Demise of the Rinks Rat and Other Observations

JLS 81
Posts: 386
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2002 3:08 pm

Demise of the Rinks Rat and Other Observations

Post by JLS 81 » Thu Feb 06, 2003 12:27 pm

This topic came out of 2/4 scores on a question from Grand Rapids. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... =jls81>JLS 81</A> at: 2/7/05 5:32 pm<br></i>

metromick
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:07 pm

Nice rant

Post by metromick » Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:26 pm

A bit lengthy but the God's honest truth. Most of us oldtimers would like to see a return to the days when you dropped your school books, picked up your heavily taped Sherwood Crackshot and headed to the rink - every single day. It would be great for MN hockey too. Reality is that kids have many more options than we did and many hockey-loving parents steer their kids away from playing the sport because of the cost. Unfortunately, the rink rat days are gone forever. <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

Rink rats

Post by joe lulic » Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:26 pm

There are a number of reasons why kids dont go to the rink. <br>1. Indoor Ice-- we have these kids at the indoor facilities practicing a lot. Squirts are there 4 times a week, Bantams-6. If a squirt has a 7 pm practice indoors, he isnt at the rink that night. Almost every one has practice or a game indoors on the weekends. This cuts down on outdoor skating. They get there one hour in and decide to do something else the rest of the day.<br><br>2.Technology/Affluence-- a kid can have more fun in my basement. We have a dome hockey game; pool table; big screen TV: DVD video games and movies;Why go to the rink? When I was a kid we didint have any cable TV. The only kids programming was after school and on Sat morning. Now its 24-7 cartoons, Disney channeel etc. <br><br>3. Jacob Wetterling-- Since his tragic abduction and the hysteria that followed, Moms wont let their kids out of their sight. We used to take off at 10:00 AM, come back for lunch and disappear until supper. Now, every body is afraid that their kid will end up on a milk carton. This is a whole big topic but it does contribute to lack of rink rats..when was the last time any one saw kids involved in a sand lot pick up basebal game? Same thing has happened to hockey. <br><br>4. The Weather .. the last few years we have had horse crap weather for ice. Kids get used to doing something else. <br><br>I think parents need to boot kids out the door and over to the rink but I think the above has made it more difficult to do.<br><br>Some say" buy less indoor ice and the kids will be outside more" It isnt that simple. If you buy less ice, the indoor rinks go under and/or become unaffordable becaus they have to charge more for the ice they do sell. We need indoor ice so you cant cut off your nose to spite your face. <br><br>The Oval is great but really expensive. Not alot of communitys are going to get talked in to spending that kind of money on an outdoor facility. <p></p><i></i>

dropdapuck
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:35 pm

rink rat rant

Post by dropdapuck » Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:35 pm

JLS81 is on target with his comments. Too much emphasis is placed on organization, intense drills, instruction & scrutiny, making the traveling teams etc. etc. etc. instead of lacing them up and taking to the ice - outdoor ice, that is, for that is where it is!<br><br>Mike Antonovich did not hone his hockey skill set by cozying up @ home with the comfort of TV programming, VCR, video games and microwaveable menu. It was outdoor ice @ every opportunity that made the difference.<br><br>Oh how I long for the days of going to the local rink and getting involved in a pick-up game at any time of the day or night with the local yokels of every age. Nevertheless, I remain hopeful here in Minnesota, THE State of Hockey! <br><br> <p></p><i></i>

RideNPine69
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:54 am

Re: Demise of the Rinks Rat and Other Observations

Post by RideNPine69 » Thu Feb 06, 2003 1:44 pm

<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>J</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br><br>I'm seeing the same thing in many northern towns. I think one of the biggest problems is that kids now find it easier to play hockey with their thumbs than their feet. With all the incredibly realistic video games out there, you can get a dose of sports without leaving the livingroom. <br><br>The shame of it all is that the sport of hockey doesn't seem to be progressing in its traditional stronghold up north. The winters now are far more mild than they were 20 years ago, yet the young players now are so spoiled now that it's either indoor ice or forget it. And your right, outdoor ice is where hockey skills were learned, and still could be if we can figure a way to bring the new generation of player back outside for a few games of shinny. The youngest loves to go outside to skate and shoot around at the rink. But when we get there, there are only 4 maybe 5 other kids skating already, and never more than eight at any time on the rink. Makes for a pretty lame pick-up game.<br><br>But there is hope. If the youngest can put down "the paddles",<br>there's hope every young hockey player. Maybe global warming will get them back on outdoor rinks. Maybe Duluth's Mite and Squirt program of skating outdoors and parental involvement should be looked into. I believe it was just reported about in the Minnesota hockey magazine.<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

slapshooter
Posts: 4100
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2002 12:30 pm

RE: Rink Rats....Beg, Borrow and Steal...by SS..

Post by slapshooter » Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:02 pm

Have you got an extra 'Hundred Thousand' on ya? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>That's about what it's going to cost you to see your kid <br><br>through a K through 12 Hockey career especially if he's <br><br>in a decent program. This figure could be low nowadays <br><br>but I know it was accurate as that is what it cost my <br><br>brother to support my nephews hockey career, who <br><br>graduated from HS in '94. <br><br>That does not include his college playing years or the <br><br>two years after HS prior to college. ( 6 more years)<br><br>That's just one kid. Not sure if it is the same for the girls <br><br>but it probably will be soon. Don't forget medical if they <br><br>get hurt. What if you have triplets? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rolleyes --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/eyes.gif ALT=":rolleyes"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>What if the kid gets held back a year or two? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :x --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/sick.gif ALT=":x"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>B <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> gging, B <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :\ --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":\"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> rrowing, and Ste <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ling!<br><br>That's what you'll be doing.......<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>L<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 0] --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /alien.gif ALT="0]"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> E, SL<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> PSH<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> TER.<br><br>(...a legend in his <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> wn mind...) <p></p><i></i>

ChrisK
Posts: 928
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2002 12:39 am

My two cents

Post by ChrisK » Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:05 pm

JLS 81 raises a good topic, which I think is true not only of hockey but other sports like baseball. joe lulic raises two points that I'd like to agree with, first, few parents feel comfortable letting their kids run loose like we did when we were kids which has to cut down on the number of rink rats and second, the weather here in the metro anyway, has not been the best for outdoor ice for the last couple of years.<br><br>That said, outdoor rink rat hockey in the Twin Cities at places other than the Oval is not dead. My neighborhood, St.Anthony Park (S.A.P.), has a really good outdoor rink which can get very crowded on the weekends. There are three other rinks of varying quality within a couple miles of my house. I take my boys to the S.A.P. rink all the time and though they're not the best skaters they have fun joining in the kids pick up games. I played street hockey all the time as a kid in Bemidji, but I never really learned to skate so I've spent the last several winters trying to learn and I'm still not very good though I'm having fun aside from the bruises.<br><br>The Strib had a good article a few Sundays ago on backyard rinks. This might be an option for those without neighborhood rinks and with a large backyard. If I recall correctly, the article said that Wayne Gretzky grew up playing in a backyard rink and would eat lunch with his skates on, so he could get back out ASAP.<br><br>And just to play devil's advocate, getting kids more ice time is only a part of the puzzle. If you can compare hockey with basketball, the rink rats would be the equivalent of playground basketball players who can develop great individual skills but sometimes lack the discipline to play within a system and I'm sure you can have the same problems with rink rats. <p></p><i></i>

slapshooter
Posts: 4100
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2002 12:30 pm

Re:back yard rinks, I've got the biggest! by SS...

Post by slapshooter » Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:41 pm

I've got the biggest back yard rink in the state created <br><br>for my five year old and his twin sister and their friends. <br><br>After the kid sports his new gear from Xmas he hits the <br><br>ice and fumbles about for a bit, then finally figures out <br><br>how to pick up a little speed but forgets about stopping <br><br>and BANG!!!! Splits a chin on the ice and gets blood all <br><br>over his three hundred and fifty dollars worth of new<br><br>(used) gear from 'play it again sports' and 'BINGO' I'm off <br><br>to the races! (aka emergency room) A half an inch, one <br><br>way or the other and we would have been including the <br><br>dentist. That was just before the kid was gearing up to <br><br>take his first 'shot' on the year. All told, it was about a <br><br>six or seven hundred dollar day. Like I said earlier in this <br><br>thread. B <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> gging, B <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :\ --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":\"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> rrowing, and Ste <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ling.<br><br>That's what you'll be doing to keep the kid in the game <br><br>anymore. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br> L<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 0] --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /alien.gif ALT="0]"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> E, SL<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> PSH<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> TER.<br><br>(...a legend in his <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> wn mind...) <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

Too many zeros

Post by joe lulic » Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:48 pm

SS, Cant be that much. I have two boys and they both play but wouldnt if it cost that much. Assuming $1000 per year, which is high, and assume a start at age 5 and end at 18, cant be a honey bee. Still a lot of green no matter how you look at it<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/grin.gif ALT=" >D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br> <p></p><i></i>

riverman
Posts: 146
Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:50 pm

rink rats

Post by riverman » Thu Feb 06, 2003 2:50 pm

We've had lousy winters, some communities have done away with the number of out door rinks, They are far enough away that junior needs a ride to the rink, but mom and dad are both working. We already have practice or games 6 days a week. Coaches want players at practice or games 1 hr ahead of time so they can look at each other and twiddle thier thumbs. I think if you look at today's hockey players they carry good grades. That does not happen by accident. My son carrys a 4.0 and brings home alot more homework than his C average dad ever did. A typical day at our house is up at 6:30 am. outside and shoot pucks, then get to school by 8 till 3. 3:30 to the weight room, 5:00 home for supper. then home work till 8:30, clean room ect. then to rink for 9:30 practice. Home at 11 pm snack then bed. Some days there are other games to go to. Weekends are games of which half are out of town! These guys also need to ref the younger kids games too! I'm not sure when the out door ice can be arranged! Maybe there was more outdoor ice in the past when teams did not have indoor ice 6 times a week. Those teams that played years ago outside did well but remember that is when all that the Edinas and others had was outdoor ice too. <p></p><i></i>

slapshooter
Posts: 4100
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2002 12:30 pm

Re:'too many zero's' by joe lulic.'not enough zeros'..bySS..

Post by slapshooter » Fri Feb 07, 2003 3:40 am

joe,<br><br> Do you live in the cities or outstate? Are you including <br><br>hotels, meals, etc. and do you drive to all of your boys <br><br>games? Lets say you stay in 12 hotels per season at 100 <br><br>bucks a crack adding gas and food expenses along the <br><br>way just for starters. Are you kidding me? $1000.oo a <br><br>season is way low if you ask me unless you are from the <br><br>cities and don't accrue overhead for lack of travel and <br><br>overnight stays. If they're in a good program like my <br><br>nephew was with the 'Spuds' of the early nineties who <br><br>were playing great since their pre-peewee days you'd be <br><br>surprised to see what it took to stay on top of all that.<br><br>Of course you could stay in a tent but it would get a <br><br>little 'chilly' <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :( --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /frown.gif ALT=":("><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> during the hockey season don't you think?<br><br>Those boys went to State every year from at least <br><br>peewees on plus holiday tourneys and nationals and <br><br>believe me it wasn't cheap. That was nearly a decade or <br><br>more ago. What's it gonna cost in the next decade? <br><br>......For Example...<br><br>If you send your kid to SSM (Shattuck St. Marys) to play <br><br>you would be looking at $30,000.oo a year for tuition / <br><br>room and board etc.and $3,000.oo per year for the <br><br>Hockey Fee. That does not include hotel /motel time for <br><br>the folks or gas or plane tickets to follow your kid in that <br><br>case. <br><br>Nor does it include the kids K through Eighth Grade years <br><br>nor his Division One years or other College hockey <br><br>opportunities. <br><br>That comes to $132,000.oo just to do four years at SSM <br><br>if he can cut the mustard which any kid of mine probably <br><br>could. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>And mark my word. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>There will be more programs like SSM's popping up <br><br>as many believe that if you are going to give your kid a <br><br>real shot at a hockey career SSM's program, or one like <br><br>it, is the way to go. Just think what might be, what Holy <br><br>Angels and Other Great Minnesota High School teams <br><br>could do if they could play 80 games a year and get rid <br><br>of this archaic 15 minute period limitation that we should <br><br>have been rid of long ago. Who among us 'old timers' <br><br>would not have given our left 'you know what' to have <br><br>had an opportunity to play in the same conditions as <br><br>SSM? These guys are spitting out some 14 Division One <br><br>players annually from what I understand and I'm sure <br><br>you will see many professional careers take place as a <br><br>result. But then again, what would that cost? And if <br><br>everyone could skate from September through April or <br><br>whatever, what would that do for HS Football? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br>Top that off with the fact that we have to worry about <br><br>some 'wacked out psycho' lurking to do harm to our kids<br><br>as you pointed out, dictating our presence at many of their<br><br>activities, especially when they are young and vulnerable<br><br>and you are looking at one huge chunk of change.<br><br>And in your case, if your boys have what it takes,<br><br>you can D <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ns/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> UBLE the cost, being that you have two.<br><br>Like I said before, B <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... rassed.gif ALT=":o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> G, B <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :\ --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... ohwell.gif ALT=":\"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> RROW, and STE <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :evil --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /devil.gif ALT=":evil"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> L !<br><br>That's what you'll be doing.....<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START >D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/grin.gif ALT=" >D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br> <br><br>L<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 0] --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /alien.gif ALT="0]"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> E, SL<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> PSH<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> TER.<br><br>(...a legend in his <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> wn mind...) <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub33.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUser ... shooter</A> at: 2/7/03 4:39:31 am<br></i>

Green and White Fan
Posts: 529
Joined: Tue Feb 05, 2002 3:51 pm

Rink Rats

Post by Green and White Fan » Fri Feb 07, 2003 9:34 am

I have been saying for years that youth hockey is much too structured. Most kids are turning into hour a day hockey players and most of this hour is spent listening to a coach. They then play far too many games. In a 45 minute game, most of the time is spent on the bench. A few kids log the majority of the ice time. I think the talent level would improve immensely if they spent 5, 6, 8 hours a day on the weekends playing shinny hockey instead of traveling the state for a few minutes of ice time. Everybody thinks more games are important and maybe at the highschool level it is. But Minnesota amateur hockey is missing the boat with the younger kids and we will continue to see talented players fall through the cracks as it is becoming a game for the wealthy or a game for those with a good banker. <p></p><i></i>

slapshooter
Posts: 4100
Joined: Wed Mar 20, 2002 12:30 pm

How much talent developement gets stymied? by SS..

Post by slapshooter » Sun Feb 09, 2003 2:34 am

Your typical 15 minute period, more often then not, <br><br>can consist of one to several penalties. I listened to a <br><br>game tonight that had at least 19 penalties with a half a <br><br>period to go. If your not on special teams, and reside <br><br>on the third and fourth lines, you may be lucky to see <br><br>five or six shifts a game. Too many players spend their <br><br>precious time this way, especially in their freshman and <br><br>sophomore years. How much real opportunity are they <br><br>getting to develope during those years?<br><br> Do away with 15 minute periods and running time and <br><br>let the kids develope already. I never could understand <br><br>why anyone would want to travel the state and just sit <br><br>on their (_!_)tt when they get there.<br><br> L<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 0] --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /alien.gif ALT="0]"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> E, SL<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> PSH<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> TER.<br><br>(...a legend in his <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START 8o --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/nerd.gif ALT="8o"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> wn mind...) <p></p><i></i>

quickwhistle
Posts: 5
Joined: Sun Feb 09, 2003 9:59 am

Rink Rats

Post by quickwhistle » Sun Feb 09, 2003 10:22 am

Bring back the old days!!!!! Many of you hockey lovers make great points. <br><br>Yet let it be known that the better players in our state do play outside, just not as many in years past.<br><br>I know several of the Mr. Hockey candidates this year personally most have been rink rats since they were young children. No wonder they have successful high school careers. They find the time to get outdoors.<br><br>Watch their skating, hands, eyes, stick handling abilities matched with the ability to move in small spaces and make quick passes. Did I mention the slap shot? As one person said "you can spot them on the ice right away". Its Sunday, can you guess where you'll spot the better hockey players today?<br><br> <p></p><i></i>

goldy313
Posts: 3949
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2002 11:56 am

demise...

Post by goldy313 » Sun Feb 09, 2003 11:33 pm

The mighty ducks fund - while a noble idea, in many cases, it went to the wrong places. Rochester, for example, already had 2 sheets of year round ice and a 3rd seasonal sheet, yet we got 2 more seasonal sheets while surrounding towns like Austin and Owatonna still don't have year round ice. The money needed to go those communities to help develop kids.<br><br> To get these additional rinks the youth hockey assoc. had to guarantee money, where does that money come from, paying for additional indoor ice time, which in turn comes from higher costs to sign up, higher costs mean less families able to afford hockey for their kids. Less kids means a smaller talent pool. While Rochester has gone from 56,000 people in 1980 to 92, 000 today the numbers of kids playing hockey is declining, largely due to cost. Bringing back outdoor ice is now impossible because of the guarentees youth hockey has made to the city, they can't just stop renting indoor ice and go outside, therefore, since the demand for ice is artificial, the prices are inflated and the middle class families are being pushed out.<br><br>The increase in the number of teams being forced to travel is another killer, again the time and cost drives people away, plus the fact that travelling teams play on weekends keeps those kids off the outdoor ice.<br><br> Rochester has had, even after the addition of Century, successful football and baseball teams, why the travel is either non existant, or in addition to playing and practising on your neighboorhood teams. This keeps all kids at an equal level, and as a result kids progress is not set in stone as a 9 year old like in hockey, but rather changes from year to year as each kid develops and matures. How many quality hockey players have been pushed aside because as a squirt or peewee they were awkward, or clumsy due to a growth spurt? Why does hockey have to caste these kids? The push (from USA hockey) to not only travel, but seperate and segregate at an early age is detrimental. <br><br>Hockey needs to get back to a local game played with local kids, travelling has a place, but the economic and caste systems it invokes are doing so much more harm than good. <p></p><i></i>

Davesamess
Posts: 30
Joined: Mon Feb 10, 2003 9:04 am

Money

Post by Davesamess » Mon Feb 10, 2003 9:04 am

I could not agree more Goldy. Hockey has become a huge money sport and the traveling has gotten out of hand. These two factors alone have driven kids out of the sport and helped to strip the outdoor rinks of hockey players on the weekends. The problem is that nobody seems to know how to stop this trend. <p></p><i></i>

joe lulic
Posts: 284
Joined: Mon Jul 29, 2002 1:30 pm

Re: demise...

Post by joe lulic » Mon Feb 10, 2003 12:14 pm

A couple of comments on goldys posts. I dont know anything about Rochesters situation except that we are in the same youth District and they seem to have a lot of good players. The Mighty ducks money was a good idea and helped build a lot of rinks. The problem with it was that it had a limit on how much could go to one rink. So you had to have most of the money already in hand before a ducks contribution kicked in. Goldys example is a typical result of that policy. The rich get richer..<br>I dont believe that the structure of youth hockey causes kids to have their careers determined at age 9. There are kids who stick with it and play on the C and B teams who go on to play high school hockey and more. Dave Langevin never played on an A team. I understand the problem people have with an "A" squirt team but there are benefits to dividing these kids up by ability at an early age, IF the kids stick with it and the parents dont have a fit because their kid didnt make the A team. A child who is placed according to ability can succeed and develop just fine with out any problems. He will not "get behind" because he isnt on the A team so long as he has good coaching and sufficient ice time, indoors and out. <br> I dont think kids are being caste. I think they are being placed based on current ability and with good intentions. A lot of people say "kids need to be challenged and play with the best" Bull. They need to be taught the right way to play and then they need to succeed. 90% of hockey, like any other game, is 50% mental. If kids are placed with others of similar ability, they will succeed, get confidence, and get as good as their god given talent allows. I think the problem is more with how the parents and then the kids react to where they are placed.<br>Rochesters numbers may be down but overall I youth hockey numbers are up. They may not be what they should be, but not a lot will change so long as the numbers keep growing. <p></p><i></i>

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