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How is Highlands "A" Peewee's this year. are they a combine association ?

I believe they just won a tournament though.....

they lost to Forest Lake last night, 6-2. They do have a lot of good kids on their team.

How many of there players are really from Como (Grandfather Rule)?
And how many years are they going to allow Highland to rob Como?

iseepalms wrote:How many of there players are really from Como (Grandfather Rule)?
And how many years are they going to allow Highland to rob Como?

I think it's more of a matter of Como shooting itself in the foot (poor management of association) than Highland robbing players. It is true, however, that there are many kids playing at Highland that are Property of Como. Both programs evidently have an open waiver policy, and Highland appears to be the beneficiary (additional #'s = $$$) of that.

How soon before Como & Johnson or Como & Highland or perhaps all three combine programs?

With Highland's cost as high as they are I don't know many people from our Johnson association who can afford to play there. The days of playing outside and having playground teams again is not far off. Being the president at Johnson numbers of kids playing hockey is dewindling almost everywhere and cost might be one factor. The economy, gas prices, food prices all are part of the issue. The new outdoor rink at Phalen might be the beginning of the end for traveling hockey in the cities. Placing associations together is just a bandge in my opinion not the answer. Just my opinion and maybe we should simplify and go back to the old way.

Sounds like Johnson is having problems with numbers. Can you speak for Highland? Looks like they have 5 Peewee teams - i would assume about 85 players. Those certainly are not bad numbers. Most associations in the State of Hockey would love to have 85 Peewees in thier program. Doesn't appear to be a dying number to me.

In 2002 the Westside and Harding associations folded. The boundaries between the associations in St. Paul were re-drawn. At that point, kids who are now 2nd-year PeeWees were either Mini-mites or C-mites and had played at Highland now found themselves in the Como Area. District 1 chose not to 'Grandfather' them into Highland--instead, these kids have to waive into Highland year after year. This year the Como association headed by Jeff Vik decided to extort money (a $35 'registration fee') from these kids for waiving into Highland--basically $35 for signing his name on a waiver (maybe 15 seconds). It's extortion money fueled by the hatred and jealousy of the Como board and parents. Fine. Como is dying a slow and painful death anyway.

jollyroger wrote:In 2002 the Westside and Harding associations folded. The boundaries between the associations in St. Paul were re-drawn. At that point, kids who are now 2nd-year PeeWees were either Mini-mites or C-mites and had played at Highland now found themselves in the Como Area. District 1 chose not to 'Grandfather' them into Highland--instead, these kids have to waive into Highland year after year. This year the Como association headed by Jeff Vik decided to extort money (a $35 'registration fee') from these kids for waiving into Highland--basically $35 for signing his name on a waiver (maybe 15 seconds). It's extortion money fueled by the hatred and jealousy of the Como board and parents. Fine. Como is dying a slow and painful death anyway.

If understand correctly part of each player's fee - regardless of the association - is $35 that goes to USA Hockey. This fee must be paid by the player's "home" association; in this case paid by Como for any players who was moved to Como when the district re-drew the boundaries and chose to remain at Highland-Central.

I am not a Como parent but in my dealings with Jeff Vik he has always been been a stand-up & fair guy and fantastic to work with if you needed a waiver. He could have made the process much more difficult and not.

jollyroger wrote:In 2002 the Westside and Harding associations folded. The boundaries between the associations in St. Paul were re-drawn. At that point, kids who are now 2nd-year PeeWees were either Mini-mites or C-mites and had played at Highland now found themselves in the Como Area. District 1 chose not to 'Grandfather' them into Highland--instead, these kids have to waive into Highland year after year. This year the Como association headed by Jeff Vik decided to extort money (a $35 'registration fee') from these kids for waiving into Highland--basically $35 for signing his name on a waiver (maybe 15 seconds). It's extortion money fueled by the hatred and jealousy of the Como board and parents. Fine. Como is dying a slow and painful death anyway.

cclavin is right, Vik doesn't even HAVE to allow the waivers. If he wanted, he could deny the waivers and force the kids to play at Como. You should be thanking him instead of chastising him.

No, this is above and beyond the Minnesota Hockey fee that is paid directly to Como by players waiving out. I know Jeff is a good guy--I don't know that it was his decision.

muckandgrind wrote: cclavin is right, Vik doesn't even HAVE to allow the waivers. If he wanted, he could deny the waivers and force the kids to play at Como. You should be thanking him instead of chastising him.

The Minn. Hockey fee is $45--this extra $35 is extortion. I will not thank him. If he supports it (I have to assume he does even if he's not responsible) then I have to chastise him. I've not met one person outside of the Como association who thought it was fair until now apparently (unless you are from Como). Como does not allow waivers for kids who started playing at Como or who will be starting there in the future. That's perfectly fine. But for those who have always played at Highland since day 1 and were victims of the change this is extortion. And Como had no problem waiving their girls out of the District to Roseville and NSP even though Highland had a fine girls program in place--until the District had to step in, that is, and put an end to it.

jollyroger wrote:

muckandgrind wrote: cclavin is right, Vik doesn't even HAVE to allow the waivers. If he wanted, he could deny the waivers and force the kids to play at Como. You should be thanking him instead of chastising him.

The Minn. Hockey fee is $45--this extra $35 is extortion. I will not thank him. If he supports it (I have to assume he does even if he's not responsible) then I have to chastise him. I've not met one person outside of the Como association who thought it was fair until now apparently (unless you are from Como). Como does not allow waivers for kids who started playing at Como or who will be starting there in the future. That's perfectly fine. But for those who have always played at Highland since day 1 and were victims of the change this is extortion. And Como had no problem waiving their girls out of the District to Roseville and NSP even though Highland had a fine girls program in place--until the District had to step in, that is, and put an end to it.

Again, he doesn't even HAVE to waive out the players. If he wanted to be a hard @ss, he could deny the waiver and make you play at Como. In fact, with the dwindling numbers they have, I'm suprised he IS signing waivers. You say that you are "victims" of this change, that maybe true. But that's not Como's fault. Minnesota Hockey set the boundaries, they didn't. By all rights, you're kids should be playing for Como.

I know nothing of the fees, so I can't speak to that. But $35 dollars doesn't seem like a lot of money to play for the program of your choice. I'd gladly pay the $35 to waive my kids out of our local association if I could. You should feel lucky.

And, no, I'm not from Como.

First of all Harding area kids are suppose to be playing at Johnson, As far as that goes some of the Westside area kids are also Johnson. People have come to me for waivers from both and our stand on it is if they don't want to be here we will release them. When both Harding and Westside was discontinued there were some hurt feeling that people thought we were the blame for them having to fold. Wrong both were mis-managed and they could not pay there bills. As far as Highland having good numbers which they do check and see how many of there players are really from their bounaries and you be a little surprised. No one will do that.

I think that if Jollyroger and hockey boy know so much about Highland?Cretin maybe they should cough up the numbers of kids from Eagan, Roseville, Como etc or whereever they come from. Year after year Highland/Cretin does fine during the year but I have seen teams with more heart prevail in the play-offs.