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i dont know if you've heard of her, but her name is Meghan Lorence. anyway shes in 8th grade, and she is currently 25th in state in points. she also led Irondale and points last year. Irondale is loaded with young talent, and one of the matchups today that intrigues me is Irondale vs. Forest Lake.

Meghan is a phenominal athlete. She would also be a varisty softball player but district rules don't allow it.

Irondale's lack of coaching has ruined many a good athlete. Hopefully this won't happen to this batch of young talent.

which is the reason many athletes transfer to near by schools such as mounds view, totino grace, etc. this happens in guys hockey also, and irondale has never done anything about it.

It seems like Irondale has always been more focused on the arts and academics than athletics. They do have some good young athletes that they have started keeping around.

taz91 wrote:It seems like Irondale has always been more focused on the arts and academics than athletics. They do have some good young athletes that they have started keeping around.

Yep, used to be proud of Irondale too. Up until two years ago they used to have a rule that would not allow anyone below 9th grade to make the varsity, but then they seen the tallent coming up on the girls hockey team and threw that out, as not to lose more tallent. Too bad, as this is probably the way it should be for all HS sports. Too bad they moved girls hockey to 14U instead of 15U, like it was.

It still is that way. Girls' varsity hockey is the only team sport that a 7th or 8th grader can participate in.

[quote="taz91"]Meghan is a phenominal athlete. She would also be a varisty softball player but district rules don't allow it.[/quote]

i've skated with this girl before. she is something to watch in the upcoming years. the whole irondale program should blossom nicely. they have hired a new athletic director for this school year and it seems he is doing a nice job. i also know they have a good baseball team, and unless they fire the old coachs they should be headed downhill. but back to my topic, Meghan is a special athlete and is surrounded by potential. itll be intresting to watch her progression

The MSHSL needs to set the rule that high school sports are for HS attendees. Until that comes about, many of the programs will keep grabbing talented U12/U14 players. Irondale, in particular, seems to lose its share of upper classmen, as they are replaced by the younger girls.

Also, many of these talented girls seem to stagnate developmentally once they get in to this HS program.

Sometimes that happens when you have a coach that can talk out of both sides of his mouth.

What I really can't figure out, is why some parent would want to put their 13 year old in a locker room with girls 5 years older. Give them a chance to grow up.

HockeyFan55 wrote: What I really can't figure out, is why some parent would want to put their 13 year old in a locker room with girls 5 years older. Give them a chance to grow up.

Most parents that put 8th graders in a HS program I would think have no other choice. See my post under the Class of 2011 8th graders thread where I listed many 8th graders found in the MaxPreps stats.

Looking at the list of schools, there is almost no U14 representation in those communities. Meaning the girl can't very well play by herself can she? So if she wants to play she has to go to a varsity or JV program.

Sorry thing is it doesn't seem that U14 numbers are growing so this is a problem that won't be solved soon.

I know Meghan pretty well. She should have no problems in the lockerroom with the older girls. To be honest, she is porbably more mature than many of them.

Hockeyfan55, the problem with limiting high school teams to high school athletes are sports like swimming, gymnastics and wrestling. Many schools will pad their rosters that way.

shes good

I really don't feel this is the place to be badmouthing coaches. Obviously the team is doing well and they are being coached. The talent is there but this coaching staff has done a good job with the girls and the situations that have come up. Coaches need to be able to coach. Too many parents feel that their daughter/son is the next Wayne Gretzky. As for playing in 7th and 8th grade. Irondale isn't alone in taking younger players. First off, Irondale's issues have always been in numbers. They can only be as successful as the kids that come out. As for putting a 7th or 8th grader in a locker room with older girls. It is nobody's business what families choose to do with their daugher/son. It is a family choice and to each his own. Obviously an immature player wouldn't succeed in the environment. That is why it should be a carefully thought out decision. Who are you to judge Hockeyfan55?????????

Outstate~ there is sometimes no choice as there are not 14U teams some places~ some have only 12U and it is on then to JV or V.

i know a majority of the Irondale skaters pretty well from past/current experienced and Meghan is one of the most mature, and smartest people in that locker room.

lovetopuck wrote:i know a majority of the Irondale skaters pretty well from past/current experienced and Meghan is one of the most mature, and smartest people in that locker room.

I know Meghan from softball and I think she is too smart for her own good sometimes. I know a few of the girls and they are all very kind and giving young ladies.

As for the comments on coaching, I do form opinions about coaching but they are just that. I have a lot of respect for most coaches in high school because of the time and effort they put in.

Hockeyfan55 wrote:
The MSHSL needs to set the rule that high school sports are for HS attendees. Until that comes about, many of the programs will keep grabbing talented U12/U14 players. Irondale, in particular, seems to lose its share of upper classmen, as they are replaced by the younger girls.

Also, many of these talented girls seem to stagnate developmentally once they get in to this HS program.

Sometimes that happens when you have a coach that can talk out of both sides of his mouth.

What I really can't figure out, is why some parent would want to put their 13 year old in a locker room with girls 5 years older. Give them a chance to grow up.


Thegreatone writes: HockeyFan55, you say that Irondale seems to lose upper classman? What are the upper classman doing wrong? Are they not working as hard to get better like the younger girls. Just because they are upper classman doesn't mean they get all the ice time. They need to work just as hard as anybody else. They need to show some leadership out there.

I would probably have to say the reason the parent has the 13 year old play varsity is because she is talented enough to play varsity. If she played with the younger girls she would score 10 goals a game and it wouldn't be a challenge, plus she wouldn't get any better.

I've seen Meghan Lorence play many times and she has all the skills and mindset to be at the varsity level. I think you have a coach that knows what he is doing. The other girls should feed off Meghan's ability. Meghan is only going to make them better. Irondale would be an average team and middle of the pack without Meghan.


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Another player that is exciting to watch on Irondale is Amy Udvig #21. She plays defense and is very dynamic. She will be playing at the next level with Minnesota State. She is such a great leader out there. She also sees the ice so well and is such a hard worker. Her motor never stops running. The girl never takes a shift off. She can also handle the puck very well and is a very fast skater. This girl can also score goals plus she gives her teammates so many great scoring opportunities. She really makes her teammates better. I think the Mavericks have a great player coming. Everybody should be watching this girl. She is a player!

[quote="thegreatone"]Another player that is exciting to watch on Irondale is Amy Udvig #21. She plays defense and is very dynamic. She will be playing at the next level with Minnesota State. She is such a great leader out there. She also sees the ice so well and is such a hard worker. Her motor never stops running. The girl never takes a shift off. She can also handle the puck very well and is a very fast skater. This girl can also score goals plus she gives her teammates so many great scoring opportunities. She really makes her teammates better. I think the Mavericks have a great player coming. Everybody should be watching this girl. She is a player![/quote]

Amy is a very special player, and she has made the Irondale team what is. She is basically a coach on the ice on all of her shifts, and has helped the devolopment of every single player on that. She is an example of what hustle and hard work turn into...greatness.

lovetopuck wrote:i know a majority of the Irondale skaters pretty well from past/current experienced and Meghan is one of the most mature, and smartest people in that locker room.

Meghan is extremely tallented, and a great kid, no doubt about it. Maturity and smarts is not the question here. 13 year olds don't belong with 18 year olds, and not for 5 years with the same coaches.

Seriously, they need to put U14 back to U15, and make 7th and 8th graders not eligible for varsity. Look at the big picture of hockey, and the kids, and you will see this would be best in the long haul.

Yes, 8th graders are good enough to play varsity, but doesn't that tell you all something right there in it's self! The same kids that are now seniors haven't developed as much as they should have since they were 13, maybe.

We were some of those who had no choice with our 8th grader at the time, and yes she played varsity, and was one of the better varsity players. This does not make the situation right. Wish it could have been different!

The kids that are 7th and 8th graders playing Varsity hockey have been most likely playing since they were 5 and 6 years old. Many of the Seniors this year did not start at that young of an age except for a few that were playing with the boys. It is kind of a new generation of hockey with girls starting at a younger age. Girls hockey is simply more establlished now than in the past. The talent was so diverse with kids starting at various ages. Playing varsity isn't the best option for all players. If a middle school kid has the ability to make an impact on the first or second line on the varsity team and the maturity goes along with it then they should play where their abilities lie. As for kids only having this coach for 5 years that simply isn't true. Do you think these kids would be as good if they weren't playing in the off season? Some girls have worked very hard to get to where they are today as a player. They have MANY coaches that have taught them along the way. You don't become a rounded player only playing high school hockey. I feel that many girls need to get out and better themselves in the off season if they want to be competitive in the sport. I am a true believer that you need to find some time to get away from the sport and be a kid. There can be a good balance.

Here's something to ponder, if your 8th grader is too good to play with her fellow eight graders now, and she couldn't develop if she stayed with them, why will it be any different in 2 or 3 years when they are all on varsity? Won't she still be too good and be held back because of the girls around her? This is how transfers are born. (not that there's anything wrong with that)

[quote="xk1"]Here's something to ponder, if your 8th grader is too good to play with her fellow eight graders now, and she couldn't develop if she stayed with them, why will it be any different in 2 or 3 years when they are all on varsity? Won't she still be too good and be held back because of the girls around her? This is how transfers are born. (not that there's anything wrong with that)[/quote]

very intresting point. i believe that if youre 13 years old and good enough to play varsity hockey you should. by the time the rest of the people in your grade have caught up to you, you will be playing at a higher level then them because of it, which is fine. An example from the archives of Irondale is Maria Richardson. she was all-conference honorable mention her 8th grade year and all-conference every other year after that. she continued to devolop into a great player and she earned a scholorship to St.Olaf. playing 5 years of high school hockey (or 6 in Meghan's case) is much better then being restricted of 1 or 2 years of high school play and being forced to play with people below your level, which you might have to do someday in high school anyway

[quote="thegreatone"]Hockeyfan55 wrote:

I've seen Meghan Lorence play many times and she has all the skills and mindset to be at the varsity level. I think you have a coach that knows what he is doing. The other girls should feed off Meghan's ability. Meghan is only going to make them better. Irondale would be an average team and middle of the pack without Meghan.


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i disagree about irondale being a middle of a pack team without Meghan. yes, they would be worse, but they would still be one of the better teams out there.

If you haven't had a chance to sit in a high school locker room, or hang out with the girl's intimately, you would be a little surprised. Decades ago, there was a huge difference between an eighth grader and a senior. This generation of athletes proves to have a lot in common, and not a large difference. There seems to be an abundant amount of very mature girl's at all ages these days. With a disciplined team, the benefits of playing varsity seem to outway the cons, unless you are a disgruntled parent of course. They always seem to have the most negative posts. Focus your energy in other directions, hop on a treadmill, run a marathon, but don't put an anonymous post on here dissing coaches and players. It is so crude and immature! NO I am not a coach, just sick and tired of the plethera of emails that waste other peoples time![/quote]