Fathers of 2nd and 3rd Liners need not apply

[Secret Sauce]

I have a young son, let's say he's 10. My desire, I mean his desire, is to be a top player in the state of MN, and who knows what comes after that.

What I am trying to do for my son, based on his request, is to put together the ultimate long term trainng package for him that will allow him to achieve the results he desires. I am looking for Squirt, Secret Squirt, AAA, Treadmills, 3 on 3 leagues, private skate training, books to read, other sports he should or shouldn't play, all star tournaments to play in and the ones to avoid.

I have heard of Mecca's like the Minnesota Made Machine or the Highly coveted Minnesota Blades. What has been their secret to turning 7 year olds into 1st round draft picks? I see alumni lists that tout players they fully developed into highly coveted NHLers! That is very exciting to me, and want to do everything possible to help my boy achieve his dream.

Here is the catch. I don't want advice from dads/coaches of kids who were not at least top 1st liners on their HS team. I am sure you 2nd or 3rd line dads would be well meaning with your advice, but I am not interested in your opinions. I would really prefer, if given the choice, to receive info from dads/coaches who have trained top kids all the way through to a division 1 level.

My son is somewhat athletic. His mom has been diligent shooting baskets, shooting pucks and throwing baseballs with him since he could walk. He is an average to above average skater (my opinion) and loves to watch the NHL on tv.

I appreciate any help you can offer up.

Thank you.

[HockeyGuy81]

[muckandgrind]

I have a young son, let's say he's 10. My desire, I mean his desire, is to be a top player in the state of MN, and who knows what comes after that.

What I am trying to do for my son, based on his request, is to put together the ultimate long term trainng package for him that will allow him to achieve the results he desires. I am looking for Squirt, Secret Squirt, AAA, Treadmills, 3 on 3 leagues, private skate training, books to read, other sports he should or shouldn't play, all star tournaments to play in and the ones to avoid.

I have heard of Mecca's like the Minnesota Made Machine or the Highly coveted Minnesota Blades. What has been their secret to turning 7 year olds into 1st round draft picks? I see alumni lists that tout players they fully developed into highly coveted NHLers! That is very exciting to me, and want to do everything possible to help my boy achieve his dream.

Here is the catch. I don't want advice from dads/coaches of kids who were not at least top 1st liners on their HS team. I am sure you 2nd or 3rd line dads would be well meaning with your advice, but I am not interested in your opinions. I would really prefer, if given the choice, to receive info from dads/coaches who have trained top kids all the way through to a division 1 level.

My son is somewhat athletic. His mom has been diligent shooting baskets, shooting pucks and throwing baseballs with him since he could walk. He is an average to above average skater (my opinion) and loves to watch the NHL on tv.

I appreciate any help you can offer up.

Thank you.

I appreciate good sarcasm, but this is a lame attempt.

[drop the puck]

troll

[Daulton911]

Buy a lottery ticket.!!

[dogeatdog1]

Nice post. There is a good book for you and your son to read.. I Never Played the game. Howard Cosell... that is like stating C squader can't ever make the jump... by the way I was a first liner since minimites..just so you know

[elliott70]

Move to Texas, buy 100 footballs and a goal post, and let him

kick away.

[PanthersIn2011]

I appreciate good sarcasm, but this is a lame attempt.

To each his own ... I thought it was hilarious. Including the screen name.

[InigoMontoya]

If he's already 10, you're too late.

[muckandgrind]

If he's already 10, you're too late.

Already 10 and yet he is only an "above average skater"? Not a chance in hell!!!

[muckandgrind]

If he's already 10, you're too late.

Already 10 and yet he is only an "above average skater"? Not a chance in hell!!!

[play4fun]

Thanks Sauce, I needed a good laugh today.

Enhanced nicely with a few chuckles by "my name is Inigo Montoya -- you killed my father" and "Tex" Elliot.

[Lowstickside]

Sounds like Sauce is a yearning to drink a less secretive drink - possibly Kool Aid?

[Bucky]

My son is somewhat athletic. His mom has been diligent shooting baskets, shooting pucks and throwing baseballs with him since he could walk. He is an average to above average skater (my opinion) and loves to watch the NHL on tv.

Dad too busy laying on the couch handling the remote

[Judgeandjury]

I suggest that you make an appointment with Mernie McHockey. His secret is to have the kids skate about 2 hours a day up and down the ice learning through repetition. If you spend money on each and every clinic he offers your son will become a solid player. You can only hope that some day your sons jerseys is hanging at the made and if your lucky his picture will be hung up as well.
I think Mernie McHockey is building a hockey shrine to his son at the made opening soon right after the third rink is built and the parking lot gets asphalt.

[defense]

I have a young son, let's say he's 10. My desire, I mean his desire, is to be a top player in the state of MN, and who knows what comes after that.

What I am trying to do for my son, based on his request, is to put together the ultimate long term trainng package for him that will allow him to achieve the results he desires. I am looking for Squirt, Secret Squirt, AAA, Treadmills, 3 on 3 leagues, private skate training, books to read, other sports he should or shouldn't play, all star tournaments to play in and the ones to avoid.

I have heard of Mecca's like the Minnesota Made Machine or the Highly coveted Minnesota Blades. What has been their secret to turning 7 year olds into 1st round draft picks? I see alumni lists that tout players they fully developed into highly coveted NHLers! That is very exciting to me, and want to do everything possible to help my boy achieve his dream.

Here is the catch. I don't want advice from dads/coaches of kids who were not at least top 1st liners on their HS team. I am sure you 2nd or 3rd line dads would be well meaning with your advice, but I am not interested in your opinions. I would really prefer, if given the choice, to receive info from dads/coaches who have trained top kids all the way through to a division 1 level.

My son is somewhat athletic. His mom has been diligent shooting baskets, shooting pucks and throwing baseballs with him since he could walk. He is an average to above average skater (my opinion) and loves to watch the NHL on tv.

I appreciate any help you can offer up.

Thank you.

This kid will quit hockey in about 9th grade..........

[darth sidious]

Here is some honest feedback. First of all it is impossible to determine if a 10 year old is going to have the talent to play beyond high school (or even high school for that matter). There are too many attributes such as god given talent, desire, coordination, effort, etc that you simply cannot know when he is this young. What you can do in my opionion is first teach him to love the game. Passion for the game is great fuel for continued hard work when he is older. Secondly focus on basic skill development. Strong skill development is the best "base" for any player. Sure AAA teams offer the chance to play against a high degree of talent, but players on those teams got there because they had strong basic skills. All skills are important, but some cannot really be devoloped at age 10. Physical strength is something that has to wait till kids are older. Focus on stickhandling. Great puck skills are critical. Working on puckhandling skills does not require great physical strength, you don't need ice, you can work on it in the garage at home (hockey ball) and if you watch any top level hockey stickhandling is usually what sets great players apart. Bottom line remains...teach him to love the game because no matter what happens along the way, he'll always love hockey and he keep it his whole life.

[defense]

Here is some honest feedback. First of all it is impossible to determine if a 10 year old is going to have the talent to play beyond high school (or even high school for that matter). There are too many attributes such as god given talent, desire, coordination, effort, etc that you simply cannot know when he is this young. What you can do in my opionion is first teach him to love the game. Passion for the game is great fuel for continued hard work when he is older. Secondly focus on basic skill development. Strong skill development is the best "base" for any player. Sure AAA teams offer the chance to play against a high degree of talent, but players on those teams got there because they had strong basic skills. All skills are important, but some cannot really be devoloped at age 10. Physical strength is something that has to wait till kids are older. Focus on stickhandling. Great puck skills are critical. Working on puckhandling skills does not require great physical strength, you don't need ice, you can work on it in the garage at home (hockey ball) and if you watch any top level hockey stickhandling is usually what sets great players apart. Bottom line remains...teach him to love the game because no matter what happens along the way, he'll always love hockey and he keep it his whole life.

I think hockey players in general should emphasize puck handling more..
seems to me that quite a few players can skate well enough (some have superb skating skills)....but the players that really stand out have great puck handling....

[MnPride2]

I suggest that you make an appointment with Mernie McHockey. His secret is to have the kids skate about 2 hours a day up and down the ice learning through repetition. If you spend money on each and every clinic he offers your son will become a solid player. You can only hope that some day your sons jerseys is hanging at the made and if your lucky his picture will be hung up as well.
I think Mernie McHockey is building a hockey shrine to his son at the made opening soon right after the third rink is built and the parking lot gets asphalt.

Bernie has helped turn out some pretty damn good skaters,why ya choppin on him...your kid didn`t turn into a superstar...

[Judgeandjury]

I suggest that you make an appointment with Mernie McHockey. His secret is to have the kids skate about 2 hours a day up and down the ice learning through repetition. If you spend money on each and every clinic he offers your son will become a solid player. You can only hope that some day your sons jerseys is hanging at the made and if your lucky his picture will be hung up as well.
I think Mernie McHockey is building a hockey shrine to his son at the made opening soon right after the third rink is built and the parking lot gets asphalt.

Bernie has helped turn out some pretty damn good skaters,why ya choppin on him...your kid didn`t turn into a superstar...

Not at all. My son is doing just fine. In fact I owe Minnesota made a thank you for developing his skills at a young age. I also agree that the Blades and Mernie McHockey have developed some great skaters. I don't think anyone will argue the point. But when you have a grown man telling another grown man that his son cannot skate in his tourney because he's not part of an alliance and he lives in the metro area then some thing is seriously wrong with youth hockey. In this case the skater was a former player on one of his teams. When it comes down to it there's no logical reason why this player cannot play in this tourney. This is youth hockey for god's sake. No one man is above the rules nor should they be.

You want class just look at how the Blades handled the alliance situation.
They made it very clear that they were never part of any discussion about the alliance, and they would never be part of the alliance. What's hard to believe is they still have an open invitation to any alliance tourney they want to play in.
Keep in mind that the alliance was formed to stop new programs from starting up. The two programs that started the beloved alliance are both in it to make money. If new programs start up and succeed it will take players from their teams for what ever reason to pay less money, play closer to home or play with buddies. Both these programs need to the money coming and need to keep the top players on their teams in order succeed.
Here's the kicker. Both the programs started the alliance to keep the number of AAA teams to a minimum have just recently in the past year started new teams in their programs. Are you kidding me? They want to keep the number of newer programs to a minimum so AAA hockey doesn't get watered down and they both go out and offer more teams?

[Lily Braden]

I suggest that you make an appointment with Mernie McHockey. His secret is to have the kids skate about 2 hours a day up and down the ice learning through repetition. If you spend money on each and every clinic he offers your son will become a solid player. You can only hope that some day your sons jerseys is hanging at the made and if your lucky his picture will be hung up as well.
I think Mernie McHockey is building a hockey shrine to his son at the made opening soon right after the third rink is built and the parking lot gets asphalt.

You bring up a very important point...THAT PARKING LOT IS A MENACE!
I am fairly certain that no child of mine is going to be in the NHL (especially the female one), but on their way to being average, but happy hockey players, I would like to NOT have to sacrifice my car in the parking lot of MN Made.
That is all.

[watchdog]

if i cant get my kid into the alliance i'm gona lose it!!!!!! can anyone help?

[Judgeandjury]

if i cant get my kid into the alliance i'm gona lose it!!!!!! can anyone help?

Call 1-800-MernieMcHockey with any questions. If you have the money he'll set you up. It seems the more you spend the more important you are.

[mnhkylvr]

Please read the article on the EP State Championship hockey team in Let's Play Hockey's most recent issue. Many of these kids were not A players but continued to work hard to achieve their goals. Don't disregard the value of athleticism and playing other sports. Pick up games in the winter are great as they encourage creativity. Shooting pucks in the garage all year goes a long way towards developing strength and a great shot. And rollerblading develops cardio and lower body endurance. I guess what I am trying to say is that your son's goal does not have to come with a steep price tag.

[InigoMontoya]

I don't have a copy of LPH, could you please include a link? I'm sure all of the kids that played in St Paul shot thousands of pucks and stickhandled until the blisters broke, as did a boatload of kids that didn't make it that far. However, I'd like to read the article that says EP won the state championship because the bantam B kids saved their parents money by rollerblading.