Eastridge coach fired

[MinnGirlsHockey]

The goalie apparently transferred from HM to East Ridge beause the regilious aspect was too far of a gap for her. While this is not traditionally the reason one leaves, I guess it happended. They probably should have investigated it more.

My contacts tell me she would have been in the top 4 goalies and would be in competition for the starting position for the following year, but the starting position was owned by the incumbent senior goal tender. I would suspect if the JV goal tender from East Ridge was at HM for hockey, she would have stayed at HM. Why would you leave HM if your focus was hockey.

For the game that created the dicussion thread, the JV goal tender completed the JV game, unsuited and was sitting with the fans and was not on the bench. It was only after the Varsity goal tender went down is when the JV goal tender was asked to suit up because of the injury. The 3rd goal tender was ineligible and did not have her goalie gear with. So it was either the varisty goal tender remained in the game injured, the JV goal tender plays, or have someone who has not played before enter.

Crazy situation to say the least and not the way to start the season.

Thanks for all of the info, ERdad. The whole situation seems unfortunate, it doesn't seem like there is much malice here on anyone's part IMO.

The only part I'm not totally following is in bold above. I assume you are referring to the other JV goalie? It looks like that goalie then played the next 2 varsity games so just wondering why/how she was ineligible on the day of the NSP game. Thanks.

[Marty]

Seems like just too much speculation ERhockeydad - unless you are her father. Probably better for you not to say anything or defend anything the young lady or her parents did between the two schools in question on a public forum.

Those pondering leaving their home turf and moving to a private school should realize that all is not greener on the otherside and there are RISKS from both an athletic and personal (friends, etc) perspective. There is no promises even for next year, because another "recruit" better than you just maybe on their way. Seen this happen more than once on the westside of town and am sure it happens at ST and HM. Even making JV this year is no promise or guarantee for varsity next year.

To the game itself. Simple (well in hind sight and from the bleachers anyways).When the Varisty goalie went down and only alternative is an ineligible goalie - the head coach stops the game and pulls other head coach and refs together. ER coach should have forfeited the game and then offered to continue to finish the game (if refs allow) as an "exhibition" to let the players "develop" in a game situation. If this was not allowed - game over.

HS Hockey does allow the goalie to play more than 4 periods in one evening if that situation is ever needed.

[Marty]

The other varsity goalie at HM is just a 10 grader. She had varsity ice time as a 9th grader last season. Mostly in easy games, but a few minutes against tough competition.

No cake walk around her next year for minutes in net.

[MNHockeyFan]

Those pondering leaving their home turf and moving to a private school should realize that all is not greener on the otherside and there are RISKS from both an athletic and personal (friends, etc) perspective. There is no promises even for next year, because another "recruit" better than you just maybe on their way.

Marty, just to be fair, there are no promises or guarantees of playing varsity at any school, private or public, as long as they are a big enough program to have tryouts and especially if they have enough numbers to have a JV team. And that's true in all sports, both boy's and girls. Take EP and Wayzata, for instance...each has over 3,000 students which means you have to pretty darned good to make varsity in any sport.

Hockey is a little unique when it comes to the goaltender position. Some schools have more than enough experienced goalies, but others don't have enough, as in ER's case here. Ideally, every school would have four, two varsity and two JV, but they are just not that evenly spread out.

I would say though that if you are likely going to be "Goalie No. 5" at "School A" and you want to increase your chances of playing, it might be a good idea to consider transferring to a different school where they will be shorthanded at that position. As you say there are risks that need to be considered with such a move, but I would say that if you do your homework the risks are no greater at a private school than open enrolling at a public school, as long as you investigate and are pretty certain that it's going to be a good fit. Same is true a little later in life, when choosing which college to attend or which company to work for or how to invest your money...you need to do your homework in order to minimize the risk!

P.S. I recall just a few years ago when Blake's girls team was very shorthanded at goalie, and as I recall for a year or two they only had one who was experienced at that position.

[Marty]

Marty, just to be fair, there are no promises or guarantees of playing varsity at any school, private or public, as long as they are a big enough program to have tryouts and especially if they have enough numbers to have a JV team. .

So true. But shifting to a private school (especially outside the immediate area you live in) presents changes not just in athletics, but academics, social life, transportation, that may or may not be accounted for.

Most kids that do not make a varsity (or even a JV team) get over it rather quickly. Some try again, others if they love the sport keep playing in other ways. Parents too often have a more difficult time with this than the player/kids. If you change schools primarily for athletics, then getting cut makes the experience even tougher for both child and parent.

Not making a team can actually strengthen your child. They learn to cope with a tough event. As one becomes an adult these tough events only increase in number and often in severity.