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I'm just curious on what everyone thinks about this teams potential. I recently saw a lot of these kids in action and they seem to have quite a bit of talent. They should have two very solid lines and 4 good D...thoughts????

This team definitely has talent. I've heard the coach isn't well liked though, which is too bad. Hopefully that won't start a four page thread complaining about a coach. Personally, I would like to hear some thoughts from those familiar with NSP on the team's prospects this year.

They have top players in Rubellke, McCarver, Hinz. They look like a 5th place team in Classic Surburban. Theu have a weak non confrence schedule that will give them some more wins. Looks like a 15 win season and #5 seed in sections 4.

Jerry Diebel has no interest in having North compete at a high level. He's more than happy getting those 15 wins by playing Como, Chisago, River Falls, StBernards/StAgnes, the SSP tournament and the weak bottom half of the CSC. There is no reason he doesn't challenge his program and team by scheduling his neighbors and similar sized schools like White Bear, Roseville and Stillwater. No wonder the top players from the youth program go to Hill-Murray or WBL or elsewhere.

stpaul I agree 100%. Tough getting him out of there.

North has talent but none of the guys want to stay with the program. Coach needs to go but no one has enough pull to get him out unfortunately. There are coaches willing to take over that would do a much better job with the program but since they're stuck with current staff they're unable to compete.

I totally agree with all the comments about the coaching staff. It's mind boggling that these coaches are still around. When all the feedback you hear is negative it's time to move in another direction!

From watching North in the past, you can expect seeing a very undisciplined team. They do not play their positions well and take a large number of stupid penalties.

The reasons for all of the above posts are because of an administration at the high school that is too closely connected to the coaches. Parents have attempted to get the coaches out (more unified than sarsland) as well as outsiders but they're never successful. Therefore frustration with the coaches and players that are less skilled getting more playing time than they deserve players are reckless and don't play as good of hockey.

The kids are the ones taking the stupid penalites on the ice - not the coaches. I remember watching them play Hill last year in sections - I was amazed when two North kids got in a fight with each other on the ice. How can you blame the coach for that one? The only way is if they were the less skilled players you were talking about and shouldn't have been on the ice to begin with.

Husky88 wrote:The kids are the ones taking the stupid penalites on the ice - not the coaches. I remember watching them play Hill last year in sections - I was amazed when two North kids got in a fight with each other on the ice. How can you blame the coach for that one? The only way is if they were the less skilled players you were talking about and shouldn't have been on the ice to begin with.

Did they each get roughing penalties?

I noticed Ruebellke and McCarver did not play last night against Hopkins. Why not?

I heard that Rubelke injured his wrist playing in Elite league and McCarver sustained a concussion in a scrimmage on Nov 21st.

I don't think i've ever heard of more cases of kids quitting hockey because of coaching than at NSP. Almost sad. Bulldoze that ice box they call an arena, hire a guy who knows a least something about coaching a hockey team, and maybe NSP can start rebuilding the dynasty they were ages ago.

Define "dynasty".

ok, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration. but the lynch, hedican era

From 1978-1983 they were in 5 section 3 finals and 1 state tourney in 1981. Not a bad run.

I'll go back even farther. Their 1967 team was a good one. They lost to Johnson in the semis and Hibbing in the third place game. They had two very good players, I think one of them was Craig Sarner but I can't think of the other one's name.