In hockey circles southern Minnesota hockey has been looked down upon for years, especially compared to northern Minnesota hockey.

Section 1AA and Section 1A are routinely criticized as being among the weakest in the state, but at the state tournament level that criticism has been undue. Rochester Lourdes won the consolation championship last season while Virginia lost both its games at the state tournament. Three years ago Albert Lea won the consolation title.

“I think that’s a lot of unfounded stuff,” said Albert Lea boys’ hockey head coach Roy Nystrom about the criticism of southern Minnesota hockey. “Southern Minnesota hockey is every bit as good as northern Minnesota hockey.”

The Albert Lea boys’ hockey team, one of the southern most of all hockey programs in the state will get its chance to prove its mettle next weekend when it makes its first trip up to the range to face Hibbing and Virginia. Albert Lea will be joined by Rochester Mayo, which has participated in the event for several years.

The Tigers got the chance to play against the two teams from the Iron Range prior to last season when Nystrom accepted an invitation from Mayo head coach Lorne Grosso to become part of the annual competition Grosso and John Marshall held against Virginia and Hibbing after the Rockets bowed out two years ago.

It was a no-brainer for Nystrom, who grew up in Eveleth, which is about five miles from Virginia, to accept the opportunity.

Last season Hibbing and Virginia came to Albert Lea for a weekend series against the Tigers and Mayo. Albert Lea defeated Hibbing, which was ranked 11th in Class A at the time, 4-1. Virginia, though, beat the Tigers 3-1.

Nystrom brought his team up to the range once in 1973 for a scrimmage against northern Minnesota teams and said it was a real learning experience for his team back then.

It could be that way once again for this year’s Tigers (4-4-1) who are still searching for their identity.

Virginia is ranked sixth in Class A with a 6-4-2 record and Hibbing is 4-5-1.

The Blue Devils return nearly every player from last year’s state tournament team, including Garrett Hendrickson a St. Cloud State University recruit. Hendrickson has 13 goals and 14 assists.

Hibbing is led by Ryan Johnson, who has scored 13 goals and four assists. He is followed by Marcus Bugliosi, who has four goals and nine assists.

Senior defenseman Casey Marka leads the Tigers in points with 15, seven goals and eight assists. Sophomore Eric Carlson is close behind with 12 points, seven goals and five assists and senior Tyler Brackey had eight points.

“I think it will be a real interesting trip up there,” Nystrom said.

It’s not the first time the Tigers have gotten some northern exposure this season.

The Tigers faced two northern Minnesota teams last weekend at the Kiwanis Hockey Festival in Rochester, losing 6-1 to International Falls and beating Duluth Central 5-4 in a shootout.