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The Kennedy High School Boys Hockey program is preparing to embark on what will be a historic and final 2024-2025 season. A season to celebrate. The Eagles have made 7 state appearances, earned one state title and produced numerous college and professional players that have shaped the legacy that many in Bloomington now know as, “East Side Pride.” Our program will celebrate its 60th season on ice while also marking the end of an era. Since the Eagles inaugural season in 1965, the population, demographic, culture and economy of East Bloomington have drastically changed. These changes contributed to a decline in East side participation at the youth levels in the sport.

While endings can be difficult, they also provide new perspectives and new beginnings. Starting with the 2025-2026 season, Eagles players will have the opportunity to participate in high school hockey with our neighbors at Bloomington’s Jefferson High School. We are hopeful that together the spark can be reignited through creative recruitment, to encourage more of our youth on the East Side to suit up. For inspiration, and to celebrate the richness and diversity of our community, we encourage looking at youth hockey initiatives from across the state that are “low or no cost” and provide “in house” leagues that better meet the needs of all families.

We look forward to seeing you at the rink this season to join us in celebrating our 60th season as we say farewell to Kennedy High School hockey and to develop a vision for the next chapter of youth hockey for kids on the East Side. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube for live game action.

As someone who came to fall in love with MN HS hockey in the 80s, Kennedy playing a big part: runner up in 84, winning it with one of the best teams the state's produced in 87, & making a couple more tourney appearances in the early 90s. This is sad to see.

i remember the '87 tournament well. Kennedy's only loss in the regular season was to Greenway which they avenged in the semis 4-2 on their way to beating Burnnsville in the title game.
Years later, I talked the Bob Gernander, the Greenway coach at the time & he told me Greenway & Kennedy could've played 10 games & each team would've won 5.
Thanks for jogging my memory, Doc, & it's always sad to see a program go down.

This is probably not news but the Jefferson Youth Program is now Jefferson/Kennedy/Richfield

raidergrad72 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2024 2:04 pm i remember the '87 tournament well. Kennedy's only loss in the regular season was to Greenway which they avenged in the semis 4-2 on their way to beating Burnnsville in the title game.
Years later, I talked the Bob Gernander, the Greenway coach at the time & he told me Greenway & Kennedy could've played 10 games & each team would've won 5.
Thanks for jogging my memory, Doc, & it's always sad to see a program go down.

The regular season game they played was around the holidays, at BIG. I could have attended, and regretted choosing instead to go to the Hill-Stillwater game. A friend did attend the Kennedy-Greenway game, and said it was great. When it became apparent that a semifinal rematch would happed at the tournament, he was absolutely, 100% convinced that Kennedy would win. I just couldn't see why he was so dead sure. But (as I recall) Kennedy pretty well had control of the rematch. It was a great argument for seeding, as the championship with Burnsville was really a noting burger. In fact, it was the 4th meeting between the then-Braves and Eagles, with a rare 4-0 sweep on the season. It isn't often teams meet 4 times in a season, and a 4-0 sweep is even less rare.

That was a fun team to watch, and very much the high water mark for the blue collar kids on the east side of Bloomington.

The list of one-time state champions no longer fielding a team is growing. Demography is like a tidal wave, a powerful force that is difficult to resist.

WarmUpTheBus wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2024 11:48 am This is probably not news but the Jefferson Youth Program is now Jefferson/Kennedy/Richfield

Looks like Richfield with the help of Fortis Hockey is trying to get their youth program started again. When we were their a couple of weeks ago for games, there were signs up all over for the formation of programs for ages 4-10.

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:53 pm The list of one-time state champions no longer fielding a team is growing. Demography is like a tidal wave, a powerful force that is difficult to resist.

Apple Valley (now a coop with Burnsville)
Bloom Kennedy
Burnsville (now a coop with AV)
Eveleth (now part of Rock Ridge)
Mpls Southwest
Rochester J.M. (now coop with Century)

There has been a gradual contraction in the # of teams going on for well over fifteen years and it will likely continue. There were 145 teams last year and looks like 143 this year. Compare that to 159 in the 1999-00 season and it's a clear picture.

Lee

east hockey wrote: ↑Fri Oct 11, 2024 7:38 pm

East Side Pioneer Guy wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 8:53 pm The list of one-time state champions no longer fielding a team is growing. Demography is like a tidal wave, a powerful force that is difficult to resist.

Apple Valley (now a coop with Burnsville)
Bloom Kennedy
Burnsville (now a coop with AV)
Eveleth (now part of Rock Ridge)
Mpls Southwest
Rochester J.M. (now coop with Century)

There has been a gradual contraction in the # of teams going on for well over fifteen years and it will likely continue. There were 145 teams last year and looks like 143 this year. Compare that to 159 in the 1999-00 season and it's a clear picture.

Lee

Eh, I'd quibble with Apple Valley. They could stand on their own; the co-op is due to the decline of Burnsville.

Is Johnson going to field a team this year?

headsupsticksdown wrote: ↑Sun Oct 13, 2024 6:44 pm Is Johnson going to field a team this year?

Yes - Varsity only like the past couple of years.