After repeated calls for change, it appears officials from Minnesota Hockey may slightly level the playing field in Regional play next week.  YHH has learned that the errors and fixes outlined below could be changed and announced as soon as Thursday. In an email distributed to all District Directors today, the hockey committee will adjust the seeds to reflect that a #2 seed does not get to play a #3 seed in the first round.

In the original document of the MN Hockey Handbook (below) you will see there was an error was made in Game 4. In each Region there are three number one seeds, three number two seeds and two number three seeds. Simple math says, “put two of the ones versus the two threes…and one of the twos versus the other one…” In the previous two years of the hand book, MNH has done this and even next year it is set up to be done this way again.  After repeated complaints of inequity and imbalance, officials seemed content with leaving the error as is.

What does this really mean? How will this affect Little Johnny?

YHH will do an illustration using the North and East Regions as a reference.  The change is slight, but could affect one or two teams significantly in each Region in their quest for State.

Before:

1. Grand Rapids (C1) vs. Andover (A3)
2. Bemidji (A1) vs. Hermantown (B2)
3. Duluth East (B1) vs. Hibbing (C2)
4. Roseau (A2) vs. Cloquet (B3)