Now from what I hear, there is only 4 squirt teams in the city of Duluth. I think theres a team called East Duluth which consists of Portman, Lester Park etc. A team from West Duluth which consists of Peidmont, Gary New Duluth, Irving. Glenwood Heights which is Glen Avon, Woodland, and Duluth Heights. And the only team that is still around in it's entirety is Congdon.
Just a few years ago we had enough kids for every rink in Duluth, don't forget about Lower Chester which is no more.
What Happened????
Duluth Squirts: What's Happened
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
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CreaseMonkey
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:17 pm
The Squirt A situation in Duluth is kind of at a crossroads of sorts.
The sad fact is that we barely avoided only having 3 teams at the A level this year.
What has happened in Duluth, especially the Western End, is that the numbers are just not there to support A teams at multiple rinks. This is the third year that the West Duluth rinks have combined to make an A team, and this year I believe there were 13 kids total that tried out for the A team. Part of that low number was due to a boycott of sorts by over half of the eligible families as they felt that West Duluth should skate multiple B teams instead. Even if they had not boycotted the team, there would not have been that many more kids trying out, and no rink alone had enough Squirts to form a competitive A team on their own.
Across town, the Glenwood Heights situation is a bit different. They felt that no one rink had enough kids to make a competitive A team, so they combined 3 rinks to make 1 A team and 2 B teams. They had 50+ kids show up for tryouts, and all indications are that this is a year to year thing, with the hopes that those individual rinks can support their own A teams in the future.
Personally, I think that you are going to see the Squirt A program leave the local rinks, and be operated by the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association like the Pee Wee and Bantam programs are now. That would likely result in 2 or possibly 3 Squirt A teams in Duluth.
It is sad to see the demise of Squirt A hockey in Duluth. The number of families with young children is dropping, they prefer to live in areas outside of Duluth like Hermantown, or incomes are low enough that they just can not afford the sport.
The sad fact is that we barely avoided only having 3 teams at the A level this year.
What has happened in Duluth, especially the Western End, is that the numbers are just not there to support A teams at multiple rinks. This is the third year that the West Duluth rinks have combined to make an A team, and this year I believe there were 13 kids total that tried out for the A team. Part of that low number was due to a boycott of sorts by over half of the eligible families as they felt that West Duluth should skate multiple B teams instead. Even if they had not boycotted the team, there would not have been that many more kids trying out, and no rink alone had enough Squirts to form a competitive A team on their own.
Across town, the Glenwood Heights situation is a bit different. They felt that no one rink had enough kids to make a competitive A team, so they combined 3 rinks to make 1 A team and 2 B teams. They had 50+ kids show up for tryouts, and all indications are that this is a year to year thing, with the hopes that those individual rinks can support their own A teams in the future.
Personally, I think that you are going to see the Squirt A program leave the local rinks, and be operated by the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association like the Pee Wee and Bantam programs are now. That would likely result in 2 or possibly 3 Squirt A teams in Duluth.
It is sad to see the demise of Squirt A hockey in Duluth. The number of families with young children is dropping, they prefer to live in areas outside of Duluth like Hermantown, or incomes are low enough that they just can not afford the sport.
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oglethorpe10
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Nov 30, 2007 6:21 am
Duluth Squirts
Partially correct. Portman was not going to field an A team this year so they were allowed to try out within their working group, Lester Park or Congdon. A goalie made it at Lester. So for the city you have:
West Duluth
Glenwood Heights
Congdon
Lester Park.
Sad.
West Duluth
Glenwood Heights
Congdon
Lester Park.
Sad.
Number of kids is part of the story, the other is the same thing that has played out at other associations where parents don't want their kid to be on anything less than an "A" team. Unfortunately, they don't see how it's wrecking the program for the long term.
The worst thing that could happen in Duluth is putting all teams at the direct control of DAHA. They have no credibility due to reversing decisions local rink boards have made. The bantam situation this year was an absolute cluster. Duluth has been somewhat insulated from the problems other areas have had simply because of the local rinks running their own show.
As far as the numbers go, it's a farce to think there aren't enough kids. It's a PR issue. We have one of the largest soccer assoc. in the state, and in some parts of town, youth football has run out of equipment so many kids had shown up (why aren't those 150 boys on the east end playing hockey?). If you're not selling the program (and if people continue to see and hear the disfunction of the board), you're not going to have kids come out to play. DAHA is doing nothing to build the program and they are their own worst enemy. How can you be losing over 100 kids a year, and not have some sense of urgency to fix your program. Maybe they think building the $15 million rink is all they have to do. Funny how they can't figure out why no one wants to contribute the last $4 mil for it. Maybe when there is no one left playing hockey in Duluth they can turn it into the new aquarium.
Pretty sad when you look at the storied history of what once was considered a great place to play a great game.
The worst thing that could happen in Duluth is putting all teams at the direct control of DAHA. They have no credibility due to reversing decisions local rink boards have made. The bantam situation this year was an absolute cluster. Duluth has been somewhat insulated from the problems other areas have had simply because of the local rinks running their own show.
As far as the numbers go, it's a farce to think there aren't enough kids. It's a PR issue. We have one of the largest soccer assoc. in the state, and in some parts of town, youth football has run out of equipment so many kids had shown up (why aren't those 150 boys on the east end playing hockey?). If you're not selling the program (and if people continue to see and hear the disfunction of the board), you're not going to have kids come out to play. DAHA is doing nothing to build the program and they are their own worst enemy. How can you be losing over 100 kids a year, and not have some sense of urgency to fix your program. Maybe they think building the $15 million rink is all they have to do. Funny how they can't figure out why no one wants to contribute the last $4 mil for it. Maybe when there is no one left playing hockey in Duluth they can turn it into the new aquarium.
Pretty sad when you look at the storied history of what once was considered a great place to play a great game.
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CreaseMonkey
- Posts: 125
- Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:17 pm
Maybe I should clarify what I mean by not enough kids.
There are tons of kids in Duluth, but the "families" that can help support a hockey association are not so common anymore.
Anyone can sign a kid up for soccer and drop them off at the local field, but having families who will show up to flood rinks, support the association, pay the costs and travel are hard to come by.
In West Duluth, the neighborhoods have gone from being primarily family occupied homes to short term rentals. A lot of those renters either don't have children, or are not in a position to invest in what can be an expensive sport. 75% of the sign up fees for players at our rink this year were leveled by DAHA. Families are not longer asked to fund raise for them, but are forced to buy the mandated number of fund raiser items. That is not a fund raiser, it is a FEE. If we could lower those additional fees from DAHA, the price might not be quite so daunting for young player families.
The other thing that is now playing out is the impact of closing neighborhood rinks. Loosing places like Lower Chester, Norton Park and Merritt hurt. The kids that would have signed up and played at their neighborhood rink are just not doing so in the same quantity, not when they have to go further to play. If someplace like Gary or Irving were to close, that end of town would be in huge trouble.
I am not personally in favor of DAHA taking over the Squirt program, but I fear that is exactly what is going to happen in the next few years. If it does, how many rinks will really thrive as mite only associations?
There are tons of kids in Duluth, but the "families" that can help support a hockey association are not so common anymore.
Anyone can sign a kid up for soccer and drop them off at the local field, but having families who will show up to flood rinks, support the association, pay the costs and travel are hard to come by.
In West Duluth, the neighborhoods have gone from being primarily family occupied homes to short term rentals. A lot of those renters either don't have children, or are not in a position to invest in what can be an expensive sport. 75% of the sign up fees for players at our rink this year were leveled by DAHA. Families are not longer asked to fund raise for them, but are forced to buy the mandated number of fund raiser items. That is not a fund raiser, it is a FEE. If we could lower those additional fees from DAHA, the price might not be quite so daunting for young player families.
The other thing that is now playing out is the impact of closing neighborhood rinks. Loosing places like Lower Chester, Norton Park and Merritt hurt. The kids that would have signed up and played at their neighborhood rink are just not doing so in the same quantity, not when they have to go further to play. If someplace like Gary or Irving were to close, that end of town would be in huge trouble.
I am not personally in favor of DAHA taking over the Squirt program, but I fear that is exactly what is going to happen in the next few years. If it does, how many rinks will really thrive as mite only associations?
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GoldenBear
- Posts: 746
- Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:38 am
M2C, Those suburb associations still field numerous "B" teams and C teams and have very high enrollments in hockey. Yes, large population base, but the kids that are playing soccer are still playing hockey...the volunteers for these associations are the glue to the success in the numbers. The issue on this thread is that Duluth isn't getting the enrollment. Not to change this "thread" to a who fields 2 A teams, but give these associations credit for the large number of kids that are playing hockey. I tip my hats to any Association in the state that can claim the number of hockey participants that EP, CRapids etc have.
Sad state of affairs in Duluth from what is being told. I have always been impressed with the history of doing neighborhood teams through Squirts. I hope they can figure out how to improve on the numbers up north.
Possibly a couple of years of good outdoor ice weather would help. The past years have been brutal.
Sad state of affairs in Duluth from what is being told. I have always been impressed with the history of doing neighborhood teams through Squirts. I hope they can figure out how to improve on the numbers up north.
Possibly a couple of years of good outdoor ice weather would help. The past years have been brutal.
Can an association have two "A" teams at any level? I heard one dad say that one of the local associations have so many talented Squirts they could've and should've formed two Squirt "A" teams. Is this possible?
Why are people so concerned on their kids making an "A" team at the Squirt or Peewee age? Wouldn't it benefit the player to get as much ice time playing on the "B" team?
Why are people so concerned on their kids making an "A" team at the Squirt or Peewee age? Wouldn't it benefit the player to get as much ice time playing on the "B" team?
Life's simple, but some insist on making it hard
I think that some large associations should consider going with 2 "A" teams at certain levels, however, B1 is a good option. Kids still develop, while having a lot of fun. Picking teams is fickle at best. The top five are easy, the bottom five are rather hard. Some kids have good tryouts and beat out "better" players. I believe the Wayzata Peewees last year could have fielded two or maybe even 3 "A" teams, however they may not have created them memories of an "A" championship, and 1st and 2nd in B1. I am sure those kids who won will look back at winning the B1 championship will be much happier than if they were an A2 team losing in districts.
It is a tough issue with no good answers. One way to do it is have Minnesota Hockey or each district designate how many teams at each level an association should have based on past records and numbers. The problem is, someone will always complain no matter what is done.
It is a tough issue with no good answers. One way to do it is have Minnesota Hockey or each district designate how many teams at each level an association should have based on past records and numbers. The problem is, someone will always complain no matter what is done.