MNState0fHockey
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Posts posted by MNState0fHockey
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I heard the tickets were sold as session packages, i.e. one ticket for both games with no exit/re-entry. Do you think this hurt or helped the overall in-person attendance? I'm sure as the event gains popularity they would be wise to ticket each game.
Great point. I agree with you. Individual game tickets are the way to go.
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The one that killed me was the "different vibe" walking into the X on Friday afternoon. Seriously...
Yeah, that's over the top.
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OK, we can agree on that. Comparing this tournament to the Beanpot or the WCHA Final Five is going to result in sadness. Just create your own identity and run with it.
You have to admit, the guys on "Beyond the Pond" last Saturday morning were beyond ridiculous with their over-the-top comments.
Agreed. I've seen more than a few people go a little over the top. I mean, I love their enthusiasm, but they are setting the wrong expectations.
Don't get me wrong, I think this tournament will become great, and it's great for college hockey in the state, but it's going to take time. There are no shortcuts.
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Did Bruce Ciskie note that the initial Beanpot tourney was in nineteen freaking fifty two? That's 1952..over 60 years ago. I'd say that's an incredible draw for a first-ever hockey tournament back in those days.
http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/27/5345466/thoughts-on-north-star-college-cup
Oh, I agree. Just saying, that tournament (and college hockey in general) have grown by leaps and bounds since then. Same is true with the MNHS Tourney. It didn't start out drawing 130,000+ fans for the weekend. Rome wasn't built in a day.
My main point is, if the expectation for this tournament coming in is to be the Beanpot, this tournament is going to be a failure. It has to be given the time to grow and to become a tourney with it's own history and traditions.
Anyone who thought this tourney would have instant atmosphere immediately came in with unrealistic expectations IMHO.
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Regarding comments on the North Star College Cup.
Attendance was obviously a concern, but I think most people expected that would be the case coming in. It is going to take some time for this Tourney to get a footing. As Bruce Ciskie wrote in his blog, the initial Beanpot tourney drew less than 10,000 fans.
Regarding comparisons to the Beanpot, or the Great Lakes Invitational for that matter, I don't like the comparisons. I'm not upset people are making the comparisons, but I don't think it would be wise to try and model this tourney after those would be a mistake.
For one, the Beanpot has decades of history and no matter how successful the North Star College Cup becomes, it will never match up to the Beanpot in terms of history and tradition. That's not to say the NSCC can't become something great and have great atmosphere and tradition. But it would be a mistake to try and copy something like the Beanpot that became great organically. I think people should be patient and let this tourney develop it's own history, traditions, and identity.
In regards to attendance, like I said, it hasn't become an "event" yet. That will take time. Maybe 5+ years time. If they aren't patient with it, there is no way this tourney will be successful. They are trying to learn from feedback and make it a better experience. Lucia said in his radio show that he will be pushing for no shootout, but continuous overtime, in the championship game. That's a positive.
I thought the event went well. Still lots of room for growth and improvement, but that's to be expected
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I'm sure you noticed then that Westwood Sports has closed their Bloomington store location...that sure says a lot about the changing demographics of hockey. The Lakevilles and Eden Prairies have over-run the Richfields, Kennedys, and Jeffersons of the metro area.
Yup, the status quo has certainly changed. It's sad to see the dwindling participation numbers in some do the previously proud hockey communities. Rochester is one of the starkest examples. On the flip side, watch out for Prior Lake in future years. Absolutely HUGE youth participation numbers (along with Wayzata).
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I only wish the programs that are available now had been available when I was a kid growing up in SW North Dakota. Dickinson and Williston are basically newcomers to the hockey table in North Dakota (neither one had a program 20 years ago) and I even have a friend with kids in a program in Watford City. Watford City! I would love to see some new schools join the ranks of North Dakota high school hockey.
Editor's note: Now that the Devils Lake Satans are no longer, the Dickinson Midgets is the coolest nickname this side of the Bismarck Demons.
Great to see the growth!
I grew up playing hockey in Eden Prairie, and when I was in high school we were a door mat. We were perennially destroyed by the likes of Bloomington Jefferson and Edina. A lot can change in time, and it's great to see programs mature
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Here is an article a few years old. http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/where-hockey-is-growing-state-by-state/
ND .709 Players per capita.
MN 1.024
AK 1.235
Those are the top 3.
Yup. Only question is, how much of bump do MN and ND get when you include the HS players who aren't registered?
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The thing with ND is we need to get the support for hockey increased in the western part of the state. Also, ND highschoolers aren't registered with USA Hockey either.
I think North Dakota HS Hockey is about the only state that could possibly reproduce what Minnesota HS Hockey has. The hockey culture is there in North Dakota. People are just as hockey mad in North Dakota as they are in Minnesota. Even MN has it's hockey weak areas (Southern part of the state isn't as strong).
I'm a big supporter of North Dakota HS hockey.
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Great stats - interesting stuff.
Funny thing is, Alaska probably leads the nation in number of players per capita (hard to know for sure because MN doesn't register their HS players with USA Hockey). I imagine if they had a bigger population, they would be a power house. Same with North Dakota. Top 3 state in players per capita.
I have been contending for years that Michigan is overrated as a hockey state (especially in the last decade). Half the players produced as Minnesota and twice the population. I would easily rank North Dakota ahead of Michigan and probably even Mass. It's not the state's fault they don't have the population of Michigan or Mass.
Just my $0.02.
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I understand it. It is Minnesota's inferiority complex coming out.
Inferior? At hockey? Inferior to which state(s)??
I'll wait.
Substantiate your claims.
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I like the comparison with Michigan and Wisconsin...how about Massachusetts?
NHL players from MN: 233
NHL players from MA: 172
Mass has roughly 1 million more residents. They are probably the closest state to matching MN's hockey culture, but they still fall short in every category (youth participation, D1 players, and NHL players produced).
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Then why call it the "hockey state"?
First off, it's the State of Hockey. And you clearly don't understand the moniker.
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It's amazing how few people in the TC media truly understand the set up or why it's happening the way it is. I listened to Ruesse yesterday and his hair-brained idea is that MSU and BSU should trade off each year and SCSU and UMD should be grandfathered in. Jess Meyers either doesn't get it or didn't want to spoil Ruesse's bit. Randy Shaver didn't even understand that it was a tournament this morning. It makes me distrust most of what they say simply because they are talking as if they are an "authority" and they're just flat out wrong.
Your first mistake was expecting any type of credible hockey dialogue from Reusse.
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Hardly pal. The U's academics are right where they need to be for a Big Ten school. There's hardly a difference between 56(OSU) and the U at 68 nationally. You're trying to hard and failing miserably.
And that's just for the General College. Minnesota has one of the best business schools in the country, much less the Big Ten.
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I'm sure everyone on the team will check out the school, I'm sure he's going to look at other schools as well.
Very true. Removed from my post. Can't read too much into that. Thanks for the info
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He's going to a bantam tournament there, from the 13th to the 17th.
I'm just conditioned at this point to assume it's a foregone conclusion that all Edina players will head East
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Mismash visiting Notre Dame. Pretty predictable. The Edina to Notre Dame pipeline probably continues
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Any guys to keep an eye on now that high school hockey is starting up?
If you're interested, I've been previewing Minnesota High School Hockey section-by-section.
http://www.mnhockeycentral.com/high-school
Not a lot on incoming players, but I should have some info out on top college hockey prospect uncommitted players as the season begins.
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Next time you quote Einstein you might want to get the quote right.
Oops.... Meant "different results"
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You have no idea who I am... Many on this web page know me personally. Although the question probably is, who are you... You seem to be a man of many personalities. I am not sure who I would be addressing, would be taking to MNState0fHockey or JDUBBS from USCHO and GPL notoriety, kind of the Gophers version of Lakes Bison. or Josh Hewitt, the Wild life photographer? The on line picture is pretty cool by the way. The eagle is a nice touch.
My name is on my Twitter account. I have no problems with you, that's the thing. I don't know what comments in this thread you disagree with, but I wish you'd discuss that instead of re-hashing the past. It's a good discussion
BTW - Thanks for the comment on the Eagle picture. Lucky shot
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Enough about me. Anyone interested in talking about the rivalry, I would love to. Personally, I think BOTH of these programs are bigger than the rivalry, and BOTH will be just fine. I didn't become a Gopher fan just because of the rivalry, and I'm sure all of you didn't become a Sioux fan just to hate the Gophers.
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By the way Eric, you have no clue what your talking about on the Gersich aspect. I made a comment to him out of disappointment I regretted, and apologized for, but it was hardly insulting or horrible. He replied back and said apology accepted, no big deal.
https://twitter.com/shane_gersich9/status/354639908729651201
He's a good kid and I wish him the best. That whole thing was blown entirely out of proportion. I've read comments directed towards recruits FAR worse both here and on GPL. At least I said it to him personally, and not behind his back, and I did apologize.
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The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same results.
You won't get a rise out of me by rehashing the past Eric. All you're doing is showing how incapable of discussing something as simple and pedestrian (in life's big picture) as a hockey rivalry without resorting to this nonsense.
Yes, I'm not perfect. My guess is, neither are you. I apologized for my short comings, now I've moved on. I have never been anything but respectful here.
If you don't agree with something I say, then explain why. I never said I am always right or always have all the answers. I am, however, discussing this topic like an adult. I challenge you to do the same.
College Hockey 2013-2014 (Non-UND hockey)
in Men's Hockey
Posted
Very good suggestions. I agree with all your thoughts.