Meltdown Invite Schedules Released

[Doglover]

Good point buttend but some of the young parents actually choose the MM teams over the Blades which I don't understand since Bernie doesn't tolerate other spring/summer/fall sports, not to mention I just don't agree with their philosophy of churning out little hockey machines versus real hockey players who love to "play" the game.

I was actually thinking of the Icemen though who have always run a stand up program with good coaches and strong players. Maybe it's changed and they are in if for the bucks like Bernie, Tim and Easton teams? There must be other not for profit hockey clubs other than the Blades out there? If your kid is gifted, play for the Blades if you can get an invite (call and ask them to come look at your kid). I also believe you can have just as much fun on a team with your local association buddies too but I would steer clear of the Alliance Clubs. The whole idea seems really bad for MN hockey and I'd love to see a boycott. You don't see anyone on this board standing up and taking responsibility for the Alliance idea and philosophy. That should tell you something.

[gilmour]

Good point buttend but some of the young parents actually choose the MM teams over the Blades which I don't understand since Bernie doesn't tolerate other spring/summer/fall sports, not to mention I just don't agree with their philosophy of churning out little hockey machines versus real hockey players who love to "play" the game.

I was actually thinking of the Icemen though who have always run a stand up program with good coaches and strong players. Maybe it's changed and they are in if for the bucks like Bernie, Tim and Easton teams? There must be other not for profit hockey clubs other than the Blades out there? If your kid is gifted, play for the Blades if you can get an invite (call and ask them to come look at your kid). I also believe you can have just as much fun on a team with your local association buddies too but I would steer clear of the Alliance Clubs. The whole idea seems really bad for MN hockey and I'd love to see a boycott. You don't see anyone on this board standing up and taking responsibility for the Alliance idea and philosophy. That should tell you something.

The Icemen are Non-Profit and support participation in other sports during the Icemen season. Program took a big step up this year with putting in an infrastructure to support multiple boys and girls teams.

[puckfan]

imaloserbaby wrote:
ThePuckStopsHere wrote:
InigoMontoya wrote:
It won't help the tournament much if Synergy 98 does well, but Synergy 96 gets blasted. The team from Canada that played in a laugher will tell the Canucks they know not to bother. Perhaps the Alliance should "Give them a couple of more years" before they play at that level.


This post makes no sense?? Maybe you should clarify the point you are trying to make? It appears you have a beef witht the Synergy teams.


98 Machine 9 - 1 over 98 Synergy in scrimmage. It was just a scrimmage so who knows if score is truly reflective of difference in teams. Machine was missing a top player too that would not have helped the gap in the score. 98 Machine is the best at that age group for Minnesota teams.


There's no doubt in my mind that the 98 Machine team is stronger than most, if not all, other 98 teams around here...but I'm always a little leary of putting too much stock into this early scrimmages, especially with all of the end of year tournaments (Elites, Selects, Super Series) going on. Many teams aren't at full strength, like you alluded to.

I thought that they played on Monday, not sure but those tournaments were done on Sunday.

I have no problem with that...and that's one of my main issues with this "alliance". I think they need to be honest with themselves and make sure that every team (even their own) that enter to play at the invite level is actually capable of playing at that level.

No chance; that's what they sell, you play for us your in the tournaments!

[rbmuskiefishin]

I have been reading several negative comments about the so called Alliance teams and I would like to share my experience.

1. The first one is that the Alliance is trying to corner the market and raise the cost I have not experienced your so called high cost. The fee I have paid is less then half of what he would have to pay at other teams.

2. The only sport approach - My son chose his team based on the ability to play other sports. My son is able to play 2 other sports while playing for his team'

3. The coaching is watered down - the coaching he has received has been from multiple coaches, at a much higher level, and more focused then what he has received in his past.

[buttend]

Seems to me what they are trying to do is bully a bunch of kids and their families, not fill tournaments with good teams.

What "good" teams were left out? I believe every team playing was "invited" hence an invite event! The Icemen were offered a spot in the Alliance. The Icemen President and Vice President made a decision not to join. They felt it was in the best interest of their "New" Icemen Hockey Club. You, being part of the Icemen, support their decision not to join but still bash the fact you were not invited? You dont want to be part of the club but you want to play in the clubs events?

What the Alliance does is punish these kids and their friends and families. The teams that declined to join now must travel outside the metro area to get quality competition -- leaving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members (often times a one of the parents) unable to share in the excitement of watching their child/grandchild play some really competitive hockey. Seems to me what they are trying to do is bully a bunch of kids and their families, not fill tournaments with good teams.

RR,
The Icemen set up the schedule. Dont blame the Alliance for your schedule. You picked Chicago, Winnepeg and Duluth for your events. There are plenty of local events you could have played in that will provide plenty of competition for the Icemen teams and allowed for family members to come and watch.
Warrior Cup
St Criox Cup
International Cup

Its kind of Ironic that you feel the need to travel to get "quality competition" What? are you too good to play in these events? Are they beneath your 98 team? Just this winter you were all over the 98 Fire for doing the same thing.

It is also pure money that makes the team. I know a lot of kids as good or better than the Fire athletes, and their parents are not writing gigantic checks for the privilege of spending even more money on gas for practice, missing school and coughing up plane fare fly to tournaments where there is "real competition." Give me a break.

Now whose leading the charge to drive 2000+ miles for events in Chicago, Winnepeg and Duluth? "Gimme A break"!

[Road Rage]

Seems to me what they are trying to do is bully a bunch of kids and their families, not fill tournaments with good teams.

What "good" teams were left out? I believe every team playing was "invited" hence an invite event! The Icemen were offered a spot in the Alliance. Tony Brum and Jerry Calengor made a decision not to join. They felt it was in the best interest of their "New" Icemen Hockey Club. You, being part of the Icemen, support their decision not to join but still bash the fact you were not invited? You dont want to be part of the club but you want to play in the clubs events?

What the Alliance does is punish these kids and their friends and families. The teams that declined to join now must travel outside the metro area to get quality competition -- leaving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other family members (often times a one of the parents) unable to share in the excitement of watching their child/grandchild play some really competitive hockey. Seems to me what they are trying to do is bully a bunch of kids and their families, not fill tournaments with good teams.

RR,
The Icemen set up the schedule. Dont blame the Alliance for your schedule. You picked Chicago, Winnepeg and Duluth for your events. There are plenty of local events you could have played in that will provide plenty of competition for the Icemen teams and allowed for family members to come and watch.
Warrior Cup
St Criox Cup
International Cup

Its kind of Ironic that you feel the need to travel to get "quality competition" What? are you too good to play in these events? Are they beneath your 98 team? Just this winter you were all over the 98 Fire for doing the same thing.

It is also pure money that makes the team. I know a lot of kids as good or better than the Fire athletes, and their parents are not writing gigantic checks for the privilege of spending even more money on gas for practice, missing school and coughing up plane fare fly to tournaments where there is "real competition." Give me a break.

Now whose leading the charge to drive 2000+ miles for events in Chicago, Winnepeg and Duluth? "Gimme A break"!

So...any other teams I am part of that I don't know I have joined? You should maybe get your aura checked. Clean your crystal ball. Something before you ASSume you know that much about anyone. Only my wife gets to pretend she knows everything about me.

[Hockeyguy_27]

What Showcase is doing is pretty underhanded in spite of how they try to defend their "Alliance." Here's another cliche for you...what comes around goes around.

PS. How many guys posting here with one post do you believe are legitmately different people

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

What "good" teams were left out? I believe every team playing was "invited" hence an invite event! The Icemen were offered a spot in the Alliance. Tony Brum and Jerry Calengor made a decision not to join. They felt it was in the best interest of their "New" Icemen Hockey Club. You, being part of the Icemen, support their decision not to join but still bash the fact you were not invited? You dont want to be part of the club but you want to play in the clubs events?

Hey Butt, careful, you mentioned a name in your post that is going to give you away.........You may want to double check your facts and quit monkeying around with using kids names on the forum.

I will let them speak for themselves as to why the final decision was made to keep as far away from the Alliance as possible but I can see that you're real close to the Alliance.

[HITUHARD]

Monkey... Be careful.... Dont use names on the fourm... The Machine took you apart. The Blades lost to The Icemen.. What is your point!!!!!! I think we all should worry about ourselves. Keep it up & I will call you out. This is about good hockey, which keeps getting better at the 98 level; including your team. Dont make this about YOU. :lol:

[HITUHARD]

Monkey, get it right. I not JC its BC. Unreal. Are U that dumb??????????? :evil:

[buttend]

What "good" teams were left out? I believe every team playing was "invited" hence an invite event! The Icemen were offered a spot in the Alliance. Icemen President and Vice President made a decision not to join. They felt it was in the best interest of their "New" Icemen Hockey Club. You, being part of the Icemen, support their decision not to join but still bash the fact you were not invited? You dont want to be part of the club but you want to play in the clubs events?

Hey Butt, careful, you mentioned a name in your post that is going to give you away.........You may want to double check your facts and quit monkeying around with using kids names on the forum.

I will let them speak for themselves as to why the final decision was made to keep as far away from the Alliance as possible but I can see that you're real close to the Alliance.

MKLH...

Nothing against the Icemen Hockey Club.... I'm just stating that as a club they made a decision not to join the Alliance. Again, I am sure that decision was made with the best interest of the Icemen Hockey Club in mind. With that decision, they were not invited to the 3 or 4 local tournaments run by the Alliance. I edited my post and removed names added titles...

Road Rage is flapping that the Alliance decision to not include his team is causing his team to have to travel to Chicago, Winnepeg, Duluth for "Quality Competition" He's adding in the family angle that Grandma and Grandpa will not be able to see the kids play and blaming the Alliance for that.

I'm arguing that the Alliance did not set up that schedule, the team did! Next it will be both the Alliance's and Bush's fault.

[Road Rage]

Road Rage is flapping that the Alliance decision to not include his team is causing his team to have to travel to Chicago, Winnepeg, Duluth for "Quality Competition" He's adding in the family angle that Grandma and Grandpa will not be able to see the kids play and blaming the Alliance for that.

Seriously Butt, you must be the reason for the phrase "what's in a name." No matter how badly you want to put my kid on the Icemen, he does not play for them, so you don't have to worry about him or how much he has to travel. There aren't enough keystrokes in the world to explain my point to you in words you can understand, so why bother -- your concern appears to be where my son plays and what the Icemen are doing. It appears you are able to read their website and find out what tournaments they are in. Congrats to you for your efforts there.

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

Buttend I think I have a pretty good grasp on what is going on within our program. I think that what is happening is that many people are asking who are "the best local teams". After all that is what the Alliance is touting if I understand correctly. Icemen HC can't help that people are using us as the "why not them group" when they talk about who's not in.

We called EK at Showcase last fall and asked if they were going to let us in the Meltdown...the answer was no, we then signed up for Chicago for the 2nd year. No issues on our end, they have a choice, it's their tourny's.

You are correct, we chose our schedule, no if's and's or butt's

Warrior Cup - a week before Chicago and last year the kids & parents had a blast there. Teams last year: 1/2 of Alberta Brick team, Dertoit Honeybake, Detroit Compuware, Chicago Mission, Florida Everblades etc

St Criox Cup - opening weekend of traveling baseball tournaments

International Cup -Subway is a week before and quite frankly more intriguing

[rbmuskiefishin]

[quote="Hockeyguy_27"]What Showcase is doing is pretty underhanded in spite of how they try to defend their "Alliance." Here's another cliche for you...what comes around goes around.

PS. How many guys posting here with one post do you believe are legitmately different people [/quote]

Is this reference is to the amount of posts I have made. I am here to assure you I have been reading this board for quite some time and have not contributed to the banter. This is my son's first year playing AAA hockey and I felt I should at least wait to comment until I see one game first. Unfortunately I did not make it to that first game because earlier in this thread someone through the coach and my sons team under the bus tires.

[manchild]

Was that a short bus or a long bus?

[nobama]

I heard it was a Taxi

[council member retired]

pre invite scrimmage is this score correct?
98' Easton Synergy 1 MN Blades 3

[gilmour]

pre invite scrimmage is this score correct?
98' Easton Synergy 1 MN Blades 3

I think this would be the 99 Blades, not the 98 Blades - correct?

[dakotakid]

Does anyone want to talk about hockey? (NOT HOCKEY POLITICS) whats the take on the weekend (97 invite) who's the team to beat?

[donkypunchr]

Does anyone want to talk about hockey? (NOT HOCKEY POLITICS) whats the take on the weekend (97 invite) who's the team to beat?

Madison Capitols should be very strong.

[5 For Fighting]

We have the CCM Capitals on our schedule this weekend in the 95 pool play. It looks like they scored quite a few goals in the Warrior Cup but I really can't find anything out about that squad. I'm assuming they are from around the cities. Lower end AAA team?

[observer]

Yeah, kinda like yours.

[pebbles]

CCM Capitals 95 is the old Acceleration NW team plus the addition of a few Bantams.

[buttend]

Does anyone want to talk about hockey? (NOT HOCKEY POLITICS) whats the take on the weekend (97 invite) who's the team to beat?

2000

1) Machine
2) Blades

1999

1) Machine
2) Manitoba

1998

1) Machine
2) Lake Superior Stars

1997

1) Madison Capitals
2) Chicago Young Americans

1996

1) Machine
2) Blades

1995

1) Breakaway Hockey
2) Lake Superior Stars

[nMN]

Does anyone want to talk about hockey? (NOT HOCKEY POLITICS) whats the take on the weekend (97 invite) who's the team to beat?

2000

1) Machine
2) Blades

1999

1) Machine
2) Manitoba

1998

1) Machine
2) Lake Superior Stars

1997

1) Madison Capitals
2) Chicago Young Americans

1996

1) Machine
2) Blades

1995

1) Breakaway Hockey
2) Lake Superior Stars

at 97 level winner of Capitols/Machine game wins the tournament...