7AA Section Tourney Location

[mnpuckfan]

Does anyone have an explanation as to why the 7AA semis and finals are still held at the DECC? There are only 3 teams in the section in the upper half of the state. That seems to translate into home ice advantage for teams like Cloquet and East if they make it that far.

The only other AA section that has teams spread out like that is 8AA. According to the section bracket for 8AA it appears that the high seed hosts the semis with the finals as TBD.

[east hockey]

Does anyone have an explanation as to why the 7AA semis and finals are still held at the DECC? There are only 3 teams in the section in the upper half of the state. That seems to translate into home ice advantage for teams like Cloquet and East if they make it that far.

The only other AA section that has teams spread out like that is 8AA. According to the section bracket for 8AA it appears that the high seed hosts the semis with the finals as TBD.

7AA is and always has been a northern section. Those other teams are interlopers. Besides, only once has one of them advanced to state, anyway. What, they're going to move them to the National Concrete Center in St. Cloud?! All those Polaris jackets (shudder).

I sure hope you weren't looking for a serious answer.

Elk River fans pile on in 3...2...1

Lee

[mnpuckfan]

Does anyone have an explanation as to why the 7AA semis and finals are still held at the DECC? There are only 3 teams in the section in the upper half of the state. That seems to translate into home ice advantage for teams like Cloquet and East if they make it that far.

The only other AA section that has teams spread out like that is 8AA. According to the section bracket for 8AA it appears that the high seed hosts the semis with the finals as TBD.

7AA is and always has been a northern section. Those other teams are interlopers. Besides, only once has one of them advanced to state, anyway. What, they're going to move them to the National Concrete Center in St. Cloud?! All those Polaris jackets (shudder).

I sure hope you weren't looking for a serious answer.

Elk River fans pile on in 3...2...1

Lee

I would agree that historically section 7 is a northern section, but the current geography of 7AA just doesn't support that. There just are not enough northern AA teams in that area to support a true northern section. Personally, I would like to see section 7AA that way.

What I was trying to say was when you have a section so split up geographically, wouldn't it make sense to have the higher seed host the game? That way home ice is alway deserved, not just granted based on 'tradition'.

[east hockey]

Just prior to the dinosaur age, when the old Section 2 had teams from the Duluth area along with teams from the north metro, they would switch off. Semifinals would be down there, finals up here. Next year they'd reverse it. If my memory serves, however, if both the finalists were from the same sub-section, then the finals would be in that area. (Example, East wouldn't play Cloquet at the Coliseum in the finals).

Here is the problem; where down there would you play the games? Coliseum is booked on that Saturday. Which arena would Elk River host a semi-final at? Their place isn't even close to being big enough. Blaine Super Rink?

The DECC is a guaranteed almost-sellout, even when the Twin Cities teams venture north. The teams up here are a bigger draw. The DECC is a better facility (and if they switch to the new DECC next year, it will be the best facility to host a section playoff game in the entire state).

Tradition, like it or not, counts. And next year, there will likely be another Duluth area team in 7AA (Central-Denfeld).

Like you, I'd like to see 7AA that way (all-North). There is factor standing in the way. It's called the two-class system. Coupled with a few schools having the Big Fish/Small Pond thing going. I'd love to see East, Central/Denfeld, Cloquet, Rapids, Marshall, Virginia, Hermantown and Hibbing all in 7AA. Unfortunately, that almost certainly won't happen. Ever.

Lee

[slyer]

it's only been that way for 20+ years, what a bunch of cr@$. i saw how many east fans came to elk river this year maybe 30 most of them parents. if the finals game was played anywhere else it would be full, the decc is a dump thats why they built another arena. if andover and elk river happen to make it to the finals we get to drive to the dump to play a hockey game, it's only 2+ hours on a sunny windless day. it sure must be nice to have the finals in your backyard every year, but there isn't any home field advantage according to east fans. they can sure fill the dump but they were nowhere to be found in elk river

[TheHockeyDJ]

The atmosphere for section playoff hockey is the best at the DECC hands down. The building is the perfect size. Also, Lee is right about seating for the semifinals/finals. You need a building with atleast 5,500-6,000 seats. Elk River's home rink is tragically insufficient for a semi-final game.

[MrBoDangles]

[karl(east)]

it's only been that way for 20+ years, what a bunch of cr@$. i saw how many east fans came to elk river this year maybe 30 most of them parents. if the finals game was played anywhere else it would be full, the decc is a dump thats why they built another arena. if andover and elk river happen to make it to the finals we get to drive to the dump to play a hockey game, it's only 2+ hours on a sunny windless day. it sure must be nice to have the finals in your backyard every year, but there isn't any home field advantage according to east fans. they can sure fill the dump but they were nowhere to be found in elk river

I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I didn't catch your drift the first thirty times you tried to make this argument.

If anyone wants to have a polite discussion about the 7AA tourney location, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, let's not continue the arguments about things that have been not only beaten to death, but left to rot in a congealed bloody pulp.

[MrBoDangles]

it's only been that way for 20+ years, what a bunch of cr@$. i saw how many east fans came to elk river this year maybe 30 most of them parents. if the finals game was played anywhere else it would be full, the decc is a dump thats why they built another arena. if andover and elk river happen to make it to the finals we get to drive to the dump to play a hockey game, it's only 2+ hours on a sunny windless day. it sure must be nice to have the finals in your backyard every year, but there isn't any home field advantage according to east fans. they can sure fill the dump but they were nowhere to be found in elk river

I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I didn't catch your drift the first thirty times you tried to make this argument.

If anyone wants to have a polite discussion about the 7AA tourney location, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, let's not continue the arguments about things that have been not only beaten to death, but left to rot in a congealed bloody pulp.

pm YOU

[MrBoDangles]

If you don't like the unfair advantage in 7AA, call the MN State HS League. Nothing unfair about that.

[karl(east)]

it's only been that way for 20+ years, what a bunch of cr@$. i saw how many east fans came to elk river this year maybe 30 most of them parents. if the finals game was played anywhere else it would be full, the decc is a dump thats why they built another arena. if andover and elk river happen to make it to the finals we get to drive to the dump to play a hockey game, it's only 2+ hours on a sunny windless day. it sure must be nice to have the finals in your backyard every year, but there isn't any home field advantage according to east fans. they can sure fill the dump but they were nowhere to be found in elk river

I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I didn't catch your drift the first thirty times you tried to make this argument.

If anyone wants to have a polite discussion about the 7AA tourney location, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, let's not continue the arguments about things that have been not only beaten to death, but left to rot in a congealed bloody pulp.

pm YOU

If it's really that big of an issue and you want to have a less heated discussion than you'd have in one of the threads, then yes.

Otherwise, I think your other suggestion is far more practical.

[MrBoDangles]

I'm sorry, could you repeat that? I didn't catch your drift the first thirty times you tried to make this argument.

If anyone wants to have a polite discussion about the 7AA tourney location, feel free to PM me. Otherwise, let's not continue the arguments about things that have been not only beaten to death, but left to rot in a congealed bloody pulp.

pm YOU

If it's really that big of an issue and you want to have a less heated discussion than you'd have in one of the threads, then yes.

Otherwise, I think your other suggestion is far more practical.

They will get your unbiased DE opinion through a PM!!??
(763)560-2262 Light them up

[east hockey]

Having fun yet, Karl?

Lee

[east hockey]

pm YOU

If it's really that big of an issue and you want to have a less heated discussion than you'd have in one of the threads, then yes.

Otherwise, I think your other suggestion is far more practical.

They will get your unbiased DE opinion through a PM!!??
(763)560-2262 Light them up

Well, I admire your enthusiasm. Be sure and let us know how that works out for you.

Lee

[MrBoDangles]

If it's really that big of an issue and you want to have a less heated discussion than you'd have in one of the threads, then yes.

Otherwise, I think your other suggestion is far more practical.

They will get your unbiased DE opinion through a PM!!??
(763)560-2262 Light them up

Well, I admire your enthusiasm. Be sure and let us know how that works out for you.

Lee

They said they were getting a bunch of calls..Keep it going...Grass roots

[east hockey]

They will get your unbiased DE opinion through a PM!!??
(763)560-2262 Light them up

Well, I admire your enthusiasm. Be sure and let us know how that works out for you.

Lee

They said they were getting a bunch of calls..Keep it going...Grass roots

Calling forty times in a row and disguising your voice each time works well, doesn't it?

Lee

[TheHockeyDJ]

Just looked at the pics at arena.decc.org. Can't wait for 7aa playoffs there. Will be the best section playoff venue hands down.

[old goalie85]

The DECC is an easy drive from Forest Lake so most of us think it a cool place. Go Rangers!!!!

[defense]

it's only been that way for 20+ years, what a bunch of cr@$. i saw how many east fans came to elk river this year maybe 30 most of them parents. if the finals game was played anywhere else it would be full, the decc is a dump thats why they built another arena. if andover and elk river happen to make it to the finals we get to drive to the dump to play a hockey game, it's only 2+ hours on a sunny windless day. it sure must be nice to have the finals in your backyard every year, but there isn't any home field advantage according to east fans. they can sure fill the dump but they were nowhere to be found in elk river

So how about them games that take place after the seciton tournement???
Must be nice having the State Tournement right in your back yard..huh???

[slyer]

defense, at least you can spell your name right, must be from up nordth

[MrBoDangles]

Well, I admire your enthusiasm. Be sure and let us know how that works out for you.

Lee

They said they were getting a bunch of calls..Keep it going...Grass roots

Calling forty times in a row and disguising your voice each time works well, doesn't it?

Lee

You're too smart to be a state worker..

[BigWorm]

it's only been that way for 20+ years, what a bunch of cr@$. i saw how many east fans came to elk river this year maybe 30 most of them parents. if the finals game was played anywhere else it would be full, the decc is a dump thats why they built another arena. if andover and elk river happen to make it to the finals we get to drive to the dump to play a hockey game, it's only 2+ hours on a sunny windless day. it sure must be nice to have the finals in your backyard every year, but there isn't any home field advantage according to east fans. they can sure fill the dump but they were nowhere to be found in elk river

So how about them games that take place after the seciton tournement???
Must be nice having the State Tournement right in your back yard..huh???

Very good point... It must suck not getting that far, quit making excuses. Its funny how these metro teams in 7AA have to complain after seeing East, Cloquet, and Grand Rapids dominate the section for so long, if Elk River loses to East in the Finals thats all we are going to hear about, a home ice advantage! If Elk River makes the finals and plays East, I hope they have fans who are loyal enough to make a two hour drive. Yes a lot of "Duluthians" will be there, but how many of them hate East? I would think quite a few. Last years semifinals attendance was a joke though, I hope Rapids beats Flake. It would make for a better Semifinal Saturday in my opinion. The DECC isn't in Rapids backyard, they have a drive too and it doesn't seem to stop their fans from showing.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

I sure hope you weren't looking for a serious answer.

Elk River fans pile on in 3...2...1

Lee

I think I can fit into both categories.

The REAL Reason 7AA is held at the DECC:
So Duluth East has a chance against The Elks.

There ya go folks, take it to the bank.

[EREmpireStrikesBack]

Get the metro teams out of 7AA (shouldn't be in there to begin with) and this wouldn't even be an issue. Sections 7 & 8 are northern sections and should stay that way. Elk River may not technically be "metro", but they sure aren't northern. Even my publik school education brain knows that.

[mulefarm]

It's time to combine 7&8 into one section and have the non-northern section teams form another.