Girls HS Hockey in Major Decline

[Lace'emUp]

Not sure which teams you are watching "great one"... The best metro teams are deep as hell with multiple scoring threats on at least two line.

I think you can look at your so called "deep teams" and see there is one or two players with all the goals and the rest are single digit points. And these two players always happen to be on the same line, easy to shut down if a coach implores the strategy.

Stats don't lie

Instead of using the term "deep", lets use the term "ranked" teams. Of the ranked AA teams, 16 of the 20 teams have 3 or more players who are double-digits goals (10 of 20 had 4), and all 20 had at least 6 players with double-digit points. Looking at the top 10 in single-A, 8 of 10 teams have at 3 or more players with double-digit goals, and all had at least 6 with double-digit points.

So to have only a couple players who score all the goals on a ranked team is the exception to the rule. Some of the exceptions are Eastview who relies heavily on Sondgrass, Mound View relying on Brodt/Anderson, Red Wing with Heise/Hardyman, and Hughes/Linser who do everything for Centennial.

Ironically, in Section 3AA tomorrow night, #1 seed Eastview (#19 ranked) plays #2 seed Eagan (#16 ranked). Eastview beat Eagan in both regular season matchups. Can Snodgrass do it again (4 goals in the earlier games)? Likewise, in Section 5AA, #2 Centennial (#10 ranked) plays #3 Blaine (#7 ranked). Centennial (2 players) beat Blaine (deep team) in both conference games. Hughes/Linser did all the scoring. Will a deeper bench finally win out, or will 1 or 2 players do it all again?

In games versus highly ranked teams, it appears one or two top end players win-out over a balanced or deep team. Snodgrass with the game tying and winning goals for her hat trick versus Eagan in the section final last night. 7 goals in 3 games. Though Eagan had a big edge on shots, they could not stop or clear-out Snodgrass.

In the 5AA semi the other night, though they didn't get the game winner, the Hughes/Linser show scored 2 of Centennial's 3 goals to defeat Blaine for a 3rd straight time this year. They had 9 of the 10 goals in the 3 game series. Penalties killed Blaine in the 2nd game, and it did them in again for the section semi-final. Blaine had a deep team with a lot of balanced scoring. But self-discipline got the best of them, and it doesn't appear the coaching staff could find a strategy to stop arguably best 1-2 tandem in the state.

So the origination of my post was in response to the claim that deep teams have only one or two top scoring players, with all others in single-digit points. That account was incorrect - using Blaine, Maple Grove, or many other ranked teams as examples of deep scoring with many in double-digit points. Also incorrect was that coaches can find strategies to stop these top players. A deep team with 2 good lines and 1 decent line cannot roll and match 3 lines well with a team that has a line consisting of one or two top end players (because they go every-other shift).

Let's see if Maple Grove's deep team can edge out Centennial as they did early this year. Or will Maple Grove's bad luck in section play continue over from their time in 6AA? If Maple Grove sticks to their game, and plays good team hockey, they should win this game. But it's all about team play, and coaches taking advantage of defensive mismatches on the ice. It's the only way to beat a team like Centennial (that's what Blake did). Teams like Blaine lost their composure and allowed 2 players to get the best of them for most of the year.

It's section finals time! Let's have fun watching and discussing these games before this board goes into deep sleep for 7 months.

[MN_Bowhunter]

Going forward ... Thurs SPU vs SSP game .. the prediction model say a 5 goal differential in favor of SPU. After watching SSP vs MAHT I have to say that I was impressed by the disciplined style of hockey that SSP played. My gut feeling says that SPU vs SSP is going to be much closer than what my computer program outputs. Going out on a limb here, but this could be a one goal game, if SSP plays the same style of game and keeps it close into the 3rd period. Lightning might strike again. Good luck to both teams.

Palmquist's teams always play their best hockey at sections and last night was no exception. Say what you want about the guy (and I do), he gets the most out of his teams year in and year out.

[massalsa]

I think that the Centennial vs MG game is the key to me winning this contest! Go Red (not Crimson)!

/\ /\ /\ Sorry wrong thread on that comment...thought it was the AA sectional thread!

Speaking of scorers and deep teams it seems like the best teams are both deep (at least 2 lines) and have that 1 or 2 players that put them over the top.

Centennial has the top 2 then solid two lines + D.

Minnetonka is very solid (probably 3 lines) without Norby but she puts them over the top against most teams.

Breck is solid for two lines but has Zumwinkle + Breza providing LOTS of their offense.

Blake has tons of goals from Bullock but very spread out after that. Bullock scores 3x+ more than anyone else (where does the scoring come from next year?).

Edina has a couple of solid lines with 3 or so scoring the majority of their goals.

Maple Grove is very solid with Wente scoring the most by almost 2x.

EP has Rogge scoring almost 2x more than the next best but a couple of higher scoring D.

Eastview has Snodgrass with almost 3x goals over the next player.

Hill is pretty deep everywhere scoring wise. Probably because they have a slightly weaker SOS than some on the west side but also because they are really good. Feels like they might decide in between periods who is going to score next period. Their PP is deadly.

[itsfoilcoach]

Going forward ... Thurs SPU vs SSP game .. the prediction model say a 5 goal differential in favor of SPU. After watching SSP vs MAHT I have to say that I was impressed by the disciplined style of hockey that SSP played. My gut feeling says that SPU vs SSP is going to be much closer than what my computer program outputs. Going out on a limb here, but this could be a one goal game, if SSP plays the same style of game and keeps it close into the 3rd period. Lightning might strike again. Good luck to both teams.

Palmquist's teams always play their best hockey at sections and last night was no exception. Say what you want about the guy (and I do), he gets the most out of his teams year in and year out.

With 7th and 8th graders playing a team like SPU and making a fun game out of it, I agree with you. Good goaltending and playoff hockey brings out the best in his kids every year. I coached high school back in 97 to the early 2000s. Even back then we didn't like playing that school. There is a reason he has over 500+ wins I guess.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Going forward ... Thurs SPU vs SSP game .. the prediction model say a 5 goal differential in favor of SPU. After watching SSP vs MAHT I have to say that I was impressed by the disciplined style of hockey that SSP played. My gut feeling says that SPU vs SSP is going to be much closer than what my computer program outputs. Going out on a limb here, but this could be a one goal game, if SSP plays the same style of game and keeps it close into the 3rd period. Lightning might strike again. Good luck to both teams.

Palmquist's teams always play their best hockey at sections and last night was no exception. Say what you want about the guy (and I do), he gets the most out of his teams year in and year out.

With 7th and 8th graders playing a team like SPU and making a fun game out of it, I agree with you. Good goaltending and playoff hockey brings out the best in his kids every year. I coached high school back in 97 to the early 2000s. Even back then we didn't like playing that school. There is a reason he has over 500+ wins I guess.

That's kind of disingenuous IMHO. They only have one 7th grader getting appreciable ice time. She's impressive.

[Tigers33]

How many of those kids are actually from south St. Paul?

[thegreatone99]

How many of those kids are actually from south St. Paul?

all of them, they played hard

[thegreatone99]

One solution is to do what Ej at Minnetonka has done. He has removed all private schools from his schedule and will not play them in the future. I have mixed emotions because my daughter has to miss the opportunity to play some great teams. I have not yet decided how I feel about it, but, I do appreciate the fact that he took a stance and acted on it.

Yes, a few unexpected players have crossed his door step, but it pales in comparison to what he has lost over the years. Dozens of players to privates and even girls on team USA. A lot of Blakes roster is from Edina..UGH would they be good.

Wayzata has lost several Miss Hockey's such as Chute and Camoranesi and dozens more. EP has been decimated losing Bullock, Lund, Burke, etc..etc just in the past 2 years. Without a doubt these schools would have more banners if they did not lose these kids to privates.

HOWEVER...is the solution to stockpile 5 great public schools, and bury the remaining publics and privates? I don't think so. As silly as it sounds, I think the privates are actually balancing the competition in the cities not hurting it. Yes the privates are hot right now, but as with everything there is eb and flow and times will change. And last, if we banned these private demons from our (public) home grown country club, where do you think these kids would start showing up? Edina, Tonka, Stillwater, Blaine, etc.

Good for Ej for not whining and acting out what he feels is right! HM has cost my daughter a State Championship and possibly two if we're blessed. But I for one would like to hop in the ring and take a swing rather than have the belt handed to me! The Championship last year was a great game and HM was deserving!

With all that said, the privates are fine...but yes they all should be AA with the option to petition to play down to A.

Hats off to tonka taking a stance if they truly have. Personally I think all these teams are afraid to lose to a class A team versus trying to penalize them. I would prefer to see these privates all play up like Hill does. Instead of trying to dominate the Class A tourney like what is happening now. Their rosters and results show they can compete very easily. Remember there is zero checking in the girls game, so this makes it very easy to compete with the bigger schools, especially when you have a couple of ringers who will just take the puck coast to coast and score. That would never happen on the boys side. Or be able to have the success with one - half lines and three D.

The same issue that plagued St Thomas for years is the same issue plaguing the girls side now with Breck and Blake. If you have rosters with players who recently participated in USA hockey tourney's, why the heck are you playing single A? If Breck and Blake moved up the big five can compete for the metro wide bragging rights which I am sure if you asked the girls, they would prefer. Otherwise they would not have schedules dominated with AA opponents so they can have the best of both worlds. But at the end of the year still call themselves Champions by winning the Class A tourney.

As I stated in a earlier post, we all know recruiting just doesn't happen at Blake or Breck with generous financial aid packages for those skilled enough to command one... Recruiting and move-ins happen at the big 5 too. Is this a by-product from all the political summer teams girls play on together and then decide to play at certain schools? Even with tonka, I think he has only lost one player that currently plays at Breck and your mention to USA hockey. But he captured two move-ins (without knowing the stats - could be wrong) who score 95% of their team's goals this year. If these two were not on his team, I do not think they would be having the same success. So the cupboard is not bare for him either or their program. He should just go ahead and play them unless he is afraid of losing to a stocked Class A team. I appreciate his stance, but this appears to be "calling the kettle black" when he has received the same benefits of coaching at a school/program where kids come to play hockey, recruited or not.

Leave the Class A tourney for the Hibbings or TRFs of the world, where it actually means something to the community.

These are some of the key reasons why in five years you will have a major decline except for the five metro programs who will always be the haves. Is the girl's game even part of Hockey Day MN this year? That says a lot where the game is headed and by the time MSHSL reacts, it will be too late.

Well I can't say I did not see that coming, but really the "have and have nots"? The "AAA programs"? "The people in the know"? Ick! I am humored and saddened by your ignorance. But, just watch the news and I see 50 of you every night.

Ej's stance on privates is not a maybe but fact.

Afraid to play A's? The last time we played A's in a sanctioned game we beat Blake 7-1 and 4-2 in the last game of the year. Both those years Blake were State Champs in A. And we still play Warroad. So your fear of A's must lie in the loins of your program.

Breck does not have 1 but 2 (3 this year and last) girls from Tonka and that does not include BSM, Holy Family and Blake.

I have one of those political summer teams. We recruit kids and cut parents so you would be out!

One and half lines and 3 D? We have Hudl, I would bet almost every team we have played this year has gone shorter than us, so if you would like to sit down and watch.. PM me, rather than argue with you I will just show you. But you have to promise me you won't complain about us editing the tapes a little (us big wigs have people)

It is not the "pot calling the kettle black", as I stated above, Ej has had a couple girls come in but I can assure you the numbers he loses far out weighs the numbers he gained. And he has only had one "transfer" since I've been here in 4 1/2 years. Unless, under your parameters on my 13 year old daughter that moved here when my wife got transferred. (I will double check the MSHL rules and see what there rules are on a 4'4", 80 pd, 13 year old still in Jr high falls under)

Leave the the A tourney for Hibbing and TRF's where it means something? I think all hockey parents want it. Being a hockey parent is a thankless, expensive, time consuming and WONDERFUL thing. And anyone that stays the course through high school I would bet it means a lot!

And last..the people in "the know"? I know a lot and I mean a lot of girls state and nation wide who have moved around, showed up at "different" high schools. 95% of them you never hear about, why, because if the don't have so called "success" nobody cares. Do you care about the Ok player that illegally moves from Cambridge to Princeton after you drub Princeton 10-0? Of course you don't!

After 4 years I have figured it out! We just need to get rid of "A" and "AA" and have 2 tiers. One for the "Haves" and one for the "Have Nots". I will leave that up to the Great one to decide who is in each. (Fyi, I think I have like $8 dollars in my wallet if it matters) Peace!

Oh sorry one more thing..did I just get reeled in on my own lure? Perhaps it is I who is the biggest fish??

I guess you don't have to worry anymore, maybe you can start a forum for Mad Town girls

[Lace'emUp]

I think that the Centennial vs MG game is the key to me winning this contest! Go Red (not Crimson)!

/\ /\ /\ Sorry wrong thread on that comment...thought it was the AA sectional thread!

Speaking of scorers and deep teams it seems like the best teams are both deep (at least 2 lines) and have that 1 or 2 players that put them over the top.

Centennial has the top 2 then solid two lines + D.

Minnetonka is very solid (probably 3 lines) without Norby but she puts them over the top against most teams.

Breck is solid for two lines but has Zumwinkle + Breza providing LOTS of their offense.

Blake has tons of goals from Bullock but very spread out after that. Bullock scores 3x+ more than anyone else (where does the scoring come from next year?).

Edina has a couple of solid lines with 3 or so scoring the majority of their goals.

Maple Grove is very solid with Wente scoring the most by almost 2x.

EP has Rogge scoring almost 2x more than the next best but a couple of higher scoring D.

Eastview has Snodgrass with almost 3x goals over the next player.

Hill is pretty deep everywhere scoring wise. Probably because they have a slightly weaker SOS than some on the west side but also because they are really good. Feels like they might decide in between periods who is going to score next period. Their PP is deadly.

Don't forget about Blaine, they had 6 players with 20+ points, and if you include section playoffs, they had 3 players with 40+ points.

I slightly disagree with you on Centennial. They did not have 2 solid lines, they had 2 great players on one solid line along with 4 good defenseman and a solid senior goalie. Penalties overshadowed scoring for the 2nd/3rd lines, especially in the section games. 14 minor penalties over the 3 games with 2 minors directly leading to Maple Grove power play goals last night. As a team, they led the state in the section playoffs with 21 minors.

A couple other teams that cannot be forgotten about are Elk River and Forest Lake. Again, if you include playoff points, both had 6 players each who had 20+ points this year. New Prague has 3 nice players, and if you want to go out-state, look at how deep Warroad is, along with TRF.

[itsfoilcoach]

State tourney brackets are out. Need I say more. Yup those games are awesome. Spur a lot of interest here. Those kids from Laverne going to state for the first time got a pretty easy draw. A private AA ( I mean A. apologies) team out of the gates. See all the hard work pays off for those kids. So it should be a close one. Well worth my trip from International Falls.

Hold on, if that's not enough to keep your interest...well the old heart be still. SPU and Alex. Once these play out I wounder what teams will be playing in the final this year. Hard to call...

[thegreatone99]

State tourney brackets are out. Need I say more. Yup those games are awesome. Spur a lot of interest here. Those kids from Laverne going to state for the first time got a pretty easy draw. A private AA ( I mean A. apologies) team out of the gates. See all the hard work pays off for those kids. So it should be a close one. Well worth my trip from International Falls.

Hold on, if that's not enough to keep your interest...well the old heart be still. SPU and Alex. Once these play out I wounder what teams will be playing in the final this year. Hard to call...

It is going to be a classic, can't wait. Northfield, New Prague, Proctor are "true" class A teams and all nice teams. I have not seen Alex or Luverne so can not comment on them. Or Warroad either. A tourney full of the likes like NP, Northfield are all pretty equal and would definitely make for some compelling games.

Like everyone, I am really hoping for a full on private class A championship game. This will be so great, let's go Bears!

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

State tourney brackets are out. Need I say more. Yup those games are awesome. Spur a lot of interest here. Those kids from Laverne going to state for the first time got a pretty easy draw. A private AA ( I mean A. apologies) team out of the gates. See all the hard work pays off for those kids. So it should be a close one. Well worth my trip from International Falls.

Hold on, if that's not enough to keep your interest...well the old heart be still. SPU and Alex. Once these play out I wounder what teams will be playing in the final this year. Hard to call...

It is going to be a classic, can't wait. Northfield, New Prague, Proctor are "true" class A teams and all nice teams. I have not seen Alex or Luverne so can not comment on them. Or Warroad either. A tourney full of the likes like NP, Northfield are all pretty equal and would definitely make for some compelling games.

Like everyone, I am really hoping for a full on private class A championship game. This will be so great, let's go Bears!

Define "true" lmao

[thegreatone99]

[/quote] Define "true" lmao[/quote]

NTM you know the answer you just love reading it You mean a "true" Class A team is a team that is not cobbled together, community based, girls have played together since mites.

Come early, come all, be the first to see the new sequel in the Trilogy of action films Private versus Private. Siskel and Ebert; "you can't cobble together a better cast than this" Coming to a rink near you. The Premier of BIG PRIVATE LOVE FEST.. Private screening @ 2:00 pm Sat 2/20.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Define "true" lmao[/quote]

NTM you know the answer you just love reading it You mean a "true" Class A team is a team that is not cobbled together, community based, girls have played together since mites.

Come early, come all, be the first to see the new sequel in the Trilogy of action films Private versus Private. Siskel and Ebert; "you can't cobble together a better cast than this" Coming to a rink near you. The Premier of BIG PRIVATE LOVE FEST.. Private screening @ 2:00 pm Sat 2/20.[/quote]

Just wanted you to confirm that before pointing out that nearly all of these 16 state entries have players who didn't come up with the girls they are playing hs hockey with now, including 2 of the "true" teams you call out in your post. But I get it, you only take in the "facts" that support your own position.

[nu2hockey]

It is going to be a classic, can't wait. Northfield, New Prague, Proctor are "true" class A teams and all nice teams. I have not seen Alex or Luverne so can not comment on them. Or Warroad either. A tourney full of the likes like NP, Northfield are all pretty equal and would definitely make for some compelling games.

Like everyone, I am really hoping for a full on private class A championship game. This will be so great, let's go Bears!

Still clueless as ever...heck Proctor/Hermantown had two girls from Duluth move/transfer in, one being Duluth's top player last year, unfortunately for her, the move wasn't handled right, so she spends her junior year on JV.

A true A team there, you betcha

[thegreatone99]

Define "true" lmao

NTM you know the answer you just love reading it You mean a "true" Class A team is a team that is not cobbled together, community based, girls have played together since mites.

Come early, come all, be the first to see the new sequel in the Trilogy of action films Private versus Private. Siskel and Ebert; "you can't cobble together a better cast than this" Coming to a rink near you. The Premier of BIG PRIVATE LOVE FEST.. Private screening @ 2:00 pm Sat 2/20.[/quote]

Just wanted you to confirm that before pointing out that nearly all of these 16 state entries have players who didn't come up with the girls they are playing hs hockey with now, including 2 of the "true" teams you call out in your post. But I get it, you only take in the "facts" that support your own position.[/quote]

You are right, we are getting recruited by Northfield and intend to make the big move so we can play in state next year as a disguised AA team playing A level

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Perfect. Another post that doesn't address the facts that prove you wrong. Nu2, I'm sure your comment will be ignored as well.

Good luck in Northfield! Maybe you can pad the goalie stats there too.

This thread has disintegrated beyond redemption. Good luck to all the teams next week!

[thegreatone99]

Perfect. Another post that doesn't address the facts that prove you wrong. Nu2, I'm sure your comment will be ignored as well.

Good luck in Northfield! Maybe you can pad the goalie stats there too.

This thread has disintegrated beyond redemption. Good luck to all the teams next week!

You are really going to use Duluth and Proctor as your beacon to prove what B&B does is right. Not ignoring your comments, but pretty lame analysis and comparison, but have to answer so you know I the THEGREATONE is not ignoring your posts. Even if Proctor and Duluth co-op'd they would still have competitive issues with the larger cobbled together metro powers. And if true as you stated there was a botched up move and the girl is on JV that is unfortunate. Based on what the metro powers do, they should have allowed her to play on Varsity. How many botched moves have their been between all the five metro powers and the fluid changing of rosters between private to public back to private

Nice try though. You should change your moniker to "thehockeywizard"

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Perfect. Another post that doesn't address the facts that prove you wrong. Nu2, I'm sure your comment will be ignored as well.

Good luck in Northfield! Maybe you can pad the goalie stats there too.

This thread has disintegrated beyond redemption. Good luck to all the teams next week!

You are really going to use Duluth and Proctor as your beacon to prove what B&B does is right. Not ignoring your comments, but pretty lame analysis and comparison, but have to answer so you know I the THEGREATONE is not ignoring your posts. Even if Proctor and Duluth co-op'd they would still have competitive issues with the larger cobbled together metro powers. And if true as you stated there was a botched up move and the girl is on JV that is unfortunate. Based on what the metro powers do, they should have allowed her to play on Varsity. How many botched moves have their been between all the five metro powers and the fluid changing of rosters between private to public back to private

Nice try though. You should change your moniker to "thehockeywizard"

Um, I didn't say any of that. Nu2 used that team as 1 example. You are just generalizing about "five metro powers" and "botched moves" without knowing any specifics or having a single example. I don't justify what Blake is "doing" if by "doing" you mean staying at A. But bringing girls together to form a talented team that BY DEFINITION can never be home grown because it has no affiliated youth program, well no justification is needed. "Fluid changing of rosters" is a ridiculous allegation. Whatever legitimate beef you started with in your crusade against Breck and Blake has turned into this incredibly bold untruth.

[thegreatone99]

[/quote] Um, I didn't say any of that. Nu2 used that team as 1 example. You are just generalizing about "five metro powers" and "botched moves" without knowing any specifics or having a single example. I don't justify what Blake is "doing" if by "doing" you mean staying at A. But bringing girls together to form a talented team that BY DEFINITION can never be home grown because it has no affiliated youth program, well no justification is needed. "Fluid changing of rosters" is a ridiculous allegation. Whatever legitimate beef you started with in your crusade against Breck and Blake has turned into this incredibly bold untruth.[/quote]

As long as you believe in your heart the best thing to overcome the apathy and declining numbers in girls hockey now and the best way to promote it is to have teams like B & B take a team like Luverne, then all is good. Because I know the girls in Luverne have the same resources and pool of players and recruiting opportunities that are enjoyed by St Thomas, oops I mean B&B.

And to make it clear, I hope for some great games and some great experiences for all the girls participating in this week's tourney except for B. I hope Warroad or someone can take them out like TRF did last year.

[itsfoilcoach]

It is going to be a classic, can't wait. Northfield, New Prague, Proctor are "true" class A teams and all nice teams. I have not seen Alex or Luverne so can not comment on them. Or Warroad either. A tourney full of the likes like NP, Northfield are all pretty equal and would definitely make for some compelling games.

Like everyone, I am really hoping for a full on private class A championship game. This will be so great, let's go Bears!

Still clueless as ever...heck Proctor/Hermantown had two girls from Duluth move/transfer in, one being Duluth's top player last year, unfortunately for her, the move wasn't handled right, so she spends her junior year on JV.

A true A team there, you betcha

So nu2basketball - Have you asked if you can join those boards yet. Your insight would be more valuable there. Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity... Throw in in your arrogance and you can figure out why some of your comments are ignored. I think you say things just to bait people out there, you know the proverbial stir the pot type of guy. The hypocrisy of where you stand on these issues stands with out solid reasoning. The stir the pot explanation is the only viable explanation...and I took the bait.

[EPIC97]

Just an FYI.
Every kid on the Eden Prairie Roster played youth hockey for Eden Prairie.
It is possible if you put the time into your association and on the ice with every age group and keep them moving forward.
Sorry, I forgot we are the Hav's so probably doesn't count for much because we paid to train harder.

[thegreatone99]

Just an FYI.
Every kid on the Eden Prairie Roster played youth hockey for Eden Prairie.
It is possible if you put the time into your association and on the ice with every age group and keep them moving forward.
Sorry, I forgot we are the Hav's so probably doesn't count for much because we paid to train harder.

Actually EPIC, I congratulate your team and wish your girls the best this week. You have done everything right as you stated and do have a home grown team in spite of your changing demographics within the EP school system, hats off to your club. There is nothing wrong with your success, and how it should be. You are like the FL Rangers, and it is the clubs like yours I root for, ones that are home grown. More success stories like these get overshadowed by the win at all costs mentality of a select few who throw it in our faces having to watch them. It is the schools like FL, New Prague, Northfield, EP that make it a fun tourney. The others can go play with SSM @ Nationals.

It appears Cam Newton (36) still has not recovered from the devastating loss.

[EPIC97]

No No No!!!!
Don't throw me in with your angst for 36.
I for one wish more people were as involved and brought a long as many players as 36 has. He does what's best for all the girl's that have played for him. Yes he has his favorites, as have I. As has any coach that will honestly admit it.
There is a place for Elite hockey in boys and girls, and If MN H.S. hockey was as good as it got then some girls would change sports.
On a related side note.
I was asked this past week where EP's hockey numbers had gone. My answer is simple LAX!!!, It's truly growing in leaps and bounds here and is taking away from the hockey and soccer numbers.

[jg2112]

Just an FYI.
Every kid on the Eden Prairie Roster played youth hockey for Eden Prairie.
It is possible if you put the time into your association and on the ice with every age group and keep them moving forward.
Sorry, I forgot we are the Hav's so probably doesn't count for much because we paid to train harder.

Actually EPIC, I congratulate your team and wish your girls the best this week. You have done everything right as you stated and do have a home grown team in spite of your changing demographics within the EP school system, hats off to your club. There is nothing wrong with your success, and how it should be. You are like the FL Rangers, and it is the clubs like yours I root for, ones that are home grown. More success stories like these get overshadowed by the win at all costs mentality of a select few who throw it in our faces having to watch them. It is the schools like FL, New Prague, Northfield, EP that make it a fun tourney. The others can go play with SSM @ Nationals.

It appears Cam Newton (36) still has not recovered from the devastating loss.

How disappointed will the Great One be when he realizes one of the top line players for Forest Lake was a move-in from Roseau?