One point that I would disagree with Vicki on is the supposed watering down of caliber and competition in Minnesota. Minnesota still produces a number of D-1 players every year. Some go directly from HS while others get experience in Junior A first. But we will never get back to the good old days that the old timers here seem to recall because hockey is more widespread throughout the U.S. In the old days you could expect players from MN, Michigan and Massachusetts with perhaps an occasional player from elsewhere. Now good players are produced in many states, with the increase in number of indoor rinks and increase in Junior A teams. Yes, there are some Minnesotans who now play on the U.S. 17 and 16 teams and some who play Junior A instead of HS. But, these are more often than not players from teams that weren't going to do much in HS so rather than play on a mediocre HS team they choose Junior A. The competition is still excellent in Minnesota even though they have ruined our state tournament by dividing into two divisions so that the smaller school division produces some pretty weak teams. Plus, the players don't turn their lives upside down chasing a chimerical dream. They get to be regular HS students participating in other school activities as well as other sports. HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.