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I’m sure I’m not alone in noticing that the Class 2A teams from Northern Minnesota — especially those from Section 7AA — have become much less competitive over the past few years. I started to see this last year and it’s become even more obvious this year. Not surprisingly no team north of Wright County is represented in this year’s AA Tournament. I think this is unfortunate and hope that it’s a trend that doesn’t last too long.

I took a look at the season—ending QRF rankings for the four 7AA northern teams and compared them to where they finished the previous three years. As expected the trend has been going in the wrong direction:

………….2007/08 - - - 2008/09 - - - 2009/10 - - - 2010/11
GR/G ….... 2…..………………6……………….31………………..27
C-E-C ….. 14 ………………..15……………..35 ……………….37
P/H/M .....15 ………………..12 ……………..23 ……………….39
Duluth .....12 ………………..10……………..32……………....49
Avg QRF 10.75 ……………10.75 …….…30.25 ……….…. 38

In Section 8AA Roseau, Bemidji and Moorhead have also slipped compared to where they were several years ago. Roseau, which was ranked #2 in Class A in 2008/09 and #6 when they went AA in 2009/10, slipped all the way to #20 this year. If you go back to 2006/07 Bemidji was #2 in AA but finished this year at #53. Moorhead was #14 in 2006/07 and this year was #46.

Class A on the other hand remains relatively strong in the north. Warroad is the obvious prime example – they are one of the State’s top teams regardless of class. Crookston and East Grand Forks were also very competitive this year. But these three teams are all from the State’s far northwestern corner. The lone geographic exception this year is Eveleth-Gilbert, which did make the A tournament and have been seeded 4th. But it’s just them and Warroad, and both are Class A.

So I’m left wondering: when can we expect to see a “Resurgence of the North” in AA, and what will have to happen to reverse the negative trend?

Numbers is the biggest issue. Most of the programs up here struggle to keep girls playing passed the 12U level. There were only five 14UA teams north of St. Cloud. Of those five, at least two are discussing a move to a JV rather than 14UA.

20 new mite girls in the fall or it's over.

How bout we put Warroads recruits back on there "home" teams. Warroad is no longer best team. GRG makes state playoffs. Hmmmm. Local kids would play more as well.

hometown warrior wrote:How bout we put Warroads recruits back on there "home" teams. Warroad is no longer best team. GRG makes state playoffs. Hmmmm. Local kids would play more as well.

Warroad was not one of the five with 14U. They decided to have a JV this year instead due to numbers problems. Grand Rapids has not had 14U in at least three years.

State Champ 97 wrote:Warroad was not one of the five with 14U. They decided to have a JV this year instead due to numbers problems. Grand Rapids has not had 14U in at least three years.

It's a shame the numbers are down as much as you indicate. I'm guessing the poor economy has had some impact, but that can't be totally it because there are still some very strong boys teams up there...Duluth East, Grand Rapids and Hermantown to name three. Girls seem to be down much more than the boys.

hometown warrior wrote:How bout we put Warroads recruits back on there "home" teams. Warroad is no longer best team. GRG makes state playoffs. Hmmmm. Local kids would play more as well.

HAHA Let it go...its not healthy to hold on to that anger for so long.

MNHockeyFan wrote:

State Champ 97 wrote:Warroad was not one of the five with 14U. They decided to have a JV this year instead due to numbers problems. Grand Rapids has not had 14U in at least three years.

It's a shame the numbers are down as much as you indicate. I'm guessing the poor economy has had some impact, but that can't be totally it because there are still some very strong boys teams up there...Duluth East, Grand Rapids and Hermantown to name three. Girls seem to be down much more than the boys.

Northern teams should all be in single A where they belong due to poor develoment compared to metro and small numbers.

northwoods oldtimer wrote:

MNHockeyFan wrote:

State Champ 97 wrote:Warroad was not one of the five with 14U. They decided to have a JV this year instead due to numbers problems. Grand Rapids has not had 14U in at least three years.

It's a shame the numbers are down as much as you indicate. I'm guessing the poor economy has had some impact, but that can't be totally it because there are still some very strong boys teams up there...Duluth East, Grand Rapids and Hermantown to name three. Girls seem to be down much more than the boys.

Northern teams should all be in single A where they belong due to poor develoment compared to metro and small numbers.

Problem is many northern teams are forced to join a co-op to have enough girls to field a team. By doing this the MSHL takes the number of students per school and this determines if you are A or AA. This often forces teams like Dulth, PHM, GRG and Cloquet to play at the AA level. It is sad when you go down to play Tonka and Edina and they have more kids playing on their 14U teams then these schools have in their whole program.

northwoods oldtimer wrote:

MNHockeyFan wrote:

State Champ 97 wrote:Warroad was not one of the five with 14U. They decided to have a JV this year instead due to numbers problems. Grand Rapids has not had 14U in at least three years.

It's a shame the numbers are down as much as you indicate. I'm guessing the poor economy has had some impact, but that can't be totally it because there are still some very strong boys teams up there...Duluth East, Grand Rapids and Hermantown to name three. Girls seem to be down much more than the boys.

Northern teams should all be in single A where they belong due to poor develoment compared to metro and small numbers.

There is some truth to the poor development. There are so many more oppurtunities in the Twin Cities for hockey development and exposure (which is another subject). There are also specific camps that focus on specific areas of the game such as shooting, skating, over speed, and so on. I will also say that it is very hard to attract quality coaches to the Northland. Obviously many more oppurtunities in the Mpls/St Paul area. Coaches in the North tend to be the teacher in the school best qualified to coach hockey. Sad