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I know we're not talking about a section contender here, or even an average team, but what's the outlook in Ely this year?

With the struggles that Greenway is having, the demise of programs such as Chisholm and Mesabi East, I'm amazed in many ways that Ely still has a team.

I'm guessing numbers are thin? What's the outlook for this year? The future? Will the program exist in five years?

well I don't know a lot about them at all but I was just on their website and counted 19 players. Of these, 15 of them are underclassmen! This includes both goalies. They have 4 eighth graders on this team, which is 4 too many.
But at least they'll get experienced with HS hockey early.

Sounds like a pretty dim outlook this year, but their website shows a pretty easy schedule with the exception of IFalls.

Bumping this back up toward the top. Anybody with some insight on the Timberwolves?

awful

It'll be a rough year for the Timberwolves. I'm shocked and glad they still have a program going; BUT I personally wonder how much longer. I know of a couple "A" teams which they played every year dropped them off their schedule due to..well lack of discipline I believe is what the reason was on the players part. I could be wrong but thats what I had heard.

It's a uphill battle thats for sure! Good Luck!

The Ely program is working just fine. Yes, there are low numbers but that's nothing new for any of the small schools in the state. Youth hockey numbers are up and in a couple of years they will be larger in size.

Instead of starting up rumors and bashing the small school teams why not support them. The kids on these teams deserve to play hockey just as much as large schools do.

As far as Ely loosing games due to discipline issues - why not try the fact that games are being cut due to budget issues and schools wanting to play teams in their district/conference rather than travel to teams out of their playing area.

The Ely team is willing to play anyone in their district - it's not their fault that the "better" teams in the district don't want to play them because they aren't competitive enough. I say why not play Ely - it's another W for your record!!

7ahockeyfan wrote:The Ely program is working just fine. Yes, there are low numbers but that's nothing new for any of the small schools in the state. Youth hockey numbers are up and in a couple of years they will be larger in size.

Instead of starting up rumors and bashing the small school teams why not support them. The kids on these teams deserve to play hockey just as much as large schools do.

As far as Ely loosing games due to discipline issues - why not try the fact that games are being cut due to budget issues and schools wanting to play teams in their district/conference rather than travel to teams out of their playing area.
The Ely team is willing to play anyone in their district - it's not their fault that the "better" teams in the district don't want to play them because they aren't competitive enough. I say why not play Ely - it's another W for your record!!

Because that would be lying!

Moose Lake has always played Ely as for the most recent years has Pequot Lakes (yes travel MIGHT be a little issue...)

I'm a Timberwolf fan, I hope they do very well. I agree 7a...Virginia won't play them; but really what other team are there close to Ely? They play I. Falls, Eveleth, Greenway, Proctor, Duluth Central. Then what? They play Pine City and Walker...(further then Moose Lake)

It is what it is.

What kind of disciplinary issues does this team have?

I heard that moose lake and pequot dropped them inorder to play teams in their conference. And Ely was the farthest travel time away of their non conference games.

Well...I'm not directly with the team; but I could turn that question around and say, "what discipline issues DON'T they have"? But I'll leave it at that. Not sure where your from, but if you ask around it won't be hard to figure out.

Go Wolves!

I am a player on ely. Our program is just fine we have a very bright future. Our first 2 lines are made up of 2 seniors, 1 junior, 4 sophmores, 1 freshman, and 1 8 th grader. The eight grader is one of the best and has 2 goals already. For u guys to sit here and say we have " discipline" issues is ridiculous!!!! Sure we have a bad reputation but come on u know nothing about my team!!!

GoWild wrote:I am a player on ely. Our program is just fine we have a very bright future. Our first 2 lines are made up of 2 seniors, 1 junior, 4 sophmores, 1 freshman, and 1 8 th grader. The eight grader is one of the best and has 2 goals already. For u guys to sit here and say we have " discipline" issues is ridiculous!!!! Sure we have a bad reputation but come on u know nothing about my team!!!

Well put!! This forum can be used for much more constructive things than to belittle a team who has more heart and love for the game than most teams out there. So what if they don't win against the "big schools".

Parents and other vindictive commenters are taking the love for the sport out of these small town kids. Give them a break and let them play the sport they love without be ridiculed because they are not state bound!!

I'd like to congratulate the ely team and coach for never giving up.

GO WOLVES!!

GoWild wrote:I am a player on ely. Our program is just fine we have a very bright future. Our first 2 lines are made up of 2 seniors, 1 junior, 4 sophmores, 1 freshman, and 1 8 th grader. The eight grader is one of the best and has 2 goals already. For u guys to sit here and say we have " discipline" issues is ridiculous!!!! Sure we have a bad reputation but come on u know nothing about my team!!!

GoWild---I wish you and your team nothing but the best of luck!!

BUT--discipline is an issue. 9 penalties vs. Bagley and 9 vs. Lake of the Woods? Please. 18 penalties in 2 games is a discipline issue.

Good luck throughout the season...I'll be cheering your team on!

[BUT--discipline is an issue. 9 penalties vs. Bagley and 9 vs. Lake of the Woods? Please. 18 penalties in 2 games is a discipline issue.

[/quote]

I'm not saying that 18 isn't alot of penalties, but what about some other teams. Are you going to say that Eveleth has a disciplinary problem too since they have had 16 penalties (including 1 big misconduct penalty of 10 minutes)? Or what about greenway with a game ejection for fighting, two harbors with 2 10minute misconducts in one game and hibbing with misconducts.

The game has changed. You will never beat a stronger opponent, maybe anyone, shorthanded. Play the game. Zero penalties has to be the goal.

It seems like the focus of my post has taken a turn.

I think it's great Ely has a program. As I said in my original post, it's amazing Ely is still around when you consider Chisholm and Mesabi East have gone by the wayside and even Greenway, to my understanding, has struggled to put together a team.

Looking at the Falls-Eveleth score, I'm guessing (hoping?) the Wolves have a decent shot against Eveleth.

Here's hoping the Ely hockey program stays alive and get stronger. I really think it would help if Ely, Babbitt and Tower were combined in all winter sports. It might drive some kids who would otherwise play basketball into hockey, and boost those hockey numbers up a bit. It's tough to compete at the varsity level when you have low numbers like Ely and have to rely on eighth and ninth graders.

Put me down as another fan of the Ely hockey program. It is impressive to see eighth- and ninth-graders making solid contributions when there are not enough upper-classmen interested or available (grades 10, 11, and 12). My only concern is that the younger ones get discouraged and quit before they get old enough (strong enough, experienced enough, take your pick) to become very competitive.

GoWild, keep it up. You have fans out here.

Thanks guys! I just get sick of people talking nothing but crap about my team. Just because we don't win and r a small school does not mean we can't play! We just love playing the game win or lose and that's how hockey should be!

GoWild wrote:Thanks guys! I just get sick of people talking nothing but crap about my team. Just because we don't win and r a small school does not mean we can't play! We just love playing the game win or lose and that's how hockey should be!

Lots to be proud of.......Also my favorite jersey (sweater) out there.
GO WOLVES!!!!!!

Go wild don't let the posters get you down. Most have never experienced shoveling off the lake and playing for the pure joy of it even in -20 degree weather. I am sure that still goes on in Ely. People get caught up in wins/losses and when you have a big time hockey program in your school or town nothing else matters. Have fun and tell your team you have a lot of people rooting for you.

GoWild wrote:Thanks guys! I just get sick of people talking nothing but crap about my team. Just because we don't win and r a small school does not mean we can't play! We just love playing the game win or lose and that's how hockey should be!

I wouldn't worry about what other people say. I played hockey for a small town (somebody you played already) and had a lot of fun. I wouldn't trade in that experience for nothing! A lot of people don't understand the struggles for small town hockey teams that are not traditional hockey towns like Warroad or Roseau. Its a struggle to field a team, so you have 8th, 9th, and 10th graders to help fill out your roster and you still may only have 2 full lines. Good luck and keep enjoying the year no matter if you win or lose.

I'm an Ely hockey fan.

Hopefully the younger players don't get discouraged and they stick it out, and hopefully the numbers are built up in the program.

I hope the Wolves have fun, enjoy the season and taste some success.

Nice to see Ely picking up the win tonight, 6-5 over Two Harbors.

[quote="Teak"]Nice to see Ely picking up the win tonight, 6-5 over Two Harbors.[/quote]

thanks we also beat walker 12-4!

Nice wins for the Timberwolves. At Eveleth Tuesday and Greenway Friday. Both appear to be very "winnable" games.

Congratulations on the wins!

Next 2 games can be very winable. Does Greenway still have a team? I thought I heard they folded up camp this year.???