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March brings 'tourney' for hockey fans
 Nick Clark
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There is never a month like March. It almost seems fitting that I was born in the year's third month. You see, I have this small fixation with sports and for some reason, all the sports that I follow really heat up in March.
College hoops � March Madness, enough said. College hockey � playoff hockey, same thing. But the most inspiring and amazing sports spectacle that I have ever come across doesn't have anything to do with college or even professional athletics. It's all about the amateurs.
Growing up on the frozen ponds in this state meant one thing to me. Play all winter long so you can make it to March. If you are still playing in March, which I never really was, then you get to take part in the greatest sports tournament this country has ever seen.
It happens, except for a short two year hiatus, in downtown St. Paul. Where the boards were once transparent and the mini doughnuts sold like drugs. Where you can run into a number of your idols in the concourse, yet still sit with your friends in the stands.
It is the one place where every hockey-related person gathers once a year in the state of Minnesota. The state high school hockey tournament, or just "The Tourney," has been the centerpiece to Minnesota winters for generations.
There isn't a person that has ever laced up a pair of skates in this state that can't tell you one thing about "the tourney." The memories, man I could talk about the memories for five million words. How about Aaron Dwyer ending the marathon. How about Dave Spehar's three straight hat tricks. How about Bloomington Jefferson ripping off three straight titles. How about Jeff Saterdalen period.
The man behind the machine in Bloomington is calling it quits this year. His team isn't nearly as powerful as it has been in the past, but they are back, for the 15th time with Saterdalen behind the bench. I've never had the opportunity to meet the man personally, but there was an article in today's Pioneer Press that raised my level of respect for the man immensely.
High School hockey in Minnesota is going through kind of a weird period right now. Kids who grow up playing in this state want to keep playing. Minnesota is home to five Division I college teams. But the fact is, it takes an awfully special player to make the jump from high school to college in one step. Most kids who want to keep playing try the United States Hockey League. Some, if they are good enough, go to Michigan to play for the United States Developmental league. The reason for this is simple. More games + longer games = more ice time.
It's been a struggle in recent years to keep the top players in the state. And when they do decide to stay, they usually want to go play for a team that they know will be good.
There are a number of high schools in the state that have open enrollment. That means a student doesn't have to live in the school district to attend the school. The majority of kids that transfer to a different school do so for athletics. They can go to Holy Angels, Blake, Breck and Totino Grace. They can go to Duluth East, Warroad, Elk River, and Hill Murray. But they can't go to Jefferson. Why? Because Saterdalen won't let them. He has built his teams on area talent. He may have a wealth to choose from but at least he's not a high school recruiter looking for free agents. He's a hockey coach, period. He's yet to shake my hand, but he already has my respect.
I've been thinking about this tournament for a couple of weeks now. After all, I get to hang around great hockey players weekly covering the SCSU men's team. And as I was working on my story for this week's issue, one of those players put it best.
"Look at a guy like Neal Broten. He's won a Stanley Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal. But you know what he'll tell you he remembers most. Winning a high school championship. There is nothing better than the tourney."
Matt Hendricks said that after his Husky team finished practice Wednesday afternoon. Hendy's been there. He's won a state title. He knows that if you grow up in this state playing hockey, you have one goal.
You want to play in March.
Nick Clark can be reached at: [email protected]
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