Alaska HS hockey

gr19 · Post by **gr19** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:33 am

sucks! I went to a high school hockey game tonight in Anchorage, the first one I've been to up here. The best word to describe the play would be "sloppy". It was rare to see a decent hard tape to tape pass. I've seen many JV games in Minnesota that were faster. Actually, South HS was the #1 ranked team here in AK that I saw tonight, and I would put money on Grand Rapids JV team beating them, and it probably would be like 8-0. I talked to a kid that is in the NAHL and had a chance to move from Anchorage and play for Moorhead in 03-04 and when I told him I was from MN he was like this game must suck for you. Anyways, Minnesota, appreciate the high quality of HS hockey there. It is hands down the best in the nation. Also the atmoshpere and intensity of the games in Minnesota is the best. This was supposedly a big game in Anchorage and there was maybe 500 fans, no band. Cheerleaders for both schools, but they don't skate. In the end, I had fun tonight just seeing a game, even though the play was not good. There was no rythym or flow. The breakouts were very very basic and usually only the first pass was barely executed. Alot of times a defensemen would pick up a loose puck look up and then lose the puck off his stick. Some kids looked like they might get a breakaway and then it was like they had 50 lbs. of lead in their skates. The puck movement on the PP was very slow. Guys shooting very blindly into traffic. Going in I knew this wouldn't match MN hockey, but I had no idea it would be soooo inferior.

Renegade Ram · Post by **Renegade Ram** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:01 am

The quality of HS hockey around the nation doesn't compare. I spent a few years in South Dakota and reffed in their HS State tourney. The Shattuck "C" squad played Aberdeen's better team and blasted them by at least 10. They will get better just like the Worthington's, Austin's and Marshall but it will take time. I also had the privilidge of seeing the top dog team from Wisconsin take on a very mediocre Warroad team the outcome was close, they may even won but close to the top dogs even in Class A no way. The ND champion probably would have a tough time getting out of Section 8A more than 50% of the time.

pucker33 · Post by **pucker33** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:31 am

Its probably true the minnesota has the best high school teams, but thats only because minnesota has no midget major teams (not counting SSM). For example, in MI, all the better players grow up wanting to play for little ceasers or honeybaked in the MWEHL and not for their local high school. One reason why is because a team in the MWEHL plays at least 60-70 games in a season compared to a high school's 20-25.

PAMESH · Post by **PAMESH** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:44 am

I don't think there is a high school team in Minnesota that could beat that TI team that won the Elite national tournament.

riverman · Post by **riverman** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:54 am

Pamesh was team Illinois a high school team, a regional team, or a statewide team?

Renegade Ram · Post by **Renegade Ram** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:26 am

I think if you geared a Team Minnesota like Team Illinois using the same practice and game ratios against the same competition it wouldn't be even close. The state of hockey would prevail and the other so-called elite teams Honeybaked would get a fork and Little Ceasers would be crying Pizza, Pizza.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol">

gr19 · Post by **gr19** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:04 am

I think some of it might have to do with each players own personal drive to be the best hockey player they can be. Minnesota kids from an early age are working hard to get a chance to go to St. Paul when they reach HS and play in front of 20,000 fans. Not to mention playing in front of large, electric crowds during the regular season. Up here I can understand if a player isn't going to the NHL not having the same drive because the amount of attention paid to HS hockey isn't very significant. Another thing is the population in AK. There's only 670,000 up here, about 370,000 being in Anchorage and Mat-su Valley. All the Anchorage schools (6 of them) play in the same rink which is stupid. The seating there sucks because the rows go more away from the ice than towards the sky. Row 7 is like row 14 in the IRA but lower to the ground.

PAMESH · Post by **PAMESH** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:58 pm

Team Illinois is a club team. They play at the midget level. The gaolie from the team was actually from Moorhead MN. The majority of the kids come from the Chicago area.

pucker33 · Post by **pucker33** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:11 pm

TI was the best team, and probably still the best team. To top it off, you have to compete with little ceasers, honeybaked, victory honda, marquette, compuware, LA jr Kingk, and so on and so on. I hate to say it, but I don't think that there is a Minnesota high school hockey team that can stand a chance against any of these teams.

Renegade Ram · Post by **Renegade Ram** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:18 pm

The statement I made was IF there was a Team Minnesota put together in the same fashion as these other clubs; they would be at or near the top all the time. I don't have a problem with the statement PAMESH and you have made about these "All-Star" Midgets teams being better than a HOMEGROWN Minnesota HS team. In fact, I think you could take it down to the Section level for each section like the Elite league does play the same type of schedule these "All-Star" teams from big city Illinois and Michigan play and be very competitive. Next time read through the post and digest it.<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"> Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... m>Renegade Ram</A> at: 11/11/05 3:20 pm

PAMESH · Post by **PAMESH** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:38 am

Renegade Your original post makes it sound like Minnesota would be head and shoulders above the rest of the country. I think we saw last weekend in the Elite Tournament that the others would compete. The point is MN HS hockey is not of the level of Club hockey in the country. Yes it is the best HS hockey in the country but that is because it is were our kids have to play they have no other choice therefore our top players play at the HS level. This is not the case in other states their top players play club hockey. So for people to post comments about how bad HS hockey in Alaska is compared to MN is stating the obvious. HS Hockey in other states is equivalent to JR Gold in Minnesota it is where a player ends up when he doesn't make the top club team and Jr Gold hockey is really bad hockey. I suggest that if you want to see good hockey in a different state go to a club team game you might start thinking that the kids in Minnesota are getting cheated.

INDIANSFOREVER · Post by **INDIANSFOREVER** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:39 pm

Kids that play club hockey don't get anything near as exciting as HS hockey in MN. 3,000 fans at some reg. season games. 4,000-6,000 fans at section games and the state tourney in St. Paul at the Xcel, televised state wide. I don't see MN kids getting cheated. No one gives a crap about club hockey. That has nothing to do with talent level. However I bet Duluth East's 94-95 team would whip any club hockey team you can come up with.

PAMESH · Post by **PAMESH** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 8:43 pm

Your right kids in club hockey don't get the crowds. I think that is a testament of how much people in MN love hockey. What I meant by "they get chreated is they don't experience the level of copetition that you get with club hockey. I would match up Shattuck with any team when they won the national championship. Zach Parise, the Eaves brothers Tyler Hirsch, Casey Borer, Murray. Heck That Duluth East team isn't even the best team to win the state tournament. We all know how nicely Spehar developed at the next level. I think he started the gopher hockey movement to Blarneys.

juniorhockey · Post by **juniorhockey** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:37 am

Pucker, I disagree. Holy Angels has played SSM (as you likely know) for the last couple years. SSM has been the BEST team in the Nation, winning the MIdget AAA Major Title a couple times. I think that the top teams in the State can compete with the top Midget teams. Not win every game, but if playing there schedule in their league, they would do just fine.

gr19 · Post by **gr19** » Mon Nov 14, 2005 10:50 am

I'll still take East's 94-95 team to whip the midget teams. Maybe they weren't the best all time, maybe they were. You can't hold Spehars Gopher years against his HS years. He was the best HS age player I've ever seen. No one could score like him. Even Jon Gilbert agrees with that.

HockeyMan05 · Post by **HockeyMan05** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 1:53 am

"it is were our kids have to play they have no other choice therefore our top players play at the HS level. This is not the case in other states their top players play club hockey." I have one suggestion... Look up the NTDP team Find where majority of players are from Like everyone is saying, if we put together a "homegrown" team such as the IL team...it would seriously be no contest...who are you kidding? While your at it look up where Peter Mueller of the WHL is from and how old he is. Minnesota "Homegrown" players have chosen other options then HS hockey. The facts are there.

PAMESH · Post by **PAMESH** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:01 am

That is twenty players out of thousands. How many times do I have to say it if Minnesota put together club teams they would win the national championship alot. I am not disbuting that by any means. What I am saying is don't compare other states HS hockey to ours it is not the same thing.

Renegade Ram · Post by **Renegade Ram** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:23 am

Looking at the NDTP roster is not a real measuring stick. Yes, they do have very talented players but if you think for one minute they get the best of the best your sadly mistaken. It is a USA Hockey team thus it is a POLITICAL team. There are back room deals and strings being pulled. And yes, big boy if Minnesota was able to put a truly homegrown midget team on the ice the boys in IL would be ducking for cover. HockeyMan crawl back under your bridge your about as scary as Shrek.

HockeyMan05 · Post by **HockeyMan05** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 12:01 pm

Ignorance is bliss: "if you think for one minute they get the best of the best your sadly mistaken" NTDP Lets take a look: - Jack Johnson (3rd Overall) - Jack Skille (7th Overall) (Highest Drafted Players Not From Major Juniors) Not to Mention: Phil Kessel (Projected #1 Overall Pick) Correct me if I'm wrong...but last time I checked the NHL drafts players from anywhere, any league, any level? (Obviously must have birthdate by required date) With that said...I would say these FACTS prove that they do get the "best of the best". You'll come back at me with the "Minnesota had more in the 1st round" so the 20,000 players in the state had more players then a single team...ill give you that, and growing up playing against them (throughout my now washed up "career") im damn proud of that...but yet that single team had the higher drafted/projected players... To put it simple... Minnesota may have more depth in good players, but the NDTP usually does somehow atract the "Best of the Best" players Renegade Ram I think I hear Fiona calling for you <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol">

Renegade Ram · Post by **Renegade Ram** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 3:58 pm

For the cash spent by USA hockey on this NDTP program the results a 3 and a 7 and a PROJECTED #1 this is really good stuff - NOT. Has the NDTP gotten the "bang for it's buck" too bad you couldn't talk to Herb, I think you know where his stance was on this subjest. I for one hate to see dollars wasted on the coddling of hockey players but we've beaten that subject to death already in this forum, too bad you weren't around for it. I see you dodged the POLITICAL aspect of the program. Every year there are players that are on that team that really have no business on that team. There are much better out there but daddy was a third line center on the '77 National team or someones uncle was a back-up goalie for an Olympic team so these kids get the look before some more deserving candidate. What we were trying to discuss before you so rudely interrupted bringing in the princes of hockey was if Minnesota fielded an absolute best of the best midget team and every other state did the same, Minnesota would year in and year out be at the very top, with a sprinkling of Michigan. That was the discussion going on before the NDTP gets dropped in, I don't see the logic. To go from watching an Alaskan HS game that looked crappy in comparision to MN HS hockey to bringing up the NDTP and Little Ceasers what a leap.

HockeyMan05 · Post by **HockeyMan05** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:53 pm

I was simply trying to prove the statements made by you and another to be incorrect. "if you think for one minute they get the best of the best your sadly mistaken" F.Y.I. POLITICS CONCERNING HOCKEY TEAMS HAPPEN EVERYWHERE. I don't want to get into this because this is a completly different subject but dont get me wrong I absolutey hate politics in any sport. My point is...Open Your eyes it doesn't just happen in Ann Arbor buddy. I'm sure if your daddy was president of the Hockey board, then you would most likely have a spot reserved from the time YOUR DADDY was elected... P.S. Spending money and developing many highly skilled players (including a projected #1 draft pick) isn't good enough? My question to you is...What is?

MinnesotaHockey22 · Post by **MinnesotaHockey22** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 4:29 pm

The USNDTP is a lot of skilled players yet also is very political. Im a varsity player at a strong AA school and have grown up in all of the elite/select like tournaments and played against and with the best of the best. I know many players that deserve to play in Ann Arbor a lot more than certain players that are there now. For example, when your talking about political issues, some players ive played with such as Jamie McBain, Mike Carmen, and Cade Fairchild shouldn't necessarily be there. Yeah they are all good quality elite players, but McBain is just a cheap player who has a dad that talks and can get him there. Carmen is there because hes a part of the McBain "clan," such as Eric Johnson, Jack Johnson, and Peter Mueller. Now im not saying all of them dont deserve to be there, E. Johnson, J. Johnson, and P. Mueller are all exceptional players and deserve to be there, college/major junior, and pro hockey. They are some of the best players ive ever skated with, i did just a year and a half ago. Cade Fairchild is way to weak and is scared to death of phsyical play. Back in Bantam A, you hit him once and hes off the ice 3 shifts in pain at the end of the bench. Kid can't take a hit.

hockeyiscool · Post by **hockeyiscool** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:48 pm

Sorry to bring this up again but I think people are a little bit confused with the team called "Team Illinois". This is not all the best players in Illinois put on the same team. They are just a regular Midget team that happens to be the best in the country right now at 31-0. However right down the road is another good team called the Chicago Chill, and the Chicago Young Americans, you could even throw the Chicago Mission in this mix. For sure the first three teams would beat almost all of the Minnesota High School teams this year. The point I guess I'm trying to get across is TI is an excellent team but don't let the name fool you because there are three other good midget hockey teams right from the same area. Minnesota isn't the only place that good hockey players are being produced. Now back to the topic Alaska HS hockey is not good because the good players either play Midgets (Alaska All Stars etc.) or play juniors.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Alaska HS hockey

Alaska HS hockey

I think you'll find that anywhere.

Re: I think you'll find that anywhere.

Team Illinois

alaska high school hockey

riverman's got a point

Re: riverman's got a point

Team Illinois

Re: Team Illinois

33 quit speed reading

Re: 33 quit speed reading

Re: 33 quit speed reading

Re: 33 quit speed reading

Pucker

I agree

Cheated?

Re: Cheated?

Oh come on now

Renegade Ram

That's an entire roster of an overpriced political party

Quotes Buddy

Re: Quotes Buddy

TI and Midgets