Commentary; Posted: 12/17/03

Hockey lawsuit against league misguided

Don Heinzman

Girls high school hockey in Minnesota has come a long way since 1995 when the state tournament was played in Aldrich Arena in White Bear Lake. The 2004 girls tournament is scheduled to be played Feb. 26, 27 and 28 in the modern Ridder Ice Arena on the University of Minnesota Campus where the nationally ranked Gophers womens' hockey team plays.

While that may be acceptable to the University team, some parents of 11 high school girl hockey players are suing the Minnesota State High School League, claiming that the Ridder Arena isnít good enough for the girls to play the state tournament.

The suit contends the high school girls tournament should be played at the major league Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, because thatís where the high school boys tournament will be played.

In the lawsuit, parents cite that having the girls play anywhere but the Xcel Center is discriminatory under the Federal Title IX rule. They contend the bright lights, excitement, eight-sided scoreboard, more parking and atmosphere of the Xcel Center in St. Paul are being denied the girls.

Since the girls hockey program began in 1995, the tournament steadily has been moving from Aldrich to the State Fairgrounds Coliseum to Ridder.

The key question: Does Ridder Arena meet Title IX requirements?

The Minnesota State High School League asked the Federal Department of Education Office for Civil Rights to review the tournament sites at Ridder and Xcel. According to a statement from the league, after investigating, the federal agency found no evidence to refute that Ridder Arena is currently the most comparably adequate and appropriate venue available for the final round of the girlsí ice hockey tournament.

For now, it appears the girls and their parents doth protest too much.

One consideration is seating. Ridder Arena can accommodate 3400 compared to the 18,000 that can be seated at the Xcel Center. Last year when the 2003 tournament was held at Ridder Arena, the largest session drew 2,769 fans. The average attendance at the 2003 tournament was 2,221.

Playing before a nearly full arena should be more exciting and more fun for the girls. Even the nationally-ranked University of Minnesota womenís hockey team has been unable to fill Ridder to its capacity.

The weekend the girls tournament is scheduled, the Xcel Center is to be host of the 2004 girls dance team tournament where 1200 participants are expected to compete. If the girls hockey tournament were to be moved to the Xcel Center, either the dance team tournament would have to be re-scheduled or the girlsí hockey tournament would have to be played in the middle of the week when the girls should be in class.

The following two weekends the Xcel Center will be host to the state wrestling and boys hockey tournaments.

Central to the discussion is the Ridder Arena itself. This modern arena which can handle 3400 fans, also has a club room and nine suites overlooking a North American-size rink, and thereís plenty of parking. A Radisson Hotel is two blocks away.

Lost in all this discussion over the site is the real value of the experience for the participants. The main event for them will be winning the sectional tournament and the right to compete in the state tournament.

At Ridder Arena, they will receive the backing of their community and the thrill of competing for the state title in a modern arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota where many major sports events are played.

A statement from the Minnesota Girlsí Hockey Coaches Association sums up the issue: ìOur continuing goal will be to eventually move the tournament to the Xcel Center, but for now, Ridder Arena offers us an excellent state of the art facility dedicated to the wonderful game we are all so passionate about.î

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