Direction of Minnesota Hockey

[troll21]

Over the last couple of years we have seen changes in youth hockey that have we like, dislike, or completely don't understand why. What is your feeling or opinion of where we are, compared to 15 years ago? Do you as a member, or fan, of Minnesota hockey feel that your opinion counts in changes that benefit the sport? How do you feel about paying fees that only benefit a small percentage of players? <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

Do you have some examples?<br>Or specific problems? <p></p><i></i>

[troll21]

I was hoping that there would be more discussion about this topic.<br><br>In reading the High school page it appears there are very hot topics that involve players, MN Hockey, and USA Hockey.<br><br>In reading the April District 6 minutes, <br><br>***District 6 **this is not pointed at you. You are the only district to post your minutes and keep individuals updated on what is happening. Thank you.<br><br>The people that fund Minnesota hockey do not get a vote in what is in the best interest of hockey for there local associations. Associations attend a monthly district meeting but it seems pointless as rules and policies are being made as the boys' on the board see fit. There has been no discussion about what local associations think of policies or ideas that are to be voted on. I understand that local associations vote on a district director but his or her point could be completely different of what the associations want. (which is happening some districts). <br><br>More rules and policies are but into place without fixing the current situation. This mentality shows that the individuals who are making rules and policies are runners from problems and not willing to take care of the issue at hand. <br><br>I have heard a rumor that there was no turnover on the MN hockey board. If this is true I am getting tired of individuals that are not looking out for the interests of there customers. Its hard to see positive change when new individuals can not bring ideas forward. <br><br>The there was a topic that has been discussed about not registering with he governing bodies of hockey. The organization that is going forward with, I hope it works. As an active member of coaching in youth hockey for the last 20 years, I am ready to stop shacking my head in disappointment and hang up the laces. <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

Perhaps there has not been a lot of comments here because most people do not come to this site.<br>Perhaps, a post to the hockey site sending people here maybe appropriate.<br><br>In response to some of your comments:<br><br>MN Hockey posts its minutes at their web site.<br>D16 uses a mailing and updates its local assn on all things happening or that may happen and their director specifically asks for oral and written rsponses so he can react based on their wishes. I believe other directors do so also, but I am from 16 and am not always aware of what happens in other districts.<br><br>MN Hockey did host 3 'president meetings' with the express idea of getting feedback from local assn. This was done this past December (I attended 2 of the 3 (at my expense)). It is being planned again.<br><br>The turnover you are referring to were the offices of president, and 2 V-P offices. All incumbants were re-elected. There were others that were nominated, but only one of the nominees was present at the meeting. However; there has been turnover in district director positions. I believe 3 of the 12 directors will be new this year with another 3 that were new last year. You are right that the VP positions tend to fill from within but MN Hockey has posted those positions but people need to come forward if they are to be filled with new people.<br><br>As far as not registering with USA Hockey - the downside is that during the 'hockey season' sanctioned teams cannot play non-sanctioned teams and therefore the number of competitors is limited.<br><br>Again, as I stated in my previous post - what problems, from your view, need to be addressed? What are possible solutions to those problems?<br><br>MN Hockey board cannot address your issues or others if not given the issues. I, for one, am eager to listen, to discuss, and to present solutions.<br><br>Mark Elliott<br>District 16 Director <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... liott70</A> at: 5/21/04 2:08 pm<br></i>

[goldy313]

This is a great topic, it is to bad it is over here on the Cafe, it took me 10 days to stumble into it myself.<br><br>The problems MN hockey faces is that they can't realistically serve two masters. High School hockey is King in Minnesota and nothing USA does will change that. Yet MN hockey has to live under the rules and guidelines of USA hockey. As many on here know I am no fan what so ever of USA hockey and I think MN would be better with out them, after all very, very few teams play anybody outside MN to begin with and all the money sent to USA hockey does not benefit the vast majority of our kids. <br><br>That said USA hockey does some good, they have standardized things like officiating and coaching which does wonders for getting hockey over the hump in places that are new to the sport. However this same standardization has effectively brought MN kids back to the pack by drumming out good coaches and officials who have no desire to follow some of USA hockey's non senseical policies. Like way to many people I have hung up the laces and no longer coach, and put the whistle away and don't ref simply because of all the USA hockey mandates and bureaucracy.<br><br>I'd like to see most of MN hockey pull completely out of USA hockey, we could keep a few "elite"type team in it if we wish, but how does a house league peewee in Anoka benefit at all from USA hockey, or a Bantam A kid from Grand Rapids? The answer in truth is they don't, sure they may get to play a couple of games against kids from Wisconsin or Colorado in a tournament in Edina, but is that what we really need? We have plenty of teams hear to play, don't we? Wouldn't our time, money and effort be better spent on the local level? <br><br>I'd like to see our youth kids play a game that more resembles the high school game, after all that is the pinnacle of most kids hockey career. High school hockey doesn't have the rash changes that USA hockey implements year after year. (ex. the offsides change). It's just my opinion, but I really believe we should be gearing our policies toward making our high school programs stronger and less toward the nationalization of hockey. 95% of our kids never will play past high school and of those that do, we are losing many of them anyway. <br><br>I may have Hooveresque isolationism here, but hey, I'm allowed my opinion too. <p></p><i></i>

[hockeydad]

Goldy<br>I see your point about getting most of MN out of USA Hockey, but if we keep just a few elite teams, as you suggest, and have the rest all be town teams, aren't we just moving the problem of kids leaving their high schools to play on better teams down to the association level...I can see it now. Johnny's dad think Johnny (a second year squirt) isn't getting the honors he deserves, so the next year he bypasses the local association and goes on to play for the elite triple A team based in a rink 20 miles down the road. By the time he gets to high school, he has no allegiance whatsoever to any group of kids. I think it will make the problem of high school transfers even worse than it is now. <br> <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

I think the questin is, 'what is the benefit derived from USA Hockey?' and then, 'how else can that be filled?' if we are not part of USA Hockey.<br><br>The unfortunate part is that you must be part of USA Hockey to play against other USA Hockey sanctioned teams and this is very improtant for border cities. Up north we play in (and they play here) Canada and North Dakota quite frequently. That would mean those teams would have to follow us in leaving the umbrella of the national orgainzation. <br><br>There is also the issues of 1) insurance and 2) participation at national level for those elite players.<br><br>I think what MN Hockey has to do and has done is select what parts of USA Hockey fit what we are doing and discard those parts that do not fit - BUT the Board has to stay in tune with the local associatons to know what is important. That step has been taken but it is necessary for it to continue.<br><br>And that is why local associations and individuals need to provide feedback to district directors and othe rboard members. As a board member it is easy to forget where you came from. <p></p><i></i>

[elliott70]

goldy, troll & hockeydad<br>As a MN hockey board member - thanks for the comments. <p></p><i></i>