Minnesota made AAA hockey teams Grinders/Snipers

[badgerhockey]

Can people with experience with Minnesota made AAA hockey please share their thoughts about the teams and organization.Plus if anyone has a kid that is going to play for the grinders or snipers what is your expections with these teams.Thanks for the help.

[a ice person]

I take it these two teams will be a level below the machine. It seems Bernies ideals seem to be changing now that he has to keep two sheets of ice busy all the time. He has always said he wants to only coach the top kids and develope them into the best players in the state but now he is creating all these sub-level teams to keep his rink full. I have spoken to many players and parents who thought his ideas where the secret to their childs future in the game but now with all these teams he is not coaching himself much and it has become the same as any other summer so called AAA team ( Showcase AAA for example). Just a way to pay for the rinks. If you are looking for your child to improve over the summer look for a independent AAA team to get on ( Icemen,Blades,Christin Brothers, etc..) These teams are not looking to pay for a rink or profit a individual.

[Nobodyonya]

Sounds like the business adventure has overcome the passion for the game

[Lowstickside]

Regardless of all of the comments regarding the business of running a hockey rink, ultimately this is an opportunity for more kids to train with the same methods used by the Machine/Duece teams. This is a good thing. One person can only be in so many places at once, and it is my understanding that the teams will be following prescribed practice(from Bernie) plans supervised by MM trained coaches(probably parents). This is going to be skill based hockey training, and may be a bit serious for some kids, but as everyone likes to say, check it out, and if your skater is enjoying themselves, then good for them! They are definately going to be busy during their icetimes, and this is really just opening up more options for more young hockey players.

[O-townClown]

I've always hoped that someday my kid could stand out enough to be a Grinder.

[Hobey Faker]

You can be assured that the training will be good; If you have issues with bernie; then look some place else. the fact is the training is hard to beat
and the kids do like it.
my personal experiance is money well spent! especialy compared to other programs like showcase.

[Hockeyguy_27]

You can be assured that the training will be good; If you have issues with bernie; then look some place else. the fact is the training is hard to beat
and the kids do like it.
my personal experiance is money well spent! especialy compared to other programs like showcase.

Compared to Showcase, a lot of things look good I'm not a Bernie fan but good for him for providing certain kids with something they like. Also, it is nice to have another 2 sheets of ice here in the South metro.

[boardmember]

Can people with experience with Minnesota made AAA hockey please share their thoughts about the teams and organization.Plus if anyone has a kid that is going to play for the grinders or snipers what is your expections with these teams.Thanks for the help.

These teams will play at the "Open" level competing against the Showcase AAA teams. The teams will have 75 hours practice w/ 16+ games

Training is skills based, stick handling, skating edges, passing. These teams will be very successful in their tournaments. More opprotunity for kids to practice/play.

[gilmour]

adding the two new teams is all about the $...without making the $ the Machine and Deuce will go bye-bye...hopefully he can make it work to keep things going for the people that want to be part of his program...but there is no way he can have the same expectations for the talent level on the Snipers and Grinders than Machine and Deuce which is going to seem very contradictory from what we have heard in the past about his teams.

[Hockeyguy_27]

adding the two new teams is all about the $...without making the $ the Machine and Deuce will go bye-bye...hopefully he can make it work to keep things going for the people that want to be part of his program...but there is no way he can have the same expectations for the talent level on the Snipers and Grinders than Machine and Deuce which is going to seem very contradictory from what we have heard in the past about his teams.

I'm just waiting for him to start a girls' team and call them "The Snappers"

[TheOctopus]

adding the two new teams is all about the $...without making the $ the Machine and Deuce will go bye-bye...hopefully he can make it work to keep things going for the people that want to be part of his program...but there is no way he can have the same expectations for the talent level on the Snipers and Grinders than Machine and Deuce which is going to seem very contradictory from what we have heard in the past about his teams.

I'm just waiting for him to start a girls' team and call them "The Snappers"

That's a bit sick minded considering that age group you're speaking of.

[watchdog]

what sick is the expectation put on little kids and the FACT that little johnny has to attend to be the next one.

[RobRay]

I'm just waiting for him to start a girls' team and call them "The Snappers"

That's a bit sick minded considering that age group you're speaking of.

I agree, something like the "Awesome Blossoms" would have been a better "fit".

[TheOctopus]

what sick is the expectation put on little kids and the FACT that little johnny has to attend to be the next one.

No sick minded in the context you were putting it in was naming a hockey team of U10 or U12 girls after a slang term for the female genitalia. You spoke nothing of expectations put on little kids.

[TheOctopus]

I'm just waiting for him to start a girls' team and call them "The Snappers"

That's a bit sick minded considering that age group you're speaking of.

I agree, something like the "Awesome Blossoms" would have been a better "fit".

Remember you're talking about U10 or U12 girls. If you find nothing wrong with that, get some frickin help!

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

These teams will play at the "Open" level competing against the Showcase AAA teams. The teams will have 75 hours practice w/ 20+ games

Training is skills based, stick handling, skating edges, passing. These teams will be very successful in their tournaments. More opprotunity for kids to practice/play.

That seems kind of funny since i hear that they are playing in the Independent AAA Classic(Predators Tourny) at the '97 and '98 age levels.

[council member retired]

funny how? like a clown?
they are playing in the open level of both the trnys for showcase
the meltdown & easton cup... just as stated

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

Yes, Funny like a CLOWN...........

Sorry you took my statement so personally, would hate to offend your son's team.

[RobRay]

Heard these teams are in the International Cup at the super rink.
Don't think I ever heard of this tourney. Anyone know anything about it?
Is it similiar to showcase?

[crossovers8]

Heard these teams are in the International Cup at the super rink.
Don't think I ever heard of this tourney. Anyone know anything about it?
Is it similiar to showcase?

Another summer AAA tournament. Not affiliated with Showcase. Held in late June- Early July. Open and Invitational Divisions. Boys Ages '91-99 and Girls U10-U19.

Here's a link to the National Sports Center website:
http://www.nscsports.org/sports/hockey/ ... /index.htm

[boardmember]

These teams will play at the "Open" level competing against the Showcase AAA teams. The teams will have 75 hours practice w/ 16+ games

Training is skills based, stick handling, skating edges, passing. These teams will be very successful in their tournaments. More opprotunity for kids to practice/play.

That seems kind of funny since i hear that they are playing in the Independent AAA Classic(Predators Tourny) at the '97 and '98 age levels.

I hate it when things seem funny, so I called MM and asked about the summer tourneys that the Snipers and Grinders are playing in. The teams are playing in 4 tourneys from the following..

Minnesota Meltdown (Open Division)
AAA Independant Classic ( Formally Predators tourney) I assume tied to Showcase since Capra has joined Showcase. Only 1 division per age group.
AAA Hockey Tournament Brandon Ca (1 Division, open )
International Cup Blaine Mn (Open Division)
Easton Cup (Open division)

The AAA Independant Classic will be a tough event for these new teams. Generally this tourney has teams like the Blades, Duece, Icemen, Machine, Predators (Easton) and LS Stars.

[BoogeyMan]

what sick is the expectation put on little kids and the FACT that little johnny has to attend to be the next one.

Do you suppose some kids do it for fun? My son cannot wait for baseball. He has already been to the batting cages twice. He's starting to ask about fishing.
When he was asked to play for a AAA team. He begged me to play.
As long as he does well in school. Has fun. Why not? I think it's important to note. Not all kids are being pushed.

What do the Northern kids do for hockey in the summer? Are there any local AAA teams? I know there's plenty of camps and clinics.

[HockeyDad2016]

I'm not a fan of Showcase - our team had many not so pleasant conversations wtih the owner - can't rememeber his name off hand - his Family grew up in St. Louis Park - enough said

and for Minnesota Made. last year at the Hockey Expo my kid posted the best time for the age group and won a free clinic - got to pick any one they offered for free....................wow this was great, my kid was thrilled.
wont mention which clinic we picked.......but lets just say it sure wasn't what we expected from this so called great place......my kid basically spent the time out there skating up and down making funny faces at my in the stands - bored to death.

Minnesota Made - they say 1st impressions last a lifetime - for me it is an embarasment to have that name with what I saw.

[TheOctopus]

I'm not a fan of Showcase - our team had many not so pleasant conversations wtih the owner - can't rememeber his name off hand - his Family grew up in St. Louis Park - enough said

and for Minnesota Made. last year at the Hockey Expo my kid posted the best time for the age group and won a free clinic - got to pick any one they offered for free....................wow this was great, my kid was thrilled.
wont mention which clinic we picked.......but lets just say it sure wasn't what we expected from this so called great place......my kid basically spent the time out there skating up and down making funny faces at my in the stands - bored to death.

Minnesota Made - they say 1st impressions last a lifetime - for me it is an embarasment to have that name with what I saw.

After being at MM for over a year I can say I've never experienced what you did... Kids are constantly in motion doing drills and if not they get called out to do it again or pulled aside for personal instruction until they do it right. Sorry to hear your experience was not up to your expectations.

[BoogeyMan]

I'm not a fan of Showcase - our team had many not so pleasant conversations wtih the owner - can't rememeber his name off hand - his Family grew up in St. Louis Park - enough said

and for Minnesota Made. last year at the Hockey Expo my kid posted the best time for the age group and won a free clinic - got to pick any one they offered for free....................wow this was great, my kid was thrilled.
wont mention which clinic we picked.......but lets just say it sure wasn't what we expected from this so called great place......my kid basically spent the time out there skating up and down making funny faces at my in the stands - bored to death.

Minnesota Made - they say 1st impressions last a lifetime - for me it is an embarasment to have that name with what I saw.

HockeyDad- Sorry it didn't work out for your son. Doesn't sound like a good fit to me.
Now you know not to sign him up for anymore clinics. Keep in mind. Like it or not. There will be plenty of kids trying to get into Minnesota made next year.
Simple fact! Minnesota made is not for everyone.

Good luck!