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Fact - 99% of the kids want to be coached by LP, and maybe 98% of the parents want their kids to be coached by him. He has done a wonderful job with the Mite program and runs skill sessions for many of the "B" teams. He treats every kid at every level with respect, and works with these kids. He runs coaches clinics and creates videos for all coaches to use.

Fact - He does battle with some on the board since he feels strongly about his opinion on player development(he is not alone and most who know support his views), and those who argue with him fall back on the "just because you played does not mean you know everything line". He has made mistakes, but no worse than anyone else.

Fact/Opinion - Some parents turned him in for playing too many games a couple of years ago. Those parents kids now will be 2nd year Peewees who will by vying for a spot on the "A" team, so they want LP out. I am guessing they may think it will hurt their kids chances. The problem is, there are so many good players that their kids may not make the team legitimately, but don't tell them that.

He is acutually the best Mite coach out there, so he is suited to coach at any level.

A little hockey info on Lance.
his hockey business: http://www.sweethockeyproducts.com/

Q&A interview http://www.vintageminnesotahockey.com/L ... rview.html

Q.What hobbies do you have outside of your hockey business?

A.Ah well, I coach, and I’m very passionate about coaching and trying to become a better coach. One of the misconceptions of parents is that because you played in the National Hockey League that you’re automatically going to be a good coach, and it’s something you really have to work at becoming better. The summer team that I coached with, I coached with a guy name Greg Dornbach; who played at Miami of Ohio, and Ben Hankinson who was a former Gopher, Troy Jutting who is the coach at Minnesota State. You know, that guy’s a nut. He drives an hour and a half three days a week back and forth for his kids to skate on our team. And I asked him "why he does it" and he says "coaching college hockey is a job, you know. It’s not just going on the ice. There’s a lot of recruiting and budgeting and all that, and he says when I’m on the ice with you guys it’s just fun. It’s back to just pure hockey and watching these kids develop and just love to be on the ice." So I do that and then you know I’ve done some remodeling. Right when I retired I remodeled a couple cabins and I built a house with a guy, so I still haven’t figured out how I fit into this world, but I’m trying.

Practice plan: http://www.minnesotahockey.org/coaches/ ... 20Plan.pdf

None of the complaints on here allude to the prototypical parent A team coach giving preferential treatment to their prima-donna kid. He seems to fit his self discription - passionate about youth hockey - and that can run rough with mainstream conventional thinking.

If Lance was a girl I'd marry him.

Shiloh wrote:Just because someone played professionaly does NOT mean they have the correct mentality for youth hockey. That is the issue at hand. LP had different ideas and his conduct and decisions were at odds with the mission of the association. He managed the bench like it was a pro team. That mentality is not appropriate for assocation hockey and the decision to keep him away is valid. He knew what he was doing. He knew it was against the policies, better interest of the association, the kids and their parents. He knew all this and yet didn't change course. He should be coaching at a much higher level and leave youth hockey to the people who have the mentality and ability to follow the standards set by the association.

Sounds like YOU had the problem with LP. It's not like he worked behind the scenes to bring in multiple kids from other states to be on the team. LP actually likes to develop kids.

RUKidding wrote:

Shiloh wrote:Just because someone played professionaly does NOT mean they have the correct mentality for youth hockey. That is the issue at hand. LP had different ideas and his conduct and decisions were at odds with the mission of the association. He managed the bench like it was a pro team. That mentality is not appropriate for assocation hockey and the decision to keep him away is valid. He knew what he was doing. He knew it was against the policies, better interest of the association, the kids and their parents. He knew all this and yet didn't change course. He should be coaching at a much higher level and leave youth hockey to the people who have the mentality and ability to follow the standards set by the association.

Sounds like YOU had the problem with LP. It's not like he worked behind the scenes to bring in multiple kids from other states to be on the team. LP actually likes to develop kids.

I've never called an out of state kid to play on one of my teams so I'm not sure what you'tr talking about....

forthefunofthegame wrote:

RUKidding wrote:

Shiloh wrote:Just because someone played professionaly does NOT mean they have the correct mentality for youth hockey. That is the issue at hand. LP had different ideas and his conduct and decisions were at odds with the mission of the association. He managed the bench like it was a pro team. That mentality is not appropriate for assocation hockey and the decision to keep him away is valid. He knew what he was doing. He knew it was against the policies, better interest of the association, the kids and their parents. He knew all this and yet didn't change course. He should be coaching at a much higher level and leave youth hockey to the people who have the mentality and ability to follow the standards set by the association.

Sounds like YOU had the problem with LP. It's not like he worked behind the scenes to bring in multiple kids from other states to be on the team. LP actually likes to develop kids.

I've never called an out of state kid to play on one of my teams so I'm not sure what you'tr talking about....

Hey Shiloh, I mean ForTheFunoftheGame, I didn't say you did. I was making the point that there are some people that are so hell bent on winning that they do recruit out of state (not during the season). My point was that LP wouldn't do that. He'd rather develop MN kids.

the real story

RUKidding wrote:

forthefunofthegame wrote:

RUKidding wrote: Sounds like YOU had the problem with LP. It's not like he worked behind the scenes to bring in multiple kids from other states to be on the team.

LP actually likes to develop kids.

I've never called an out of state kid to play on one of my teams so I'm not sure what you'tr talking about....

Hey Shiloh, I mean ForTheFunoftheGame, I didn't say you did. I was making the point that there are some people that are so hell bent on winning that they do recruit out of state (not during the season). My point was that LP wouldn't do that. He'd rather develop MN kids.

Bottom line is he's a great coach with a type A personality that ruffles some feathers from time to time. Most great coaches have a passion and belief in what they're trying to accomplish, that's what makes them great. His kid might be the best 11 yo player in NA, that alone should tell you why a handful 2nd year PW parents in Wayzata don't like him.

Can't Never Tried wrote:

RLStars wrote:

Hockeydaddy wrote:I think the title of the thread is misleading. The only controversey in Wayzata hockey is whether to take the Denali or the Benz to the game.

I just about fell off my chair

Bar stool

Ya see why I'm hesitant to declare myself as a true Wayzata supporter? The egos out here are atrocious. Nevermind the kids ever being told "no"... I'm not sure many of the parents have ever been told "no".

Settle it, move on, and get out of the kids' way.

Sorry FortheFunoftheGame, I thought you were a Shiloh logged in to the wrong account. But sticking up for strong coaches and referencing behavior of folks the likes liberals and BO <the O isn't for Obama>, clearly you've got your head on straight.

Hey, who deleted forthefunofthegame's earlier post about the liberals on this thread???

Here is the real story on Wayzata PeeWee A's:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this group. Good group of kids
and parents who all get along except for 2 parents.


LP and this other parent, who is now on the hockey board, basically can't stand each other. Their junior high love affair began during the Squirt A season 2 yrs ago when the dad didn't agree with LP's coaching philosophy and really heated up when LP was suspended by the district when this dad turned him into the district for playing too many games.

Kids like playing for LP and he does put in a lot of time for the association.
Only negatives I see on LP is that he is very argumentative and has a very bad temper. If he doesn't get his way, he goes crazy.

Bottom line-Both of these guys should grow up and just let the kids play!

RUKidding wrote:Hey, who deleted forthefunofthegame's earlier post about the liberals on this thread???

The Admins. Read the forum rules, newb.

It is obvious that these are the same two guys/dads that oversee their respective 96 and 97 Blades teams during the summer. One of the two carries a lofty pedigree and portfolio of credentials. As for the other? It is not surprising that the 97 Blades (under the direction of LP, a hockey guru) offer an excellent developmental program and preferred place to play while the 96 Blades (under the direction of BO, a hockey dad) do not. It is not coincidental that there has been and continues to be an exodus from the 96 team. Perhaps the void can be filled with even more players that are not from The State of Hockey nor seeking development. Go figure. It is shaping up to be an interesting tryout and season at Wayzata.

From what I understand, the 97 Blades are a development team while the 96, 95 and 94 Blades teams are strictly tournament teams. The parents on these tournament teams know that and are ok with it.

A

pigwithlipstick wrote:From what I understand, the 97 Blades are a development team while the 96, 95 and 94 Blades teams are strictly tournament teams. The parents on these tournament teams know that and are ok with it.

The Blades Mission Statement:
To provide exceptional youth hockey players the opportunity to develop advanced individual and team skills by playing with and against players and teams of equal or superior skill.

Now I can't speak for the 95s and 94s, but I believe they'd tell you they were about development and I'm 'pretty sure' they developed their own kids vs bringing special kids in for tournaments only. And even if there may have been a kid or two from Hudson/Somerset, at least they came to practice and were a part of the development. The 96 program under BO, you could have 3 kids from way out of state that would only be at tournaments.

As I understand the Wayzata rift, it was more about hockey dad not liking where the head coach played hockey dad's kid.

I have heard the 96 participants are pleased with the Total Hockey component. That’s a fine program with quality people. But the BO Blades are indeed a tourney type of team. Development is secondary to glitz, glammar and trips to tourneys out of town and state. Thanks, but no. What happened to the missions statement? If you have a 96 and are shopping around, buyer beware (if it's development you are seeking). Instead, head north (Cyclone Hockey) or south (Minnesota Made) - top notch developmental programs. The Blades are a completely different story at the 97 level under the tutelage and LP.

I had a son in the Wayzata program several years ago. The associations philosophy has always been to have non-parent coaches at the "A" level. Getting a good non-parent coach is always very difficult as I'm sure your all aware. I think what the assocaition is trying to do is maintain some stability with their coaches. LP as he's being called, coached 2 years of squirts, now he wants to coach 2 years of peewees, then I assume he may want two years of bantam. I don't know what the status is of the non-parent peewee A coaches from last year, I heard they were doing a good job. I'm also aware they have a very good non-parent coaching staff at the bantam level, who are in it for the long haul, not 2 and out.

It seems to me allowing any parent to follow their son through the program is too disruptive, regardless of who he is or how good he might be.

[quote="bananastick"]I had a son in the Wayzata program several years ago. The associations philosophy has always been to have non-parent coaches at the "A" level. Getting a good non-parent coach is always very difficult as I'm sure your all aware. I think what the assocaition is trying to do is maintain some stability with their coaches. LP as he's being called, coached 2 years of squirts, now he wants to coach 2 years of peewees, then I assume he may want two years of bantam. I don't know what the status is of the non-parent peewee A coaches from last year, I heard they were doing a good job. I'm also aware they have a very good non-parent coaching staff at the bantam level, who are in it for the long haul, not 2 and out.

It seems to me allowing any parent to follow their son through the program is too disruptive, regardless of who he is or how good he might be.[/quote]

For a fruit on a stick that is pretty well, written... I don't care what people eat, this is right on the money.

LP is an outstanding coach and an outstanding individual

This thread is becoming touchy yet tasty. It is eye opening. With regard to the Blades, they are an established and reputable organization… a tremendous track record. They have things going on at most levels, especially the 97’s. With LP at the helm, positive things are happening. Conversely, things appear amiss at the 96 level. Hmmmm….

If LP is not selected or engaged to coach in some capacity at Wayzata, the non-parent coach thing is both counter productive and intuitive. Note…. I am a proponent of non-parent coaches, yet there are exceptions to the rule – LP! Nevertheless, we all have to turn each and every one of our assured future NHL’ers over to another coach at one point or another (tongue in cheek.). But LP has too much to offer to have him sit on the sidelines primarily due to one overbearing B.S. Orgre at Wayzata. Come on, people.

Are the peewee A coaches from last year at Wayzata coming back?
How many years have they been there?

I have no comment about LP as I don't know him, have never seen him run a practice or coach a game. What I'm saying is having a coach move through the system with one group of kids, doesn't sound to me like it's in the best interest of the entire association.

Here's hoping this situation cools off quickly for the benefit of the kids and all involved at Wayzata. This kind of stuff unfortunately goes on within most associations. Some situations are a bit more heated than others, especially when aired out publicly. We all have our moments... some sting harder and last longer than others. Ah, the lessons we must learn. LP and BO are decent people. Come together, Trojans.

Since Wayzata already has returning coaches in place at the PW A level, what does most of this blog really pertain to regarding this upcoming season? If LP wants to "assist" the existing coaches, I heard there was that option for a skills assistant. Since they have good non-parent coaches in place, there is no option for a head coach job.