Woodbury/East Ridge Coop Disolves

royals dad · Post by **royals dad** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 10:51 am

Thanks for the explanation JRG, the decision makes more sense. Still seems like they should take more into account than the goalie situation (especially if the plan is to throw in an 8th grader) and do what is best for all of the kids involved.

*no offense to the 8th grader, the last two senior goalie of the year winners started as 7th or 8th graders. But it is a lot to ask a 13 year old to shoulder the load of and I think for most it does more harm than good (of course only IMO).*

observer · Post by **observer** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:14 pm

Shouldn't the goalie you're discussing be the U14A, or the U12A, goalie? If she's good enough to be an A goalie?

I smell selfishness at the expense of the 2 youth programs.

royals dad · Post by **royals dad** » Fri Mar 19, 2010 1:39 pm

observer wrote:Shouldn't the goalie you're discussing be the U14A, or the U12A, goalie? If she's good enough to be an A goalie?

I smell selfishness at the expense of the 2 youth programs.

It does still come down to the families choice. The youth program does not have ownership of the kids any more than the HS does, if the family thinks the best fit is HS then that is their choice. Personally I would rather see a 8th grade goalie on JV or U14 than varsity but that is from my families perspective.

In the long run 2 more strong programs to the east will be a good thing for girls HS and youth hockey.

drop the puck · Post by **drop the puck** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 7:55 am

royals dad wrote:
observer wrote:Shouldn't the goalie you're discussing be the U14A, or the U12A, goalie? If she's good enough to be an A goalie?

I smell selfishness at the expense of the 2 youth programs.
It does still come down to the families choice. The youth program does not have ownership of the kids any more than the HS does, if the family thinks the best fit is HS then that is their choice. Personally I would rather see a 8th grade goalie on JV or U14 than varsity but that is from my families perspective.

In the long run 2 more strong programs to the east will be a good thing for girls HS and youth hockey.

Unless your child can play independent high level AAA winter hockey or MM winter hockey, there is very little choice at the youth level for players and/or parents. You play in the association where MN hockey tells you !

Once Woodbury and East Ridge have their own youth hockey associations, kids living in this area should not have a choice in which association they are in!! This needs to be established now by D8 and MN hockey.

At the HS level you have one free choice (depending upon open enrollment or selecting private school). After that changing schools will cost the kids one year at the varsity level - if they are ready for that.

The East Ridge boys HS varsity team was full of players that were not ready as sophomores to play varsity hockey.

hockeywild7 · Post by **hockeywild7** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 9:16 am

I think what Royals Dad was referring to is the choice of either playing for the HS/JV program or the youth association not what youth association they want to play for. Unless you get a waiver I don't think you have a choice of playing for any youth association as per MN hockey rules. Every year some players, mainly U14 level, try out for the JV/Varsity teams and make it. The families have a decision to either remain playing for the youth association U14 team or going to the High School program. It is a personal decision for each family that can depend on many factors they have to weigh for the player. You can make arguments for both sides but I don't think one is always better than the other.

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Sat Mar 20, 2010 12:56 pm

drop the puck wrote:
royals dad wrote:
observer wrote:Shouldn't the goalie you're discussing be the U14A, or the U12A, goalie? If she's good enough to be an A goalie?

I smell selfishness at the expense of the 2 youth programs.
It does still come down to the families choice. The youth program does not have ownership of the kids any more than the HS does, if the family thinks the best fit is HS then that is their choice. Personally I would rather see a 8th grade goalie on JV or U14 than varsity but that is from my families perspective.

In the long run 2 more strong programs to the east will be a good thing for girls HS and youth hockey.
Unless your child can play independent high level AAA winter hockey or MM winter hockey, there is very little choice at the youth level for players and/or parents. You play in the association where MN hockey tells you !

Once Woodbury and East Ridge have their own youth hockey associations, kids living in this area should not have a choice in which association they are in!! This needs to be established now by D8 and MN hockey.

At the HS level you have one free choice (depending upon open enrollment or selecting private school). After that changing schools will cost the kids one year at the varsity level - if they are ready for that.

The East Ridge boys HS varsity team was full of players that were not ready as sophomores to play varsity hockey.

I think the Wdby Hockey Association is moving forward with multiple teams versus splitting the Assoc so 2 A at both the Squirt and PW and plans for 2 A Bantam in the future - the teams will be in D2 & D8 versus in the home D8. Several years back there was a plan at MN Hockey but Wdby and CG Association have wanted to maintain 2 versus 3 programs. Not sure that is the right decision and over time there likely could be another association - part of the rational were the ice bonds due on added ice sheets in the two communities.

hockeyfan21 · Post by **hockeyfan21** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:21 pm

Pretty silly argument.

This is the list of programs that eastridge fielded this year...
Adapted Soccer
Adapted Softball
Baseball
Basketball Boys
Basketball Girls
Cheerleading
Cross Country Boys
Cross Country Girls
Dance Team
Football
Golf Boys
Golf Girls
Gymnastics
Hockey Boys
LaCrosse Girls
LaCrosse
Skiing (Alpine)
Skiing (Nordic)
Soccer Boys
Soccer Girls
Softball
Swimming/Diving Boys
Swimming/Diving Girls
Tennis Boys
Tennis Girls
Track & Field Boys
Track & Field Girls
Volleyball
Wrestling

Every argument about competitiveness could be made for those teams as well. Pretty sure football was a tough season with all juniors and sophomores, but no one was saying they should coop for that sport. It's about opportunity to PLAY. 22 football players got a chance to be starters who probably all wouldn't have had that opportunity otherwise. Same with Eastridge girls hockey next year.

Will they struggle some nights? Yup.
Do most teams struggle against Stillwater, Roseville, WBL? Yup.
Will Woodbury and Park not be as good otherwise? Yup.
Will 15 more girls get a chance to be varsity hockey players this year. Yup.

'nough said.

And regarding the $$$, yes it's expensive, but is it worth it? I think so.

drop the puck · Post by **drop the puck** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:47 pm

Girls High School hockey is technically / officially a 7th grade - 12 grade sport in the MNHSL.

7th grader girls have the right to try-out for the HS program. Coach's choice to keep them or send them back to the association.

8th grade girls are common JV participants in smaller HS programs and most higher caliber girls are playing in the HS program in 9th grade.

Just_Another_Fan · Post by **Just_Another_Fan** » Sun Mar 21, 2010 2:39 pm

drop the puck wrote:Girls High School hockey is technically / officially a 7th grade - 12 grade sport in the MNHSL.

7th grader girls have the right to try-out for the HS program. Coach's choice to keep them or send them back to the association.

8th grade girls are common JV participants in smaller HS programs and most higher caliber girls are playing in the HS program in 9th grade.

Woodbury/ER had a 7th grader on varsity year. Pretty good too.

MammaLlama · Post by **MammaLlama** » Tue Apr 27, 2010 10:41 pm

Possibly moving into this area, and have goalies in the family. Since both programs are starting over ... can anyone tell me who the best contact person would be at both Woodbury and East Ridge to discuss next year's program? Just contact ADs?

joehockey · Post by **joehockey** » Wed Apr 28, 2010 8:22 am

MammaLlama wrote:Possibly moving into this area, and have goalies in the family. Since both programs are starting over ... can anyone tell me who the best contact person would be at both Woodbury and East Ridge to discuss next year's program? Just contact ADs?

Go to the Minnesota State HS League Website - at the tool bar in the top pull down school and click on Woodbury all the contact info will be there - they are filling the coaching position and need a goalie. Eastridge has a 9th grade goalie who is very good.