Jefferson and AHA

[shotpassskate]

I see alot of talk about how AHA is down this year, but I was wondering why we haven't had any talk about what has happend to Jefferson also?
As it stands now Jefferson is 2-9-2 and AHA is 4-10. I would think AHA gets to 10 or 12 wins and Jefferson maybe to 5 wins. Which team gets seeded higher?

[auld_skool]

As it stands now Jefferson is 2-9-2 and AHA is 4-10. I would think AHA gets to 10 or 12 wins and Jefferson maybe to 5 wins. Which team gets seeded higher?

No offense, but who cares? This isn't the year for either of these teams. Both are in decline IMO, and have been for some time.

[gopherpuck516]

AHA will have a much easier time bouncing back. Jefferson's perceived decline could be based on hockey demographics in the city of Bloomington. It already happened on the east side of Bloomington, where Kennedy was a very powerful program throughout the 1980's, winning the state title in 1987. But by the mid 90's their program started to decline and hasn't made it back. The same could now be happening on the west side. There just aren't as many kids playing hockey in Bloomington as there once were, therefore the likelihood of putting together a team of star players like Jefferson was known for has become much less.

As for AHA, they don't have to worry about how many kids play hockey where they're located because most of their players aren't from Richfield, especially the D1 caliber players they've had. So, one down year to them is not that big of a deal in the long run. And, with Hengen set to take over the team full-time, I see them being yearly section contenders again in the near future.

[Sats81]

AHA will have a much easier time bouncing back. Jefferson's perceived decline could be based on hockey demographics in the city of Bloomington. It already happened on the east side of Bloomington, where Kennedy was a very powerful program throughout the 1980's, winning the state title in 1987. But by the mid 90's their program started to decline and hasn't made it back. The same could now be happening on the west side. There just aren't as many kids playing hockey in Bloomington as there once were, therefore the likelihood of putting together a team of star players like Jefferson was known for has become much less.

As for AHA, they don't have to worry about how many kids play hockey where they're located because most of their players aren't from Richfield, especially the D1 caliber players they've had. So, one down year to them is not that big of a deal in the long run. And, with Hengen set to take over the team full-time, I see them being yearly section contenders again in the near future.

I would say this assessment is spot on. West Bloomington is 'growing old'....most people who move to that area of the metro now move to EP, Chanhassen, etc.

[bubblehockey27]

Just down years for both teams perhaps...every team rebuilds now and then.

It seems if people are forgetting that Jefferson had a team go 26-2 in 09, 20-6-3 in 2010, and 15-9-3 last year (which they probably could have done a lot better had they found consistent goaltending). Point being, one bad year doesn't solidify your school as "dead". The Jags will bounce back eventually. Sure lots of people are moving to suburbs further away, but housing trends show that prices are dropping in suburbs closer to Minneapolis/St. Paul. I could get into a real estate debate, but I'll just leave it by saying Bloomington will eventually be back.

As for AHA, their past three seasons they've gone 21-5-1, 18-9-1, and 16-9-1. Not horrible seasons, but nothing like the early to mid 2000s. I think that the private school "allure" comes from post season success, and there hasn't been much lately for AHA. Hill is consistantly one of the top teams in state, BSM has been having success and been getting some great talent as of late...and AHA has "struggled" in a tough section the past few years. I'm guessing the perspective students notice not seeing the Stars at the X. Eventually they'll be back as well, with Trebil leaving it might take a little while, but they'll be competitive soon enough.

[MNHockeyFan]

I would say this assessment is spot on. West Bloomington is 'growing old'....most people who move to that area of the metro now move to EP, Chanhassen, etc.

I'm not disagreeing, but it's remarkable that Edina hasn't suffered a similar decline. It is also 'growing old' compared to what it was 20-10 years ago, yet they are still very competitive (boys and girls).

[The Best in the Bizz3]

It would be great to see one last JHS AHA battle with trebs around. Who do you think would come out on top?

[HShockeywatcher]

No offense, but who cares? This isn't the year for either of these teams. Both are in decline IMO, and have been for some time.

AHA graduated a bunch of seniors last year and this year have 4 on the roster; 2 are between the pipes and the 2 that aren't don't seem to be huge scoring assets.

Year in and year out AHA has most likely the best non-conference schedule around, with this year being no different. They may not be winning games, or be a top 25 team, but pretty darn close.

A quick look at Jefferson's roster shows they also have 4 seniors as well. They have the #2 SOS in the state according to PageStat. Every team they've lost or tied is a top 20 AA team. Some we bad losses but some were close.

Yes, if you just look at record, it would appear these two are down and out, but if you actually look at the composition of the teams, it appears they'll be fine.

[gopherpuck516]

No offense, but who cares? This isn't the year for either of these teams. Both are in decline IMO, and have been for some time.

AHA graduated a bunch of seniors last year and this year have 4 on the roster; 2 are between the pipes and the 2 that aren't don't seem to be huge scoring assets.

Year in and year out AHA has most likely the best non-conference schedule around, with this year being no different. They may not be winning games, or be a top 25 team, but pretty darn close.

A quick look at Jefferson's roster shows they also have 4 seniors as well. They have the #2 SOS in the state according to PageStat. Every team they've lost or tied is a top 20 AA team. Some we bad losses but some were close.

Yes, if you just look at record, it would appear these two are down and out, but if you actually look at the composition of the teams, it appears they'll be fine.

I hope you're right about this being an exception and not the norm. You make good points that show that you very well could be. I used to live in Bloomington during the years when their teams, especially Jefferson in the early '90's, were on fire. I hope both of these teams are able to get back to a yearly section contender and make a few trips to St Paul. To me, the more contenders we have the better. My main point is that, in my opinion, AHA appears to have an easier route to regaining their powerhouse status.

[C-dad]

No offense, but who cares? This isn't the year for either of these teams. Both are in decline IMO, and have been for some time.

AHA graduated a bunch of seniors last year and this year have 4 on the roster; 2 are between the pipes and the 2 that aren't don't seem to be huge scoring assets.

Year in and year out AHA has most likely the best non-conference schedule around, with this year being no different. They may not be winning games, or be a top 25 team, but pretty darn close.

A quick look at Jefferson's roster shows they also have 4 seniors as well. They have the #2 SOS in the state according to PageStat. Every team they've lost or tied is a top 20 AA team. Some we bad losses but some were close.

Yes, if you just look at record, it would appear these two are down and out, but if you actually look at the composition of the teams, it appears they'll be fine.

I would suggest looking further regarding Jefferson. Virtually none of their youth teams are highly ranked. I don't see a bunch of studs on the Bantam A team like I do at Duluth East, Wayzata, EP, Edina and the like. If they expect to get better, that's where the talent will come from and I don't see it in the association. I could be missing something and maybe you can correct me on this.

AHA, of course, is very different as they can draw good players from anywhere in the metro.

[shotpassskate]

It would be great to see one last JHS AHA battle with trebs around. Who do you think would come out on top?

That would be a great game, as they sit today we need these two to some way end up the 4 and 5 seeds to see that game. I would love to see AHA with home ice, but for history between the two schools at BIG would be a sight for hockey. I would take AHA, I think the boys would come with a little extra fire for that game, with Trebs history at Jeff. Oh please Tebow please let this happen for us. One more time.

[ahastars03]

I think something else that is being missed is that AHA did get some very good players from Jefferson. Now that Jefferson is down a little and their youth program as well, at least compared to where they once were, AHA is not getting as many talented players from Bloomington. So because Jefferson is down it is also hurting AHA.

Of course AHA can still get players from any city so they probably have a better chance to get back to an elite team then Jefferson. BSM now being AA doesn't help AHA because it seems a lot of Edina kids are going to BSM were in the past AHA might have been a better option when BSM was just A. Although I know Barnes, a freshman, is from Edina.

AHA is young right now and hopefuly will mature and get better in the next few years. Good luck to them and Billy when he takes over as head coach.

GO STARS!!

[green4]

I would say this assessment is spot on. West Bloomington is 'growing old'....most people who move to that area of the metro now move to EP, Chanhassen, etc.

I'm not disagreeing, but it's remarkable that Edina hasn't suffered a similar decline. It is also 'growing old' compared to what it was 20-10 years ago, yet they are still very competitive (boys and girls).

the difference with that is many people from edina that were raised here and went to school here tend to stay here and send there kids back to edina

[Zamman]

I would say this assessment is spot on. West Bloomington is 'growing old'....most people who move to that area of the metro now move to EP, Chanhassen, etc.

I'm not disagreeing, but it's remarkable that Edina hasn't suffered a similar decline. It is also 'growing old' compared to what it was 20-10 years ago, yet they are still very competitive (boys and girls).

the difference with that is many people from edina that were raised here and went to school here tend to stay here and send there kids back to edina

But only 20 kids make the varsity!! if your kid will not there are options..

[C-dad]

I'm not disagreeing, but it's remarkable that Edina hasn't suffered a similar decline. It is also 'growing old' compared to what it was 20-10 years ago, yet they are still very competitive (boys and girls).

the difference with that is many people from edina that were raised here and went to school here tend to stay here and send there kids back to edina

But only 20 kids make the varsity!! if your kid will not there are options..

Yeah, a top ranked JGA team, BSM, AHA, Blake, Breck.

[TopBunk19]

It's odd that everyone is saying that the Jags are on a "decline". As said in a previous post that Jags records the past 3 years have been very good, the only problem they have had is finding a consistent goaltender. (Rumor has it that Fabano, senior, quit this year which doesn't help) Every team has down years and the Jags just haven't got many bounces their way this year. In the past 2 years the Jags have moved on quite a large group of players to college and junior teams.

2009-10
Joe Faust, U of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Caleb Herbert, UMD (WCHA)
Zack Knight, SJU (MIAC)

2010-2011
Nick Nielsen, Sioux Falls (USHL)
Ryan Siiro, Dubuque (USHL)
Eric Freschi, Dubuque (USHL)
Tim Donohue, Minot (NAHL)
Johnny Roisum, Topeka (NAHL)
Jake Pollock, Jamestown (NAHL)

2011-2012
Ian Janco, drafted by Indiana (USHL)
Austin Hunt, ????

The Jags have a large senior class next year with a lot of talent and I see them finding success. This is all IMO just trying to show the Jags have had a solid crop of talent in recent and still have some.

[green4]

I'm not disagreeing, but it's remarkable that Edina hasn't suffered a similar decline. It is also 'growing old' compared to what it was 20-10 years ago, yet they are still very competitive (boys and girls).

the difference with that is many people from edina that were raised here and went to school here tend to stay here and send there kids back to edina

But only 20 kids make the varsity!! if your kid will not there are options..

are you saying like switching school? because thats what im getting from that statement and if so i think thats alittle extreme i dont know any kids that left edina to go to other schools so they can play varsity hockey, more people send there kids to edina for education then hockey

[wingnuts]

Until Mr. Lindquist gets more visibly involved with what's left of the Jefferson Youth program, his program will continue to deteriorate to the levels of Kennedy and lower.

[gopherpuck516]

If I'm not mistaken I believe Jefferson plays Kennedy tonight. From the 80's and into the 90's this was a huge rivalry. Jefferson has obviously dominated the match-ups from the early 90's on, but even into the early 2000's these were usually entertaining games, with Kennedy winning once in a great, great while. BIG was always packed when they played, and now the two teams have a combined 6 victories in the last week of January. I doubt that has ever been the case before, but at least one of them will be able to add a victory tonight (unless they tie of course). Jefferson has to be the favorite and would probably love to take out the frustration of their losing season on Kennedy, but this game is usually the equivalent of the state championship game to Kennedy, so they will definitely play hard.

[HawkeyPower]

the difference with that is many people from edina that were raised here and went to school here tend to stay here and send there kids back to edina

But only 20 kids make the varsity!! if your kid will not there are options..

are you saying like switching school? because thats what im getting from that statement and if so i think thats alittle extreme i dont know any kids that left edina to go to other schools so they can play varsity hockey, more people send there kids to edina for education then hockey

Anders Lee would be the closest I can remember. But I think he was a 8th grader when he went to STA. And then returned.

[Task Force 34]

Jefferson took out their frustration tonight. Jags 9-0 over the Eagles.

[wingnuts]

Jefferson took out their frustration tonight. Jags 9-0 over the Eagles.

That just shows how far the Eagle has fallen.

[Edgy]

Didn't the top 2 goalies for Jefferson quit 2 weeks into the season?

[wingnuts]

Didn't the top 2 goalies for Jefferson quit 2 weeks into the season?

Top Varsity and the Top JV goalie

[bubblehockey27]

From what I've heard...their top goalie that quit was always a head case...apparently he showed up to a practice last year wearing an AHA hat (or so I've been told). To me, it sounds like the Jags are better off without him.