AA or A?

[HShockeywatcher]

Watcher, as a private school Sta alum, what do you consider small? Hermantown total class size 9-12 is 626.
Thats about 313 boys spanning 4 years or about 78 boys per class.
Of the 78 about 12-18 play hockey.
Hermantown is less than half the size required to play class A yet you think it is so big that you need to bang your head up against a brick wall if someone calls it small??
By the definition of what seperates a A from AA school in Hockey, Hermantown is pretty small sorry to tell you.
What is really amazing is that a small public school like hermantown can even compete against a large private boys prep school with 554 boys like Sta.
Sta has no amature hockey program like herm and other publics are fed by. Sta if fed by all the public school amature programs in a metro area over 3 million people.
STA/Breck sit on top of class A just about every year, big deal.
They would/should sit at the top of AA.
Here's to hoping a true class A school can knock STA/Breck off their high horse this year.

You are intentionally missing the point of the post. It wasn't about a specific school, it was about the supposed intent of the two class split.

The "small" schools aren't making it to state generally. The schools who are successful are in affluent areas, hockey communities, or private. In the last 50 years, there have been few exceptions.

I know you like to ignore what I write, but I suggested the private schools be in AA. The only people who seem to think private schools are on "their high horse" are those putting them down. I, too, hope Hermantown can beat Breck

[blacklung]

I, too, hope Hermantown can beat Breck

Is that before or after they beat Sta this year?

[edinahornetkid24]

Is this going to turn into who should do what and what we should do?

My opinion:
Don't force a move between classes based on success only.
use a regional system to split it up.
Force any non public school into aa.

We all agree private schools by nature have "advantages" that the average public school doesn't have, but to say a school like Legacy Christian Academy, who has the 5th smallest enrollment of all schools, should be AA is silly. That's why I think for them it should be based on success.

Based on this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_ ... ice_hockey

Shouldn't Le Sueur-Henderson/St. Peter be AA?

I did a little research on this... the combined enrollment of Le Sueur-Henderson and St.Peter is 1,213, not 1,367 as the Wikipedia page says. This puts them below the enrollment that would require them to be in AA.

[HShockeywatcher]

FYI, more than half of the teams in class A have larger enrollments than Hermantown. Their enrollment is right inline with that of Proctor, Hibbing, Little Falls, and East Grand Forks. Mahtomedi is twice the size, as is Duluth Denfeld, Waconia, Rogers, Alexandria and a handful of others. They ARE the perfect example of a small school... and they don't have any coops like half of the other class A teams.

I'm confused; if the class system is doing what you say it is designed to do, then what is the issue? If the teams that are being successful "ARE the perfect example of a small school" and that is the intent, then what needs to be changed? So which is it?

I, too, hope Hermantown can beat Breck

Is that before or after they beat Sta this year?

I want the rematch just as much as you do. St Thomas is allowing few goals to better teams than Hermantown and Hermantown has allowed quite a few to teams worse than St Thomas.

[hockeydad]

The co-op for Le Sueur/St Peter also includes Le Center and Montgomery-Lonsdale. Using the enrollment figures from the MSHSL website, which are, surprisingly, the numbers that they use (not wikipedia's numbers) Le Sueur-Henderson/St Peter/Le Center/Montgomery-Lonsdale's enrollment is just over the cutoff for AA. They were initially placed in a AA section last year when the new sections were introduced. This had also happened to them two years earlier. In both cases, the schools petitioned, and were allowed, to, essentially, "opt down" to Class A. I think part of the reason was that they agreed four years ago to take on the Montgomery-Lonsdale players who were orphaned when New Prague discontinued the cooperative. Very similary situation to New Ulm/Sleepy Eye

[rainier]

FYI, more than half of the teams in class A have larger enrollments than Hermantown. Their enrollment is right inline with that of Proctor, Hibbing, Little Falls, and East Grand Forks. Mahtomedi is twice the size, as is Duluth Denfeld, Waconia, Rogers, Alexandria and a handful of others. They ARE the perfect example of a small school... and they don't have any coops like half of the other class A teams.

I'm confused; if the class system is doing what you say it is designed to do, then what is the issue? If the teams that are being successful "ARE the perfect example of a small school" and that is the intent, then what needs to be changed? So which is it?

I, too, hope Hermantown can beat Breck

Is that before or after they beat Sta this year?

I want the rematch just as much as you do. St Thomas is allowing few goals to better teams than Hermantown and Hermantown has allowed quite a few to teams worse than St Thomas.

Hermantown 5
Duluth Marshall 1

STA 4
Duluth Marshall 3 (OT)

That's the best evidence available to compare these two teams. What does it say to you?

[east hockey]

FYI, more than half of the teams in class A have larger enrollments than Hermantown. Their enrollment is right inline with that of Proctor, Hibbing, Little Falls, and East Grand Forks. Mahtomedi is twice the size, as is Duluth Denfeld, Waconia, Rogers, Alexandria and a handful of others. They ARE the perfect example of a small school... and they don't have any coops like half of the other class A teams.

I'm confused; if the class system is doing what you say it is designed to do, then what is the issue? If the teams that are being successful "ARE the perfect example of a small school" and that is the intent, then what needs to be changed? So which is it?

Is that before or after they beat Sta this year?

I want the rematch just as much as you do. St Thomas is allowing few goals to better teams than Hermantown and Hermantown has allowed quite a few to teams worse than St Thomas.

Hermantown 5
Duluth Marshall 1

STA 4
Duluth Marshall 3 (OT)

That's the best evidence available to compare these two teams. What does it say to you?

Not to mention that Hermantown's win was on the road at Mars Lakeview. STA's was at home. So the advantage slides even further in Hermantown's direction.

Only problem is; HSHW is a STA grad, not a Hermantown grad. So you always have to factor this into his "analysis".

Lee

[blacklung]

I'm confused; if the class system is doing what you say it is designed to do, then what is the issue? If the teams that are being successful "ARE the perfect example of a small school" and that is the intent, then what needs to be changed? So which is it?
I want the rematch just as much as you do. St Thomas is allowing few goals to better teams than Hermantown and Hermantown has allowed quite a few to teams worse than St Thomas.

Hermantown 5
Duluth Marshall 1

STA 4
Duluth Marshall 3 (OT)

That's the best evidence available to compare these two teams. What does it say to you?

Not to mention that Hermantown's win was on the road at Mars Lakeview. STA's was at home. So the advantage slides even further in Hermantown's direction.

Only problem is; HSHW is a STA grad, not a Hermantown grad. So you always have to factor this into his "analysis".

Lee

[HShockeywatcher]

Not to mention that Hermantown's win was on the road at Mars Lakeview. STA's was at home. So the advantage slides even further in Hermantown's direction.

Only problem is; HSHW is a STA grad, not a Hermantown grad. So you always have to factor this into his "analysis".

Lee

Not sure how a discussion of how teams are assigned to the two classes has turned into a discussion of St Thomas, especially when I was the first one on this site to suggest a system with private schools in AA.

Yes, in St Thomas' first game of the season, they played Marshall close. Were that game more recent, it would be different. But, just like in Lee's system, more recent games are more important. Lee's system, also puts Hermantown at #3...

[defense]

Not to mention that Hermantown's win was on the road at Mars Lakeview. STA's was at home. So the advantage slides even further in Hermantown's direction.

Only problem is; HSHW is a STA grad, not a Hermantown grad. So you always have to factor this into his "analysis".

Lee

Not sure how a discussion of how teams are assigned to the two classes has turned into a discussion of St Thomas, especially when I was the first one on this site to suggest a system with private schools in AA.

Yes, in St Thomas' first game of the season, they played Marshall close. Were that game more recent, it would be different. But, just like in Lee's system, more recent games are more important. Lee's system, also puts Hermantown at #3...

Hardly think you were the first to suggest that.

Since this thing has continued in this direction, there are way more teams than just the private schools who should consider playing AA hockey.
That said, I have mostly been ok with how it is because it maintains the integrity of the system. Any changes almost have to be wholesale, sweeping changes wich is unlikely.

[elliott70]

Perhaps they should split the hockey schools by school population.
Top 1/2, 64 is a good number, call it the Big School Group.
The remainder can go into a Small School Group.

Have each play down at the end of year to the final 4 or 2 and then combine them to see who is the state champion.

[Hockey North]

Marshall out shot Hermantown and also scored the first goal of the game, which was missed by the ref, disallowed and changed the momentum of that game. I think STA has played a tougher schedule than hermantown. They are both very good teams with depth.

Hermantown playing on the Road at Marshall?? Thats hardly a disadvantage.

I attended both games mentioned and I could not give an edge to anybody.

[PuckRanger]

FYI, more than half of the teams in class A have larger enrollments than Hermantown. Their enrollment is right inline with that of Proctor, Hibbing, Little Falls, and East Grand Forks. Mahtomedi is twice the size, as is Duluth Denfeld, Waconia, Rogers, Alexandria and a handful of others. They ARE the perfect example of a small school... and they don't have any coops like half of the other class A teams.

I'm confused; if the class system is doing what you say it is designed to do, then what is the issue? If the teams that are being successful "ARE the perfect example of a small school" and that is the intent, then what needs to be changed? So which is it?

Why did you cut out the part where i said it was a FLAWED system? I never said it was doing what it was supposed to do. Just pointing out that Hermantown wasn't this big school that you were making them out to be. There is nothing wrong with Hermantown in class A. Could they opt up and compete? Probably... but that's another discussion.

If it were up to me, I'd put the bottom 64 pure public schools in class A, and the rest in AA (that includes all private schools and all public schools with private coops). Opting up is still and option, and for every opt up, one team can drop down with order of preference based on the smallest enrollment.

And before you say something about the ability to opt up in hockey, you should realize that hockey needs the opt-up option because of the small number of teams, otherwise you would have pretty much a metro (AA) and an outstate (A) state tournament. Nobody wants that.

[HShockeywatcher]

And before you say something about the ability to opt up in hockey, you should realize that hockey needs the opt-up option because of the small number of teams, otherwise you would have pretty much a metro (AA) and an outstate (A) state tournament. Nobody wants that.

I think we are in agreement about...eh...90%.
-I don't like a system that puts teams like Legacy Christian Academy.
-I also don't know that you can jump as far as "nobody wants that." I won't ramble like I have in the past, but the biggest reason that people in general wouldn't want that is the attitude that your class implies ability.

The only issue I have with doing the bottom 64 and allowing opt ups is that it would really become a toilet bowl tournament. Any good teams left would most likely opt up and the tournament would be a waste.

Just my opinion, but I agree with the general line of thinking.

What would you think of this:
All privates that have ever made section semifinals and the next public schools to make 72 in AA. 9 team sections. That leaves 83 for A.

Just a thought. I don't like the idea of teams opting up in a two class system that would have numerous successful teams, but I could live with it.

[The X]

And before you say something about the ability to opt up in hockey, you should realize that hockey needs the opt-up option because of the small number of teams, otherwise you would have pretty much a metro (AA) and an outstate (A) state tournament. Nobody wants that.

I think we are in agreement about...eh...90%.
-I don't like a system that puts teams like Legacy Christian Academy.
-I also don't know that you can jump as far as "nobody wants that." I won't ramble like I have in the past, but the biggest reason that people in general wouldn't want that is the attitude that your class implies ability.

The only issue I have with doing the bottom 64 and allowing opt ups is that it would really become a toilet bowl tournament. Any good teams left would most likely opt up and the tournament would be a waste.

Just my opinion, but I agree with the general line of thinking.

What would you think of this:
All privates that have ever made section semifinals and the next public schools to make 72 in AA. 9 team sections. That leaves 83 for A.

Just a thought. I don't like the idea of teams opting up in a two class system that would have numerous successful teams, but I could live with it.

HSHW, I like Your line of thinking on the 9 team sections and lower 83 for the A class and agree with most of the observations You make. The one question I do have however is do You not think the A tourney is a waste already? The teams that will make the semi's and finals have been predetermined for quite some time now. With the exception of the 10 Breck and STA fans, and the Hermantown folks, who really cares anymore? The A side of things has been a mockery for quite some time now. There is simply no way that small public schools, with the exception of 2 or 3, can compete with schools drawing from a population of 3.5 million in a metro area. And yes, I know You agree with most of this. Point being the A tourney is a joke already and the attendance for the last 10 years speaks loudly to this. IMO.

[HShockeywatcher]

HSHW, I like Your line of thinking on the 9 team sections and lower 83 for the A class and agree with most of the observations You make. The one question I do have however is do You not think the A tourney is a waste already? The teams that will make the semi's and finals have been predetermined for quite some time now. With the exception of the 10 Breck and STA fans, and the Hermantown folks, who really cares anymore? The A side of things has been a mockery for quite some time now. There is simply no way that small public schools, with the exception of 2 or 3, can compete with schools drawing from a population of 3.5 million in a metro area. And yes, I know You agree with most of this. Point being the A tourney is a joke already and the attendance for the last 10 years speaks loudly to this. IMO.

The X, I know what you're saying but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's a waste. It looks like we will get to see 7 good teams playing in the tournament. If the teams on the top right now win it'll be St Thomas, Breck, Hermantown, East Grand Forks, Duluth Marshall, Lourdes, Little Falls and whoever wins 3A. While it looks like Lourdes and the 3A rep won't win much, that's still 6 good teams. This looks to me to be one of the better fields in years.

To take that further, I would contend that the only section you could really say there's a "lock" for who will win is 1A, and even there anything's possible.

To answer the idea of your post, I will keep it short-ish; what has created this "private school dominance" [by 3 or 4 private schools] in class A is the result of the good class A sized schools moving up to class AA because of the attitude that class implies ability. Were the top 64 in AA and the rest in A regardless of ability or public/private, we would have two great tournaments and in many years the class A champ would be the best team in the state. Looking back over the last 20 years, I believe CDH, HM, and AHA would be the only private schools with titles and we wouldn't see the "dominance" we do now.

I don't personally think private schools should be mandated to be in a certain classes because I see many of the advantages they have being indicative of successful hockey programs, public or private, around the state, not just a private school. I also think that were they all required to be in AA, it may create a shift even more so than there is now which would not be all around good for the state of hockey.

Thanks

[rainier]

And before you say something about the ability to opt up in hockey, you should realize that hockey needs the opt-up option because of the small number of teams, otherwise you would have pretty much a metro (AA) and an outstate (A) state tournament. Nobody wants that.

I think we are in agreement about...eh...90%.
-I don't like a system that puts teams like Legacy Christian Academy.
-I also don't know that you can jump as far as "nobody wants that." I won't ramble like I have in the past, but the biggest reason that people in general wouldn't want that is the attitude that your class implies ability.

The only issue I have with doing the bottom 64 and allowing opt ups is that it would really become a toilet bowl tournament. Any good teams left would most likely opt up and the tournament would be a waste.

Just my opinion, but I agree with the general line of thinking.

What would you think of this:
All privates that have ever made section semifinals and the next public schools to make 72 in AA. 9 team sections. That leaves 83 for A.

Just a thought. I don't like the idea of teams opting up in a two class system that would have numerous successful teams, but I could live with it.

HSHW, I like Your line of thinking on the 9 team sections and lower 83 for the A class and agree with most of the observations You make. The one question I do have however is do You not think the A tourney is a waste already? The teams that will make the semi's and finals have been predetermined for quite some time now. With the exception of the 10 Breck and STA fans, and the Hermantown folks, who really cares anymore? The A side of things has been a mockery for quite some time now. There is simply no way that small public schools, with the exception of 2 or 3, can compete with schools drawing from a population of 3.5 million in a metro area. And yes, I know You agree with most of this. Point being the A tourney is a joke already and the attendance for the last 10 years speaks loudly to this. IMO.

Did you watch the A tourney last year? Thief River's big win over Breck, Hibbing taking Hermantown to the limit behind a great performance by Adam Johnson, the OT win of STA over Hermantown? I thought it was a great tourney.

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

You're right that the private schools have hurt the A tourney. The A tourney is for smaller schools, schools whose teams are built from the community.

A lot of D-1 players come from single A teams; it is quality hockey, especially for those who have a rooting interest.

[blacklung]

I think we are in agreement about...eh...90%.
-I don't like a system that puts teams like Legacy Christian Academy.
-I also don't know that you can jump as far as "nobody wants that." I won't ramble like I have in the past, but the biggest reason that people in general wouldn't want that is the attitude that your class implies ability.

The only issue I have with doing the bottom 64 and allowing opt ups is that it would really become a toilet bowl tournament. Any good teams left would most likely opt up and the tournament would be a waste.

Just my opinion, but I agree with the general line of thinking.

What would you think of this:
All privates that have ever made section semifinals and the next public schools to make 72 in AA. 9 team sections. That leaves 83 for A.

Just a thought. I don't like the idea of teams opting up in a two class system that would have numerous successful teams, but I could live with it.

HSHW, I like Your line of thinking on the 9 team sections and lower 83 for the A class and agree with most of the observations You make. The one question I do have however is do You not think the A tourney is a waste already? The teams that will make the semi's and finals have been predetermined for quite some time now. With the exception of the 10 Breck and STA fans, and the Hermantown folks, who really cares anymore? The A side of things has been a mockery for quite some time now. There is simply no way that small public schools, with the exception of 2 or 3, can compete with schools drawing from a population of 3.5 million in a metro area. And yes, I know You agree with most of this. Point being the A tourney is a joke already and the attendance for the last 10 years speaks loudly to this. IMO.

Did you watch the A tourney last year? Thief River's big win over Breck, Hibbing taking Hermantown to the limit behind a great performance by Adam Johnson, the OT win of STA over Hermantown? I thought it was a great tourney.

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

You're right that the private schools have hurt the A tourney. The A tourney is for smaller schools, schools whose teams are built from the community.

A lot of D-1 players come from single A teams; it is quality hockey, especially for those who have a rooting interest.

I also thought the A tourney was great last year. In the Herm/Hibbing game, the entire lower bowl was pack with most of the towns empty because they were at the game. In the Herm/Sta game, Herm side packed but Sta side not so much as they do not have a town. I will hand it to to cadets in their full uniforms though. They are entertaining! It was also a great hockey game.

[defense]

I think we are in agreement about...eh...90%.
-I don't like a system that puts teams like Legacy Christian Academy.
-I also don't know that you can jump as far as "nobody wants that." I won't ramble like I have in the past, but the biggest reason that people in general wouldn't want that is the attitude that your class implies ability.

The only issue I have with doing the bottom 64 and allowing opt ups is that it would really become a toilet bowl tournament. Any good teams left would most likely opt up and the tournament would be a waste.

Just my opinion, but I agree with the general line of thinking.

What would you think of this:
All privates that have ever made section semifinals and the next public schools to make 72 in AA. 9 team sections. That leaves 83 for A.

Just a thought. I don't like the idea of teams opting up in a two class system that would have numerous successful teams, but I could live with it.

HSHW, I like Your line of thinking on the 9 team sections and lower 83 for the A class and agree with most of the observations You make. The one question I do have however is do You not think the A tourney is a waste already? The teams that will make the semi's and finals have been predetermined for quite some time now. With the exception of the 10 Breck and STA fans, and the Hermantown folks, who really cares anymore? The A side of things has been a mockery for quite some time now. There is simply no way that small public schools, with the exception of 2 or 3, can compete with schools drawing from a population of 3.5 million in a metro area. And yes, I know You agree with most of this. Point being the A tourney is a joke already and the attendance for the last 10 years speaks loudly to this. IMO.

Did you watch the A tourney last year? Thief River's big win over Breck, Hibbing taking Hermantown to the limit behind a great performance by Adam Johnson, the OT win of STA over Hermantown? I thought it was a great tourney.

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

You're right that the private schools have hurt the A tourney. The A tourney is for smaller schools, schools whose teams are built from the community.

A lot of D-1 players come from single A teams; it is quality hockey, especially for those who have a rooting interest.

Last year's state tournement in A and AA were some of the greatest in recent memory in my opinion. Only problem being who won them...
Yes, if they didn't allow opting into AA, we would likely have two equal tournements. would each of them sellout??? no, class A would likely never sell out, probly the same attendance as now.
Is the class A tourney worse than the AA tourney??? Ya, in the first rounds because the bottom is lower than AA.
Is class A hockey bad? NO, not at all. Because a lot of the schools who stayed where they should be initially (AA) have moved into A now. Many times in the current system, the class A champ probably has been the best team in the state.
Ya, it sucks being beaten by an all star team. It also sucks getting beaten by a school 3 times the size of yours.
All of this is why I can live with the current system. Instead of playing the super suburb schools, now we play the super private schools. It adds to the competition.
I don't believe that my alma matter should've went to class A, neither did the coaches at the time,They were fired because of it. The section they were heading to in class A was pathetic at the time. Now it has grown up as surrounding schools followed suit. I don't agree with it, but it has gotten better.
Private schools should be mandated to class AA, just as a whole grocery list of public schools should be playing AA. Neither is likely to happen, so I can live with what we got.

[HShockeywatcher]

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

Yup, the AA tourney is sold solely because of the people from their communities go to the game. That's exactly why.

[blacklung]

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

Yup, the AA tourney is sold solely because of the people from their communities go to the game. That's exactly why.

I think the class A tourney is more about the teams and towns they represent.
The AA tourney is packed no matter who is there. I believe the least attended Class A tourney matchup you could have is 2 privates.
If it's a Break/STA final this year, attendance will be low. Hermantown/Marshall game in 07 was the same way. Hermantown side packed, Marshall not.
The privates do not have a fan base of a town to draw from. In the TV coverage of the Herm/Sta game last year, they never panned the whole side of Sta as they did want to show the lack of fans.
If it was not for the cadets, not much would have been happening over there.
Put 2 publics in there and both sides, like the Herm/Hib game, would be packed.
The only way any private is gonna get a full arena is if they play AA. My opinion.

[warriors41]

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

Yup, the AA tourney is sold solely because of the people from their communities go to the game. That's exactly why.

It's a big reason. Combine that with most of the AA teams that make the state tournament have a shorter drive and you would be naive to think that wasn't a big reason why. Warroad has 1,700 people in the community and it takes over 6 hours to get to the cities. Compare that to Edina who has over 45,000 people and is a stones throw away from the Xcel. If only 5% of Edina population went to the game, they would still have a better representation than if the entire population of Warroad went down. Obviously, Warroad is an extreme example because of where we are located but the point is still there. Even if it is a three hour drive you're looking at getting a hotel for three or four night and might spend another $100 bucks on gas.

I'm more than willing to admit that the first round of the A tournament is usually not very entertaining. That is where the AA tournament is better, because it is deeper. There hasn't really been a year where an unseeded team has had a good chance to win the A tourny. In 2009, Moorhead, which was probably the weakest team in the AA tournament suprised everyone and made the championship game. We won't see New Ulm in contention for a title anytime soon.

[HShockeywatcher]

As far as attendance being down, of course it would be for a tournament of smaller schools from smaller communities. The lower bowl was nearly full for the Hibbing-Hermantown semifinal last year, not bad for a couple of schools whose combined enrollment is still less than half of a Minnetonka or Eden Prairie.

Yup, the AA tourney is sold solely because of the people from their communities go to the game. That's exactly why.

I think the class A tourney is more about the teams and towns they represent.
The AA tourney is packed no matter who is there. I believe the least attended Class A tourney matchup you could have is 2 privates.
If it's a Break/STA final this year, attendance will be low. Hermantown/Marshall game in 07 was the same way. Hermantown side packed, Marshall not.
The privates do not have a fan base of a town to draw from. In the TV coverage of the Herm/Sta game last year, they never panned the whole side of Sta as they did want to show the lack of fans.
If it was not for the cadets, not much would have been happening over there.
Put 2 publics in there and both sides, like the Herm/Hib game, would be packed.
The only way any private is gonna get a full arena is if they play AA. My opinion.

Thanks for proving my whole point.
The AA tourney is respected as "better hockey" and people just go to those games yearly to see the teams play. Passed the first round it often isn't much better hockey, but is respected by the state. A Hill-Murray/Holy Angels AA game would have a much bigger crowd than a Mahtomedi/Delano A game.

The time slots of the A games may have something to do with it, but the respect for the tourney itself is much more a factor.

[blacklung]

Yup, the AA tourney is sold solely because of the people from their communities go to the game. That's exactly why.

I think the class A tourney is more about the teams and towns they represent.
The AA tourney is packed no matter who is there. I believe the least attended Class A tourney matchup you could have is 2 privates.
If it's a Break/STA final this year, attendance will be low. Hermantown/Marshall game in 07 was the same way. Hermantown side packed, Marshall not.
The privates do not have a fan base of a town to draw from. In the TV coverage of the Herm/Sta game last year, they never panned the whole side of Sta as they did want to show the lack of fans.
If it was not for the cadets, not much would have been happening over there.
Put 2 publics in there and both sides, like the Herm/Hib game, would be packed.
The only way any private is gonna get a full arena is if they play AA. My opinion.

Thanks for proving my whole point.
The AA tourney is respected as "better hockey" and people just go to those games yearly to see the teams play. Passed the first round it often isn't much better hockey, but is respected by the state. A Hill-Murray/Holy Angels AA game would have a much bigger crowd than a Mahtomedi/Delano A game.

The time slots of the A games may have something to do with it, but the respect for the tourney itself is much more a factor.

If I'm not mistaken, the majority of the AA tickets are already sold.
If that was not the case and people bought tickets after they found out who was in the games, 2 privates in AA would not fill the arena.
Not enough people would care.

[rainier]

I don't get why anyone thinks the A tourney sucks. Obviously the AA tourney is better hockey, no one would dispute that, but the A tourney is a lot of fun too, even with the sandbagging privates dominating it.

I bet ALOT of people on this message board watched a bunch of last year's A games. Two of the seeded teams got upset in the quarters and the best two teams ended up in the final. It was great.

I think many HS hockey fans are so into HS hockey because of the tradition, and the A tourney gives some of these storied programs a chance to continue going to state despite big declines in enrollment. I think HS hockey is much better off having teams like Warroad, Hibbing, Virginia, TRF, EGF, I-Falls mix it up with the more recent successes like Hermantown, Duluth Marshall, Mahtomedi, Little Falls, and the metro private schools.

I love both tourneys, HS hockey is a blast.