12u B State Tournament

[JohnnyBuck]

I have no interest in a specific team, Just the interest in what I was going to see from the top 8 teams in probably the hardest age level to accomplish what the girls of these teams did this weekend. I have no idea of what went on behind the sceens??...



Can't wait to see what and who next year will bring.

You should know what happened behind the scenes.............you were coaching! Come on Brian!

[Twig]

Looks like the green team is up in front!!! No one thought the little town of Proctor up North could go to the championship game and yet here they are!! Go Rails!!![/b]

Wow. what a great weekend of girls hockey. Congrats to all the teams. I was able to watch most games. OMG, Park Rapids , Princeton and especially Centennial have very well balanced teams when it comes to depth. (not just one or two #'s that control the game or do everything for a team)

Every team had a great chance to win, all the games were close. A couple overtime games.... You love to see that in a state tourny. After watching the Championship game the score didn't do that game or Cent any justice. IMO the Red Machine's goalie by far was the best in the tourny. posted a shut out, but couldn't catch a break in the last game. (well maybe one post ringer )

Give it to Proctor for pulling it out. Cent came back from 3 goals down after the 1st to tie it up. And really had Proctor gassed after the 2nd. No doubt here that without the ice resurface Cent would have won that game. That intermission gave Proctor's #12 time to rest and keep them going.

In the Princeton-OMG 3rd place game a Princeton player was boarded from behind.........Would like to send out prayers and say I hope all is well for her and Way to go Princeton for coming back and winning that game.

Would like to give my opinion on the post game celebration by the Proctor Rails.....(thats' why I quoted) In all my sport watching, youth, college, or pro. That was the most CLASSLESS act of sportsmanship I have every seen....(this is why there are penalties in other sports for things like this) While Cent was still on the Ice...... taken team Photos etc. Proctors girls skated down to the Cent end and celebrated behind them while pictures were being taken then proceeded to do a line dance....I was floored! IMO If the little town from up north is proud of that....... then there is a problem.......Most people over looked the word that Proctor had special permission from Mn hockey to have #12 (a very good player)a u14 play/waiver down to the U12 level, but as a team to take part in the post game activities like they did was a poor act of class for a group that just won a state title.
Congrats again to all the teams this weekend and thanks for giving the fans great girls hockey to watch.

Heres a little history lesson......i coached 5 of these girls up through squirt b's out at a Twig, Minnesota (Never Heard of It?) it is an outdoor association outside of
Duluth. Hockey as it was meant to be. Now these girls arent your typical hockey players out there today. Moms and Dads living there lives through there kids. These girls spent time at the rink ......not being catered to . The are what you call Rink Rats. As a board member also we stressed that it was more important that these kids enjoyed the game than it is about anything else. As your driving up to the iron range on hwy 53 keep your eye out. There are still kids who play outside. We made a clear effort to bring girls hockey to our association and believe they will succed. Having this Proctor Team winning the State Championship will bring more girls out to play. The fans at this game were not just parents and relatives but people like myself who was so proud of what they have accomplished all through hard work and a love of the game. I couldnt believe the people i saw that had no ties to these girls at the game. The Proctor fans there were supporters of the Greastest Game on Earth. As far a classless, your basically calling these girls classless, it certainly seemed to me kind of impromtu....just my thought. And saying this team is a one person team.....you have to be kidding me, thats like saying every ones teams best players carry them. Thats kind of the way it works. This is a solid team, with a couple of high scoring players which also has a stingy defense and solid goal tending. Sounds like a good team chemistry. They won this as a team, a team that plays with each other and for each other. The older girls took these younger girls under their wings and made them part of this spectacular ride. Just my ramblin thoughts.......

[luvthegame2]

PS: With considered by many to be the best goalie in the state and a raft of skilled to highly skilled players like the Reds had this year, why wasn't that team not playing "A" hockey. From what's been stated in past posts, isn't it all about getting better at the 12U level instead of breezing through the competition with 26+ shutouts - or is it all about the wins?

CENTENNIAL RED GIRLS ARE SURE GETTING A LOT OF GRIEF FOR THEIR SEASON AND SHUT OUTS THIS SEASON. FOR ANYONE FOLLOWING THEM OR THE CENTENNIAL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION ITSELF WOULD KNOW THAT THIS ASSOCIATION AT THIS LEVEL HAS (1) A TEAM AND (2) B TEAMS/RED AND BLACK. SOME OF THE GIRLS AT TRYOUTS MADE THE CUT TO POSSIBLY BE ON THE TOP OF THE A TEAM BUT THE HEAD COACH FOR THE A TEAM DID NOT PICK THEM TO BE ON HIS TEAM, FOR WHATEVER REASONING HE HAD. THESE GIRLS HAD TO TAKE THAT DISAPPOINTMENT OF NOT BEING CHOSEN FOR THE A TEAM TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TEAM, WHICH IS THE B TEAM. THE WHOLE TEAM DESERVES TO BE WHERE THEY WERE THIS YEAR. THEY DID HAVE A TARGET ON THEIR BACK FROM START WHEN THEY HAD NOT LOST A GAME UNTIL THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON AGAINST PRINCETON. THE GIRLS LOST THAT GAME AND PUSHED FORWARD TO WIN THEIR LEAGUE PLAY, WIN DISTRICTS, WIN REGIONS, AND THEN PLACE 2ND IN STATE. THESE GIRLS WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITHOUT THE COACHING STAFF AND PARENTS/FAMILIES AS THEIR #1 FANS. THESE GIRLS ARE THE BEST AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO NOT PUT THIS TEAM DOWN BECAUSE OF SHUT OUTS, WINS, LOSSES, OR WHATEVER YOUR GRIPE IS. THEY ARE A TRUE "B" TEAM AS CENTENNIAL DOES HAVE AN "A" TEAM BUT THEY JUST DID NOT MAKE IT AS FAR. COMPETITION IS COMPETITION NO MATTER AT WHAT LEVEL. GIVE THE GIRLS THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE AS THEY WORKED HARD ALL SEASON AND LOVE THE GAME OF HOCKEY.

[nickel slots]

PS: With considered by many to be the best goalie in the state and a raft of skilled to highly skilled players like the Reds had this year, why wasn't that team not playing "A" hockey. From what's been stated in past posts, isn't it all about getting better at the 12U level instead of breezing through the competition with 26+ shutouts - or is it all about the wins?

CENTENNIAL RED GIRLS ARE SURE GETTING A LOT OF GRIEF FOR THEIR SEASON AND SHUT OUTS THIS SEASON. FOR ANYONE FOLLOWING THEM OR THE CENTENNIAL HOCKEY ASSOCIATION ITSELF WOULD KNOW THAT THIS ASSOCIATION AT THIS LEVEL HAS (1) A TEAM AND (2) B TEAMS/RED AND BLACK. SOME OF THE GIRLS AT TRYOUTS MADE THE CUT TO POSSIBLY BE ON THE TOP OF THE A TEAM BUT THE HEAD COACH FOR THE A TEAM DID NOT PICK THEM TO BE ON HIS TEAM, FOR WHATEVER REASONING HE HAD. THESE GIRLS HAD TO TAKE THAT DISAPPOINTMENT OF NOT BEING CHOSEN FOR THE A TEAM TO MOVE TO THE NEXT TEAM, WHICH IS THE B TEAM. THE WHOLE TEAM DESERVES TO BE WHERE THEY WERE THIS YEAR. THEY DID HAVE A TARGET ON THEIR BACK FROM START WHEN THEY HAD NOT LOST A GAME UNTIL THE LAST GAME OF THE SEASON AGAINST PRINCETON. THE GIRLS LOST THAT GAME AND PUSHED FORWARD TO WIN THEIR LEAGUE PLAY, WIN DISTRICTS, WIN REGIONS, AND THEN PLACE 2ND IN STATE. THESE GIRLS WOULD NOT HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR WITHOUT THE COACHING STAFF AND PARENTS/FAMILIES AS THEIR #1 FANS. THESE GIRLS ARE THE BEST AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO NOT PUT THIS TEAM DOWN BECAUSE OF SHUT OUTS, WINS, LOSSES, OR WHATEVER YOUR GRIPE IS. THEY ARE A TRUE "B" TEAM AS CENTENNIAL DOES HAVE AN "A" TEAM BUT THEY JUST DID NOT MAKE IT AS FAR. COMPETITION IS COMPETITION NO MATTER AT WHAT LEVEL. GIVE THE GIRLS THE CREDIT THEY DESERVE AS THEY WORKED HARD ALL SEASON AND LOVE THE GAME OF HOCKEY.

There are 100 teams out there that didn't make the state tournament (or regions or districts) that worked hard all season and love the game. It's time for this discussion to end. Communities that can only field one team are in a pickle. I know our local association's girls high school coach has been pushing for our 12u team to play A hockey (we don't currently have a 14u team, so most girls will go right from 12u to high school hockey). His argument is that he wants the girls to be used to playing better competition... my argument is that we're not even the best B team in our district, and as long as we're not, we are always going to have teams better than us to play, and we will continue to develop all of our players (most of our players would get lost in an A game).

The point I'm trying to make is that there are only a handful of non-metro communities that have enough girls to field an A team (Rochester, Duluth, St. Cloud, Roseau come to mind). TRF is an exception (excellent for them, by the way). You can all sit here and gripe about it and look like sour pusses, but it's not going to change anytime soon. I would be willing to bet that your daughter is already over it... why aren't you?

Congrats to ALL the teams that work hard and love the game... you are all what makes this sport as great as it is.

[JohnnyBuck]

Amen Nickel Slots! Well said.

[HockeyMom5]

I can't keep quiet any longer! If you didn't attend the tournament this weekend or any of them previously, then you don't have a clue what you are talking about in the "A" vs "B" comments. These games were tight, tough competition, all around. Any player or team whether A or B has their moments. Our girls are 12 and under - even professionals and olympians can blow it. You can say whatever you want to say but non-metro teams do not have the girls to field more than one team period. You may have one or two girls that are stand-outs but that does not make them an A team. I think a lot of people have forgotten that the jump to U12 hockey from U10 is big.

All of the teams that were there, deserved to be there and worked hard. Continuing to debate this, only takes away from the girls that played their hardest and worked their butts off all season to accomplish the goal of going to state. They don't have the choice in whether they are A or B so why do you keep talking about it? If you have such an issue with it, get involved with your association, district or Minnesota hockey. I think as long as they are having fun and being competitive, that's all that matters.

It's over, get on with life!

[powerplayer]

Very well said HM5. We, as adults, need to get over it and let the GIRLS enjoy all that they accomplished. After all, it is about them. Period!!!

[royals dad]

Very well said HM5. We, as adults, need to get over it and let the GIRLS enjoy all that they accomplished. After all, it is about them. Period!!!

I agree, but what ever adult thought it was a good idea to do a practiced dance routine and play music for it after the game, made a mistake. I think it was a bad idea and in poor taste. The girls maybe had great intentions but the adults around them should have said "lets save that for later".

I really hope that this does not become a tradition! I can't imagine how far it will go if every team shows up with music and routines for when they win, ugh. If you have ever stood on that second place side watching, with your season (and maybe team) done, the trophy being skated around by the victores. You will know that a coriagraphed dance routine is more than a bit much.

The celebration when it crossed over the victory lap (which is a time honored hockey tradition) was probably a mistake (most likley an honest one).

Congrats on your first ever state championship!

[Green and White Fan]

nickel slots, I have a question. You say non-metro teams do not have enough girls to form an A team. Does it take more girls to have an A team than a B team???

[nickel slots]

nickel slots, I have a question. You say non-metro teams do not have enough girls to form an A team. Does it take more girls to have an A team than a B team???

Green and White... Good catch. What I meant to say (and probably should have) was that most non-metro programs don't have enough girls to form 2 teams. It's my personal opinion that if any community has enough girls to form 2 teams, one of them should play at the A level.

[Green and White Fan]

We disagree a little bit I guess. It is my opinion if you have enought girls to have a team, then you play A hockey. Why punish the true B teams. I understand the arguement that some programs wouldn't be able to compete if they were an A team. Take the Roseau true B team. They lost to Proctor and Park Rapids at regions. They played Park Rapids extremely tough, but lost in the end to go to state. True B teams have a difficult time competing in the present set up. Oh well, can't please everybody.

[jollyroger]

For all those who believe that a small town with only enough kids to form one team should automatically make it a B team, I have one word for you:
Thief River Falls U12A, State Consolation Champions!

[Green and White Fan]

Amen, jollyroger!! Great job TRF! Most likely could have been state champs at the B level, but played where you should and were very successful.

[nickel slots]

For all those who believe that a small town with only enough kids to form one team should automatically make it a B team, I have one word for you:
Thief River Falls U12A, State Consolation Champions!

Obvioustly TRF is the exception to the rule. How many of their girls are "A" caliber players? I'm guessing at least half... probably much more. How many are first or second year players? I'm guessing zero or very few.

While I agree wholeheartedly that teams should field A teams when they can compete, most outstate 12u programs that only have enough girls for one team cannot compete with the large associations. The community that my daughter plays in only had 13 skaters - 3 of them had 2 years or less playing experience, 1 of them was 10u eligible, 5 of them were legitimate A caliber players. They didn't blow teams out playing B hockey (they didn't even win their district... which BTW didn't have a single 12UA team in it) and were competitive in tournaments. In my opinion, they were a perfect example of a team that was in the right classification. Our association would have went A if the others would have, but they would have just been playing each other in league games anyways... and would not have been able to compete in tournaments. Another factor our association used was that we are Class A when we get to high school, and the other teams that we compete with in our section were all playing B.

We will re-evaluate for next year and hopefully we can put a team on the ice that can compete at the A level. We are too small to commit to it every year. I would assume that we are on par with 90% of the outstate associations.

Kudos to TRF... they have something special up there.

How would TRF compare to Proctor (the B champ that only fields one team also)??

[Green and White Fan]

It is difficult to compare teams. The Roseau 12U B team did not play TRF this year. The Roseau 12U A team played the TRF A team 6 times. All games were extremely close, with Roseau winning 4 and TRF 2. I would say our A team was 10 goals better than our B team. Our B team lost to Proctor 6-0 at regionals. Using these scores, I would say that TRF would beat Proctor, but it would probably be a pretty good game.