greybeard58 wrote:From the front page Mn Hockey web site.
Minnesota Hockey adds “AA” State Tournaments for Bantam A and PeeWee A
04/27/2012, 2:00pm (CDT)
By Minnesota Hockey Inc.
Will be conducted on a one-year pilot basis
Since 1951 Minnesota Hockey has been determining state champions at various levels of hockey. As participation in the sport has grown, both in overall numbers and the addition of girls hockey, the number of state tournaments has increased. Since 2006, state tournaments have been conducted at 12 different levels:
· YOUTH - Pee Wee A, Pee Wee B, Bantam A, Bantam B, Junior Gold A, Junior Gold B, and Junior Gold 16
· GIRLS - 12U A, 12U B, 14U A, 14U B, and 19U B.
To address the size disparities amongst our community hockey associations, Minnesota Hockey will be adding a state tournament classification at the Bantam A and PeeWee A levels for the 2012 – 13 season. The additional classification will be identified “AA” and be primarily for A teams from larger associations. The “AA” tournaments are being added as a pilot program and will be reevaluated in the spring of 2013. No other changes are being made to any other state tournament.
“Hockey players dream of playing in a State Tournament,” said Dave Margenau, President of Minnesota Hockey. “The addition of the “AA” classification will provide players from smaller or developing associations the opportunity to realistically compete for a spot in a state tournament. We believe the AA tournament format will accomplish this, however, we are conducting this on a one-year pilot basis to ensure that all our state tournaments continue to best serve our entire membership in the long term”
Highlights of the “AA” classification process include:
· An association’s tournament classification (“A” or “AA”) is determined by the classification of the boys’ high school programs defined by the geographical area the association serves.
· For associations who co-op for 2012-13, their classification will correspond to the highest high school classification of the co-op associations.
· Associations may request a change in their classification, regardless of size. Requests can be made to move up or down. Association classification must be the same for both the Bantam and PeeWee level.
· All requests for classification change must be received no later than October 6th, 2012.
· All requests will be carefully considered and final determination made by the Minnesota Hockey Competition Committee.
· Please note, the “AA” classification is solely for Regional and State Tournament purposes.
· “AA” Regional/State Tournament teams are still considered “A” teams during the regular season.
Highlights of the “AA” tournament format include:
· Four (4) eight-team “AA” regional tournaments will be conducted at both the Bantam and Pee Wee levels to determine the teams advancing to the “AA” state tournament
· Two (2) teams from each “AA” regional tournament will be seeded into the state tournament.
· If a district has one or two “AA” classified teams, those teams automatically advance to a regional tournament.
· If a district has three or more “AA” teams, that district will be awarded additional seeds to the regional tournaments to fill the remaining 32 spots. Those additional seeds will be awarded proportionally amongst the Districts who have three or more “AA” teams.
· Districts are responsible for determining the teams and the seeding order of the teams advancing from their District to the Regional Tournaments.
· The location of the “AA” regional and state tournaments has not yet been determined.
Please contact your district director with any specific questions or comments. Contact information for all district directors can be found at
http://www.minnesotahockey.org/page/show/86521.
If you would like to offer a general comment, please direct that to
info@minnesotahockey.org 
