North Metro - Dying Association?

jBlaze3000 · Post by **jBlaze3000** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:36 pm

North Metro Youth Hockey is comprised of Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, and Fridley. I grew up playing in the Brooklyn Park Youth Hockey Association and I remember in Squirts there were 8 teams at the house level alone.

Now they've combined with these other once proud associations and are dropping their A teams (I know there isn't a Squirt A team this year, possibly other levels too). On top of that, their varsity team hasn't won a conference game all year and the past few years have not been much better.

I understand that with the changing demographics it is sometimes necessary to combine with other associations to have a chance to compete but at what point does putting a competitive team on the ice become an exercise in futility?

In my mind it might be best at some point for North Metro to be dissolved into neighboring associations like Osseo, Champlin, and Coon Rapids. The associations that make up North Metro have been on a slow, steady decline for years and (correct me if I'm wrong) I don't see them getting any better IMO. At want point does a move like this happen?

observer · Post by **observer** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:47 pm

The entire discussion is tied to recruiting. The best measure is, how many new mites this year?

More bodies brings more teams, more skaters playing at the appropriate level, more and better volunteers, more revenue and renewed spirit and enthusiasm.

I posted the question, how many new mites this year in the girls youth forum awhile ago and nobody answered. I found that weird. It's really the only competition that matters. I know, teams and scores and all that is fun but the entire future of the association depends on one single thing, recruiting.

Brag about the number of new mites this year as that’s a direct correlation to your association’s future success. That’s the competition that matters. That's worth bragging about.

jBlaze3000 · Post by **jBlaze3000** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:11 pm

So what do you do when the population within your association boundaries gets older and more diverse? Not only are there less kids to choose from as more and more households don't have young kids, but the kids that are there are more diverse and lets face it, a lot of them probably don't consider hockey their favorite sport. It's similar to what's been happening in Minneapolis over the last 20+ years.

I know there are ideas and programs to lure city kids to hockey but I don't think they are successful enough right now to bring an association like North Metro back to life.

observer · Post by **observer** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:33 pm

I'll guess they don't know.

Nobody used to recruit as kids just signed up. That has changed most everywhere now and a pro-active recruiting effort is required. The association recruiting committee is obviously the most important committee there is as the very future of the association rests on their shoulders.

Let's see some numbers.

New mites in North Metro this season? What is being done to grow that number next year?

VicKevlar · Post by **VicKevlar** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 3:46 pm

A number of things led the association now having only about 200 members (down from over 600 just 5 years ago when my youngest finished up)......the first being the resolution of the boundary dispute with Osseo. That set a cutoff date and after that all kids in that area were forced to goto Osseo Youth. Two years ago the boundary dispute with Champlin was resolved.....or should I say the Minnesota Hockey Board "resolved" it but it ended up splitting families. That decision alone dropped the number about 33%.

Most of the kids are from BP and then Fridley. Almost none from CH or BC. Demographics and culture are definitely part of it.

It's gonna be sparse for some years to come...only one A team (Bantam A) that's really a Bantam B1 team at best.

Mites are looking up a bit.....6 Mites 1s, 3 Mite 2s and 2 Mite 3s teams. The real issue I guess is the Board....LOTS and LOTS of turnover and powerplays (if rumors be true). Recruitment is like non-existent.

As to the High School....nobody of any skill stays at North Metro....they leave and goto to Totino Grace (Lodermeier, Smude and Opat off last years Bantam A Team) or they open enroll to Osseo as they've been doing for years (Dahlberg, Sims, Gross, Otto, Stimpson, Pierce, Schipper, etc;).

I figure that unless the NMYHA gets the board focused on recruitment it will fold into Champlin. The High School applied to goto Class A but were turned down.....it wouldnt' suprise me to see if co-op with Osseo at some point in the future.

jBlaze3000 · Post by **jBlaze3000** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 4:04 pm

Thanks for the info VicKevlar, I did not know about all that. I know that Champlin has bought up a lot of ice time in BP this year though. Maybe there is hope in that it sounds like they are still turning out some good players (even if they end up transferring). With only 200 skaters though it's going to be an uphill battle.

MrBoDangles · Post by **MrBoDangles** » Wed Jan 12, 2011 4:10 pm

In NO way should they be in the NWSC. The North Suburban would of been a much better fit to feel a little success in the program. Until people see a HS program that is having some success the thought of increasing numbers will be tough.