Minnesota Tier 1 Winter Hockey

[brats]

My son played Tier I hockey in Detroit prior to our move to MN. I much prefer the system in place here. There is almost no team loyalty in Detroit Tier I hockey. Kids, or should I say parents, bounce from team to team for any number of reasons, and not all of them best for the player. In addition, the Tier I system begins so young that kids can be funneled to house hockey at any early age. Kids as young as 9 or 10 don't get the same opportunities for development as kids showing early promise. It's a shame because a kid showing promise at 9 or 10 may be a bust by 14 and the kid sent to house may be a late bloomer. Here kids are together throughout their hockey "career," and late bloomers are not lost along the way. I think winter AAA in MN would be a mistake. Plus other states can't match the excitement of the MN state hockey tourneys, and I think fierce loyalty to your association helps fuel that excitement.

[WhosPuckIsItAnyways?]

I would like to hear what people think about promoting Tier 1 winter hockey in Minnesota like they do in Wisconsin and other states. What are the Pros & Cons? Would it create another option for the elite players at each age level and improve hockey overall in Minnesota?

There are no cons ... only Pro's ... Minnesota Hockey should get with the program sooner rather than later

[WhosPuckIsItAnyways?]

My son played In addition, the Tier I system begins so young that kids can be funneled to house hockey at any early age. Kids as young as 9 or 10 don't get the same opportunities for development as kids showing early promise. It's a shame because a kid showing promise at 9 or 10 may be a bust by 14 and the kid sent to house may be a late bloomer.

Same thing happens here. Ask the parents of perennial 'B' players or top 'C' players who never got the 'A team' opportunity at an early age. The grass is not always greener ... same sh*t, just different piles.

Hockey associations need to offer as many OPTIONS as possible. What works for one player or family does not work for another. Nothing wrong with having both Tier 1 AAA and Association hockey living in harmony side by side. More options for more kids and families. Helps many. Hurts no one.

[old goalie85]

Stop trying to fix things that are not broken!

[WhosPuckIsItAnyways?]

Unfortunately the MAJORITY are not trying to build association based hockey but rather tear down fairly well established AAA/Tier 1 programs. The more realistic model for Wisconsin hockey is the Michigan model of association clubs feeding their best players to AAA teams for development and exposure and then supporting the High School programs for those players preferring that level or not selected for the AAA teams.

Rather than doing everything that they can to build tha association/aa system many are working hard to obstruct the AAA teams and promoting peudo Tier 1 hockey like Team Wisconsin or worse yet WEHL. More effort should be given to supporting the established AAA clubs and even trying to add additional AAA clubs.

spot on!

[JSR]

Unfortunately the MAJORITY are not trying to build association based hockey but rather tear down fairly well established AAA/Tier 1 programs. The more realistic model for Wisconsin hockey is the Michigan model of association clubs feeding their best players to AAA teams for development and exposure and then supporting the High School programs for those players preferring that level or not selected for the AAA teams.

Rather than doing everything that they can to build tha association/aa system many are working hard to obstruct the AAA teams and promoting peudo Tier 1 hockey like Team Wisconsin or worse yet WEHL. More effort should be given to supporting the established AAA clubs and even trying to add additional AAA clubs.

spot on!

I've had a chance to chew on this for a while now and I couldn't disagree more. The Michigan model is not something i want any part. However i also do not want the distruction of our current AAA Tier 1 teams. I think the more realistic and better model is to try and build our association and high school teams up, to continue to provide additional opportunities and to also support the AAA Tier 1 teams so that kdis and parents who want that option can choose it. In your model you are really only supporting AAA Tier 1 as the 'only" quality hockey. That is short sighted and biased. If you truly are interested in growing the SPORT for the sake of the SPORT, then assoication hockey and high school is what needs to be built up. We have three quality Tier 1 options in Wisconsin, plus several within strikign distance in Illinois and of course Schattuck. I like options, both sides should be supported but right now there is imbalance both in perceptiona nd attitude and to create balance associations, high schools, and spring options need to be improved, the Tier 1 model is in place and can be a great option, it doesn't need to be torn down but I don;t think we need more of them either. Balance is key IMO

[wayupnorth]

We have three quality Tier 1 options in Wisconsin
???

Who?

The Fire are all Minnesota kids and crush the others.
None of Wisconsin's teams can compete outside the state of Wisconsin.

Minnesota will continue to produce good hockey players, because they have quality coaching and plenty of rinks. The system does not matter.

[JSR]

We have three quality Tier 1 options in Wisconsin
???

Who?

The Fire are all Minnesota kids and crush the others.
None of Wisconsin's teams can compete outside the state of Wisconsin.

Minnesota will continue to produce good hockey players, because they have quality coaching and plenty of rinks. The system does not matter.

[RockyMtnIce]

My son played In addition, the Tier I system begins so young that kids can be funneled to house hockey at any early age. Kids as young as 9 or 10 don't get the same opportunities for development as kids showing early promise. It's a shame because a kid showing promise at 9 or 10 may be a bust by 14 and the kid sent to house may be a late bloomer.

Same thing happens here. Ask the parents of perennial 'B' players or top 'C' players who never got the 'A team' opportunity at an early age. The grass is not always greener ... same sh*t, just different piles.

Hockey associations need to offer as many OPTIONS as possible. What works for one player or family does not work for another. Nothing wrong with having both Tier 1 AAA and Association hockey living in harmony side by side. More options for more kids and families. Helps many. Hurts no one.

Agree on both of your points. In Colorado our association based hockey are private clubs playing Tier II USA Hockey rules. Parents here also claim about the perennial 'B" player who never got the 'A' opportunity at an early age. The bad news in Colorado is kids can move freely from organization to another year after year. Some parents change associations yearly based on the best "opportunity" for their child.

The good news is we also have options as there is Tier I AAA hockey available, although not of the magnitude of Michigan and some other states. The key is families have options.