A New System For AA Brings Competitive Balance...and Potential Heartburn
Last Summer, Minnesota Hockey agreed to change their AA Region Selection process to a Performance process versus by-District process, as it has been done for years. The process still selects 32 teams to Regionals, but this year, the Northern districts will receive two slots for their eight seeds. North is defined by Districts 11, 12, 15, and 16. The Metro is defined by the six Metro districts and District 9 (SE Minnesota). District 4, SW Minnesota, does not have a AA team in it's District this year.
Minnesota Hockey chose to give automatic bids to Regions to one team from each of these Districts (seven total). The remaining 17 slots will be determined by a committee composed of seven coaches and a members of the MNH Tournament Committee. As of New Year's Day, here is how we think 24 bids will look.
Automatic Bids
District 2 = Roseville
District 3 = Osseo Maple Grove
District 5 = Buffalo
District 6 = Edina
District 8 = Sibley
District 9 = Rochester
District 10 = Andover
17 At Large Bids
District 2
WBL and Stillwater
District 3
Wayzata and Minneapolis
District 5
N/A
District 6
Chaska/Chan, Prior Lake, Tonka, Eden Prairie, and Jefferson
District 8
Eagan, Rosemount, Lakeville South, Eastview and Woodbury
District 10
Elk River, Blaine and Champlin Park
Last 4 In: Jefferson, Champlin, Eastview and Woodbury
Last 4 Out: Lakeville North, Rogers, STMA and River Lakes
Commentary
No matter what the experts at Minnesota Hockey say, we think there will be some district balance amongst teams. Meaning some teams may get in that may not be as deserving as others. There will certainly be some controversy when the teams come out on February 24, like any selection process. One thing that won't be contested is the quality of the field and the fairness of the system. Will some teams have a beef that they were left out? Yes. But a top 10, or better put, a top 20 team won't be.
Sibley and Osseo Maple Grove lead the list of District Automatic Seeds