AAA TIER1

shoot the!@#$% · Post by **shoot the!@#$%** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:34 am

I heard that some AAA teams are forming a tier 1 level AAA league Blades, Easton, Mn made, Cyclones, Icemen
anybody have have any info on this?
I also heard only these teams will be allowed to play in any of there tournaments.

DMom · Post by **DMom** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 7:39 am

I can see a lot of positives in a league like that. Even the Jr. Badgers league was a good try, but most of the families want to play local with their summer buddies. Those are quality programs. Just as Showcase AAA did a great thing at the time, the time has come for something like this. There is far too much difference in "invite" teams and this will help keep "like skilled kids skating together" as everyone on here always claims is such a great idea. It doesn't mean there aren't quality teams out there at certain birth years, but these are the clubs that are providing the most consistentency. I welcome the idea, because I have always thought it was ridiculous to travel so much when we have very competitive teams right here in Minnesota, and with the economy in the tank, it seems like an idea whose time has come.

imaloserbaby · Post by **imaloserbaby** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 8:13 am

Potentially a great idea to help minimize the dilution of the AAA program - the LSS should be included in the list though.

However, the mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit organizations could be a huge problem but would be interested in hearing more if the MM, Blades, Icemen, etc. could actually come together and agree on the terms for a "premier" AAA league.

goinbardown · Post by **goinbardown** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:11 pm

shoot the!@#$% wrote:I heard that some AAA teams are forming a tier 1 level AAA league Blades, Easton, Mn made, Cyclones, Icemen
anybody have have any info on this?
I also heard only these teams will be allowed to play in any of there tournaments.

What team do you coach? Actually which team does your kid play for because I feel a hidden agenda here.

How fun would it be if those are to only teams you played especially since the blades are pretty much better than everyone. (The machine is dying. Bernie is in the process of killing that team by running off his talent)

Good idea of good kids playing good kids but how many times do you really want to play the easton stealth before it just isn't worth playing them anymore.

shoot the!@#$% · Post by **shoot the!@#$%** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 10:59 pm

Not a coach, no agenda just want my son to be able to play in some tournaments this summer.I had heard if you are not a on the tier 1 league forget about playing in a local tournaments. he tried out for more than one team and if he makes one that is on the tier 1 list I would have him play there over teams that may have trouble playing in local tournaments.

pro2b@3 · Post by **pro2b@3** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:13 am

shoot the!@#$% wrote:Not a coach, no agenda just want my son to be able to play in some tournaments this summer.I had heard if you are not a on the tier 1 league forget about playing in a local tournaments. he tried out for more than one team and if he makes one that is on the tier 1 list I would have him play there over teams that may have trouble playing in local tournaments.

From my understanding, The Tier AAA idea is too eliminate all the so called “AAA” teams that are popping up everywhere… from entering INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENTS…

Do the Blades, Machine, Cyclone, Deuce, Easton’s, or Icemen teams need to play the St. Croix, igniters, Miracles, or ANY Showcase AAA TEAM, of course not? What good would a 20+ to 0 do for either team?

There will be PLENTY of “OPEN” tournaments for these programs.

The Teams invited into the TIER 1 AAA group, are TRUE Developmental programs, which have PROVEN themselves in invitational tournaments and their philosophy in developing players, not just rounding up the best kids, and throwing together a tournament team.

Now with this Tier 1 AAA Group, they could pull Outstate teams like Little Caesars, LA Selects, Florida Ever blades, Belle Tire, LA Hockey Club, Compuware, Honey baked, etc….. These are TRUE Tier 1 AAA Teams. Make it worth their while coming here, to play our State’s TOP Tier 1 Teams…

shoot the!@#$% · Post by **shoot the!@#$%** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:59 pm

What tournaments are out there locally that these other teams can play in?

hockeyboys · Post by **hockeyboys** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 4:31 pm

What would really be great is a Professional league for these teams. Since all the players will be in the NHL someday - might as well pay them now. For those few who don't make it to the NHL, they aren't going to need college scholorships if they save a small portion of their paychecks. If their is a professional league for squirts, everyone is going to watch them and go to games. They would get a TV contract soon enough. And, at this age it is easy enough to know which are the very best kids. That way these really good players don't have to monkey around playing with the crappy kids who are obviously not going anywhere anyway.

DuckDuckQuackQuack · Post by **DuckDuckQuackQuack** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:09 pm

It sounds like they're trying to reduce the number of kids leaving these teams to play for other teams that have formed in recent years. I can tell you there were no shortage of teams in the "99" age group last year.
This decision forces teams to travel out of the metro, state or country to play in tourneys. It will be interesting to see what happens with some of these newly formed teams. [/quote][/i][/b]

shoot the!@#$% · Post by **shoot the!@#$%** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:30 pm

St Croix tournament where else?
Who else has a open tournament for these teams to play in?

With the number of out of town teams will Showcase take the so called outcast teams at the open level?Why would they who would you rather play double a local or double a out of town team. If showcase wants to keep people coming from out of town they cant have aa level local talent.

goinbardown · Post by **goinbardown** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:36 pm

If they are out of state then they are probably in the invite division.

I heard that the Northern Edge team kinda got the shaft last year and no one really wanted to play them.

Anyone care to tell me why? I know they had some solid teams at a couple of the levels for sure.

DuckDuckQuackQuack · Post by **DuckDuckQuackQuack** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:58 pm

goinbardown wrote:If they are out of state then they are probably in the invite division.

I heard that the Northern Edge team kinda got the shaft last year and no one really wanted to play them.

Anyone care to tell me why? I know they had some solid teams at a couple of the levels for sure.

Where did the Northern edge players come from? Right or wrong I think these programs are getting sick of new teams popping up and taking players. (Copycat if you will) Not sure if this is happening?

shoot the!@#$% · Post by **shoot the!@#$%** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:03 pm

IS THE ST.CROIX TOURNAMENT FULL IF NOT SHOULD BE BY WEDNESDAY
THIS AAA TIER 1 RUMOR WILL FILL HIS TOURNAMENT. NO OTHER PLACE TO PLAY. GREAT MARKETING

iwearmysunglassesatnight · Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:16 pm

[quote="goinbardown"]If they are out of state then they are probably in the invite division.

I heard that the Northern Edge team kinda got the shaft last year and no one really wanted to play them.

Anyone care to tell me why? I know they had some solid teams at a couple of the levels for sure.[/quote]

Northern Edge teams for the most part were terrible compared to other MN teams, AAA or AA. And at a very expensive cost mind you. There is other programs out there, not for profit, that have a good foundation that their teams are based on.

jancze5 · Post by **jancze5** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:05 am

Guys, isn't it time to define the spring for Minnesota?

There are exageratingly 387 AAA programs in the state, but how many are true go anywhere and play anyone AAA programs??? 2, maybe 3.

There is nothing wrong with devoloping an upper tier program AAA league/schedule. Does anyone bitch about A B C in the winter? No, so why complain about some organizations trying to define the spring.

Showcase has clearly accepted that its a B league with some C talent on the 3rd line. And that's fine. They have a market and sell ice and fill their tournaments.

This new proposal would help the desire to attract teams to come here.
Minnesota should be a hotbed to host a national top end AAA summer tournament but it isnt' even close. Why?

iceman23 · Post by **iceman23** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:51 am

Ha! Finaly Showcase got smart and they are going to block out all the upstart teams from taking their players and then turning around and enter them into a Showcase tournament. Smart Move by Showcase.

Turn around is fair play

Good for Showcase.

stupidiswhatstupiddoes · Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:25 pm

iceman23 wrote:Ha! Finaly Showcase got smart and they are going to block out all the upstart teams from taking their players and then turning around and enter them into a Showcase tournament. Smart Move by Showcase.

Turn around is fair play

Good for Showcase.

- you obviously have an opinion and insight into this - can you provide a list that you consider "upstart" teams?

When you say "upstart" teams are you referring to new teams being formed under traditional/long-standing developmental program (i.e. 2000 team being formed by Blades, MM, LSS and Icemen) or are you suggesting/referring that new programs (i.e. Magicians, Edge, Cyclones, etc...), regardless of the age group, should not be considered for the Showcase tournaments.

In either of those cases, Showcase players will be taken because the parents believe that their player would be better served doing something other than Showcase for whatever reason they may feel is important.

So, in your opinion, what teams/programs should be allowed to participate in the Meltdown?

buttend · Post by **buttend** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:43 pm

stupidiswhatstupiddoes wrote: So, in your opinion, what teams/programs should be allowed to participate in the Meltdown?

Whatever teams Showcase or MM let in or decide to let in! Its their events so "they" can let in whomever they want. Looking at their websites they run 5 Summer Events

Meltdown ( Invite and Open)
AAA Classic ( Invite)
Stars and Stripes (Invite)
Easton Cup ( Invite and Open)
Summit Series (I'm hearing this will be an invite event)

Skating on a summer team does not guarentee you a spot in these events according to the gossip about this topic. Is it a "lockout" on certian teams? Sounds like it.

What else is out there?

Chi-town Shuffle Chicago
Northern Wings Cup Duluth
St Croix Cup Woodbury
USA International Cup Blaine
Pepsi Cup Fargo
Northern Exposure Duluth
Lake Superior Cup Duluth, (although I would bet this will be an invite only event.)

Winnepeg MB
AAA Subway (definitely an invite event)
Manitoba Lighnting ( invite only event)

Brandon MB
Source AAA Hockey (open event)

breakout · Post by **breakout** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 2:58 pm

DMom wrote:I can see a lot of positives in a league like that. Even the Jr. Badgers league was a good try, but most of the families want to play local with their summer buddies. Those are quality programs. Just as Showcase AAA did a great thing at the time, the time has come for something like this. There is far too much difference in "invite" teams and this will help keep "like skilled kids skating together" as everyone on here always claims is such a great idea. It doesn't mean there aren't quality teams out there at certain birth years, but these are the clubs that are providing the most consistentency. I welcome the idea, because I have always thought it was ridiculous to travel so much when we have very competitive teams right here in Minnesota, and with the economy in the tank, it seems like an idea whose time has come.

You can find AAA hockey in other states. Cost, 15K per kid plus travel expenses for parents. Great idea to eliminate talented athletes from a great hockey state. The fact is, young skillled kids can fall off the radar screen after puberty kicks in. With your idea, good athletes that can't afford hockey will have moved on to basketball, lacrosse and baseball.

Jake Gardiner, #17 pick in this past year's NHL draft stayed the course with his Minnetonka buddies. Played some off-season AAA hockey. 4 points this past weekend for Wisoncsin. Aaron Ness stayed the course with his Roseau buddies. Aaron was Mr. Hockey last year, is listed as the #1 incoming D freshmen and was drafted in the 2nd round of the NHL draft. As a freshmen, he played 27 minutes for the Gophs this past weekend. Those kids developed because they have good genetics and a passion to grow as hockey players.

Also, are suggesting that those teams play each other over and over again and not travel as much? Trust me, you will have parents that won't be satisfied with that. They will want to play the best in St. Lousi, Michigan, etc., etc.

puckfan · Post by **puckfan** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:25 pm

Ha! Finaly Showcase got smart and they are going to block out all the upstart teams from taking their players and then turning around and enter them into a Showcase tournament. Smart Move by Showcase.

Turn around is fair play

Good for Showcase.

Iceman23-your Icemen teams seem to be locked into their tournaments.

Remember what comes around goes around. If they only let their selected few in and not the all best teams, the value of playing in their tournament deminishes.

Why did the Machine not participate in the Meltdown(except for the 95's)?

Showcase pushes that they have league games(many more game hours than development hours). To combat this, they started their Easton teams and I think they had mixed success (look at Easton Cup results).
They need to understand that there are other options for tournaments and you can find players other ways than sitting at their games in the summer.

iceman23 · Post by **iceman23** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:55 pm

I think that alot of these teams are out there promising the moon to try and get kids and they are not going to be in the tournaments they think they are. Showcase controls most of the tournaments and there is not enough ice to host other tournaments in the spring or early summer. That's my guess.

hockeyboys · Post by **hockeyboys** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:58 pm

I'm guessing that 99% of the parents on this bored who think these summer AAA teams are the road to success do not have older players - past the high school age, and simply don't understand how and which players make it to the next level. Ryan Mcdonough, Ness, Everson, and the list goes on - go back further and talk to Housley, Dziedzic, McAlpine, they will tell you, that AAA programs are not what got them to where they ended up. They weren't even around back then. They played pond hockey from morning to night every chance they got. They played with their friends. The talented atheletes made it to the next level, the rest have awesome memories of their childhoods playing with their friends. None of their parents worried about which AAA team their kid got on, which tournament thier kids' team got into, who the competition was, etc.
This discussion of a summer AAA league is plain silly. It doesn't matter to the development of these kids. Yes - play some hockey -and play lots of baseball, lacross, and go fishing with your grandpa. Because the AAA team and league you play on is not going to make any difference if you get a college scholorship, but it will make a difference when you look back at your childhood memories with your friends and family.

Hockey!LoveIt! · Post by **Hockey!LoveIt!** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:23 pm

This discussion of a summer AAA league is plain silly. It doesn't matter to the development of these kids. Yes - play some hockey -and play lots of baseball, lacross, and go fishing with your grandpa. Because the AAA team and league you play on is not going to make any difference if you get a college scholorship, but it will make a difference when you look back at your childhood memories with your friends and family.[/quote]

Like with everything else...times they are a changing. Some of us think winter is the off-season...and great memories are made with our hockey families from the summer.

hockeyboys · Post by **hockeyboys** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:41 pm

So your kids play basketball in the offseason - in the winter? Or just hockey year round? If that is the case, you are misguided. Any and all experts, scouts, professionals, college coaches, will tell you that is hurting a young player's development, not helping it. It is necessary to play other sports to develop athleticism. If you take a look at DI scholorships, you will find that about 98% of those players recruited lettered in another sport in high school other than hockey. They are athletes, not jut hockey players. So who's memories anyway? Yours or the childs? If it is about development, that is just not going to help the young player get there. And that is a fact, and the experts will all agree. If it is about parents living their dreams through the lives of thier children, then keep writing the checks.

Hockey!LoveIt! · Post by **Hockey!LoveIt!** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:57 pm

So who's memories anyway? Yours or the childs? If it is about development, that is just not going to help the young player get there. And that is a fact, and the experts will all agree. If it is about parents living their dreams through the lives of thier children, then keep writing the checks.[/quote]

Oh, that's right. I forgot about that tired argument. You are right. They are my dreams. Couldn't possibly be that some of our kids just really enjoy both summer hockey and playing with kids from thoughtout the metro area as well as playing association with our hometown friends. We can't possibly find time to go fishing with Grandpa, too.

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