[Sioux Survivor Game #1 2018-2019]

Kawaguchi

[Junior Team?]

Nice post. The more I read this thread and comments on this subject the more I'm seeing that most people think this is a great idea and will benefit Sioux hockey, etc. I think everyone should take a step back and think about this, because this will hurt HS hockey in North Dakota.

The Sioux don't need this program to survive - they'll recruit top players from all over with or without this program. To say the Sioux need a midget hockey team located in Grand Forks to recruit players is laughable.

Karl's response may have been well written, but let's not forget that he works for the Hockey Academy and is there to make money for the Hockey Academy. Just because he's an ex-Fighting Sioux goaltender (and one of the best to come through the program) doesn't mean we all have to swallow what he's selling here. I hope that people can take a step back and think about this and not just agree with it because Karl Goehring, ex-Sioux goalie, and the Ralph's Hockey Academy says it's a good thing.

Good post. Good athletes will get noticed if they are good enough to be a DI athlete. Most students are finding ways to improve through elite leagues (as mentioned in the Let's Play Hockey article), camps, summer teams, etc. The avenues are there to push your limits if you choose to and have the passion to. I question how much better playing on one of these teams makes you if you take the same athlete and they take these alternative avenues to improve. Also, what happens to the student-athlete who wants to play football in the fall and baseball in the spring. This proposed REA team will surely start earlier and end later than the current high school hockey season. Who's to say playing football won't help a player be better at baseball or hockey. Being in competitive situations in football do help the hockey player and vice-versa. Specialization isn't always the answer. Finally, the community-based model should produce more hockey players that play at higher level. With an emphasis on development through good coaching, more players should simply be produced. You can't tell me the state of Minnesota isn't a model that we should be following. Even if only 1-2% are making it to DI, look at the opportunities created for all of these kids. Yet, some still make it to DI. If best practices are followed, maybe 3% would make it. That would blow the proposed system out of the water.

I question the type of program the REA/Hockey Academy wants to produce. I don't hear about many kids leaving Grand Forks to play baseball, softball, golf, swimming, track, etc while forsaking other athletic/musical activities. I could just imagine if someone said the were going to send their kid to Oklahoma to play fastpitch softball and spend $$$ to do it. Those people would be laughed out of town.

Allow kids to be kids.

[Opener Attendance]

I have years of coaching and playing experience.. right now I have an undefeated Sioux team on NCAA Football 12 for PS3. Its not that hard to second guess a coach if you watch the game and see what the team is doing wrong. Announcers do it all the time. I hear Mike Berg give his 2 cents and even though he didn't win a state title at Central he coached players that became good Sioux players (and a pretty good Badger in Bollinger). So if he can see what Muss is doing wrong why would that make Berg wrong and Muss right? You hear Lee Corso do it on ESPN, I heard Madden do it for years on tv. Obviously if this many people can see there is something wrong maybe its not us..but it IS the coaching.

GFC did win one state title (2005) under Mike Berg. I'm not bringing this up to stir the pot. I happen to know Mike and think he was a great coach teaching high school kids how to be men and have pride in their team, school, and community. Ask him once about the "Grand Old Lady" that is Central High School. What he will tell you will give you the "chills." I appreciate his views of Fighting Sioux football.