Eveleths High School Team

[whatthepuck]

Chisholm has no team this year.....damn kids !! <p></p><i></i>

[GB12]

I saw their schedule for the upcoming season and it is a tough one. They have added 3-4 more AA games and also added some strong A games to the mix. If they play a "sisters of the poor" schedule than Virginia must too because they play the same teams. If anything Eveleth's schedule has gotten much stronger since Johnson took over. They don't have the luxury of playing ME twice, Ely twice, or Chisholm anymore. <br><br>About raising money...where did it all go if they raised so much money? They ran one golf tournament and that was it. I would agree that Bobby P did a lot to help out the program from a financial standpoint but where is his help now? For such a dedicated person to the high school program those funds dried up quick. Was he supporting the program or the coach? Kind of funny how the dedication changes to a program that quickly.<br><br>I also liked the comment about the Eveleth underachieved last year...I would agree, after watching them, that they could and should have won more games than they did. But how could anyone call it underachieving when they returned only three full-time varsity players back from the previous season? Johnson brought in an almost entirely new roster and managed to win 11-12 games including a new goalie and three 8th graders. Every one of EG's losses in the 2004-2005 season was to a team that was "ranked" ahead of them except DC. How was that underachieving? The team the year before with 9 seniors won 9 games including playing Chisholm, ME twice, etc. I've said it before on here, I believe that good things are happening in Eveleth with the camps for youth, clinics for coaches, weight program, off-ice training, and now I've heard that they have summer ice coming up for the following summer, etc. Where has that been before?<br>It has been one year and there has been more done with the program than in ten before that combined. <p></p><i></i>

[W900]

Does anybody know what the Babich boys are doing this year? <p></p><i></i>

[hhhtoad]

NO hockey tha't's for sure! That was Eveleth's problem all along. Smart kids thats for sure but way overrated for hockey. <p></p><i></i>

[hhhtoad]

GB12- You either must have a kid in the program that did not play for Hommala or there's something I'm missing! To clear up 1 thing...all the $$ raised went back to the program. Skate sharpener, X-mas tourney, a lot behind the scenes stuff too.<br>You must have a H-on about Hommer! That's for sure.<br>What have you ever done for the program? . <p></p><i></i>

[GB12]

The Babich's are playing DIII hockey in Concordia-Moorhead this year.<br><br>I am a coach in the cities and have family in Eveleth who did play for Homola. Skate sharpener was donated not paid for. Christmas tourney costs about $3000 at the most and they received donations from VFW and Hockey Moms for those trips also. Keep in mind I am not disputing they raised money...in fact it is completely irrelevant but just wanted to make something very clear to some ignorant comments on here. I was not insinuating that anyone stole money but just made reference to the fact that maybe there was not the immense amount raised that was stated on here. <br><br>Also, I would think for a person who seems to be a big Homola fan, you could at least spell his name right?<br><br>About having an H for Hommer, not at all. I thought that he did the best he could for the program and did some very good things but it just seemed that over the years some complacency set in. The program seemed to lose momentum in the positive direction as his tenure. He inherited a gold mine of talent and won. But did 1999's team underachieve? They returned almost everyone from the state championship team but got knocked out of the playoffs in their first round by a #6 seed (Duluth Central..who Johnson was coaching). It just seemed to me and a lot of others that his teams died at the end of the season and fell apart. But overall, like I said, he did the best he could. <p></p><i></i>

[redknight99]

I would agree with some of what was said on here but I'll add my two cents. I have a nephew that both played for Homola and for Johnson. Yes, he did play quite a bit under Homola too. From what he has told me the two coaches couldn't be more different. Where Homola swore at and berrated players Johnson teaches character development, where Homola told the kids to go out and rollerblade in the summer as their training Johnson spent every other day in the weightroom, a month in Superior on ice, etc. to help the players develop, where Homola stopped riding the buses to away games (for whatever reason) Johnson obviously is there with his team. Lastly, where players quit playing hard for Homola as the year went on they played even harder for Johnson. this is coming from a player who respected Homola but completely changed that when he saw what things Johnson brought to the table. <br><br>I really don't mean to stir the pot here but I thought it was relevant to squelch the misgivings of certain people on here. Also, Homola did not resign, he was "not renewed" for specified reasons...reasons being plural...more than one incident. It had nothing to do with any players being unhappy.<br><br>Overall, the true hockey fans in Eveleth are loving what they are seeing. They have a young staff that has the energy and drive to get out there and work with the youth, put on camps, off-ice development, secure ice in the summer (when Homola works out of the Hippodrome, you would think that would have been an easy thing for him) and who set a good moral example as well. Most of who you heear grumbling are only those who are friends of the former coach and who do absolutely nothing for or with the program. <p></p><i></i>

[Puckhaug]

He Teaches character....like the great character the Babich twins showed on the ice? And I may add never missed a shift. <br><br>He was in the weight room everyother day... how many players were in there with him? <p></p><i></i>

[redknight99]

If you check I think you'll see that the penalty minutes for the Babich's went down by about 500% from the Homola years...how many times did they sit then?<br><br>Keep in mind, Johnson had them one year, how many people can change bad habits that were formed by three years and more of letting it go? Johnson was just cleaning up someone else's mess...whose? I wonder.<br><br>They had around 15 to 20 kids in there depending on baseball night or not...I saw it with my own eyes. I sure wish people had any knowledge of things before they embarass themselves with their incorrect statements. It sure would save the rest of us time and energy of correcting them all the time.<br><br>And may I add, yes they did miss shifts...again with unknowing comment??? <p></p><i></i>

[Puckhaug]

Hey Red, <br><br>I ment no disrespect.No need to get defensive. I have been around Iron Range hockey for many years and watched many if not all of the Iron Range players discussed in these boards since they were squirts. I just expressed my opinion about the twins and their attitude. Too bad really, they were good players and could probably have played at the college level had the attitude thing not gotten in the way. The coaches don't raise the kids! Coaches can have some influance but they can rarely change a kid when they are fed a steady diet of bad attitude at the dinner table every night. Not fair to blame Homola or credit Johnson or vise versa.<br><br>About the weight room...I was asking a question, not making a statement. Thanks for the answer. <p></p><i></i>

[hhhtoad]

Stir the pot??!! I remember Johnson going home on X-mas break!! Don't think he never let -off in the locker room. I'll tell you what, who ever your source of info is coming from must have been in the Roosevelt Bar a little much! Hommer did a great job with those teams..I was just up there talk'in with a bunch of former players and I've been tell'in them what you've been say'in......you are way off base..............fella! you should know better than to take the word of high school kids! Get a clue! <p></p><i></i>

[GB12]

You're quite amusing. So misimformed but seemingly knowledgable... <br><br>My information comes from about 50 kids that I have run across that have been coached by both the former coach and Johnson. I would be willing to bet that if asked over 95% of the players who played for both would take Johnson any day. Unless they liked being verbally abused and called every name in the book. <br><br>About Johnson going home for Christmas...he probably had no coaching responsibilites then. Since there is no JV going on during that time. He was not really a varsity coach...there were only two, Bobby P and Homola...and I'm not sure which one was the head coach because more stuf came from Bobby P than Homola's own mind. Those two made all decisions.<br><br>"Take the word of high school kids"...what does that mean? About who they prefer coaching them? If you are talking about how Homola was dismissed, that was not the word of high school kids that was the word from the school board and superintendent...it was in public meeting minutes. That was a fact. He did not resign he was "replaced". <p></p><i></i>

[IRC]

hhhtoad,<br>I don't know where you get your information and who you talked to but the people that you talked to were probably in the Roosevelt too much. A little drunk when you were talking to them. I played for Homola and I think that he was a terrible coach. Like I said before great players don't always make great coaches. You can't take away his hockey skills but his coaching skills left something to be desired. It is crazy how you think that he is a better coach then Johnson. What did Homola do for us kids except yell at us. So what if Johnson when home over Christmas. He gave the kids a little break to spend some time with their family. That is an important time with the family and Johnson was probably thinking that he wanted to spend time with his, what is wrong with that. GB12 should know better than taking the word of high school kids? Who else are you supposed to take the word of? THat is a ridiculous statement. How would you know anything unless you played for either of the coaches, I don't think your opinion should matter if you don't know from experience. Get your facts straight before you come on here and say anything. <p></p><i></i>

[hhhtoad]

Terrible coach---come on! Just because you were a 4th line player don't take that out on Homala. You ask any Iron Range coach up there and they will tell you how good he is. I been there and seen him in action! Those boys like you don't have a clue about getting chewed out or benched! Grow up and just play the game. Good thing you didn't grow up in the 70's or early 80's... when you would get kicked in the butt and slapped around if you messed up. So guess what?? keep your mouth shut! <p></p><i></i>

[puckhead89]

Hey, tone it down. Your posts have been absolutely disrespectful through and through on almost every thread you have posted on and I would venture a guess that most on this board don't enjoy reading them. If you have information/opinions to add, great....but don't add all the junk with it. <p></p><i></i>

[redknight99]

First of all I completely agree with puckhead...wow you seem to have a huge issue with what is the right thing that should be done with kids and what shouldn't be. I grew up in the late 70's and won two state championships in Minnesota. My coach never hit me or belittled me, he didn't have to. He motivated to play hard for us, the team, the community, and of course him. We were more afraid of disappointing him then him ever yelling at us. That is the ultimate sign of respect. If a coach needs to resort to threats and verbal abuse to motivate then they are in the wrong profession. Leaders like that have ruled the world and we have fought wars to get rid of them. Rule by fear not by respect. What's wrong with someone who believes in family, strengthening character, and developing the whole player? Instead you seem to value someone who has zero belief in any of those things. From what I know the former coach is 0-3 in those categories. I don't mean to get personal but it seems like the only thing that hhh understands is a smack with a 2x4 across the head to get motivated.<br><br>About IRC, again I agree. I have several connections from Eveleth both players and parents. I have heard nothing, repeat nothing, but fantanstic things about the new program in Eveleth. Again, there is more being accomplished and being done there then I have seen in the previous 10 years combined. They finally have someone that cares about kids and I think that is great. They are not coaching to satisfy their own ego or to hang on to any link to their past playing but instead they have someone who wants to win but also believes that producing a good person is even better. I feel they are very fortunate because I know that Johnson turned down two college offers and three USHL positions this year. I know because I was one who offered him one of those positions. <p></p><i></i>

[IRC]

Get a clue buddy. Have you ever played hockey in your life? What kind of coach would you like to have one that cuts you down day after day or the one that will tell you what you did wrong and help you try to fix it so you don't do it again? No brainer I think...You have been there and seen him in action? Where when he stood behind the bench? That will give you a great idea of how he is. He never acted out in public just in the locker room. Just cause I was a 4th liner? Know who you are to before you make them weak ass accusations, I actually held the captains c for the eveleth team a few years back so I know what it is like. You have no clue. I know exactly how Homola got fired or not renewed if you wanna put it like that. He never resigned, you can't say that. When you have an alcohol problem everyone is going to know about it and that is why he got fired. Get all your facts straight and settle down buddy. <p></p><i></i>