Minnesota Made Ice Center

[demongoed]

I believe that kids should play in the program that fits their needs. Make no mistake about it, though. Bernie is no longer doing this out of a desire to fill a void in the youth hockey world. Maybe that's how it started, but it's clear from the never-ending emails and mailings I get each week that priority one is selling ice time. He's constantly coming up with new programs, and in the mailings make it sound like your child will be left behind if he or she doesn't participate. Recruiters won't see them, they won't make the top teams at tryouts, they won't be fast enough or handle the puck well enough to compete with the top players if they don't participate in MM clinics, etc. Sure other camps/clinics say the same things, but I am not barraged with 2-3 mailing a week like I am from MM.

I am not disparaging Bernie. The MM clinics/programs are probably good (as are so many others in Minnesota), but I am suggesting that there is something more at work here than just trying to do the best for the kids, and when getting numbers becomes the goal, quality drop may follow. . .

BTW, does it surprise anyone that the MM teams are good? Kids have to try out, for God's sake, and they pick the best. Hmmmm, sounds a lot like most associations' A teams. . .

[council member retired]

Is it possible that MM core customer will eventually become the "average" player? That is where camps, training centers, etc.. have to flourish in order to make a profit.

[10ouncepuck]

Is it possible that MM core customer will eventually become the "average" player? That is where camps, training centers, etc.. have to flourish in order to make a profit.

Yes, that could happen. But, if they don't provide a "quality" service will they survive? I read today that cab fares may be going up.

[DuckDuckQuackQuack]

I believe that kids should play in the program that fits their needs. Make no mistake about it, though. Bernie is no longer doing this out of a desire to fill a void in the youth hockey world. Maybe that's how it started, but it's clear from the never-ending emails and mailings I get each week that priority one is selling ice time. He's constantly coming up with new programs, and in the mailings make it sound like your child will be left behind if he or she doesn't participate. Recruiters won't see them, they won't make the top teams at tryouts, they won't be fast enough or handle the puck well enough to compete with the top players if they don't participate in MM clinics, etc. Sure other camps/clinics say the same things, but I am not barraged with 2-3 mailing a week like I am from MM.

I am not disparaging Bernie. The MM clinics/programs are probably good (as are so many others in Minnesota), but I am suggesting that there is something more at work here than just trying to do the best for the kids, and when getting numbers becomes the goal, quality drop may follow. . .

BTW, does it surprise anyone that the MM teams are good? Kids have to try out, for God's sake, and they pick the best. Hmmmm, sounds a lot like most associations' A teams. . .

Bernie is in the hockey business. Minnesota made is in the process of building a third rink. Are you really surprised to be receiving so many mailings? The more rinks the more ice time he needs to fill. Please don't confuse this with anything else but business. I also receive these mailings and emails. If it doesn't interest me I just ignore the offers. Spare me on the child left behind slogan.
As for trying out to make a team at the made. I would rather have my son playing with better players being pushed versus being the best player on his team without anyone pushing him.

[Doglover]

"If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..."
Nice post coucil member retired. I think we'll remember those wise words. This is all about business and making money. Don't kid yourself Quacker.

[DMom]

the oddest feeling of de'ja vu

groundhog day for the barn yard.

[DuckDuckQuackQuack]

"If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..."
Nice post coucil member retired. I think we'll remember those wise words. This is all about business and making money. Don't kid yourself Quacker.

That's my point. It is a business. I don't care if my son plays at Minnesota made or my local association. We're ALL going to pay money for our kids to develop by offering them camps or clinics some time in their hockey careers.
Minnesota made is adding a third rink and guess what? They're going to pay for it by offering top notch clinics and the Choice Mite and Squirt leagues. Not to mention they're going to offer four AAA teams at every level next year. Is this shocking to anyone? Sounds like a perfect business plan to me.
I'll let you in on a little secret. Shhhh!

I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey last year at Minnesota made. My son received 100 hours of training.

Now let compare this to my local association:

I would've paid $13.88 per hour of training at my local association. My son would've received 40 hours of training.

I admit I'm not great at math. But I can tell you my son did benefit skating at Minnesota made versus our local association.

Keep in mind! Shhhhhhhh...... I'm not making him a super star! He is having fun. And all is well at Minnesota made.

[blondegirlsdad]

My biggest gripe with Bernie is his inability to get a good girls program going. The clinics tend to treat the little girls like boys, and if you have both, you know you can't treat them the same.

I would welcome another option, but Bernie hasn't figured the girls out yet.

[JoltDelivered]

Only 40 hours of training in your association for an entire winter? OUCH...

Is that mid-level mites?

[Cooper48]

From Duck ;
I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey last year at Minnesota made.

I have to clarify this one. Whatever else you can say about MM clinics, they are not cheap.

I looked it up on the MM Website-
CNI is $46.00 per hour of ice.
Breakfast Club is $47.00 per hour of ice
Speed Academy is $15 and Fall Speed Acadamey is $32 per hour of ice.
X-mas clinic is $33/per hour of ice.
Pre-tryout clinics are $28 per hour of ice.

(BTW-except for CNI and Breakfast Club(which are very high), these camp prices are similar to camps advertised by Joe Dzedic, Scott Steffen and Casey Hankinson)

The Squirt league advertises $12/hr. The Mite league puts 30 players on the ice at a practice and advertises $10.00 per hour.

[DuckDuckQuackQuack]

From Duck ;
I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey last year at Minnesota made.

I have to clarify this one. Whatever else you can say about MM clinics, they are not cheap.

I looked it up on the MM Website-
CNI is $46.00 per hour of ice.
Breakfast Club is $47.00 per hour of ice
Speed Academy is $15 and Fall Speed Acadamey is $32 per hour of ice.
X-mas clinic is $33/per hour of ice.
Pre-tryout clinics are $28 per hour of ice.

(BTW-except for CNI and Breakfast Club(which are very high), these camp prices are similar to camps advertised by Joe Dzedic, Scott Steffen and Casey Hankinson)

The Squirt league advertises $12/hr. The Mite league puts 30 players on the ice at a practice and advertises $10.00 per hour.

Cooper- Sorry! Last year in the Choice Mite league I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey at Minnesota made. My son received 100 hours of training.

As for comparing the cost of clinics. Keep in mind location, hours of the clinic, convenience and most important of all what will the kids learn at these clinics.
My son has been in clinics where I pay $250 for the week to watch them skate up and down the rink with no instruction. Is this money well spent? I say not.
We could sit here all day and compare prices from one clinic to another. Keep in mind the reason why they're at these clinics in the first place the kids need to learn what the instructors are teaching.
Be cautious of the clinics that promise X-high school, college and pro players helping out. Only to find out they show up one day and have little effect on the kids. Broken promises.
The instructors at Minnesota made are full time instructors. They get paid to teach and develop the kids. They do this day after day after day. They must produce or take the chance of losing business. At Minnesota made they teach the kids through repetition. Who cares if a kid is a good stick handler at the age of 8 years old? At this age the kids need to learn how to skate and how to use their edges. There's plenty of time to learn stick handling and shooting.

Another secret. Shhhhh................ I also didn't care for some clinics my son has skated in. But I don't think its my place to bash anyone online. Not cool to sit behind a computer and blast away.
Hint: If you don't like a clinic please address it with them. With my experience at Minnesota made there's no hidden agenda. They're in the business of developing hockey players. Guess what? They might even charge you money to develop your athlete. Imagine that?

[SuperStar]

Just wondering when eveyone will get over MM and move on with there lives...

Blondgirldad even has the audacity to say Bernie doesn't have the ability to put together a Girls program..?

Maybe he doesn't want too....Why don't you quite complaining and get together a few million bucks and start your own training program - Exclusively for girls..? Cause you won't make a dime. And I say that cause I do have a daughter playing and I bet you wouldn't get enough girls to sign up to even keep the lights on for 1 summer.

I can't believe you would even say something like that

[watchdog]

ok shhhhhhhhhh my kids have been skating 1-2 hours a day having fun without structure since june 1st for 300.00 dollars. thats what 90 hours of ice time give or take a few.. shhhhhhhhhhhh dont tell anyone.... no seriously mm is a business but to run a good business that makes money you have to have results. if mm doesnt get results they will go broke their for they must have a solid commitment to their paying customers. their is truth to moving on. its the latest craze. lets look at roseau a state championship last year. than go undefeated this season with as it stands right now one kid thats moved on. many have not made any ushl teams ect... im all for staying with association hockey but it may soon be that the better players have to move on if they want any chance of playing college hockey. 70 games at the midget AAA level is just so much better than a 30 game high school schedule escpecially if you live up north were your not playing top end teams through out the year.

[Can't Never Tried]

From Duck ;
I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey last year at Minnesota made.

I have to clarify this one. Whatever else you can say about MM clinics, they are not cheap.

I looked it up on the MM Website-
CNI is $46.00 per hour of ice.
Breakfast Club is $47.00 per hour of ice
Speed Academy is $15 and Fall Speed Acadamey is $32 per hour of ice.
X-mas clinic is $33/per hour of ice.
Pre-tryout clinics are $28 per hour of ice.

(BTW-except for CNI and Breakfast Club(which are very high), these camp prices are similar to camps advertised by Joe Dzedic, Scott Steffen and Casey Hankinson)

The Squirt league advertises $12/hr. The Mite league puts 30 players on the ice at a practice and advertises $10.00 per hour.

Cooper- Sorry! Last year in the Choice Mite league I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey at Minnesota made. My son received 100 hours of training.

As for comparing the cost of clinics. Keep in mind location, hours of the clinic, convenience and most important of all what will the kids learn at these clinics.
My son has been in clinics where I pay $250 for the week to watch them skate up and down the rink with no instruction. Is this money well spent? I say not.
We could sit here all day and compare prices from one clinic to another. Keep in mind the reason why they're at these clinics in the first place the kids need to learn what the instructors are teaching.
Be cautious of the clinics that promise X-high school, college and pro players helping out. Only to find out they show up one day and have little effect on the kids. Broken promises.
The instructors at Minnesota made are full time instructors. They get paid to teach and develop the kids. They do this day after day after day. They must produce or take the chance of losing business. At Minnesota made they teach the kids through repetition. Who cares if a kid is a good stick handler at the age of 8 years old? At this age the kids need to learn how to skate and how to use their edges. There's plenty of time to learn stick handling and shooting.

Another secret. Shhhhh................ I also didn't care for some clinics my son has skated in. But I don't think its my place to bash anyone online. Not cool to sit behind a computer and blast away.
Hint: If you don't like a clinic please address it with them. With my experience at Minnesota made there's no hidden agenda. They're in the business of developing hockey players. Guess what? They might even charge you money to develop your athlete. Imagine that?

Are you the MM poster child or what?

[holymoly]

Bernie is a great guy, but most of you will never find that out because he make a point of not spending much time talking to parents. If you do get a chance to talk and ask him a question, he will not tell you what you want hear. It will be what he thinks, and you may not like it, but if you need something he will give you the shirt off his back.

[Cooper48]

From Duck:
Cooper- Sorry! Last year in the Choice Mite league I paid $8.95 per hour of hockey at Minnesota made.
____

Thats why I clarified your earlier statement. If you did anything else there (and I'll bet you did) you paid much more.

As to quality, I will keep my opinions to myself.

[blondegirlsdad]

>Blondgirldad even has the audacity to say Bernie doesn't have the ability >to put together a Girls program..?

>Maybe he doesn't want too....Why don't you quit complaining and get >together a few million bucks and start your own training program - >Exclusively for girls..? Cause you won't make a dime. And I say that >cause I do have a daughter playing and I bet you wouldn't get enough >girls to sign up to even keep the lights on for 1 summer.

>I can't believe you would even say something like that

That's the problem with the internet. You can't hear the tone. I was actually commending Bernie for doing what he's done with Boys programs and providing an alternative for many kids. I was only bemoaning that he (or anyone else) hasn't given the same opportunity and option to girls. This is not a rip, it's just me whining that no matter how far girls hockey has come, it just isn't as far along as boys, and when all you have are daughters and want them to do well, kind of sucks.

I seriously wish there were more options for girls, especially those in huge associations, but you're right, that's not Bernie's issue unless he wants it to be.

[Doglover]

Blondegirls Dad has actually offered up new option for Bernie to 1) make more money and 2) sell more ice. Let's see how long it takes him to jump on this opportunity. Maybe Quacker even has a daughter or two!! He's tied with holymoly in my book for poster child right now.
Let the fun begin...
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[tomASS]

the oddest feeling of de'ja vu

groundhog day for the barn yard.

Unquestionably !

A major league

[keepyourheadup]

Lets take a realistic look at this. Most prospects for post high school hockey have some very real similarities, not the least of which is natural talent/raw ability. Look in the mirror out there folks, if you don't come from an athletic background chances are your children are not top 1% in this department. All the clinics/programs in the world, including MM can't change this. If your choice is to pursue hockey outside your association is related to hopes for post secondary glory I believe you should have your head examined. If the choice is to truly to give your child the chance to be the best they can be and this is your reasoning I see no problem. Just don't expect all the true blue old timers to be as understanding. Most great players are born, where they play has little to do with their future success.

[misspacman]

Quacker sounds very similar to a previous poster. Could it be? Dog, give him a little credit, Quacker is the poster boy. His 9 year old must have spent many hours doing all the calculations since the choice to go to Minnesota Made was 100% his son's. Keepyourheadup, you make a good point, its not all gentics, but it makes up a big part of it. You can't knock Bernie because he provides a service. Parents do have a choice and the kids should not be penalized for their parents decision. Question to all the MM parents, is the decision being made based upon development, which the children seem to get at MM, or are you doing it because you believe it will be more fun (you can't say both!). I know that it can be both, but I am looking for the main reason.

[DuckDuckQuackQuack]

misspacman- I'll answer your question if you answer my question. Deal?

My son is only 8 years old. He's playing up for squirts.

Misspacmans question: Question to all the MM parents, is the decision being made based upon development, which the children seem to get at MM, or are you doing it because you believe it will be more fun (you can't say both!). I know that it can be both, but I am looking for the main reason.

1) To be honest my son played in the Choice Mite league with 11 other kids from his association. He played on the same team with two of his closest buddies so the fun factor was there. When we practiced with other teams or played them in the squirt style games he played against the other kids from our association. Fun factor was always there. We saw familiar faces both kids and parents. It felt like we really never left the association.

2) Both my son and I met new friends that we still hangout with today.

3) My son plays AAA hockey at MM with these same kids and families. We were planning on coming back to our association this winter. Since my son had so much fun playing Choice Mite league and AAA hockey at Minnesota made he really has little interest in playing in our association. Fun factor is there and the skill development is really there. We kind of have the best of both worlds.
One factor that played in the decision was the fact that our association didn't know how the squirts were going to be set up this year. At Minnesota made they're already making plans for AAA hockey next spring and our association cannot even tell me how many squirt B or C teams they'll offer in 2 months. I was shocked to hear this. With respect I thought this would have been addressed at the end of last season. After all the association should know the skill set of the kids moving from Mites to Squirts. Especially when a total of 12 kids are coming from Minnesota made where they received 100 hours of ice time and development.
I have to be careful when talking about my association. I'd hate to see people take it the wrong way. I appreciate everyone that volunteers in our local association. These people devote endless hours of blood, sweat and tears to help the kids in our community. I do thank them with all my heart. I used to coach and realize it's no easy task.

My turn for a question:
misspacman- Why does it concern you where other kids play hockey? You don't even majority of parents or kids and I feel you are passing judgement. Are you really concerned where other parents kids play hockey? Why?

[misspacman]

I'll answer your question first. I don't really care where your son plays and Im not passing judgment. If your son is happy at Minnesota Made that is great. It sounds like he is skipping his 1st year of squirts because you want him to develop. Many other parents have selected to allow their children to first have fun playing all different teams from many towns, and to travel to tournaments instead of playing 3 different teams for a whole season while being barred by Minnesota Hockey from playing in any outside tournaments. They will have fun and develop through their own association. You claim it was your son's decision but it was yours. You don't have to be hypersensitive and feel that this is critical. You made a choice and that is what life is about. Im not sure why knowing how many B and C teams there would be would impact your decision, or that it is unrealistic of an association. The association may not know how many kids are coming back and then not know how many B or C teams it will have. Maybe 12 kids will leave their association to play at Minnesota Made. This would affect the teams. You are passing judgment by assuming that where you are going is better then your association.

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

MS PACMAN one could put TOM'sa$$ on the line that Duckyboy is a proud member of the BOOGEYMAN fan club. I wonder if Bernard can get him to mow his lawn? Clinically this is referred to as "first son syndrome"

[misspacman]