HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

TRF
Edina
Richfield

State Fair Coliseum. You can just feel the excitment and emotion the second you walk in and you gotta love the space between the boards and the fans.

Actually the State Fair Colliseum kills the atmosphere, and emotion. When it comes to section3 and 4 there is so much riding that it would feel that way if you played in the Metrodome, especially if you figure in rivalries. I always wondered what it would be like in a smaller space like Aldrich, or even Ridder, but that wouldn't be right for the teams in Sections 3 or 4. They are lunchpail kids and need to be in a place that is a little dirty, and grimey. Hated the space between the boards and fans. Horrible for Goalies and gives a dead feeling for the whole team.

that brings up a good point the metrodome. it may sound stupid but it would hold close to 75000 for a hockey game! could u imagine how the atmosphere would be there. i know the X is nice cuz its a real rink but the dome would be PACKED 4 the state tourney and it would make it that much more excting with an extra 60000 people!

Warroad
Theif River Falls
Roseau
Cloquet
Edina

If done correctly, the Metrodome could be configured to seat approximately 30-34,000 in a fairly comfortable hockey configuration in the tunnel end of the stadium. I don't think that the state tournament would be able to be sustained there.

As for the State Fair Coliseum, that pillbox can get plenty loud, but not having the seats go up to the ice hurts both capacity and atmosphere. Come playoff time, if MSF management wanted to increase the capacity (and maybe host basketball playoff games as well), they could set up step risers from the level of tunnel entrances down to the floor, then put folding chairs on the risers.

Call me biased, but I have to go with the Old Barn in Cloquet. I grew up on that rink and watching high school hockey games there in the mid to late 80's was great. No plexi glass, just wire around the boards and colder than any other arena. No seats, just 4 rows up benches all the way around. By the time I got to high school we evolved into plexi glass. That place would fill to the rafters for an East/Cloquet contest.
Others in contention would be Hibbing Memorial, Greenway, or Grand Rapids. Basically anything on the Range. The guy who mentioned the Proctor arena needs to be evaluated.

Austin Riverside Arena...

I got to put in the first ice and played in the first High School game there.

Lot's of good players have played there.

I think the two best rinks ive ever played in was Edina and Burnsville .... atmosphere is unreal in both of them

state fair coliseum is one of the best its always packed and when you play there you know its a big game... one of the best parts about the coliseum is the long walk teams take through the crowds of people walking around the concourse and the run they take on to the ice... its always a kids goal to play there when they are young watching teams like white bear and hill murray play there every year. the gap between stands and ice is nothing its actually kind of cool when your skating around in warm ups

Bronco Arena in International Falls. So much history and tradition in that place. Minnesota hockey is defined in that building.

Mini Ralph - TRF
Roseau Memorial
Braemer - Edina
Xcel Energy

I say Richfield. Familiarity and semi-darkness breeds content. I like watching a game there too because of the surrround seating and ability to walk the top.
Braemar is an excellent, excellent spot and should be in the metro's top picks.

As far as up north, hard ice at Grand Rapids for players, but for fans, look for seating on both sides like the Falls, old Cloquet.

The Rec Center in Rochester for a Mayo/JM game pre-Century opening up.
In the 80's and 90's once Mayo's program got better there were some serious battles and it was THE GAME in town - just packed in on both sides and along the walkway. Great atmosphere for hockey.

Riverside in Austin was great. Crazy fans high on SPAM made it tough for the opponent.

I miss Met Center. When many of the sections played their games there it was great. I attended many games and played a couple there.
It was really fun in the 80's/90's when there were more metro teams in Section 1. Ah, the one class era.

Thought I'd do what the kids can't seem to...found this on page 27.

I havent seen any talk about Hastings' rink i think it should be considered when its packed full

White bear county arena...

Roseau, Warroad and Baudette. All during the days prior to heaters in the stands. You hated to be a 4th line player in those days. Now everyone is a little soft. Man, parents can't even smoke indoors anymore.......

What's the status of that rink in LOW? Did they every upgrade?

twin cities rinks are boring, stale, and i cant stand any rink with bleachers on only one side...the bigger the dump, the more i loved playing in it.....the national hockey center at SCSu is a great venue for section playoffs...each fan base takes a side and it can get pretty loud in there

BIG 1... History and the feel rush of the fans being right over you is just as intense as any other rink. I loved it, especially when AHA gets beat there in sections...

I would have to agree with those who say hibbing, playing in that place packed really is unbeatable.
As for those who say roseau or I falls, I'd agree, that is if this thread was best rink to get screwed over in.

The Ralph is really nice but it's to warm. The greenway arena is cool it has a lot of history, and it has sweet goal judge booths. Cold arenas are always my favorite

Hippodrome in Eveleth
and
Roseau

SEMinnHockeyNut wrote:The Rec Center in Rochester for a Mayo/JM game pre-Century opening up.
In the 80's and 90's once Mayo's program got better there were some serious battles and it was THE GAME in town - just packed in on both sides and along the walkway. Great atmosphere for hockey.

Riverside in Austin was great. Crazy fans high on SPAM made it tough for the opponent.

I miss Met Center. When many of the sections played their games there it was great. I attended many games and played a couple there.
It was really fun in the 80's/90's when there were more metro teams in Section 1. Ah, the one class era.

it was kinda sad when they played earlier this year and the rec was lookin kinda empty wasnt it???

Mound Thaler arena and Rogers new one are both pretty nice, to wtach and play