DuluthHockeyBoy wrote:I think this is really quite simple. The "A" vs. "AA" argument works quite nicely as a convenient excuse for DE, but in reality I believe it is all about not doing anything that might help strengthen Marshall's hockey program, and position them to better compete for upcoming players.
If you are inside the Duluth hockey world- especially the Duluth East hockey world, you know that the competition for kids coming into the high school ranks is fierce. In most cases (not all, but I would say most), DE holds the edge for the better players because they play in AA. If a kid is good and he knows he will play at DE, in most cases DE will get that kid. If DE was playing Marshall every year, and Marshall was competitive with them (as they would have been many years in the last 10), Marshall starts to look like a better option to the depth of talent typically available to DE.
If you look at DE schedule, while they do traditionally schedule top opponents in the state, they also play teams like Cambridge-Isanti, Princeton, Superior, Rochester teams each year. No disrespect to these teams, but it would be hard to argue that these teams are better competition for DE than Marshall would have been over the past 10 years. If it is a matter of not wanting to replace a game against a top state power with a game against Marshall, then dump the Superior game. DE vs. Marshall would be a fan favorite, and one of the most hyped/best attended games of the year I'm sure.
I can see why you don't do it if your Randolph. Your team has everything to lose, and nothing to gain. Your team is playing not to lose, and the other team (with nothing to lose) is playing to win. We all know how that can turn out. If Marshall shows they can compete against you and play at your level, more kids/parents may look at going there. Your very deep pool of players gets more competition and thins out, and they could build a program that competes with you even more consistantly. So there is nothing to gain for you or your program to start playing this game each year. And you have a built-in excuse: not AA and you can say it wouldn't be competitive without having to prove it.
Of course, this is all wrong. Its high school hockey, and what makes it great are rivalries, enthusiastic kids, pep bands, bragging rights, cinderella stories and upsets. These games could be everything we love about HS hockey. Every fan wants it. Everyone who knows hockey knows it would be a competitive game (maybe not every year, but most. And DE would have had their hands full with a few of their teams over the last 10 years). Apparently its more about the coach than high school hockey.
I would say if you think you are that good and they wouldn't be competitive, then put them on your schedule for 5 years in place of Superior- kick their butts and end the debate.
what you may be forgetting is that it costs money to attend Marshall. That's a drawback. Also Marshall doesn't play the schedule Duluth East does. Playing against Eden Prairie and Edina sounds a lot better than playing Silver Bay and Two Harbors. Also they'd rather be called a "Hound" instead of a "Hilltopper"
