MCBAIN on Channel 5 News Tonight on D6

[hockeyover40]

Myself, I root for more options, or choices to consider for my child. I don't root for a monopoly by anyone.

I think there's room for MN Hockey, Choice, Fire, and the Blades Mite program. They don't offer the same thing. Everyone's a little different. Let people choose where they want to play without fear of penalty. If one of these programs want to compete with another, then offer what their offering in your program.

[muckandgrind]

Personally, I don't have an issue with the D6 rule, other than how it was enacted.

But I can see their point.

I'm all for choice. If the kid wants to play for Bernie, fine. He made his choice. But you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can either play association hockey or in the Choice League, not both.

[suuperdave]

Sounds like MNHockey is doing something very similar.

Can play in another state (for the fire) but must sit out for a year when you come back. Go ahead and play, but be prepared to be punished if you do. Instead of giving your members other options within Mn., penalize them if they choose to play where they believe offers a better opportunity for themselves.

Sounds a lot like Dist 6

what do these two organizations have currently in common?
-Perhaps MN Hockey is trying to eliminate in their eyes the "axis of evil"
of both organizations. It seems obvious they have discussed a plan to eliminate it. So what if the "axis" came to them from the beginning looking for approval? Would that have helped moving forward? Or do you root for the independent to make it up the hill?

So what do you see as the axis of evil(s) exactly? Which axis of evil should have come to MN Hockey looking for approval and of what? And does anyone really know what the new ruling is or might be? If players have to sit out a year upon returning to their association, what real sense does that make? Kids banished from hockey for such an evil transgression of playing on another team for a year or two or three? Wow. I just don't get it. Just send every hockey family a letter telling them what they are mandated to do and if they don't, they will be punished. I guess that is where it is headed. In winter, there is only the association, good or bad, deal with it because it is the greatest organizational system for development. If you are lucky enough to be on a good team, great for you. If you land on B team playing as an "A" team, too bad and good luck. Stay home or move if you need to. So much for free enterprise and evolution to find better ways of doing things.

[HockeyDad41]

Personally, I don't have an issue with the D6 rule, other than how it was enacted.

But I can see their point.

I'm all for choice. If the kid wants to play for Bernie, fine. He made his choice. But you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can either play association hockey or in the Choice League, not both.

Oh yes you can. Just not in D6.

[muckandgrind]

Personally, I don't have an issue with the D6 rule, other than how it was enacted.

But I can see their point.

I'm all for choice. If the kid wants to play for Bernie, fine. He made his choice. But you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can either play association hockey or in the Choice League, not both.

Oh yes you can. Just not in D6.

Let me re-phrase.....you SHOULDN'T have your cake and eat it too...

I'm thinking this rule might be adopted by MN Hockey some day soon.

[HockeyDad41]

Personally, I don't have an issue with the D6 rule, other than how it was enacted.

But I can see their point.

I'm all for choice. If the kid wants to play for Bernie, fine. He made his choice. But you can't have your cake and eat it too. You can either play association hockey or in the Choice League, not both.

Oh yes you can. Just not in D6.

Let me re-phrase.....you SHOULDN'T have your cake and eat it too...

I'm thinking this rule might be adopted by MN Hockey some day soon.

See that's what I'm talking about. A statement like that will carry this board for another week.


Ummm... Why not muck? Why would you hand over your right/ability to make a decision regarding where your child plays hockey? Are you saying that D6 or MN Hockey knows your kid's needs and abilities better than you do?

[muckandgrind]

Oh yes you can. Just not in D6.

Let me re-phrase.....you SHOULDN'T have your cake and eat it too...

I'm thinking this rule might be adopted by MN Hockey some day soon.

See that's what I'm talking about. A statement like that will carry this board for another week.


Ummm... Why not muck? Why would you hand over your right/ability to make a decision regarding where your child plays hockey? Are you saying that D6 or MN Hockey knows your kid's needs and abilities better than you do?

That's not what I'm saying at all....I think every parent should be free to decide where they want their child to play....If they want to play in the Choice League, fine. Register and play in the Choice League. If they want to play association hockey, register and play for association hockey.

As the name of Bernie's league suggests: Make a CHOICE.

The reason why you shouldn't play for both is this: Let's say you have a Choice League and association game scheduled on the same night. Which game do you go to? Let's say you have an association practice and a Choice League game on the same night. Which event to you go to?

When you sign up for a team, you are making a commitment to the other players on that team. Sure, kids will miss hockey for religion or other family events, but other hockey events shouldn't be excused.

[HockeyDad41]

Let me re-phrase.....you SHOULDN'T have your cake and eat it too...

I'm thinking this rule might be adopted by MN Hockey some day soon.

See that's what I'm talking about. A statement like that will carry this board for another week.


Ummm... Why not muck? Why would you hand over your right/ability to make a decision regarding where your child plays hockey? Are you saying that D6 or MN Hockey knows your kid's needs and abilities better than you do?

That's not what I'm saying at all....I think every parent should be free to decide where they want their child to play....If they want to play in the Choice League, fine. Register and play in the Choice League. If they want to play association hockey, register and play for association hockey.

As the name of Bernie's league suggests: Make a CHOICE.

The reason why you shouldn't play for both is this: Let's say you have a Choice League and association game scheduled on the same night. Which game do you go to? Let's say you have an association practice and a Choice League game on the same night. Which event to you go to?

When you sign up for a team, you are making a commitment to the other players on that team. Sure, kids will miss hockey for religion or other family events, but other hockey events shouldn't be excused.

It's ok to miss the big hockey game or practice if you play on the football team or little Timmy has a birthday party, but you better not even think about missing if you are playing on another hockey team.

That's kind of like saying it's ok to cheat on your girlfriend with a bonde, but you had better not think about cheating with a red head!

[InigoMontoya]

The idea of committing to one hockey team, while being accepting of other activities is not new, nor confined to winter hockey. Most AAA programs have a policy that you may miss hockey due to baseball, lacrosse, soccer, even being at the lake, but almost all of them ask the child to commit to the program for hockey.

[HockeyDad41]

The idea of committing to one hockey team, while being accepting of other activities is not new, nor confined to winter hockey. Most AAA programs have a policy that you may miss hockey due to baseball, lacrosse, soccer, even being at the lake, but almost all of them ask the child to commit to the program for hockey.

Really? Which programs don't care if you miss hockey for soccer or baseball but do care if you miss it for your other hockey team? What age levels? Not the one's with a break so you can do other sports, but the ones that don't care if you miss while their program is going on? Name a couple.

[muckandgrind]

The idea of committing to one hockey team, while being accepting of other activities is not new, nor confined to winter hockey. Most AAA programs have a policy that you may miss hockey due to baseball, lacrosse, soccer, even being at the lake, but almost all of them ask the child to commit to the program for hockey.

Really? Which programs don't care if you miss hockey for soccer or baseball but do care if you miss it for your other hockey team? What age levels? Not the one's with a break so you can do other sports, but the ones that don't care if you miss while their program is going on? Name a couple.

I know Bernie doesn't want his little orange guys playing on any other hockey teams. Kind of ironic how he is whining now that the shoe is on the other foot.

It's ok to miss the big hockey game or practice if you play on the football team or little Timmy has a birthday party, but you better not even think about missing if you are playing on another hockey team.

That's kind of like saying it's ok to cheat on your girlfriend with a bonde, but you had better not think about cheating with a red head!

Poor analogy.

Many association hockey programs don't start until after football is over. And yes, family and church-related events SHOULD be excused. And, no, missing association hockey to attend another hockey event should NEVER be excused. Just as missing Choice Hockey to attend association hockey should never being excused.

It's all about COMMITTMENT to your team!!! You can't commit to both teams, so make a choice and go with it.

[InigoMontoya]

The idea of committing to one hockey team, while being accepting of other activities is not new, nor confined to winter hockey. Most AAA programs have a policy that you may miss hockey due to baseball, lacrosse, soccer, even being at the lake, but almost all of them ask the child to commit to the program for hockey.

Really? Which programs don't care if you miss hockey for soccer or baseball but do care if you miss it for your other hockey team? What age levels? Not the one's with a break so you can do other sports, but the ones that don't care if you miss while their program is going on? Name a couple.

The Icemen have it right on their website; as does STE. The Cyclones/Legacy were created for just this reason (v. MM). Isn't that why BM started The Force? I'd be happy to research other for you.

[HockeyDad41]

The idea of committing to one hockey team, while being accepting of other activities is not new, nor confined to winter hockey. Most AAA programs have a policy that you may miss hockey due to baseball, lacrosse, soccer, even being at the lake, but almost all of them ask the child to commit to the program for hockey.

Really? Which programs don't care if you miss hockey for soccer or baseball but do care if you miss it for your other hockey team? What age levels? Not the one's with a break so you can do other sports, but the ones that don't care if you miss while their program is going on? Name a couple.

I know Bernie doesn't want his little orange guys playing on any other hockey teams. Kind of ironic how he is whining now that the shoe is on the other foot.

It's ok to miss the big hockey game or practice if you play on the football team or little Timmy has a birthday party, but you better not even think about missing if you are playing on another hockey team.

That's kind of like saying it's ok to cheat on your girlfriend with a bonde, but you had better not think about cheating with a red head!

Poor analogy.

Many association hockey programs don't start until after football is over. And yes, family and church-related events SHOULD be excused. And, no, missing association hockey to attend another hockey event should NEVER be excused. Just as missing Choice Hockey to attend association hockey should never being excused.

It's all about COMMITTMENT to your team!!! You can't commit to both teams, so make a choice and go with it.

I don't think this is about committment to team at all. That's just how they are disguising it. I think this is about D6 thinking that their associations can better develop hockey players, wanting that control and trying to wipe out the competition. The problem is that they are not better. Businesses like MM exist because they provide a product or service that people want to buy. It's all voluntary. No one HAS to go to them.

There is a big building down the street and if I buy it and convert it to an ice arena and start Edina Made hockey and was able to put out a better product than Bernie's Minnesota Made hockey, he would either have to adapt or he would be driven out of the market place. It happens every day to businesses all over the country. If the associations want him gone, they should have to do it by providing a better product than he can provide not by creating a morally, ethically and not mention legally questionable rule.

[HockeyDad41]

The idea of committing to one hockey team, while being accepting of other activities is not new, nor confined to winter hockey. Most AAA programs have a policy that you may miss hockey due to baseball, lacrosse, soccer, even being at the lake, but almost all of them ask the child to commit to the program for hockey.

Really? Which programs don't care if you miss hockey for soccer or baseball but do care if you miss it for your other hockey team? What age levels? Not the one's with a break so you can do other sports, but the ones that don't care if you miss while their program is going on? Name a couple.

The Icemen have it right on their website; as does STE. The Cyclones/Legacy were created for just this reason (v. MM). Isn't that why BM started The Force? I'd be happy to research other for you.

Did you purposely misunderstand me?

[muckandgrind]

Really? Which programs don't care if you miss hockey for soccer or baseball but do care if you miss it for your other hockey team? What age levels? Not the one's with a break so you can do other sports, but the ones that don't care if you miss while their program is going on? Name a couple.

I know Bernie doesn't want his little orange guys playing on any other hockey teams. Kind of ironic how he is whining now that the shoe is on the other foot.

It's ok to miss the big hockey game or practice if you play on the football team or little Timmy has a birthday party, but you better not even think about missing if you are playing on another hockey team.

That's kind of like saying it's ok to cheat on your girlfriend with a bonde, but you had better not think about cheating with a red head!

Poor analogy.

Many association hockey programs don't start until after football is over. And yes, family and church-related events SHOULD be excused. And, no, missing association hockey to attend another hockey event should NEVER be excused. Just as missing Choice Hockey to attend association hockey should never being excused.

It's all about COMMITTMENT to your team!!! You can't commit to both teams, so make a choice and go with it.

I don't think this is about committment to team at all. That's just how they are disguising it. I think this is about D6 thinking that their associations can better develop hockey players, wanting that control and trying to wipe out the competition. The problem is that they are not better. Businesses like MM exist because they provide a product or service that people want to buy. It's all voluntary. No one HAS to go to them.

There is a big building down the street and if I buy it and convert it to an ice arena and start Edina Made hockey and was able to put out a better product than Bernie's Minnesota Made hockey, he would either have to adapt or he would be driven out of the market place. It happens every day to businesses all over the country. If the associations want him gone, they should have to do it by providing a better product than he can provide not by creating a morally, ethically and not mention legally questionable rule.

That's fine...

If association hockey is not meeting your needs, the solution is simple: DON'T REGISTER FOR ASSOCIATION HOCKEY. It's a free country, no one is putting a gun to your head saying you MUST play association hockey and nowhere else. They are just saying that IF you play association hockey, you cannot be rostered on another team or you will be kicked off the association team.

Basically, they have the same rule that Bernie has for his Orange teams.

Play in the Choice League only.

[HockeyDad41]

I know Bernie doesn't want his little orange guys playing on any other hockey teams. Kind of ironic how he is whining now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Poor analogy.

Many association hockey programs don't start until after football is over. And yes, family and church-related events SHOULD be excused. And, no, missing association hockey to attend another hockey event should NEVER be excused. Just as missing Choice Hockey to attend association hockey should never being excused.

It's all about COMMITTMENT to your team!!! You can't commit to both teams, so make a choice and go with it.

I don't think this is about committment to team at all. That's just how they are disguising it. I think this is about D6 thinking that their associations can better develop hockey players, wanting that control and trying to wipe out the competition. The problem is that they are not better. Businesses like MM exist because they provide a product or service that people want to buy. It's all voluntary. No one HAS to go to them.

There is a big building down the street and if I buy it and convert it to an ice arena and start Edina Made hockey and was able to put out a better product than Bernie's Minnesota Made hockey, he would either have to adapt or he would be driven out of the market place. It happens every day to businesses all over the country. If the associations want him gone, they should have to do it by providing a better product than he can provide not by creating a morally, ethically and not mention legally questionable rule.

That's fine...

If association hockey is not meeting your needs, the solution is simple. DON'T REGISTER FOR ASSOCIATION HOCKEY. Play in the Choice League only.

Huh?

Oh nevermind.

[muckandgrind]

I don't think this is about committment to team at all. That's just how they are disguising it. I think this is about D6 thinking that their associations can better develop hockey players, wanting that control and trying to wipe out the competition. The problem is that they are not better. Businesses like MM exist because they provide a product or service that people want to buy. It's all voluntary. No one HAS to go to them.

There is a big building down the street and if I buy it and convert it to an ice arena and start Edina Made hockey and was able to put out a better product than Bernie's Minnesota Made hockey, he would either have to adapt or he would be driven out of the market place. It happens every day to businesses all over the country. If the associations want him gone, they should have to do it by providing a better product than he can provide not by creating a morally, ethically and not mention legally questionable rule.

That's fine...

If association hockey is not meeting your needs, the solution is simple. DON'T REGISTER FOR ASSOCIATION HOCKEY. Play in the Choice League only.

Huh?

Oh nevermind.

Is it that hard for you to grasp? D6 has basically adopted the same rule Bernie has for his summer teams. No one is telling you where you have to play: you make the CHOICE: Choice League OR Association Hockey. Isn't that what we all want?

[seek & destroy]

I don't think this is about committment to team at all. That's just how they are disguising it...businesses like MM exist because they provide a product or service that people want to buy. It's all voluntary. No one HAS to go to them.

There is a big building down the street and if I buy it and convert it to an ice arena and start Edina Made hockey and was able to put out a better product than Bernie's Minnesota Made hockey, he would either have to adapt or he would be driven out of the market place.

Or he could make a rule that players that want to be part of his well established program must commit to it and cannot participate in the other program that just opened down the street.

HD41 - you are losing this argument because your are fixated on the idea that someone is taking away your "right/ability" to choose what is best for your kid. NO ONE has said you can't choose which you think is better. They are just making you choose. Just because you don't want 'little johnny' to have to pick one or the other isn't D6's fault.

Part of parenting is helping your kids make decisions/choices and helping them learn about concepts like 'team' and 'commitment'. Just because you prefer to have your player be able to do whatever he wants whenever he wants doesn't mean that everyone else should cater to him. Would you be making this same argument if he wanted to play both on a basketball team and a hockey team during the winter season?

Bernie could easily correct this by offering a clinic with no games so players could take part in the extra training without having a conflict. But Bernie has never been shy about controversy and that is ultimately why he decided to offer people the "choice" league. It is his right as a private business person and I applaud him for being such a bold business person and for offering people some great choices. Your problem is that you don't want to have to choose.

For what it is worth, I think the D6 rule is stupid and short sighted at the mite level. Mites barely get any training at their associations (2-3 hours a week) and most of it is from some dads who had old skates that they could wear so they volunteer to help out. Don't get me wrong, those volunteers help make hockey work but the mite level training is typically not real high but it is hopefully fun. However, D6 made the stupid rule so I would personally encourage my son to play MM hockey during mites. Way more ice, better training and greater chance to develop are just a few of the reasons. Of course, if my son said he wanted to play with his friends from school, then we would play the association hockey and look for some good off season training programs to participate in. It would be his choice and as a parent I would try to help him understand why he needs to make it.

Once a player gets to be Squirt/Peewee age I think no matter what they should have to choose one program or the other if they want to play at the highest levels of association hockey. Coaches would have a nightmare with other parents etc. dealing with the kid/family who comes and goes as he pleases so he can play on a different team during the season. I wouldn't put up with it if they were playing basketball so I shouldn't put up with it if they are playing hockey.

If your kid is a mite, do MM...it's a better program. If he is older, decide if he ultimately wants to play H.S. hockey with his community and help him understand that it probably makes sense for him to start playing with his future teammates by participating in the association. There are plenty of great off season training programs for squirts, peewees or bantams. The end result is that all you need to do is make a decision that applies to one 5 month season as opposed to allowing your kid to pick where he is going to play each day of a season...it will be good for both of you.

[HockeyDad41]

I don't think this is about committment to team at all. That's just how they are disguising it...businesses like MM exist because they provide a product or service that people want to buy. It's all voluntary. No one HAS to go to them.

There is a big building down the street and if I buy it and convert it to an ice arena and start Edina Made hockey and was able to put out a better product than Bernie's Minnesota Made hockey, he would either have to adapt or he would be driven out of the market place.

Or he could make a rule that players that want to be part of his well established program must commit to it and cannot participate in the other program that just opened down the street.

HD41 - you are losing this argument because your are fixated on the idea that someone is taking away your "right/ability" to choose what is best for your kid. NO ONE has said you can't choose which you think is better. They are just making you choose. Just because you don't want 'little johnny' to have to pick one or the other isn't D6's fault.

Part of parenting is helping your kids make decisions/choices and helping them learn about concepts like 'team' and 'commitment'. Just because you prefer to have your player be able to do whatever he wants whenever he wants doesn't mean that everyone else should cater to him. Would you be making this same argument if he wanted to play both on a basketball team and a hockey team during the winter season?

Bernie could easily correct this by offering a clinic with no games so players could take part in the extra training without having a conflict. But Bernie has never been shy about controversy and that is ultimately why he decided to offer people the "choice" league. It is his right as a private business person and I applaud him for being such a bold business person and for offering people some great choices. Your problem is that you don't want to have to choose.

For what it is worth, I think the D6 rule is stupid and short sighted at the mite level. Mites barely get any training at their associations (2-3 hours a week) and most of it is from some dads who had old skates that they could wear so they volunteer to help out. Don't get me wrong, those volunteers help make hockey work but the mite level training is typically not real high but it is hopefully fun. However, D6 made the stupid rule so I would personally encourage my son to play MM hockey during mites. Way more ice, better training and greater chance to develop are just a few of the reasons. Of course, if my son said he wanted to play with his friends from school, then we would play the association hockey and look for some good off season training programs to participate in. It would be his choice and as a parent I would try to help him understand why he needs to make it.

Once a player gets to be Squirt/Peewee age I think no matter what they should have to choose one program or the other if they want to play at the highest levels of association hockey. Coaches would have a nightmare with other parents etc. dealing with the kid/family who comes and goes as he pleases so he can play on a different team during the season. I wouldn't put up with it if they were playing basketball so I shouldn't put up with it if they are playing hockey.

If your kid is a mite, do MM...it's a better program. If he is older, decide if he ultimately wants to play H.S. hockey with his community and help him understand that it probably makes sense for him to start playing with his future teammates by participating in the association. There are plenty of great off season training programs for squirts, peewees or bantams. The end result is that all you need to do is make a decision that applies to one 5 month season as opposed to allowing your kid to pick where he is going to play each day of a season...it will be good for both of you.

Crap! I didn't even realize I was in an argument let alone losing it.

My kid will play both Choice and association hockey this year. Did it last year with minimal conflicts. In fact I doubt either league would have known we were in the other if I hadn't mentioned it. My choice was to have my son do both. As I have stated in past posts, both experiences were valuable to his development as a hockey player. The association focused on different areas than Choice league did. The extra time just on the ice was beneficial as well. I don't see the downside to being able to choose to do both.

In both Choice league and association hockey, through all levels of mites, standings are not kept. In association hockey at our district they don't even allow the score to be kept. As muck loves to point out, it isn't even real hockey at this age, so why get all bent out of shape about committment to a team that isn't going to matter in the long run. Statistically speaking, if the kid is still playing by the time he is a bantam better than half of the kids on his current association mite team will be out of hockey anyway. The committment should be to do whatever it takes to make sure your kid is getting the best opportunity at this age to develop their game.

I figure that with mites and squirts Choice league has room for about 400 kids. Even if every slot was filled by a D6 kid which I can assure you isn't the case, they would give up less than 6% of their total registered skaters. That 400 represents less than 1% of the total players registered with Minnesota Hockey.

If people only want to do association, by all means that's what they should do. If people want to offer their kid more and they can handle it, they should be able to.

In the end this is all about D6 making a questionable rule to try to hurt a small business that competes with their associations.

[muckandgrind]

In the end this is all about D6 making a questionable rule to try to hurt a small business that competes with their associations.

Answer me this one question: Doesn't Bernie have the same rule for his summer orange team?

I'm pretty sure he doesn't allow his Machine players to play on other AAA teams in the summer. And as such, it seems pretty hypocritical for him to b*tch about D6 enacting a rule that he, himself, has had for quite some time....doesn't it?

So I guess, what's good for the goose is good for the gander, huh?

In both Choice league and association hockey, through all levels of mites, standings are not kept. In association hockey at our district they don't even allow the score to be kept. As muck loves to point out, it isn't even real hockey at this age, so why get all bent out of shape about committment to a team that isn't going to matter in the long run. Statistically speaking, if the kid is still playing by the time he is a bantam better than half of the kids on his current association mite team will be out of hockey anyway. The committment should be to do whatever it takes to make sure your kid is getting the best opportunity at this age to develop their game.

Here's why:

Bernie started with Mites and Squirts..soon he will be offering a PeeWee Choice League, and it's not a stretch to assume that if he is succesful at the Mite -> PeeWee leagues, he will someday offer a Bantam Choice League and down the road, a midget league. It's been known for quite some time that McBain's ultimate goal is to create a hockey "factory" to compete with Shattuck, only from the ground floor (mites) on up. A defacto "Tier I" program right here in Minnesota.

Now, personally, I don't have an issue with him doing this. It's a free country and he should be able to run his business the way he sees fit. But I also can see D6's point of view and they have every right to run their organization the way they see fit (within the guidelines set by MN and USA Hockey, of course). Can you imagine a kid playing both Edina A PeeWee as well as MM Choice PeeWee league? It wouldn't be fair to the players on either team to have that one kid continually missing practices and games to attend the other league events.

People just have to choose whether or not they want their kids to play association hockey or for MM. Basically the same choice that some parents, up until now, had to make regarding playing association hockey versus the Wisc. Fire.

I don't hold it against anyone who wants to send their kid to the Choice League...heck, if I lived closer to Edina, I would probably consider it.

[seek & destroy]

My kid will play both Choice and association hockey this year.

If people only want to do association, by all means that's what they should do. If people want to offer their kid more and they can handle it, they should be able to.

In the end this is all about D6 making a questionable rule to try to hurt a small business that competes with their associations.

I agree with most of your post and congrats that your kid can do both! It sounds like he is a mite aged player and I think that it is a great benefit for him to have other opportunities and that it should not be a problem for the association mite team. The only part we differ on is that I think D6 has a 'right' to set up a rule - although my preference is that it would only be at the higher age levels. This is their way to help out their association programs which is part of what they are suppose to do. My guess is that they didn't just go looking to set up a rule but were probably asked to look into the matter because MM is located in the middle of D6.

Personally, I think it is best to leave those decisions to each individual association and not set up an overall D6 rule but, my guess is D6 was being asked to take a stance to help out the local associations. Don't forget that most associations are already fighting the battle to help build hockey by offering it for a lower price to the masses which include kids who are just experimenting with hockey all the way up to very committed hockey players. It is the backbone of our program in Minnesota so I wouldn't want to destroy the associations either.

Like I said in my comments, I applaud MM and Bernie for all the things he has to offer. I do not believe that he should back down or change his business plan if he doesn't want to. I'm sure he is aware that part of running a business that in part threatens the association hockey program is that the associations (or their Districts) may fight back.

[TriedThat2]

HD41-
Man, you've got to get another hobby! Muck & Destroy have been relatively patient with your self entitlement manifesto. Go to the driving range, stop by Cabelas or go buy a new toy, but whatever you do, take a break!

[HockeyDad41]

HD41-
Man, you've got to get another hobby! Muck & Destroy have been relatively patient with your self entitlement manifesto. Go to the driving range, stop by Cabelas or go buy a new toy, but whatever you do, take a break!

TriedThat2: Who the hell are you?

I like my hobby just fine not that I give a damn about your opinion. I take offense to you calling out muck and seek too! But only because I am interested in reading the "Self Entitlement Manifesto" I'm a sucker for any kind of manifesto.

Besides if you are going to recommend that I find a new hobby, the least you could do is offer up a few suggestions.

[HockeyDad41]

My kid will play both Choice and association hockey this year.

If people only want to do association, by all means that's what they should do. If people want to offer their kid more and they can handle it, they should be able to.

In the end this is all about D6 making a questionable rule to try to hurt a small business that competes with their associations.

I agree with most of your post and congrats that your kid can do both! It sounds like he is a mite aged player and I think that it is a great benefit for him to have other opportunities and that it should not be a problem for the association mite team. The only part we differ on is that I think D6 has a 'right' to set up a rule - although my preference is that it would only be at the higher age levels. This is their way to help out their association programs which is part of what they are suppose to do. My guess is that they didn't just go looking to set up a rule but were probably asked to look into the matter because MM is located in the middle of D6.

Personally, I think it is best to leave those decisions to each individual association and not set up an overall D6 rule but, my guess is D6 was being asked to take a stance to help out the local associations. Don't forget that most associations are already fighting the battle to help build hockey by offering it for a lower price to the masses which include kids who are just experimenting with hockey all the way up to very committed hockey players. It is the backbone of our program in Minnesota so I wouldn't want to destroy the associations either.

Like I said in my comments, I applaud MM and Bernie for all the things he has to offer. I do not believe that he should back down or change his business plan if he doesn't want to. I'm sure he is aware that part of running a business that in part threatens the association hockey program is that the associations (or their Districts) may fight back.

I don't agree with you that D6 had a right to make this rule. Hopefully, someone will challenge it and we'll find out if it will stand up.

IM, you're a lawyer, what's the verdict on this silly powerplay by D6?

[InigoMontoya]

I'm not really sure what everyone is so worked up about. The last couple years D6 has mandated that no team play, or even play in a tournament that includes, the WI Fire; I don't recall any sanctions or fines being handed down - and there was plenty of opportunity. Associations, districts, and even MNH (and I would suppose USAH, as well) have many rules that are not strictly enforced, if enforced at all. The real issue is when the rule is selectively enforced. It will be interesting if, let's say, Edina chooses to look the other way while Bloomington forces parents to choose (leave).