In response to the Gopher woof, Mike writes:
 
>I'm glad that the Gophers finished well to show up the naysayers who
>suggested that they needed to recruit out of state to do well, but
>there is another attitude that comes out of Minnesota that upsets a
>great many people.  I read at least 2 articles I can recall from the
>Twin Cities newspapers (got them at home somewhere) which almost
>elevated Woog to sainthood for only sticking with in-state players,
>and in so doing, directly attacked other schools for not having a
>similar recruitment strategy.  For example, BU was ridiculed for
>having taken several players from out of state and a couple from out
>of the US (never mind that most of their players are still from
>Massachusetts).
 
>These articles angered me beyond what you can probably believe.  I
>certainly think it is wrong for people to attack Minnesota for
>sticking with in-state players, but when people from Minnesota attack
>others who have a different strategy, they are no better.  Minnesota
>is not better than anyone else because they recruit in-state, and they
>are not worse.  It is simply the policy they choose to have.  It does
>not deserve praise nor ridicule.
 
Please don't accept the ravings of newspaper columnists as representative of
the Gopher hockey program or its fans.  We, as fans, are not responsible for
what they write.  I doubt that the Twin Cities media has a monopoly on
moronic sports columnists.  In fact, given some of the stuff I've seen
quoted from other newspapers this season, I KNOW it hasn't. :-)
 
 
Now, Bill Nelson says:
 
>One last issue I would like to address is our rink.  Often our fairly new
>rink (about 4 years old) is cited as the reason we should have only in
>state kids.  The rink was slated to be built be the legislature
>somewhere-guaranteed.  We just gave is a place to be built.  But, just
>because we have some out-state kids playing on the rink doesn't mean it
>doesn't benifit the hometown kids too.  Our  rink is booked almost every
>moment it is open.  High school tournaments, olympic training, hockey camps
>(where Woog even does some recruiting), various kids programs, etc...  We
>are building up the number of Minnesota kids, but quit telling us we are
>betraying our fine state for trying to field a competitive program.
 
I don't think St. Cloud has been accused of betraying the state recently, if
ever.  :-)  St. Cloud's program stands on its own merits.  I am personally
pleased that they are skating a nearly all-Minnesota roster.  The Huskies'
success this season puts their program on a very solid footing for in-state
recruiting in competition with the Gophers and Bulldogs.
 
-- Erik