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Players interested in tryout for the 2010/2011 Minnesota Crunch should contact Dan Clafton at minnesotacrunch@hotmail.com We currently have 4 position left to fill from Forwards and Defenders for next season; Full program informations will be provided upon receiving your email. We encourage all players to contact us with interest.

If there are any players (or parents) out there on the fence about what to do or where to play next year I would HIGHLY recommend that you give the Crunch a serious look. What Dan Clafton has done in creating opportunity for girls to advance their hockey careers should be commended, it has been an absolute tremendous experience for my daughter. IMO, The Crunch are basically the equivalent to a boys Junior program - only it's for U19 girls.

I am proud to say my daughter is a member of the Crunch, it has been challenging on the ice, made her a better teammate and helped teach her how to manage her time better with her school, practice, travel and game schedules.

Like I was initially, I'm sure many of you are probably a little (or a lot) skeptical, but I cannot stress enough how impressed I am with the Crunch organization and what they've done for girl's hockey.

I would be happy to answer any of your questions about the program, assuming I can...just post your question or send me a PM. I don't check the board very often so a PM might be better, but I'll post my reply.

bump

Media - So I think the MN Crunch is a great idea and always has been. You and pthers have really improved the program as measured by the Elite League games versus top HS players from 2009 to 2010. Not sure how season 3 2011 has gone as my daughter is know out of HS - what has been the result?

The Mission was to develop post grad HS girls like a U19 boys program to move on to play college hockey D1 or D3. After 3 seasons how has the program done on delivering that Mission - does anyone know by year the following? When I look at College Commitment lists (USHOC or BTD) I do not see the MN Crunch name but it maybe because the program is not known very well on a National Level:

2009: D1 Placements - who and where? D3 Placements?
2010: D1 Placements - who and where? D3 Placements?
2011: D1 Placements - who and where? D3 Placements?

RSI - What is the cost to a player to do the program for a year?

Community - The Star Tribune had a blurb that Craig Norwich was trying to develop a similar program for 2011-2012 in the Twin Cities metro did that get approved by MN Hockey and will there be two post grad teams next year?

This year's team fees were $8000, which is a lot of money don't get me wrong, but I think is a fair price for what is included - lodging in Grand Rapids, travel, lodging on the road, practice and game ice time and not to mention coaching. I really doubt the team owner is making much money, if any. The biggest drawback, and expense, to the program is travel IMO.

I think you're right on with the program not being well known yet, that will take some time (and more D-1 placements). It will be very helpful that the Crunch will be playing in the Elite League, it's excellent competition and will give the girls more exposure. I am a little surprised that this year's crop hasn't received more D-1 offers, Whitney Wivoda, Alaska - Bemidji is the only D-1 that I know of. There are some very good players on this team, not all of them are D-1 caliber, but very good players nervertheless. Hennesey(F), Anderson(F), Kuhbander(F), Calder(F) and Schulz(G) are very strong players IMO. *I'm missing a D that I can't think of at this moment*

Given the fact that there is so little available to girls to learn, improve or even just mature post HS that I just think this type of program makes a lot of sense. I'd like to see MN Hockey, USHL, NAHL or even USA Hockey form some sort of "juniors" league for the young women - eventually maybe .

Article on the Crunch's Rachel Hennessy.

http://www.willistonherald.com/articles ... 449669.txt

Nice article, thanks for posting that.

Rachel really is a force out there, I'm more than a little surprised she's gone unsigned. Somebody is going to get a player when they sign her

From the BSU website

Whitney Wivoda • Forward • Shoots Left • Fairbanks, Alaska • Minnesota Crunch

Wivoda played six years of hockey with the Alaska Icebreakers girls’ hockey program. In 2006 she participated in the National Development Camp. In 2008-09, Wivoda helped the Icebreakers to an appearance to the national tournament. In 2009-10 she played boys’ hockey with Lathrop High School, winning the conference championship before placing third in state. Currently, Wivoda transferred to Grand Rapids and plays for the Minnesota Crunch. So far this season in 28 games she has amassed 15 goals and 17 assists, including an 11-point performance against Balmoral Hall on Nov. 24, 2010 when she scored six goals and tallied five assists.

“Wivoda is an outstanding student-athlete who combines a good skill level with a high hockey IQ,” Sertich said. “The recruiting process with her happened very quickly and we want to thank Pete Hyduke, the Hibbing Girls High School coach, and BSU women’s hockey scoring leader Amber Fryklund for their assistance. “Whitney played boy’s high school hockey in Alaska, which has allowed her to process the game quickly and allows her to play at full speed. Whitney’s development this year and playing 60+ games with the Minnesota Crunch will allow her an opportunity to make an immediate impact on our program.”

“I liked Bemidji State because it has a small school environment with a good hockey program,” Wivoda said. “I also have many relatives that reside in Minnesota and it being in Bemidji makes me feel a bit closer to home. Te many people I met in Minnesota this summer at camps had nothing, but good things to say about coach Sertich. He is a great coach and I am looking forward to learning more from him.”

Personal: Whitney Elizabeth Wivoda…Born April 30, 1993…Daughter of Bill and Normal Wivoda…Also lettered in soccer while at Lathrop High School in Fairbanks…Proposed major in undecided.

RSI wrote: *I'm missing a D that I can't think of at this moment*.

Danielle Heitkamp?

http://www.usahockey.com/Youth_National ... edNews=yes


Minnesota Crunch new kid on the 19-U block

March 10, 2010

By Dave McMahon
Special to USAHockey.com

The Minnesota Crunch brought a new addition to the USA Hockey Minnesota District Tier I 19 & Under field in 2010. The Crunch, based out of Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, were handed a pair of losses in their debut at the Minnesota District Tournament.

In previous years, the Minnesota tournament had been a two-horse race between Shattuck-St. Mary’s and the Minnesota Thoroughbreds. Both of those programs have a tradition of success. Adding the Crunch to the 19-U Tier I field will bring added opportunities to players from throughout the Midwest.

“I think it’s fantastic. Any time you add teams at the 19 & Under level, it’s great,” Shattuck-St. Mary’s coach Gordie Stafford said. “It gives girls out of high school a chance to keep playing who might not be quite ready for college. And it opens up their chances of advancing to the college level.”

Minnesota Crunch founder Dan Clafton saw his team make tremendous strides in just its second season. Making its debut in the Minnesota District Tournament, the Crunch lost to the Minnesota Thoroughbreds 2-1 in its opening game.

Rachel Hennessy (Williston, N.D.) gave the Crunch a 1-0 lead five minutes into the game, and the lead held until the second period, when the Thoroughbreds tied it. The Thoroughbreds scored the game-winner on a power-play goal in the third period.

“I think [playing in the district tournament in the team’s second year] was a huge accomplishment for the amount of time we’ve been together,” Clafton said. “The 2-1 loss to the Thoroughbreds was huge, too, considering the history of their program. Prior to the District Tournament, we tied Shattuck 4-4. That probably all played into getting throttled by them [10-1]. But we knew we were the underdogs going in.”

In their benchmark tie against Shattuck in Faribault, Minn., the Crunch trailed 4-2 with less than three minutes to play in its regular-season finale. After Carly Kuhbander’s goal, Ali Dorn tied it on an assist from Steph Johnson with 15.2 seconds to play. Crunch goaltender Stephanie Boemer stopped 34 of 38 shots.

Former Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Chris Marinucci coached the team in its inaugural season, but Clafton turned to Andrew Downing in Year 2. Downing played for the U.S. Under-18 team and later advanced to the Western Hockey League.

With a roster that includes players from locations that include the Twin Cities, Wyoming and Canada, Clafton appears to be filling a need at the Tier I 19-Under level.

“We rent a hotel room for them, and they stay two to a room. We also rent a four-bedroom apartment for them where they can do their cooking,” Clafton said. “They come from all over. We practice every day, and they have to start their education at a local community college. They take between five and 11 credits so they’ll have their full eligibility remaining.”

Clafton didn’t need long for one of his players to reach the Division I level. Allison Parizek, a forward from Minot, N.D., completed her freshman season at the University of North Dakota in 2009-10. She was a two-time captain at Minot High School and led the state in scoring as a senior with 68 points (53 goals, 15 assists). In 58 games with the Crunch last season while attending Itasca Community College, she tallied 95 points (46 goals, 49 assists) in 58 games.

There’s reason for optimism heading into next season, also.

“We’ll have seven kids coming back from this year’s team, so that will be a good thing,” Clafton said.

And if a trip to the District Tournament is in their plans in 2010-11, even better.

“This team really came together by the end of the season,” Clafton said. “When it was all over, there were a lot of tears in the locker room. Everyone would tell you it was a very positive experience to play in the District Tournament.”

Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.

RSI wrote:Nice article, thanks for posting that.

Rachel really is a force out there, I'm more than a little surprised she's gone unsigned. Somebody is going to get a player when they sign her

Sounds like Niagara is taking a serious look at her.

pipersniper12 wrote:

RSI wrote:Nice article, thanks for posting that.

Rachel really is a force out there, I'm more than a little surprised she's gone unsigned. Somebody is going to get a player when they sign her

Sounds like Niagara is taking a serious look at her.

That would be great for her and the program.

Have you heard anything about goalie Bri Schulz (Prior Lake - I think)? She was another one that impressed me, but I failed to mention in my earlier post.

RSI wrote:
Given the fact that there is so little available to girls to learn, improve or even just mature post HS that I just think this type of program makes a lot of sense. I'd like to see MN Hockey, USHL, NAHL or even USA Hockey form some sort of "juniors" league for the young women - eventually maybe .

There already is a league, the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) which includes the Minnesota Thoroughbreds along with the North American Hockey Academy (Stowe, VT) Boston Shamrocks, Washington Pride, National Sports Academy (Lake Placid) Colorado Select, Balmoral Hall (Winnipeg) Edge School (Calgary) Warner School (Alberta) and Pacific Steelers (Vancouver).

Hux wrote:

RSI wrote:
Given the fact that there is so little available to girls to learn, improve or even just mature post HS that I just think this type of program makes a lot of sense. I'd like to see MN Hockey, USHL, NAHL or even USA Hockey form some sort of "juniors" league for the young women - eventually maybe .

There already is a league, the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) which includes the Minnesota Thoroughbreds along with the North American Hockey Academy (Stowe, VT) Boston Shamrocks, Washington Pride, National Sports Academy (Lake Placid) Colorado Select, Balmoral Hall (Winnipeg) Edge School (Calgary) Warner School (Alberta) and Pacific Steelers (Vancouver).

Except for the unavoidable high travel cost this is outstanding hockey league that is completing its third year and has beneiftted the gilrs who have played in it to get exposure and the opportunity to play at the next level.

Hux wrote:

RSI wrote:
Given the fact that there is so little available to girls to learn, improve or even just mature post HS that I just think this type of program makes a lot of sense. I'd like to see MN Hockey, USHL, NAHL or even USA Hockey form some sort of "juniors" league for the young women - eventually maybe .

There already is a league, the Junior Women's Hockey League (JWHL) which includes the Minnesota Thoroughbreds along with the North American Hockey Academy (Stowe, VT) Boston Shamrocks, Washington Pride, National Sports Academy (Lake Placid) Colorado Select, Balmoral Hall (Winnipeg) Edge School (Calgary) Warner School (Alberta) and Pacific Steelers (Vancouver).

I probably should have made my thoughts more clear...I was aware of the JWHL, but I was thinking something a more readily accessible for MN girls - other than just 1 MN team.

I'm of the opinion that a 9 team league, which is scattered across North America, is not nearly enough. Especially if you consider 4 of the teams are Canadian and probably have a total of ZERO girls who are not from Canada.

There are a lot of players in the region, I would think there is enough to form a more regional league thereby cutting down travel time and travel costs.

The Minnesota Crunch will play the Minnesota Thoroughbreds Friday at 7:00pm in the opening game of the 2011 Minnesota Hockey U-19 State Tournament. The Crunch will then play Shattuck-St Mary's on Saturday at 2pm.

All games will be played at the Wakota Arena in South St. Paul.


Some fun games on the schedule this weekend in South St. Paul

I hope that everyone who thinks of sending their daughter to the Crunch gives it a thorough look. Behind the scenes has been so much drama. I understand any given team can be that way, but.... please ask for references, or do what you can to find out everything.

http://www.minnesotacrunch.com/

Rachel Hennessy and Bri Schulz will be going to Augsburg this Fall according the Crunch website.

The Crunch is gaining an international flavor as they have an international player for a year. Itsuki Baba, a member of the Japanese National U18 team committed to Minnesota State Mankato for the 2012/2013 season but will play for the Crunch for next year.

I think her name is actually Itsuki Baba. She went by Itsuki last weekend when she played for the South in Gopher State Tournament last weekend.

The south won all their games, and the tournament. North team was pretty good but could not match the D1 and depth of younger talent on the South Team:

Chelsea Laden
Shyler Sletta
Ari Reid
Paige Haley
Betsy Anderson
Dani Buehrer
Itsuki Baba
Dani Sadek
Morgan Fritz-Ward
Ragan Haley
Krystal Baumann
Emily Snodgrass
Ashley Kloncz
Callen (KK) Naasz
Megan Skelly
Annie Pumper
Nicole Schammel
Emily Gunderson

Coaches Jeremy Gunderson, Scott Haley and Winnie Brodt

SportsMa wrote:http://www.minnesotacrunch.com/

Rachel Hennessy and Bri Schulz will be going to Augsburg this Fall according the Crunch website.

Don't know a thing about Augsburg's team, but that's a nice "get" for the Augies . I have to believe both will make an immediate impact.

"Don't know a thing about Augsburg's team, but that's a nice "get" for the Augies . I have to believe both will make an immediate impact."

They will be part of building the program and will very likely have an immediate impact.

http://athletics.augsburg.edu/schedule. ... th=whockey