USA Hockey, for the first time, has been granted player development money by the NHL. Its money USA Hockey has wanted for a long time, and this year they are getting $8 million. The NHL, as investors of sorts, expects the money to be spent on elite player development. Approximately $2 million will go directly to Ann Arbor, and much of the remaining $6 million will go to an extension of the NTDP called the High Performance Initiative and Long Term Athlete Development Initiative. The HPI/LTADI initiative is designed to offer many of the training benefits of the NTDP to 36 organizations that agree to the player development philosophy.
Each of the 36 organizations will be expected to operate 18-and-Under, 16-and-Under, 15-and-Under, 14-and-Under, and 13-and-Under teams each in their own super league. There are other parameters to be followed, practice to game ratio, etc.
While most of the United States is club level hockey, either AAA or AA, MN is unique with it’s grass roots community based youth programs and high school hockey. Over the years we have seen private group’s attempt to supplement hockey development during the offseason through AAA teams and elite leagues an various on ice and off ice training camps/clinics.
Since the NHL is the investor and expects the money to be spent on elite player development, how could MN Hockey focus on elite player development with out negatively impacting its community based model?
Perhaps they can start this spring conducting tryouts at the following level:
1997 birth year/2009-10 season U12 Major Peewee
1996 birth year/2009-10 season U13 Minor Bantam
1995 birth year/2009-10 season U14 Major Bantam
1994 birth year/2009-10 season U15 Minor Midget
1993 birth year/2009-10 season U16 Minor Midget
1992 birth year/2009-10 season U18 Major Midget
97, 96 & 95 levels could use the current MN Advance 15 format, through the 12 districts, with a spring festival and summer festivals. Through out the spring/summer in each district they would have a STP program in which these players would be required to attend regularly. All spring festival players and alternates would be eligible to train at this regional training site through out the spring/summer.
Starting Sept. 1, 96 & 97 district teams would starting practicing/playing games in state wide elite league (like the high school elite II league). Season would end Nov. 1 and players would return to their local association.
At the 95 level, after the state festival MN hockey will also designate “final 54”. These players would be divided into three equal teams and also be required to participate in a regional STP program. Also, starting this year, MN Hockey should start sending the 95’s to the select 14 national festival. NTDP wants to see these kids at this age and MN hockey should allow those elite MN players this opportunity. MN Hockey should be supporting to the NTDP program/model, especially if they want those funds.
94 through 92 should follow the current MN Advance 16 & 17 format, by high school, 8 sections, down to final 54. Now you have your talent pool for your “3” elite teams. Divide the group into 3 equal teams, keeping Geographic’s in mind. Organize regional STP program for these three teams, requiring players and alternates to participate.
Starting Sept. 1 95, 94, 93 & 92 teams would start practicing and playing in the USA Hockey Super League vs. each other and teams from the other 33 organizations through out the USA. Season would end Nov 1 and everyone would go back to their high school program or local association program.
Immediately following the state high school tournament, the 92, 93 & 95 teams would get back together, practice, play in a 4 team regional playoff (which includes SSM) with the winner advancing to the U18, U16 and U14 nationals.
In addition, LTADI expects each organization to run 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U programs that will follow the LTAD model. Perhaps a percentage of the overall funds should be allocated towards this age group through the current community based HEP & STP programs.
Is now the time for MN “Before & After” Super Elite TM'
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
-
- Posts: 464
- Joined: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:13 am
-
- Posts: 308
- Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 10:44 am
- Location: BSU/Twin Cities
So essentially these players would only attend school during hockey season? The rest would be spent traveling and playing hockey across the country? It seems like it would make our hockey players better, but alot less educated.
It also seems like the format the Canadians have, which admittedly so, would help flourish more professionals.
It also seems like the format the Canadians have, which admittedly so, would help flourish more professionals.
-
- Posts: 221
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2008 9:15 pm
I admire the thought behind the plan described above but this plan is still a work around to the current system. I don't think MN hockey should be involved as their are too many inherent biases and flaws in the current system. The MN hockey community model is a great model for attracting large numbers of players (and this is an important starting point for player development) but has a flawed system for developing elite players which is what the NHL money is targeting. It would be great to see the USA hockey organization develop the elite system in the context of a national sytem/league that would be managed and organized nationally and then implemented by coaches at the local level and not both organized and implemented at the local level as it is today by the MN hockey org.
-
- Posts: 1788
- Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:34 am
I like High Flyer's model as a way to preserve MSHSL hockey. I think maybe the Elite League could be used as a tool though. Right now, there are eight area based Elite League teams (N, GP, SW, NW, SE, NE, WI, and Shattuck). There are six teams per region, Shattuck can't get one (according to the proposal), so eliminate GP and there you go! Let's make the Elite League teams the U18 "super teams". Give them all a home arena, a clever name, and a logo. Obviously, highly skilled younger players could play up. The Elite League II would then become the U16 teams... with age limits imposed. Nobody has to leave home!
However, I don't think there would be time for a division playoff after the state tournament and before the "Super League" playoffs, so that would have to be determined at the end of the (formerly named) Elite League season. Yes, our boys would be extremely rusty heading into the "Super League" national playoffs, but I think they'd still gel in enough time to compete okay.
USA Hockey would have to sign off, of course, but they'd save a bit of money in this region and would be able to better develop hockey in the non-traditional regions. If the Elite League wants this to become a reality, they'd be smart to start thinking about the whole home arena, clever name, team logo think right now! Otherwise, the Blades will swoop in, get an endorsement from USA Hockey, and that's the end of my idea!
However, I don't think there would be time for a division playoff after the state tournament and before the "Super League" playoffs, so that would have to be determined at the end of the (formerly named) Elite League season. Yes, our boys would be extremely rusty heading into the "Super League" national playoffs, but I think they'd still gel in enough time to compete okay.
USA Hockey would have to sign off, of course, but they'd save a bit of money in this region and would be able to better develop hockey in the non-traditional regions. If the Elite League wants this to become a reality, they'd be smart to start thinking about the whole home arena, clever name, team logo think right now! Otherwise, the Blades will swoop in, get an endorsement from USA Hockey, and that's the end of my idea!
Last edited by The Exiled One on Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Is now the time for MN “Before & After” Super Elite
This is just in 'concept' stage.High Flyer wrote:USA Hockey, for the first time, has been granted player development money by the NHL. Its money USA Hockey has wanted for a long time, and this year they are getting $8 million. The NHL, as investors of sorts, expects the money to be spent on elite player development. Approximately $2 million will go directly to Ann Arbor, and much of the remaining $6 million will go to an extension of the NTDP called the High Performance Initiative and Long Term Athlete Development Initiative. The HPI/LTADI initiative is designed to offer many of the training benefits of the NTDP to 36 organizations that agree to the player development philosophy.
Each of the 36 organizations will be expected to operate 18-and-Under, 16-and-Under, 15-and-Under, 14-and-Under, and 13-and-Under teams each in their own super league. There are other parameters to be followed, practice to game ratio, etc.
While most of the United States is club level hockey, either AAA or AA, MN is unique with it’s grass roots community based youth programs and high school hockey. Over the years we have seen private group’s attempt to supplement hockey development during the offseason through AAA teams and elite leagues an various on ice and off ice training camps/clinics.
Since the NHL is the investor and expects the money to be spent on elite player development, how could MN Hockey focus on elite player development with out negatively impacting its community based model?
Perhaps they can start this spring conducting tryouts at the following level:
1997 birth year/2009-10 season U12 Major Peewee
1996 birth year/2009-10 season U13 Minor Bantam
1995 birth year/2009-10 season U14 Major Bantam
1994 birth year/2009-10 season U15 Minor Midget
1993 birth year/2009-10 season U16 Minor Midget
1992 birth year/2009-10 season U18 Major Midget
97, 96 & 95 levels could use the current MN Advance 15 format, through the 12 districts, with a spring festival and summer festivals. Through out the spring/summer in each district they would have a STP program in which these players would be required to attend regularly. All spring festival players and alternates would be eligible to train at this regional training site through out the spring/summer.
Starting Sept. 1, 96 & 97 district teams would starting practicing/playing games in state wide elite league (like the high school elite II league). Season would end Nov. 1 and players would return to their local association.
At the 95 level, after the state festival MN hockey will also designate “final 54”. These players would be divided into three equal teams and also be required to participate in a regional STP program. Also, starting this year, MN Hockey should start sending the 95’s to the select 14 national festival. NTDP wants to see these kids at this age and MN hockey should allow those elite MN players this opportunity. MN Hockey should be supporting to the NTDP program/model, especially if they want those funds.
94 through 92 should follow the current MN Advance 16 & 17 format, by high school, 8 sections, down to final 54. Now you have your talent pool for your “3” elite teams. Divide the group into 3 equal teams, keeping Geographic’s in mind. Organize regional STP program for these three teams, requiring players and alternates to participate.
Starting Sept. 1 95, 94, 93 & 92 teams would start practicing and playing in the USA Hockey Super League vs. each other and teams from the other 33 organizations through out the USA. Season would end Nov 1 and everyone would go back to their high school program or local association program.
Immediately following the state high school tournament, the 92, 93 & 95 teams would get back together, practice, play in a 4 team regional playoff (which includes SSM) with the winner advancing to the U18, U16 and U14 nationals.
In addition, LTADI expects each organization to run 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U programs that will follow the LTAD model. Perhaps a percentage of the overall funds should be allocated towards this age group through the current community based HEP & STP programs.
It has not been passed nor is there an immediate plan to start on it.
Sprin gleague was attempted, it was not too popular.Elvis wrote:Perhaps an Spring Elite league would be a good option. Just run it the same as the fall, then the kids have their STP with school in the summer. Could play 60 or 70 games over the course of the year.
Most kids wanted a chnage of pace...
baseball or track or free time.
Re: Is now the time for MN “Before & After” Super Elite
I believe this would lock out a lot of players, or at least make interest dwindle, at a time when numbers are NOT high at a lot of programs.....High Flyer wrote:USA Hockey, for the first time, has been granted player development money by the NHL. Its money USA Hockey has wanted for a long time, and this year they are getting $8 million. The NHL, as investors of sorts, expects the money to be spent on elite player development. Approximately $2 million will go directly to Ann Arbor, and much of the remaining $6 million will go to an extension of the NTDP called the High Performance Initiative and Long Term Athlete Development Initiative. The HPI/LTADI initiative is designed to offer many of the training benefits of the NTDP to 36 organizations that agree to the player development philosophy.
Each of the 36 organizations will be expected to operate 18-and-Under, 16-and-Under, 15-and-Under, 14-and-Under, and 13-and-Under teams each in their own super league. There are other parameters to be followed, practice to game ratio, etc.
While most of the United States is club level hockey, either AAA or AA, MN is unique with it’s grass roots community based youth programs and high school hockey. Over the years we have seen private group’s attempt to supplement hockey development during the offseason through AAA teams and elite leagues an various on ice and off ice training camps/clinics.
Since the NHL is the investor and expects the money to be spent on elite player development, how could MN Hockey focus on elite player development with out negatively impacting its community based model?
Perhaps they can start this spring conducting tryouts at the following level:
1997 birth year/2009-10 season U12 Major Peewee
1996 birth year/2009-10 season U13 Minor Bantam
1995 birth year/2009-10 season U14 Major Bantam
1994 birth year/2009-10 season U15 Minor Midget
1993 birth year/2009-10 season U16 Minor Midget
1992 birth year/2009-10 season U18 Major Midget
97, 96 & 95 levels could use the current MN Advance 15 format, through the 12 districts, with a spring festival and summer festivals. Through out the spring/summer in each district they would have a STP program in which these players would be required to attend regularly. All spring festival players and alternates would be eligible to train at this regional training site through out the spring/summer.
Starting Sept. 1, 96 & 97 district teams would starting practicing/playing games in state wide elite league (like the high school elite II league). Season would end Nov. 1 and players would return to their local association.
At the 95 level, after the state festival MN hockey will also designate “final 54”. These players would be divided into three equal teams and also be required to participate in a regional STP program. Also, starting this year, MN Hockey should start sending the 95’s to the select 14 national festival. NTDP wants to see these kids at this age and MN hockey should allow those elite MN players this opportunity. MN Hockey should be supporting to the NTDP program/model, especially if they want those funds.
94 through 92 should follow the current MN Advance 16 & 17 format, by high school, 8 sections, down to final 54. Now you have your talent pool for your “3” elite teams. Divide the group into 3 equal teams, keeping Geographic’s in mind. Organize regional STP program for these three teams, requiring players and alternates to participate.
Starting Sept. 1 95, 94, 93 & 92 teams would start practicing and playing in the USA Hockey Super League vs. each other and teams from the other 33 organizations through out the USA. Season would end Nov 1 and everyone would go back to their high school program or local association program.
Immediately following the state high school tournament, the 92, 93 & 95 teams would get back together, practice, play in a 4 team regional playoff (which includes SSM) with the winner advancing to the U18, U16 and U14 nationals.
In addition, LTADI expects each organization to run 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U programs that will follow the LTAD model. Perhaps a percentage of the overall funds should be allocated towards this age group through the current community based HEP & STP programs.