Lakeville Hockey Back in Hot water? Bantam A

[dogeatdog1]

Heard a rumor that there were some issues with Tryouts at the bantam level. Can someone confirm what went on?

[WB6162]

Heard a rumor that there were some issues with Tryouts at the bantam level. Can someone confirm what went on?

I heard the best players got the spots and some parents of kids who didn't make it were whining about it.

Stay tuned

[Yakunin]

That is correct. A player who made the Bantam A team was kicked off and was replaced by a player who was cut to the Bantam B1 team. The parent of the Bantam B1 player then filed a complaint about the tryout process and was granted his wish.

[dogeatdog1]

That is correct. A player who made the Bantam A team was kicked off and was replaced by a player who was cut to the Bantam B1 team. The parent of the Bantam B1 player then filed a complaint about the tryout process and was granted his wish.

OH I see the B1 one dad thought that his player was an a player and he had enough political clout to change the decision... That bodes well for the club. I bet his kid will be welcomed with open arms by the true A players.

[zyzxx]

Heard a rumor that there were some issues with Tryouts at the bantam level. Can someone confirm what went on?

[dogeatdog1]

Heard a rumor that there were some issues with Tryouts at the bantam level. Can someone confirm what went on?

What tryout "issues" were involved?

By this age, kids (and most of the parents) know where they and their peers belong. Tryouts are not a perfect system but extra care should be taken at BA, which is a critical level for kids getting ready to transition into high school. It may have been a better to pull up the kid in question and leave the other kid alone.

My source tells me that the Names were posted. ... dad complains then the names were changed... How do you feel as the kid that makes the team and then gets pulled. In a association that has run the gammet of issues this year this tops them all if true..

[zyzxx]

Heard a rumor that there were some issues with Tryouts at the bantam level. Can someone confirm what went on?

What tryout "issues" were involved?

By this age, kids (and most of the parents) know where they and their peers belong. Tryouts are not a perfect system but extra care should be taken at BA, which is a critical level for kids getting ready to transition into high school. It may have been a better to pull up the kid in question and leave the other kid alone.

My source tells me that the Names were posted. ... dad complains then the names were changed... How do you feel as the kid that makes the team and then gets pulled. In a association that has run the gammet of issues this year this tops them all if true..

I agree they should not move the kid down after names are posted (if there was an error, best to move one up and have 16 skaters on BA). Too bad for the kid- hopefully the BB1 team will rock.

[StayAtHomeD]

Heard a rumor that there were some issues with Tryouts at the bantam level. Can someone confirm what went on?

What tryout "issues" were involved?

By this age, kids (and most of the parents) know where they and their peers belong. Tryouts are not a perfect system but extra care should be taken at BA, which is a critical level for kids getting ready to transition into high school. It may have been a better to pull up the kid in question and leave the other kid alone.

My source tells me that the Names were posted. ... dad complains then the names were changed... How do you feel as the kid that makes the team and then gets pulled. In a association that has run the gammet of issues this year this tops them all if true..

Sounds like "B" stands for "Bubble" in both these players cases. Too bad the idiot Dad doesn't realize that in his son's case B1 or A probably isn't going to matter. Too bad he couldn't have just made it a positive for the kid.

[northwoods oldtimer]

Sounds like "B" stands for "Bubble" in both these players cases. Too bad the idiot Dad doesn't realize that in his son's case B1 or A probably isn't going to matter. Too bad he couldn't have just made it a positive for the kid.

StayAtHomeD, you sir have nailed it right. Kid was better off as stud at B1 level. Let's get this straight B1 top line, power play penalty kill. 3rd line bantam A. Depending on program and we are talking Lakeville spot play at best.
Thanks for taking the "drama" out of this subject. Dad is missing a good development opportunity for his kid.

[StayAtHomeD]

Sounds like "B" stands for "Bubble" in both these players cases. Too bad the idiot Dad doesn't realize that in his son's case B1 or A probably isn't going to matter. Too bad he couldn't have just made it a positive for the kid.

StayAtHomeD, you sir have nailed it right. Kis was better off as stud at B1 level. Let's get this straight B1 top line, power play penalty kill. 3rd line bantam A. Depending on program and we are talking Lakeville spot play at best.
Thanks for taking the "drama" out of this subject. Dad is missing a good development opportunity for his kid.

[/quote]

There is absolutely no shame in playing B1. In our large association, the B1 kids end up being the foundation of the varsity team. We lose so many "A" kids to the private schools that in the end, and sometimes not until they are seniors the B1 kids seem to be the most dependable kids who make the difference between a losing and winning team.

Sometimes, I just wish parents could see the bigger picture.

[WB6162]

That is correct. A player who made the Bantam A team was kicked off and was replaced by a player who was cut to the Bantam B1 team. The parent of the Bantam B1 player then filed a complaint about the tryout process and was granted his wish.

LOL, I was just being a smart azz since I have no clue of Lakeville Hockey drama.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

Let's look at this event from a different perspective. If the Lakeville board moved a kid up from Bantam B1 to A after the kid's dad challenged the result of the tryout process, chances are the dad's grievance was legitimate. If a parent is not going to be an advocate for his kid, who will be the kid's advocate? Sometimes there are problems with the tryout and selection processes and, if someone made a mistake that cost a kid his rightfully earned position on an A team, the mistake should be corrected.

Assuming the Lakeville tryout committee and board made a mistake in assigning the kid to B1 and recognized and admitted their mistake, they should (and apparently did) correct the mistake. However, you cannot correct a mistake by making another mistake. Re-assigning a kid who was initially named to the A team to a B1 team is not a good or smart option. Sometimes I wonder whether the people who make these decisions ever think through the consequences of their actions on a child. And yes, a second-year bantam is still a child.

Let's face it, kids who are in contention to make a Bantam A team work hard during the off-season to make their desired team. The team assignment is important to them. The kid worked hard to make the team. Yes, some of you may think it is better to play B1 and be the stud than to play A and staff the third line, but how do you know that will happen. Kids change during the season. A kid who looked great in tryouts may lose steam during the season and drop from the first line to the third line by the end of the season. Similarly, a kid who appeared to be a bubble player during tryouts may have had a bad tryout and will turn on the jets during the season and play on the first or second line. These are kids and kids are hardly ever consistent in what they do or do not do during the course of a season. Oh, and for those of you who stand in judgment of the parent who challenged the team assignment, I'm certain your kid would expect you to be his advocate if something was amiss during the tryout process. Perhaps the Lakeville kid chose his dad wisely.

Although we have the benefit of many years of life experience, a 13-14 year old kid does not have the perspective that playing on a B1 team is actually better for him. During and after tryouts walk down the halls of any middle or high school. Kids say the most outrageous things to one another (perhaps they are just repeating what they hear from mom and dad at home). Kids who play B1 are shunned by some kids who play A, even though you and I know the difference in abilities between most of the kids is marginal, at best. It's worse if you are a lowly B2 player. Kids hear their peers tell them they "suck" because they got cut from the A pool. Maybe this is a life lesson for the kid who is getting picked on, but, if he had his choice, I'm certain he would choose the A team.

Tryouts are not perfect and the process can sometimes be manipulated by parents who want to provide their child with an unearned advantage. The association board's job--and the buck stops with the association president--is to make sure the process is fair and that any attempts to manipulate the process are stopped before harm is done. The Lakeville board may have investigated the grievance and determined the complaint was legitimate. If that is the case, hats off to Lakeville for correcting the mistake and admitting fault. The only problem was that Lakeville committed another mistake in sending a player who was originally assigned to the A team to the B1 team. If that happened, the re-assignment is outrageous and the entire board owes that kid and his family a public apology.

[sinbin]

Who has had more drama this season, Lakeville Hockey Association or Minnesota Vikings?

[SuperStar]

Vikings....

[dogeatdog1]

Let's look at this event from a different perspective. If the Lakeville board moved a kid up from Bantam B1 to A after the kid's dad challenged the result of the tryout process, chances are the dad's grievance was legitimate. If a parent is not going to be an advocate for his kid, who will be the kid's advocate? Sometimes there are problems with the tryout and selection processes and, if someone made a mistake that cost a kid his rightfully earned position on an A team, the mistake should be corrected.

Assuming the Lakeville tryout committee and board made a mistake in assigning the kid to B1 and recognized and admitted their mistake, they should (and apparently did) correct the mistake. However, you cannot correct a mistake by making another mistake. Re-assigning a kid who was initially named to the A team to a B1 team is not a good or smart option. Sometimes I wonder whether the people who make these decisions ever think through the consequences of their actions on a child. And yes, a second-year bantam is still a child.

Let's face it, kids who are in contention to make a Bantam A team work hard during the off-season to make their desired team. The team assignment is important to them. The kid worked hard to make the team. Yes, some of you may think it is better to play B1 and be the stud than to play A and staff the third line, but how do you know that will happen. Kids change during the season. A kid who looked great in tryouts may lose steam during the season and drop from the first line to the third line by the end of the season. Similarly, a kid who appeared to be a bubble player during tryouts may have had a bad tryout and will turn on the jets during the season and play on the first or second line. These are kids and kids are hardly ever consistent in what they do or do not do during the course of a season. Oh, and for those of you who stand in judgment of the parent who challenged the team assignment, I'm certain your kid would expect you to be his advocate if something was amiss during the tryout process. Perhaps the Lakeville kid chose his dad wisely.

Although we have the benefit of many years of life experience, a 13-14 year old kid does not have the perspective that playing on a B1 team is actually better for him. During and after tryouts walk down the halls of any middle or high school. Kids say the most outrageous things to one another (perhaps they are just repeating what they hear from mom and dad at home). Kids who play B1 are shunned by some kids who play A, even though you and I know the difference in abilities between most of the kids is marginal, at best. It's worse if you are a lowly B2 player. Kids hear their peers tell them they "suck" because they got cut from the A pool. Maybe this is a life lesson for the kid who is getting picked on, but, if he had his choice, I'm certain he would choose the A team.

Tryouts are not perfect and the process can sometimes be manipulated by parents who want to provide their child with an unearned advantage. The association board's job--and the buck stops with the association president--is to make sure the process is fair and that any attempts to manipulate the process are stopped before harm is done. The Lakeville board may have investigated the grievance and determined the complaint was legitimate. If that is the case, hats off to Lakeville for correcting the mistake and admitting fault. The only problem was that Lakeville committed another mistake in sending a player who was originally assigned to the A team to the B1 team. If that happened, the re-assignment is outrageous and the entire board owes that kid and his family a public apology.

Lets keep this in perspective.. What does little Johnny learn when Daddy complains that the process isn't fair.. Dad can bail me out? Isn't this the same kid that showed up last year at the top 20 skate when he shouldn't have and was then let to play? Special favors for special kids? The right thing to do for the Kid IMO is say hey son I know it stinks but you were not good enough for the A team. lets work hard on the B1 and rub it in their face when you Make the highschool team. I will bet that he will be picked on just as much from the A kids because he really didn't earn his way on the team. I can hear it now.. Daddy's boy... every time the kid turns the puck over, and you know what I don't blame them!!!! Let the process work. If your kid gets screwed maybe it is because you (the dad are the problem) I have cut kids that were better because their parents are idiots. Happens all the time. I guarantee that this move on the part of the parent just added another layer of doubt in any future coaches mind on if to pick him or not. Finally this kid and the bubble kid that got the shaft being put down to the B1.... neither one is going to be playing hockey for a living so What life lessons are they learning? INTEGRITY is definately not the lesson learned here. "I can't wait til the next episode of How the Lakeville turns" I can't belive how many views this post is getting with so little posts?

[old goalie85]

This guy pulled the same stuff last year? [showing up for a skate he didn't make] Sounds like a perfect private school kid!!!

[WB6162]

Vikings....

Well, it's a long hockey season

[SuperStar]

Sounds like Lakeville will have a VERY long one...

Atleast with the Vikes, the season is pretty much over.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

Dog,

There is obviously more to the story than you shared in your initial post. Perhaps the dad is the guy who is manipulating the process. If so, shame on him. I disagree with you, however, that a parent should always follow your mantra, i.e., it is never right to challenge an unfair result that affects your child. Exercising good judgment means knowing when to stand up and exercise your grievance or appeal rights and knowing when to tell Johnny that the chips will lie where the chips lie. People make mistakes and responsible people with integrity work hard to correct mistakes. Associations cannot learn from mistakes if the mistakes are not brought to their attention. (Associations like Centennial have a lessons learned meeting after tryouts to allow the board and tryout committee to learn and improve the tryout process. The purpose of the meeting is not to challenge team assignments.) Now, I agree that I would not want my kid on the A team at this point (it's a little like suing your employer for discrimination and then going back to work after you win the case), but, Dog, you are obviously dogmatic in your thinking on this subject, which leads me to believe that this is personal for you. I don't have a dog in this fight, but it is a dog-eat-dog world and wearing milk bone underwear while coming on a public forum and attacking parents because you are the coach makes me even more suspicious of your motives in starting this thread. Relax, dog, it's only a game and presumably your volunteer board is working to address the issue. The fact remains that once kids get to high school, the high school coaches will pick the teams and, in most cases, dad or mom will have no input in team selection.

Oh and by the way, Dog, when your son is wrongly accused of committing a crime, I presume you'll just tell junior, life sucks and then you die, son, but it would be wrong for dad to try to help you out of the jam. My point is that it's a judgment call when you jump in and advocate for your kid and when you let junior learn some tough life lessons. As I said before, regardless of what actually happened in Lakeville, if a kid was reassigned from the A team to the B1 team, I hope his parents would stand up and be his advocate and not just tell junior life is unfair, son.

[Defensive Zone]

Let's look at this event from a different perspective. If the Lakeville board moved a kid up from Bantam B1 to A after the kid's dad challenged the result of the tryout process, chances are the dad's grievance was legitimate. If a parent is not going to be an advocate for his kid, who will be the kid's advocate? Sometimes there are problems with the tryout and selection processes and, if someone made a mistake that cost a kid his rightfully earned position on an A team, the mistake should be corrected.

Assuming the Lakeville tryout committee and board made a mistake in assigning the kid to B1 and recognized and admitted their mistake, they should (and apparently did) correct the mistake. However, you cannot correct a mistake by making another mistake. Re-assigning a kid who was initially named to the A team to a B1 team is not a good or smart option. Sometimes I wonder whether the people who make these decisions ever think through the consequences of their actions on a child. And yes, a second-year bantam is still a child.

Let's face it, kids who are in contention to make a Bantam A team work hard during the off-season to make their desired team. The team assignment is important to them. The kid worked hard to make the team. Yes, some of you may think it is better to play B1 and be the stud than to play A and staff the third line, but how do you know that will happen. Kids change during the season. A kid who looked great in tryouts may lose steam during the season and drop from the first line to the third line by the end of the season. Similarly, a kid who appeared to be a bubble player during tryouts may have had a bad tryout and will turn on the jets during the season and play on the first or second line. These are kids and kids are hardly ever consistent in what they do or do not do during the course of a season. Oh, and for those of you who stand in judgment of the parent who challenged the team assignment, I'm certain your kid would expect you to be his advocate if something was amiss during the tryout process. Perhaps the Lakeville kid chose his dad wisely.

Although we have the benefit of many years of life experience, a 13-14 year old kid does not have the perspective that playing on a B1 team is actually better for him. During and after tryouts walk down the halls of any middle or high school. Kids say the most outrageous things to one another (perhaps they are just repeating what they hear from mom and dad at home). Kids who play B1 are shunned by some kids who play A, even though you and I know the difference in abilities between most of the kids is marginal, at best. It's worse if you are a lowly B2 player. Kids hear their peers tell them they "suck" because they got cut from the A pool. Maybe this is a life lesson for the kid who is getting picked on, but, if he had his choice, I'm certain he would choose the A team.

Tryouts are not perfect and the process can sometimes be manipulated by parents who want to provide their child with an unearned advantage. The association board's job--and the buck stops with the association president--is to make sure the process is fair and that any attempts to manipulate the process are stopped before harm is done. The Lakeville board may have investigated the grievance and determined the complaint was legitimate. If that is the case, hats off to Lakeville for correcting the mistake and admitting fault. The only problem was that Lakeville committed another mistake in sending a player who was originally assigned to the A team to the B1 team. If that happened, the re-assignment is outrageous and the entire board owes that kid and his family a public apology.

I have to agree with you (hockey is a choice). But I would like to add one more thing. Once again the Lakeville Hockey Board has shown their true character by acting in poor judgment. My understanding is that the player that was asked to move from A to B1, found out about this in school the next day by his friends. The parents of this child did not even know until their son called them. There was no private meeting with the parents and board when the suppose error was found. No phone call, nothing until after the fact. Where is the confidentiality? Where is the professionalism? Can you believe this? Great move by the board! Can everyone stand up and say…insensitive.

[dogeatdog1]

Dog,

There is obviously more to the story than you shared in your initial post. Perhaps the dad is the guy who is manipulating the process. If so, shame on him. I disagree with you, however, that a parent should always follow your mantra, i.e., it is never right to challenge an unfair result that affects your child. Exercising good judgment means knowing when to stand up and exercise your grievance or appeal rights and knowing when to tell Johnny that the chips will lie where the chips lie. People make mistakes and responsible people with integrity work hard to correct mistakes. Associations cannot learn from mistakes if the mistakes are not brought to their attention. (Associations like Centennial have a lessons learned meeting after tryouts to allow the board and tryout committee to learn and improve the tryout process. The purpose of the meeting is not to challenge team assignments.) Now, I agree that I would not want my kid on the A team at this point (it's a little like suing your employer for discrimination and then going back to work after you win the case), but, Dog, you are obviously dogmatic in your thinking on this subject, which leads me to believe that this is personal for you. I don't have a dog in this fight, but it is a dog-eat-dog world and wearing milk bone underwear while coming on a public forum and attacking parents because you are the coach makes me even more suspicious of your motives in starting this thread. Relax, dog, it's only a game and presumably your volunteer board is working to address the issue. The fact remains that once kids get to high school, the high school coaches will pick the teams and, in most cases, dad or mom will have no input in team selection.

Oh and by the way, Dog, when your son is wrongly accused of committing a crime, I presume you'll just tell junior, life sucks and then you die, son, but it would be wrong for dad to try to help you out of the jam. My point is that it's a judgment call when you jump in and advocate for your kid and when you let junior learn some tough life lessons. As I said before, regardless of what actually happened in Lakeville, if a kid was reassigned from the A team to the B1 team, I hope his parents would stand up and be his advocate and not just tell junior life is unfair, son.

As much as you would like to think that I have an agenda here I do not. Just trying to look out for the little guy. I do not know either partyinvolved in this scenario I do not have a kid in Lakeville, and I am sure that there is more to the story. That is why I posted the thread. In my initial post I was fact finding. The unusual silence on this issue for the accusations that are out are curious at best..

riddle me this? Does the dad that complains have inside info on the tryout ? I thougt Lakeville tryouts are closed? If my son comes home and tells me "dad I knocked it out of the park" and then gets cut. I can almost promise you that I have the conversation that.. son I have seen you play over the years and have an idea where you fit in the pecking order of this group. "are you sure that you knocked it out of the park" I agree if the kid is an obvious A player I would hope that someone other than the dad would have stepped up and made that grievance. Others shoud be culpable in this situation including the director of the tryouts development director or whoever is overseeing the process.

Now from what I hear This kid is not a dominant force that got passed over by the evaluators, and if he was then my sources are wrong and I will stop my ramblings. However if this is just another nutjob parent that is pulling his weight to give Johnny a leg up then this is what the forum is for isn't it?

As for my kid and the OJ scenario that you describe above. INTEGRITY often keeps you out of situations that would get you falsely accused of a crime. An I for one bring my kids up to stay away from a situation that would remotely have them involved. (then again you can't follow them around their whole life) This however has no similarities to a crime again unless you are talking that there was aconspiracy that this tryout was manipulated by people that didn't like the kid or the dad...

All in all I find this time of year very interesting when you hear stories like this from different associatons. Wasn't it last year at this time that we were talking about Edina having a secret pre tryout tryout?

[WB6162]

All jokes aside, this is a tough time of the year for kids and parents-especially the bubble kids.

All I can say is the parents who can keep their cool and the kids who can just stay positive and strive to be the hardest worker and best teamate on whatever team they land on will win all their tryouts. They simply cannot lose or fail if they stick to these simple principles of sportsmanship.

That's all my deep thoughts for the day, I promise.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

I agree that the tryout phase and the time after tryouts are completed can be difficult. While no tryout process can be completely objective, several of the metro associations have put together very defined tryout processes, which require numerous hours of volunteer time. In my opinion, a good and fair tryout process requires outside evaluators. No coaches within the association at the A, B1 or B2 levels for the previous year or this year should be allowed to evaluate kids during the initial tryouts. Once the kids are assigned to the A pool or the B1 pool where the coach is actually picking the team, the coach will have the only input he or she needs in selecting his or her team.

In developing the process, kids should be divided into groups of 15-16. Then, during the initial tryout sessions, the kids should play against every group at that level. Next, the groups should be shuffled and reshuffled during the initial tryouts so that, if by the luck of the draw, a good skater is stuck with weak skaters in his assigned group, he will have the opportunity to play with good and bad skaters. Some associations, such as Centennial, require non-Bantam kids to cycle through every position sans goalie during the tryout process. Thus, a kid has to play right wing, center, left wing, and defense during the evaluation process. This makes sense to me at the non-Bantam levels. Why? Because a kid who does not skate well backwards can hide that deficiency if he always plays forward during tryouts. Plus, you get to see how versatile a skater is when he plays different positions. That's the hallmark of a true evaluation at the lower levels.

Further, in associations with more than 300 members, no parent who has a kid trying out at that level should have any meaningful involvement in the tryout at that level. Importantly, no Board member who has a kid trying out at that level should be privy to any conversations about the tryout process at that level or selection of the team. Some of the better metro associations will not even allow parents who have a kid trying out at that level to be on the bench manning the doors during the tryout. Why? Because those associations understand that the tryout process is so very important to the kids and parents are watching with a jaundiced eye. Any appearance of fraud, favoritism, or shenanigans makes everyone on the Board and the coaches at that particular level look bad. Most of this can be avoided by developing a documented process and then following that process to the letter. If you want to change the process, change it next year. But stick to the documented, published process, which means documenting the entire process and producing the procedures to every parent so that they can understand the process. Also, have a pre-try out meeting with parents, but the pre-tryout meeting should not take the place of distributing the tryout process documentation to each parent, including a copy of the actual evaluation form that will be used by evaluators and the scoring system and tie-breaker formula (yes, there should be a tie-breaker formula).

Any defined, sophisticated process should have checks and rechecks. Reputable associations have volunteers who tally the score sheets and then they have a checker who checks to see that the math is correct and then the typist inputs the scores into the computer, with someone standing over his or her shoulder as the scores are being dialed into the computer. No one involved in tallying and entering scores can have a player trying out at that level.

Yes, the tryout systems I described are labor intensive, but most associations have resorted to charging families an extra tryout fee. Presumably, that fee, which is collectively higher than the tryout ice costs, is to provide a defined, fair tryout process. In other words, parents and skaters are paying extra for a highly developed and fair process. Yes, once the pools are cut down to 20-25, the A or B1 coach should have the ability to pick his team exclusive of scores. In fact, some reputable associations will not even give the A or B1 coach the scores once the pool is turned over to the coach for team selection because those associations want the coach to form his or her own impressions. But many reputable associations require the coach to explain why he chose the skater whose score ranked him 24 versus the skater whose score ranked him number 7 during the initial tryout phase. Again, it's another check on the evaluation process.

As for closed versus open tryouts, I believe associations invite more suspicion regarding how tryouts were conducted when they close the process. Parents can be trained to keep their mouths shut and simply observe the tryout process. Establishing strict rules about parents being seen--but not heard from--during tryout sessions and enforcing those rules allows associations to keep tryouts open. Frankly, I believe associations are inviting legal problems by closing tryouts. What if Johnny is injured or assaulted during tryouts and mom or dad could have taken some action to address the situation but for being locked out of the arena? Hmmmm . . .

Finally, every good, seasoned traveling A coach will admit that he or she has made some mistakes in selecting players to the A team. Kids sometimes look really good during tryouts but don't pan out once the season starts. On the other hand, kids who had a bad tryout and get assigned to a lower team and then are the studs of their respective teams often cause a coach to question his decision-making abilities. Young peewee and bantam A coaches often err on the side of picking small, fast kids. Then, when their undersized teams come up against teams with size and their small skaters get manhandled the coach rethinks his selection process and builds his next team with size and strength. Your kid might benefit from the coach's thinking one year and be penalized by the shift in thinking next year. Go figure . . .

[observer]

If your player is a bubble one don't push for the higher team. Not only will they be short shifted in most instances but over the course of the year the player, and his parents, will hear various damaging comments from other parents and fans at the games. It can hurt the player and the family deeply.

[StayAtHomeD]

If your player is a bubble one don't push for the higher team. Not only will they be short shifted in most instances but over the course of the year the player, and his parents, will hear various damaging comments from other parents and fans at the games. It can hurt the player and the family deeply.

My son was always a B2 or B1 player until his 2nd year of bantams when he made A. I think there was some hard feelings as some parents felt he took someone's spot. He was just a kid trying his best like everyone else but the fact that he didn't have the reputation of being an "A" player hurt him on that team.

For my wife and I it sucked. The parents were not friendly at all. When we went to tournaments they didn't invite us to the parties so we ended up eating alone and watching TV in our room. All the years in B2 and B1's we had such good friends and had so much fun but that last year was bad.

We didn't ask for it, they took him because they felt he could help them. My son started out having a lot of fun on the team. He was paired with the best player who was a defenseman on the team. They played really well together and through the first 7 games they allowed no goals and had 7 or 8 goals between them and the team went 7-0. My son was the kid who "stayed at home" (hence my screen name) and the other kid was a great offensive Dman, in fact he is one of the best Dmen now in the District. He always tells my son he loved it when they were partners.

Then the politics started. I think the parents that ran the team (and yes, one or two Dads did run that team) got involved and before you know it the entire line up was changed and my son was playing with different kids and losing ice time. Even though the team started to lose and after Christmas pretty much fell apart they never gave him that opportunity again, in fact the Dad who "ran" the team, he also gave the coach rides to tournaments, paid for his hotel room AND brought him coffee, his son played with this other kid.

It was more important that the right kids got the opportunities, not that the team won.

We wished all season we were on the B1, and I think my son did too even though he never admitted it.