The RAVE

MNHockeyStats · Post by **MNHockeyStats** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 9:29 am

I attended my 4th RAVE game last night. They beat Tartan 5-2.

I realized one of the reasons why they're are doing so well. Case in point - a typical hockey player will retaliate after being cheap-shotted. As a former player - I know it's a natural reaction to stand up for yourself. However, I noticed that the RAVE are very disciplined (either by player maturity or by being very well-coached - or a combination there of) and they rarely retaliate. Instead, they seem to always be focusing on one thing... get the puck in the net.

I saw a RAVE player last night who was consistently driving the net and creating scoring opportunities. Many times when he was near the net he was being hooked, slashed, cross-checked, held or tripped. But he just focused on finishing the play. Very impressive!

Guys that "think they are tough" will trash talk, pick fights and act like they are "all that." However, in my book, the REAL tough guys are the ones that are getting hammered but don't retaliate all the time keeping their focus on getting goals.

I also have noticed that the coaching staff are a classy bunch. They're never screaming at the refs and they always show good sportsmanship. Those traits trickle down to the players. I've seen games where the RAVE were clearly dominating a team and the coach will move top forwards back to D and even out the play.

This team works hard all game long and they're fun to watch. Hats off to the players and coaches.

WBhockey08 · Post by **WBhockey08** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:43 am

they have all there hap points. just goes to show

hockeyfan510 · Post by **hockeyfan510** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 2:47 pm

Yea there to chicken to play in the A league even though they got 2nd in state last year its easy to look good when you should be playing A and play down at the B level

UNDlars · Post by **UNDlars** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 3:07 pm

I have seen quite a few RAVE games and some "A" games and RAVE is right where they should be. All of their games have been competitive and they only teams they have blown out are the few at the bottom of the standings. Here is a post from their coach that was in a previous thread where people started bashing RAVE and saying they should be playing "A"........

I have never ever played teams down a level from what they are capable of and have never recruited 1 player in order to win games. Its kinda funny that a team gets on a decent run and people say what they say. Some of these people didn't have a problem 3-5 years ago when we were getting crushed by YOU 10-1 on our way to a 4-18 & 7-15 records. Believe me, if I thought we could compete at the A level I would defintely try to get our boys to play there.

MNHockeyStats · Post by **MNHockeyStats** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 6:56 pm

hockeyfan510 wrote:Yea there to chicken to play in the A league even though they got 2nd in state last year its easy to look good when you should be playing A and play down at the B level

I originally started this topic to compliment a good, competitive hockey team - The RAVE. They certainly do have a few players that would do quite well on JGA or even varsity hockey. However that is only a few and the coaches play the kids evenly.

Look at HS hockey... there are several kids that will go D1 but they still lose games to other HS teams... That is simply because a few kids do not make a hockey TEAM... 20 kids do.

I agree with UNDLars. He is accurate with his assessment.

Like I said... I just wanted to compliment a solid team. And they deserve the compliment. They work hard and they play well as a TEAM.

FBK19 · Post by **FBK19** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 7:57 pm

I agree with MNHockeystats, Rave is a solid team. I see no reason at all for them to be bashed. My team played them and tied, they are a well rounded team and looks like their coaches did a good job of harnessing the talent that is there. It will be interesting to see how playoffs play out.

Rossbury21 · Post by **Rossbury21** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:38 pm

hockeyfan510 wrote:Yea there to chicken to play in the A league even though they got 2nd in state last year its easy to look good when you should be playing A and play down at the B level

Just stay on the A threads and stop bashing B threads, its not like us players have a team meeting before the season and decide whether we want to play A or B, I'm sick of you ignorant A players, just cuz your cake eaters and have enough players to have an A team.

p-pups10 · Post by **p-pups10** » Fri Feb 15, 2008 12:08 am

Rossbury21 wrote:
hockeyfan510 wrote:Yea there to chicken to play in the A league even though they got 2nd in state last year its easy to look good when you should be playing A and play down at the B level
Just stay on the A threads and stop bashing B threads, its not like us players have a team meeting before the season and decide whether we want to play A or B, I'm sick of you ignorant A players, just cuz your cake eaters and have enough players to have an A team.

So all 'A' teams are cake eaters now??

D1Scout · Post by **D1Scout** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:32 pm

Hey RAVE - nice job against the Winnipeg team in the WI tournament. I know their coach and he was impressed with your team. Thanks for doing a good job of representing MN hockey.

MNHockeyStats · Post by **MNHockeyStats** » Sat Mar 01, 2008 6:25 pm

RAVE players,

Nice job clinching the top seed in state today. You played a solid team (the Wessy's) and you prevailed. I also understand that all lines were scoring this weekend.

Nice work.

MetroScout · Post by **MetroScout** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:30 am

MNHockeyStats wrote:RAVE players,

Nice job clinching the top seed in state today. You played a solid team (the Wessy's) and you prevailed. I also understand that all lines were scoring this weekend.

Nice work.

I second that thought. You guys really work hard out there. You have varying degrees of talent but you ALL play like a team - each contributing their own skill set. Your team is fun to watch.

Good luck at State.

wingman15 · Post by **wingman15** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:41 pm

hockeyfan510 wrote:Yea there to chicken to play in the A league even though they got 2nd in state last year its easy to look good when you should be playing A and play down at the B level

Teams must declare whether they will contest A or B in August. Most teams have no idea who or how many skaters they will have. I have not seen any B teams in the last few years who could compete in the top half of JRGA. They just don't have the depth. JRGA put their top 2 lines on the ice a lot. You're comments are out of line.

hockeyfan510 · Post by **hockeyfan510** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:12 pm

Just because you wont be in the top of the league your first year you shouldn't play A?

You got second in state last year and are first seed in state this year obvously you guys suck and couldn't hack it in a better go undefeated in B again next year to prove a point!

UNDlars · Post by **UNDlars** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:49 pm

hockeyfan510 wrote:Just because you wont be in the top of the league your first year you shouldn't play A?

You got second in state last year and are first seed in state this year obvously you guys suck and couldn't hack it in a better go undefeated in B again next year to prove a point!

This was actually brought up this past weekend at the JGB play-offs and even a member of the MHL board said that we are playing at the level where we should be. Our team is (and has been the past couple years) compiled of typically B/C players and we may get a player or two with JV/varsity experience. Even then, we run through all of our lines and won't cut the bench down to 2 lines. If we wanted to run 2 lines the entire game we may be a .500 team in JGA. So go ahead and tell us we suck and that we are too chicken to play up a level but anyone that knows a thing about our program and the numbers we have to work with knows we are where we belong.

Sauce2122 · Post by **Sauce2122** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 4:23 pm

They got first seed because they won the metro, it would be a toss up if they where seeded. You shouldn't really even call them seeds.

MetroScout · Post by **MetroScout** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 6:42 pm

I don't think the RAVE should be playing A just because they do well at the B level. I've seen them play. Sure they have a couple, maybe three guys that could be playing varsity and the rest just work hard and make good decisions on the ice. And there are several other B teams that have a similar make up.

Some High School teams have Division 1 recruits - should those kids not be allowed to play high school hockey because they're going to the Goph's next year?

In my opinion, the reason the RAVE does so well isn't based as much on skill as it is maturity and focus. I took in both of their games this past weekend. I saw a lot of players that cheap shot the RAVE players. Instead of retaliating, the RAVE kids focused on protecting their defensive end and scoring at the other. Their fast forwards got pulled down on breakaways time after time and they never came up swinging. They focused on putting the puck in the net. Which they did. In front of the net, their defensemen got slashed, pitch forked, cross-checked and they focused on clearing the puck. Which they did.

Maturity and focus are what makes these guys a solid team. They make this level more competitive - which is a good thing.

wingman15 · Post by **wingman15** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:40 pm

hockeyfan510 wrote:Just because you wont be in the top of the league your first year you shouldn't play A?

You got second in state last year and are first seed in state this year obvously you guys suck and couldn't hack it in a better go undefeated in B again next year to prove a point!

What is your problem? Are you a JRA player or a fan? Would it make you feel better if your team beat a JRB team? Why don't you get it that even the top JRB teams don't play at a JRA level. Has RAVE won state for the last 10, 5. or 3 years? These kids have maybe 2 years on these teams and they are gone, some years they are up some they are down. I am not from the RAVE program, your argument is not logical, you are a moron, why am I responding to you?

p-pups10 · Post by **p-pups10** » Tue Mar 04, 2008 1:45 am

UNDlars wrote:
hockeyfan510 wrote:Just because you wont be in the top of the league your first year you shouldn't play A?

You got second in state last year and are first seed in state this year obvously you guys suck and couldn't hack it in a better go undefeated in B again next year to prove a point!
This was actually brought up this past weekend at the JGB play-offs and even a member of the MHL board said that we are playing at the level where we should be. Our team is (and has been the past couple years) compiled of typically B/C players and we may get a player or two with JV/varsity experience. Even then, we run through all of our lines and won't cut the bench down to 2 lines. If we wanted to run 2 lines the entire game we may be a .500 team in JGA. So go ahead and tell us we suck and that we are too chicken to play up a level but anyone that knows a thing about our program and the numbers we have to work with knows we are where we belong.

My JGA runs through all their lines truly and we're #2 in state, we must dominate!

minnhock007 · Post by **minnhock007** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:10 pm

I attended both of the games RAVE played during the MHL playoffs and was relatively impressed with their squad. There seem to be a few players with higher ability than the other, however they seem to do a good job playing as a team and playing smart. I thought they played very fairly and I look forward to seeing what they can do in the state tournament.

BullDoggs08 · Post by **BullDoggs08** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:24 pm

Isn't RAVE a combination of three schools without an A team? They damn well better be the strongest B team...

doubleAAguru · Post by **doubleAAguru** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:58 pm

BullDoggs08 wrote:Isn't RAVE a combination of three schools without an A team? They damn well better be the strongest B team...

Actually, It's kids from 2 high schools - Eastview and Apple Valley. I also believe they had less than 20 kids tryout. They don't have enough kids for an A & B team. And I've seen them play and apart from 3 or 4 varsity/JGA level kids - they're at the right level.

BullDoggs08 · Post by **BullDoggs08** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:02 pm

What does the "R" stand for? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was Rosemount.

doubleAAguru · Post by **doubleAAguru** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 9:06 pm

BullDoggs08 wrote:What does the "R" stand for? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought it was Rosemount.

Rosemount kids play at IGH. They used to play with the RAVE (hence the R) but Rosemount kids haven't tried out there in a few years. And I don't think they have the money to get new jerseys.
...plus AVE doesn't sound very good!

Reggie · Post by **Reggie** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:31 pm

What does rave stand for?

WhatIsIcing? · Post by **WhatIsIcing?** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:59 pm

Reggie wrote:What does rave stand for?

R - Rosemount
AV - Apple Valley
E - Eastview (Apple Valley)

R-AV-E