AAA

[skillbuilder]

Other states that allow AAA hockey in the winter develop some great top end players and can compete well vs Minnesota because of it. However, our top 17 kids would be tough to beat. But is that because we have 5 times more players than other states do or because we develop a deep pool of kids through club hockey. AAA level kids are typically natural athletes that start the sport early and will virtually never be leap frogged by those below. Let those few play AAA hockey during the winter to get even better. The top 2 to 5 kids on every A team are too good to play what is now "A" hockey anyway so let them play winter AAA. The A,B,& C club levels we have today are to broad in thier designation of skill from big clubs to small clubs, from the best player to the weakest. AAA along with the multi tiered club level designations found on page 7 under developing skill sets could go a long way in making MN even more of an elite hockey state. The only way to truly develop kids is to have them play with and against players with "very" similar skill. Neither exceptional players nor bubble players nor developing players, are being developed to their fullest extent now when there is so much discrepancy in skill at each level A, B, or C within Minnesota Hockeys one size fits all format. I have a bubble "A" kid and all that I have ever asked is that he play with and against kids of his skill level and nothing more. "B" hockey as it is today does not provide us with that nor does "C" hockey provide that for the bubble "B" kid nor does "A" hockey give the gifted player all he can handle. Lets chuck the antiquated structure and put kids with and against those that are "at" their level of skill shall we.

[my2cents]

I'm not in favor of turning our hockey world upside down so that MN can win a few of the big AAA tournies. What does it do for the kids and the families? Nothing but pumping up a few chests of mostly rich folk that live through the success of their kids.

Bottom line: The best athletes will make the best players in the long run. The cream will rise to the top. Go ahead and super develope 30 kids at age 12 only to find out that only 1 or 2 of them remain at the top 5 years later. How many of the Roseau and G Rapids kids were playing on "super select" AAA teams 3 years ago? NONE. Yet there is 8 or 9 future D1 scholarships among the group. Less than what the current PW Little Ceasars team will eventually have.

This emphasis on AAA is getting ridiculous. The HS based system continues to do the most for the most kids (players, students, parents, fans). No it's not perfect. Life is not perfect. Get over it.

[greybeard58]

The Michigan District registrared in 2005-06 53,325, Minnkota had 52,175,the Central District 50,022, Massachusetts 44,548 and New York 40,289 others are below 40,000. The Districts which now allow AAA hockey during the winter season now wish they didn't.If they had a chance to change they would follow the example of community based teams that Minnesota has. If you doubt this ask Elliot 70. If you check the number of players from Minnesota playing college hockey you will find the % at over 20% of the American players and the past years in the NHL draft Minesota has been the leader of number of American players drafted. The only tournament LittleCeasers really cares about is played in the end of March and if you really want to see what AAA Hockey is about go and see all of the National tournament and witness what all of the money brings. I have personally attended 2 at the Bantam level and the parents are worse there. It is funny that when Minnesota sent community based teams to the Tier 1 tourney every year but one, the teams made.
the saturday cross over game and one year a team made it to the finals.
If some are serious about changes it would be best to have your -plan thourghly thought out and then propose to the local District Director or their assistant and have the plusses and minuses ready.

[pucker15]

yeah but i heard the 93 blades practice more than they play games and there all an hour and a half or longer...

[skillbuilder]

I think my two cents is reading more into AAA than need be. If you are trying to assemble some skilled kids for off season games and practice what are you going to tell parents.
"Hey Mr. & Mrs Jones were going to get some kids together and practice and play games and stuff are you interested" Part of it is marketing...
AAA is a term that has become quantifyable to hockey parents and generally means a certain level of play if it is clarified with terms like "open" or "invitational" level skill. Unfortunately the term is being used by every "mash B team" out there nowadays and some groups are over the top with the commitment they require so I can see how a comment like AAA is getting ridiculous can be made. The lack of developmental content and deficient level of play my son has been relegated to endure at our club the past few years has created a need for off season training for him. The open level AAA venue we have created is both fun and developmentally beneficial for the players involved. Whatever other fanatical venues there are out there does not concern us. We simply work on individual skills and reward the kids with enough games to keep them loving hockey. I don't really think that is too ridiculous. Besides, if clubs would put like skilled kids together on teams, and play against other like skilled kids, and if the developmental content in club hockey practices was high, AAA and other similar venues may not have ever been created. It exists because there is a perceived need and perception is reality. Granted, the parents of those countless numbers of kids playing AAA hockey could all be wrong, but it's unlikely. Maybe if you came and skated some endless cones and russian circles with my kid next winter you would change your mind about the need for off season hockey.

[High Flyer]

Quanity does not nec. mean quality. In fact, if practices are poorly run, a player will just develope bad habits that later need to be broken.

There are lots of teams out there buying a lot of ice time, but only a few really good coaches who understand how to run a good practice.

Buyer beware and do your home work. Make sure you take a few test drives first before make that commiment.

yeah but i heard the 93 blades practice more than they play games and there all an hour and a half or longer...

[elliott70]

Bottom line(s)
1. What are you (your kid) looking to get from hockey?
2. How well is the local youth program run?
3. Can you afford AAA program (or even local hockey) and the extras?
4. Can you find a AAA program that meets your criteria established in #1 if #2 does not meet your criteria?

The structure of hockey in Minnesota meets the needs of many assorted youth hockey players.
There are parts of Minnesota where travel demands are too great to allow for AAA programs 'in season'.
Those that want AAA in the winter seem to go and find it.
Minnesota Hockey is researching alternatives for those that do not want to participate in community based hockey. But you do not throw the baby out with the bath water.

AND, as with everything, the end result will vary directly proportinate to the effort put forth, regardless the program.

And, hopefully, the kid is having fun.

[skillbuilder]

I think it's safe to say that most parents including myself just want their hockey player to be playing with and against kids that closely match their level of skill, for their player to be expected to work hard in practice, to be challenged with the content, and for it to be a fun experience for them every year.
It's seems easy but apparently it's not. Between the simple A,B & C levels, poor evaluative processes including marginally skilled evaluators, parent ego's, the lack of a detailed club wide and mandated developmental plan, (in many but not all clubs) and the local political forces always at work, too many kids are left on the outside of achieving the above objectives.
Elliott is correct when he states that Minnesota Hockey as a community based system suits the needs of many athletes and that it should be fun. But let's not use that standard fluffy disclaimer to escape the pursuit of excellence. It will take courage, creativity, and some mandates by MN Hockey (who up til now has been reluctant to set guidelines and require consistent processes), for us to get to a point where we can replace the words "many kids " with the words "most kids".

[Hobey Faker]

Bottom line(s)
1. What are you (your kid) looking to get from hockey?
2. How well is the local youth program run?
3. Can you afford AAA program (or even local hockey) and the extras?
4. Can you find a AAA program that meets your criteria established in #1 if #2 does not meet your criteria?

The structure of hockey in Minnesota meets the needs of many assorted youth hockey players.
There are parts of Minnesota where travel demands are too great to allow for AAA programs 'in season'.
Those that want AAA in the winter seem to go and find it.
Minnesota Hockey is researching alternatives for those that do not want to participate in community based hockey. But you do not throw the baby out with the bath water.

AND, as with everything, the end result will vary directly proportinate to the effort put forth, regardless the program.

And, hopefully, the kid is having fun.

I agree with most of this; but it seems there are alot of people that are jumping to a negative conclusion without any knowledge of the program being offered.
I believe these kids can still play in there associations if they want.
they will have garenteed ice time this winter and with what we have seen over the past couple years, the outside ice has been limited at best.
the skills training is as good as I have seen, and the kids that skate there love it.
I can't help but believe that alot of you that make uneducated statments are envious of other peoples success.
the parents that put there children in a program like this or any other one
has the right to do what they feel best for there child.
this is the USA and a free country if you don't like the fact that people can
make there own desicions and you can't hold them back; to bad.