"Showcase" attempting to take over the metro?

[shark1]

There have been some interesting moves made by Showcase the last month. First, they attempted to take over the AAA market with "packages" for independent programs, bad idea.

AAA tournament entrance was dangled as a carrott, seems to have backfired. Program organizers/directors from independent AAA programs have been fleeing Showcase tournaments for next year, or were forced out for not being part of the Alliance (interesting business plan).

Well, now there are a couple of new metro tournaments that have poped up for next season to offer an alternative to the Meltdown and Easton Cup. One will be put on by the Icemen in August and there's also a new tournament in April called the Warrior Cup. Apparently both tournaments have several quality teams committed from in and out state including former Showcase tourny teams.

Next Showcase buys a respectable program/business called FHIT; they now own it 100%. It will be very interesting to see how the business plan changes now that Showcase hockey owns them, the former director is no longer in control. They have already fired one of their most respected instructors for budgetary reasons. Sounds like money is the driving force, time will tell how much it affects the developmental aspect and learning environment.

[hockey talkie]

What quality teams have committed? Can you name them or are you speculating?

[livingthelife]

Next Showcase buys a respectable program/business called FHIT; they now own it 100%. It will be very interesting to see how the business plan changes now that Showcase hockey owns them, the former director is no longer in control. They have already fired one of their most respected instructors for budgetary reasons. Sounds like money is the driving force, time will tell how much it affects the developmental aspect and learning environment.

When did Showcase buy FHIT?? That would explain some things but I hadn't heard that before. Are you sure of your information??

[shark1]

The information is very accurate, came from someone who works for Showcase/FHIT.

Can't mention the teams for the AAA tournaments, sticky situation with past relationships that most likely will be severed. If the prosepctive teams commit, the tournaments look to be pretty solid.

This AAA world has taken on a life of it's own, hopefully the people running programs and tournaments do a good job and keep the focus where it should be, the kids.

Pick a program with good people and coaches and things should work out great. Beware of people promising the world, it's a big place with a lot of good hockey players and a few great ones.

[hockey talkie]

I hate when people say things and then can't back it up. Who are you lecturing to? What is the purpose of your post? You bring things up and then won't give the names? I'm guessing that noone has committed to any of your iceman tournaments.

[Cardiackid]

I would love to know what new tournaments there are. I have ties to one of the independent teams and am always looking for alternatives. If you have a website or if you want to pm me that is fine.

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

there is no consequences for those teams..... you said they would be leaving showcase league... so it was their decision..

The Meltdown is done, go ahead and get a list of the teams registered...oh by the way get a money back guarantee on those teams...

Easton AAA Independent cup is done as well. The plan backfired.

So who is in the Warrior Cup for local teams?
Who is in the Stars and Stripes for local teams?

The Icemen trny is in August and it will have a better field then the Showcase Easton Cup, call them they will be honest to you... and appreciate your input.

[buttend]

there is no consequences for those teams..... you said they would be leaving showcase league... so it was their decision..

The Meltdown is done, go ahead and get a list of the teams registered...oh by the way get a money back guarantee on those teams...

Easton AAA Independent cup is done as well. The plan backfired.

So who is in the Warrior Cup for local teams?
Who is in the Stars and Stripes for local teams?

The Icemen trny is in August and it will have a better field then the Showcase Easton Cup, call them they will be honest to you... and appreciate your input.

What local teams are in the Icemen Cup? or Warrior Cup? Is there a money back guarentee on those events? What teams have signed for the Icemens "behind the scene hockey club/agreement"? Scratch my back I'll scratch yours and we'll both not enter Showcase events pledge!

Speaking of money. The Icemen event, in its first try, is already at the close to top end for entry fees. Is it a money maker? following the pack? or is that about what is costs per team to put on an event?

USA International Cup $1850
AAA Independant Classic $1500
Stars and Stripes $1495
Icemen $1450
Meltdown $1400
Easton Cup $1400
Lake Superior Stars $1200
Warrior Cup $1200


Is this what the fields will look like in next years events?

Meltdown ( any age level) Invite

Machine
Duece
Synergy
Stealth
Cyclones
Lake Superior Stars
Northern Wings
Manitoba Colts
Manitoba Steelers


Stars and Stripes

Machine
Duece
Synergy
Stealth
Vapors
Manitoba Colts
Manitoba Lightning
Other Canadian teams?



AAA Independant Easton Cup
see Meltdown
+ A few Wisconsin teams

Warrior Cup

Magicians
Coyotes
??

Icemen Tourney

Icemen
Rockets
Lake Superior Stars
St Cloud Flames
??

[puckfan]

What teams have signed for the Icemens "behind the scene hockey club/agreement"? Scratch my back I'll scratch yours and we'll both not enter Showcase events pledge!

Wait a minute, did the AAA Alliance go away, I thought it was a case of "You're not in our club so you can't play with us". Isn't that why some local teams are not allowed in the Showcase tournaments

Buttend you seem to have a inside scoop on what all these agreements are so please, fill us in (or is it a case of "I can't say")

[imaloserbaby]

What teams have signed for the Icemens "behind the scene hockey club/agreement"? Scratch my back I'll scratch yours and we'll both not enter Showcase events pledge!

Wait a minute, did the AAA Alliance go away, I thought it was a case of "You're not in our club so you can't play with us". Isn't that why some local teams are not allowed in the Showcase tournaments

Buttend you seem to have a inside scoop on what all these agreements are so please, fill us in (or is it a case of "I can't say")

The Alliance is still going. The Machine, The Easton Teams, Cyclones and the Monopoly are the teams in The Alliance. These are the team that can play in the Showcase tournaments. Based upon what I understand it wasn't the other Independents making a deal not to play in the Showcase tournaments - rather, they were told they could not play so if anyone was making deals (i.e. scratch my back statement) it was the Alliance teams. Everyone outside of the Alliance had to find other tournaments.

Correct?

[boardmember]

Shark1,

The title of you post should have read " Icemen and Magicians add AAA tournaments to waterdown an already saturated AAA market"

If the "Top" teams want to play the best quality competion outside the metro area. 1)Limit the number of "Invite " events loaclly! 2) Plan a trip to Calgary or Winnepeg in the Spring and Chicago early Spring and mid to late August

Canada Spring teams

Vancouver Vipers
All-Blacks
Sask Can
NAA Extreme
Calgary Jr Dinos
Saskatoon Jr Blades
Team Manitoba

Chicago Teams

Chicago Mission
Team Illnois
St Louis Jr Blues
Madisn Capitals
Belle Tire
Honeybaked

All these teams are not from Chicago, but they all go there for Spring and late Summer tournaments

Inquire early its hard to get invited or get a spot! Imagine that, tournaments that limit spots for the best teams.

[muckandgrind]

Shark1,

The title of you post should have read " Icemen and Magicians add AAA tournaments to waterdown an already saturated AAA market"

So true.

On a related note, there are WAY too many teams calling themselves AAA, when in fact, they aren't AAA calibre at all (ex: All teams participating in the St. Croix 'AAA' program). My wish is that some of these start up teams would call themselves 'AA' instead (similar to Showcase 'Dynamo'), and create 'AA' tournaments. If and when these teams start dominating at the AA level, then maybe consider jumping up to the AAA Open level.

I'm all for more opportunities for kids to skate in the summer, but we need to come up with a better way of classifying these teams and creating a true standard by which a team can call itself "AAA". Otherwise, we run into the situation we are in...too many weak teams registering for AAA tournaments. In a way, the idea of creating the Alliance is a good way to ensure quality, or at least "known" competition. This current make-up of the Alliance may not be ideal, but I like the idea of it.

*Note* I know the Iceman are truly "AAA", but not sure about the Magicians.

[hockeyboys]

you are making a good point. The AAA designation is meaningless in MN. Really - what it stands for in MN is just "Summer Hockey Team" - It really doesn't designate a level of play. In all other parts of the country - there is a distinction year round between AA and AAA. Having a AA and AAA designation is a good iead - but how does a program decide where they fit? Who forces any team to declare themselves at a certain level? I could start a team tomorrow and call it AAAA - even better than AAA. What's to stop me other than common sense?

[DMom]

you are making a good point. The AAA designation is meaningless in MN. Really - what it stands for in MN is just "Summer Hockey Team" - It really doesn't designate a level of play. In all other parts of the country - there is a distinction year round between AA and AAA. Having a AA and AAA designation is a good iead - but how does a program decide where they fit? Who forces any team to declare themselves at a certain level? I could start a team tomorrow and call it AAAA - even better than AAA. What's to stop me other than common sense?

AAAA!! quick let me be the first to write you a check

[imaloserbaby]

Shark1,

The title of you post should have read " Icemen and Magicians add AAA tournaments to waterdown an already saturated AAA market"

So true.

On a related note, there are WAY too many teams calling themselves AAA, when in fact, they aren't AAA calibre at all (ex: All teams participating in the St. Croix 'AAA' program). My wish is that some of these start up teams would call themselves 'AA' instead (similar to Showcase 'Dynamo'), and create 'AA' tournaments. If and when these teams start dominating at the AA level, then maybe consider jumping up to the AAA Open level.

I'm all for more opportunities for kids to skate in the summer, but we need to come up with a better way of classifying these teams and creating a true standard by which a team can call itself "AAA". Otherwise, we run into the situation we are in...too many weak teams registering for AAA tournaments. In a way, the idea of creating the Alliance is a good way to ensure quality, or at least "known" competition. This current make-up of the Alliance may not be ideal, but I like the idea of it.

*Note* I know the Iceman are truly "AAA", but not sure about the Magicians.

Showcase is starting some new AAA teams in addition to the Easton teams - they are being sponsored by CCM. If you decide to play on a CCM team you are playing Showcase.

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

[quote="imaloserbaby"][quote="muckandgrind"][quote="boardmember"]Shark1,

[b]The title of you post should have read " Icemen and Magicians add AAA tournaments to waterdown an already saturated AAA market" [/b]

[/quote]

So true.

On a related note, there are WAY too many teams calling themselves AAA, when in fact, they aren't AAA calibre at all (ex: All teams participating in the St. Croix 'AAA' program). My wish is that some of these start up teams would call themselves 'AA' instead (similar to Showcase 'Dynamo'), and create 'AA' tournaments. If and when these teams start dominating at the AA level, then maybe consider jumping up to the AAA Open level.

I'm all for more opportunities for kids to skate in the summer, but we need to come up with a better way of classifying these teams and creating a true standard by which a team can call itself "AAA". Otherwise, we run into the situation we are in...too many weak teams registering for AAA tournaments. In a way, the idea of creating the Alliance is a good way to ensure quality, or at least "known" competition. This current make-up of the Alliance may not be ideal, but I like the idea of it.

*Note* I know the Iceman are truly "AAA", but not sure about the Magicians.[/quote]

Showcase is starting some new AAA teams in addition to the Easton teams - they are being sponsored by CCM. If you decide to play on a CCM team you are playing Showcase.[/quote]

I'M A : Explain more specifically please. Thanks

[imaloserbaby]

So true.

On a related note, there are WAY too many teams calling themselves AAA, when in fact, they aren't AAA calibre at all (ex: All teams participating in the St. Croix 'AAA' program). My wish is that some of these start up teams would call themselves 'AA' instead (similar to Showcase 'Dynamo'), and create 'AA' tournaments. If and when these teams start dominating at the AA level, then maybe consider jumping up to the AAA Open level.

I'm all for more opportunities for kids to skate in the summer, but we need to come up with a better way of classifying these teams and creating a true standard by which a team can call itself "AAA". Otherwise, we run into the situation we are in...too many weak teams registering for AAA tournaments. In a way, the idea of creating the Alliance is a good way to ensure quality, or at least "known" competition. This current make-up of the Alliance may not be ideal, but I like the idea of it.

*Note* I know the Iceman are truly "AAA", but not sure about the Magicians.

Showcase is starting some new AAA teams in addition to the Easton teams - they are being sponsored by CCM. If you decide to play on a CCM team you are playing Showcase.

I'M A : Explain more specifically please. Thanks

I was informed Showcase received a sponsorship from CCM but did not have teams to put under the CCM banner. So they are starting teams around the metro that will be called Team CCM or something like that. These CCM teams will fall into the Alliance because they are part of Showcase and will be able to play in the Showcase tournaments.

You can't read anything (similar to last year when Showcase tried to keep an arms length distance from the Easton Teams) about these CCM teams - you may get a call or name to call but it appears to be all word of mouth. May be a great fit for you but you will be paying the Showcase premium.

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

thanks... I had heard Joe D and RBK were changing their team name to CCM International ( nice eh?) I wonder if they jumped into bed with Showcase?

[WildFan]

The Monopoly program is getting the CCM sponsorship. Showcase came to them since they have already have multiple teams assembled for '09. Monopoly is a young program and only 1 team last season at the '99 level but now will have multiple in '09. According to Bob Capra , this season they'll have a open team and invite team for each level from '98-'00. This was a good move for the Monopoly program and gives them more name recognition. CCM/Monopoly also has their own dryland training facility in Rogers called Competitive Edge that they've had up there for a couple years training hockey players. They have this skating fly wheel for players to work on crossovers, they did a special on it on KARE 11 with Perkins..pretty impressive. The invite teams will be the CCM Monopoly and open teams are called the CCM Capitals.

No question Spring/Summer hockey has really taken off in recent years and I think it's great. This gives young players in this great state more opportunities and options. I do agree we need to have different tiers of play to make these tourney's more competitive. Anybody can start up a team call themselves a AAA program but we need to tier these teams and make it more competitive all the way around. We're very fortunate we live in a state that caters to hockey and gives our youth many options.

[thunderwolf]

there is no consequences for those teams..... you said they would be leaving showcase league... so it was their decision..

The Meltdown is done, go ahead and get a list of the teams registered...oh by the way get a money back guarantee on those teams...

Easton AAA Independent cup is done as well. The plan backfired.

So who is in the Warrior Cup for local teams?
Who is in the Stars and Stripes for local teams?

The Icemen trny is in August and it will have a better field then the Showcase Easton Cup, call them they will be honest to you... and appreciate your input.

Are you saying there is no more Meltdown? We are supposed to be entered in the Meltdown. I'd hate to fine out late that it isn't happening.

[WildFan]

The meltdown is still on. Not sure what the format is for the invite and open or who they are allowing to play at each but there still is the Meltdown.

[imaloserbaby]

The Monopoly program is getting the CCM sponsorship. Showcase came to them since they have already have multiple teams assembled for '09. Monopoly is a young program and only 1 team last season at the '99 level but now will have multiple in '09. According to Bob Capra , this season they'll have a open team and invite team for each level from '98-'00. This was a good move for the Monopoly program and gives them more name recognition. CCM/Monopoly also has their own dryland training facility in Rogers called Competitive Edge that they've had up there for a couple years training hockey players. They have this skating fly wheel for players to work on crossovers, they did a special on it on KARE 11 with Perkins..pretty impressive. The invite teams will be the CCM Monopoly and open teams are called the CCM Capitals.

No question Spring/Summer hockey has really taken off in recent years and I think it's great. This gives young players in this great state more opportunities and options. I do agree we need to have different tiers of play to make these tourney's more competitive. Anybody can start up a team call themselves a AAA program but we need to tier these teams and make it more competitive all the way around. We're very fortunate we live in a state that caters to hockey and gives our youth many options.

The original question was: "Showcase" attempting to take over the metro?

Based upon the info above, and other info floating out in the public, the answer would be "yes", they are trying to take control over the metro non-association hockey season. They are adding teams and trying to leverage their size against the independents (i.e. non alliance teams) and force them out of the market.

They are a "for-profit" business so who can fault them for trying to make the most of the business opportunity. I will argue that these decisions do not go hand-in-hand with what is best for development since their passion is not 100% directed at the kids and the development - some of that passion is directed towards the bottom line profits. But, that is just my opinion.

[puckfan]

The original question was: "Showcase" attempting to take over the metro?

Based upon their actions it seems pretty obvious that's what they're after.

They have this skating fly wheel for players to work on crossovers, they did a special on it on KARE 11 with Perkins..pretty impressive.

WildFan have you ever used that thing? We used that facility for our association team training and most of the kids would end up skipping that station because they didn't like it.

[WildFan]

I haven't used it but a friend of mine who has a kid in the St. Micheal hockey program has used it quite a bit and has seen great improvement as a result and their programs really likes it. I'm sure it's one of those things that takes a little bit to get used to?

[puckfan]

That's pretty funny because that same program's Squirt A team last year had all the kids that wanted no part of it.

I know that their association is not doing team training as a whole there this year so not sure what that means.........