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east hockey wrote:

alcloseshaver wrote:

east hockey wrote:Actually, over the past 20 years, East's W/L percentage in section playoffs played outside Duluth is higher than those played in Duluth. So the theory of "get them off their home rink, see how they do" is invalid.

Lee

"invalid" Spin doctoring. No one is saying they are on their home rink, And I'm not taking anything away from a great program but in a geographically spread out section it is an advantage for a team based in Duluth. Girls section alternates North and South. We know it is venue related, but to not admit it is an advantage is shortsighted. East may have a better record outside of Duluth but that may also be years when they were fielding their best teams.

I have a question--other than anonymously whining about this in an internet forum, what has anybody from Elk River, Andover, etc. (and it's been pretty much Elk River) done to change this? Anything? If the answer is "no", then their (your) right to complain is forfeited. Go back to wringing your hands.

This comes up ever year, nearly always brought up by Jawbreak River fans, and nothing changes.

I have a better idea--move Elk River to another section. Maybe then they can go to state once in awhile. At least more than once in the ten years they have been in 7AA.

Lee

Tigers33 wrote:How does the girls section rotate?

The draw for those games isn't comparable. 7AA or anywhere in the state. Think even a regular season East/ER game or even Hermantown/Marshall game could be held in Cloquet???

Pioneerprideguy wrote:I have a better idea, move the State Tournament to Duluth so 7AA has a better chance of winning it.

We'll settle for the consolation bracket. Gives us a chance to see White Bear Lake.

Lee

I made prediction earlier this year prior to the HM/WB game. I expect WB to beat HM in the finals. I like 7AA's chances Friday afternoon at Mariucci.

other than the fact its a distinct home advantage the houndaholics don't seem to like to admit...The having the game always on a thur night vs a friday night is utterly stupid for the teams that have to travel to this "wonderful" venue. Great idea!..lets make all the parents leave early from work..pack the kids in the car...then deal with them for 2.5 hrs on the road....... watch a game for 2 hrs and head home ....having it on a friday night would be too simple and logical and be good for tourism up there to have parents get a room and stay overnight... Let me guess, the houndaholics will say ahhhhh..its not a big deal, but the fact is many fans who like to follow the team but are not fanatical about it will not drive 2+ hrs to watch a 2 hr game on a thur eve. Can someone explain to me why the finals are never played on friday night in Duluth..

Pioneerprideguy wrote:I made prediction earlier this year prior to the HM/WB game. I expect WB to beat HM in the finals. I like 7AA's chances Friday afternoon at Mariucci.

Yep. And I'm predicting Rapids over East in the 7AA semis. Since I haven't used the Reverse Jinx all season, better now than never.

Lee

east hockey wrote:

alcloseshaver wrote:

east hockey wrote:Actually, over the past 20 years, East's W/L percentage in section playoffs played outside Duluth is higher than those played in Duluth. So the theory of "get them off their home rink, see how they do" is invalid.

Lee

"invalid" Spin doctoring. No one is saying they are on their home rink, And I'm not taking anything away from a great program but in a geographically spread out section it is an advantage for a team based in Duluth. Girls section alternates North and South. We know it is venue related, but to not admit it is an advantage is shortsighted. East may have a better record outside of Duluth but that may also be years when they were fielding their best teams.

I have a question--other than anonymously whining about this in an internet forum, what has anybody from Elk River, Andover, etc. (and it's been pretty much Elk River) done to change this? Anything? If the answer is "no", then their (your) right to complain is forfeited. Go back to wringing your hands.

This comes up ever year, nearly always brought up by Jawbreak River fans, and nothing changes.

I have a better idea--move Elk River to another section. Maybe then they can go to state once in awhile. At least more than once in the ten years they have been in 7AA.

Lee

perfect....or move it to the Handke Pit rink where HDM was played so ER can have home ice and go to state 7 yrs in a row. love it. and then ER can say - We only practice there 28 times during the season and it's in our back yard.. but it's a neutral site - just ask us

scout mn wrote:other than the fact its a distinct home advantage the houndaholics don't seem to like to admit...The having the game always on a thur night vs a friday night is utterly stupid for the teams that have to travel to this "wonderful" venue. Great idea!..lets make all the parents leave early from work..pack the kids in the car...then deal with them for 2.5 hrs on the road....... watch a game for 2 hrs and head home ....having it on a friday night would be too simple and logical and be good for tourism up there to have parents get a room and stay overnight... Let me guess, the houndaholics will say ahhhhh..its not a big deal, but the fact is many fans who like to follow the team but are not fanatical about it will not drive 2+ hrs to watch a 2 hr game on a thur eve. Can someone explain to me why the finals are never played on friday night in Duluth..

AGREED!!!!!! The Duluth people keep saying it should be no big deal. From what I heard the first game in Duluth this year between ER and Duluth the roads were snow covered. Its no big deal when you're not driving.

scout mn wrote:other than the fact its a distinct home advantage the houndaholics don't seem to like to admit...The having the game always on a thur night vs a friday night is utterly stupid for the teams that have to travel to this "wonderful" venue. Great idea!..lets make all the parents leave early from work..pack the kids in the car...then deal with them for 2.5 hrs on the road....... watch a game for 2 hrs and head home ....having it on a friday night would be too simple and logical and be good for tourism up there to have parents get a room and stay overnight... Let me guess, the houndaholics will say ahhhhh..its not a big deal, but the fact is many fans who like to follow the team but are not fanatical about it will not drive 2+ hrs to watch a 2 hr game on a thur eve. Can someone explain to me why the finals are never played on friday night in Duluth..

This was hard to read, so maybe I got it wrong. But do parents drive their kids to these games? I thought they rode a bus.

That being said, I would also prefer the section finals to be on a Friday, but only if they move the 4AA and 5AA games to a Thursday. I wouldn't want to choose between $8 or so for two section finals and $8 or so for one section final all the way up in Duluth.

Slammer wrote:Can people please shut up? Your opinion is meaningless unless you are somehow involved in the decision making process. It will be at Amsoil for a long time to come, and talking here will not change a thing.

Where else can we bring our viewpoints? They officially discussed moving it and were shut down. It is not a voting thing, it is financial. Duluth is a great site and arena per DJ and will be there for a long time. The advantage to stay and play in your hometown is the main issue. The traveling teams can now focus on beating East and matching their success. The standard has been set by East, now just get to that level.

sticksave wrote:

scout mn wrote:other than the fact its a distinct home advantage the houndaholics don't seem to like to admit...The having the game always on a thur night vs a friday night is utterly stupid for the teams that have to travel to this "wonderful" venue. Great idea!..lets make all the parents leave early from work..pack the kids in the car...then deal with them for 2.5 hrs on the road....... watch a game for 2 hrs and head home ....having it on a friday night would be too simple and logical and be good for tourism up there to have parents get a room and stay overnight... Let me guess, the houndaholics will say ahhhhh..its not a big deal, but the fact is many fans who like to follow the team but are not fanatical about it will not drive 2+ hrs to watch a 2 hr game on a thur eve. Can someone explain to me why the finals are never played on friday night in Duluth..

AGREED!!!!!! The Duluth people keep saying it should be no big deal. From what I heard the first game in Duluth this year between ER and Duluth the roads were snow covered. Its no big deal when you're not driving.

ALL THE ROADS ARE SNOW COVERED! And aside from the team bus Traxler, lots of schools send a fan bus (or two!) Driving to Duluth can be a pain in the... But it can take me the same two hours to get from Blaine to Edina in the snow!!!
C'mon. We hockey parents would have left this sport a long time ago if the driving wasn't worth it. And the playoffs are on Tues, Thurs, Sat WHENEVER just like any other game all year.
And just so you know, this family of East fans (my son especially) drives 2 hours there 2 back for a 2 hour game (and a meal and beverages along the canal.) I'd drive to Warroad if I couldn't see them play at Schwans. Not Roseau though.

Considering how many people are predicting Duluth East to lose in the semi-finals this year to either an underrated Forest Lake or a hot goalie in Shepard and a sharp-shooter Mr. Hockey Candidate in Peterson, I'm surprised how many people are complaining about the home ice advantage.

If Duluth East is going to lose, why whine?

Don't even start complaining about home ice advantage if you are from elk river. They should not even be in 7AA so get out

Slammer wrote:Don't even start complaining about home ice advantage if you are from elk river. They should not even be in 7AA so get out

Wasn't their choice, I think they would rather be in 5AA. Have to live with it. Sarsland always said that 7AA should be for the northern schools.

Slammer wrote:Don't even start complaining about home ice advantage if you are from elk river. They should not even be in 7AA so get out

Not from ER but if the shoe..................... You would be yelling the loudest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Any ways if they could get out they would. Not their choice.

I am mostly staying out of this, but to answer the "why not Friday night" question, Amsoil is often rather busy on Friday nights. I suppose it would be possible to pull it off depending on UMD's schedule, but I doubt the high schools have the ability to force the Bulldogs on to the road for a particular weekend every year.

It's a good idea (and would probably outdraw many Bulldogs games, in terms of the number of bodies in seats!), but the logistics wouldn't be easy.

karl(east) wrote:I am mostly staying out of this, but to answer the "why not Friday night" question, Amsoil is often rather busy on Friday nights. I suppose it would be possible to pull it off depending on UMD's schedule, but I doubt the high schools have the ability to force the Bulldogs on to the road for a particular weekend every year.

Why not? Girl's bouncy ball did it to Sconny in Madtown a few years back. They had to play their first round WCHA series at the Dane 'cause the Kohl was hosting the girl's state tourney.

alcloseshaver wrote:

Slammer wrote:Don't even start complaining about home ice advantage if you are from elk river. They should not even be in 7AA so get out

Wasn't their choice, I think they would rather be in 5AA. Have to live with it. Sarsland always said that 7AA should be for the northern schools.

Are Cambridge and St. Francis more "northern" than ER???

Nevertoomuchhockey wrote:

alcloseshaver wrote:

Slammer wrote:Don't even start complaining about home ice advantage if you are from elk river. They should not even be in 7AA so get out

Wasn't their choice, I think they would rather be in 5AA. Have to live with it. Sarsland always said that 7AA should be for the northern schools.

Are Cambridge and St. Francis more "northern" than ER???

yes

C-dad wrote:

karl(east) wrote:I am mostly staying out of this, but to answer the "why not Friday night" question, Amsoil is often rather busy on Friday nights. I suppose it would be possible to pull it off depending on UMD's schedule, but I doubt the high schools have the ability to force the Bulldogs on to the road for a particular weekend every year.

Why not? Girl's bouncy ball did it to Sconny in Madtown a few years back. They had to play their first round WCHA series at the Dane 'cause the Kohl was hosting the girl's state tourney.

Heh. Oh, Sconny.

So we'll force UMD to play at Heritage, then?

I'm not saying it couldn't happen--it's just that there are several bureaucratic hurdles that they'd have to clear to get 7AA, Amsoil, UMD, and the NCHC on the same page.

Cambridge and St. Francis are not a threat to win 7AA. Don't have a dog in the fight, but I am tired of this thread coming up every year. Two conclusions from this discussion:

1. Elk River (metro) fans need to quit whining. No matter where the games are held, someone is going to have an advantage. Good coaches and teams will find a way to neutralize the "advantage".
2. East fans need to admit they do have an advantage. Hard to measure how big the advantage is, but it is an advantage.

One of the few times I will agree with DJ. Rapids fans have the right idea, view a game(s) at Amsoil as a privilege and opportunity not an excuse for not winning a section title.

greenway1969 wrote:Cambridge and St. Francis are not a threat to win 7AA. Don't have a dog in the fight, but I am tired of this thread coming up every year. Two conclusions from this discussion:

1. Elk River (metro) fans need to quit whining. No matter where the games are held, someone is going to have an advantage. Good coaches and teams will find a way to neutralize the "advantage".
2. East fans need to admit they do have an advantage. Hard to measure how big the advantage is, but it is an advantage.

One of the few times I will agree with DJ. Rapids fans have the right idea, view a game(s) at Amsoil as a privilege and opportunity not an excuse for not winning a section title.

I know the atmosphere in the Amsoil is as close to the X as you can come at least when GR and East play each other in the finals or even the semis if both teams are fortunate to win their quarter final games.. Its an honor for any team to play in the finals and whoever is there will have a great experience.

Tigers33 wrote:If the drive is meaningless then move the game to St. Cloud state. Most kids in the metro don't have a goal to play in duluths rink. And yes it is an advantage to play in your hometown.

St. Cloud makes the most sense. Do an every other year type of rotation.

Well at least you didn't suggest the Andover kids want to play at "home."

greenway1969 wrote:Cambridge and St. Francis are not a threat to win 7AA. Don't have a dog in the fight, but I am tired of this thread coming up every year. Two conclusions from this discussion:

1. Elk River (metro) fans need to quit whining. No matter where the games are held, someone is going to have an advantage. Good coaches and teams will find a way to neutralize the "advantage".
2. East fans need to admit they do have an advantage. Hard to measure how big the advantage is, but it is an advantage.

One of the few times I will agree with DJ. Rapids fans have the right idea, view a game(s) at Amsoil as a privilege and opportunity not an excuse for not winning a section title.

So let me get this straight..you want all the people annoyed by having to play the most important games of the year in a non neutral setting to be quiet because it annoys you. I get it, you're like the driver who is annoyed at the car in front of him going 78 mph on 35 when you are going 90+ and weaving in and out of traffic.

Stop