Coaching Changes

[headsupsticksdown]

Too early for coaching changes yet?

-Northern Lakes

Also hearing of a major change in a West Metro school as well that is sort of surprising.

[wbmd]

Too early for coaching changes yet?

-Northern Lakes

Also hearing of a major change in a West Metro school as well that is sort of surprising.

A topic for this is already on here.

Official Coaching Openings - 2025-26

[bardown27]

Rumor from a reliable source is Eden Prairie is now open

[Doc Holliday]

Rumor from a reliable source is Eden Prairie is now open

Rumor is true.

[ryguyMN]

Time to put the bat signal out for Lee Smith.

[FlinFlonBomber]

How is the youth program at the squirt, peewee and bantam levels?

I am thinking Mike Randolph and Tom Klein may have interest in this job.

[Doc Holliday]

For EP? Definitely below Minnetonka/Edina/Prior Lake & I'd say CC (although they split up & Holy Fam is a factor as well).

[headsupsticksdown]

For EP? Definitely below Minnetonka/Edina/Prior Lake & I'd say CC (although they split up & Holy Fam is a factor as well).

Well, their Bantam AA finished 4th and B1 6th. From what I have heard, their talent drops off significantly at the PW and SQ level but it's always hard to label kids at such a young age. Am sure there will be move ins (and out) as normal but the numbers aren't really increasing from what I can see.

Tonka and Edina are surely above and beyond, but no way I put either PL or CC above then at that age level.

Randolph is 100% not going to be an option considering if you believe his reason for leaving NL. What is Cory Peterson up to these days?

[Cookster]

Interesting tidbit I heard this weekend from the Jr Gold Tournament at Edina -- They had 550 kids signed up for Mites. (Boys and Girls) That more than many cities including EP for the entire youth program.

[ryguyMN]

I had a feeling that Twigs may have coached his last game at EP after that Holy Family loss, but didn’t want to speculate publicly out of respect. Here’s a team that ties Edina to end the regular season and share the conference title, then a week later puts out a performance that made it appear they were looking past Holy Family in the section semis.

Wonder if Paul Ranheim would have any interest since he’s familiar with the program as an assistant? Or did he get blacklisted when Smith “retired”? As this past state tournament showed, having guys on the bench with NHL experience helps out quite a bit.

[headsupsticksdown]

I had a feeling that Twigs may have coached his last game at EP after that Holy Family loss, but didn’t want to speculate publicly out of respect. Here’s a team that ties Edina to end the regular season and share the conference title, then a week later puts out a performance that made it appear they were looking past Holy Family in the section semis.

Wonder if Paul Ranheim would have any interest since he’s familiar with the program as an assistant? Or did he get blacklisted when Smith “retired”? As this past state tournament showed, having guys on the bench with NHL experience helps out quite a bit.

A lot of speculation of what went down but this sounds like another case of upset parents getting their way. If what is being said is true, yeah sure. Game preparation and being out coached let’s say in sections may have been true. Is this important sure, but you’re putting a section win ahead of anything. Once again, if you don’t win you’re out. If you don’t play certain kids you’re out. If parents feel slighted you’re out. Nobody and I mean nobody picked EP to win their conference and move to sections as a #1 seed. At the end of the day they over achieved. Sure, they didn’t get to State but really?

Again, I don’t have the exact details but come on. I think EP needs a young up and comer, but it is clear they also need a strong personality to keep rabid parents in check. Ranheim is a nice and great guy, but I don’t see it happening. It would be interesting to see him, Molenaar and the young Gerdes all on the bench together.

Can’t be a great look for EP to have two coaches for what appears to be a coup. Whoever steps in better be ready.

[Doc Holliday]

I'm rather interested in who at EP would have a legit reason to even be upset.

I agree with you headsupsticksdown....it's fine to be disappointed in how the season ended & I guess that's ultimately what sometimes is all that matters at certain schools, but big picture considering the roster, pretty good, but no really great players, I thought EP overachieved.

[outdoorsuperstar]

Is there still a Saterdalen on the EP team. Tom wasn't very supportive of his heir at Jefferson and both he and Jeff have run out a few coaches at EP between youth and HS

[bardown27]

Is there still a Saterdalen on the EP team. Tom wasn't very supportive of his heir at Jefferson and both he and Jeff have run out a few coaches at EP between youth and HS

Sure is. Nash is a junior this year

[headsupsticksdown]

Is there still a Saterdalen on the EP team. Tom wasn't very supportive of his heir at Jefferson and both he and Jeff have run out a few coaches at EP between youth and HS

Sure is. Nash is a junior this year

Apparently, this was not a 1 or 2 person perspective. There seemed to be a lot of let’s just say involved people that had one or more issues with the staff. And it appears that some points were outside of on ice or game time decisions. Some have not been happy since day one.

It’s a bit shocking because Twigs personal character is viewed to be very positive and I’m more willing to turn the cheek on on ice issues if a coach is such a great, respectful and classy guy as he is. But maybe I’m in the minority.

[SpreadOut!]

I don’t believe Twigs was a recruiter like Tonka and others in the west metro, and like Smith pioneered when he was coach at EP. The west metro surburban powerhouses, not just in hockey but in basketball (where it’s even more blatant) and other sports, too—Tonka, Wayzata, Hopkins, etc.—are big open enrollment, “we’ll get an address for you” recruiters. I don’t think Twigs was into that. And with the EP youth program thinning out big time in years to come, maybe the powers that be want to go back to the Lee Smith model. Becoming a big-time recruiter will be the only chance EP has to stay competitive down the road.

[ryguyMN]

I had a feeling that Twigs may have coached his last game at EP after that Holy Family loss, but didn’t want to speculate publicly out of respect. Here’s a team that ties Edina to end the regular season and share the conference title, then a week later puts out a performance that made it appear they were looking past Holy Family in the section semis.

Wonder if Paul Ranheim would have any interest since he’s familiar with the program as an assistant? Or did he get blacklisted when Smith “retired”? As this past state tournament showed, having guys on the bench with NHL experience helps out quite a bit.

A lot of speculation of what went down but this sounds like another case of upset parents getting their way. If what is being said is true, yeah sure. Game preparation and being out coached let’s say in sections may have been true. Is this important sure, but you’re putting a section win ahead of anything. Once again, if you don’t win you’re out. If you don’t play certain kids you’re out. If parents feel slighted you’re out. Nobody and I mean nobody picked EP to win their conference and move to sections as a #1 seed. At the end of the day they over achieved. Sure, they didn’t get to State but really?

Again, I don’t have the exact details but come on. I think EP needs a young up and comer, but it is clear they also need a strong personality to keep rabid parents in check. Ranheim is a nice and great guy, but I don’t see it happening. It would be interesting to see him, Molenaar and the young Gerdes all on the bench together.

Can’t be a great look for EP to have two coaches for what appears to be a coup. Whoever steps in better be ready.

EP may have overachieved. Was I expecting EP to be the #1 seed at the start of the year? No. But it was a down year for the section as a whole, so it’s difficult to gauge things. Shakopee was supposed to run away with the section, but they sputtered out of the gate and didn’t really find their groove until late in the season. There didn’t seem to be much of a gap between Shakopee and EP at the end, and Shakopee had a Mr. Hockey finalist. Shakopee was a preseason top 3 team in the state, so perhaps not playing up to expectations made EP’s season look better than really what it was? EP definitely would have been a 4 seed if you took this past season’s team and placed them in the year prior, when the section was stronger. When your season ends not going to state, it’s largely forgotten. Winning should be important. Having a winning attitude breeds success.

I agree it takes a strong personality behind the bench to keep things in check. I think it’s why Giles has lasted so long at Edina as he has. He doesn’t put up with the BS. Being a regular at state also helps silence the critics too. It’s a competitive program and I can’t imagine Edina parents are any better than parents at EP. These are programs with a history of winning at various sports and standards are set high. School administration at EP and coaches need to ignore all the “Hockey Momma Drama” that comes with the territory and come to a realization that you can’t please everyone in life, no matter how hard you try. The focus needs to be on the kids and building on the success of the program. There’s things I didn’t like about Twigs coaching approach, but at the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter.

[yesiplayedhockey]

It looks like the perfect storm hit Twiggs

1. He didn't recruit when even schools like Shakopee has figured out that it's the only way to win.
2. He lacked numbers - EP's program has half the kids playing hockey as they did during the Rau, Leddy, Casey era...
3. Did Twiggs ever get to coach a legitimate future NHL player at EP? Did he even have one player that will be a star at the D1 level?
4. He had a group of parents who had a long history of running coaches out of their system (dating back to squirts)
5. He had a new AD "administrator" micromanaging the process while Lee had an AD that turned a blind eye and focused his time on football

EP needs bigger numbers...or much better talent...Or it won't matter who they stick behind the bench

[The51]

It looks like the perfect storm hit Twiggs

1. He didn't recruit when even schools like Shakopee has figured out that it's the only way to win.
2. He lacked numbers - EP's program has half the kids playing hockey as they did during the Rau, Leddy, Casey era...
3. Did Twiggs ever get to coach a legitimate future NHL player at EP? Did he even have one player that will be a star at the D1 level?
4. He had a group of parents who had a long history of running coaches out of their system (dating back to squirts)
5. He had a new AD "administrator" micromanaging the process while Lee had an AD that turned a blind eye and focused his time on football

EP needs bigger numbers...or much better talent...Or it won't matter who they stick behind the bench

A legitimate future NHL player? How many coaches even get that. There are 40 MN born NHLers this year who have played 10 or more games. And those guys are spread out over at least 10 years so 4 a year? And probably half of them didn't even finish their HS career. Gotta be able to win without that.

As for star D1 level players, ever heard Teddy Townsend, Mason Moe or Ryan Koering?

I don't know anything about the current parents I'm sure they're crazy and their numbers are about to drop off a cliff but it is also true that he could have done more with what he had over the course of his time there.

[yesiplayedhockey]

I stand corrected...looking those kids up, I see now that a couple of those kids did actually play a couple years for Twigs before leaving early for juniors.

But can we at least agree that what Twigs was handed roster wise was nothing close to what Lee use to have almost every year...

Twigs did lose kids to juniors (and other programs) where Lee rarely, if ever, did...Is that Twigs fault or not?

[The51]

I stand corrected...looking those kids up, I see now that a couple of those kids did actually play a couple years for Twigs before leaving early for juniors.

But can we at least agree that what Twigs was handed roster wise was nothing close to what Lee use to have almost every year...

Twigs did lose kids to juniors (and other programs) where Lee rarely, if ever, did...Is that Twigs fault or not?

That last question is very important forsure, did he lose kids or did they leave him, who knows. I do agree he definitely had worse rosters than Lee but I think also think they were slightly better than they performed. At the end of the day though I don't think it was so much worse to be forced out, parents are just crazy

[yesiplayedhockey]

I agree..And look at the last four years

Lee is forced out
Kids leaving early, kids moving to other programs...
Twigs is forced out

Doesn't take much to look at the parents and say WHAT

RIP EP....Stick tap to the city...Other than Edina or Hill, it has to be one of the more consistent winning AA programs over the past 20 years

[SpreadOut!]

I think EP is a sinking ship and the powers that be in the program are bitter about it and looking to blame someone, so they are taking it out on Twigs.

The dads of the two best peewee players in EP going into the season—Mike Crowley and Mike Sylvia (who played for Boston University when Crowley played for U of M)—pulled their kids from EP, with Crowley “transferring” to Tonka and Sylvia to Chaska Chanhassen.

The numbers and thus talent at EP are heading south fast. There is zero loyalty anymore in hockey, and some of the biggest name people in MN hockey (like Crowley) are among the least loyal.

The “transfer” culture that has taken hold in MN high school hockey has spread to the youth game. Soon, there will be less than like 5 youth programs and high schools who will be able to win an AA championship in a given year. The select few haves are getting richer, and everyone else is becoming a have not.

[SEC Scotty]

Are their kids any good?

[SpreadOut!]

Are their kids any good?

Yes. Crowley (along with a couple other kids I believe) transferred to Tonka, adding to an already potent lineup for Tonka’s Peewee AA team. They won state last weekend. According to Gamesheet, in the 25 games posted on the app, Crowley had 22 goals and 34 assistants (56 points) in those 25 games.

Sylvia, for ChaskaChan, had 11 goals and 23 assists (34 points) in 37 games posted on the Gamesheet app.