Bantam AA team for Duluth Marshall?

[ImRickJames]

Youth hockey in Duluth IS under one umbrella: DAHA. All players from Mites to Bantams MUST FIRST register with DAHA. After the DAHA registration has been completed, the player's address is located on a map of the city, which includes the boundaries for each neighborhood rink/association, and the family is then guided to the appropriate program.

Each neighborhood rink has their own independent board, and a rink director. The rink directors are responsible for their association, and they are required to attend monthly meetings with the Executive Director of DAHA. These meetings address grievances, boundary issues, rule changes/violations, participation, fundraising, etc...

The DAHA Board also meets each month and a part of the monthly meeting includes the review of a report from the Rink Director's meeting.

The system/structure is not perfect, but it is logical, organized and accessible.

Duluth's neighborhood rink system is probably one of the last in the country. It provides healthy competition between kids and parents, and it is especially valued by those who are a part of multiple generations of participation at a local rink; some of these programs are approaching 100 years in existence.

These neighborhood rinks also allow many kids the opportunity to spend a day at the rink, without structured play or practice, and many kids who use these rinks throughout the winter do not play organized hockey.

Allowing Marshall to field a bantam team will not impact these rinks or this program of neighborhood rinks; the neighborhood rink program ends at squirts.

And Mike Randolph does not discriminate against kids who go to Marshall. His preference is for kids who KNOW they are going to Marshall to stay away from his camps because he has limited space and he would much prefer to coach his future players, and not players who KNOW they will go to a different program.

Basically, if a player is invited to one of these camps, HIS PARENTS are asked to make a fair and reasonable decision about their future high school. If your player is going to Marshall, you should decline the invitation.

So what options are available to bantam parents who are honest and forthright, who participated in and supported a local rink program, and KNOW they are going to send their kid to Marshall?

It is also important to note that people enroll their kids in private schools for many reasons, regardless of their participation in a specific sport. And kids leave private schools for many reasons as well.

In Duluth, School District ISD 709 is in a constant state of chaos and turmoil, and the current state of disarray has pushed many to Marshall. But Marshall has also been raising tuition at ridiculous rates (now $17,000), and at the same time an increasing percentage of their students receive financial aid. Those who pay full tuition may in fact look elsewhere if tuition, enrollment and financial aid continue to escalate; it is frustrating to continue to pay more and receive less.

At every level competition is positive, and local rivalries are especially valuable. The rivalries between local rinks in Duluth is a positive community asset. The same can be said for middle school and high school programs. Some want their program to be dominant, but there is a fine line between building your program from within and building your program without regard for other programs.

For example, some local rinks poach kids from other rinks, to bolster their program. But it makes no sense in the long run to degrade the condition of another rink. This is an issue every year at the rink level. There are always overzealous parents who want to push the level of competition to levels that detract from the sport, and often their efforts result in drama, battles, and eventually, declining participation.

The hockey programs in the eastern half of Duluth are thriving while those programs in the western side continue to struggle. Those on the eastern side should recognize that bolstering the western programs will help them survive, as well. Conversely, allowing one group to dominate will likely continue to result in declining participation, and erode the sport as a whole.

Adding another bantam program could be a positive, but only if the program is managed correctly, and only if the program exists for the benefit of hockey as a whole in the community. The real issue, as always, comes down to the character and ethics of those in control.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Great post.

Are your girls teams under DAHA as well? They seem to be struggling. We've played Duluth at 12uA forever, but not this year. We've played them at 14uA forever, and this year (sorry to say) the competition fell off big time.

How many 14u/Bantam kids are leaving "Duluth" hockey altogether for Marshall or even Hermantown?

And btw, while I can appreciate $17,000 with no FA is steep, HM will be nearly $30,000 this year if you pay 100%.

[nu2hockey]

HM will be nearly $30,000 this year if you pay 100%.

Clueless

Not even close

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

HM will be nearly $30,000 this year if you pay 100%.

Clueless

Not even close

Ummm ok.
You show me your tuition bill. I'll show ya mine.

Ok how about this -
cost of metro private school > cost of up north private school

And as always thanks for adding to the discussion.

[ImRickJames]

I honestly can't answer the question about the girl's program today. I think they are still under the DAHA umbrella, but there is more distance between DAHA and the girl's program than DAHA and the rink programs.

In my opinion those who ran the girl's program viewed their relationship with DAHA as necessary but not particularly valuable. It may be the same today?

I understand that the girl's program in Duluth has some issues and problems, especially at the high school level. As is usually the case, most of the issues are created by parents, and in my opinion, the absence of strong and consistent leadership has allowed the troublemakers to wreak havoc within the program.

The most damaging issue by far is the lack of clear support for coaches. If a program fails to clearly and consistently support their coaches, disgruntled parents exploit the situation and coaches either quit or they are pressured to resign. The resulting turmoil erodes the quality of the program and participation declines, which leads to players moving up or out, and the cycle continues.

The key for continued, successful hockey in Duluth lies with the neighborhood rinks. A well-run rink is a valuable asset to a neighborhood. And many well-run rinks are a valuable asset to a community.

The success of hockey in Duluth is directly linked to the success of the neighborhood rink programs. Increase participation. Generate pride. Eliminate drama and turmoil.

By the time kids reach the bantam level they focus more on what is good for them and less on their community/school.

Many in Duluth direct too much energy toward the East/Marshall/Hermantown level and ignore the GMP/Irving/Portman/Piedmont/Congdon/Lester Park/Woodland/Duluth Heights level. In the past 5 years Lester Park and Irving have folded, Duluth Heights is hanging by a thread because of other programs poaching their players, and Congdon is nearly dead because the morons on the Duluth School Board decided a parking lot is more important than a rink.

Issues like a single city-wide program, another bantam program, etc...will all become irrelevant if the neighborhood rinks keep disappearing.

[Froggy Richards]

Youth hockey in Duluth IS under one umbrella: DAHA. All players from Mites to Bantams MUST FIRST register with DAHA. After the DAHA registration has been completed, the player's address is located on a map of the city, which includes the boundaries for each neighborhood rink/association, and the family is then guided to the appropriate program.

Each neighborhood rink has their own independent board, and a rink director. The rink directors are responsible for their association, and they are required to attend monthly meetings with the Executive Director of DAHA. These meetings address grievances, boundary issues, rule changes/violations, participation, fundraising, etc...

The DAHA Board also meets each month and a part of the monthly meeting includes the review of a report from the Rink Director's meeting.

The system/structure is not perfect, but it is logical, organized and accessible.

Duluth's neighborhood rink system is probably one of the last in the country. It provides healthy competition between kids and parents, and it is especially valued by those who are a part of multiple generations of participation at a local rink; some of these programs are approaching 100 years in existence.

These neighborhood rinks also allow many kids the opportunity to spend a day at the rink, without structured play or practice, and many kids who use these rinks throughout the winter do not play organized hockey.

Allowing Marshall to field a bantam team will not impact these rinks or this program of neighborhood rinks; the neighborhood rink program ends at squirts.

And Mike Randolph does not discriminate against kids who go to Marshall. His preference is for kids who KNOW they are going to Marshall to stay away from his camps because he has limited space and he would much prefer to coach his future players, and not players who KNOW they will go to a different program.

Basically, if a player is invited to one of these camps, HIS PARENTS are asked to make a fair and reasonable decision about their future high school. If your player is going to Marshall, you should decline the invitation.

So what options are available to bantam parents who are honest and forthright, who participated in and supported a local rink program, and KNOW they are going to send their kid to Marshall?

It is also important to note that people enroll their kids in private schools for many reasons, regardless of their participation in a specific sport. And kids leave private schools for many reasons as well.

In Duluth, School District ISD 709 is in a constant state of chaos and turmoil, and the current state of disarray has pushed many to Marshall. But Marshall has also been raising tuition at ridiculous rates (now $17,000), and at the same time an increasing percentage of their students receive financial aid. Those who pay full tuition may in fact look elsewhere if tuition, enrollment and financial aid continue to escalate; it is frustrating to continue to pay more and receive less.

At every level competition is positive, and local rivalries are especially valuable. The rivalries between local rinks in Duluth is a positive community asset. The same can be said for middle school and high school programs. Some want their program to be dominant, but there is a fine line between building your program from within and building your program without regard for other programs.

For example, some local rinks poach kids from other rinks, to bolster their program. But it makes no sense in the long run to degrade the condition of another rink. This is an issue every year at the rink level. There are always overzealous parents who want to push the level of competition to levels that detract from the sport, and often their efforts result in drama, battles, and eventually, declining participation.

The hockey programs in the eastern half of Duluth are thriving while those programs in the western side continue to struggle. Those on the eastern side should recognize that bolstering the western programs will help them survive, as well. Conversely, allowing one group to dominate will likely continue to result in declining participation, and erode the sport as a whole.

Adding another bantam program could be a positive, but only if the program is managed correctly, and only if the program exists for the benefit of hockey as a whole in the community. The real issue, as always, comes down to the character and ethics of those in control.

Like you said, the neighborhood rink program ends at Squirts. At PeeWee and Bantam they are split into Denfeld and East. This year Denfeld scraped together one PeeWee team and one Bantam Team. East had six PeeWee teams and four Bantam Teams. Marshall having their own team could not work under the existing model. Denfeld doesn't have any extra players to lose.

[Wet Paint]

So there in lies the main issue with MN Hockey that most people have. Froggy nailed it. Denfeld does not have any players to lose so we are not going to allow DM to have a team because MNHockey would rather have a weak team on the west side that is on life support than have another strong team in Duluth. This mentality of keeping with what you have and not changing or allowing change because it might risk what used to be and what was is what is going to send kids down the road to other out of state teams to play on higher level teams. If Denfeld can't support a team (and it looks like it can't) then why force it in hopes that it might change? The demographics have changed, all you have to do is look at the Mpls/StP area, teams that were power houses back in the day are gone and teams that were either not in existence or were barely there are power houses now. DAHA needs to let evolution happen even if that means letting a hated private school have a youth hockey program.

[The Trap]

The demographics have changed, all you have to do is look at the Mpls/StP area, teams that were power houses back in the day are gone and teams that were either not in existence or were barely there are power houses now. DAHA needs to let evolution happen even if that means letting a hated private school have a youth hockey program.

Here is what's changed in a nutshell that has caused most of the problems:

1. Open Enrollment
2. Participation Rule

If the above crap doesn't exist there are two options for players:

1. Play and go to school where you currently live
2. If you want to go to school or play hockey someplace else then MOVE

Yes, probably still some movement, but not nearly as much. We've made it too easy in my opinion and in return we've hammered the nail into the coffins of many organizations or put them on life support.

Put it back. We all have the right to buy a house in whichever town/school district/association that we wish our families and kids to live/attend/play for. What's not fair about that??

[Froggy Richards]

The demographics have changed, all you have to do is look at the Mpls/StP area, teams that were power houses back in the day are gone and teams that were either not in existence or were barely there are power houses now. DAHA needs to let evolution happen even if that means letting a hated private school have a youth hockey program.

Here is what's changed in a nutshell that has caused most of the problems:

1. Open Enrollment
2. Participation Rule

If the above crap doesn't exist there are two options for players:

1. Play and go to school where you currently live
2. If you want to go to school or play hockey someplace else then MOVE

Yes, probably still some movement, but not nearly as much. We've made it too easy in my opinion and in return we've hammered the nail into the coffins of many organizations or put them on life support.

Put it back. We all have the right to buy a house in whichever town/school district/association that we wish our families and kids to live/attend/play for. What's not fair about that??

You're spot on. I've been saying this for two years. Open enrollment is one thing. It's been around for a long time and was a good idea on it's face. But the Participation Rule is Garbage. Minnesota Hockey really blew that one. It's not too late if they put it back, but they've shown no indication that they're willing to do so. It's pretty ironic that MN Hockey will ultimately be what kills off the MN Model.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

That was an impressive and comprehensive post, relevant not just to your city but to issues many of the similarly progressive associations down here in the metro are starting to address.

Two questions. Any strong athletic program (or academic program, or music program) draws in transfers from local schools whether they are sought out by parents or instigated by ("recruited by") those affiliated with the school. More specific to the Duluth area, last season MSHSL had to become involved in an older than 9th grade transfer issue (Marshall to Denfeld) and MSHSL is now investigating a girls program in your neighborhood for alleged eligibility concerns. How can the DAHA board cite "recruitment" as an issue of concern considering it's already systemic? Another poster claimed even the local rink system is being scrutinized by DAHA and MN hockey for stacking teams and turning away new or weaker players to protect their "B" superiority. I know players can request waivers out to other associations if their home association doesn't offer the "appropriate" level. Is DAHA concerned players will try to waiver into Marshall at A or AA if those levels aren't sustainable (especially at Denfeld?) Is there concern that Marshall will eventually offer A or AA hockey at the squirt level drawing younger talent out of the existing programs who only offer B?

Second, Marshall had a girls Tier 1 program as recently as 2011. Without getting in to the non-hockey reasons that team no longer exists, could you speak to how that came to be allowed/approved? I know a family whose daughter was involved so I know a legal battle was involved. But I'm curious about the details in that process considering not just what is going on in Duluth but also considering what MN Hockey is trying to institute state wide in regards to Tier 1 hockey outside the MSHSL.

From what I've read, and your post seems to agree, it seems inevitable that Marshall will get to do this - whether it takes a lengthy legal battle or not. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds.

[observer]

The best model is youth hockey players play for youth associations and high school aged players play for high schools. There should be no school sponsored youth hockey teams.

[BP]

HM will be nearly $30,000 this year if you pay 100%.

Clueless

Not even close

Nevertoomuch---HM, as in Hill-Murray?

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Yes. But I should have specified that's $13 and change X 2, plus technology for the new admit.

This thread has made me curious about all the metro and outstate tuition costs. If I get curious enough to research, I'll post it here.

[BP]

Yes. But I should have specified that's $13 and change X 2, plus technology for the new admit.

This thread has made me curious about all the metro and outstate tuition costs. If I get curious enough to research, I'll post it here.

Ok, that's makes sense. Blake, SPA, and Breck aren't even 30k!

[wannagototherink]

Let me leave all of you with one last thing to ponder. I think we can all probably agree that, IF Marshall is ultimately allowed to have a Bantam “A” team, it will most likely set a precedent that could and, probably would change the youth hockey landscape in our state forever. At this point, Minnesota Hockey, in an effort to stay true to its’ long held philosophy of not micromanaging its’ affiliates, has stated that they want the Duluth Amateur Hockey Association board of directors to have what amounts to be the final say on this issue since it directly involves them. Considering that the current 16 member DAHA board has at least two and possibly three members that have little to no experience within the game at any level prior to being elected. Of the rest, only two to four others could be classified as having a genuine level of knowledge and experience within the game at both the youth and the high school levels -- including some of the political considerations at both the local and state levels -- that I think most of us would prefer to have in making this decision. Therefore, do we as state/youth hockey body really feel this board is the proper entity to be making a decision for what is essentially the entire state? Versus, let's say, the Minnesota Hockey Board? Thanks for reading and I await all of your thoughtful and considered responses…. 
[/quote]


I think this is one of the most important parts of your whole assessment. My understanding is that the DAHA Board has had quite the overhaul over the last two years. It was driven by a board member who just recently left the board. She felt the board needed a more diverse group (which I don't think is bad). The results of this however, has left the board of directors with a pretty "green group" as far as hockey knowledge, hockey experiences, and really many of the issues discussed on this forum or even this thread. Most importantly in my opinion, they lack an understanding of what Minnesota Hockey's model is all about and the history behind it. I believe it would be irresponsible for Minnesota Hockey to allow a DAHA board that lacks those things to make a decision that could impact Minnesota Hockey for years to come. Don't you think that if Marshall gets an 'A' team every private school in the metro will try to do the same thing? Won't that have an impact on every association in the state? Personally, if Marshall had their own bantam 'A' team in Duluth I don't think it would be a major problem in our little community to handle. I do believe that if it were to happen in the metro it would have drastic consequences. Let's leave the shaping of our game in our state to the body that governs it, not a local association who's inexperienced board could unintentionally destroy hockey in our state.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

[Froggy Richards]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

[Wet Paint]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

If DAHA approves this and it goes to MNHockey for final approval which I assume it would have to watch for the other local A teams to really fight it. The last thing that Hermantown, Proctor and North Shore want right now is another local team for their kids to head to. I think that East really does not care one way or the other and that Denfeld is already done and pretty much on life support as it is so it might not happen this year but it will happen soon.

Right now the biggest loser (other than Denfeld losing their entire program which is gonna happen anyhow) will be Hermantown with those kids who want to play AA hockey at the high school level and Hermantown's desire to stay in A.

[Froggy Richards]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

I think that East really does not care one way or the other

From the DAHA board meeting April 15th:

Jim DeBoer spoke on behalf of the East End Board – totally against Marshall having a bantam team, detrimental to hockey in the area.

I'm not an expert, but that doesn't sound to me like they don't care one way or the other.

[Froggy Richards]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

If DAHA approves this and it goes to MNHockey for final approval which I assume it would have to watch for the other local A teams to really fight it. The last thing that Hermantown, Proctor and North Shore want right now is another local team for their kids to head to.

The only valid point to fight it on is because they are Private and that these programs want to protect the Minnesota Neighborhood Association Model. Proctor and North Shore could credibly make that claim. But for Hermantown to claim that would be like Floyd Mayweather Jr. being the spokesperson for a Battered Women's Shelter.

[Wet Paint]

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

If DAHA approves this and it goes to MNHockey for final approval which I assume it would have to watch for the other local A teams to really fight it. The last thing that Hermantown, Proctor and North Shore want right now is another local team for their kids to head to.

The only valid point to fight it on is because they are Private and that these programs want to protect the Minnesota Neighborhood Association Model. Proctor and North Shore could credibly make that claim. But for Hermantown to claim that would be like Floyd Mayweather Jr. being the spokesperson for a Battered Women's Shelter.

Lol.

They say that they want kids to play hockey at home with the kids that they run with, play other sports with and go to school with....... Sounds like DM fits their model to me.

[wannagototherink]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

DAHA actually consolidated Denfeld and Central 15 or so years ago when there was more kids playing hockey. Technically, DM doesn't have enough kids to hold a bantam team. They are hoping this will help their recruiting. They need a handful of kids to enroll from Superior and Hermantown that have expressed interest if they had a bantam team. Whether they admit that or not is another question. Word around Duluth is, DM has been contacted by kids as far away as Rochester if they get this team.


The DAHA board denied the grievance from the Marshall parents last night, so if they are going to get a team it is going to have to come from Minnesota Hockey. I can't imagine the district director will approve it by himself since it was made clear at the D11 meeting last week that the entire district was against it. That leaves the experts at MH to make the final decision... as it should be.

[Wet Paint]

But if DAHA has it's Bantams ALREADY under either East or Denfeld, how is this different? Is the resistance that Marshall is private, or would it still be contested if it was a third Duluth public?

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

DAHA actually consolidated Denfeld and Central 15 or so years ago when there was more kids playing hockey. Technically, DM doesn't have enough kids to hold a bantam team. They are hoping this will help their recruiting. They need a handful of kids to enroll from Superior and Hermantown that have expressed interest if they had a bantam team. Whether they admit that or not is another question. Word around Duluth is, DM has been contacted by kids as far away as Rochester if they get this team.


The DAHA board denied the grievance from the Marshall parents last night, so if they are going to get a team it is going to have to come from Minnesota Hockey. I can't imagine the district director will approve it by himself since it was made clear at the D11 meeting last week that the entire district was against it. That leaves the experts at MH to make the final decision... as it should be.

I have a feeling that this is gonna go to a court battle with either a youth group or a AAA team as the end result. Personally I can understand why all of D11 is against it they don't want to have any more competition for their kids who would be willing to move to another school to play hockey there rather than play for their current association. For lots of reasons that we all know about and have heard about as we hang around the rinks I think that there would be a larger than expected exodus from a few of the programs in D11. In my opinion DAHA sort of blew it, had they approved it they could have guided it into being and controlled it, now they will probably have it forced into place by an outside entity be it MH or the court system and will be watching it come in like the rest of us will.

Personally I think with all of the money involved here across the board in hockey and with parents and newer people coming into play and the "old school, good old days" people getting pushed out it is going to go to a full on AAA system in a few years. Too much money and too many parents and businesses involved here for the good old boys to be able to keep kicking the can down the street and living way back then.

[Froggy Richards]

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

DAHA actually consolidated Denfeld and Central 15 or so years ago when there was more kids playing hockey. Technically, DM doesn't have enough kids to hold a bantam team. They are hoping this will help their recruiting. They need a handful of kids to enroll from Superior and Hermantown that have expressed interest if they had a bantam team. Whether they admit that or not is another question. Word around Duluth is, DM has been contacted by kids as far away as Rochester if they get this team.


The DAHA board denied the grievance from the Marshall parents last night, so if they are going to get a team it is going to have to come from Minnesota Hockey. I can't imagine the district director will approve it by himself since it was made clear at the D11 meeting last week that the entire district was against it. That leaves the experts at MH to make the final decision... as it should be.

I have a feeling that this is gonna go to a court battle with either a youth group or a AAA team as the end result. Personally I can understand why all of D11 is against it they don't want to have any more competition for their kids who would be willing to move to another school to play hockey there rather than play for their current association. For lots of reasons that we all know about and have heard about as we hang around the rinks I think that there would be a larger than expected exodus from a few of the programs in D11. In my opinion DAHA sort of blew it, had they approved it they could have guided it into being and controlled it, now they will probably have it forced into place by an outside entity be it MH or the court system and will be watching it come in like the rest of us will.

Personally I think with all of the money involved here across the board in hockey and with parents and newer people coming into play and the "old school, good old days" people getting pushed out it is going to go to a full on AAA system in a few years. Too much money and too many parents and businesses involved here for the good old boys to be able to keep kicking the can down the street and living way back then.

There's no court case to be had. As someone pointed out earlier, the US Congress has specifically addressed this with Legislation. Their only chance now is with MN Hockey, and it's extremely unlikely that they would go against DAHA and District 11. That's just not how they operate.

[wannagototherink]

Of course it's because they're private. A Private school Bantam or PeeWee team completely flies in the face of the Neighborhood Assocation Model. The problem is that the Neighborhood Association model doesn't really exist anymore, so I understand your point. They might as well just allow it. Everyone out East thinks the School District Youth Model is working beautifully, so let's take them at their word and add another for Marshall and make it a true school model. Then when Denfeld eventually folds, Marshall can add a PeeWee team and all the top kids on the West end can play for Marshall. Marshall will retain some of those kids in High School with "financial" aid. Couple that with their out of area recruits and the declining population of kids in Duluth and it won't take them long to pass up East as the premier High School team in Duluth. We'll see how the folks out East like their "School based" model then.

DAHA actually consolidated Denfeld and Central 15 or so years ago when there was more kids playing hockey. Technically, DM doesn't have enough kids to hold a bantam team. They are hoping this will help their recruiting. They need a handful of kids to enroll from Superior and Hermantown that have expressed interest if they had a bantam team. Whether they admit that or not is another question. Word around Duluth is, DM has been contacted by kids as far away as Rochester if they get this team.


The DAHA board denied the grievance from the Marshall parents last night, so if they are going to get a team it is going to have to come from Minnesota Hockey. I can't imagine the district director will approve it by himself since it was made clear at the D11 meeting last week that the entire district was against it. That leaves the experts at MH to make the final decision... as it should be.

I have a feeling that this is gonna go to a court battle with either a youth group or a AAA team as the end result. Personally I can understand why all of D11 is against it they don't want to have any more competition for their kids who would be willing to move to another school to play hockey there rather than play for their current association. For lots of reasons that we all know about and have heard about as we hang around the rinks I think that there would be a larger than expected exodus from a few of the programs in D11. In my opinion DAHA sort of blew it, had they approved it they could have guided it into being and controlled it, now they will probably have it forced into place by an outside entity be it MH or the court system and will be watching it come in like the rest of us will.

Personally I think with all of the money involved here across the board in hockey and with parents and newer people coming into play and the "old school, good old days" people getting pushed out it is going to go to a full on AAA system in a few years. Too much money and too many parents and businesses involved here for the good old boys to be able to keep kicking the can down the street and living way back then.

DAHA would still have control of the team if MH approved it. DAHA holds the affiliate agreement with MH and part of that agreement states that at no time will MH grant another affiliate agreement within the city of Duluth. If that did happen, East has already stated they would look to leave DAHA and acquire their own affiliation. It is a moot point though because DM is not going to get their own affiliate agreement.