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Can associations play an Independent schedule throughout the year and not really belong to any district but be sanctioned through MN/USA Hockey to play anyone or any tournament?

I realize you would forgo any opportunity to play into the Regional and State tourney unless MN hockey would allow you to play into one of the Districts

HockeyTalk18 wrote:Can associations play an Independent schedule throughout the year and not really belong to any district but be sanctioned through MN/USA Hockey to play anyone or any tournament?

I realize you would forgo any opportunity to play into the Regional and State tourney unless MN hockey would allow you to play into one of the Districts

Not in District 16.
You play a district schedule or you do NOT play (anyone).
That is for A, B etc for bantams and peewees and 14U and 12U.
We have no mandatory league for squirts.

Didn't this come up last year with the Rochester Bantam A tournament team? I thought they were allowed to play independent but slot into the district tournament. . . anyone???

Shoot an email into your association or MN hockey. Let us know.

HockeyTalk18 wrote:Can associations play an Independent schedule throughout the year and not really belong to any district but be sanctioned through MN/USA Hockey to play anyone or any tournament?

I realize you would forgo any opportunity to play into the Regional and State tourney unless MN hockey would allow you to play into one of the Districts

Do you have an established association that wants to break free of its district, or are you starting a new association?

Break Free

Break Free

Focus your energy elsewhere.

observer wrote:

Break Free

Focus your energy elsewhere.

I agree!

They are right.

I am assuming you're not wanting to be independent becuase you are in love with your DD. Therefore, I assume that the DD will do as Elliot has done, and ban the other associations in your district from playing you. He'll likely also talk to other DDs with similar effect. MH will completely back the DDs, no matter what your argument is. You'll rant and rave all summer, maybe even hire a lawyer or two, but in September you'll be tucked neatly under the district's wing.

As so many folks on this forum will tell you, "step up and get on the district board if you don't like how it currently works." I'm sure he'll step aside for you.

InigoMontoya wrote:They are right.

I am assuming you're not wanting to be independent becuase you are in love with your DD. Therefore, I assume that the DD will do as Elliot has done, and ban the other associations in your district from playing you. He'll likely also talk to other DDs with similar effect. MH will completely back the DDs, no matter what your argument is. You'll rant and rave all summer, maybe even hire a lawyer or two, but in September you'll be tucked neatly under the district's wing.

As so many folks on this forum will tell you, "step up and get on the district board if you don't like how it currently works." I'm sure he'll step aside for you.

I won't ban them.
I will not sign the roster.

There is a purpose behind what we do in D16. We need each other and if one association or team or coach or father feels that the best thing for a player, a team, an association is to do something different, well my job is to do what is best for the whole.
And we have developed a philosophy in D16 that we stand together. Perhaps different than the rest of the state but for our little towns and associations we do okay.

Getting on the board will not solve 'your problem'.

Getting involved may educate an individual about what youth sports is about. That may solve the problem.

Thanks for your info

I am on the board and nobody is really even ranting, but I was told to poke around the idea of playing a ind. schedule under the thought that each level knows their group better then anybody else and playing teams that fit the bill as good as can be.

again, nobody is mad at any DD's or even the teams in the district.

simply higher ups checking to see if a perfect world is an option, it kind of falls under the big brother does not always know what's best. I do understand how things work and think things are run pretty good by a lot of good people, but still worth a post on a forum to see what others thought

Thanks again

HockeyTalk18 wrote:Thanks for your info

I am on the board and nobody is really even ranting, but I was told to poke around the idea of playing a ind. schedule under the thought that each level knows their group better then anybody else and playing teams that fit the bill as good as can be.

again, nobody is mad at any DD's or even the teams in the district.

simply higher ups checking to see if a perfect world is an option, it kind of falls under the big brother does not always know what's best. I do understand how things work and think things are run pretty good by a lot of good people, but still worth a post on a forum to see what others thought

Thanks again

And all my comments were not directed to you.
As some in MH have done they have established a cross-district (multi-district in some cases) league. some have negotiated an abbreviated district schedule to allow for additional non-district games.

In D16 our bantam A's play the VFW schedule which allows for some significant competition. The bantam B and peewee A & B mirror this schedule.

The fact is that the non-district schedule outweighs the district schedule.