stopped.

green4 · Post by **green4** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:34 am

My father went to Edina, my mother went to Richfield, I have heard from them and many others how strong a rivalry this once was.
It is really too bad.

greenway1969 · Post by **greenway1969** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 6:41 am

Richfield is in the same position that Greenway was five years ago. It was a very real possibility that Greenway was going to drop hockey. Some very dedicated people and students/players fought hard to field a team that year. Couple of the kids could barely skate. They took plenty of beatings like the ones Richfield has suffered this year. It started with rebuilding the youth program. People actively recruited kids at the elementary school level to play. They guaranteed that funds would be available fo anyone who wanted to play. The community worked hard to revive the program and it is now fielding a team that has a real possibility of a .500 season. I don't know if a city team with changing demographics has the same community spirit as a small town, but it can start with former players making time and money commitments to try to revitalize that program. Pat Guyer was instrumental in making it happen at Greenway.

DrGaf · Post by **DrGaf** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:21 am

I'm pretty sure the youth program has or is merging with Kennedy???

Anyone in the know out there?

Tron · Post by **Tron** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:20 am

DrGaf wrote:I'm pretty sure the youth program has or is merging with Kennedy???

Anyone in the know out there?

This is correct, and this happened this year. They are now the Bloomington/Richfield/Kennedy hockey association.

Edit, my bad, I meant the Bloomington Kennedy/Richfield Hockey Association

greenway1969 · Post by **greenway1969** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 12:01 pm

If they combined with Kennedy I don't see much hope in the high school program surviving. The numbers will not have a chance to grow at the youth level because fewer spots are available to develop players. Eventually Richfield will be a co-op with some other school.

Oldcoach63 · Post by **Oldcoach63** » Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:16 pm

Their youth program has actually been with Kennedy for a few years now. The HS has outstanding coaches but without a viable feeder program it's obviously an impossible task to be competitive. The kids they have now are awesome kids but they had to dig pretty deep just to field a team and while some will likely be fine players in the future it's tough to make that jump too early. It can also obviously hurt their development in the long run. They haven't had a JV since 2008-2009. Since the writing has been on the wall for awhile now some good players have jumped ship early and are now playing for Kennedy HS, Jefferson HS, Holy Angels and I believe maybe a couple to Minneapolis. The bottom has fallen out quickly since the merger as I believe as recently as 2009 the HS team beat HM the only time in their history. I can't even imagine what that game would look like now. I can attest first hand the rivalry between RHS and Edina back in the day in all sports. Changing demographics have made it difficult especially in hockey. It is heartbreaking and I wish there was a fix. The HS girls merged with Holy Angels back in 2011-2012 but that may or may not be a good fit on the boys side. Unfortunately you will also get parents that realize with a merger "my little Johnny won't make the team, therefore won't be able to play at all." They'd rather get killed and have their kid play than be competitive. I guess I can understand the logic to a point but there is a line where it's not even HS hockey any more anyways.