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New conference announced today: Metro West begins play in 2014-15.

Chanhassen
Chaska
Jefferson
Kennedy
Richfield
St. Louis Park
Cooper

any comments?

How long will this marriage last?

I see five inner ring suburbs and two exurban schools. Others are more knowledgeable than I, but my guess is that Chaska and Chanhassen are growing areas. Enrollments at the five inner ring suburbs are probably stable or maybe falling. So I wonder if they are going in the opposite direction as the other five.

The average conference arrangement lasts about as long as the average marriage these days. So maybe they all figure that if it lasts five years or so that's good enough.[/code]

At least in the short run for hockey, it seems like Jefferson is in a league of its own here. Is their long-term outlook really on par with some of these other schools? Or are they just going to have a cakewalk here?

Its not always about hockey people...

hockeydad wrote:New conference announced today: Metro West begins play in 2014-15.

Chanhassen
Chaska
Jefferson
Kennedy
Richfield
St. Louis Park
Cooper

any comments?

Shakopee and Farmington replace the Bloomington schools in SSC 2014-15.

I can understand the logic geographically and school-size wise, but just seems like Jefferson is throwing in the towel. Their strength-of-schedule is going to tank, even if they use the extra five conference games to play tough opponents. And even getting those games might be a problem, since teams still in SSC like Prior Lake or Burnsville will still have a 17 or 18 game conference schedule to deal with.

hockeydad wrote:New conference announced today: Metro West begins play in 2014-15.

Chanhassen
Chaska
Jefferson
Kennedy
Richfield
St. Louis Park
Cooper

any comments?

Wonder why Armstrong doesn't make it 8.

blueblood wrote:Its not always about hockey people...

True that.

They should add AHA into the mix, but then there would be whining I suppose...

Geographically its pretty good, the mix of inner ring schools and exurbs is interesting though. Doubt this will be a long term decision for Chaska/Chanhassen.

Richfield is leaving the CSC, which makes sense considering they are the only school west of the river in the league. I don't know how competitive they will be in the West Metro though, they are hardly world beaters as it is.

Armstrong was asked, they declined saying the like the NWSC.

Regarding hockey, it was stated on this board that Cooper is likely to co-op with Armstrong leaving 6 teams for hockey and a 10 game conference schedule.

For Chanhassen, this will allow them to continue to build a stronger non-conference schedule and reduce their travel / out of school time.

AHA makes sense as another school for this conference.

Is the Missota done? Holy Angels may end up in the Metro West anyway. I remember reading about Red Wing going to the Big 9. Anything come of that? What will New Prague and Northfield do?

stpaul wrote:Is the Missota done? Holy Angels may end up in the Metro West anyway. I remember reading about Red Wing going to the Big 9. Anything come of that? What will New Prague and Northfield do?

Farmington - SSC
Shakopee - SSC
AHA - Tri Metro
Red Wing - Big 9
Chaska - metro west
Chan - metro west

This leaves northfield and new Prague to find homes

In discussing this with 2-3 AD's recently, conference's are mainly dictated by football. This would be a pretty even conference in football then, but Jefferson will roll in hockey. Also, it appears Cooper may co-op, but how much longer will Richfield have hockey? Very low numbers and barely enough to field a varsity team.

In regards to AHA, they are trying to get in the Tri-Metro and have applied. I heard Holy Family isn't happy with their current conference and is trying to do the same.

I thought there was talk of Kennedy and Richfield Co-op. And if Amstrong and Cooper Co-op what conference do they play in? As it stands right now this conference is looking at filling a lot of slots for non Conference games.

As for Holy Family in the Wright County. They will leave and i also think the Wright County is going to change as well.. They added Marshall for football only and lets just say that didn't go over very well!!

The Best in the Bizz3 wrote:

stpaul wrote:Is the Missota done? Holy Angels may end up in the Metro West anyway. I remember reading about Red Wing going to the Big 9. Anything come of that? What will New Prague and Northfield do?

Farmington - SSC
Shakopee - SSC
AHA - Tri Metro
Red Wing - Big 9
Chaska - metro west
Chan - metro west

This leaves northfield and new Prague to find homes

Big Nine...?
Northfield was part of the Big Nine many years ago...
Both Northfield and New Prague play in Section 1 for Hockey, and would fit into the Big Nine in Hockey. Both have had good football and other sports...

Big Nine may then have to split into East/West divisions within Big Nine I would guess, due to number of teams...

What other conference to the west would be an option for Northfield & New Prague... Nothing comes to mind... Unless these two teams move into one of the metro conferences forming...

Red Wing to the Big Nine would give the Big Nine 11 teams, adding Northfield and New Prague as well could work, it would be strange in football but the Hiawatha Valley has made two divisions based on enrollment work pretty well.

Conferences really don't mean much for Football, basketball, hockey, etc.. except for seeding in the State Playoffs.......in my opinion.......Its all about State.......!!

Where conferences matter most is scheduling, it gives you a set amount if guaranteed games or matches. Without them many schools would struggle to get a full schedule.

Conferences are driven mainly by football (best indicator for other sports competitiveness overall compared to conference competition, plus its the largest revenue sport)

There are major change ups in a variety of conferences on the horizon. Metro West is looking to add more than just what has been announced. Red Wing isn't a lock in the Big 9 (for a variety of reasons), Classic Suburban has teams that want a change, SEC has teams that want a change, a couple schools are homeless due to dissolving conferences.

I would expect a lot of announcements around late april early may.

Conferences really don't mean much for Football, basketball, hockey, etc.. except for seeding in the State Playoffs.......in my opinion.......Its all about State.......!!

This ignores the role that a conference plays in building and maintaining a program. Kids don't stick it out in programs (especially in some sports) that are doormats in their conference. For some conferences the difference in enrollment sizes between competing schools can be double (2800 for the largest, 1400 for the smallest)

goldy313 wrote:Red Wing to the Big Nine would give the Big Nine 11 teams, adding Northfield and New Prague as well could work, it would be strange in football but the Hiawatha Valley has made two divisions based on enrollment work pretty well.

If Northfield goes to the Big 9, NP is the odd man out of the shuffle. Sending them to the the Big 9 means there's 13 teams, not 11.

Big 9 East
Roch Century
Roch JM
Roch Mayo
Red Wing
Austin
Winona

Big 9 West
Mankato East
Mankato West
Northfield
Faribault
New Prague
Owatonna
Albert Lea

hockeydad wrote:New conference announced today: Metro West begins play in 2014-15.

Chanhassen
Chaska
Jefferson
Kennedy
Richfield
St. Louis Park
Cooper

any comments?

There goes any possibility of a Farmington or Shakopee win in the South Suburban conference for a while!

Sorry, I meant if the Big nine adds Red Wing to give them 11 teams, 13 isn't really any different, it's still an odd number and means a non conference football game every friday night for someone.

It looks like Missota is gone so these schools will have to go somewhere and the most likely are the Big Nine or South Central, and the Big Nine enrollment wise is a better fit.

Jefferson might as well go Independent for hockey...

This sounds perfect for BSM. They'd probably stay independent for hockey, but the North Suburban Conference is eroding. BSM would love to have nearby opponents that have similar levels of competitiveness in most sports.

Rochester Post Bulletin is reporting that the Big Nine has accepted Red Wing contingent on Northfield also joining, and has issued an invitation to Northfield.