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I have no clue why schools bother to bring their bands anymore. It was a while ago now that someone decided that what we really want at sporting events is loud music blaring on the PA during the briefest stoppage in play, whatever the sport; and that that music should be so loud you need to raise your voice to talk the the person next to you. And now the bands at the tournament hardly play at all. It wasn't always like this.

When a team scored, the band director would leap to his or her feet and they'd play the school fight song. If you were at the tournament in the early 90's, you know every note of the Jefferson fight song (which they cribbed from a university).The same was true at the end of a game, the winning band would play, then the losing band would quickly follow suit.

At intermission, the bands would alternate playing during resurfacing. The music made for a nice background, and importantly, while you could easily hear it, you didn't have to shout to talk to people right by you. TV time outs are the right length for at least one band to squeeze in a tune.

MSHSL uses the tournament (rightly) to promote the importance of participating in all sorts of extra-curricular activities including academics, but oddly they don't showcase high school musicians. I understand that high school music programs have suffered of late, as elementary and middle school music programs have been cut. (I can't speak to how widespread that has been.) Well if you want kids to take up these pursuits, maybe promote them when you can? Is anyone going to complain they're not getting enough T Swift? Other than elliot 70, of course.

This used to be a big part of the atmosphere of the tournament. Now you can attend an entire session without hearing 25 or 6 two 4, and that's just plain criminal.

Let the kids play some music.

I couldn’t agree more.
Said something similar to my son yesterday.
And Taylor Swift, Ian sure she is talented but I could not name one of her songs.

As usual east side is right.

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 8:33 am I couldn’t agree more.
Said something similar to my son yesterday.
And Taylor Swift, Ian sure she is talented but I could not name one of her songs.

As usual east side is right.

After she left country for gobbly-gook, who cares what her music is?

ESPG, spot on. Reminds me of when my brother was in the Greenway pep band and at regional (now called sections for all of you minions who still find it necessary to wipe behind your ears) playoffs, that my Mom, who at 5' of all Finlander didn't take crap from anybody, noticed none of the bands were shown on KDAL in Duluth.
So she fired off a rather irate letter to the station and the next time the bands were shown several times!
She took one for the team.
Right now the Hibbing band is warming us up.

Another regular feature that's all but disappeared is the cheerleaders. Outstate schools seem to have that program much more than city schools.

Both programs bring spirit and fun to the games.

I'm in section 103 row 26 seats 1-2. Stop by or let us know where you are.

Another thing I noticed at the tournament is how much they are pushing people to sign up to officiate. You would swear that youth sports are on the verge of collapse due to lack of officials. And maybe they are? Don’t know how much of a crisis it is.

Refs and umps take such a beating now from everyone. I can’t imagine even wanting to put up with that. I’d be crawling into the stands and going at it in the first period. And I’m old.

grindiangrad-80 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 10:14 am Refs and umps take such a beating now from everyone. I can’t imagine even wanting to put up with that. I’d be crawling into the stands and going at it in the first period. And I’m old.

Old?
You don’t know what old is!
Wait until your east side old!

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 10:16 am

grindiangrad-80 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 10:14 am Refs and umps take such a beating now from everyone. I can’t imagine even wanting to put up with that. I’d be crawling into the stands and going at it in the first period. And I’m old.

Old?
You don’t know what old is!
Wait until your east side old!

I agree about letting the bands play. Also bring back the tournament program in the paper form.

grindiangrad-80 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 10:14 am Refs and umps take such a beating now from everyone. I can’t imagine even wanting to put up with that. I’d be crawling into the stands and going at it in the first period. And I’m old.

Ha! In the early days of the NBA, I’ve read stories of officials going up into the stands to settle disputes with fists.

ryguyMN wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:18 am Another thing I noticed at the tournament is how much they are pushing people to sign up to officiate. You would swear that youth sports are on the verge of collapse due to lack of officials. And maybe they are? Don’t know how much of a crisis it is.

I coach in the Minnesota Rec League. I always thank the refs for coming out, and I always encourage the women refs to stay in the game; it's important for the girls to see women refs.

raidergrad72 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:13 am

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 8:33 am I couldn’t agree more.
Said something similar to my son yesterday.
And Taylor Swift, Ian sure she is talented but I could not name one of her songs.

As usual east side is right.

After she left country for gobbly-gook, who cares what her music is?

ESPG, spot on. Reminds me of when my brother was in the Greenway pep band and at regional (now called sections for all of you minions who still find it necessary to wipe behind your ears) playoffs, that my Mom, who at 5' of all Finlander didn't take crap from anybody, noticed none of the bands were shown on KDAL in Duluth.
So she fired off a rather irate letter to the station and the next time the bands were shown several times!
She took one for the team.
Right now the Hibbing band is warming us up.

Another regular feature that's all but disappeared is the cheerleaders. Outstate schools seem to have that program much more than city schools.

Both programs bring spirit and fun to the games.

I'm in section 103 row 26 seats 1-2. Stop by or let us know where you are.

Section 101 row 26 seat 21

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 11:04 am

ryguyMN wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:18 am Another thing I noticed at the tournament is how much they are pushing people to sign up to officiate. You would swear that youth sports are on the verge of collapse due to lack of officials. And maybe they are? Don’t know how much of a crisis it is.

I coach in the Minnesota Rec League. I always thank the refs for coming out, and I always encourage the women refs to stay in the game; it's important for the girls to see women refs.

And female coaches like the asst. coach for the Kraken & the coaches in the PWHL.

Another fun Friday night last night, the Edina-Moorhead game was epic and my nightmare of an STA-Edina final was averted. Mind you, I respect both programs, but it's not as much fun to watch a final with two teams where I don't care who wins. Kind of like watching a Super Bowl with two teams I don't care about (I'm looking at you Chiefs and Eagles). It was a full Friday night experience with some great back and forth chanting between the Edina and section 206 (I think?). My seats ended up being in the Cake section, which doesn't happen very often as they're rarely the lower seed, and we had the added plus of a creative, iron lunged heckler to entertain us insect haters. As hard as it is for me, I have to agree with ESPG that it'd be nice to hear more from the bands. It's one of the things that makes college hockey special and it wouldn't be that hard to blast fewer songs to give the kids a chance to show their musical chops.

On top of all that, it was great to see Elliott again and get the latest on my original hockey hero, Gary Sargent, along with other pearls of wisdom from the northern hockey sage. It's been too long, hope to see you at the tourney again! Hoping that our California man, Sparlimb, can make it back one of these times to catch the tourney live again. If it means having to cheer for Hill to make it, I guess I'll make that sacrifice. Naw, I can't go that far, but it'd take the sting out of a Hill section championship if I knew it meant Spar'd be at the tourney.

Finally, I got a souvenir last night, a puck landed in my seat. I think I've seen more pucks go out of play this year than in past years and in this case it came over the netting behind the goal, hit something behind us and somehow ended up on my chair. Since we don't get programs or paper tickets anymore, it'll be a cool way to remember this year's tournament.

I got to
Meet one of the best poster on thee board in the golden bear and it’s been a few years since ChrisK and I have visited so that was great.

And heard Karl was close by but never connected.

I will be back in. 105 at the top so if anyone is around would enjoy meeting and chatting.

Great tourney.

TT east side boys are staying at same hotel. Nice young men.
And got to chat with coach P for a bit.

ryguyMN wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:18 am Another thing I noticed at the tournament is how much they are pushing people to sign up to officiate. You would swear that youth sports are on the verge of collapse due to lack of officials. And maybe they are? Don’t know how much of a crisis it is.

Well I think some are: certain areas/sports very very much face a ref shortage

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 2:55 pm I got to
Meet one of the best poster on thee board in the golden bear and it’s been a few years since ChrisK and I have visited so that was great.

And heard Karl was close by but never connected.

I will be back in. 105 at the top so if anyone is around would enjoy meeting and chatting.

Great tourney.

TT east side boys are staying at same hotel. Nice young men.
And got to chat with coach P for a bit.

A pleasure meeting Elliott, his son and grand son last night. Nothing better than learning a little more about Northern Hockey. Thanks Elliott! I have to admit, that New Year’s resolution to subscribe to “Body by Jake” has paid dividends, I didn’t even recognize you! Keep up the great work! GB

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 11:14 am

raidergrad72 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 9:13 am

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 8:33 am I couldn’t agree more.
Said something similar to my son yesterday.
And Taylor Swift, Ian sure she is talented but I could not name one of her songs.

As usual east side is right.

After she left country for gobbly-gook, who cares what her music is?

ESPG, spot on. Reminds me of when my brother was in the Greenway pep band and at regional (now called sections for all of you minions who still find it necessary to wipe behind your ears) playoffs, that my Mom, who at 5' of all Finlander didn't take crap from anybody, noticed none of the bands were shown on KDAL in Duluth.
So she fired off a rather irate letter to the station and the next time the bands were shown several times!
She took one for the team.
Right now the Hibbing band is warming us up.

Another regular feature that's all but disappeared is the cheerleaders. Outstate schools seem to have that program much more than city schools.

Both programs bring spirit and fun to the games.

I'm in section 103 row 26 seats 1-2. Stop by or let us know where you are.

Section 101 row 26 seat 21

Oh crap! I didn't look at this til we were way home otherwise I would've come over a couple of sections. Maybe next time.

Any update on Edina/ St Thomas game?

4-2 Edina 1 minute to go
Nope
4-3 now

I am on section 116 row 12 seat 20

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 5:46 pm I am on section 116 row 12 seat 20

You there tonight?

ChrisK wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 2:14 pm... As hard as it is for me, I have to agree with ESPG that it'd be nice to hear more from the bands. It's one of the things that makes college hockey special and it wouldn't be that hard to blast fewer songs to give the kids a chance to show their musical chops.

I have a hard time agreeing with myself, I can't imagine how hard it is for you.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 5:56 pm

elliott70 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 08, 2025 5:46 pm I am on section 116 row 12 seat 20

You there tonight?

Yes
In our seats already
Had dinner at the old Liffey and walked across

Waited all season for this!

Jeezus. Do you old farts have to complain about everything? What next? No buttons or dials on phones? No more places taking your physical checks?

I mean, the bands are there and handled the national anthem right? They are there in attendance playing their hearts out as far as I can tell. At least for schools that actually have a band and can attend the games. Did Edina “loan” their band to a team last year?

I agree it provides a much better student experience, but it’s just a change in times with the PA music and all. I also find it somewhat hilarious when 90% of the songs played at youth games are the likes of AC/DC, GnR and the bands of the 80’s when none of these kids know who these bands are. But I know, when I’m on the clock and connected to the Bluetooth, there’s no way in heck I’m playing any of that trash that’s being played in the locker rooms these days!