ELITE LEAGUE

[HOCKEYFREAK]

This may be a redundent post. Is there any activity (MGHCA etc.)in terms of a Girls Elite league being formed similar to the boys? I see the boys league is up & rolling again. Are the B & A teams the girls answer to this and if so is it a temp. solution or long term?

[TheGame]

There is a fall league being sponsored by OS. Applications are at www.skaterslink.com.

[ghshockeyfan]

There is a fall league being sponsored by OS. Applications are at www.skaterslink.com.

There are plenty of Fall Leagues. Os is one among many, although I do give Os credit for trying to work on it being a high level league vs. just another HS team league - how well that works out this year remains to be seen yet. I have no idea as to what the quality will be of any of these leagues however. Many very good hockey players choose to play with their HS team in the Fall and compete in other sports too - so you don't always get all the best kids in an "elite" league under the current setup and with the current costs & conflicts these create.

That being said, MGHCA Elite League is something I've heard nothing about for this season anytime recently. There was some talk a month + ago, but nothing as of late.

CODP (2?), Walser (2-3?), Os/Lightning (1+?), IceCats (2) all have B&A teams in the works I hear. Which, for most, probably fits the needs for now along with T-Breds. SSM may even choose to play in some attempt at an "Elite League" which will more amount to some of the above mentioned teams playing from time to time vs. anything formal. this may be more the case for SSM now in that they aren't in the MWEHL any longer? These teams mentioned above will likely all play in some of the tourneys in VT, Stevens Point, ND and maybe @ Middlebury too for one tourney?

I think that all of these groups serve a purpose in some way, I still believe that an Elite LEague run by the MGHCA is the best option - much like the boys are doing. I think that levels the playing field for all players being offered options, and the sad part is that we could easily do this by using the NDP tryouts to select the players that should be eligible each Spring for the coming Fall & following Spring (B&A). The truth is that we spend a lot of $$$ to travel all over when we have more of the best concentrated talent in the nation here in MN. We also could attract more scouts/coaches/other national AAA teams to events here, while not needing to make those trips all the time (but still good to do if desired).

[HOCKEYFREAK]

[The truth is that we spend a lot of $$$ to travel all over when we have more of the best concentrated talent in the nation here in MN. We also could attract more scouts/coaches/other national AAA teams to events here, while not needing to make those trips all the time (but still good to do if desired).]


The same issues interms of costs have several Canadian AAA teams looking into a spring/fall league combined with MN/WI/ND teams. The "Can-AM" league is just in the disscussion stage as of now but showing some serious interest. $1300-$1800 for 4-5 games is crazy. The general idea is to block some ice, hire refs, play in the twin cities/fargo/winnepeg.[/quote]

[ghshockeyfan]

[The truth is that we spend a lot of $$$ to travel all over when we have more of the best concentrated talent in the nation here in MN. We also could attract more scouts/coaches/other national AAA teams to events here, while not needing to make those trips all the time (but still good to do if desired).]


The same issues interms of costs have several Canadian AAA teams looking into a spring/fall league combined with MN/WI/ND teams. The "Can-AM" league is just in the disscussion stage as of now but showing some serious interest. $1300-$1800 for 4-5 games is crazy. The general idea is to block some ice, hire refs, play in the twin cities/fargo/winnepeg.

[/quote]

The other thing I laugh about is when we send 4 MN teams to Chicago to play eachother. I mean, great vacation I suppose, but otherwise we could play here! That always makes me laugh, and then too when we pay so much to play in tourneys in the area when someone could just block some ice and play for 1/2 as much. But, then too, there is something to be said for the atmosphere these tourneys provide I suppose, and besides the "visibility" these events create for players, it's as much about making some memories too I suppose through events & travel...

[SEMetro]

I assume that all of these teams are U19 age-eligible teams only (which is what - 89 and earliers?)? I forgot - did someone ever post why MAHA doesn't allow U16 B&A? IMO - it would be nice to get that changed.

[TheGame]

Until there is some organization and fairness in how players get the chance to play, "Elite League" play during the offseason (fall and spring) will be nothing more than an opportunity for parents to spend lots of money for little or no development and exposure. It is time that everyone understands this and demands that MN Hockey take a leadership role and create a High School Elite league similiar to the boys the better off we will be instead of telling the parties that proposed leagues last spring at their meeting to work it out among themselves.

[SEhockeyDAD]

Agreed, Game. I'd be in favor of a B&A league based on tryouts/evaluations, much like the MGHCA Juniorfest & Fr./So. Development Camp. Yes, it'd take a lot of time & effort to even get the league organized, but it has a good chance of doing it right, without politics.

[HOCKEYFREAK]

Taking the time & effort to set up/run the league seems to be most of the battle. Starting with the girls picked for NDP tryouts to form teams from would also take some of the "work load" out. It sounds as though everybody is in favor of this league!

[cluelessinminnesota]

I would hate to see Minnesote Hockey take a "leadership" role in anything.

I have watched the NDP tryouts and I know how much they care about the girls. I would love for MN hockey to justify the selectors they use at these "tryouts." Minnesota has only two DIII teams that get any respect around the country, yet we think these other coaches know something about evaluating talent.

I would prefer that the MGHCA to pick 4 high quality coaches and then let them draft teams. Next you pick 4 more coaches and they could do the same thing and form four more teams. This could provide 120 players and 16 goalies with the chance to play in a competitive environment next fall.

If Shattuck wants to be the 5th team in the league they could provide free ice for 20 games and pay a $3,000 entry fee.

[HOCKEYFREAK]

I would prefer that the MGHCA to pick 4 high quality coaches and then let them draft teams. Next you pick 4 more coaches and they could do the same thing and form four more teams. This could provide 120 players and 16 goalies with the chance to play in a competitive environment next fall.

This would be ideal! but, with HS coaches jobs changing yearly it sounds as though it may be tough to get a group of them together to take on an adventure like this. With so many coaches, good ones at that, forced out of jobs, how could the MGHCA get it done?

[hshockeyfan91]

If I had one wish for next summer it would be that the AAA Teams (Icecats, Walser, Wild, etc) would work with Minnesota Hockey, and MGHCA along with CODP and OS to coordinate summer, and even more so, fall opportunities.

We waste so much time and money traveling all over the country for tournaments. There are so many overlaps where we pay money for one program, but have conflicts with other good programs. It seems like year after year people talk about things getting better (particularly related to fall leagues), but very little happens.

Can we just lock all the parties in a room and not let them come out until everyone agrees to play nicely with each other? We could advance the cause of girls hockey so far by working togther, yet it seems like that's too hard to do. Why?

[ghshockeyfan]

Agreed. Too many conflicting interests though... That's the problem. It's great that we have so many opportunities, but too many conflicts as cited.

Ideally, there would be some structure to get the most for the $ and minimize needed travel and make it something that instead is only for the experience/visibility vs. necessity.

Bill Wild put together a "at cost" elite league last summer @ Wakota which was good. I don't think we need to do away with all the AAA teams, I just think we need to work together vs. all the drama. The intentions of all are good, and strikingly similar goals are desired by all, it just amazes me that at times the egos and other bs gets in the way of doing what's best for the KIDS & GAME!!!

Eventually I'll stop complaining and try to help. Not right that I sit on here and complain but don't help solve the problem. Personally, the time commitment is HUGE to get this together and I have to say that I'd try to do something, but adding another "event/team/league/conflict" even with the best of goals isn't necissarily the answer either...

This is the same feeling I have about the Girls Elite League B&A Fall/Spring. The idea is there, and I have no need to make $$$ off of this, but is it best to start another conflicting thing??? That I don't know, and I think it would be best for the powers-that-be to get together and figure it out - and also they need the conrtol/blessing/input of the MSHSL, MGHCA, USA/MN H, etc. and also need to avoid all conflicts with common NDP/MGHCA/USA/MN H events, etc. As a favor to some teams that travel/participate in other events, you'd want to avoid those dates too as there can still be the AAA traveling teams but having them is NOT a reason to NOT have a true boys-like GEL with an "A" (after/early spring/post-HS-season) component???

OK, that's enough for today...

[ghshockeyfan]

Agreed. Too many conflicting interests though... That's the problem. It's great that we have so many opportunities, but too many conflicts as cited.

Ideally, there would be some structure to get the most for the $ and minimize needed travel and make it something that instead is only for the experience/visibility vs. necessity.

Bill Wild put together a "at cost" elite league last summer @ Wakota which was good. I don't think we need to do away with all the AAA teams, I just think we need to work together vs. all the drama. The intentions of all are good, and strikingly similar goals are desired by all, it just amazes me that at times the egos and other bs gets in the way of doing what's best for the KIDS & GAME!!!

Eventually I'll stop complaining and try to help. Not right that I sit on here and complain but don't help solve the problem. Personally, the time commitment is HUGE to get this together and I have to say that I'd try to do something, but adding another "event/team/league/conflict" even with the best of goals isn't necissarily the answer either...

This is the same feeling I have about the Girls Elite League B&A Fall/Spring. The idea is there, and I have no need to make $$$ off of this, but is it best to start another conflicting thing??? That I don't know, and I think it would be best for the powers-that-be to get together and figure it out - and also they need the conrtol/blessing/input of the MSHSL, MGHCA, USA/MN H, etc. and also need to avoid all conflicts with common NDP/MGHCA/USA/MN H events, etc. As a favor to some teams that travel/participate in other events, you'd want to avoid those dates too as there can still be the AAA traveling teams but having them is NOT a reason to NOT have a true boys-like GEL with an "A" (after/early spring/post-HS-season) component???

OK, that's enough for today...

[Partagas]

I think it safe to say that a progam is needed for the better players. It would be great for the cities but we don't have the talent pool in the north to do something. Your better players are haveing a hard time finding like players to play with. CODP in the north has been watered down with taking everyone from 7th grade up.

No easy answers.

Good luck to everyone for the start of the season!!!!