high school or bantams?

hockey4L · Post by **hockey4L** » Wed May 21, 2008 4:00 pm

if you had a choice to play high school or bantam hockey which would you decide to tryout for?

elliott70 · Post by **elliott70** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:23 pm

I don't think it is a clear as that.

The answer could change from community to community, family circumstances, coaches, and so on.

Can't Never Tried · Post by **Can't Never Tried** » Thu May 22, 2008 8:28 am

The key word here is PLAY !
If you were to play 50+ games on the top line in Bantams and all the special teams units,
as opposed to watching a lot of the older players play 25 or so games while you get a shift or 2 a game...I think that would make the decision easier.

elliott is right it's not as simple as it sounds, in most cases Bantams is the right choice IMO.

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Fri May 23, 2008 12:29 am

Definitely agree that it depends on the program, coaches and especially the quality of the team/players. If you're a strong, talented 9th grader and your Bantam A team is not very strong or the kids are not very talented, you'll develop more playing with stronger kids and against better varsity teams (in my opinion).

If however you a) have tons of friends on the bantam A team, b) are lucky enough to have a great bantam coach, or c) have a super strong hs team and you won't see much ice time, I would recommend playing a second year of bantams. You really can't go wrong with that choice but sitting on the bench all year as a freshman varsity player has hurt many a talented player. They're ill equipped come spring season and Adv. 15 and select tournaments, to show well since all they've done is practice for a year.

Night Train · Post by **Night Train** » Fri May 23, 2008 10:56 am

In my opinion, it's a very rare circumstance that a player should give up his final year of youth hockey to play JV hockey. To play with their association friends for a final year is to important to pass on. High school athletics comes soon enough. I like the opinion that I've read here. Unless the player is top two lines on varsity as a ninth grader, involved with specialty teams and regular second line shifts, to pass on the development that occurs during a 50 game Bantam A season, travel tournaments, leadership, having success, for a seat on the bench for 25 (several cruddy) games, is a mistake. Families make the decision based on finances and transportation as the top two reasons. That will be a factor this season. Interestingly, because of declining numbers at some high schools, I've heard of coaches asking second year bantam players to consider JV. That is unfortunate and the coaches are wrong for doing it. Let the player finish his final year of youth hockey and develop during a 50 game schedule, that lasts 6 months, as opposed to a selfish request for another body on a JV roster.

LIqUIdfOrcE714 · Post by **LIqUIdfOrcE714** » Wed May 28, 2008 5:08 pm

Depends on playing time

Tenoverpar · Post by **Tenoverpar** » Thu May 29, 2008 7:56 am

you play Bantam hockey with your friends and stop thinking about playing Varsity or JV as a freshmen and how that will get you somewhere. It's your LAST year of guaranteed hockey. From here on out, its up to you to make a team, not play because daddy paid the bill.

Here's another twist, if a kid that's 14 can make the Varsity or JV team, what's that say about the talent of hockey in that school? We're talking about 2,3,4 birth years older players.

I'd like to see the schools develop a FRESHMAN league. You bring in your freshman, they can play association bantams as well, but get them ice 3 days a week after school, the coach gets to instill a system going forward and they play a schedule that mirrors the JV. If you're a freshman, you play Freshman, Sophs and Juniors play JV or less talented seniors, All 3 upper classes play Varsity, no freshman. Of course we're going to have a lebron or Sidney once in the next 20 years, but we'll deal with that case when we get to it. Until then, who is the last Minnesotan to score 50 goals in the NHL? Exactly, relax people, he/she will still develop.

Night Train · Post by **Night Train** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:50 am

Some associations have U16 teams. They are the large associations from what I see in rankings, etc.
Are the players the top 10th grade players not on varsity?
Do they end up being single birthyear teams?
Where do those teams fit in with JV and Jr. Gold?
If bantam is mostly 8th and 9th graders U16 would be 10th and 11th but would an 11th grader, not on varsity, play JV, Jr. Gold or U16?
At an EP, WB, Edina or Woodbury
Why?
What are the factors?

goldy313 · Post by **goldy313** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:32 pm

You should play at or just above your ability level in most cases, Varsity > JV>Bantam A.
If as an 8th grader you were ahead of nearly everyone on your Bantam A team it's probably time to move up. Playing and practicing against better competiton only will make you better, playing and practicing against lesser competition builds bad habits because you can overcome them at the lower level. Too many people look just at the number of games, not the other aspects of being a better player. Also it takes kids a year to adjust to the high school game from youth, very few non goalies make any kind of an impact as sophomores even though they were great bantam players.

There are problems with moving up though, getting cut may leave you little place to go as the traveling teams have been set for a month or more. Size does matter and if you are small (even if you're not)you will be hit by guys 3 years older, much bigger, and stronger than you are.

I had kids do both, the major benefit to me was of course cost, I went from paying $3000+ a season to paying $300 - this was when gas was under $2 a gallon. For my kids the kid who skipped his second year of bantams did progress pretty quick and passed many of his former teamates, though some of that can be attributed to growth. It's a dog eat dog world and anything that gives you a leg up is worth looking into at least.

It's just my opinion and experiance but people undervalue JV hockey quite a bit, I doubt any bantam A team would beat their corresponding JV team, at least not at any large metro school and even very few others would either.

tenoverpar....many schools need younger kids to fill a roster, not every school has 2000 students. It probably says less about the talent than it does about the numbers. Also once a area loses it's high school team the youth program will soon follow, if keeping the high school team alive means keeping freshmen, it's well worth it in the long run. Numbers may improve given a chance but bringing a program back from the dead doesn't happen.

Reggie · Post by **Reggie** » Sat May 31, 2008 12:24 am

Play with your friends.

mnwild5 · Post by **mnwild5** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:05 pm

I like the points that Goldy 313 makes. Our son has played Bantam A's as an 8th grader and if he plays a ton in the Jv games and at least practices Varsity it will be a good move. With all the summer hockey that kids can play I think the number of games isn't such a big deal. Our Bantams are a combined group with kids going to four different high schools and it is very expensive and some of the better kids goto the privet school or they leave for East in 9th grade anyway. It makes it hard for our high school coach to keeps his own players.

WoodStickSniper · Post by **WoodStickSniper** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:59 am

I am a 8th grader and next year i am skipping my eligibility for another year at bantams to go play high school. I would think i will at least make varsity but there is just no skill left in our bantam program even though we have a very phenomonal coach there are a couple of factors why i am making the move up and i only hope it works out

Charliedog · Post by **Charliedog** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:12 pm

In my humble opinion.....stay with bantams unless you are one of the top 5 skaters for the JV team. High school coaches do NOT play every kid equally.

watchurbak15 · Post by **watchurbak15** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 5:31 pm

very tough choice i think. but in some cases you may be able to do both, can't you?

Can't Never Tried · Post by **Can't Never Tried** » Mon Nov 03, 2008 6:55 pm

watchurbak15 wrote:very tough choice i think. but in some cases you may be able to do both, can't you?

No !

keepyourheadup · Post by **keepyourheadup** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 1:55 am

get a grip!!!!! if you can't make an impact as a varsity player you belong in bantam. Yes there are cases with very small associations or truly exceptional kids but 9 out of ten belong in bantams. Most top 93 or 94 players this year would be making the jump to play with 90-91 kids. Thats 3 years of growing and maturing for most. How many of these kids ever even jumped one level much less two. Leaving to play JV is even harder to phathom....the only reason for this has got to be financial. If you can't reasonably compete at the varsity level you belong in bantams.[/b]

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:08 pm

Goldy313 - Definitely one of the best and wisest posts I've ever read. I would only add that you should give heavy consideration to what your player wants to do - go for it and play Varsity, play JV if your V coach allows it and have the hope of moving up and playing better players all year (number of games just don't matter as much) or play one more year with his buddies. You will certainly develop more/faster playing Varsity, but it's hard to replace that last year of playing with your buddies. I still vote you play at the highest level you can PLAY (not sit - wasted year then) at if you want a future in hockey.

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