99 FINALS

Fletch · Post by **Fletch** » Wed May 06, 2009 8:05 am

I have a son on the 99 Blades and hopefully can set the record straight regarding the Blades roster. The 99 Blades carry 15 tournament skaters and 2 goalies. Two of the skaters are not from Minnesota, one is from Texas and the other is from Hudson, WI (essentially part of the Twin Cities metro). A goalie from the east coast also played this past weekend but he is not on the team going forward. A few of the kids missed some of the hockey games this weekend because they were also playing in a baseball tournament and chose to go to the ball games.

crossunder · Post by **crossunder** » Thu May 07, 2009 12:39 am

Puckfan
When did BM bring in players from out state
for a tournament?
Remember Lord knows but I dont think you do. please be specific
Not in BMs bag of tricks
Blades every body knows it is there M O
Training not required when recurting is good enough.

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:07 am

Part of development is having the opportunity to play WITH the best players which most players don't have the chance to do in the winter season. As much as we love community based hockey in MN, the summer AAA season is a perfect compliment to it when you have an elite player that can play with other elite players. That is as much a part of development as training is and becomes so much more important as you player gets older.

The other piece is that exposure becomes more a focus over development at the older ages. The Blades Club has a long and successful history of attracting the top players and this does help develop all the players on their team. In some cases, you may not be able to find 15 skaters and 2 goalies from MN that are either of the highest caliber or aren't playing a spring sport that may be equally demanding. By allowing players to play other sports, you have to bring in tournament players. The MM model is different and requires 100% commitment to AAA spring/summer hockey. This may be a preferred choice for some families so having both models works for MN. I personally prefer the option to play other sports, go to church camps, family vacations, etc. That's why we value the Blades approach but you shouldn't be surprised when they bring in tournament players. As your kids get older you'll find many of the clubs will try to get the top players to play for their team in tournaments. It's fun for the kids and many of the clubs like the Icemen, ITR, Blades have great relationships and the kids love playing together. MM does not allow this and I don't believe the Easton Clubs do either. It's a choice - nice to have choices.

westervillego19 · Post by **westervillego19** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:41 am

Well said, doglover.

Also, the Blades teams are built to compete at tournaments with the best teams in North America. In those tournaments, everyone brings in players from mutliple locations. Its about development of the kids by competeing at the highest level.

Sneakyfast99 · Post by **Sneakyfast99** » Thu May 07, 2009 3:08 pm

Doglover wrote:Part of development is having the opportunity to play WITH the best players which most players don't have the chance to do in the winter season. As much as we love community based hockey in MN, the summer AAA season is a perfect compliment to it when you have an elite player that can play with other elite players. That is as much a part of development as training is and becomes so much more important as you player gets older.

The other piece is that exposure becomes more a focus over development at the older ages. The Blades Club has a long and successful history of attracting the top players and this does help develop all the players on their team. In some cases, you may not be able to find 15 skaters and 2 goalies from MN that are either of the highest caliber or aren't playing a spring sport that may be equally demanding. By allowing players to play other sports, you have to bring in tournament players. The MM model is different and requires 100% commitment to AAA spring/summer hockey. This may be a preferred choice for some families so having both models works for MN. I personally prefer the option to play other sports, go to church camps, family vacations, etc. That's why we value the Blades approach but you shouldn't be surprised when they bring in tournament players. As your kids get older you'll find many of the clubs will try to get the top players to play for their team in tournaments. It's fun for the kids and many of the clubs like the Icemen, ITR, Blades have great relationships and the kids love playing together. MM does not allow this and I don't believe the Easton Clubs do either. It's a choice - nice to have choices.

Well said.

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Fri May 08, 2009 8:50 am

Westervillago makes an equally good point! The only way the Blades Club continues to be invited to the most elite hockey tournaments in North America is because they bring the top talent and can compete. Sometimes some of the top players live outside the metro Mpls/St Paul area. If they can get those players to go to tournaments with the Blades, it helps their players and the club continue to receive the top invites like the Brick and Prospects. If they don't continually strengthen their teams, they will not continue to be invited to top tournies.

As your players get older, you will begin to learn the importance of all of this. Having said this though, any team you play on with your buddies is fun and will be a great experience as long as the parents/coaches don't get too serious or competitive and spoil the fun times.

phil mccracken · Post by **phil mccracken** » Sun Jul 12, 2009 10:48 pm

puckfan wrote:Crossunder, sounds like sour grapes!

Lord knows the Machine has never brought anybody in from out of town or state, they don't need to right because MM makes hockey players.

If you think your organization(MM) is exempt, ask BM how much tickets from Cali are to say Chicago, Detroit or maybe St. Louis...........

Machine brought in a Springfield,Illinois goalie in to face the Blades in meaningless 3 game scrimmage. It was done to make the team better, it is AAA Hockey.

99GoalieDad · Post by **99GoalieDad** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 5:56 am

The reason the IL goalie was brought in was due to the fact that the Machines regular goalies were playing in another tournament in Winnipeg.

CB00 · Post by **CB00** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 10:04 am

Doglover wrote:Westervillago makes an equally good point! The only way the Blades Club continues to be invited to the most elite hockey tournaments in North America is because they bring the top talent and can compete. Sometimes some of the top players live outside the metro Mpls/St Paul area. If they can get those players to go to tournaments with the Blades, it helps their players and the club continue to receive the top invites like the Brick and Prospects. If they don't continually strengthen their teams, they will not continue to be invited to top tournies.

As your players get older, you will begin to learn the importance of all of this. Having said this though, any team you play on with your buddies is fun and will be a great experience as long as the parents/coaches don't get too serious or competitive and spoil the fun times.

I've been though this procedure of Summer AAA teams and tournaments. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT TEAM YOUR SON IS ON AT THIS POINT!!!! Let the kids play on multiple teams with multiple coaches to learn, development and have fun. Nobody is watching!!!

Nobody cares what they do in the summer. My son has been to four prospects tournaments and if you think for one second that this is an exposure tournament, your wrong until they reach the 15-16 year old level. Even then, it's not well scouted. These are all money makers. Put your money in play fun tournaments and development.

I just laugh when I read what 99's are thinking and doing with there money. Don't get me wrong, I was also there.

thinkb4engaging · Post by **thinkb4engaging** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:50 pm

CBOO:

Strongly disagree from a development standpoint. My son has been to numerous Prospect Tourneys too. You point out that no one is watching...
you are, his coach is, other players and parents. Hopefully your boy learned how to play the game at a fast pace, make quick decisions and developed poise from being in great competition. Hopefully he realizes what it takes to get tho the next level. He may have decided it is not worth the sacrifice, but he now knows. Hard to take the mental side of the game away from your son. Not alot of players get the opportunity- worth the money in my book.
The scouts are there at the older levels and they do look for Prospects.

Pens4 · Post by **Pens4** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 6:29 pm

GREAT THREAD!!! I didn't know so many Blades and Machine parents were members of Central Scouting.

inthenet · Post by **inthenet** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:47 am

99GoalieDad wrote:The reason the IL goalie was brought in was due to the fact that the Machines regular goalies were playing in another tournament in Winnipeg.

Your both wrong, he lives in Minnesota...