North Branch

[MrBoDangles]

This team has made big strides since starting last season ranked 152nd out of 155 teams.

04-05 1-14-0
05-06 0-22-2
06-07 1-25-0
07-08 1-19-0
08-09 4-15-0
09-10 10-4-3 so far through the toughest part of their schedule (8 games left)

The future also looks bright with some great underclassmen.

Highlights of the year so far..... A 3-3 tie against Little Falls. I know they're not the same team as last year, it was just nice to hang with that type of program. Also won the Burnett tournament.
Lowlights.. losing to Henry Sibley 4-3 after outshooting them 40-26 and the one conference loss to Mpls East after also outshooting them.

NO ARENA- The kicker is these players have to get up as early as 3: 45 am to catch a bus at NB HS. The bus then takes them to Chisago Lales arena for a 5:30 am practice. They then jump back on the bus to make it to school for the day. This has to end..... They either need an arena quick, or need to merge with another team.

Next game is Friday against Cambridge- Isanti... Should be interesting with the NB, C-I and CINB fans all there.

[Roseauverrated]

Look out Minnetonka, I think we may have finally found a team that can beat you!!!

[northwoods oldtimer]

mrbodangles, that is a nice turn around for the program to get 10 wins already. Based on past records that is enormous improvement in a program.

[observer]

New and different conference and schedule lead to the improved record.

[MrBoDangles]

New and different conference and schedule lead to the improved record.

This is their 3rd or 4th year not in the North Suburban and the in conference schedule was shortened at that time. The teams they are beating big now had beat us big up until this year. They also had a non conference schedule back in the day against these same teams and obviously didn't fair well.
I used to think you were smart from some of your posts about youth hockey. Do some research before you comment.

We bought our house young before our sons were born
(Neglected to think about future hockey). I''ts good to see some positives.....

[TTpuckster]

New and different conference and schedule lead to the improved record.

This is their 3rd or 4th year not in the North Suburban and the in conference schedule was shortened at that time. The teams they are beating big now had beat us big up until this year. They also had a non conference schedule back in the day against these same teams and obviously didn't fair well.
I used to think you were smart from some of your posts about youth hockey. Do some research before you comment.

We bought our house young before our sons were born
(Neglected to think about future hockey). I''ts good to see some positives.....

Agreed, and nice to see NB improving.

Every time a new program starts and grows, that is good news.
Hats off to North Branch.

[observer]

Oops, sorry about that. Is the future as bright or is it just a nice bubble of players coming through? I presume the community and youth association is growing, or was. No rink is a big bummer. Don't know how you even have a youth association without an arena.

I was at the new Waconia Arena recently. Very nice. I guess they used to drive to Victoria for all their youth practices. Their future just got a lot brighter. People select homes based on community amenities and facilities. I think I saw their Squirt A team won a tourney recently.

[northwoods oldtimer]

observer is correct you gotta have a rink!

[Mite-dad]

This team has made big strides since starting last season ranked 152nd out of 155 teams.

04-05 1-14-0
05-06 0-22-2
06-07 1-25-0
07-08 1-19-0
08-09 4-15-0
09-10 10-4-3 so far through the toughest part of their schedule (8 games left)

The future also looks bright with some great underclassmen.

Highlights of the year so far..... A 3-3 tie against Little Falls. I know they're not the same team as last year, it was just nice to hang with that type of program. Also won the Burnett tournament.
Lowlights.. losing to Henry Sibley 4-3 after outshooting them 40-26 and the one conference loss to Mpls East after also outshooting them.

NO ARENA- The kicker is these players have to get up as early as 3: 45 am to catch a bus at NB HS. The bus then takes them to Chisago Lales arena for a 5:30 am practice. They then jump back on the bus to make it to school for the day. This has to end..... They either need an arena quick, or need to merge with another team.

Next game is Friday against Cambridge- Isanti... Should be interesting with the NB, C-I and CINB fans all there.

I talked to one of the Little Falls coaches and he said they were surprised by North Branch's speed and hustle. That said, LF is basically a very, very good Bantam A team this year. I'm not sure I'd call that a highlight, but whatever I guess.

[Goldfishdude]

Hey Bo Bo.... you beat me to this thread. I was actually going to bring this up, but thought that no one would care.

I can tell you the difference. Goaltending.

I am a friend of a relative of last year's goalie, Nick Miller, who, if I remember correctly, last year established school records with a NEW best goals-against-average of like 6.50 or something. If I also remember, his save percentage was under 80%.

I look at what Hunter Miska is doing, and he's a 9th grader, and even though his GAA is 3.50, he has an impressive .895 save %. He has averaged about 33 shots faced per game, and 9 of his 16 games he has faced atleast 30 shots, two games over 40 and one with 57 shots and only 4 goals - a .930 save %.

Those numbers are going to help you win games. But it also looks like NB is getting some offensive production. After 17 games, Jarrett Sachs has 23 G amd 17 A, Layne Noyes 17 G and 34 pts, and 5 more guys with 19+ points.

It's a great turnaround for the program.

I agree with the arena aspect. I think it was the 2000 census that said that North Branch was the largest growing city in Minnesota. With the Outlet Center there, and a new Pamida or whatever is there, what an opportunity to take and raise tax dollars from those venues, build an arena that is suitable to host tournaments for every level, and then visitors can shop in stores not normally available.

Not that Miska wouldn't of beaten out Nick Miller this year anyway, but I think Miller didn't even want to try out this year, because of the practice hours. I know if I was a parent, I would be up in arms at the hours.

Is it viable for the MSHSL to step in and force arenas that sell ice time to programs like North Branch preferential treatment and grant them better hours... even if it's 10 p.m. ???? After all, youth programs are the feeders or HS, and those teams should take a back seat to a HS program.

[Pioneerprideguy]

So the word on the streets is that North Branch is growing some talent, huh? May have to send some associates up there to check it out. Who knows, there may be a player in need of a parochial education.

[MrBoDangles]

Oops, sorry about that. Is the future as bright or is it just a nice bubble of players coming through? I presume the community and youth association is growing, or was. No rink is a big bummer. Don't know how you even have a youth association without an arena.

I was at the new Waconia Arena recently. Very nice. I guess they used to drive to Victoria for all their youth practices. Their future just got a lot brighter. People select homes based on community amenities and facilities. I think I saw their Squirt A team won a tourney recently.

Our town doesn't believe that you get a tax base from city amenities.

The freshmen through junior class look strong. All the NB kids (6-7?) stayed from from the A-Bantam team that did very well in the VFW State Tournament.

134 mites this year. I've heard Forest Lake is the only one with more in this area. Pretty amazing with no rink........

[MrBoDangles]

Hey Bo Bo.... you beat me to this thread. I was actually going to bring this up, but thought that no one would care.

I can tell you the difference. Goaltending.

I am a friend of a relative of last year's goalie, Nick Miller, who, if I remember correctly, last year established school records with a NEW best goals-against-average of like 6.50 or something. If I also remember, his save percentage was under 80%.

I look at what Hunter Miska is doing, and he's a 9th grader, and even though his GAA is 3.50, he has an impressive .895 save %. He has averaged about 33 shots faced per game, and 9 of his 16 games he has faced atleast 30 shots, two games over 40 and one with 57 shots and only 4 goals - a .930 save %.

Those numbers are going to help you win games. But it also looks like NB is getting some offensive production. After 17 games, Jarrett Sachs has 23 G amd 17 A, Layne Noyes 17 G and 34 pts, and 5 more guys with 19+ points.

It's a great turnaround for the program.

I agree with the arena aspect. I think it was the 2000 census that said that North Branch was the largest growing city in Minnesota. With the Outlet Center there, and a new Pamida or whatever is there, what an opportunity to take and raise tax dollars from those venues, build an arena that is suitable to host tournaments for every level, and then visitors can shop in stores not normally available.

Not that Miska wouldn't of beaten out Nick Miller this year anyway, but I think Miller didn't even want to try out this year, because of the practice hours. I know if I was a parent, I would be up in arms at the hours.

Is it viable for the MSHSL to step in and force arenas that sell ice time to programs like North Branch preferential treatment and grant them better hours... even if it's 10 p.m. ???? After all, youth programs are the feeders or HS, and those teams should take a back seat to a HS program.

Thanks for the nice comments.

[observer]

Also visited LeSueur this year. The community center, and rink, does so much more than just serve the hockey community. Theirs has a pool and health club all rolled into the same building. Right next door to the high school and their outdoor athletic facilities. They can host a number of community events that really grow pride in the community. It can't be presented as a facility that only benefits 10% of the total population. There needs to be benefit for the entire community.

Also, don't reinvent the wheel North Branch. Talk to Waconia and LeSueur and find out how they got it done. How'd they finance? How does the financial future look?

[MrBoDangles]

So the word on the streets is that North Branch is growing some talent, huh? May have to send some associates up there to check it out. Who knows, there may be a player in need of a parochial education.

STA went up to Pine City to nab Christian Isaakson...... The NB program has too much to offer for that to happen.

[old goalie85]

I grew up in F.L. I remember when we got our first rink. It was an great lift to the program. Now we have even more ice with the two new sheets. I hope our friends to the north get a rink for all those mites good luck North Branch.

[zooomx]

I attended North Branch H.S. in the 80's. I was always disappointed that we didn't have a hockey team back in the day. I live up in Alex and both my kids play. It has been fun watching NB's program grow from afar and I really hope they get a rink built. My friends up here are amazed that we didn't have a team or rink with our location, not even an hour north of the cities.

From my recollection, NB can be a difficult town to get things done. I hope the team's success helps the cause.

[hockeydad]

The Le Sueur community center was built in the 70s and had a major remodelling about 8 years ago. It was very rare for a town of that size to have something like that (Le Sueur was much bigger in the 70s) Much of the money for building it came from Green Giant, which used to be headquartered there before it was sold to Pillsbury. Not sure that model will work with North Branch, but agree that the community center is an asset to Le Sueur.

[zooomx]

With a little googling, I found an article that the NBAHA is working with the city of Stacy to try to get something done. Have you heard if there is progress with that avenue?

[HShockeywatcher]

So the word on the streets is that North Branch is growing some talent, huh? May have to send some associates up there to check it out. Who knows, there may be a player in need of a parochial education.

STA went up to Pine City to nab Christian Isaakson...... The NB program has too much to offer for that to happen.

When did St Thomas' team get good? .... When they got a rink on campus

Also visited LeSueur this year. The community center, and rink, does so much more than just serve the hockey community. Theirs has a pool and health club all rolled into the same building. Right next door to the high school and their outdoor athletic facilities. They can host a number of community events that really grow pride in the community. It can't be presented as a facility that only benefits 10% of the total population. There needs to be benefit for the entire community.

Also, don't reinvent the wheel North Branch. Talk to Waconia and LeSueur and find out how they got it done. How'd they finance? How does the financial future look?

observer hit the nail right on the head. Don't just get one ice sheet like STA did. [At least] two ice sheets is so much better for holding tournaments/running more than one organization. I look at Chaska, they have a community center where their ice is with a pool and other community amenities. And if I remember correctly, it's right next to 2 of the middle schools and near the high school.

[MrBoDangles]

observer is correct you gotta have a rink!

Yes! I think they're taking donations on the NB website. It would be nice to see northwoods oldtimer engraved on a brick.

[MrBoDangles]

With a little googling, I found an article that the NBAHA is working with the city of Stacy to try to get something done. Have you heard if there is progress with that avenue?

Same old stuff......

[MrBoDangles]

posted wrong

[MrBoDangles]

This team has made big strides since starting last season ranked 152nd out of 155 teams.

04-05 1-14-0
05-06 0-22-2
06-07 1-25-0
07-08 1-19-0
08-09 4-15-0
09-10 10-4-3 so far through the toughest part of their schedule (8 games left)

The future also looks bright with some great underclassmen.

Highlights of the year so far..... A 3-3 tie against Little Falls. I know they're not the same team as last year, it was just nice to hang with that type of program. Also won the Burnett tournament.
Lowlights.. losing to Henry Sibley 4-3 after outshooting them 40-26 and the one conference loss to Mpls East after also outshooting them.

NO ARENA- The kicker is these players have to get up as early as 3: 45 am to catch a bus at NB HS. The bus then takes them to Chisago Lales arena for a 5:30 am practice. They then jump back on the bus to make it to school for the day. This has to end..... They either need an arena quick, or need to merge with another team.

Next game is Friday against Cambridge- Isanti... Should be interesting with the NB, C-I and CINB fans all there.

I talked to one of the Little Falls coaches and he said they were surprised by North Branch's speed and hustle. That said, LF is basically a very, very good Bantam A team this year. I'm not sure I'd call that a highlight, but whatever I guess.

One team was 152nd out of 155. The other team was 28-0 and favored to win it all. I know that LF is down, but you need to understand where NB came from........

[greatone]

It is amazing to see North Branch be in the winning column. I played against North Branch years ago, and it was not good. We usually sat our first line or two when we played them, and still managed to win by 15. To see them beat some of those teams that used to crush them is great. It is always nice to see a program going in the right direction. The big question will be can they keep it going this way. I know the numbers are up in the lower ranks, and it depends on an arena, and I think they have a new coach this year, it will be fun to see if he stays around and tries to continue to build the program. Looks like they will be making a run at the new Two Rivers Conference Champs. Not the strongest conference in whole world, but hey at least they are in a conference instead of trying to pick up non conference games. It gives the kids on weaker teams something to play for. (knowing that in sections, they don't have much of a shot) Good luck to them in the future.......