HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Schotzy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 9:05 am 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 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 1:12 pm 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 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 3:17 pm Are all of the players named Johnson?4f20d31a-f71c-44bb-a067-3186f757720b_screenshot.jpg

Joe2015 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:40 pm 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.

MNHockeyFan wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2020 2:14 pm Do all of these Range kids' families actually move to Hermantown?

Jeffy95 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 28, 2020 10:09 am

Joe2015 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:40 pm 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.