The Hermantown Thread

[Stang5280]

TG is moving to AA in 2019-2020 - 100%. Talked to one of their coaches who indicated a number of kids are coming into TG next season based on the stipulation they move up to AA (next season)

Interesting. Any insight into which programs will possibly be losing kids?

They are in a bit of a strange spot in that they are not surrounded by hockey rich communities, but there are also no other private schools nearby. Traditionally TG has drawn heavily from Irondale and Mounds View, along with some Spring Lake Park (and previously some of the surrounding communities that combined for the North Metro team). I know there are a few Rogers kids on the current roster, so that is another pool, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they started pulling from the OMG and STMA systems as well (lots of Catholic kids in the latter). They occasionally pull from as far as Minnetonka or Cambridge (their last few goalies). Others may have better info, but that is my general understanding of TG’s reach.

ETA: there is also a certain combo of brothers from Coon Rapids who would seem to be ripe for the picking.

[Bigfoot12]

Saw HTown in Bemidji. Only 1 kid on bench in JV game. Better force them to AA while they can still field a team.

[kniven]

Saw HTown in Bemidji. Only 1 kid on bench in JV game. Better force them to AA while they can still field a team.

Yea. There JV is weak and the barely field a team most games.

[Slap Shot]

Tha day I am waiting for is a section 7AA Championship by Hermantown over East at Amsoil in front of dang near the entire town of HT. Whatever they did at state after that would be an added bonus. Beth Clark needs to realize that it’s doable. HT could become the team that comes out of 7AA and East joins Rapids and the others with occasional trips to the X.

If they weren't scurred it could happen.

[That guy for that thing]

Tha day I am waiting for is a section 7AA Championship by Hermantown over East at Amsoil in front of dang near the entire town of HT. Whatever they did at state after that would be an added bonus. Beth Clark needs to realize that it’s doable. HT could become the team that comes out of 7AA and East joins Rapids and the others with occasional trips to the X.

If they weren't scurred it could happen.

I don't think they are scared at all. I personally believe they should move up, for the benefit of the state as a whole, but from the Hermantown point of view, why do they need to? Their kids develop in NCAA Commits, and NHL Scouts really don't care about which tournament they play in that much, as long as they play a high level of competition all season long. The kids show all season that they are some of the best players in the state, so from a development point, why do they need to move up. What is there to gain, development wise. They go AA for the tourney, and they play some of the same teams they played all year, and the target is not on their back. It is on the Tonka/Edina/STA teams of the tournament. Yes, that motivates the kids, but it is the same pressure as having the target on your back that they get in A, I don't think so?

Personally, I want them to move up. From a fans view, it would increase the competitiveness of both classes. 7AA gets that much more difficult to come out of, and 7A becomes a crapshoot again on who will head down to the X.

[hockey59]

Tha day I am waiting for is a section 7AA Championship by Hermantown over East at Amsoil in front of dang near the entire town of HT. Whatever they did at state after that would be an added bonus. Beth Clark needs to realize that it’s doable. HT could become the team that comes out of 7AA and East joins Rapids and the others with occasional trips to the X.

If they weren't scurred it could happen.

They go AA for the tourney, and they play some of the same teams they played all year, and the target is not on their back. It is on the Tonka/Edina/STA teams of the tournament. Yes, that motivates the kids, but it is the same pressure as having the target on your back that they get in A, I don't think so?

LMAO That’s Common Man Preposterous Statement Tourney - nomination worthy! For a team good enough to tie Minnetonka...there IS NO PRESSURE playing Single A.

[That guy for that thing]

If they weren't scurred it could happen.

They go AA for the tourney, and they play some of the same teams they played all year, and the target is not on their back. It is on the Tonka/Edina/STA teams of the tournament. Yes, that motivates the kids, but it is the same pressure as having the target on your back that they get in A, I don't think so?

LMAO That’s Common Man Preposterous Statement Tourney - nomination worthy! For a team good enough to tie Minnetonka...there IS NO PRESSURE playing Single A.

Please tell me how playing as an underdog is more stressful than being picked to win it all with every game being running time. They have everything to lose every game when they play A. They have nothing to lose when they play AA.

[hockey59]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8HT324wro Wake up dude

[elliott70]

If they weren't scurred it could happen.

They go AA for the tourney, and they play some of the same teams they played all year, and the target is not on their back. It is on the Tonka/Edina/STA teams of the tournament. Yes, that motivates the kids, but it is the same pressure as having the target on your back that they get in A, I don't think so?

LMAO That’s Common Man Preposterous Statement Tourney - nomination worthy! For a team good enough to tie Minnetonka...there IS NO PRESSURE playing Single A.

This is absurd, there is no pressure???
Of course they feel pressure. If everyone believes you will do something, you feel the pressure to do it, regardless if its sports, work, or day to day life.
If you think the Hermantown players, coaches and those with a direct involvement do not feel pressure then you have never, never been involved in ANYTHING intense.

[That guy for that thing]

They go AA for the tourney, and they play some of the same teams they played all year, and the target is not on their back. It is on the Tonka/Edina/STA teams of the tournament. Yes, that motivates the kids, but it is the same pressure as having the target on your back that they get in A, I don't think so?

LMAO That’s Common Man Preposterous Statement Tourney - nomination worthy! For a team good enough to tie Minnetonka...there IS NO PRESSURE playing Single A.

This is absurd, there is no pressure???
Of course they feel pressure. If everyone believes you will do something, you feel the pressure to do it, regardless if its sports, work, or day to day life.
If you think the Hermantown players, coaches and those with a direct involvement do not feel pressure then you have never, never been involved in ANYTHING intense.

Just watch the bench and coaches. You will see the pressure they have. You don't celebrate the way they do if you have no pressure. You think Tom Brady doesn't feel pressure every single game. Oh yeah, whether its the Rams in the Super Bowl or the Bills in week 5. There is pressure every single game to kick the daylights out of teams, and if its a close game, like the Htown Maht. game, we say they have a bad game. That doesn't come without pressure.

[hockey59]

They go AA for the tourney, and they play some of the same teams they played all year, and the target is not on their back. It is on the Tonka/Edina/STA teams of the tournament. Yes, that motivates the kids, but it is the same pressure as having the target on your back that they get in A, I don't think so?

LMAO That’s Common Man Preposterous Statement Tourney - nomination worthy! For a team good enough to tie Minnetonka...there IS NO PRESSURE playing Single A.

This is absurd, there is no pressure???
Of course they feel pressure. If everyone believes you will do something, you feel the pressure to do it, regardless if its sports, work, or day to day life.
If you think the Hermantown players, coaches and those with a direct involvement do not feel fluke pressure then you have never, never been involved in ANYTHING intense.

My youngest son made AA State out of 5AA. My oldest son lost in two section Finals, one in OT to Blaine & one by one fluke goal to Cloquet. That’s more pressure than playing in TEN single a section finals & single a state tourneys (for a team the caliber of Hermantown) not to be confused with a Chisago Lakes or North Branch type of class A team that faces legitimate pressure. Or for Bemidji in 8AA for that matter For crying out loud Elliott, quick drinking HT’s kool aid

[elliott70]

I AM NOT SUPPORTING Hermantown ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
BUT IF YOU DON'T THINK THOSE BOYS FEEL THE PRESSURE ThEN YOU ARE EITHER IGNORANT OR TRYING TO CONVINCE THE WORLD OF SOMETHING.

I was at their game Saturday - I talked to some involved before their Friday game when they were extremely short handed - if they were not feeling it then they deserve an Oscar.

Give them credit, they are not machines but young men and like all of us have self-doubt, other issues from all over the place and YES they do feel pressure.

I was for them playing AA before most on this board could spell Hermantown, but when some on here make things up and say things about the players/parents, that is JUST WRONG, and I do speak up.
These boys have no control over where they play, who they play. They show up, tie on the skates and do their best. Comparing the pressure between one event, one game even one sport is crazy. No one knows what another individual feels.
I am happy for your sons and that had the opportunity to enjoy and grow from their experiences. But to say one individual feels more pressure than another because it is a state tournament or the first game of the year shows little understanding of the frailty of humans.

Sorry for the ramble but some people are so hung up on Hermantown playing AA they are missing the joy to be found in all of this.
The only Kool-Aid around is the one others are mixing it.

[hockey59]

I have no problem with the Hermantown PLAYERS In fact, those who know me on this board, that I’ve actually talked to recently, like WM, or Cakescout, will vouch that I’ve told them...I believe Blake Biondi is the best player in the State in 2019. And Joey Pierce is one of the top 3 sophomores in the StateNow I still believe Bryce Brodzinski, based on his play on the ice this year, has done the most to earn the Mr Hockey awardGoing to State should mean something...it’s the hard that makes it GREAT! But this latest ridiculous episode (of failing to smell the coffee & remaining in single a) essentially so mommy & daddy & grandma & grandpa HT..can book their hotel room in July for the following years 1st week of March...that mentality...is NOT what HS Sports are or should be all about. But that’s what STILL is going on in Hermantown and will be for at least 2 more years. PS: I played HS hockey (in the 1970’s) for the team with the most HS titles in WI (there has been just one class of HS hockey in WI through 2019) SUPERIOR. We went to State every year in PeeWee, Bantam & HS, so I have more insight on what it’s like to be part of a HT situation than the average bear At least with Superior it was legit. Superior leads in most State championships won with 13. By comparison, Edina has 12 (although substantially more difficult and impressive )

[elliott70]

BUT
The players feeling pressure or not is NOT part of the debate.

The debate is "are they good enough on a consistent enough basis to be AA", yes.
BUT
the Superintendent and AD do not see it that way.

That is it, that is all there is to it.
Now the school board could step in but how often does the school board step in unless it is to get rid of the super.

[east hockey]

BUT
The players feeling pressure or not is NOT part of the debate.

The debate is "are they good enough on a consistent enough basis to be AA", yes.
BUT
the Superintendent and AD do not see it that way.

That is it, that is all there is to it.
Now the school board could step in but how often does the school board step in unless it is to get rid of the super.

I don't know about the Hermantown School Board but the Duluth School Board once stepped in and gave Mike Randolph his job back.

After the good citizens of Duluth changed the makeup of the School Board, that is.

Lee

[kniven]

The Hermantown AD has more power than the Mayor of Hermantown.

[ifallsin64]

“& one by one fluke goal to Cloquet”
What year was that hockey59?

[kniven]

1972

[east hockey]

1972

Cloquet didn't make it to state until 1982, Blaine's first trip wasn't until 1992. By then, Blaine and Cloquet were in separate sections. Did your son play for two different teams, 59?

Lee

[hockey59]

1972

Cloquet didn't make it to state until 1982, Blaine's first trip wasn't until 1992. By then, Blaine and Cloquet were in separate sections. Did your son play for two different teams, 59?

Lee

C’mon guys, this ones a layup...Anoka in 4AA (now it’s called 5AA) in 2007 & 7AA in 2008

[east hockey]

1972

Cloquet didn't make it to state until 1982, Blaine's first trip wasn't until 1992. By then, Blaine and Cloquet were in separate sections. Did your son play for two different teams, 59?

Lee

C’mon guys, this ones a layup...Anoka in 4AA (now it’s called 5AA) in 2007 & 7AA in 2008

And suddenly I feel shame. I should turn in my copy of Frozen Memories.

Lee

[Duluth_Topper]

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/ ... hermantown

They just keep building and building. They say it is for Cirrus and AAR, but they are really building it to attract more hockey families.

[rainier2]

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/ ... hermantown

They just keep building and building. They say it is for Cirrus and AAR, but they are really building it to attract more hockey families.

But, hidden within the article is a potential kiss of death for Hermantown hockey: "We need housing that people can afford," said Commissioner Frank Jewell.

If low-to-middle income "riff-raff" start moving to Hermantown, then it will lose its trendy status in the Duluth area, and Esko, Proctor, Pike Lake, or even a gentrified West Duluth could become the new spot for wealthy young families.

Will Hermantown be able to maintain its status as the Edina of the north? Or will they become the Bloomington of the north?

[Thunderstruck]

Looks like Virginia-MIB gave the Hawks a game last night, I suppose there will be a calling for Virginia-MIB to move up to AA now, they pulled in 6 kids that open enrolled from Eveleth-Gilbert/ME and one defenseman that open enrolled from Ely/Babbitt all to play hockey in Virginia.

[rainier2]

Looks like Virginia-MIB gave the Hawks a game last night, I suppose there will be a calling for Virginia-MIB to move up to AA now, they pulled in 6 kids that open enrolled from Eveleth-Gilbert/ME and one defenseman that open enrolled from Ely/Babbitt all to play hockey in Virginia.

Nah, we'll wait until they get closer to 8 straight Class A title games, making state 11/13 years, 3 titles, annually beating the best team in AA, and playing AA all throughout youth hockey.