State "A" Tournaments

[Can't Never Tried]

This idea is so "red"iculous that I still can't believe it. What are they going to do with the 17,500 unoccupied seats?

It's for the Bantam Scouts

[wannagototherink]

Elliot, is there anything we can do to have this overturned? I mean should we start sending emails, contact our local associations, is there anyway to stop this from happening? There is still the June meeting, could something be done than if there is enough up roar between now and that meeting?

It is really disappointing.

[DKS1962]

Minnesota Hockey has just changed its name to Metro Hockey.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in 2 Youth
Hockey State Tournaments. The 2 associations hosting( 1 Metro &
1 Out-State) both did an outstanding job. Their respective associations
took great pride and ownership in the tournaments.
To remove the Tournaments from the local associations would
be a travesty.

[elliott70]

Elliot, is there anything we can do to have this overturned? I mean should we start sending emails, contact our local associations, is there anyway to stop this from happening? There is still the June meeting, could something be done than if there is enough up roar between now and that meeting?

It is really disappointing.

Please email the MH board members - please ask others to do the same.

It takes a two thirds vote to revisit an item. If that would happen at the June meeting then it could be reversed. If it does not happen then it will not happen this year.

I began sending out the news as soon as I left the meeting.

I hope everyone that thinks this is unfair would speak up.

At the meeting it was just me. And it was made unpleasant for me at lunch, in the halls, at the meetings at the banquet and again on Sunday.

There are people on the board that I may not have liked, may not have agreed with, but I respected them.
No longer, there are people I cannot stomach to look at.
They are enemies of youth hockey, not the leaders of it.
They are not to be trusted.

As I have stated, as I told them, I am ashamed to be associated with them.

[elliott70]

Minnesota Hockey has just changed its name to Metro Hockey.

I have been fortunate enough to be involved in 2 Youth
Hockey State Tournaments. The 2 associations hosting( 1 Metro &
1 Out-State) both did an outstanding job. Their respective associations
took great pride and ownership in the tournaments.
To remove the Tournaments from the local associations would
be a travesty.

Travesty is the exact word I used in an email today, of which I copied to the 'leaders' of MH.

[DumpandChase1]

Elliott,

What was the thought process with this move. I know the biggest complaint against some of the outstate locations has been lack of hotel space and teams having to stay 20 to 30 miles away. The only other reason I could see would be attendance. The metro tournaments usually draw much better than the outstate ones. I have coached in 7 state tournaments and the metro attendance has been much more. By the way, Ridder would make more sense than xcel.

I would like to see the pee wee and bantam A tounaments played at the same location, much like the B tourny. That would limit the outstate locations that could host the tournament.

I do have a question for the outstate folks. Would most of you want to come to the cities for the state tournament rather than go to another outstate town? I could care less, but I am interested in your thoughts on that.

[Polarhockey4]

I think that having the youth hockey at the X should stay at the mite level between pierods of the Wild.

When I played high school and Juniors we never filled even half of Aldrich arena about seating for 5000. Not a lot of energy flows with empty spaces. I say keep it at what ever rink is in charge that year. Since many of the Bantam "A" teams that go to state as bantams. Make the highschool tourney anyway. Let the kids play at the X then.

[elliott70]

Elliott,

What was the thought process with this move. I know the biggest complaint against some of the outstate locations has been lack of hotel space and teams having to stay 20 to 30 miles away. The only other reason I could see would be attendance. The metro tournaments usually draw much better than the outstate ones. I have coached in 7 state tournaments and the metro attendance has been much more. By the way, Ridder would make more sense than xcel.

I would like to see the pee wee and bantam A tounaments played at the same location, much like the B tourny. That would limit the outstate locations that could host the tournament.

I do have a question for the outstate folks. Would most of you want to come to the cities for the state tournament rather than go to another outstate town? I could care less, but I am interested in your thoughts on that.

The idea was to have a 'premier' event. They spoke of potential telelvsion deal. $ signs were showing in their eye sockets as well as in their projections. Local associations have not and could not put on a premier event was stated. The boys HS state tournament and Sports Illustrated were mentioned moer than once.

[wannagototherink]

Elliott,

What was the thought process with this move. I know the biggest complaint against some of the outstate locations has been lack of hotel space and teams having to stay 20 to 30 miles away. The only other reason I could see would be attendance. The metro tournaments usually draw much better than the outstate ones. I have coached in 7 state tournaments and the metro attendance has been much more. By the way, Ridder would make more sense than xcel.

I would like to see the pee wee and bantam A tounaments played at the same location, much like the B tourny. That would limit the outstate locations that could host the tournament.

I do have a question for the outstate folks. Would most of you want to come to the cities for the state tournament rather than go to another outstate town? I could care less, but I am interested in your thoughts on that.

How far of a drive is it from Blaine to downtown St. Paul?

[MoreCowBell]

Get over it, it might be the best thing that ever happened to MN Hockey. Do you know the International PeeWee Tournament held in Quebec sells out 18,000 seats to watch a Peewee tournament, I think it could be equally sucsessful here, I'm sure it could be worked out where out of town teams could be reimbursed for travel expenses. What great exposure for kids, why not allow our kids to showcase in front of a large crowd.

[wannagototherink]

Elliott,

What was the thought process with this move. I know the biggest complaint against some of the outstate locations has been lack of hotel space and teams having to stay 20 to 30 miles away. The only other reason I could see would be attendance. The metro tournaments usually draw much better than the outstate ones. I have coached in 7 state tournaments and the metro attendance has been much more. By the way, Ridder would make more sense than xcel.

I would like to see the pee wee and bantam A tounaments played at the same location, much like the B tourny. That would limit the outstate locations that could host the tournament.

I do have a question for the outstate folks. Would most of you want to come to the cities for the state tournament rather than go to another outstate town? I could care less, but I am interested in your thoughts on that.

The idea was to have a 'premier' event. They spoke of potential telelvsion deal. $ signs were showing in their eye sockets as well as in their projections. Local associations have not and could not put on a premier event was stated. The boys HS state tournament and Sports Illustrated were mentioned moer than once.

They are kidding right? Come on what kind of a TV deal is a bantam hockey tournament going to get? The NHL can't even get a contract with a Major Cable Network...This is one of the most disturbing things I have ever heard.

How boring would it be to play a game in a 18,000 seat arena when there would hardly be enough people to fill one section? For crying out loud, I was at the Bantam A Championship game this year at Braemar, it wasn't even half full there? I will tell you this, it will not be that exciting to play in an arena with ZERO atmosphere.

Isn't half the fun going to a different location every year? This make me sick.

[wannagototherink]

Get over it, it might be the best thing that ever happened to MN Hockey. Do you know the International PeeWee Tournament held in Quebec sells out 18,000 seats to watch a Peewee tournament, I think it could be equally sucsessful here, I'm sure it could be worked out where out of town teams could be reimbursed for travel expenses. What great exposure for kids, why not allow our kids to showcase in front of a large crowd.

You must be one of the morons who voted for it...I will sit out front of the arena in a speedo selling programs for free if it ever got close to 18,000 people. you must be some kind of stupid

[MoreCowBell]

Get over it, it might be the best thing that ever happened to MN Hockey. Do you know the International PeeWee Tournament held in Quebec sells out 18,000 seats to watch a Peewee tournament, I think it could be equally sucsessful here, I'm sure it could be worked out where out of town teams could be reimbursed for travel expenses. What great exposure for kids, why not allow our kids to showcase in front of a large crowd.

You must be one of the morons who voted for it...I will sit out front of the arena in a speedo selling programs for free if it ever got close to 18,000 people. you must be some kind of stupid

Well when you come from a town that doesn't even have 18,000 people you might find it hard to imagine it, but the Twin Cities has 3 Million plus residents who might find it more interesting than the Shrine Circus or a Home Show.

[sorno82]

Well when you come from a town that doesn't even have 18,000 people you might find it hard to imagine it, but the Twin Cities has 3 Million plus residents who might find it more interesting than the Shrine Circus or a Home Show.

I doubt it. I think it is worth giving it a chance for a year or two to see what it actually does. If it draws well, then it starts a new tradition. If it draws friends and family, the X will cancel it on their own. They need to fill the building and they do enough charity work on the high school events that draw nothing more than friends and family. The only big time event is the boys AA high school hockey. Nothing else compares. High school football is doesn't even draw that well for its championship games, so who really thinks youth hockey has a chance to draw more than 1,000?


What you need is a sponser to guarantee Minn Hockey a rights fee, then let them promote and take in all the gate and TV revenue. If it works, then the rights fees will go up, if it doesn't, then we go back to tradition. I bet you if you forced every Wild Season ticket holder to shell out $30 for a tournament ticket pass, you would have 17,500 being given away on the day of the game on the street corner.

[h20]

and thats why Bremar didnt filled up for the premier Bantam tournament, JEEZ to have this in D-6 and the metro and couldnt fill up half the arena. oh well if they will holD it @ the X the will come, ya right , Mnohockey aloow other tournaments to held if they are far enough away from the State, well i guess Lets play Hockey should hold the outstate tournament similar to whta they did with the B levels , Just maybe the GREAT ones will get the hint then

[MoreCowBell]

and thats why Bremar didnt filled up for the premier Bantam tournament, JEEZ to have this in D-6 and the metro and couldnt fill up half the arena. oh well if they will holD it @ the X the will come, ya right , Mnohockey aloow other tournaments to held if they are far enough away from the State, well i guess Lets play Hockey should hold the outstate tournament similar to whta they did with the B levels , Just maybe the GREAT ones will get the hint then

I wonder how many kids would show up to the high school hockey tournament if they didn't get to miss a couple of days of school. The early days of the HS tournament didn't draw well either. You put the Wild Mngmt. behind this, maybe they would include tickets for the kids tourn. in thier season tickets packages and who knows what would happen.

[Air Force 1]

I do have a question for the outstate folks. Would most of you want to come to the cities for the state tournament rather than go to another outstate town? I could care less, but I am interested in your thoughts on that.

I would rather go to another outstate town. There are plenty of rinks with great tradition and history and there are plenty of town that can support the tournament with hotel space. Anther Metrocentric look at MINNESOTA hockey, it only seems to cater to those within the 494/694 loop, it's only good hockey if it is played in the metro.

If the initiative was forced that all state tournament games were to be played in Ely or Bemidji or Baudette, the metro districts would scream from the rooftops what an injustice was being forced on them, travel to the other end of the state!? Unheard of! Metro folks, what was your longest road trip (hours or miles) that your player's team had this year for a 1. a regular season game 2. a tournament 3. a district or regional tournament 4. a state tournament?

My answers to these questions are:
1. EGF to Grand Rapids 183 miles and Baudette 174 miles
2. EGF to Hermantown 267 miles
3. EGF to Brainerd for Pee Wee A West Regional 220 miles
4. EGF to Willmar for State Pee Wee A 256 miles

EGF to the Xcel Energy Center 326 miles

[MoreCowBell]

I wonder why the WCHA holds the Final Five at the X every year, hmmmmm, maybe because it draws better than Grand Forks, Madison, Denver, Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud etc. Maybe we should just hold the kids tourn. outside up in Baudette, then the almost canadians wouldn't have to drive so far.

[council member retired]

MN Hockey has enough money.... do you honestly believe any of the money they would make off a single championship sunday location would go to benefit the youth hockey player as a whole? Do you think the squirt b player from Rogers ice bill is going to go down? NO.... it will more likely be used for the elite player ( more advance team dollars ).
MH needs to have a reality check, and many need to take a step back and see if they are really there to benefit the "customer". There is many people involved in MN Hockey that are very far removed from the reality of its purpose.

The name of the governing body is Minnesota Hockey, not downtown St Paul. These are tournaments to be shared, enjoyed, and organized by the communities that field a association team. The Twin Cities is not central Minnesota. St Paul is chosen to make money, and please the seat warmers of MN Hockey. They have some people on MN Hockey that honestly could not hold a conversation with 99% of us about youth hockey,, or any hockey for that matter. Those people should remove themselves from MN Hockey. I am sure you could get your non voting status in place, but just remove yourself and join us other old folks in frolicking in the sun.

[GR3343]

I wonder why the WCHA holds the Final Five at the X every year, hmmmmm, maybe because it draws better than Grand Forks, Madison, Denver, Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud etc. Maybe we should just hold the kids tourn. outside up in Baudette, then the almost canadians wouldn't have to drive so far.

You're showing your true ignorance once again. Your pompass remarks are another great reminder why I love living in northern Minn. as opposed to being a citiot. You're continuing to give metro area people a bad name. Perhaps your comments are aimed at generating a desired response, but you should tuck your tail between your legs and quietly go away.

[Flin Flon]

I wonder why the WCHA holds the Final Five at the X every year, hmmmmm, maybe because it draws better than Grand Forks, Madison, Denver, Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud etc. Maybe we should just hold the kids tourn. outside up in Baudette, then the almost canadians wouldn't have to drive so far.

again you are mistaken the reason the WCHA holds the final five in Minneapolis is beacuse it CAN have the biggeest draw no other rink in the area can hold that many and they only see green when it comes to that tournament your a fool to think that if there was a 18,000 plus arena in Duluth that it wouldn't be filled to capacity that weekend. That tournament is bid on and Milwaukee is bidding on it again I think the "X" has the tournament through 2010. This is the biggest joke that Minnesota hockey has done to date. Northern towns deserve these tournaments not only because of there hockey tradtion but because they can run these tournament with a certain sense of pride in their community. Who is going to step up and be the volunteers for this tournament? what a joke.

[AimHigh]

I wonder why the WCHA holds the Final Five at the X every year, hmmmmm, maybe because it draws better than Grand Forks, Madison, Denver, Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud etc. Maybe we should just hold the kids tourn. outside up in Baudette, then the almost canadians wouldn't have to drive so far.

You're showing your true ignorance once again. Your pompass remarks are another great reminder why I love living in northern Minn. as opposed to being a citiot. You're continuing to give metro area people a bad name. Perhaps your comments are aimed at generating a desired response, but you should tuck your tail between your legs and quietly go away.

Mr. CowBell lost all credibility when he called MN Hockey communistic. He's baiting. Just ignore...not a cidiot...just a plain idiot.

[wannagototherink]

I wonder why the WCHA holds the Final Five at the X every year, hmmmmm, maybe because it draws better than Grand Forks, Madison, Denver, Duluth, Mankato, St. Cloud etc. Maybe we should just hold the kids tourn. outside up in Baudette, then the almost canadians wouldn't have to drive so far.

You're showing your true ignorance once again. Your pompass remarks are another great reminder why I love living in northern Minn. as opposed to being a citiot. You're continuing to give metro area people a bad name. Perhaps your comments are aimed at generating a desired response, but you should tuck your tail between your legs and quietly go away.

You are dead on....Isn't it kind of fun to play in a rink with some atmosphere...

I am just curious, are we going to see the Squirt A State Championship game pretty soon? Come on you can make some money on that can't you? So what if the wild throw in a tournament weekend pack with their season tickets? You think that means those people are going to show up? I've never heard of such selfishness and greed.

[DMom]

Who doesn't deserve to be contacted on this list Elliott? I guess I don't know which ones aren't voting members.


Minnesota Hockey is made up of an army of loyal, dedicated and impassioned volunteers who provide countless hours of service to hockey. Please contact these individuals directly or e-mail questions to: info@minnesotahockey.org

Board Members

Executive Director
Mark Jorgensen
St. Paul, MN 55102
markj@minnesotahockey.org

Immediate Past President
Elmer Walls

VP, Planning
Dave Bakke
New Hope, MN 55427
dabakke@trane.com

VP, Tournaments
Bill Gable
Isanti, MN 55040
gable4@msn.com

VP, Publicity & Promotion
Dave Meisner
Oakdale, MN 55128
djmeisner1@hotmail.com

Controller
Jim Bullard
North Mankato, MN 56003
jebez@hickorytech.net

Director, Juniors
Bob Breu
Faribault, MN 55021
bob@mnjhl.com


Referee-in-Chief
Eric Olson
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
eric.olson@ecm-inc.com

Director, District 1 (TC)
Tom Mickus
St. Paul
tojmick@aol.com

Director, District 3
John Perry
Plymouth, MN 55442
jperry@compassgroupmn.com

Director, District 5
Doug Kephart
Dassel, MN 55325
dougk@larsonbuilders.com

Director, District 8
Rich Rakness
South St Paul, MN 55075
rrakness@comcast.net

Director, District 11
Pete Hill
Cloquet, MN 55720
d11director@aol.com

Director, District 15
Dave Stigen
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
dstigen@prtel.com

Minnesota District Registrar
Carol Carlson
Stillwater, MN 55082
thegnome1@comcast.net

Off-Season Affiliate Coordinator
2400 Winfield Ave.
Golden Valley, MN 55422
markp@minnesotahockey.org

President & Minnesota District Director to USAH
Dennis Green
Elk River, MN 55330
dennisg@minnesotahockey.org

Secretary/Treasurer & Minnesota District Director to USAH
Gerald R. DeMeo
Duluth, MN 55803
jerry.demeo@altechiline.com

VP, Hockey Operations
Barry Ford
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
barry.ford6@honeywell.com

VP, Maroon Coordinator
Dave Margenau
Maple Grove, MN 55369
dmargenau@aol.com

VP, Gold Coordinator and Minnesota District Director to USAH
Gerald R. De Meo
Duluth, MN 55803
jerry.demeo@altechiline.com

Director, Adults
Dave Swenson
Edina, MN 55439-0215
dswenson@minnesotahockey.org

Director, Women
Patt Ligman
Roseville, MN 55113
mnhockeywomensdirector@comcast.net

Director, HS Girls
Tim Morris
St. Anthony, MN 55421
morrisgang@msn.com

Coach-in-Chief & Minnesota District Director to USA Hockey
Hal Tearse
Plymouth, MN 55447
halt@minnesotahockey.org

Director, District 2
Greg Nagan
Shoreview, MN 55126
gjnagan@comcast.net

Director, District 4
Mark Jacobs
Marshall, MN 56258
jake2@iw.net

Director, District 6
Brad Hewitt
bhewitt@firstfleet.com

Director, District 10
Tim Timm
Champlin, MN 55316
d10director@yahoo.com

Director, District 12 (IR)
Dan Vechell
dsv1974@netscape.net

Minnesota District/Minnesota Hockey Risk Manager
Bruce Kruger
Plymouth, MN 55446
brucek@minnesotahockey.org

Minnesota District Girls/Womens Section Rep.
Lynn Olson
5909 12th Avenue, S.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
lynnolson01@aol.com

Minnesota District Director to USA Hockey
Phil Graber
Andover, MN
philg@ntminc.com

[greybeard58]

Now is the time for all to voice their opinions and direct them to the proper channels. The addresses for the Mn Hockey board can be found on their web site. If you and your neighbors feel strongly about this subject voice your opinion to them.You need to get their attention and numbers is the only way to do it. I doubt they spend any time reading these sites.