Section 1A 2007-8

[falcons89]

So does all this mean if you find a 5th or 6th grader better than your 7th grader, she will be considered?

Cmon now, that would be breaking the rules. Winning isn't everthing.

Cmon, think about it, if they are getting limited time, they are not getting any value in their time on the ice.

Cmon you just described every 3rd and 4th line in the state on Minnesota.
Look at the AA state tourney last year. How much did 3rd and 4th lines play? I remember the crowd cheering when the the 4th line for Stillwater went in with 30 seconds left in the final game.

They simply cannot compete at HS level.

refer to my Cmon above. Most 3rd and 4th lines can not compete at the HS level. Therefore they should not play? Cmon

Not enough years behind them regardless of the money the may have been spent trying to get them to the NHL.

Cmon that would be the WWHL.

If a team cannot get consistently filled with 9-12 graders, I might have to change my name to "Hockeys not 4 every town".

Cmon, what if the 7th grader is better? Oops, I almost forgot, winning isn't everything. What if that one 7th grader, allows the town to have a team, allowing more 9-12 graders to actually get to play hockey versus the player reduction created by consolidation. That last sentence wil take some thought on your part. Read slowly.

Cmon change your name to "Why keep Score?"

Time to consolidate or move up north. #1 Hockeymom says Crookston could use some girls.

Cmon, Maybe every town, regardless of size should consolidate, to be competive enough to win the AA State Championsip or come close. Cmon, the north metro stars almost did it.

Move up North, Cmon that would be like living in Albert Lea.

Cmon, "winning is not everything, it is the only thing."

I sure hope I spelled my Cmons right.

How does this pertain to Section 1A?

[Twinnesota]

Pretty Fair Post, Buzzard !!!

T

[winnings not 4 everyone]

Buzzard, It's good to see you agree in general with me. Your right, most 3 and 4th lines do not see the ice. Why do we keep trying to fill the bench then? Maybe we should take a page from small town football. Instead of 11 man, they play 9 man. Let's start a new high school division of class B hockey and only skate 4 players. That would mean we can play with shorter benches, everyone that's any good can play, and the one's we carry for years can take up a new sport. Laugh if you want, but it's a good thought!!

[Twinnesota]

Buzzard, It's good to see you agree in general with me. Your right, most 3 and 4th lines do not see the ice. Why do we keep trying to fill the bench then? Maybe we should take a page from small town football. Instead of 11 man, they play 9 man. Let's start a new high school division of class B hockey and only skate 4 players. That would mean we can play with shorter benches, everyone that's any good can play, and the one's we carry for years can take up a new sport. Laugh if you want, but it's a good thought!!

Instead, how about a tournament consisting of players from the various schools across the state to make up "all-section" teams?

That would be a cool addition to the state tourney, where alot of good players get eliminated during the section tourneys.

It could be held after the state tournament.

[winnings not 4 everyone]

Good teams breed better players. Weak players breed frustration with good players. One of the few sports that "only the strong survive" does not apply. For example, a 7th grader that makes the team, will letter in varsity for SIX years. A good player on a strong team may be lucky to get the opportunity in her junior or senior year. She will letter 2 years at best. Doesn't give a fair representation to the better player. The hometown paper will give the 7th grader the ink because of her age. Not to mention, you have now put a noose around any 14U program.

[Twinnesota]

Good teams breed better players. Weak players breed frustration with good players. One of the few sports that "only the strong survive" does not apply. For example, a 7th grader that makes the team, will letter in varsity for SIX years. A good player on a strong team may be lucky to get the opportunity in her junior or senior year. She will letter 2 years at best. Doesn't give a fair representation to the better player. The hometown paper will give the 7th grader the ink because of her age. Not to mention, you have now put a noose around any 14U program.

There is very little difference between a 7th grader and an 8th grader...
T

[winnings not 4 everyone]

That is why they should both remain back at 14U. What's wrong with letting them have a successful run with the 14U (or JV) instead of pushing them onto a varsity bench where they will not be a factor in high school (very few exceptions, maybe one in fifty that can HONESTLY play at a varsity level). Maybe the term for these coaches would be DREAMERS

[MNHockeyFan]

That is why they should both remain back at 14U. What's wrong with letting them have a successful run with the 14U (or JV) instead of pushing them onto a varsity bench where they will not be a factor in high school (very few exceptions, maybe one in fifty that can HONESTLY play at a varsity level). Maybe the term for these coaches would be DREAMERS

Many small school programs do not have a choice if they want to field the best team possible. It sometimes boils down to choosing between a junior or senior who took up the game very late and can hardly skate and a much more skilled 7th or 8th grader who's been playing since she was 5 years old. Coaches are under pressure to do well, and out of necessity will try to field the best team possible. Coaches at more more established programs with plenty of girls trying out do not have to take 7th or 8th graders just to field a competitive team. In some cases it is not allowed but more often or not the younger, less experienced girl is just not good enough, because there are plenty of 10th to 12th graders who also started very young and they have more time to improve. Then it's a very rare situation where a middle school aged kid can make varsity - she would have to be a real phenom.

[Valley Eggroll]

For those that lack winter numbers for hockey, leave the young ones alone. Take the 3-6 high school girls and try bobsledding. It is a great winter sport. You can run either 2 or 4 per sled. It doesn't take a large bench to do this and you don't have to go to 7th grade to find them. The day you can't field a bobsled team, its time to hang up winter sports. On top of that, you can train in Jamaica. I know, I've seen the movie.

[jetjock]

Funny posts. Back to 1A.
Austin 6
Northfield 3

[christmaseve21]

wow who are you people??? We have 3 great 8th graders who are playing on our team...i know that one of them is centering our 3rd line as of right now, and she will get to play a lot. There are definatly 7th and 8th graders who can play varsity...i don't know where some of you people come from....

[winnings not 4 everyone]

You must be suffering a brain freeze if you want me to believe ANY team would have 3 quality 8th graders for a varsity team. Like a hotdog, the bench is full of "fillers". My advise would be to find 3 more forwards, 3 defensemen, and a goalie, play a 14U schedule and make a run at a state tournament bid if these girls are even half as good as you are making them out to be. Can't wait to see their points this year, both of them!

[tigerpower]

Advantages to taking 7th and 8th graders:
1. They might be better than an older girl.
2. They will learn what the coaches expect from them.
3. They will learn his systems.
4. They will be skating with better girls. (Even just in practice)
5. They will get more practices which is what is truly important.
6. They will know the girls on their team better because they've been with them longer.
7. By their senior year they should be dominant.
8. They can learn from some very good rolemodels.
9. The hockey is cheaper.
10. They will have higher caliber coaches, not just dads.


How was the Austin-Northfield game? Has TJ really lost her fire? Or are they 4-maning her? How did the Austin goalie look? How bad will we beat them?

[winnings not 4 everyone]

Be honest, was TJ moved up early. Sounds like she was good in her day but did not follow through on your list of why to move up early.

[tigerpower]

I believe she was varsity in 7th.

Sounds like she was good in her day

?

Doesn't anyone know how the game went? Jet, we need you...

[jetjock]

Sorry for the delay. Here are the stats.

AUSTIN 6, NORTHFIELD 3

SCORING BY PERIODS

Austin 3 2 1 -- 6

Northfield 1 1 1 -- 3

FIRST PERIOD

Scoring -- Northfield, Maddie Carras, 7:02 (pp). Austin, Catherine Wagner (Kyli Ellingson), 7:24. Austin, Taylor Jenkins, 9:03. Austin, Taylor Jenkins (Ashley Arhart, Alex Larson), 13:49 (pp).

SECOND PERIOD

Scoring -- Austin, Jenkins (Betty Moline), 3:10 (pp). Northfield, Alex Jenkins (Shannon Vesledahl), 3:46. Austin, Jenkins (Rebekah Swancutt), 10:20 (pp).

THIRD PERIOD

Scoring -- Northfield, Vy Nuygen (Maren Dvorak, Riley Seitz), 5:20 (pp). Austin, Swancutt (Ellingson, Wagner), 7:21 (pp).

Shots on goal -- Austin 14-11-7--32, Northfield 7-11-4--22.

Goalies -- Austin, Katie Weckworth (22 shots, 19 saves). Northfield, Sam Stark (32 shots, 26 saves).

Penalties -- Austin 9-18; Northfield 8-16.

Look at the penalties. Tightest called game, I have ever seen. Austin had to penalty kill at least two 5 on 3's, may have been more I was playing with my 3 year old. Slowed down our offense.

[falcons89]

winningsnot4everyone,

My dad once said, ( yes I did have a dad),
It is not your fault for being ignorant, it is your fault for staying that way.
That really applys to you. You think you know alot about very little. Tigerpower this hurts, but nice post. I am tempted to educate you on how many 7th grade high school girls have dominated as Seniors. Laura Hilman, Kristen Faber, TJ...... etc., I would list my Faribault girls but that would be blowing our horn. Enough on that subject let us talk 1A.

A Northfield friend of mine, yes I do have a few friends, saw this game and also reads this forum. This was his exact quote... "If TJ has lost her fire, then I would hate to see her on fire!!" I guess she had an amazing goal. He said she stole the puck and deked out 2 of their best D and the Goalie. He said he wished he had it on tape. I suppose 4 goals was not a bad night.

Seeing how Austin did, I imagine it will be two long nights for Northfield, when they play us and Albert Lea.

Faribault will soon be the greatest.

[RSI]

Seeing how Austin did, I imagine it will be two long nights for Northfield, when they play us and Albert Lea.

Faribault will soon be the greatest.

At least 1 anyway

I'm not even going to dignify these "lost her fire" posts other than to say they're ridiculous. She is the best player in the Big 9 and Section 1A.

[Twinnesota]

Seeing how Austin did, I imagine it will be two long nights for Northfield, when they play us and Albert Lea.

Faribault will soon be the greatest.

At least 1 anyway

I'm not even going to dignify these "lost her fire" posts other than to say they're ridiculous. She is the best player in the Big 9 and Section 1A.

I agree on TJ...
I am just hoping AL does not get "big heads" anytime soon.
T

[RSI]

Any thoughts on the games this week? Not a whole lot going on yet.

Tuesday 11/13
Northfield @ Albert Lea
Red Wing @ Richfield
Mankato West @ Waseca

Thursday 11/15
Northfield @ Faribault
Winona @ Austin


I predict Northfield will win at least 1 of their next 2 games, they're better than an 0-3 start. If not that puts them in a bit of a hole.

[tigerpower]

AL will beat Northfield. AL is much deeper than Northfield. Northfield's goalie is a lot bigger but skill wise might be close. (Giving christmas a slight advantage)
My predicion.. AL 8 Northfield 1

Richfield will beat Red Wing. Much stronger team, where RW has one solid player. RW has two goalie very close skill wise.
My predicion... Richfield 5 RW 3

West will destroy Waseca. Hard to make a prediction because they could score as many as they wanted, and might give up a goal playing the backup goalie and third line.
My prediction... MW 11 Waseca 1 or so.

Northfield and Faribault could be close. Faribault is deeper but also younger and has a less experienced goalie.
My prediction... Faribault 5 Northfield 3

This could be a good game. Winona is solid but Austin has TJ. I know a team can't win because of just one player but I don't think Winona has the speed to keep up with her. Winona also collapses low and Austin moves the puck well. Winona has solid goaltending in their favor.
My prediction... Austin 3 Winona 2

[falcons89]

I predict Northfield will win at least 1 of their next 2 games,

Only if Northfield wins their next one.
I think they will be in a hole.
I was surprised Austin won that game. I thought Northfield would be better than that. I believe they returned about everyone.
After the big hurt, AL put on Austin in the scrimmage, I doubt Norhtfield can match either of us.
#1,2, & 3 seeds should come from the big 9.

[RSI]

Only if Northfield wins their next one.

I was surprised Austin won that game. I thought Northfield would be better than that. I believe they returned about everyone.

After the big hurt, AL put on Austin in the scrimmage, I doubt Norhtfield can match either of us.

Northfield beat AL in last year's season opener 3-1!

Nothing against Austin, but I expected more from Northfield too. Teams that play Austin better be able to score. Austin's 12 can score 3-4-5 (or 6) goals all by herself, if Austin can get 2 or 3 more goals from the other girls- all of sudden they just forced the other teams to score 6 or 7 goals to win. I'd put the over/under on total goals in Austin games at about 9.

It was a scrimmage. I was shocked to hear AL scored 12. It sure seemed a lot closer than that.

[tigerpower]

I agree, plus Austin goalie had to be mentally out of it after forgetting to bring her pads. Also we saw nothing from TJ.
I'm not saying they'll have a chance next time but they were obviously having problems.

[Twinnesota]

I agree, plus Austin goalie had to be mentally out of it after forgetting to bring her pads. Also we saw nothing from TJ.
I'm not saying they'll have a chance next time but they were obviously having problems.

Watch out for Austin...
Work a little harder, because you will need to.
T

PS---West will show you some hockey!!!