HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

I'm not in the program but watched Anoka beat them 10-2 in the SSP tourney and know they haven't won a game all year. Can't be much fun for anyone involved. Does anyone know the future of the Kennedy program? Will they drop out of the Lake Conference? Merge with Jefferson? I've head some rumors but curious on what the real story is.

They will never merge with Jefferson, or at least not anytime soon. There was rumor they were going to merge with Richfield but that obviously didn't happen.

Future of Kennedy Hockey

There isnt a future

I was with some former kennedy hockey players last night and talked to them about the situation. They only got 20 kids out for tryouts this year (as oppose to 70 from jefferson.....note the eastside of bloomington has 50,000 people and the west has 35,000 so statistically that sucks for kennedy). To put a sour note ontop of that, most of their varsity guys also play JV, and even then I saw them lose to jefferson's JV. OUCH

I have also heard the coach is a BIIIGGG part of the problem. He does not attempt to make the team anything more than it is.

On the rumors of merging with Jefferson or Richfield, thats absurd. I talked to some kids who predict we will se a comeback by the "Bloomington Bears", but I dought Jefferson's parents and alumni (keep in mind the high incomes of the westside are the taxes that fund programs like Kennedy hockey on the East) would ever allow the strong tradition that has been Jefferson Hockey to just merge. You cant just merge that kind of program, it would be like doing away with the Edina Hornets, its just not feasible.

On a final note, lets not forget that sometimes programs go through a severe down period. The Kennedy program has produced some top teams and great players even recently (developed Stoa). I wish the best for Kennedy and hope they can turn things around

First off, the idea of merging with Jefferson or Richfield is not absurd, because the conversation and meeting actually took place. But, as we both AGREE on, it will never happen. At least not with Jefferson.

And the coaching is a huge problem.

These guys need to opt to play in Class A.

They are the worst program in D6 at the youth level.

Kennedy is not a program in a temporary downswing. Demographics is going to hurt them for a long time. In other words, AA should be over for them

Don't say it will "Never" happen.... a lot of things can change.

Enrollment in the Bloomington district has been decreasing. According to the MSHSL enrollment figures, the total combined enrollment of Jefferson and Kennedy is only 60 more students than that of Eden Prairie.

If the enrollment trends continue, in five to 10 years, there could only be one public high school in Bloomington. I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but anything is possible.

Well it sounds like they might become The Dead Kennedys!

any decent hockey player from kennedy transfers to jefferson anyways.

MasterRyan wrote:any decent hockey player from kennedy transfers to jefferson anyways.

Ask Jordan Gates about that... There are some phenominal players that have stayed around Kennedy and went on. Jason Wiley is one of them (now playing at MN Mankato) and the '04 grad class had 5 players who went on to play Jr's. When they get a coach who is willing to put in the time and develop the youth at Kennedy they will begin their incline, until then they will decline.

Rumor is that Todd Kennedy put in time up in Andover this summer to help the youth up there... I would say that he has bigger problems where he is now... AD already made improvements to the football team, time will only tell if he can make a smart decision for the hockey team.

Kennedy wins tonight....you heard it here first!

Who did they beat?

hoopsguy wrote:Kennedy wins tonight....you heard it here first!

Incorrect, they played as well as they could but still lost to Chaska 2-1
tonight, Sat, Jan 12th

maybe your talking about basketball hoopsguy??

tomASS wrote:

hoopsguy wrote:Kennedy wins tonight....you heard it here first!

Incorrect, they played as well as they could but still lost to Chaska 2-1
tonight, Sat, Jan 12th

maybe your talking about basketball hoopsguy??

I remember the great Kennedy teams of the 80's and early 90's and think it is sad a once strong program might face the same fate of Mpls Roosevelt

If at least they could get out of the Lake....any team would have troubles having to play the likes of jefferson, ep, b'ville, rosemount, and eastview on a night to night basis......

hockeydad wrote:Don't say it will "Never" happen.... a lot of things can change.

Enrollment in the Bloomington district has been decreasing. According to the MSHSL enrollment figures, the total combined enrollment of Jefferson and Kennedy is only 60 more students than that of Eden Prairie.

If the enrollment trends continue, in five to 10 years, there could only be one public high school in Bloomington. I'm not saying that this is going to happen, but anything is possible.

Bloomington will still support 2 schools but maybe not 2 hockey teams. 20 years the thought that Edison or Harding would not be stand alone programs was absurd. The thought that Johnson would co-op with anybody was equally absurd. All those have come to pass. The Bloomington school board has to well by those they serve, the people who live in the school district and it would be far cheaper to merge with Jefferson than an outside entity.

Bloomington isn't the only school district to deal with a shortage of hockey players, Minneapolis and St. Paul have for years. Rochester has 2 public school teams that wouldn't be fielding JV teams without seniors and freshmen playing, their days as independent teams are probably numbered. In recent years Austin, Faribault, and Winona haven't had JV teams, other places are trying to make do with 10 or so kids on JV, luckily the MSHSL now allows kids 5 periods which reduces the stress of fielding a JV team.

Does anybody remember Matt Soucek from Kennedy in the early 90's?

parrish4president wrote:I was with some former kennedy hockey players last night and talked to them about the situation. They only got 20 kids out for tryouts this year (as oppose to 70 from jefferson.....note the eastside of bloomington has 50,000 people and the west has 35,000 so statistically that sucks for kennedy). To put a sour note ontop of that, most of their varsity guys also play JV, and even then I saw them lose to jefferson's JV. OUCH

I have also heard the coach is a BIIIGGG part of the problem. He does not attempt to make the team anything more than it is.

On the rumors of merging with Jefferson or Richfield, thats absurd. I talked to some kids who predict we will se a comeback by the "Bloomington Bears", but I dought Jefferson's parents and alumni (keep in mind the high incomes of the westside are the taxes that fund programs like Kennedy hockey on the East) would ever allow the strong tradition that has been Jefferson Hockey to just merge. You cant just merge that kind of program, it would be like doing away with the Edina Hornets, its just not feasible.

On a final note, lets not forget that sometimes programs go through a severe down period. The Kennedy program has produced some top teams and great players even recently (developed Stoa). I wish the best for Kennedy and hope they can turn things around

Interesting? I thought Edina East and Edina west merged in the past. I might wrong. tomASS will know. He knows everything.

BoogeyMan wrote: tomASS will know. He knows everything. [/b]

I know so very little, but it is vastly more than you know

I was being serious. Didn't Edina east and Edina west merge? I'm not sure why Jefferson and Kennedy can't merge.

and 25 years from now someone will be asking why District 112 spent well over 92 million on a structure that was flawed from the beginning with an inferior location and lack of available green space.

Bloomington's district is so screwed up that they don't even own the parking lot for their athletic stadium that houses both High schools. They have to lease it back from a business that now wants to build on the lot.

maybe combining both schools into one (at Jefferson) but there is no room or location or supportive tax base for a new mega school.

RoundBaller wrote:Does anybody remember Matt Soucek from Kennedy in the early 90's?

Yes.
Interesting place to ask since he wasn't a hockey player.
Why do you ask?

tomASS wrote:and 25 years from now someone will be asking why District 112 spent well over 92 million on a structure that was flawed from the beginning with an inferior location and lack of available green space.

Bloomington's district is so screwed up that they don't even own the parking lot for their athletic stadium that houses both High schools. They have to lease it back from a business that now wants to build on the lot.

maybe combining both schools into one (at Jefferson) but there is no room or location or supportive tax base for a new mega school.

tomASS- Wow! Please don't tell me you wanted to build another Eden Prairie high school for your community? I've spoken to many Eden Prairie parents. If they did it all over again. They would've built a second high school in EP. Only makes sense. I would think that someone that has poured blood, sweat and tears into his local community would understand that it's better to give more kids an opportunity to succeed. Versus limiting the chance of making an athletic team.

I got a kick out of your local community when the athletic director and majority of the coaches voted to add on to the existing high school versus building a new high school. Nothing like winning at all costs. Who cares about the bubble players. We need to win attitude.

I thought you would want to give more kids an opportunity to succeed?

The first and primary purpose of a school system is to educate students.
Every thing after that is called extra-curricular activities and is a secondary purpose of the school system. You do not need to spend a minimum of 92 million dollars on brick and mortar to attempt to improve educational standards within a school system.

My stance has nothing to do with sport teams or additional opportunities for kids to play sports. By High School, one of the preparatory tasks is to make sure kids are ready for real life and the competition it holds. That is a parent's role too.

My view as always been, with all my kids, that if it is worth having it is worth earning. It doesn't hold as much value when it is provided to you without much effort being put forward.