How bad is IRC hockey?

[ShakestheClown]

Kinda sorta off topic here, but do any associations schedule practice on the outdoor sheets? Hinterland or metro?

Hibbing's association schedules practices outside. Most of them have been cancelled this year, due to the cold; but last year my daughter practiced outside once a week usually.

[green4]

Kinda sorta off topic here, but do any associations schedule practice on the outdoor sheets? Hinterland or metro?

In Edina teams would schedule outdoor ice a good amount. I use to work at one of the outdoor rinks in the city and we would have anywhere from 1 to 3 teams a night on that one rink alone. Usually mites and squirts but occasionally there was bantams that had a practice.

[karl(east)]

Kinda sorta off topic here, but do any associations schedule practice on the outdoor sheets? Hinterland or metro?

Correct me if I'm wrong Karl, but all of the squirts and below (community based teams - Congdon, Lester Park, Duluth Heights, etc) in Duluth are scheduled for practices and games on outdoor rinks. As do Hermantown as well Twig (I think they feed mostly in to Proctor).

They do some things indoors now too, but yes, Duluth still makes ample use of outdoor ice.

For what it's worth, outdoor ice certainly *can* help, if the kids take advantage of it. The top player on this year's East team, I am told, practically lives at one of the rinks during the winter. You can see bits of that in his game.

Getting back to the original point here--I'm not sure that the extra couple of weeks of good outdoor ice in Duluth and the Range add up to much of an advantage over other areas, but in places where there is a strong outdoor hockey culture, it does help.

[puckbreath]

Kinda sorta off topic here, but do any associations schedule practice on the outdoor sheets? Hinterland or metro?

Correct me if I'm wrong Karl, but all of the squirts and below (community based teams - Congdon, Lester Park, Duluth Heights, etc) in Duluth are scheduled for practices and games on outdoor rinks. As do Hermantown as well Twig (I think they feed mostly in to Proctor).

They do some things indoors now too, but yes, Duluth still makes ample use of outdoor ice.

For what it's worth, outdoor ice certainly *can* help, if the kids take advantage of it. The top player on this year's East team, I am told, practically lives at one of the rinks during the winter. You can see bits of that in his game.

Getting back to the original point here--I'm not sure that the extra couple of weeks of good outdoor ice in Duluth and the Range add up to much of an advantage over other areas, but in places where there is a strong outdoor hockey culture, it does help.

Another thing folks need to realize; indoor ice doesn't necessarily mean only structured practices, etc.

I.e., my Roseau example, and other locations too, there is a *lot* of open hockey, for hours on end, at the indoor rinks.

Open hockey = the same thing as rink rat stuff on the outdoor ice.

Many years ago, the north would have outdoor ice when the metro/south part of the state didn't.
That was a plus.

But with the explosion of indoor ice over time, those seasonal differences in geography aren't as big as in the past, I believe; there is ice in both places, instead of only one.

[MNHockeyFan]

Many years ago, the north would have outdoor ice when the metro/south part of the state didn't. That was a plus. But with the explosion of indoor ice over time, those seasonal differences in geography aren't as big as in the past, I believe; there is ice in both places, instead of only one.

I'll agree with you that over the years the "explosion" of indoor ice has been a huge equalizer between the north and the south. But with the cost of indoor ice in the cities often exceeding $150 per hour, vs. zero for most city-maintained outdoor rinks, players who come from middle-class families (either north or south) still have a great opportunity to level the playing field, if they choose to take advantage of it.

[puckbreath]

Many years ago, the north would have outdoor ice when the metro/south part of the state didn't. That was a plus. But with the explosion of indoor ice over time, those seasonal differences in geography aren't as big as in the past, I believe; there is ice in both places, instead of only one.

I'll agree with you that over the years the "explosion" of indoor ice has been a huge equalizer between the north and the south. But with the cost of indoor ice in the cities often exceeding $150 per hour, vs. zero for most city-maintained outdoor rinks, players who come from middle-class families (either north or south) still have a great opportunity to level the playing field, if they choose to take advantage of it.

True enough.

[Marty]

Young parents are too selfish to commit to the grind of hockey. To them it is a waste of time.

Maybe a lot of those young parents lived the hockey experience and do not want to recreate that same experience for their own sons and daughters.

That and plenty of rangers playing hockey 20+ years ago that were capable of leaving town and finishing college went on to take better jobs in the metro. Dime a dozen in finding parents and coaches you grew up North.

[Edinahopkins]

Grand Rapids is the private
School of the north . Alot of kids
Have moved in from other schools.
They been getting a few from greenway
Over the years, look at the bantams good
Example

[AAA Dad]

While mostly true, there has been a slow but steady trickle of players from the smaller NE MN communities over the years--most notably to the two Duluth powers...

Curious, can you put some numbers on what you mean by "a slow but steady trickle"? And are these situations where the parents move too, possibly for employment reasons, or is it just so their kids can attend a different school, whether it be East or Marshall? I would guess it's too long a distance for the boys to commute back and forth every day.

The same can be said about the number of quality players that have ended up in Grand Rapids over the last several years from the surrounding smaller struggling programs....Sorry EdinaHopkins I just saw you said same after I posted comment without reading bottom of thread

[Traxler]

While mostly true, there has been a slow but steady trickle of players from the smaller NE MN communities over the years--most notably to the two Duluth powers...

Curious, can you put some numbers on what you mean by "a slow but steady trickle"? And are these situations where the parents move too, possibly for employment reasons, or is it just so their kids can attend a different school, whether it be East or Marshall? I would guess it's too long a distance for the boys to commute back and forth every day.

The same can be said about the number of quality players that have ended up in Grand Rapids over the last several years from the surrounding smaller struggling programs....Sorry EdinaHopkins I just saw you said same after I posted comment without reading bottom of thread

Who are some of these quality players? I'm interested in knowing who has transferred into Grand Rapids.

[MTStringer]

Me too..do tell us how many "quality players" have transferred to Grand Rapids in the last several years AAA Dad and EdinaHopkins.

[elliott70]

Goligoski, White. .......


Oh, wait....

Right, they transferred in from .....
no where.

So I am at a loss,

and curious.

[Bigcat99]

Me too..do tell us how many "quality players" have transferred to Grand Rapids in the last several years AAA Dad and EdinaHopkins.

Closest I can come up with would be about 6-7 years back when the Underwood's moved from the Green way district into Rapids??? They were about 7th & 10 graders at the time and that was one family. Don't think think the younger one is playing anywhere these days, but not positive.

No D1 names come to mind since John Casey... from wayyyy back.

[Traxler]

While this probably seems off topic, I was just researching how conclusory allegations are insufficient to survive a motion to dismiss.

Here we have two posters (Edinahopkins and AAA Dad) making conclusory allegations that Grand Rapids has had "alot" (sic) and "quality players" transferring in. If you're going to make claims like this, at least provide some facts to back them up.

[Traxler]

Is Kelly Fairchild one of the mysterious transfers to the "private school of the north" that is Grand Rapids?

[Edinahopkins]

Underwood brothers ,Evan Anderson Alex Adams
John stamphare all from greenway in last 5 years
Micah miller Crosby ,#7 from bantams elk river
Hitkamp grand forks to name a few

[Bigcat99]

John stamphare... greenway...
Micah miller Crosby ,#7 from bantams elk river
Hitkamp grand forks to name a few

Can you give us a run down of the up and coming pee wee's too?

[north_bear]

Grand Rapids is the private
School of the north . Alot of kids
Have moved in from other schools.
They been getting a few from greenway
Over the years, look at the bantams good
Example

Hahahaha! Can't wait to see how many jump on this bus with you...don't buy extra tickets.

[Hibbing01]

You do see a lot of kids at the rink, but it seems like 1/3 of them, regardless of age play no organized hockey what so ever. Could be any of the reasons stated above. Another issue is every parent thinks you need $500 skates, Composite sticks, and all of that fancy stuff. You could get a lot of stuff used from players that don't need it anymore.

On the subject of travel, there are a lot of other costs that people don't realize. If your tournament is within an hour of the Mall of America, you can count on that as a destination. That and you have to stay somewhere where there is a pool and hot tub. And your eating out everynight you are down there, at a nice chain restaurant that doesn't have locations on the Range.

One bright note is the mines are going strong, and the miners are the wealthier of the blue collar workers. At the Mining Company I work at, we have at least 10 former IRC players, one being a former D1 players, so hopefully they pop out some kids. That with Essar in Nashwauk and the proposed Polymet in Hoyt Lakes, this could help get things going in the right direction. Mining

[old goalie85]

Our BAA are in Hibbing this weekend. Can't wait . The kids love playing on the Range. The parents enjoy as well..

[ShakestheClown]

Have fun! The deep freeze will be gone and warm weather awaits. I'm going to be gone in Cloquet this weekend, so if you could stop by and check on my cat, I'd greatly appreciate it!

[MNHockeyFan]

At the Mining Company I work at, we have at least 10 former IRC players, one being a former D1 players, so hopefully they pop out some kids.

Or at least do their part...