Time for St.Francis and Cambridge to move down to A?

[hermantown2000]

It probably has gotten beyond frustrating for these two teams to be playing in 7AA. They meet every year in the play in game which pretty much ends up being their state championship game of sorts. Those kids want a chance at the state tournament. Not getting blown out every year by East or whoever is ranked #1 in the section. Th i s year Elk River has a chance to do the honors.Cambridge was an single A school some years ago. Maybe its time for them both to opt to single A or c-op.

[greenway1969]

Maybe if Hermantown moved up that would allow one of them to move down. It's interesting how a Hermantown fan suggests that a team move down when they are afraid to move up. It reinforces Hemantown's philosophy of not aspiring to play with the best.

[almostashappy]

It probably has gotten beyond frustrating for these two teams to be playing in 7AA. They meet every year in the play in game which pretty much ends up being their state championship game of sorts. Those kids want a chance at the state tournament. Not getting blown out every year by East or whoever is ranked #1 in the section. Th i s year Elk River has a chance to do the honors.Cambridge was an single A school some years ago. Maybe its time for them both to opt to single A or c-op.

You can't "opt" down to single A, and if they co-op'ed, they'd still would struggle at the AA level, and half of the kids would lose their roster spots. And lose the chance to play for their high school (and theirs alone).

[old goalie85]

Optdown ??? This isn't Mn hockey's wonderful program !!!

[hermantown2000]

I know there is a lot of people that want coach Plante to move is team to AA but interestingly Plante feels his program does not have the depth yet to make the switch despite that fact that have given teams like Eden Prairie a battle. I think Hermantown could challenge East but not sure if they could beat Edina. For a team to opt down do they have wait for their schools enrollment to decrease?

[alcloseshaver]

Both these schools have solid AA enrollments, there is no opting down. Someone has to be the last seed.
Cambridge 1382
St. Francis 1463
Wasn't that long ago STMA was at this level and they have built a solid program. STMA has 1488 students.
Starts with the youth program and builds from there. Player retention through HS would help, where is that goalie that started for Cambridge as an 8th grader?

[north_bear]

I know there is a lot of people that want coach Plante to move is team to AA but interestingly Plante feels his program does not have the depth yet to make the switch despite that fact that have given teams like Eden Prairie a battle. I think Hermantown could challenge East but not sure if they could beat Edina. For a team to opt down do they have wait for their schools enrollment to decrease?

Plante doesn't think his program has enough depth?! Funniest thing I've heard all week!!!

[hermantown2000]

I know there is a lot of people that want coach Plante move is team to AA but interestingly Plante feels his program does not have the depth yet to make the switch despite that fact that have given teams like Eden Prairie a battle. I think Hermantown could challenge East but not sure if they could beat Edina. For a team to opt down do they have wait for their schools enrollment to decrease?

[steelheader]

Both these schools have solid AA enrollments, there is no opting down. Someone has to be the last seed.
Cambridge 1382
St. Francis 1463
Wasn't that long ago STMA was at this level and they have built a solid program. STMA has 1488 students.
Starts with the youth program and builds from there. Player retention through HS would help, where is that goalie that started for Cambridge as an 8th grader?

Providence Academy. And he started as a 7th grader as well.

[Sotaboy]

It probably has gotten beyond frustrating for these two teams to be playing in 7AA. They meet every year in the play in game which pretty much ends up being their state championship game of sorts. Those kids want a chance at the state tournament. Not getting blown out every year by East or whoever is ranked #1 in the section. Th i s year Elk River has a chance to do the honors.Cambridge was an single A school some years ago. Maybe its time for them both to opt to single A or c-op.

Teams go through slumps and often have troubles in specific sports through out the years. I could understand a section change but the level these teams are at does not merritt a tournament birth in any class. A co-op would be demeaning to the growth of any program, just is all about growing and developing through the youth on up. These schools do it in other sports very well. They can do it where they are now and with the obstacles that are presented with them now.

[MWS coach]

A few years back St Francis had a growing program with very competitive mite and squirt teams. Majority of those players fled to Andover and a couple of other D10 cities. Starts with the youth program. Very good crop of players that no longer live or play in St Francis. Also can't chase trophies and not field top level teams at youth levels then expect to compete at AA when those kids get to HS. 99/98 birth year kids were a nice B1 squirt team (no A team) just a few years ago, maybe they should have thought ahead and played A? Just last year co op with Irondale at Bantam A, Top 10 Bantam A, just a year later and to the bottom they go....

[sanryam]

I think Hermantown could challenge East but not sure if they could beat Edina.

Same case for the AA squads. What's your point?

[hermantown2000]

Again my point is that Hermantown the way they are structured they could compete against some AA teams but not others.

[GolfGuy7900]

Again my point is that Hermantown the way they are structured they could compete against some AA teams but not others.

Compete against some, but not others? That's no different than pretty much every AA team.

[silentbutdeadly3139]

Again my point is that Hermantown the way they are structured they could compete against some AA teams but not others.

I find this hilarious, what do you mean "The way they are structured"? do they carry more defense man than normal ? extra goalies not enough players ? ( joking here )

sounds like a euphemism for we have low enrollment so we are allowed to play A even though we can consistently compete and beat all but a very few AA. Meanwhile St Francis, Cambridge and other schools are forced to play up and I am guessing it is a lot harder to opt down than opt up.

edited:
I just thought of the structure your referring to. The coach doesn't want to play AA because he wants a better chance to to win a trophy !
By the way I enjoy watching your team play. They are very good and It would be fun to see them play in AA sections and possibly AA state tournament because I like to see the best teams play each other.

[HShockeywatcher]

Again my point is that Hermantown the way they are structured they could compete against some AA teams but not others.

http://www.ushsho.com/mnrank.htm

Name 5 teams they "couldn't compete with" this year...

How many teams IN THE STATE can you name that couldn't be placed in the blank here?
____________ the way they are structured they could compete against some teams but not others.

[fastncrash]

It probably has gotten beyond frustrating for these two teams to be playing in 7AA. They meet every year in the play in game which pretty much ends up being their state championship game of sorts. Those kids want a chance at the state tournament. Not getting blown out every year by East or whoever is ranked #1 in the section. Th i s year Elk River has a chance to do the honors.Cambridge was an single A school some years ago. Maybe its time for them both to opt to single A or c-op.

You can't "opt" down to single A, and if they co-op'ed, they'd still would struggle at the AA level, and half of the kids would lose their roster spots. And lose the chance to play for their high school (and theirs alone).

"Can't OPT DOWN?... INCORRECT!"

Section: 3A
Conference: Big South
Enrollment: 1269
Nickname: Eagles
Colors: Purple, White
Assistant coaches: Mike Peterson, Ryan Neuman
Home Ice: New Ulm Civic Center, New Ulm
State Tournament Appearances: 4 (Tier I: 1992. Class 1A: 2010, 2011, 2012)
State Championships: None
2013-14 Record: ::2013-14 Record::
Twitter Handle: None

[nu2hockey]

It probably has gotten beyond frustrating for these two teams to be playing in 7AA. They meet every year in the play in game which pretty much ends up being their state championship game of sorts. Those kids want a chance at the state tournament. Not getting blown out every year by East or whoever is ranked #1 in the section. Th i s year Elk River has a chance to do the honors.Cambridge was an single A school some years ago. Maybe its time for them both to opt to single A or c-op.

You can't "opt" down to single A, and if they co-op'ed, they'd still would struggle at the AA level, and half of the kids would lose their roster spots. And lose the chance to play for their high school (and theirs alone).

"Can't OPT DOWN?... INCORRECT!"

Section: 3A
Conference: Big South
Enrollment: 1269
Nickname: Eagles
Colors: Purple, White
Assistant coaches: Mike Peterson, Ryan Neuman
Home Ice: New Ulm Civic Center, New Ulm
State Tournament Appearances: 4 (Tier I: 1992. Class 1A: 2010, 2011, 2012)
State Championships: None
2013-14 Record: ::2013-14 Record::
Twitter Handle: None

WRONG
New Ulm enrollment for their Co-op is 920
well below AA

[The Exiled One]

Just last year co op with Irondale at Bantam A, Top 10 Bantam A, just a year later and to the bottom they go....

And now Mounds View Irondale bantam A has popped to the top. There's a common thread there...

Unfortunately, both Mounds View HS and Irondale HS will be hurting for players next season. Irondale may not even have enough to fill a JV roster! (And that's taking into account any HS players from Fridley and St. Anthony too!) The challenge won't be a lack of skill, it'll be keeping that skill at Irondale HS. You'll see some of those talented Bantam A players go private next season... guaranteed.

Recruitment and retention numbers are a bit better since the association co-op (and eventual merger). However, they'll still likely struggle with talent siphoning for the next few years. Hopefully they can keep the high schools separate until some better numbers start to trickle up to varsity success. Nobody (other than maybe the superintendent) wants to see the varsity teams merge.

[fastncrash]

You can't "opt" down to single A, and if they co-op'ed, they'd still would struggle at the AA level, and half of the kids would lose their roster spots. And lose the chance to play for their high school (and theirs alone).

"Can't OPT DOWN?... INCORRECT!"

Section: 3A
Conference: Big South
Enrollment: 1269
Nickname: Eagles
Colors: Purple, White
Assistant coaches: Mike Peterson, Ryan Neuman
Home Ice: New Ulm Civic Center, New Ulm
State Tournament Appearances: 4 (Tier I: 1992. Class 1A: 2010, 2011, 2012)
State Championships: None
2013-14 Record: ::2013-14 Record::
Twitter Handle: None

WRONG
New Ulm enrollment for their Co-op is 920
well below AA

Tell the truth... Just because they were successful in Lobbying to the right powers and "Choosing" who is all included in the Coop "Count"... Doesn't mean it's any more respectable. You enjoy a NICE advantage... run with it.

[57special]

I know there is a lot of people that want coach Plante to move is team to AA but interestingly Plante feels his program does not have the depth yet to make the switch despite that fact that have given teams like Eden Prairie a battle. I think Hermantown could challenge East but not sure if they could beat Edina. For a team to opt down do they have wait for their schools enrollment to decrease?

Most AA schools can't challenge Edina( or LN or whomever). The point is whether or not a team can be competitive ( .500 pr better) at the AA level. Hermantown is clearly at that point.

[Froggy Richards]

I know there is a lot of people that want coach Plante to move is team to AA but interestingly Plante feels his program does not have the depth yet to make the switch despite that fact that have given teams like Eden Prairie a battle. I think Hermantown could challenge East but not sure if they could beat Edina. For a team to opt down do they have wait for their schools enrollment to decrease?

Most AA schools can't challenge Edina( or LN or whomever). The point is whether or not a team can be competitive ( .500 pr better) at the AA level. Hermantown is clearly at that point.

Yes, they would be competitive every year. The computer models have them as the 6th best team in the State this year and they would have as good a shot as anyone at knocking off Lakeville North or Edina. It's not fair to put it all on Coach Plante though. He's in the twilight of his career and there is a lot of pressure to win in Hermantown. Hermantown is nothing like Grand Rapids, Cloquet, Bemidji and Roseau. Those towns are steeped in History, Tradition and Pride in competing with the best. A Single A title means nothing to those towns. This isn't the case in Hermantown. People don't open-enroll or move their kids there to be competitive. They enroll them there to go to State and win. Single A gives them a better chance to do this which is why they stay there. Up until this point you can't really blame them as most of the kids on the High School team have been Hermantown kids. When the pressure is going to ramp up is in 5-6 years when half or more of their roster is open-enrollees or move-ins. Those kids are in Mites, Squirts and PeeWees now. Hopefully they will opt up at that point and some of the Hermantown kids who are displaced will catch on with some of the surrounding programs to help their numbers. It would be the best thing for the game in the Duluth area.

[MrBoDangles]

Cambridge loses to St. Francis 7-1? Ouch! And things are only going to get leaner.....

[notTONIGHT]

Get lord on the horn, he's been opting down for years.....

They call it a "petition."

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Both these schools have solid AA enrollments, there is no opting down. Someone has to be the last seed.
Cambridge 1382
St. Francis 1463
Wasn't that long ago STMA was at this level and they have built a solid program. STMA has 1488 students.
Starts with the youth program and builds from there. Player retention through HS would help, where is that goalie that started for Cambridge as an 8th grader?

Providence Academy. And he started as a 7th grader as well.

Other than this goalie, who else has left the program and where have they landed? Is it an issue of not keeping talent or not developing talent? The girls record is pretty terrible as well. We've played both teams in youth hockey - boys and girls - and my memory is not totally reliable but I sure don't remember huge blow out scores or that we always thought it was going to be an easy win.