Rock Ridge Wolverines

[Schotzy]

https://kbjr6.com/2020/01/23/eveleth-gi ... aboration/

Eveleth-Gilbert and Virginia/MIB hockey teams revealed the name of their soon-to-be merged high school: Rock Ridge. The school's mascot will be the Wolverine. The team colors will be Green, Black and Gray.

The new name and school will get its start in 2022.

With an indifferent feeling about the name and mascot, it will be interesting to see how the boys team competes in 7A. It will be another whole season before they hit the ice together. They have some talented players coming through the system right now at the high school level. Virginia's bantam team is pretty decent, Eveleth has had it's challenges this season. There is such a strong hockey tradition with these two programs. I look forward to seeing how they come together and wish them great success.

[elliott70]

Well this is fun and exciting.
I wish them luck.

[ironranger2]

I really hope they make a commitment to moving up to AA at some point. I had posted the current Bantam and Peewee AA rankings for 7AA a few weeks ago, and there is no reason that a combined program wouldn't at least be competitive. It is my understanding that even with all of the various co-ops for hockey (Mt. Iron, Buhl, Kinney, Cherry, Mesabi East, North Woods, etc), there combined enrollment would still be less than Grand Rapids.

Especially if Hermantown continues to stay at A, then they might as well move up. Nothing wrong with challenging yourself like Cloquet and Rapids do.

[kniven]

Rock Ridge Wolverines

https://youtu.be/fro0AqYnsVE

[Joe2015]

Certainly mixed feelings: it is sad to see a name like the Eveleth Golden Bears disappear from the hockey landscape (and the entire high school landscape as well as this isnt just a hockey story) in lieu of a generic name like "Rock Ridge"

However: its just the reality these communities on the iron Range face.

On the flip side, if this new team could be a contender, it would be nice to see more Range teams make the tournament instead of Hermantown.

[northwoods oldtimer]

https://kbjr6.com/2020/01/23/eveleth-gi ... aboration/

Eveleth-Gilbert and Virginia/MIB hockey teams revealed the name of their soon-to-be merged high school: Rock Ridge. The school's mascot will be the Wolverine. The team colors will be Green, Black and Gray.

The new name and school will get its start in 2022.

With an indifferent feeling about the name and mascot, it will be interesting to see how the boys team competes in 7A. It will be another whole season before they hit the ice together. They have some talented players coming through the system right now at the high school level. Virginia's bantam team is pretty decent, Eveleth has had it's challenges this season. There is such a strong hockey tradition with these two programs. I look forward to seeing how they come together and wish them great success.

[MNHockeyFan]

I wonder if any thought was given to name them the "Rock Ridge Rangers"? Has kind of a nice ring to it, and they are, after all, on "the Range".

[Deathblow]

Are all of the players named Johnson?

4f20d31a-f71c-44bb-a067-3186f757720b_screenshot.jpg (42.86 KiB) Viewed 6102 times

[Slap Shot]

I wonder if any thought was given to name them the "Rock Ridge Rangers"? Has kind of a nice ring to it, and they are, after all, on "the Range".

I have no idea if it was up for consideration but I think it would have been a better choice.

[ironranger2]

Mt. Iron-Buhl is already the Rangers. They took that name when the two schools combined back in the late 80s.

The original plan was to have Mt. Iron-Buhl in with this school. Instead, they went and built a brand new school themselves and they only have 20-30 kids per grade.

[stateofhawkey]

Are all of the players named Johnson?4f20d31a-f71c-44bb-a067-3186f757720b_screenshot.jpg

I was really hoping someone would make this connection!

[Jeffy95]

Certainly mixed feelings: it is sad to see a name like the Eveleth Golden Bears disappear from the hockey landscape (and the entire high school landscape as well as this isnt just a hockey story) in lieu of a generic name like "Rock Ridge"

However: its just the reality these communities on the iron Range face.

On the flip side, if this new team could be a contender, it would be nice to see more Range teams make the tournament instead of Hermantown.

Yes, but unfortunately that is not reality. They should be a very good team but they will not make it to State. Hermantown's current Bantam and PeeWee groups is where they have peaked with top Open-Enrollees and Transfers. This Bantam group is arguably the best group they've ever had. PeeWee's aren't quite at that level but their top 4-5 players are very good and none are from Hermantown. Both groups will continue to add more before and during High School. Hermantown should have a year or two where they are the top team in the State, regardless of class. No Class A team will have any realistic shot at beating them.

So, we lose a Range program with it's 20 Roster spots plus JV. And some of those Range kids will continue to transfer to Hermantown, especially after they've seen how Andrews welcomed in Kilen and gave him a top line spot right out of the gate in the Summer. Just rent your kid a place to live. You get to stay home and work and drive up for games. There are always cheap places to rent in the two Trailer Parks in Hermantown and some of them are newer and pretty nice. Heck, send a few kids and split the rent. Easy Peasy.

Net result is fewer kids playing Hockey both on the Range and in Hermantown as those kids get cut for the new Range kids that come in. I realize it makes sense for Eveleth and Virginia from a school standpoint, but this is not good for High School Hockey by any stretch.

[MNHockeyFan]

Do all of these Range kids' families actually move to Hermantown?

[Jeffy95]

Do all of these Range kids' families actually move to Hermantown?

All you have to do is provide an address in the District where the kid is living. That’s good enough for the AD.

[east hockey]

If this topic turns into another Hermantown bashing topic, it'll be dealt with.

Lee

[LSQRANK]

Implement a 3 tier system D1, D2 & D3 like Michigan HS hockey and teams like these won't need to merge. Michigan has approximately the same number of HS hockey teams as MN and apparently it works for them.
3 class system would promote the sport and most likely make more $$$ for the MSHSL during the tournament season. More teams would have the (increased) chance of making it to St.Paul in March with 3 tiers. Heck , how many HS football divisons are there in the MSHSL six or seven?

[Joe2015]

Certainly mixed feelings: it is sad to see a name like the Eveleth Golden Bears disappear from the hockey landscape (and the entire high school landscape as well as this isnt just a hockey story) in lieu of a generic name like "Rock Ridge"

However: its just the reality these communities on the iron Range face.

On the flip side, if this new team could be a contender, it would be nice to see more Range teams make the tournament instead of Hermantown.

Yes, but unfortunately that is not reality. They should be a very good team but they will not make it to State. Hermantown's current Bantam and PeeWee groups is where they have peaked with top Open-Enrollees and Transfers. This Bantam group is arguably the best group they've ever had. PeeWee's aren't quite at that level but their top 4-5 players are very good and none are from Hermantown. Both groups will continue to add more before and during High School. Hermantown should have a year or two where they are the top team in the State, regardless of class. No Class A team will have any realistic shot at beating them.

So, we lose a Range program with it's 20 Roster spots plus JV. And some of those Range kids will continue to transfer to Hermantown, especially after they've seen how Andrews welcomed in Kilen and gave him a top line spot right out of the gate in the Summer. Just rent your kid a place to live. You get to stay home and work and drive up for games. There are always cheap places to rent in the two Trailer Parks in Hermantown and some of them are newer and pretty nice. Heck, send a few kids and split the rent. Easy Peasy.

Net result is fewer kids playing Hockey both on the Range and in Hermantown as those kids get cut for the new Range kids that come in. I realize it makes sense for Eveleth and Virginia from a school standpoint, but this is not good for High School Hockey by any stretch.

Well year in and year out, will they make it to state? Unlikely. But anything can happen in a single elimination game: we saw that last season with Greenway.