We will have a much better idea if we will have fall sports next week. The Governor will make an announcement next week on what school will look like on the first day of school. It sounds like he might let each district make a decision, which would allow some/all high school fall sports. Football would be the biggest question mark still, but I am more confident with in-classroom instruction happening in northwest 
Minnesota. BUT, just because sports might start, doesn’t mean they will play every game and it doesn’t mean they will finish the season. There will be outbreaks if school is held in classrooms, and teams will be affected too.
This might be a good time for the MSHSL look at shortening seasons. Coaches always complain they don’t have enough practice time. But NONE of them cut back on the games they play.
Anyway,
The Minnesota State High School League meets with Athletic directors around the state every Thursday and the A.D.’s were told fall activities, including all sports, are currently scheduled to begin on August 17. The final decision will be made on August 4, after the state issues the return to school protocols. The decision could be made earlier, but August 4 is the most likely date because the MSHSL will meet on that day.
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Minnesota High School Football coaches that are members of the MFCA will be getting a survey this week to formulate a plan for the 2020 football season. I am not sure if they will release their survey results, but if we can get them, we will pass them along. It will be interesting to see what the coaches come up with!
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UMC Club Hockey, as of Friday, has 15 players (four from Canada) signed up and ready to play this upcoming school year. They have 12 games scheduled. (4 vs University of Jamestown, 4 vs Williston State College, 2 vs MSU-Moorhead, and 2 vs University of Mary).
UMC Athletic Director Steph Helgeson told us on Friday that the hope down the road (four to five years) was to have a Club Hockey Division 1 and a Club Hockey Division II team. That would be huge for the enrollment at UMC and would replace the loss of 80 students from the football team. If they can get that many people to come and play hockey that would be great.
I also thought UMC should look at having JV teams in Volleyball, basketball, baseball, and softball. You could play some area D-3 and Junior colleges in the area and it would help the programs develop talent and get some of the bench players some playing time.
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Northwest Minnesota Boys High School hockey was well represented in the Upper Midwest High School Elite League Hockey roster unveiling this week. Nine people that played in last years league were drafted. Well over 100 players have been drafted by NHL teams since 2006. Area players that made the teams are below –
East Grand Forks – Logan Spencer (Sr), Trey Ausmus (Jr), Landon Parker (Sr), Jaksen Panzer (Soph)
Warroad – Blake Norris (Sr), Carson Reed (Jr), Jayson Shaugabay (Soph), Anthony Foster (Sr),
Moorhead – Joe Gramer (Soph), Colby Krier (Soph), Max Dronen (Sr), Gavin Lindberg (Jr)
Roseau – Thor Byfuglien (Jr), Gavin Gunderson (Sr), Paul Huglen (Sr), Max Strand (Jr), Andrew Tuttle (Sr)
Red Lake Falls – Zac Kennett (Sr), Ty Kennett (Jr)
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East Grand Forks’ Mason Poolman was selected by the Austin Bruins in the 5th round of the NAHL draft (126th overall pick). Mason’s brother, Tucker, was also selected in the NAHL draft and is now playing for the Winnipeg Jets.
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College hockey overtimes this winter will have a different look. Games that are tied at the end of regulation will head to a five-minute 3-on-3 overtime period. If no one scores in overtime, the game will officially end in a tie, but, a three-person shootout will be allowed in conference play for league points and in regular-season tournaments for advancement.
Conference postseason tournaments and the NCAA tournament will still use 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime periods.
Some other college hockey rule changes –
Attacking teams will be able to choose which faceoff circle the puck will be dropped at the start of a power play or icing violation. Also, a warning will be issued instead of an ejection of the center for an initial faceoff violation. A second violation by the same team during the same faceoff will result in a bench minor penalty for delay of game.
The rule in the handbook requiring handshakes after a game has been removed. Handshake protocols will be left up to the conferences and schools.
Spin-o-ramas, where a player does a 360-degree turn with the puck en route to the goal, will not be allowed during shootouts.
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I don’t think this is a good sign that the NCAA Division II Administrative Committee approved two recommendations in their meeting on Wednesday. The information is below –
Division II student-athletes will not be charged with the use of a season for the 2020-21 academic year if their team can complete only 50% or less of the sport’s maximum contests/dates of competition because their season is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In its videoconference meeting Wednesday, the Division II Administrative Committee approved two proactive recommendations for all sports from the Division II Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement.
The first allows schools to self-apply a season-of-competition waiver for student-athletes, provided all of these criteria are met:
- The student-athlete’s team participated in no more than 50% of the sport’s maximum contests/dates of competition for the 2020-21 academic yeardue to the ongoing impact of COVID-19.
- The student-athlete used a season of competition during the 2020-21 academic year.
- The student-athlete was eligible for competition while competing during the 2020-21 academic year.
Individual waiver requests for student-athletes who do not meet the criteria above can be submitted through the traditional process and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The Administrative Committee also voted to allow schools to self-apply an extension of eligibility waiver (two semesters or three quarters) if one of these criteria is met:
- A student-athlete qualifies for a season-of-competition waiver as noted above.
- A student-athlete is unable to participate due to the cancellation of the sport season.
A student-athlete must be otherwise eligible for competition for the 2020-21 academic year for an institution to self-apply an extension of eligibility waiver.
The Administrative Committee is composed of the chairs and vice chairs of the Division II Presidents Council and Management Council and one additional member of the Presidents Council. The committee is tasked with handling important Division II business in between quarterly meetings of the Presidents Council. The Division II Administrative Committee will meet again July 29 and discuss providing flexibility for winter and spring seasons.
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Kevin Garnett has announced he is interested in buying the Minnesota Timberwolves from Glen Taylor.
Taylor has retained The Raine Group, which is a bank that specializes in tech, media and telecommunications. Taylor, who bought the team for $88 million in 1994 is looking to sell the team for $1.2 billion.
The Wilf family (Vikings owners) has also said they are interested in buying, but KG seems to be the fan-favorite for many reasons so far.
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The NCAA Sport Science Institute has released the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport: Developing Standards for Practice and Competition to extend previous guidance and provide updated recommendations about the protection of athletes and prevention of community spread of COVID-19.
The guidelines are designed to inform schools in responding appropriately based on their specific circumstances and in the best interest of returning college athletes’ health and well-being. Many sports require close, personal contact and require specially crafted guidelines. Among the recommendations put forth:
- Daily self-health checks.
- The appropriate use of face coverings and social distancing during training, competition and outside of athletics.
- Testing strategies for all athletics activities, including pre-season, regular season and post-season.
- Testing and results within 72 hours of competition in high contact risk sports.
- Member schools must adhere to public health standards set by their local communities.
I have been told that the new guidelines could cost schools $1 million.
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The 2020 Roy Griak Invitational has been canceled in accordance with the Big Ten Conference’s move to Conference-only regular-season scheduling for fall sports, including men’s and women’s cross country.
The health, safety, and wellness of the student-athletes, coaches, officials, fans, and others associated with sport programs, athletic events, and campus remains the number one priority.
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Crookston Lions Club/Minakwa Golf Course‘s 39th Annual Junior Golf Tournament will be held Monday, August 3.
Due to COVID restrictions: tee times for groups are listed below
15 – 17 at 8:30a.m.
13 – 14 at 9:00 a.m
11 – 12 at 9:30 a.m.
9 – 10 at 10:00 a.m.
8 and under at 10:30 a.m.
Parents are asked to walk and keep score – social distancing is encouraged
BOYS AND GIRLS
9 to 17 years olds will play nine holes.
8 and under will play four holes and receive participation medal.
Prizes will be awarded for Boys and Girls Medalists:
ENTRY FEE: $20.00 (LUNCH INCLUDED)
$10.00 for 8 and under (4 holes and lunch)
CALL TO PRE-REGISTER BY August 1st, 2020
Minakwa Golf Course
901 Fisher Ave
Crookston, MN 56716
218-281-1773
Sponsored by: Crookston Lions and Minakwa Golf Course
Waiver and questionnaire will be required to participate.
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JOKES
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Dorothy and Edna, two ‘senior’ widows, are talking.
Dorothy: ‘That nice George Johnson asked me out for a date. I know you went out with him last week, and I wanted to talk with you about him before I give him my answer.’
Edna: ‘Well, I’ll tell you. He shows up at my apartment punctually at 7 P.M., dressed like such a gentleman in a fine suit, and he brings me such beautiful flowers!
Then he takes me downstairs, and what’s there but a luxury car… a limousine, uniformed chauffeur and all.
Then he takes me out for dinner… a marvelous dinner… lobster, champagne, dessert, and after-dinner drinks.
Then we go see a show. Let me tell you, Dorothy, I enjoyed it so much I could have just died from pleasure!
So then we are coming back to my apartment and he turns into an ANIMAL.
Completely crazy, he tears off my expensive new dress and has his way with me two times!’
Dorothy: ‘Goodness gracious!… so you are telling me I shouldn’t go out with him?
Edna: No, no, no… I’m just saying, wear an old dress’
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How are former Crookston Pirates athletes doing in college or elsewhere?
****LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS TO ADD TO THE LIST email me at chrisjfee@yahoo.com
Paul Bittner is playing for the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Bluejacket.
Brady Heppner, is playing hockey for the Roanoke Raildogs in the SPHL.
Aleece Durbin, is a Sophomore on the University of North Dakota Women’s Track and Field team.
Brita Fagerlund, is a Junior on the University of Jamestown Jimmy Women’s Track team.
Ben Trostad is a sophomore member of the University of Minnesota Crookston golf team.
Isaac Westlake, is a Senior on the Winona State Warrior Men’s Golf team.
Elise Tangquist, is a Junior golfer for the University of Northwestern in St. Paul.
Mason LaPlante, a freshman, is playing soccer at the University of Jamestown.
Rachel Hefta, a freshman, is playing volleyball at Hastings College in Nebraska.
Cade Salentine is a redshirt Freshman playing football at the University of North Dakota.
Nick Garmen, is a freshman playing basketball and tennis at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Thea Oman, a freshman, is swimming at St. Ben’s.
Crookston School District Coaches –
Jeremy Lubinski is a Pirate 8th Grade Football coach.
Amy Boll is the head Pirate Girls Track head coach and assistant volleyball coach
Sarah Reese is the Pirate Head Girls Soccer coach
Cody Brekken is the Head Pirate Girls and Boys Tennis coach and Crookston Community Pool Supervisor
Marley Melbye is the Head Girls Swimming coach
Mitch Bakken is the head Pirate Baseball coach.
Brock Hanson is the Pirate Baseball volunteer assistant coach.
Jeff Perreault is the Pirate Girls Golf head coach
Wes Hanson is the Pirate Wrestling Head Coach and assistant boys golf coach
Kevin Weber is a Pirate Boys Basketball volunteer assistant coach
Connor Morgan is the Pirate Boys Hockey assistant coach
Sam Melbye is the Pirate Boys J.V. Hockey coach
Chris Dufault is a youth wrestling Coach
Blake Fee is an assistant wrestling coach
Colton Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach
Non-Crookston High School coaching –
Cody Weiland is an assistant wrestling coach at Proctor/Hermantown
Kaylee Desrosier is a softball coach for Fargo Davies Middle School.
Justin Johnson is an assistant softball coach at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Josh Edlund is an assistant football coach and phy ed teacher at Flandreau, South Dakota.
Allison Lindsey Axness is Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach in Champlin Park
Jeff Olson is Head Wrestling coach and Head Baseball coach at Delano.
Jake Olson is an Assistant Football Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Delano.
Carmen (Kreibich) Johnson, is Head Volleyball coach at Little Falls High School.
Katy Westrom, is Head Girls Tennis Coach and Head Boys Tennis coach at Monticello High School.
Matt Harris, is a Director of Athletics at the British International School of Houston.
Marty Bratrud is the Superintendent and High School Principal at Westhope High School.
Gordie Haug is an assistant football coach at the University of Wyoming
Mike Hastings is the Minnesota State Mankato Men’s head Hockey coach
Mike Biermaier is the Athletic Director at Thief River Falls High School
Stephanie (Lindsay) Perreault works with the North Dakota State stats crew for Bison football and volleyball and basketball in the winter. Stephanie’s husband, Ryan, is the assistant director for the Bison media relations
Jason Bushie is the hockey athletic trainer at Colorado College
Chris Myrold is a Tennis Pro on Nevis Island in the West Indies
Kyle Buchmeier is a Tennis Pro at the Reed-Sweatt Family Tennis Center in Minneapolis
Jarrett Butenhoff is serving our country with the U.S. Navy
Joshua Butenhoff is serving our country on a Submarine with the Pacific Fleet with the US Navy.
Peter Cournia is a 2002 Crookston High School Graduate and also a grad of West Point and is currently is serving in the U.S. Army.
Erik Ellingson is serving our country with the U.S. Air Force at Minot.
Philip Kujawa class of 2004 from Crookston High School. He is an Army recruiter in Rochester.
Scott Riopelle is head of Crookston Parks and Recreation
Rob Sobolik is the General Manager of the Fargodome
That’s it for this week. Thanks for the comments and if you have anything to add or share, please e-mail chrisjfee@yahoo.com or call. Thanks for reading and listening to KROX RADIO and kroxam.com
