I ann arbor over rated????

[minnesotaman]

Who thinks ann arbor is over rated and think it is a poor choice for young hockey players??<br> <p></p><i></i>

[joshdog]

It could be argued that it is a poor choice for USA Hockey to spend so much money on such few kid's but I don't see how it could be a poor choice for the individual's invited. <p></p><i></i>

[FreeAGENT]

How could it possibly be a bad choice? <p></p><i></i>

[trojanhockey3]

Look at the caliber of the players coming out of the program. Kessel, Frazee, Mueller, Hauser, Leopold, Ballard, Eaves and so on. They play against high-caliber competition like college teams or other nations under 18 teams. How could playing against top notch talent and getting instruction from a top notch coaching staff not be beneficial. <p></p><i></i>

[StarsFan]

<br>Trojan is right. Who's Who, (truth).<br> <p></p><i></i>

[wcha fan]

This program takes good players and brings them to the next level. Both physically and mentally. <p></p><i></i>

[SHP55]

It is the best program in the world for developing hockey players. Like Phil Housley said on the webcast of the U-18 Championships this past week, he said I probably shoulden't be encouraging this since I am a high school coach but how could you turn down the National Program. I will say that it does not work out for some players but that is usually because it is such tough work. I don't think it is over rated and I would send my child there in a heartbeat. <p></p><i></i>

[mnswarm10]

I dont see how this could be in anyway bad for the individuals involved. I think that if you got invited there would be no chance of you not going. If you go there you are basicaly guaranteed a D1 scholarship so why would anyone turn it down. To be asked to go means they believe that you are 1 of the best hockey players in the country such an honor shouldnt be wasted. <p></p><i></i>

[packerboy]

The players trojan names were already top notch players and well known before they went to NTDP. <br>I would be more impressed if they took some unknowns and made them D1 players. <br><br>Is there any doubt that all of the guys on trojans list would (or will)have played D1 anyway?<br><br>I dont know if NTDP is a waste of time or not but we all know it costs a lot of money and a lot of people question if its worth it. <br>I dont know that the question gets answered by naming all of the good players who went or are going there. <br> <p></p><i></i>

[Triple Deke]

I believe the Program is worth every penny put into it. Just as any other prep program is setup. Except these kids play hockey. Ripping USDTP is ripping on Shattuck. The NAHL may not be the leauge for them, but they are limited to who they can play. <br>The concept of the team plucking these kids out of high school is very slanted. Kids do turn down the opportunity to play there, just as kids turn down playing at Shattuck. The USDTP produced one heck of a team a few years ago that won AMERICA its first U-18 World Championship since (I dont remember).<br>On a personal note, I'm getting sick of seeing such "political" debates about the programs themselves. If it really bothers you, create your own and run it how you want, and until then find some benefits out of a program instead of finding personal dislikes of it.<br><br>Off my soapbox starting.............now <p></p><i></i>

[Eddie Shore]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Ripping USDTP is ripping on Shattuck.<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>USA Hockey doesn't pour over $2 million per year into the program at Shattuck (like they do with the NTDP), so there is a <!--EZCODE ITALIC START--><em>slight</em><!--EZCODE ITALIC END--> difference. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... mnhs>Eddie Shore</A> at: 5/1/05 3:51 pm<br></i>

[East Hockey Puck]

I commented previously on Fairchild going to ann arbor and, constructive comments are great but I feel the opportunity for every kid is differnt and there are many variables that come into play when players are faced with this opportunity. Taking the opportunity that was available for Kessell, Frazee, Hauser, Leapoldt, Ballard, and Eaves is unlike playing in a program in a tradition rich Minnesota high school program. None of those kids played with their friends all the way through high school. Kessel was a AAA product, Frazee and Hauser both came from weak classes and I believe this was the only way for them to receive attention, Ballard left high school but really didnt play a top notch schedule and if he did and if elite I programs had existed maybe neither he nor Lapoldt would have left. I dont recall exactly but I dont recall Leapoldt really having great freshman and sophmore seasons. I might be wrong on that but how much MORE did he get out of NDPT then he might have if he had played for a White Bear type team and the Elite I. Unfortunately the idea of tradition rich Minnesota high school programs seem to hold less weight than in previous years and with it I believe will go loyalties and a more difficult path for the outstate programs and players. <p></p><i></i>

[hocsocstar77]

if u don't think they should spend money on the ann arbor program then where do you people think the money should go? should it go to people that are not even have a future in hockey? Everyone that I now that went to ann arbor loved it there and it made them a 100 times better hockey player. But there at ann arbor it dose'nt just make them a better hockey player it makes them better people, ready to go to collage and live on there own. <p></p><i></i>

[Eddie Shore]

Slow down, hocsocstar77. No one in this thread has said that USA Hockey shouldn't spend money on the NTDP. In my post, I was simply referring a previous poster's comment comparing Shattuck and the NTDP and the money spent on those programs. Not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.<br><br>However, many people - including the late Herb Brooks - were and are outraged that USA Hockey dedicates a substantial chunk of money to supporting the NTDP rather than putting those dollars into grassroots development at the youth level. An argument can be made both ways. <p></p><i></i>

[hocsocstar77]

Sorry I don't mean to say my last post rudely but I am just trying to get a good word about this program. and just a ? if you had to chose between spending money on great hockey player or spend it on kids like might just not have the gift to be a hockey player and then end up quiting in 1 or 2 years? just curious. if they did'nt spend the money at Ann Arbor where would all that money go to would it go to every youth programs in the world? <p></p><i></i>

[joshdog]

Let me add that it seemed to work at the U-18 world championship's a couple of week's ago. <p></p><i></i>

[Eddie Shore]

Let me state that I am not against the NTDP, guys. Just making a point that there are some folks that feel that USA Hockey should focus on creating programs that will benefit a greater number of kids with the money that all players and coaches must pay in terms of annual fees.<br><br>With that being said, the NTDP has done a nice job of developing the players in their program. The majority of the players in the program attain rides to D1 schools and they have accomplished success on the international level. <br><br>Would these players be any worse (or better) if they had played their junior and senior years in the USHL? I don't know. What worked at the world championships was Phil Kessel, who would be great regardless of where he had played the past two year.<br><br>Not trying to start an argument with that last comment, joshdog. Just having fun. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[Newguy99]

Well let me tell you guys a bit about my experiences. I played High school hockey, then to the USHL, after that college. Nothing compares to the joy I recieved from playing HS school hockey in Minnesota, I had the time of my life. I am not knocking Ann Arbor but I know I made the right decision playing my H.S. days out. I just wish it would go back to the good old days where everyone played H.S., but I know that is not realistic. These could be debated all day long but I am all about the experience of H.S. and just letting kids be kids. <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p074.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ewguy99</A> at: 5/1/05 9:05 pm<br></i>

[East Hockey Puck]

I don't think it is fair to judge NDTP totally by the outcome of where their players end up. When you have a feeder system like USA hockey's advanced program they seem to have an inherent right to the best players in the country. They better have a 95% success rate for placing these players in D-1 programs. If they didn't place these kids you would have to judge the program as a total failure. I think Kessal could have played for Princeton High School in MN and would still be good enough to be a star for the Gophers. A respected hockey person told me that when he played in Duluth at the Spirit of Duluth Tournament that he was the best youth hockey player he had ever seen. Over Sean Hill, Dave Spehar, Mike Crowley, Mark Parrish, Toby Peterson etc....Very nice compliment! <p></p><i></i>

[packerboy]

I think its OK to question this kind of thing and a lot of what we do in hockey.<br><br>I think its Ok to wonder if the money is well spent. Hell, its our money.<br><br>In my opinion, a lot of people are employed because a lot of us are pretty gullible. <br><br>Whether its the 2 week hockey camp or Showcase AAA, or Stars of Tommorrow , or the Elite league or my new personal favorite...(drum roll please) The Elite II League (talk about an oxymoron). <br>Is any of this really materially helping develop players? Can anyone really answer that question? <br><br>I think that kids do benefit from this stuff but if we dont stop and ask questions about whether a lot of it is really worth it, we are foolish. <br><br>Again, packerboy offers the latest in off season , off ice training. Its called baseball..check it out.It doesnt cost an extra 2 million but it improves hand/eye, reaction time, anticipation, quickness and mental toughnes. <br><br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>