Hockey in Minnesota the last fifty years has had a long list of success, including Olympic and Collegiate titles with Minnesotans leading the charge. It hosts a state high school hockey tournament that out draws everything in this state except the State Fair. Much of this success can be attributed to it's community based hockey system. Kids of all backgrounds play all Winter long with their buddies in their community versus rivals accross town.

The system has matured over the years from each community having one travelling team and the rest in-house to all traveling teams and the elimination of in-house. In due time the system has grown, adding B teams, then B1 and B2 teams, and finally C teams to welcome any boy or girl who has the willingness to lace 'em up for the Winter.

In it's continuos quest to evolve, two years ago, Minnnesota Hockey added AA and A levels at the PeeWee and Bantam level. Thus splitting the associations by school size and competition level. Last year they took the AA seeding process to an even higher level by seeding the teams according to performance - getting the 8 most deserving teams into their state tournament.

Woodbury, a relative unheralded team made a late push and beat Wayzata, Elk River and Minnetonka in the East Regional to qualify for state at the Bantam AA level. A great story, proving that the seeding process was nice, but nothing was going to keep the Predators from a trip to state. 

The AA/A split was an even bigger success than many at MN Hockey would have imagined. Larger associations were able to foster and develop players on their "A" teams, while small to medium sized programs were able to shoot for a state title knowing some of the mega associatons were not in it. Every association now has choices based on their numbers each year. For the most part the playing field has been leveled. Which in turn gave more teams more competitive games.

In an attempt to further level the playing field, District 3 (Minneapolis, near Northwest and West Suburbs) will try implementing a new policy for the larger associations. A letter obtained by YHH reads the following about how associations will forced to assemble their teams based on the number of teams per level starting as soon as next year:

One Team – A Team

Two Teams – A and B teams (either B1 or B2) or A and C teams

Three Teams – A, B (either B1 or B2) and C teams

Four Teams – A, B1, B2 and C teams

Five Teams – A, B1, B2, C, (5^th team’s level at association discretion)

Six Teams – A, A, B1, B2, C (6^th team’s level at association discretion)

Seven Teams – A, A, B1, B2, C, C (7^th team’s level at association discretion)

Eight Teams – A, A, B1, B2, C, C (7^th and 8^th team’s level at association discretion)

Nine Teams – A, A, B1, B2, C, C (7^th, 8^th, and 9^th team’s level at association discretion)

This rule only applies to three associations: Minneapolis, Osseo Maple Grove and Wayzata. The rule makes sense for PeeWees and Bantams because there is a AA and A system in place that has really been successful. Two A teams (1 AA and 1 A) is manageable for all three of these large associations. Minneapolis will succeed next year at PeeWees and Bantams based on the talent level...but in years to come this rule will hurt the Storm. Osseo Maple Grove and Wayzata will likely benefit from this rule long term - more players playing at the high level can only help.

There are two flaws to this rule. First, it makes no sense to force associations to play at levels they are not equipped. An association with 15 kids likely won't be able to compete at any A level with 15 kids.

Second, large associations shouldn't be forced into making two even Squirt A teams. Here is our take on the three associations Squirt situation.

Minneapolis: despite large numbers, the Storm had a decent Squirt A team last season going 7-11 in league play, suggesting their talent level does not support two teams.

Osseo Maple Grove: went undefeated last season, will likely be strong again this year...but not projected as strong statewide as the last two years. With another strong campaign this year, many would argue that they should go to two even Squirt A teams like Edina has successfully done the last two years (Note: Edina chose to make two even teams after two consecutive undefeated seasons).

Wayzata: the Trojans experimented with two even teams for two seasons...they chose to go back to one team this year and were 14-3-1 in league play and had some success in outside tournaments. 

Mandating any association large or small to play a certain way makes no sense. Last year, Armstrong Cooper decided to field a Bantam B1 team versus Bantam A. They finished 9-6-3 in league play and did not make it to Regions. Had this rule been in place, they would have been forced to play A. 

Every associaiton evolves at it's own rate of growth and success. Right now there are four or five levels at every level, which gives associations plenty of latitude to make good choice fo their teams. To put a rule in place that will fit all, makes no sense. Especially when Minnesota Hockey already has rules in place to allow associations to make the choice themselves.

On Wednesday, June 12, District 3 will discuss this topic and likely put it to a vote. Stay tuned to YHH.