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There are opportunities for kids from all parts of MN and all associations to excel. There is plenty of evidence from the recent and not recent history of hockey in MN to support that. Moving just for hockey is a recipe for disappointment all around.

I agree coaching is key and its finding guys who can actually go back to their own youth, mentally, and remember what hockey is like for kids, that are hard to come by. These guys don't burn kids out, keep them motivated and having fun, all the while challenging them at every opportunity. In my own experience and from what I've seen though my kids there is about 5% of coaches who are great, another 25% are good, most are average and another 5-10% of coaches are bad at it.

Too often the loud and annoying know-it-all, I live at the arena type guy is picked (whether dad or not). I've also seen a lot good talkers who can't lead and become just door openers, get picked for coaching positions, another head scratcher. Either way an Xs and Os specialist should be the last thing a team looks for in a coach.

I think location does play a part in it but not for the reasons most people think....I could be wrong but here is my theory.

Two families:

Family A lives in White Bear Lake, has a boy 5 years old. They show up to first day of mite hockey and there are 200 kids on the ice. There are 200 kids on the ice because of the tradition that White Bear has. Its part of the community. Now dad sees these 200 kids and does some quick math, if little guy has any shot, we need to keep him playing, on good teams, with good players vs. good competition. Most of the other 199 kids are also doing the same thing....

Family B lives different suburb, also has boy 5. They show up to first day of mites and there are 25 kids. Little johnny is one of the best skaters and scores 4 goals a game. The motivation to continue with good hockey instruction isn't there. The importance the community places on the sport isn't there.

My point is which came first the talent or the numbers? Are kids in Edina any more athletically gifted than kids in St. Anthony? No. but the emphasis and importance that is placed on hockey makes the difference. But without high numbers and success its hard to get parents to fork out the $$$ that high instruction requires. catch 22.

I think we can say that Forest Lake is not a hockey powerhouse. I still look @ the last 4 yrs and count one finalist for the Hobey Bake, Ohio State[Carlson], One kid play D1 for UMD[Gaffy], one playing D1 Harvard[Danny Fick], one @ Airforce[Waldoc], Two NAHL Mertes,Kohls. One USHL Franklin. So yes you can become a very good hockey player w/out moveing to WBL Funmom.

Old, thanks for sharing. That always makes me wonder if some of those kids are as good as the are because they are from Forest Lake and not Edina. When all youth teams have three lines deep and the coaches like dump n' chase as a tactic to wear out the opponent, seems to me that those kids might miss out on some of what they'd get being a stallion for a lesser program.