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I'm not a Title IX expert and I'm definately not an attorney, but I can see the program getting cut. Hockey has to be a huge part of any athletic department's budget. What other activity/sport requires the rental of a facility at $150+ an hour? Logically, the first item of any budget to be examined and scrutinized is the one that costs the most money. Just a hunch, but I imagine that girls hockey "loses" more money than even the non-revenue girls sports. The reality of it all is that hockey is expensive to operate and by eliminating hockey you could fix a lot of budget woes...and fixing budget woes is what administrators get paid to do. Unfortunately for us hockey fans, they have to remove their emotions and look at the black and white of it all.

Despite hockey being a non-factor with our administrators (school board and AD) it is too popular with the students and residents of AL to be completely eliminated. If anything, the worst case scenario is that hockey ceases to exist in its current form and a girls hockey co-op is formed, IMO. Hardly the end of the world.

The real question is what would the MSHSL do if the program was eliminated?
Would the MSHSL "force" the district to change it's mind?
Would those girls be forced to sit for a year if they transferred?
Would the MSHSL make an exception under these circumstances?

So if this came to a head and AL needs to co-op to save their girls program we can hope that the collective ADs pull their heads out of the back sides and make a bunch of coops. AL-Austin, Faribault-Owatonna, 2 Rochesters etc. Of course, this would make everybody AA programs. Oh well, it's only speculation.

Rocket78 wrote:So if this came to a head and AL needs to co-op to save their girls program we can hope that the collective ADs pull their heads out of the back sides and make a bunch of coops. AL-Austin, Faribault-Owatonna, 2 Rochesters etc. Of course, this would make everybody AA programs. Oh well, it's only speculation.

I would suggest that anyone wanting an AL hockey program should vote for the referendum this fall.

T

Rocket78 wrote:So if this came to a head and AL needs to co-op to save their girls program we can hope that the collective ADs pull their heads out of the back sides and make a bunch of coops. AL-Austin, Faribault-Owatonna, 2 Rochesters etc. Of course, this would make everybody AA programs. Oh well, it's only speculation.

Why should all of the towns coop, because one community decides it does not want to fund girls hockey?
Why would Rochester shrink down to 2 teams when the 3 are already AA?
Would this eliminate opportunity to many young ladies?

Should not the goal, of Girls Hockey, be to become equal to boys hockey? There is that big word again.....EQUALITY.

I do not see why one town's decision should lead to a complete overhaul of the current system. If all these coops should happen, why wait for a program to be scrapped, do it now.

Coop's that arn't needed ... usually means not enough room for all the girls to play.

Co-op isn't an easy topic. Has the growth of the girls game slowed enough where we can't continue to employ a "if you build it, they will come" mentality? At what point do girls actually have to compete for a spot vs getting it because they want it? Would less HS teams create more (& better) youth development (u14, and a & b at all levels), plus more true strong HS programs (with mainly hs aged kids with a few standout phenoms and JV & V)...

I think we have way too many HS V teams and far too few youth/u14 JV teams - but keep in mind - the MSHSL doesn't care about being competitive, they only care about participation...

I will say though I've found a TON of HS/Jr High aged girls that will try hockey come HS if you let them as it's affordable, equipment is typically provided, there are fewer transportation issues, etc. So - tough situation - we're still not getting all the kids involved that we could at a young/youth age for some reason - and likely as hockey is an extremely expensive sport (obviously).

Also - you MUST be proactive with co-ops. You can't decide after day 1 of tryouts to do one. Then it's too late and those kids that need it (too few at tryouts) are stuck without a team or must recruit beginners if they can find them to field a Varsity team. This is not ideal even though I know some S MN teams did this to save their programs last year after co-ops broken up.

And - co-ops should be temporary unless there is just no way #'s will ever come up again. Recruitment at the lowest youth/mite levels needs to be done in all communities in a co-op. If not done, then the co-op is permanent and wouldn't be shocked then to see the teams in the current co-op need another community in the future as the sport would essentially be dying...

RSI wrote:
The real question is what would the MSHSL do if the program was eliminated?
Would the MSHSL "force" the district to change it's mind?
Would those girls be forced to sit for a year if they transferred?
Would the MSHSL make an exception under these circumstances?

NOTHING
NOT A CHANCE
MAYBE
NOT A CHANCE

T

[quote="RSI"]I'm not a Title IX expert and I'm definately not an attorney, but I can see the program getting cut. Hockey has to be a huge part of any athletic department's budget. What other activity/sport requires the rental of a facility at $150+ an hour? Logically, the first item of any budget to be examined and scrutinized is the one that costs the most money. Just a hunch, but I imagine that girls hockey "loses" more money than even the non-revenue girls sports. The reality of it all is that hockey is expensive to operate and by eliminating hockey you could fix a lot of budget woes...and fixing budget woes is what administrators get paid to do. Unfortunately for us hockey fans, they have to remove their emotions and look at the black and white of it all.

Despite hockey being a non-factor with our administrators (school board and AD) it is too popular with the students and residents of AL to be completely eliminated. If anything, the worst case scenario is that hockey ceases to exist in its current form and a girls hockey co-op is formed, IMO. Hardly the end of the world.

The real question is what would the MSHSL do [u][b]if[/b][/u] the program was eliminated?
Would the MSHSL "force" the district to change it's mind?
Would those girls be forced to sit for a year if they transferred?
Would the MSHSL make an exception under these circumstances?[/quote]



i dont get why they would cut girls hockey I realize its the budget deal. But it just doesnt make sense because this is the year that albert lea has a chance to make it to state. Along with next year too but if they cut the hockey team where will they skate to keep in shape? It just isnt right to take away the sport that has the most chance.

taking names wrote: i dont get why they would cut girls hockey I realize its the budget deal. But it just doesnt make sense because this is the year that albert lea has a chance to make it to state. Along with next year too but if they cut the hockey team where will they skate to keep in shape? It just isnt right to take away the sport that has the most chance.

Welcome back, I thought you had left us. I would love to introduce you to the famous Austin representative, "SWISS". I think you two would have some deep converstions. I bet you both scored a 36 on your ACT. That is a combined score.

No seriously, you are obviously a child, so I will keep it simple: The chance a team has to go to state or be good, is no factor in any decision process. MSHL, School Board, or others of importance, could care less about the quality of a team.

This is a lot of hype. Albert Lea will not lose their hockey team. I hear this about every 2-3 years down there. If gives the locals something to complain/talk about at the family potluck.

Faribault is the greatest and will, forever be.

falcons89 wrote: Albert Lea will not lose their hockey team.

I hope you finally have made a post with some merit !!

T

I will give you some merit.

Albert Lea will not lose their hockey team; However, their hockey team will lose!!!!!

Once again, Faribault is the greatest.

falcons89 wrote:
Albert Lea will not lose their hockey team; However, their hockey team will lose!!!!!

Once again, Faribault is overrated.

Yes, AL will lose at some point this season, it just won't be to Faribo.

RSI wrote: Yes, AL will lose at some point this season, and it will be to Faribo.

Once again RSI, we agree.

Faribault is greater than great.

I see Miss Foley did make the Thouroughbreds. This, all but seals the deal, for Albert Lea to go to State this year and next. Sorry Faribault, maybe next decade.

My section rankings:
Albert Lea by a large margin.
Northfield
Faribault
Austin
Redwing
Waseca

tigertime wrote:I see Miss Foley did make the Thouroughbreds. This, all but seals the deal, for Albert Lea to go to State this year and next. Sorry Faribault, maybe next decade.

Can't Foley play both HS and TBREDS?
When is the TBREDS schedule?
T

Does Albert Lea have a coach yet?

The website, as of today, says otherwise.

http://albertlea.k12.mn.us/jobs/JobSheets/Coaches.htm

Any word on who's going to coach?

Puckhandler wrote:Does Albert Lea have a coach yet?

The website, as of today, says otherwise.

http://albertlea.k12.mn.us/jobs/JobSheets/Coaches.htm

Any word on who's going to coach?

Yes--do not know the name, but a new female teacher.
Played defense in college hockey, I think.
T

I think their new coach is Hannah Impola who played hockey at Concordia College in Moorhead and she graduated from Brainerd High School. She was a forward for the Cobbers and it looks like she should be teaching math in the high school.

SportsMa wrote:I think their new coach is Hannah Impola who played hockey at Concordia College in Moorhead and she graduated from Brainerd High School. She was a forward for the Cobbers and it looks like she should be teaching math in the high school.

The jury is still out on whether Ms. Impola will be head coach or asst. coach

T

Twinnesota wrote:

SportsMa wrote:I think their new coach is Hannah Impola who played hockey at Concordia College in Moorhead and she graduated from Brainerd High School. She was a forward for the Cobbers and it looks like she should be teaching math in the high school.

The jury is still out on whether Ms. Impola will be head coach or asst. coach

T

T,
I was wondering the same thing, if she was the coach, then why are both jobs still posted on the AL schools website?

http://albertlea.k12.mn.us/jobs/JobSheets/Coaches.htm

I guess you really don't need a coach until about Oct. 29th!

RSI here is your chance.

Seriously, with all that talent I hear about, down there in Albert Lea, Mississipi, do you really need a coach? I could see you hicks in Albert Lea really screwing this up.

This reminds me of a few years back when Albert Lea was stacked with legitimate talent and then imploded. I can not remember if the implosion was caused by the coach or some crazy parents, but it was humerous.

Your best chance would be to coop with your cousins from Austin. At least you would get a decent coach. But then again, I do not think they (Austin) would want you.

Good luck to Ms. Impola whether she is an assistant or head coach. She would be a nice addition to the coaching staff and community if they choose to have her part of the hockey program, HS or even youth.

SportsMa wrote:Good luck to Ms. Impola whether she is an assistant or head coach. She would be a nice addition to the coaching staff and community if they choose to have her part of the hockey program, HS or even youth.

Agreed.
And speaking of youth, I guess AL is going to a U10 and U14.
No more U12
T

Twinnesota, are the AL youth teams playing A or B? Word is that Owatonna will go 14UA after having some success at 12UA last year and 12UB state champs the year before.

Falcon, will Faribault have 14UA and 12UA this year? The Salmonson girls are pretty solid although the older girl is probably HS and I don't know if the younger sister is 10U or 12U.

Any word on Mankato's programs? We really never run into them so I don't know what they have.

Rochester is getting 14UA back this year but they will be very young. I hear that every player is first year. We have a nice bubble of 12U players so we will have an A and B team and the rest will play in a house league of some kind. We will also have a 10UA team and a very limited 10UB team. We have around 100 girls registered with a wide variety of experience levels. I have only heard of two skaters leaving to HS.

I am not tight with YH, but I have heard U12B and U14B. There is some debate on how many players from U14 will play at the varsity level though. I heard Steve will make the call as to how many he will take.

Beat Albert Lea

Faribault is forever the greatest.