Eden Prairie

[hockeyrube]

xK1,<br><br>Good point - well taken.<br><br>However, a small distinction could be made between Summer "training" vs. AAA tourney teams - in terms of the level of conversation the girls have about playing together - but it's probably not worth any discussion.<br><br>I would just hate to see this "team hopping" expand. While it creates some great opportunities for the player leaving for a better program, it really hurts the other 15-20 girls in the program left behind. <br><br>Rube <p></p><i></i>

[xk1]

I think if a player is on a team with good team chemistry and commitment from the players, coaches and the school admin they will likely stay. When none of those things exist and they are dedicated to the sport, they are likely to find new friends elsewhere and leave. I wish as much time was spent looking at the programs people are leaving as we do at the ones they are going to as the problem.<br>One thing I have discovered is that same lack of support from the school in sports exists on the academic side as well. You will find that some kids open enroll for the wrong reason (sports) but end up finding out it was the right thing to do for academic reasons. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeyrube]

xK1,<br><br>Agree on most counts. However, for an example, how did the Kennedy program fail to provide for the players that left ???<br>Again, I am not trying to criticize these players. Perhaps, GHS wouldn't mind commenting on this given his past involvement in their program ??<br><br>Another example, and one which I would love to hear GHS comments on, is the current program at IGH. GHS speaks highly of the Youth Program at IGH, particularly the U12A team, and I believe has some level of involvement with that group ??? This should in theory strengthen the Simley program in the next 2-5 years, unless of course the star youth players deem the Simley program to be not worthy, and ask their parents to drive them to a better program.<br><br>Again, just a hypothetical - looking for ideas/comments ??<br><br>GHS - always respect your views - any thoughts ??? <p></p><i></i>

[hubbaa]

rube,<br><br>when one can't offer kids stability it is hard for the kids or parents to make a commitment. kennedy couldn't offer that. they get rid of ghs so they can hire a female, the female leaves after one year. so the kids have two coaches in two years. two coaches that were well liked. so what do they expect next? that was an easy decision for most involved.<br><br>igh has different problems. the city has many good athletes and some money. put that together with an education that is seen as lacking and the kids or parents transfer them out. i would expect this to continue in the future.. <p></p><i></i>

[xk1]

In addition to the coaching situation described, many of the players were not all that interested in hockey other than to get their Letter jackets for showing up. Every coach their tried to set up a summer program to develop the players but had to cancel it due to lack of interest. Many of the parents were more interested in getting their kids out of U12B and into the HS program in order to save money. Did any of you look at their roster this year? An often overlooked fact here is that of the 5 players that left, three actually lived on the Jefferson side. Bloomington girls youth hockey is a co-op. These kids wanted to keep their U12A State team together and repeat at the HS level but the unstable environment created by the BK admin as well the an inadequate acadmnic situation spawned the exodus. Stop trying to blame EP for BKs mistakes. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... xk1>xk1</A> at: 2/27/06 11:28 am<br></i>

[hockeyrube]

Okay,<br><br>So they just wanted to get away from a bad situation at BK..<br>and the youth program is a co-op program....<br><br>Then why didn't they open enroll at Jefferson ??? <br><br>We all know the answer to that question ..<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[xk1]

One of the Jefferson side kids did go back to Jefferson. One moved to Eagan, the other actually left for academic reasons, in spite of what you would like to believe. The BK kids really didn't have that much of a connection to the current BJ squad. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... xk1>xk1</A> at: 2/27/06 12:09 pm<br></i>

[hockeygymnast]

As Patrick Reusse says, fans just cheer for laundry (jerseys). It doesn't matter who is in the jerseys. Unless the transfer rule is changed, transfers will continue to gravitate to the top programs. Somewhat curious situation at SSP; their youth program has been dwindling for many years - reason for dropping down to A. However, without their transfers, they would not have been the force they have been over the last couple years. Do they expect the transfer pipeline to dry up? That possibility seems to be a more likely reason for opting down to A. <p></p><i></i>

[hubbaa]

gymnast,<br><br>your question implies that the school knows what to expect as far as the number of transfers coming into the school that will elect to specifically play girls hockey. i don't think that is predictable.<br><br>it was based on enrollment of the school, not relying on an imaginary situation. <p></p><i></i>

[New Person]

xk1,<br>I'm not sure how you are getting your information but you might want to check your source. <br>First about the girls just wanting letter jackets very sad thing to say about girls who worked very hard.<br>Second the reason the summer programs did not work is because many of the girls were involed in AAA or ODP so they did not have time to attend any activties put on by the high school. <br>Third one of the 5 that left was not even on the u12A team.<br>Fourth not sure who the u12B player was your were talking about.<br>Fifth I would like to defend Kennedy's academics. We have two other children who have recieved wonderful academic scholorships to two different colleges. You can't tell me Kennedy does not have great academics.<br>As a parent of a Kennedy player I want to say we are not bitter about the girls leaving. We were very sad and it was a very difficult year but our girls grew and learned a lot about themselves. We also now have a wonderful coach who has helped these girls threw a hard time. I think the girls that stayed are much stronger people for it and they grew in character. Everyone has to do what they feel is right. I just think it is unfair to say Kennedy is not a quality school.<br><br>So as everyone is blasting Kennedy just think about what your program would have been like if you would have lost 5 great palyers. Would they still be able to say their daughter still loves to play hockey. I can honestly say my daughter still LOVES to play hockey. She has played from the time she was 10 yrs and she will finish when she is a senior. <br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... n@mnhs>New Person</A> at: 2/27/06 3:01 pm<br></i>

[hockeyrube]

kudos to the kids that stayed with the BK program. They may not have a State Champ medal, but they have their sense of pride, and did a heck of a job this year considering what was left after the exodus.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[xk1]

New P...<br>I am referring to the state of affairs a year ago. <br>In fact the girls attrnding AAA and CODP events were often the only ones to show up for coach Slominski.<br>This is not the place to call out players names. Perhaps you can start with the group of girls that chose to bypass U15 to sit on the bench on HS and then complain to admin about not getting play time.<br>Kennedy does provide some very good academics, they just don't provide it to all of the students that need it. Talk to your teachers, they are the source.<br>You have had three wonderful coaches in three years. I think the current one will stick and turn your program around. I am sure your team has grown a lot this year and is something to be proud of. <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

I think 2006 EP is one of the best ever. Keep in mind that many of the "best ever" weren't homegrown. I think EP has team speed & D that is unmatched by all except a select few in the history of the girls game.<br><br>EP is AAA like in some respects. This I can't deny.<br><br>I fear that AAA hockey would kill the HS game as we know it if it was done year round by more teams. We feared privates, and now open enrollment, would kill HS sports. We also feared that Juniors would kill boys hockey at one time, but we found a solution for that. Similarly, we need to embrace Before & After and Summer AAA teams if they can be used to keep players as much as possible on their home area teams. We have to keep in mind though that there will still be transfers due to the fact that some situations don't meet some criteria for certain players.<br><br>We don't want to see HS hockey go the route of HS gymnastics or soccer. We don't want to see the best kids not participate, or be waiting for the "real" season to come around (AAA - Summer).<br><br>I think AAA hockey does result in some transfers. I think NDP, CODP, STP, OS, Model Camp, FR/SO camp, Jr. Fest, MN Selects, etc, etc. contribute their share too.<br><br>Legally I can't speak about the specifics of my former coaching stop due to the circumstances of my departure and what transpired after that point in time (it's all been settled now)... I can say that I think that the current Kennedy coach is great, as were all former coaches there! I'm looking forward to seeing the Bloomington programs do some wonderful things and I hear that there are FIVE teams of mite girls in Bloomington this year due to great recruiting efforts!!!<br><br>I can speak to the IGH situation. I was warned about academic concerns surrounding the school before I applied. I've been very happy to see great improvements in the little time that I've been w/IGH. Building upgrades/referendums, test scores on par or above neighboring communities, some positive change administratively with not only words - but also actions - moving towards improvement, and - most telling for my biased concerns - I've watched two HUGE classes of hockey playing seniors get very good ACT/SAT scores and move on to college and transition successfully - including a few VERY amazing scholars that are simply brilliant (academic scholars). Granted, these kids weren't all-star hockey players (but were decent), but they are getting it done in the classroom while also participating in extra-curricular activities.<br><br>I pulled the GPA/Honor Roll for 6-12th grade, and found that - for example - IGH has 12 of 14 6th grade Hockey playing girls on the A honor roll or higher (4.0) - and many are just a fraction off the perfect 4.0. 6th grade isn't that challenging I know, but this is a great thing for the U12's that are also quite solid hockey players. If nothing else, they should win some academic sections and state championships - but I think they could win some on the ice as well...<br><br>In the HS, I see that 17 of 25 made the honor roll, and we also have our share of NHS kids. I also spend time working with the kids that have academic needs, and we stress the importance of academics - to the point where we will help tutor, intervene @ school as coaches to help kids as needed, etc. It's not uncommon for a player to come to my office at the rink asking as often about hockey as they do about AP chemistry, geometry, physics, calculus, etc. We'll even try some foreign language - but it's been a while... I should have been a teacher... I just don't tutor English/grammar for reasons that can likely be seen in my writing here!<br><br>This all being said, the first question I ask is which kids will leave/transfer. It may be that we lose a lot - but I doubt it. A few most definitely will go, but that's as the siblings are all private school kids, etc.<br><br>I think I finally have started to figure out why some leave IGH open enrollment wise though. I think for many, their parents/relatives grew up in SSP and moved W/SW to bigger homes etc. as time went on. Many of these people want to send their kids back to their alma mater @ SSP which is understandable as there are some unique and strong academic offerings there that aren't offered elsewhere in any of the surrounding communities. SSP has really had an "if you build it, they will come" mentality in this respect, and I think that this is amazing considering how this is also something that helps attract students - in addition to a unique foreign language program I believe??? - and the parochial private in SSP helps attract kids too as I was told early on by informed sources on this board. Hockey alone isn't the draw to SSP. I was stunned to find out how many STUDENTS (read as not necessarily athletes) come from outside SSP... this is not an "athlete only" phenomenon... <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeyfan</A> at: 2/28/06 12:08 am<br></i>

[Hockey29]

No one from chaska is going there. I've heard rumors too, and none of them are true.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[Parents Keep Away]

Just a question… How do you think EP would have done without transfers. They only had 2 goals in the tournament and EP would have won, the game, with out them. <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

EP has a great homegrown core, but the transfers helped. I don't believe you can easily determine how they would have done without the transfers, as all players are a big part of a team's success no matter if they are on the ice getting points, or setting up plays that lead to points, keeping the other team off the board, etc.<br><br>W/o the transfers EP wouldn't have likely been talked about as the "best team ever." I will say that.<br><br>Good? Yes.<br>Great? Maybe.<br>Could have made it through sections? Maybe.<br>Won state? Not certain - possible though (anyone that makes it through 6 has a good chance!).<br>Best ever? Not w/o the transfers. <p></p><i></i>

[g31]

GHS<br><br>I would like to differ on your opinion.<br><br>Good YES<br>Great NO<br>Sections NO<br>State Definetly not<br>Best ever? Not with out the transfers<br><br>With EP's homegrown talent they would have been a good team, certainly not a great one. Next year will be the same result a state championship now that Ludwigson is confirmed to be going to EP. There is not anyone who will stop them. Just maybe some of the parents from the youth program or JV that will not get to play varsity in the next coulpe years. Is this about a coach who only plays 14 skaters when he could have 18?<br>Here we go!<br>EP repeats in 2007<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[norconboy]

is ep the last of the oe super teams? the hs league may finally stand up and stop the making the of over inflated egos of parents and prima donnas. changes may be in the winds! <p></p><i></i>

[hockeygymnast]

Norconboy - good moniker. Anyone under 35 or so know what norcon refers to? <p></p><i></i>