Concordia college Moorhead womens hockey

[HOCKEYLEARNER]

I was wondering if anyone out there new much about the Women's hockey program at Concordia college in Moorhead, MN? How is the program, What type of coaching staff do they have in place? Are the coaches capable and competent? How is the school itself? Is the MIAC conference a strong conference in DIII Womens hockey? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[fantasticfrito]

If you are looking at Concordia I would say you should take a visit. I'm an alum of the program and I had a great time up there. They share the rink with the high school program up there but they have consistent practice times and their own locker room. The coaches are very friendly and work hard with the girls. You can email them directly and let them know that you are interested in the school. The school itself is very good with a number of different majors available. Another bonus is that it is the least expensive of the MIAC schools. The only drawback about playing there is that every road game is a 4 hr. trip to the cities. Its ok though because you end up being tight with your teammates. If you go to the player page you will see a listing of player emails; feel free to email one of the girls and ask them what they think about the program. Most of them will respond to you.

[mnhock]

I would agree with fantastic. The other thing thorugh... its really cold up there. Nothing to stop that wind.

[kustomice]

I was wondering if anyone out there new much about the Women's hockey program at Concordia college in Moorhead, MN? How is the program, What type of coaching staff do they have in place? Are the coaches capable and competent? How is the school itself? Is the MIAC conference a strong conference in DIII Womens hockey? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Not much posted on this yet so here is what I'll add about the hockey program:

Last season Concordia was one of the weaker teams in the MIAC (8th out of ten teams - 2pts out of last place) and was one of the bottom 10 teams in the nation. USCHO keeps a good archive of past season stats and if you review these you will get a good indication how the team faired against its competition (04-05 they were out shot in 16 of 22 games and often by a margin greater than 3-1).

The current coach was brought in to replace a coach who was successful (MIAC coach of the year 01-02) but not well liked by the team and subsequently pressured by the AD to resign. Diplomatically put by ‘Frito’ the current coach is "friendly and hard working" but to this point has not show the ability to coach a successful competitive team at any level. A history of stifling talented players in favor of a "happier" team atmosphere may appeal to some players, but it is probably not the best place for a player who places hockey high on her college priorities.

Like any program one needs to do their homework. Any team that has gone from 14 wins in 02-03, 8 wins in 03-04, to only 4 wins in 04-05 IMHO is heading in the wrong direction and probably has some issues that need to be investigated.

[ohcanada]

Kustom

After all of your talk about how CIS is developing and how there will soon be parity with US schools. Don't tell me that you've got a kid who plays at Concordia?

[kustomice]

Kustom

After all of your talk about how CIS is developing and how there will soon be parity with US schools. Don't tell me that you've got a kid who plays at Concordia?

No, that would be the last place I would ever have a player of mine go.

My opinions here are formed from a coach’s viewpoint, based on personal experience and analysis of the available game stats.

Some of this definately having influenced my general opinion of the CIS and NCAA programs.

[fantasticfrito]

Yes there was a drop in wins from 02-03 to 03-04 but most teams are going to have trouble when they lose 10 players to graduation. They have been struggling as of late but this year's recruiting class should be strong and the team will be relying on the assistant coach to be a hard nosed guy and pull them out of their slump. It is a hard school to recruit for because it is out in the boonies but it is not a bad program. They are working hard to get back to where they once were.

[ohcanada]

Kustom:

So from a "coach's viewpoint" you feel justified, without knowing the people involved, to simply analyze statistics, skewer the current coach and the AD, and make college recommendations based on that. You sound like a real "character" guy--someone I'd love to have my daughter play for. Here's my guess. Part of the reason you dislike the NCAA so much is that you've tried to get a job coaching here but have been rejected. Just a hunch. But based on what I am hearing from you, probably a good choice on the part of the AD's involved.

[kustomice]

Kustom:

So from a "coach's viewpoint" you feel justified, without knowing the people involved, to simply analyze statistics, skewer the current coach and the AD, and make college recommendations based on that. You sound like a real "character" guy--someone I'd love to have my daughter play for. Here's my guess. Part of the reason you dislike the NCAA so much is that you've tried to get a job coaching here but have been rejected. Just a hunch. But based on what I am hearing from you, probably a good choice on the part of the AD's involved.

I never said I did not know the people involved.

How exactly did I "skewer" the coach and AD (previous by the way)? If any of my points are inaccurate please correct me.

I think your questioning of my character here has alot less of a basis than anything I have posted.

Why do you even assume that I am a guy?

[ohcanada]

Kustom

Saying that you were a "character" guy was pejorative--or at least sarcastic.
It was not intended to indicate your actual gender, nor do I care. If you feel that you need to play the gender card, go for it.

I stand by my questioning of your character, simply based on the information you have so generously provided.

[kustomice]

Kustom

Saying that you were a "character" guy was pejorative--or at least sarcastic.
It was not intended to indicate your actual gender, nor do I care. If you feel that you need to play the gender card, go for it.

I stand by my questioning of your character, simply based on the information you have so generously provided.


Then I guess I just don't understand your definition of "character". If attacking a person’s character for voicing an opinion (that appears to be based on facts) is your idea of upstanding behavior then I guess I should be flattered to be considered of "questionable character".

Again, please let me know how exactly I "skewed" (assuming by this you meant unwarranted negative comments) the coach and AD?

HOCKEYLEARNER asked if anyone had information about the Concordia program and I thought that is what I presented. Sorry if it was not all roses.

[polarbear2]

Diplomatically put by ‘Frito’ the current coach is "friendly and hard working" but to this point has not show the ability to coach a successful competitive team at any level.

Get a life..."Frito" sounded enthusiastic about her experience as an alum of the program...it is you, my friend, who could use some diplomacy....

[NoneRequired]

Hockeylearner...
Whether Concordia is a fit for you, if that's why you're asking, will depend a lot on what you want to get out of your college hockey experience. If you're looking for a gung-ho, win at all costs, nothing but being at the top of the heap will do, it probably isn't for you. Does that mean they don't want to win every game, well of course not. But from what I've seen there, they aren't going to have seniors that have to quit because of class conflicts within their majors, as some other programs do.

If you're looking for a school, and I think you should be, since there is no NHL for women players, do they offer the major that you want? How do they compare academically with your other options that have that major? In women's hockey, my feelings are that the hockey experience, though important, is secondary to the academic experience. I told my daughter, before she selected her college, that in the long run I couldn't care less if her college career was 0-100 if she had a good experience, and got the degree she was after. Granted 100-0 would be a hell of a lot more fun, but it isn't everything.

kustomice may have done some stat research on the past season or two, and on the surface his estimation of the program might appear to be be valid. I don't agree. From a more observational approach, I think they've lost a lot of close games in the past two seasons, and have been plagued by injuries. I've seen some games and watched some practices, and think they have had some bad breaks the past two seasons. Will Coach Norman be able to turn it into a winner? With the right recruits and some more hard work, I don't see why not. They are out in the boonies, even for Minnesota, and I'm sure that doesn't help a lot in the recruiting department.

My daughter chose to go at Concordia and I fully support her decision. I feel very confident she picked the right school FOR HER. Will it be the best hockey school in the MIAC? I doubt it. We looked at those other schools too, talked to their coaches, and she chose what felt right for her. She moved in this past weekend, and when we drove away on the long trip home, I felt comfortable she was at the right place.

Bottom line is that you need to get a feel for the whole institution, not just the hockey program, to know what's right for you. If hockey is all that matters, maybe a D-III school isn't the right choice.

[kustomice]

Get a life..."Frito" sounded enthusiastic about her experience as an alum of the program...it is you, my friend, who could use some diplomacy....

Come on, so I don't share that enthusiastic opinion of the coach. I thought I was being quite diplomatic and objective with my comments.

If you went to a restaurant and got bad service would you continue to recommend it? If asked your opinion would you say nothing?

Instead of just joining in with "ohCANADA" and attacking me personally, do like NoneRequired and post something positive about the school and/or the program.

[kustomice]

They have been struggling as of late but this year's recruiting class should be strong ....

Do you know who these players are?
The DIII recruit site http://www.cardinalhockey.net/d3women.html only has 3 listed.

[RBoston]

Do you know who these players are?
The DIII recruit site http://www.cardinalhockey.net/d3women.html only has 3 listed.

What we do know about the 3 listed is this:

Kelsey Puffe - Moorhead HS, 16-13-29
Allison Meeks - Victory Honda (0-19-0), 0-0-0 in ten games played
Breanne Bian - Wisconsin Wild (7-11-1), 2-2-4 in 16 games played

For a team, Concordia, that only scored 41 goals in total last year, one can only hope their list of recruits has a lot more on it and includes kids that can score and play. For the good of the MIAC conference I sincerely hope they do have a strong class of young ladies coming in!!!!

[polarbear2]

Come on, so I don't share that enthusiastic opinion of the coach. I thought I was being quite diplomatic and objective with my comments.


You missed the point...I was just commenting that you said "diplomatically put" in reference to "frito's" remarks....I thought it was gramatically incorrect to say that she put it diplomatically....if you had said it the way she said it, it would have been diplomatic...... but by suggesting that she put it diplomatically, you're suggesting that she has an opinion which is, somehow, masked by the way in which she phrased it...

[kustomice]

Get a life..."Frito" sounded enthusiastic about her experience as an alum of the program...it is you, my friend, who could use some diplomacy....

Your right, I did not think that this was meant as a comment on my use of improper grammar, although you seem to have understood my point about "fritos" comments on the coaching at Concordia.

[polarbear2]

Your right, I did not think that this was meant as a comment on my use of improper grammar, although you seem to have understood my point about "fritos" comments on the coaching at Concordia.

Thanks, no intent to slam you, or your opinions, that is what I enjoy about these boards...

[HOCKEYLEARNER]

I just wanted to thank everyone for their comments! I am still searching for more information. One of the replies out there mentioned the Concordia assistant coach being relied on to be hard nosed and help lead this program back to greatness. Who is he, is he a great coach or something? Any information would be great, thank you everyone so much for your help. I am looking forward to a great senior year of hockey this year and hope to make a decision before my season is done.