AA & A youth hockey associations

[elliott70]

NOTE: THE ASSOCIATIONS LISTED AS 'A' ARE NOT NECESSARILY PLAYING 'A' HOCKEY.
AS AN EXAMPLE SEE DISTRICT 16.


District 2 AA Association:
Forest Lake
Moundsview
Roseville
Stillwater
White Bear Lake

District 2 A Associations
North St. Paul
Tartan
Highland Central
Mahtomedi

District 3 AA Associations
Osseo/Maple Grove
Wayzata
Minneapolis Hockey
North Metro

District 3 A Associations
Armstrong/Cooper
Hopkins
Mound/West Tonka
Crow River
Orono
St. Louis Park

District 4 A Associations
Fairmont
Luverne
Marshall
Redwood Falls
New Ulm/Sleepy Eye
Windom
Worthington

District 5 AA Associations
Buffalo
MAML
St. Cloud
St. Michael/Albertville
River Lakes

District 5 A Associations
Becker/Big Lake
Hutchinson
LDC
Sartell
Sauk Rapids
Willmar

District 6 AA Associations
Bloomington Jefferson
Burnsville
Eden Prairie
Edina
Minnetonka
Prior Lake/Savage
Chaska Chanhasen

District 6 A Associations
Bloomington Kennedy
Shakopee
New Prague
Richfield
Waconia

District 8 AA Associations
Apple Valley
Eagan
Eastview
Farmington
Hastings
Lakeville North & South
Rosemount
Woodbury
Como/Johnson
Cottage Grove

District 8 A Associations
Inver Grove Heights
Sibley/West St. Paul
South St. Paul

District 9 AA Associations
Owatonna
Rochester
Winona

District 9 A Associations
Albert Lea
Austin
Faribault
La Crescent
LaSueur
Mankato
Montgomery
Dodge County
Northfield
Red Wing
St. Peter
Waseca
Winona

District 10 AA Associations
Andover
Anoka
Blaine
Centennial
Champlin Park
ELk River
Rogers

District 10 A Associations
Irondale
St. Francis
Coon Rapids
Cambridge/Isanti/Mora
Hinckley
Mora
North Branch
Pine City
Princeton
Rogers
Spring Lake Park

District 11 AA Associations
Cloquet
Duluth East

District 11 A Associations
Carlton
Cook County
Esko
Hermantown
Moose Lake
Proctor
Silver Bay
Twig
Two Harbors

District 12 AA Associations
Grand Rapids
Hibbing/Chisholm

District 12 A Association
Ely
Eveleth/Gilbert
Greenway
International Falls
Mesabi East
Virginia

District 15 AA Associations
Brainerd
Moorhead
Aiken/Crosby/Ironton

District 15 A Associations
Alexandria
Benson
Detriot Lakes
Fergus Falls
Long Prairie
Morris
Park Rapids
Pequot Lakes
Perham
Sauk Center
Wadena
Walker

District 16 AA Associations
Bemidji AA, A & B1
Roseau AA & B1
East Grand Forks AA AND UNDECIDED ON OTHER TEAMS

District 16 A Associations
Theif River Falls A & B
Crookston A & B
Bagley B ONLY
Hallock B ONLY
Lake of the Woods A
Red Lake Falls B ONLY
Warroad A AND B

[elliott70]

If I counted correctly 52 AA teams.

Unknown number of A teams as some of the AA's may have an A team and some of the A associaitons may not field an A team.

[Bleed Maroon and Gold]

District 2 AA Association:
Forest Lake
Moundsview
Roseville
Stillwater
White Bear Lake

District 2 A Associations
North St. Paul
Tartan
Highland Central
Mahtomedi

District 3 AA Associations
Osseo/Maple Grove
Wayzata
Minneapolis Hockey
North Metro

District 3 A Associations
Armstrong/Cooper
Hopkins
Mound/West Tonka
Crow River
Orono
St. Louis Park

District 4 A Associations
Fairmont
Luverne
Marshall
Redwood Falls
New Ulm/Sleepy Eye
Windom
Worthington

District 5 AA Associations
Buffalo
MAML
St. Cloud
St. Michael/Albertville
River Lakes

District 5 A Associations
Becker/Big Lake
Hutchinson
LDC
Sartell
Sauk Rapids
Willmar

District 6 AA Associations
Bloomington Jefferson
Burnsville
Eden Prairie
Edina
Minnetonka
Prior Lake/Savage
Chaska Chanhasen

District 6 A Associations
Bloomington Kennedy
Shakopee
New Prague
Richfield
Waconia

District 8 AA Associations
Apple Valley
Eagan
Eastview
Farmington
Hastings
Lakeville North & South
Rosemount
Woodbury
Como/Johnson
Cottage Grove

District 8 A Associations
Inver Grove Heights
Sibley/West St. Paul
South St. Paul

District 9 AA Associations
Owatonna
Rochester
Winona

District 9 A Associations
Albert Lea
Austin
Faribault
La Crescent
LaSueur
Mankato
Montgomery
Dodge County
Northfield
Red Wing
St. Peter
Waseca
Winona

District 10 AA Associations
Andover
Anoka
Blaine
Centennial
Champlin Park
ELk River
Rogers

District 10 A Associations
Irondale
St. Francis
Coon Rapids
Cambridge/Isanti/Mora
Hinckley
Mora
North Branch
Pine City
Princeton
Rogers
Spring Lake Park

District 11 AA Associations
Cloquet
Duluth East

District 11 A Associations
Carlton
Cook County
Esko
Hermantown
Moose Lake
Proctor
Silver Bay
Twig
Two Harbors

District 12 AA Associations
Grand Rapids
Hibbing/Chisholm

District 12 A Association
Ely
Eveleth/Gilbert
Greenway
International Falls
Mesabi East
Virginia

District 15 AA Associations
Brainerd
Moorhead
Aiken/Crosby/Ironton

District 15 A Associations
Alexandria
Benson
Detriot Lakes
Fergus Falls
Long Prairie
Morris
Park Rapids
Pequot Lakes
Perham
Sauk Center
Wadena
Walker

District 16 AA Associations
Bemidji
Roseau
East Grand Forks

District 16 A Associations
Theif River Falls
Crookston
Bagley
Hallock
Lake of the Woods
Red Lake Falls
Warroad

Elliot Irondale and St Francis will be co-oping this season and will field AA teams at both Bantams and Pee Wee's.

[MrBoDangles]

I'm excited to see that Hinckley A team. #16 and #24 are studs!

[elliott70]

Elliot Irondale and St Francis will be co-oping this season and will field AA teams at both Bantams and Pee Wee's.

This was as of the weekend.
Have they made their formal request?
If not, they had better hurry.

[elliott70]

I'm excited to see that Hinckley A team. #16 and #24 are studs!

I'll take your word for that.
But not sure they are playing A hockey.

[BadgerBob82]

From District 9. Rochester will have AA and A. Winona hasn't fielded an A team for a few years at PW or Bantam (I think) Can't believe they are doing both?

[elliott70]

From District 9. Rochester will have AA and A. Winona hasn't fielded an A team for a few years at PW or Bantam (I think) Can't believe they are doing both?

Winona is not necessarily doing both.
This is their classification.
They have not as of yet requested not to be AA.
So as of (last weekend) were AA and then whatever....

[Shinbone_News]

A couple of thoughts that add up to "what a mess!"

> Why is Rochester AA and Mankato A? Aside from tradition, Rochester youth association feeds 3 public schools and one private, Mankato's feeds 2 publics and one private school (OK, Loyola doesn't have a team). Not saying this is wrong, I just wonder what the logic is.

>Agree that it's bizarre to class Winona AA. Owatonna only slightly less so. They will have zero chance of seeing much post-season play, which was the whole point of the new designations, right?

>Why is North Metro AA? They have had trouble fielding ANY team at some ages/levels in recent years (this makes me sad, BTW).

>What will happen with Minneapolis? They seem like the test case for MN Hockey's intentions with the proposal. Based on size of association, no question it should be AA. Based on parity of competition, probably should be A. (Although if they go AA and skip A, their B1 teams could be real gamers.)

>Interesting to see the smaller way-north metro associations co-oping and opting up to AA. I guess that's where all the malcontents live who are constantly paranoid that someone somewhere else is getting a leg up on development (looking at you, Bo).

>Forgive, but I don't know: Does Lakeville split North and South at the youth level too?

>You have Rogers listed as both AA and A.

>Hibbing/Chisholm AA? Really?

>Aiken/Crosby/Ironton at AA... see Winona and Owatonna.

>Warroad: Where is the pride? C'mon and step it up to AA .What, are we never going to see you play Roseau again at any level????

>I want a Twig jersey!


I'm sure there are questions like this all up and down the list.

[BadgerBob82]

I assume Winona will opt down to A if not stay at B1. Mankato may have opted/approved to A and probably rightly so. Owatonna also better suited for A.

I still hope after year 1, associations will see where the correct level of play and number of teams is for their association.

I would repeat Rochester should not have been kicked out of District 8. Having only 1 AA team in District 9 seems foolish. Especially when you look past the boy programs and realize D9 has minimal girl programs.

[MrBoDangles]

I'm excited to see that Hinckley A team. #16 and #24 are studs!

I'll take your word for that.
But not sure they are playing A hockey.

I think their association was one mite team last year.

Any smaller out there?

[observer]

Silly stuff. Is this all because some dads didn't want to say their son played on a B team?

[elliott70]

I'm excited to see that Hinckley A team. #16 and #24 are studs!

I'll take your word for that.
But not sure they are playing A hockey.

I think their association was one mite team last year.

Any smaller out there?

Blackduck has one mite team.
Not sure about Twig...

[TTpuckster]

A couple of thoughts that add up to "what a mess!"

> Why is Rochester AA and Mankato A? Aside from tradition, Rochester youth association feeds 3 public schools and one private, Mankato's feeds 2 publics and one private school (OK, Loyola doesn't have a team). Not saying this is wrong, I just wonder what the logic is.

>Agree that it's bizarre to class Winona AA. Owatonna only slightly less so. They will have zero chance of seeing much post-season play, which was the whole point of the new designations, right?

>Why is North Metro AA? They have had trouble fielding ANY team at some ages/levels in recent years (this makes me sad, BTW).

>What will happen with Minneapolis? They seem like the test case for MN Hockey's intentions with the proposal. Based on size of association, no question it should be AA. Based on parity of competition, probably should be A. (Although if they go AA and skip A, their B1 teams could be real gamers.)

>Interesting to see the smaller way-north metro associations co-oping and opting up to AA. I guess that's where all the malcontents live who are constantly paranoid that someone somewhere else is getting a leg up on development (looking at you, Bo).

>Forgive, but I don't know: Does Lakeville split North and South at the youth level too?

>You have Rogers listed as both AA and A.

>Hibbing/Chisholm AA? Really?

>Aiken/Crosby/Ironton at AA... see Winona and Owatonna.

>Warroad: Where is the pride? C'mon and step it up to AA .What, are we never going to see you play Roseau again at any level????

>I want a Twig jersey!


I'm sure there are questions like this all up and down the list.

I want a Twig jersey also.

[old goalie85]

White Bear going AA/ B1. What up?? Grow some Balls !!!!

[pineline]

I'm not a WBL guy but unless D2 is going to go with seperate leagues for AA & A I can understand the thinking. Some of the first year Bantams going up against some of the bigger 2nd year players don't stand a chance. You could be talking about player 1 against player 30 from the association, if WBL AA vs WBL A. Now do any of the AA teams benefit from playing the A teams? Do any of the A teams benefit from getting their lunch handed to them by a AA team?

Associations in D6 had to ask themselves the same question in determining what to do. But, I believe that D6 is going the way of having seperate leagues for AA & A.

[old goalie85]

So if the new system won't work for a top assc. like WBL who will it work for. I thought that the point was to give player "30" the shot @ playing A/AA. If everyone just does whatever this thing is going to be a ZOO. Tournaments should be interesting thats for sure.

[OGEE OGELTHORPE]

Forget the Zoo old goalie.

Youth hockey has turned into a Circus with a bunch of Clowns running the Bigtop.

[ogelthorpe]

White Bear going AA/ B1. What up?? Grow some Balls !!!!

From what I understand WBL was the only D2 assoc considering the AA and A teams, and just decided it was best for their kids to play B1 to match the other AA programs in the district.

[old goalie85]

So Stillwater is just as "guilty". Both are the "type" of assc. that I would have thought could really benifit from this deal. They could develope more kids. So now I see. Things are the same for the big programs/ teams like FL have zero hope now of ever going to state. Thanx Mn Hockey!!!!!!!!!

[ogelthorpe]

So Stillwater is just as "guilty". Both are the "type" of assc. that I would have thought could really benifit from this deal. They could develope more kids. So now I see. Things are the same for the big programs/ teams like FL have zero hope now of ever going to state. Thanx Mn Hockey!!!!!!!!!

The issue started when MH allowed AA team to field A teams. If I remember right, the original proposal was to just split at playoffs. So if you are a AA association you have your one or two A teams during the year and the only time it changed was playoffs. So if you have two A teams in Edina, Wayzata, WBL, etc... they both are in the AA tournament. The original design was to give small schools (designation based on HS fed) associations a chance, not to give big associations another level to dominate at. So I think D2 is actually operating under the spirit of the original rule. Good or bad, who knows. I don't think we can judge based on this year. It will eventually work itself out, if D2 was wrong to do it this way they will adjust.

[elliott70]

So Stillwater is just as "guilty". Both are the "type" of assc. that I would have thought could really benifit from this deal. They could develope more kids. So now I see. Things are the same for the big programs/ teams like FL have zero hope now of ever going to state. Thanx Mn Hockey!!!!!!!!!

One of the reasons I voted 'no'.

[observer]

Considering there is zero organizational connection between youth hockey associations and high schools I'm still confused how the governing body of youth hockey associations doesn't understand that.

Other than being friendly towards one another there is no connection. Different legal structure, roles and responsibilities.

Definitely going from bad to worse, fast.

[Shinbone_News]

Considering there is zero organizational connection between youth hockey associations and high schools I'm still confused how the governing body of youth hockey associations doesn't understand that.

Other than being friendly towards one another there is no connection.

Not strictly true. MANY associations have the feeder high school's head coach as ACE director on their Board and/or hockey committee. There seems to be a movement afoot to create a more direct relationship in many associations around the state -- all a part of the same defensive posture to keep community-based hockey strong. Many HS head coaches run summer development programs for their feeder associations. And high school varsity is where almost every Minnesota kid hopes to one day play.

Various posters frequently make this point and I'm not sure why. (Though, yes, the AA vs. A split, meant to mimic the high school system, is a complete mess.) I think the MSHSL is sort of a joke, and it succeeds in spite of itself, where MN Hockey is a much better run institution. MSHSL hockey would not exist in any meaningful way without MN Hockey doing all the recruiting and development of every single player who ends up making that varsity team. As the head coach of Eagan recently told a roomful of Level 4's, the varsity program is just the very tip of the iceberg -- the rest of it is the youth association, its parents, and its volunteers. This is not true of any other sport that the MSHSL oversees, not even soccer, baseball or football.

[JSR]

Considering there is zero organizational connection between youth hockey associations and high schools I'm still confused how the governing body of youth hockey associations doesn't understand that.

Other than being friendly towards one another there is no connection.

Not strictly true. MANY associations have the feeder high school's head coach as ACE director on their Board and/or hockey committee. There seems to be a movement afoot to create a more direct relationship in many associations around the state -- all a part of the same defensive posture to keep community-based hockey strong. Many HS head coaches run summer development programs for their feeder associations. And high school varsity is where almost every Minnesota kid hopes to one day play.

Various posters frequently make this point and I'm not sure why. (Though, yes, the AA vs. A split, meant to mimic the high school system, is a complete mess.) I think the MSHSL is sort of a joke, and it succeeds in spite of itself, where MN Hockey is a much better run institution. MSHSL hockey would not exist in any meaningful way without MN Hockey doing all the recruiting and development of every single player who ends up making that varsity team. As the head coach of Eagan recently told a roomful of Level 4's, the varsity program is just the very tip of the iceberg -- the rest of it is the youth association, its parents, and its volunteers. This is not true of any other sport that the MSHSL oversees, not even soccer, baseball or football.

Can't speak about MSHSL but it probably depends on the state or community. I can tell you that exact statement from that high school coach rings true reegarding the soccer program in our city. Our high school is the beneficiary of a unbelieveable youth program in soccer (and it's parents, volunteers and coaches) not the other way around.