by brucespook » Mon Feb 15, 2016 10:33 pm
Here's what we tried to do two years ago. Bismarck had 39 girls eligible to play HS hockey in 14-15. We proposed to the school district to add another team. One problem is more girls went to Century than BHS but the numbers could have worked with the addition of Legacy and the St. Mary's coop. The parents and coach at the time fought tooth and nail to not allow another team. They came up with all kinds of scenarios where it wouldn't work. They were more powerful than those of us who wanted the opportunity for more girls to play HS hockey. I was told "we want to be competitive" The BHB board tried to silence those of us who wanted the girls to get more opportunity. Even tried to ban me from the rink on made up charges. The school district came up with the insane idea of having a JV team in 14-15 to try and keep all the girls playing but this was a doomed endeavor as there is no one to play. In girls hockey you can play with 14 and be competitive. The coach isn't going to play 20, there is too much pressure from the "power parents". So 14 play, 6 don't get to play and 7 only get to practice. Is it any wonder their plan fell apart? Too many girls quit the sport to have two teams in 15-16.
There were many hoaxes pulled to get the school district on this path. One family sold their business and said they were leaving town.... a lie of course, the parents of the young 8th and 9th graders told the school their child wouldn't play HS because the girls are older and stronger... even though they play a 19U schedule against some very strong and older players at 14U... also they all tried out for HS once there was only one team.... Liars.
Fact of the matter is if the school district would have made the move in 14-15, some of the girls from outside Bismarck may have played in Bismarck, BHS and CHS both would have made the state tournament and been "competitive", 10-12 girls would be PLAYING hockey this year that either quit or don't get to see the ice as they aren't the coaches darlings. This year the odds would be pretty good that BHS and CHS would be playing for a state championship, what would that do for the numbers in girls hockey in Bismarck?
The new rink was also an excuse but the power behind the one team also was in charge of the effort to get this rink built and it took 5 years for them to get started so it could be used as an reason to not have another high school team in town. Its unbelievable the extent these parents went through to keep their juggernaut alive. They could have had two but now they barely have one. The numbers for Bismarck girls will continue to drop as the young non stud players learn that its all about the star player at the high school level and there will be no place for them. Parents will eye the high cost of hockey in Bismarck and encourage the lesser skilled players to go an alternative route. Hope I'm wrong but this is the path they are on. Skippy and Fetch were too short sighted to see the big picture.
West Fargo and Grand Forks have their own ways of keeping their numbers down. GF doesn't have 14U so in effect they cut 7th graders out. If you're not the top 5 on 12 U might as well take up another sport because they don't want you.