BANTAM A STATE TOURNAMENT

Fire and Ice · Post by **Fire and Ice** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:55 pm

MPLS PARK V DULUTH EAST

OMG V ROCHESTER

BEMIDJI V HIGHLAND

APPLE VALLEY V WAYZATA

hockeyman84 · Post by **hockeyman84** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:57 pm

Looks good I see 3 good games and one that should be a blow out but i guess you never know.

ctbrow1 · Post by **ctbrow1** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:16 pm

I can't agree with you Fire and Ice...Highland has been playing well during tournament time. Bemidji is not going to blow Highland out, if they beat them at all. I only say this because I don't believe you are calling the MPLS Park game the blowout. MPLS Park got a tough draw, DE is pretty awesome. Though what a coup it would be for District 1 to have 2 teams in the State Championship semifinals.

Is it seriously possible to have an all D1 State championship??

hockeyman84 · Post by **hockeyman84** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:37 pm

It is possible and i have to say would be fun to have but the chances are very slim to none. Yes highland is playing well right now but they are just not up to the level of the top teams. Highland's last 3 games were an OT loss to Johnson and two tough wins over Mound and River Lakes.If you look on the other side Mpls/Park destroyed both of those teams highland had trouble with and Mpls/Park is not the best team they would see at the state tournament. Congrats to highland on a great run and hopefully they can compete and play some good hockey up in TRF. It isn't very often you see a Mpls and a st paul team in the state tournament and hopefully they play well and improve the Rep of the city hockey teams.

Duluth East Hockey Fan · Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:46 pm

Rumor has it the Quarter final games are not being played in the Little Ralph, is there any truth to that rumor?

I heard there was a basketball tournament in there and the ice won't be availble till saturday.

BogeyMan · Post by **BogeyMan** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 9:58 pm

Heard the same rumor, except it didnt sound like the ice would be available until the Sunday games.

mn man · Post by **mn man** » Sun Mar 08, 2009 10:00 pm

1st round:
DE
Roch over OMG in a great game
Bemidji
Wayzata

2nd round:
Roch over DE in a great game
Way big

Finals:
Wayzata is your champ

Wayzata, Rochester and DE are the 3 teams that impressed me most all year, Rochester has a tough road to the ship, and will get there, but will not have enough left for Wayzata.

iwatchalotofhockey · Post by **iwatchalotofhockey** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 1:35 am

The games for State Bantam A Tournament will be played at the Huck Ice Arena on Friday and Saturday afternoon.

Saturday evening session and Sunday games will be played at the Little Ralph for those who may be curious.

My resource for info is Lil Ralph Rink Manager as I checked the logistics on broadcasting these games.

Section Basketball tournament games are being played at the Lil Ralph and floor will be taken out Sat to make way for Ice Saturday evening.

Cant wait to broadcast from the Lil Ralph as rumour has it there is one of the photos of me getting scored on amongst the many they have on the arena walls! LOL

Night Train · Post by **Night Train** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:22 am

Double booked for the State Hockey Tournament? Nice. I would think the basketball would be a little easier to move. Thanks Arena Manager.

starmvp · Post by **starmvp** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 6:30 am

I think it's crazy that Apple Valley and Wayzata play each other the first round.

Bluejay · Post by **Bluejay** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:00 am

Night Train wrote:Double booked for the State Hockey Tournament? Nice. I would think the basketball would be a little easier to move. Thanks Arena Manager.

Relax... the Huck is also a nice facility. It could be worse! They could have you in the old arena up town!! haha

puckboy · Post by **puckboy** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:55 am

what a shame if the arena is truly booked. Maybe the Xcel is the place to have it?

philip18 · Post by **philip18** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:57 am

There are going to be a lot of upset players, coaches and parents to go that far and not play all games at the Little Ralph. The main attraction to go that far is the arena. Also I expect the ice will be very bad after they take up the floor. Great scheduling of a 4pm Sunday championship game! Very disappointing.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:09 am

The Huck is better than 85 to 90% of the rinks in MN.

And the Ralph has state of the art equipment to make ice.
It will be better than fine.

And no one in their right mind thinks about what, where or how the rink will be; the idea is that the kids are playing in teh state tournament.

GoldenBear · Post by **GoldenBear** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:13 am

Elliot, say what you want but someone really goofed up! It will be disappointing for many. Yes, they will get over it fast. However, I have talked with at least three families from the cities that are going up there and the first thing out of their mouth was how cool it will be to play at the Little Ralph.

Horrible planning on someone's part period.

BogeyMan · Post by **BogeyMan** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:18 am

starmvp wrote:I think it's crazy that Apple Valley and Wayzata play each other the first round.

Huh? Why is this crazy?? You have to beat them at some point, so what difference does it make whether its the first, second or third game? This should be a great match-up!!

Night Train · Post by **Night Train** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:22 am

Elliott,

Thanks for the comments but they are only somewhat comforting. When the Tournament was granted to Thief River Falls, and scheduled, normally a facility would hold those dates for the event they competed for, and, maybe earned the opportunity to host, based somewhat on the facility booked for hosting. Did anyone else request to host the event that had a facility reserved?

It's unbelievable that the facility managers would even consider booking another event in their facility for dates that have been reserved for 3 years.

Hopefully they'll get the basketball moved as there are several basketball courts available that don't require the work that converting Little Ralph will. Move the basketball!

The facility, the District, the host association and any other decision makers have a lot to be embarrased about as they made some very poor decisions. Big black eye.

hd35 · Post by **hd35** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:32 am

mn man wrote:1st round:
DE
Roch over OMG in a great game
Bemidji
Wayzata

2nd round:
Roch over DE in a great game
Way big

Finals:
Wayzata is your champ

Wayzata, Rochester and DE are the 3 teams that impressed me most all year, Rochester has a tough road to the ship, and will get there, but will not have enough left for Wayzata.

I agree with everything except I see Rochester pulling it off. They played Wayzata 2 close games this year and will win state.

hd35 · Post by **hd35** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:37 am

I think the boys won't care where they are playing, just happy to make it to state.

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:38 am

Night Train wrote:Elliott,

Thanks for the comments but they are only somewhat comforting. When the Tournament was granted to Thief River Falls, and scheduled, normally a facility would hold those dates for the event they competed for, and, maybe earned the opportunity to host, based somewhat on the facility booked for hosting. Did anyone else request to host the event that had a facility reserved?

It's unbelievable that the facility managers would even consider booking another event in their facility for dates that have been reserved for 3 years.

Hopefully they'll get the basketball moved as there are several basketball courts available that don't require the work that converting Little Ralph will. Move the basketball!

The facility, the District, the host association and any other decision makers have a lot to be embarrased about as they made some very poor decisions. Big black eye.

How many of yu have ever been to TRF?
To the HUCK or the RALPH?

The galmour of playing at the Ralph is what?
Playing at the home rink of a high school team?

I am sure most of the kids playing have played in a rink where a HS team plays.

The schedulers I am sure had the basektball booked wel lin advance of the hockey event.
And these two arenas are at the same place.
TRFAHA does not own or control teh ice facilities. They are using what they have.

Placing the tourney in TRF had nothing to do with what facility they would use. The Huck and the Ralph are quality ice sheets.

And it is my decision (final) as to where it is played in D16.
So if yo do not like it, do not attend.

It is no where near as big a deal as some of you are making it.

jackstraw · Post by **jackstraw** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:15 am

Elliott, I agree with you on just about everything but this one. I was up in TRF a few years back with a group of '93's and the reason we drove 6.5 hours was to play there. The kids still talk about it, they loved that place.

abc123 · Post by **abc123** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:40 am

I can't believe how petty some of the people on this board can be! Are you serious your going to complain about where a State Tournament is going to be held? The Huck will have a great atmosphere even better than the little Ralph because the Lil ralph is so big that it so quiet in their even for a regular season HS game. The Huck is a great arena and is more that acceptable for this event. Is it unfortunate that it can't be played their? Yes! but as someone who has played and coached in the lil' ralph the Big Ralph and in Red Lake Falls and everything in between your kids will get over it by the banquet on Thursday night! It's all about the games and the experience of a State Tourney! Once the puck drops they won't even think about if they are in TRF or if they are playing in Southern Iowa.

hd35 · Post by **hd35** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:41 am

elliott70 wrote:
Night Train wrote:Elliott,

Thanks for the comments but they are only somewhat comforting. When the Tournament was granted to Thief River Falls, and scheduled, normally a facility would hold those dates for the event they competed for, and, maybe earned the opportunity to host, based somewhat on the facility booked for hosting. Did anyone else request to host the event that had a facility reserved?

It's unbelievable that the facility managers would even consider booking another event in their facility for dates that have been reserved for 3 years.

Hopefully they'll get the basketball moved as there are several basketball courts available that don't require the work that converting Little Ralph will. Move the basketball!

The facility, the District, the host association and any other decision makers have a lot to be embarrased about as they made some very poor decisions. Big black eye.
How many of yu have ever been to TRF?
To the HUCK or the RALPH?

The galmour of playing at the Ralph is what?
Playing at the home rink of a high school team?

I am sure most of the kids playing have played in a rink where a HS team plays.

The schedulers I am sure had the basektball booked wel lin advance of the hockey event.
And these two arenas are at the same place.
TRFAHA does not own or control teh ice facilities. They are using what they have.

Placing the tourney in TRF had nothing to do with what facility they would use. The Huck and the Ralph are quality ice sheets.

And it is my decision (final) as to where it is played in D16.
So if yo do not like it, do not attend.

It is no where near as big a deal as some of you are making it.

I agree. The teams that are going to state have worked hard all year to get to this point. The boys won't care where they are playing, they'd be happy if they were playing on an outdoor rink. The parents should not make a big deal of this and put a negative light on it, just go and have some fun and enjoy some great hockey!

Air Force 1 · Post by **Air Force 1** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:45 am

As someone that watches his kids play in TRF 4-6 times a year with tournaments and all, they tell me they would rather skate in the Huck than the 'lil Ralph and I would rather watch a game at the Huck. The 'lil Ralph is NICE, but the Huck is just fine.

love2skate · Post by **love2skate** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:49 am

Elliott and others,

While you are correct on some levels, you are also a little to quick to brush off those who "are making a big deal out of it". They are merely stating their opinions.

All year long Bantam A teams have been talking about getting to "Little Ralph"....not Thief River Falls. It's been the allure of the 2009 BA State tournament. Going out on a limb, I bet some people don't eve know what town is actually hosting the event...only that it is at Little Ralph. On this site and others, players and parents have talked about what teams are gong to make it to "Little Ralph" all season and no one has ever corrected it. This site even has a topic with the subject stated that way "Which teams will make it to Little Ralph". It's been the goal for teams. Therefore, it is surprising that now, five days before the tournament starts, the teams are finding out that Little Ralph is booked. It's more the misrepresentation, not the actual facility, that seems to be at issue. At least the final games will be played there.

Everyone is correct that the teams are probably just all glad to be there and still playing hockey this time of the season. It's just a mental shift for the tournament.

Congrats to the teams... should be some great hockey.

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BANTAM A STATE TOURNAMENT

BANTAM A STATE TOURNAMENT

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Bantam A State

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