HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

On another thread, 'community based' suggested a third class in hockey for the 'power teams'.
I may not be quoting exactly but pull out the super large metro schools, some privates and the outstate perennial powers. Place them in AAA or such, similar to footballs Class 6A.

Any thoughts on this?

elliott70 wrote:On another thread, 'community based' suggested a third class in hockey for the 'power teams'.
I may not be quoting exactly but pull out the super large metro schools, some privates and the outstate perennial powers. Place them in AAA or such, similar to footballs Class 6A.

Any thoughts on this?

I've always been a classless guy myself. You can ask anybody!

Is there enough schools playing hockey to support this? Baseball has 3 classes but wouldn't seem to make sense in hockey.

Problem is now you have a third tournament to televise. Which ultimately would mean Class A would get less coverage. We already tried that once with Tier 2 and ended up with a winless Rosemount team in the state finals. How many schools would move up to AAA? Would you then force all metro Class A schools to AA? Mahtomedi, Breck, etc? Do you think Farmington, whom likely wouldn't have been AAA last year, wanted to win a AA tournament over Buffalo or have a chance against the best? Just asking...

150 total hockey teams, 67 in AA and 83 in A. If AA top 64 played it would only leave 86 teams for the remaining 2 classes. Doesn't work unless they want to play at Ridder and have the friendship tourney. Hermantown wouldn't like that setup.

I don't know the answer to these questions....
I do know it seems year in and year out
AA is
Lakeville schools
Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and now Holy Family
Centennial, Maple Grove, Blaine
Edina, Cretin, Wayzata
Elk River Grand Rapids Duluth East
Moorhead, Roseau
STA and Burnsville
with a few others popping up now and then.

Three classes is an interesting thought that could maybe be viable, but the problem right now isn't with Class AA, it's with Class A. We're very close to having the system work.

If Hermantown, (23% open enrollment in a Metro area) and Breck, (Metro Private) get out of Class A, then you have everyone pretty much where they belong. The AA tourney will always be great, but this would also make the Class A tourney fun to watch again. The logistics of a third tournament, TV, Venue, etc. would definitely pose a challenge.

32 in AAA
48 in AA
80 in A

Class A elsewhere not in X except championship which would be televised.

Class AA in 8 sections - winner to state on Wed Fri & Sat

Class AAA 32 seeded and play to games then final 8 to state

elliott70 wrote:32 in AAA
48 in AA
80 in A

Class A elsewhere not in X except championship which would be televised.

Class AA in 8 sections - winner to state on Wed Fri & Sat

Class AAA 32 seeded and play to games then final 8 to state

How many sections in AAA?

I would say the high school league would say no because of the financial problem it would cause. My guess is the hockey tournament is a big part of their income, and diluting it more, and adding expense would turn them off!

We already have three classes, AA, A, Jr Gold. I would add relegation and advancement like the IIHF classes.

AA is considered by most to be the best of the best and many would like to see the best of Class A play in the Class AA tournaments regardless of the size of the school. Roseau's volunteerism to play AA with such a small enrollment skews the vision for everybody. And let's face it, there are some high school programs that would struggle in Jr Gold too. Keep Jr Gold as it is but have some programs drop down based on historical performance or relegate teams, particularly from sections with more than 8 team.

All AA sections are leveled at 8 teams each based on enrollment like they presently are. Historically unsuccessful AA teams are dropped to Class A. Class AA is now 64 teams.

All Class A sections are leveled to 8 teams, AA relegated teams can not be relegated again. Historically unsuccessful A teams are dropped to Jr. Gold. Class A is now 64 teams.

Jr. Gold remains as is, typically a place for large communities to have their third or more group of players. Number of teams to be determined.

Going forward, the AA section tournaments will be played out to determine who gets relegated down to Class A for the following season. A sections will also play down to relegation to Jr. Gold

On the inverse, the regional Jr. Gold champion advances to section play the following year at the Class A level. The sectional Class A champ moves up to the respective Class AA section.

Under this idea, teams like Irondale and Cambridge/Isanti would probably have moved down to A years ago, as would Wahpeton/Breckenridge, Morris, Worthington, ext moved down to Jr. Gold. Hermantown, Breck, East Grand Forks would have moved up to AA years ago.

And for any program that doesn't like what class they are, develop your program and win.

I know, big issue here is AA and A are under the umbrella of the MSHSL and Jr. Gold is under Minnesota Hockey so a third class would be necessary but should encompass all current Jr. Gold team. Also, initial class assignments are final, no waiver process to move up or down. From there, the results on the ice determine where a team plays, champions move up, 8th place in sections moves down.

The Class AA tournament will continue to be played at the Xcel Energy Center, Class A at Amsoil in Duluth, Jr. Gold at Sanford in Bemidji or National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.

Regardless of the TV issue, I like where Elliott is going with his proposal on 3 classes.

I think a relegation and promotion system is a consideration, along with elimination of conferences and replaced with mandatory regional scheduling, like football, based on the assigned district.

ALL teams would be required to play all teams in their district at least once which would account for a fixed game count for every team in the state, say 12 games.

The remaining games could then be scheduled at schools discretion.

USA Hockey over Junior Gold and MSHL over Varsity. How valid is this recommendation to merge them? Seems like a non-starter.

Back to one class.

Lee

east hockey wrote:Back to one class.

Lee

Amen

I'm pretty sure we will never go back to 1....so the question is, do you go to 3...stick with 2 and maybe lump all privates into one district or just do nothing? Great topic

east hockey wrote:Back to one class.

Lee

YUP!!!!!

I still think having one class with a march madness type style tournament would bring the state tourney to a whole different level.

32 teams with two brackets invited to Mariccui, final 8 play at the X.

One state champion.

or how about this...Final Four format at X

Private School Winner (lump the Breck's and Blakes 's in with the AA privates)

Class AA school winner

Class A school winner

Then just need to figure out format for the 4th... Maybe it's as simple as the Class AA runner up or coaches vote.

Final four held the weekend after state ..held Friday/Saturday

I just don't see the state ever going back to one as much as we'd all love to see that.

St. Thomas and Hermantown are all in on this idea as it will give them another opportunity to play a level below where they belong!


Too soon?

Slammer wrote:I still think having one class with a march madness type style tournament would bring the state tourney to a whole different level.

32 teams with two brackets invited to Mariccui, final 8 play at the X.

One state champion.

I think that this one or...

yesiplayedhockey wrote:or how about this...Final Four format at X

Private School Winner (lump the Breck's and hermantown's in with the AA privates)

Class AA school winner

Class A school winner

Then just need to figure out format for the 4th... Maybe it's as simple as the Class AA runner up or coaches vote.

Final four held the weekend after state ..held Friday/Saturday

I just don't see the state ever going back to one as much as we'd all love to see that.

This one or a combo of the two makes sense.

oops...I just saw I accidently lumped Hermantown in as a "private"...sorry about that Hermantown, that wasn't my intent....Meant to say Breck and Blakes

Doing something like this would make it a 1 class tournament! Nobody would televise or go watch the bottom 2 classes if you moved them from St. Paul! Set a limit on how many times a team can consecutively play in or win the A level and send them up for 2-4 years when they reach that limit. If for some crazy reason they would even consider doing this make it class A,B, and C! To Many A's to keep track of!

Maybe stick with 2 classes and make public schools play without option of moving and allow privates to choose (10 year commitment). That would definitely strengthen the A tournament. I guess everyone can't have a medal so adding more classes seems to water things down a little.