ELITE LEAGUE TRYOUTS

[seek & destroy]

"Fair" is a very misused word in the English language. What is "fair"? I'm not going to get into some deep discussion here, but the bottom line is if you don't agree with how it's done and they don't change it to please you, then go somewhere else. Harsh, but true.

Totally agree with the statement however another option is to try to make suggestions on forums like this or direct to the league that may help them improve an already good thing. I don't think anyone is saying that it is a horrible league. What is being suggested are some ways to improve it or at least attempt to make it seem less political.

From the sounds of many of the comments, they are coming from people who had senior kids participating and, therefore, will not benefit from the changes because their kids are done with this league. Usually the best suggestions come from people who have nothing to gain by making those suggestions. But, ultimately, you are right. People should not participate if they don't like how it is done and don't think they have a fair chance.

[Papa Bergundy]

"Fair" is a very misused word in the English language. What is "fair"? I'm not going to get into some deep discussion here, but the bottom line is if you don't agree with how it's done and they don't change it to please you, then go somewhere else. Harsh, but true.

Totally agree with the statement however another option is to try to make suggestions on forums like this or direct to the league that may help them improve an already good thing. I don't think anyone is saying that it is a horrible league. What is being suggested are some ways to improve it or at least attempt to make it seem less political.

From the sounds of many of the comments, they are coming from people who had senior kids participating and, therefore, will not benefit from the changes because their kids are done with this league. Usually the best suggestions come from people who have nothing to gain by making those suggestions. But, ultimately, you are right. People should not participate if they don't like how it is done and don't think they have a fair chance.

Exactly. You're right, and I'm right, it is clearly the top hockey option. Just because you're the best doesn't mean you can't get better. Who knows, maybe other leagues will catch up. Just like player development from youth to high school and so on. I don't know about others but making everyone attend the tryout seems reasonable to me. It's not changing the complexion of the league or anything. It's just little things Elite COULD do to make a great thing even better. Just because you score the most goals in the league doesn't mean you can't get better at passing. Sometimes it takes outside sources to nitpick other aspects and ultimately make the whole better.

[flatontheice]

"Fair" is a very misused word in the English language. What is "fair"? I'm not going to get into some deep discussion here, but the bottom line is if you don't agree with how it's done and they don't change it to please you, then go somewhere else. Harsh, but true.

Totally agree with the statement however another option is to try to make suggestions on forums like this or direct to the league that may help them improve an already good thing. I don't think anyone is saying that it is a horrible league. What is being suggested are some ways to improve it or at least attempt to make it seem less political.

From the sounds of many of the comments, they are coming from people who had senior kids participating and, therefore, will not benefit from the changes because their kids are done with this league. Usually the best suggestions come from people who have nothing to gain by making those suggestions. But, ultimately, you are right. People should not participate if they don't like how it is done and don't think they have a fair chance.

Exactly. You're right, and I'm right, it is clearly the top hockey option. Just because you're the best doesn't mean you can't get better. Who knows, maybe other leagues will catch up. Just like player development from youth to high school and so on. I don't know about others but making everyone attend the tryout seems reasonable to me. It's not changing the complexion of the league or anything. It's just little things Elite COULD do to make a great thing even better. Just because you score the most goals in the league doesn't mean you can't get better at passing. Sometimes it takes outside sources to nitpick other aspects and ultimately make the whole better.

Great point. In fact, I think that the leagues two most recent scoring leaders both had to defer their D1 scholarships another year (Tyler Barnes and Nate Congdon) for further development. Again, Papa, I dont think the league is a bad thing...I just think they should be shooting for getting the best 100 kids in the league, not the best 75 and then 25 of "your friends" and "my friends". That is my only point. The league should also theoretically end up with 40/60 at a minimum Class A to Class AA players and it isn't even close.

[youngblood08]

Flaton is right on!

You can't tell me that, out of the 8 kids from STA and the 5-6 from Hill, the #5 kid and #8 kid are better then the Top kid from any other school that has no kids representing. By no means does that suggest every school should have someone playing in the league. But in the same token the same schools players are being rewarded by who they play with rather then thier talent alone.

[summer]

Flaton is right on!

You can't tell me that, out of the 8 kids from STA and the 5-6 from Hill, the #5 kid and #8 kid are better then the Top kid from any other school that has no kids representing. By no means does that suggest every school should have someone playing in the league. But in the same token the same schools players are being rewarded by who they play with rather then thier talent alone.

That's how everything seems to work in hockey (and everything else)!

[flatontheice]

Flaton is right on!

You can't tell me that, out of the 8 kids from STA and the 5-6 from Hill, the #5 kid and #8 kid are better then the Top kid from any other school that has no kids representing. By no means does that suggest every school should have someone playing in the league. But in the same token the same schools players are being rewarded by who they play with rather then thier talent alone.

That's how everything seems to work in hockey (and everything else)!

Did Chad Rau leave the league?

[The Exiled One]

Did Chad Rau leave the league?

I'd be interested in that answer. He did tryout for Sioux Falls, and I'd imagine that they'd offer him a spot. If there's a hole on the NTDP squad, he might get offered that as well.

[shakey]

Flaton is right on!

You can't tell me that, out of the 8 kids from STA and the 5-6 from Hill, the #5 kid and #8 kid are better then the Top kid from any other school that has no kids representing. By no means does that suggest every school should have someone playing in the league. But in the same token the same schools players are being rewarded by who they play with rather then thier talent alone.

That's how everything seems to work in hockey (and everything else)!

Did Chad Rau leave the league?

Do you mean Kyle Rau?

[flatontheice]

That's how everything seems to work in hockey (and everything else)!

Did Chad Rau leave the league?

Do you mean Kyle Rau?

Sorry Kyle Rau?

[BodyShots]

I see the schedules are posted. No games at the Super Rink. I hope these players and families realize they will be on the road a lot of weekends.

[northwoods oldtimer]

I see the schedules are posted. No games at the Super Rink. I hope these players and families realize they will be on the road a lot of weekends.

I would think people know going in that the league involves substantial travel which translates to cost in lodging, food and fuel. Honestly I wonder how one can afford 3 years of that schedule, it could certainly price kids (and families) out regardless of talent, perhaps that is why some decide not to take part in the league.

[observer]

How about the team from Norway?

But I see most metro teams have 3 trips to Madison, Brainerd and Fargo. Shattuck would not be considered a travel weekend for the metro teams. A Northern team player could have 7 trips! It's a big expense and some families are in a tougher financial situation this year as opposed to last. I don't know if parents would even go? Do the players room together with 3-4 in a room? Coaches chaperone? Manager?

[youngblood08]

The Norway team is from a school that is for sports in Norway. They bring 2 teams one 9-10 graders and the other 11-12 graders. Most of the kids move away from home to play for this team. They come here the older squad plays Elite 1 teams and 1 tournament the younger squad plays the Elite 2 teams and a tournament. All in all they play something like 16 games in 2 weeks.

I sat with one of the injured players last year, very nice kid. His english was better then expected.

[NHOCKEY_FAN]

Whats up with the Great Plains team. No roster yet. Web site says that it would be up by the 28th of July.

[High Flyer]

You can't tell me that, out of the 8 kids from STA and the 5-6 from Hill, the #5 kid and #8 kid are better then the Top kid from any other school that has no kids representing.

Youngblood08, what schools/players do you think were slighted?

I thought HM defensemen Kevin Schutz should of also have made one of the teams. Looked good in the tryouts, better than some who did make a team. And HM def. Cotroneo only an alt.??? And then there was HM def. Johnson (younger bro), he didn't get a tryout??? Johnson could not crack last years talented varsity line up, yet is more talented than several players who were offered spots on a elite team this year. Don't forget about HM defensemen, Duke Pieper either, what if......????

And what about STA forward Noah Gavin, did he even get an invite to tryout or was it a soccer thing??? And what about STA defensemen Eric Schurhamer?? Did he delcine a invite to tryout because of soccer? And don't forget STA goalie McNeely (off to Ann Arbor). These STA players could have/should also earned spots on one of the teams.

HM & STA are loaded with talent this year. There could have been 10 STA players and 9 HM players in the elite league this year. I think there are a lot of teams whos top players would not even start if they where playing for STA or Hill this year and they may not even make one of thier second lines or even be a back up in net.

The goal should be to get the best players into the league. It should not matter what school they are from or how many from that school. The HM & STA players who made it this year were desirving.

There are others though you must ??? as to "how" they got an automatic invite and did not have to tryout. Had several of these players been required to tryout, I would not be surprised to see them not make a team. And then there were others who did not even tryout. Not sure if they were not invited or opted not to particapate due to a fall sport. And there are a few who got automatics, just because they played in the league last year. Sometimes the league make a mistake and based on thier poor preformance last year, these players should be required to tryout again and earn a spot the following year. Not hard to figure who those players are. Perhaps there are other players who have caught and passed some of these players.

[gerryodrowski]

STA should have their own Elite League team.

[BodyShots]

You can't tell me that, out of the 8 kids from STA and the 5-6 from Hill, the #5 kid and #8 kid are better then the Top kid from any other school that has no kids representing.

Youngblood08, what schools/players do you think were slighted?

I thought HM defensemen Kevin Schutz should of also have made one of the teams. Looked good in the tryouts, better than some who did make a team. And HM def. Cotroneo only an alt.??? And then there was HM def. Johnson (younger bro), he didn't get a tryout??? Johnson could not crack last years talented varsity line up, yet is more talented than several players who were offered spots on a elite team this year. Don't forget about HM defensemen, Duke Pieper either, what if......????

And what about STA forward Noah Gavin, did he even get an invite to tryout or was it a soccer thing??? And what about STA defensemen Eric Schurhamer?? Did he delcine a invite to tryout because of soccer? And don't forget STA goalie McNeely (off to Ann Arbor). These STA players could have/should also earned spots on one of the teams.

HM & STA are loaded with talent this year. There could have been 10 STA players and 9 HM players in the elite league this year. I think there are a lot of teams whos top players would not even start if they where playing for STA or Hill this year and they may not even make one of thier second lines or even be a back up in net.

The goal should be to get the best players into the league. It should not matter what school they are from or how many from that school. The HM & STA players who made it this year were desirving.

There are others though you must ??? as to "how" they got an automatic invite and did not have to tryout. Had several of these players been required to tryout, I would not be surprised to see them not make a team. And then there were others who did not even tryout. Not sure if they were not invited or opted not to particapate due to a fall sport. And there are a few who got automatics, just because they played in the league last year. Sometimes the league make a mistake and based on thier poor preformance last year, these players should be required to tryout again and earn a spot the following year. Not hard to figure who those players are. Perhaps there are other players who have caught and passed some of these players.

And what do STA and HM have in common?

[keepyourheadup]

Based on the statements above the only thing standing in the way of perfect seasons for these two teams are each other. If you can make a valid arguement that nearly 20 players from two teams could/should be in the elite league...this is nearly 20 percent of the minnesotans participating....how can any team hope to even compete? Sounds to me like the state championship will be played twice during the regular season. How many guys did Mahtomedi put in the league?

[Doglover]

I didn't realize HM and STA were quite so loaded with talent!! They should definitely domintated this year

[hipcheck]

Must be their feeder program!

[gerryodrowski]

I didn't realize HM and STA were quite so loaded with talent!! They should definitely domintated this year

What a joke.

[breakout]

STA should have their own Elite League team.

Now that is a joke

[youngblood08]

That would give STA and Hill a little taste of thier own medicine. The best Privates schools kids vs the best Public school kids. Let the Elite League make an East Metro Private school team and a West Metro Private school team.

[breakout]

That would give STA and Hill a little taste of thier own medicine. The best Privates schools kids vs the best Public school kids. Let the Elite League make an East Metro Private school team and a West Metro Private school team.

What would be the purpose?

[youngblood08]

Does everything need a purpose? The sad thing about it is there are plenty of players that could be on these teams but due to the fact they don't get to the State tournament or are stuck on some bad teams they DON"T get the exposure that the players on Hill or STA get. We can beat this dead horse to death you play with better players it makes you look better even when you aren't!