Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
Is this a case where any talented players are all going to Jefferson or Holy Angels?
I have a cousin who plays there, says its the worst hockey experience he has ever had and if he had the chance he would have enrolled elsewhere. Apparently at half of the practices Todd brings his kids onto the rink (young kids) and skates with them while having a list of practice drills for the kids to do.theoneandonly1 wrote:There are two sophomores that play for Jefferson that are from Kennedy. In general their program has gone down hill very badly. They don't very many kids out . Its hard to be good with low numbers.
They havent really been that great in football. They are starting to turn it around but basketball has never even been decent. The girls basketball team is really the only team they can really pride themselves in. All of the boys sports have really failed to produce any sort of chatter and I think part of it has to do with taking pride in your school/area/city. Kids would rather go out and get jobs, have a social life and goof around/get into trouble than get spanked around. A sense of pride as well as an energetic coaching staff basing playing time off of hard work and effort would turn that program around ten fold. I hope that Todd or the next coach can bring that to the table because in all reality, a change is needed immediately or they will be in real trouble with fielding teams.three_pac_shakur wrote:Part of it definitely has to do with the few good players they have each year go to other schools (usually Jefferson). But overall, there is just a lack of players. It is unfortunate, because I think demographics and economics play a part in it. For many of the good athletes there, hockey is just too expensive. Because realistically, Kennedy is competative in football, basketball, baseball, etc. The only one that they struggle at is hockey, and a major explanation for that has to be the cost, which is a shame because they definitely have athletes there to compete. I hope this doesn't come off as offensive, but it is a real issue that should try to be changed.
I agree that hockey is expensive for alot of the kids and really Kennedy isn't that big of a school when you compare it to the teams it competes against. They really are not great in any sports, they had a good year in football but before that were lucky to win 1 game. They will be okay at BBAll and Baseball because of an athletic Senior class. Wrestling has and will continue to be thier best sport for the last tens years.newsguy35 wrote:They havent really been that great in football. They are starting to turn it around but basketball has never even been decent. The girls basketball team is really the only team they can really pride themselves in. All of the boys sports have really failed to produce any sort of chatter and I think part of it has to do with taking pride in your school/area/city. Kids would rather go out and get jobs, have a social life and goof around/get into trouble than get spanked around. A sense of pride as well as an energetic coaching staff basing playing time off of hard work and effort would turn that program around ten fold. I hope that Todd or the next coach can bring that to the table because in all reality, a change is needed immediately or they will be in real trouble with fielding teams.three_pac_shakur wrote:Part of it definitely has to do with the few good players they have each year go to other schools (usually Jefferson). But overall, there is just a lack of players. It is unfortunate, because I think demographics and economics play a part in it. For many of the good athletes there, hockey is just too expensive. Because realistically, Kennedy is competative in football, basketball, baseball, etc. The only one that they struggle at is hockey, and a major explanation for that has to be the cost, which is a shame because they definitely have athletes there to compete. I hope this doesn't come off as offensive, but it is a real issue that should try to be changed.
It wasnt threepac, it was me. In past years he has brought his kids to more than one or 2 practices per year. In fact, 2005-2006 he had his kids at 2 practices per week in most cases. I had a chance to witness it, I was in attendance at alot of practices. I am not calling for the noose, just saying that he needs to get hte priorities straight. The kids ice time is with his own team or off ice on the pond with dad and not during daddy's varsity practice.minnhock10 wrote:Hey three_pac,
I think you should get your facts straight. First of all, Todd's kids come to practice about once a year on a fun day. And that really doesn't have anything to do with whether they are winning or losing. The problem is talented kids. Todd played at SCSU and has coached in the USA program for several years, the guy knows his hockey. I don't think you should make a comment about getting rid of a coach unless you have been to practices and games. Hear say is usually 100% false, as with your information. End of Story! Yes, there has been talent at Kennedy before, Wiley, Stoa, and Clark within the last five years. And 3 years ago I believe the team was 12-14. Talent has so much to do with winning in hockey.
As far as other sports at Kennedy, Baseball finished second in the section two years ago. Again, get your facts straight. Football had a tremendous season last year as well. Basketball lost to Apple Valley last year and Apple Valley went to state.
And as far as the transfers go, Kennedy has lost at least 5 guys to Jefferson in the last two years. Two of them are playing Varsity right now, one plays JV and was skating on the first line last year at times. And two are playing Bantams. That has a lot to do with the issues.
That Hendrickson, Hendrickson, Steege line is still one of the best I've ever seen. I still watch old game tape of them, something special. I believe that's the same year Kennedy played in the State tourney with their star player Brad Konik...F14 wrote:I wasn't trying to start any arguments when I started this thread. I just wasn't sure if their youth numbers had fallen off alot of if they were losing kids not just to Jefferson (sounds like 5 currently) but also if Holy Angels has some kids.
I'm worried about Richfield's future as well.
From Steve Christoff to Damian Rhodes and Darby Hendrickson, from the early 60's to the mid-90's they had many good teams in a blue collar school. They and St. Louis Park, Cooper, and many other first ring suburbs are really struggling in hockey.
I have played in the Lake, my cousin actually is a great young player on that team and for you to come out and claim that I would know nothing of what has gone on is not only incorrect but a misleading source of why Kennedy has been on the decline. I am not blaming Todd totally, it takes more than just 1 guy to hurt a program. I am just putting the facts out there so that the question may be answered.minnhock10 wrote:Newsguy,
Quit hiding behind a computer and making foolish comments. You or your cousin obviously have a problem with Kennedy Hockey and or Todd. Your comments about witnessing practices are insane. The only times he brought the kids were on fun days. If you were there and you know Todd and his family, you would know that is pretty amazing seeing that one of his kids is 4 and the other is 7. So you are saying a 2 year old was on the ice for multiple practices a week. How about the one in school being at practice. Just a dumb comment.
As far as your comment about having a couple of decent players and winning 10 games a year, are you serious? Have you played in the Lake conference, wins aren't easy. Teams that are winning 10 games in that conference need at least two good lines and 3-4 good defensemen and a pretty solid goalie. I just don't think you know much about the Lake or Kennedy and your trying to throw fire because your cousin didn't play or wasn't any good.
newsguy35 wrote:I have played in the Lake, my cousin actually is a great young player on that team and for you to come out and claim that I would know nothing of what has gone on is not only incorrect but a misleading source of why Kennedy has been on the decline. I am not blaming Todd totally, it takes more than just 1 guy to hurt a program. I am just putting the facts out there so that the question may be answered.minnhock10 wrote:Newsguy,
Quit hiding behind a computer and making foolish comments. You or your cousin obviously have a problem with Kennedy Hockey and or Todd. Your comments about witnessing practices are insane. The only times he brought the kids were on fun days. If you were there and you know Todd and his family, you would know that is pretty amazing seeing that one of his kids is 4 and the other is 7. So you are saying a 2 year old was on the ice for multiple practices a week. How about the one in school being at practice. Just a dumb comment.
As far as your comment about having a couple of decent players and winning 10 games a year, are you serious? Have you played in the Lake conference, wins aren't easy. Teams that are winning 10 games in that conference need at least two good lines and 3-4 good defensemen and a pretty solid goalie. I just don't think you know much about the Lake or Kennedy and your trying to throw fire because your cousin didn't play or wasn't any good.
As for 1 or 2 good players and not being able to put together a 10 win season, you are incorrect sir. Who did they have other than Whiley? I would say 1 or 2 good players and a goalie...
You develop the talent and it does start with the varsity coach. He puts in time, he works with the youth and has the varsity team help out with more than 3 practices per year... I also helped coach a Bantam team 2 years ago and have been turned off to the program as a whole. Once again, I am not tearing it down, I am just putting hte proper points in perspective. There are other teams/areas that have less enrollment that are competing at a higher level, tell me why it hasnt happened? You build up talent.minnhock10 wrote:newsguy35 wrote:I have played in the Lake, my cousin actually is a great young player on that team and for you to come out and claim that I would know nothing of what has gone on is not only incorrect but a misleading source of why Kennedy has been on the decline. I am not blaming Todd totally, it takes more than just 1 guy to hurt a program. I am just putting the facts out there so that the question may be answered.minnhock10 wrote:Newsguy,
Quit hiding behind a computer and making foolish comments. You or your cousin obviously have a problem with Kennedy Hockey and or Todd. Your comments about witnessing practices are insane. The only times he brought the kids were on fun days. If you were there and you know Todd and his family, you would know that is pretty amazing seeing that one of his kids is 4 and the other is 7. So you are saying a 2 year old was on the ice for multiple practices a week. How about the one in school being at practice. Just a dumb comment.
As far as your comment about having a couple of decent players and winning 10 games a year, are you serious? Have you played in the Lake conference, wins aren't easy. Teams that are winning 10 games in that conference need at least two good lines and 3-4 good defensemen and a pretty solid goalie. I just don't think you know much about the Lake or Kennedy and your trying to throw fire because your cousin didn't play or wasn't any good.
As for 1 or 2 good players and not being able to put together a 10 win season, you are incorrect sir. Who did they have other than Whiley? I would say 1 or 2 good players and a goalie...
Newsguy,
Besides Wiley, they had Jeff Wallis, Dan Engberg, Mark Johnson, Art Clark, and Chris Impagliazo (sp) was the goalie, along with a nice supporting group. Again, two full lines and 3 or 4 "D". Plus a decent goalie.
As far as Kennedy on a decline, it starts at the youth level, again Todd and the high school program can not be blamed for that. He puts his time in with the youth. It is all about numbers and talent. They don't have numbers in the program and that translates to lack of talent. And because you know so much about this program, you probably knew that the pee wee's and bantam's are something like 17-130 in their last 5 years in district play.
You tell me how a high school program can win with that kind of talent coming up from the younger ranks. Again, buddy, your cousin might be the next superstar but you are wrong, NO MATTER WHAT HE TELLS YOU!
My varsity coach made an enormous difference in our program and I know this is the same case many other places all over Minnesota. He would setup really inexpensive hockey camps for the younger kids and devoted every ounce he could while still having enough time to do all the other things he needed to do. He would go help out at practices, go watch the kids games, personally working with each kid and how they can improve, etc.. We had 1 Pee Wee team, and 1 Bantam team, and still do, but the quality of the players has changed tremendously from 10 years ago. While he never gets alot of credit for it the people that were there know what made a big difference in the program from being a bottom feeder and now competing against alot better competition. Now, I personally don't know this Kennedy situation, and certainly won't pass judgement, but it appears Todd is not getting the most out of what he has. And, in most cases, I think blame has to be placed somewhere and sometimes that falls on the shoulders of the Head Varsity coach. Whether that is valid or not here I don't know. Maybe another voice from Kennedy could help out here...minnhock10 wrote:Newsguy,
This will be my final post on this subject. Your may be right, they may have exited the playoffs early that year. It happens, EV wasn't terrible that year and it was a home game for them. That really doesn't matter, it is in the past. As far as developing talent, I don't think a Varsity coach should have to attend more than a couple of practices a year. Are they supposed to be at the rink from the time school is done until 10:00 pm every night? That is not realistic. I know for a fact that in the last couple of years, Todd has develop a handbook for drills and skill development. He also attends practices, games and meetings for the youth program. When you only have one or two teams at the pee wee and bantam level, the Varsity coach can't be blamed. Thanks for your support, I hope you won't keep bashing the Kennedy program, a program that you personally didn't play in. Good bye now!!
That sucks... it sounds like an inner-city program at this point. I hate to see it happen to any school that had a great tradition, and unfortunately, I know it all too well.Panthers wrote:They had 19 players sign up for tryouts at the Bantam level this year, 16 showed up and they all currently play on the Bantam A team. That's 16 players TOTAL at the Bantam level. I don't care who you have as coach, bring in Scotty Bowman, he would have the same results. The program has really fallen and it has a lot to do with the make-up of their student population, not the coach.
I'm sure it's only a matter of time in Bloomington. Obviously it's happening all over the place - St. Paul and Minneapolis most notably, but there are plenty of others. In a way it's too bad, because the more schools consolidate, the less opportunities there are for those kids who may not be talented enough to make a consolidated team, but would have been good enough to play for their own school. I don't know Kennedy's team well, but I would imagine that they have a kid or two that may be fairly decent... but if they consolidated with Jefferson, would those kids even make the team?Undercover Hockey Lover wrote:What are the chances of a coop in hockey for some of these metro schools that are on the decline with no rise in site. I know there are a few that have started is it time for more? I know you lose school identity by doing it but kids can only take being a doormat for so long before they quit altogether. It's one thing to lose by 2 to 3 but if your getting mopped by 6 - 10 every game then it becomes a what the heck am I doing thisa for situation. How about the Bloomington Area Jags or Whatevers.