1. Put a sock in it. Place a moratorium on all stories about the sky falling on high school hockey. In fact, I'd vote for a limitation on First Amendment Rights. If it is illegal to yell fire in a full theatre, it should also be against the law to take down high school hockey in Minnesota, right?. High school hockey in Minnesota needs a hand right now, not another slap in the face.

2. Build a Network. On a more serious note, build a network dedicated to Minnesota high school hockey. These days everyone has a network, our boys of Winter need one. The MN Hockey Hub is a nice start, but that is just a pimple on a dog's behind. This network needs to be dedicated to the greatest sport in the greatest state, year round. If a MN high school player is playing in New York for the HP Program, write about it. Heck, go there. If a kid commits to the Gophers or the Bulldogs, report it. During the offseason, play replays of last season's games. Shoot, put on old State Tourney games, I'd kill to see Mike Crowley's super mullet one more time or Jim Jetland stack the pads for Rapids.

3. We need heroes. In any good story, there is a hero. Right now, there are so many great stories out there that are untold about high school hockey. Here are three quickies...Jack Olsen is a Freshman at Lakeville South and has 28 points in 18 games against a great South Suburban hockey schedule...Edina's Dylan Malmquist has spurned Junior Hockey for two years to stay home and try to win his third straight state title for Edina prior to going to Notre Dame to play hockey....and finally, Jack Sadek has been a multi-sport athlete in Lakeville who is playing for Lakeville North. Sadek will soon play for the Gophers and likely be drafted into the NHL next Summer...that is three. There are 300 more, just like those three sitting in a can that go untold because today's desperate media only focuses on a very small minority and not the heavy majority.

4. Make the state tournament valuable. Eliminate the two class tournament. In order for the tournament to be interesting, you need a Cinderella story. I'm sorry, Eagan and Maple Grove are not exactly glass slipper material that boost Nielsen ratings. Next season, Hermantown may be the best high school team in Minnesota, watching them beat Breck in front of 2,000 people is not good TV. Watching them beat Edina will grab the Nielsens and hit them upside the head. The dual class tournament has served its purpose of helping smaller private schools gain hockey mindshare like Breck, Duluth Marshall and St. Thomas Academy. It has also helped sprout great future Cinderallas like Luverne, Hermantown and East Grand Forks into top Minnesota programs. All of these programs can compete against the big boys now. The dual class has run its course, kinda like the Cooperalls did in the 80s. 

5. Make it Awesome (they won't leave). In 2012, Grant Besse scored 5 goals in a championship game on a Saturday night at the X. His effort was amazing. But what added to the story was his teammate Jack Jablonski, who was a member of the team that was paralyzed earlier in the season. Over the course of the season because of terrifying circumstances, Minnesota fell in love with Jack and Grant because of his Jack's injury and Grant's heroics. Imagine what the powers to be could do with some great circumstances? Marketing this great game is simple. The NHL has 24/7...a documentary style show leading up to the Winter Classic. Our ponds, parks, and community based system does a great job of developing great players. Finding these kids and telling their story would be fun and easy.

Unlike the other writers, I hope my post gives hope that soon the high school game will be an attractive option for elite Minnesota players. I firmly believe with the right people, with the right agenda and obviously the right budget - the days of glory can return to Minnesota high school hockey. A high school hockey network would document its stars, play their games for free on the web, and most important tell their stories. In three years, kids will be foolish to play in Kearney, Nebraska instead of their high school team.

In the coming weeks, YHH plans to meet with the powers to be: Minnesota Hockey, MN High School Coaches Association and the MN State High School League to help form a better and more enjoyable product. Between now and the end of the state tournament, stay tuned to YHH and learn what steps may be taken to put a better shine on the crown jewel of our state.