Best coach in MN?

[Northhcky]

Then you'd be talking about guys like Esse from Cloquet (until recently) and LaRoque from Grand Rapids.

Lee

Agreed. Another one that should be mentioned is Bruce Plante from Hermantown. Consistantly has winning teams all with homegrown talent and a small pool of players. Typically has only around 15 kids moving up from bantams a year.

That's practically the entire bantam team.

15 kids between the Bantam A and B team. Usually never have more than 2 Bantam teams. So yup pretty much is one whole team.

[Jefferson17]

Tom Saterdalen has my vote for sure.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Hockey record:
Overall: Won 703 Lost 228 Ties 28
At Jefferson: Won 545 Lost 167 Ties 21
7 State Champions Minnesota (5) Wisconsin (2)
15 Section Titles 13 Lake Conference Titles
Minnesota High School Hockey Coach of the year, 1981,1988,1993,2002
2005 Bemidji State University Outstanding Alumni
2005 Inducted into Minnesota High School Coaches Hall of Fame
2003 John Mariucci Award Presented by American College Hockey Coaches Association
1994 National High School Athletic Coaches Association Special Coach of the Year

[playerplayer1]

Tom Simpson at White Bear Mariner the 1972-73 season through the 1982-83 season. He was also the head coach at White Bear from the 1983-84 season through the 1991-92 season when Mariner and White Bear went back to one high school.

6+ conference champions.

7 section runners-up.

3 state tournament appearances.

1 state runner-up.

3 tourney appearances in 20 years with all that talent. I'd say Simpson underachieved over those years in a big way. So many of those teams lost to Hill when they were clearly more talented (see 7 section runner-ups)!!

Based on that I would not consider him one of the best coaches in Minnesota. Had they had a Woog or Ikola they would have been scary!!

[TooManyEagles]

Scott Klein from Kittson County Central. Doing quite well with a tiny and distant program, with not much talent to pick from.

[karl(east)]

In light of recent events, I have to give another shoutout to Dave Esse in Cloquet. As an East fan I have no love for the man, but what he does with the talent on hand and the way he gets them up for big games is nothing short of freakish.

[northwoods oldtimer]

I agree karl especially when Esse called out Randolph right on the ice that was classic old school rivalry stuff right there. The man knows how to get under the skin of the Hounds, he is quite a motivator.

[gophs16]

Although he isn't coaching high school anymore, I'd suggest Dave Dochniak, used to be at Harding when they still fielded a team. Be great to see him step into Stillwater, that is if Phil decides to head elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see if Housley stays or goes next year. If he does leave I think Dochniak would be a great filler. The guy is well known around the rink and knows the game very well. I mean if he can handle Harding kids he can handle anyone.

[1parent]

Although he isn't coaching high school anymore, I'd suggest Dave Dochniak, used to be at Harding when they still fielded a team. Be great to see him step into Stillwater, that is if Phil decides to head elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see if Housley stays or goes next year. If he does leave I think Dochniak would be a great filler. The guy is well known around the rink and knows the game very well. I mean if he can handle Harding kids he can handle anyone.

Isn't there a Dochniak on Stillwater? Where is he coaching currently?

[shoot to thrill]

Although he isn't coaching high school anymore, I'd suggest Dave Dochniak, used to be at Harding when they still fielded a team. Be great to see him step into Stillwater, that is if Phil decides to head elsewhere.

It will be interesting to see if Housley stays or goes next year. If he does leave I think Dochniak would be a great filler. The guy is well known around the rink and knows the game very well. I mean if he can handle Harding kids he can handle anyone.

Isn't there a Dochniak on Stillwater? Where is he coaching currently?

No question you got to add Janne from Burnsville to the mix. He has repeatedly put together some very good teams in the last several years and has found a way to win when it counts. This year he has a team that is not loaded with talent but is still making a great run. Even with injuries to key players he has kept them in the hunt and beaten some of the top teams in the State. Good goaltending and strong work from his lines have always been a key to success but this year he has found a way to make 3 strong lines from a team that really doesn't have much depth. If they keep up there impressive play, they could be a surprise to go to State. It is one of the first years that he has been able to balance his team and not rely so much on one group of players.

[justme]

Jay Moser for Park!

[qbtobe7]

Jay Moser for Park!

Good joke. Park is just as irrelevant as they've ever been.

[justme]

Jay Moser for Park!

Good joke. Park is just as irrelevant as they've ever been.

Give it sometime you will see, only his third year!

[wbmd]

Jay Moser for Park!

Good joke. Park is just as irrelevant as they've ever been.

Give it sometime you will see, only his third year!

At least some progress has been made.

[wbmd]

Tom Simpson at White Bear Mariner the 1972-73 season through the 1982-83 season. He was also the head coach at White Bear from the 1983-84 season through the 1991-92 season when Mariner and White Bear went back to one high school.

6+ conference champions.

7 section runners-up.

3 state tournament appearances.

1 state runner-up.

3 tourney appearances in 20 years with all that talent. I'd say Simpson underachieved over those years in a big way. So many of those teams lost to Hill when they were clearly more talented (see 7 section runner-ups)!!

Based on that I would not consider him one of the best coaches in Minnesota. Had they had a Woog or Ikola they would have been scary!!

Simpson is still much better than any coach that has been at White Bear since he retired.

[High_Plains_Dangler]

Bill Lechner, Mike Randolph, George Nemanich, Bruce Plante, and Eric Aus round out my top five... All have very impressive track records.

[mn man]

Lorne Grosso - Mayo 600+ wins and he has never had his own youth program/feeder system. RYHA is slanted toward Century and Lourdes.
He also teaches kids how to be good people as they become adults.

I'll second that

[curtiscurve]

Here are a couple that are maybe not on the top of the list but should get some votes.

Tony Couture from Little Falls. They are down this year but he has done an outstanding job in building that program up from the ground. Look for them to be back on top in 2 years.

Jim Archibald from Brainerd. He has the Warriors in line for the 2 seed in 7AA and back on top of the CLC. I hope he is around for a long time and builds Brainerd hockey into a powerhouse.

[smalltownhockey21]

Jim Archibald from Brainerd. He has the Warriors in line for the 2 seed in 7AA and back on top of the CLC. I hope he is around for a long time and builds Brainerd hockey into a powerhouse.

Huh? Since when did Brainerd play in 7AA?

[curtiscurve]

My Bad. I meant 8AA.

[Pioneerprideguy]

In light of recent events, I have to give another shoutout to Dave Esse in Cloquet. As an East fan I have no love for the man, but what he does with the talent on hand and the way he gets them up for big games is nothing short of freakish.

Maybe last night wasn't a big game.

[karl(east)]

In light of recent events, I have to give another shoutout to Dave Esse in Cloquet. As an East fan I have no love for the man, but what he does with the talent on hand and the way he gets them up for big games is nothing short of freakish.

Maybe last night wasn't a big game.

Quite possible--the vast majority of their big games involve East as the opponent.

He has his share of big wins against other teams, though.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Tony Sarsland.