WBL VFW State Champs!

[troll21]

If you want to call me a moron for providing the facts so be it. I provided a link for your review if you truly think this is considered a MNHOCKEY state tournament. We are all entitled to our opinions but read the facts.<br><br>As I and others have stated before, I am not taking away the accomplishment the winning teams have done. This tournament is a very prestigous and honorable invitational tournament in the state. The teams that win the tournament are good, I did not say they where not good teams. <br><br>But once again the Bantam A team needs to belong to a VFW POST to participate. According to VFW website, 70 teams where registered with the VFW in year 2000. Current numbers where not available on the website. It's uncertain how many teams, year 2006, belong to a VFW POST. Its uncertain how many are at the Bantam A level in the state of MN as they are not provided on the MNHOCKEY website. I will guess at 100. Therefore, all teams do not participate. I would also assume that there are a number of temas that did not participate in the tourney, unknown why they wouldn't but that is there choice....<br><br>The VFW committee, by reading there rules and regulations, has to apply to MNHOCKEY, just like every association in the state that wants to host a tournament. How the district and regional issues work, I do not know.<br><br>There are a lot of unknwon questions that I can not find or answer. Once again, I am not taking away from the accomplishment of the teams that have participated in or won the tournament. <br><br>FYI - The first VFW Champion was in 1956, Roseau.(www.vfw.state.mn.us website)<br>The First Bantam A state champion under MAHA (According to the MNHOcKEY Handbook)was in 1951, Duluth Glen Avon.<br><br>Remember that area in Duluth? What a power house in the days. I wonder if the chain link fence is still there as a back stop? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... troll21</A> at: 3/29/06 8:58 pm<br></i>

[gc1]

First, I am not buying the word "Invitational". Last time I checked, teams earned there way there through district playoffs. And, No. I do not care about your technical mumbo jumbo. People are on here bashing the VFW State tournament. If that is not your point, then what is your point? <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... nhs>gc1</A> at: 3/29/06 9:36 pm<br></i>

[troll21]

The point I made was the MNHCOKEY lists the state tournaments, see the website under tournaments.<br><br>I understand the process of distrcits and regionals to get to the show but as stated earlier, there is only one state tournament accodring to the MNHOCKEY website handbook.<br><br>I will give in that the VFW posts organize a state wide tournament. Is/ or shall it be recognized at the same level as a MNHOCKEY state tournament? Not my call. Yes it is a championship, and the teams should be proud of the accomplishment. <br><br>I used the word invitational because of information obtained from the website from the MNHOCKEY Handbook. The VFW tournament director needs to apply to MNHOCKEY to host a tournament, just like all other tournaments.<br><br>I did not give an opinion on what "state" should mean. (State has different meanings and interpretations) I only provided the facts about where I received the information. I also, did not discredit or dishonor the VFW, players, or this tournament. <p></p><i></i>

[MNLIGHT39]

Hey puckhead, I’m here, still living, still breathing. Congrats to White Bear on a win in a very highly thought of tournament, for they deserved every right to be in a state tournament, they were a very, very good team. <br><br>I personally, take both sides in this matter. I am not really sure it should be called a state tournament, although you do have to win a district tournament to get there. There are highly competitive teams that participate in this tournament each year. Some of which also were a part of the MAHA state tournament, others who were cheated out of a MAHA state tournament bid due to the ridiculous regioning(White Bear Lake in this year's case) and a few that probably don't belong in a "state tournament". Non the less, it is a great tournament, in a great facility that has a very rich and high thought of past. My only disagreement to it being called a "state tournament" is due to the fact that not all teams in Minnesota participate in the VFW league. All teams do have the right to do so, but not all choose to do so. This in turn is what causes disagreements year upon year as to whether it should really be classified as a state tournament. But, take nothing away from the Bears of White Bear Lake, they deserved to be a part of a state tournament this year and they worked hard to be called the 2006 Minnesota Hockey VFW state champs. Congratulations!<br><br>As for you puckhead, congrats on the state championship as I know you are from Centennial. Deny it all you want, that is fine with me. No need for denying though, you should be proud of your team's accomplishments. Can't really put my finger on as to why you brought me into this conversation. If you were trying to point out that we didn't make it to the VFW state tournament, that in large part would be because at no point during the year did we wear those lovely colorful "VFW" patches on our jerseys due to the fact that we were not a part of the VFW league. Also, I dont recall saying it was not an embarrassing end to a good season considering most kids on the team would describe it in a manor much as you did. A heartless brutal embarrassing end is how I would put it. But, I cannot speak on behalf on the whole team. Once again, congrats on a great season to you puckhead! And to all others who played this year, it was a fun year that many will and should remember for many years to come.<br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... LIGHT39</A> at: 3/29/06 11:33 pm<br></i>

[topshelf27]

The MAHA State Tournament is soooo much more...well...prestigious. It is a tournament where EVERYBODY can make it. Whereas VFW, only sponsored teams can make it. I mean honestly look at the teams at VFW: Breainerd, Alexandria, Buffalo and Red Wing. It is just a sad assortment of teams.<br><br>My team even went to the VFW State Tourneament and I'm still ragging on it. <p></p><i></i>

[WBL11HOCKEY]

A lot of you seem to think that there can only be one state tournament. The point that a lot of you guys are missing is that the VFW state tournament isn't just a random state tournament with some district tournaments to qualify. It is an actual league with its own regular season games too. If the VFW did not have its own regular season then I could see you guys complaining about the state tournament tag. An A bantam team plays around the same amount of games for VFW as they do for MAHA. Nobody is putting the VFW state tournament higher than the MAHA or even at the same level. The VFW state tournament is widely considered to be "not as good" as the MAHA state tournament. If you ask a bunch of players which they would rather win they'd probably say MAHA. A lot of you say that not everybody participates in the VFW league, but nobody has really listed names. Could somebody please name off some teams that they know do not participate in the VFW league. <p></p><i></i>

[troll21]

As stated above, a current list is not available on who is a particpant or sponsored by teh VFW league. <p></p><i></i>

[Crazy7s]

I have seen alot of the VFW league games and it is great hockey. It's nice to see White Bear play against Rochester or Woodbury against Stillwater. Who thinks that is second rate hockey? <p></p><i></i>

[WBL11HOCKEY]

troll21,<br>I wasn't asking for a complete list, but some people are aware that their own team does not participate in VFW or that a neighboring team does not partake in either. I was asking for people to list off teams that they know do not participate. I wasn't asking for a complete list of all teams. Just an idea of what teams don't participate. <p></p><i></i>

[chips]

Teams that do not participate: Burnsville, Edina, Orono, Highland, Forest Lake. Thats all I know of. I am sure there are more from Dist 3. <p></p><i></i>

[ITS AJ LOL]

LOL GUYS WE WON. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/grin.gif ALT=" >D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[Duluthhockeyfan]

District 8<br><br>Baudette<br>International Falls<br>Virgina<br>Eveleth<br>Hibbing<br>Grand Rapids<br>Greenway<br>Cloquet <br>Duluth Lakers<br>Duluth East<br><br>I may be forgetting someone but I think that is pretty close.<br><br>I don't care who you are, that is a good district tournament, I watched it at Mars-Lakeview when it was going on, and it was a good brand of northern hockey. No questions. <p></p><i></i>

[HockeyIsLife508]

Get serious people. Just because all teams in the state cant make it there because they are not in VFW doesnt mean that it shouldnt be considered a "State" tournament. Its not the teams in VFW's fault that other teams arent sponsored. And plus, there was only a handfull of teams that werent in it. Certain years teams are in it and certain years teams arent. But dont let that fact of not all teams participate take away from the teams that do. <br><br>Congrats WBL <p></p><i></i>

[Ram Hockey]

District 9<br><br>Roseau<br>Warroad<br>Theif River Falls<br>Crookston<br>East Grand Forks<br>Moorhead<br>Fergus Falls<br>Bemidji<br>Detroit Lakes<br><br>This pretty much looks like old Section 8 in the good old days before the high school league decided to make everyone winners.<br><br>VFW Posts not only sponsor teams by name but also foot the bill for travel expenses, Equipment and other expenses encountered during the year. Minnesota Hockey on the other hand sits back and collects their lut while the powers that be in the organization polish up thier golf clubs and get ready for their summer meetings.<br><br>As far as the VFW State Tournament not being a real "State" tournament it sounds like those that think that way maybe probably haven't played in one. Ask anyone that has participated in one and they will tell you that it was just as much of an honor as the Minnesota Hockey (MAHA) State Tournament.<br><br>Congratulations to White Bear Lake on thier State Championship and we will see you in Moorhead next year. <br> <p>Ram Hockey</p><i></i>

[tender33]

it is a big deal to play in the VFW state, but to say its just as much of an honor to play in the MAHA hockey tourney is a but over the line <p></p><i></i>

[centerman]

Puckhead you made the following comment, but it doesn't hold much water.<br><br>2006-White Bear Lake, clearly better than every team in the state and could beat Centennial or Edina game to game.<br><br>White Bear was one of the best teams in the state but lost to Edina and Centennial in regions. Sounds like sour grapes to me.<br> <p></p><i></i>

[chips]

Good for you! Please enough already.<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i></i>

[playmaker92]

who do u think the toughest team that wbl played up there i saw that red wing gave up a good fight and not even being in the top 20 lets play hockey rankings.