Fargo Squirt Turny

[MnMade-4-Life]

Championship
Edina - 7
Tonka - 0

Third Place
Grand Rapids - 3
STMA - 2
(2 OT)

Consolation 'ship
Warroad - 6
OMG - 5
(2 OT)

Great weekend of hockey, the future looks bright!

http://fargoflyershockey.com/pg0703apairings.html

[57special]

Edia sounds like they have quite the team.

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

[dogeatdog1]

Who were the better players up there, if anyone knows.

They're squirts. we don't name names at squirts... But my kid was one of the best an Jr. Bear was right behind him.[/quote

I'll take the kid from Edina-

That is my kid

[forreal]

Edia sounds like they have quite the team.

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

That team
Is clearly heads and tails above everyone else! Are they even having fun anymore or is it getting a bit boring for the kids?

[ALSANITI]

Got a chance to see Edina Play in the Championship. Very impressive. No one can deny the talent they have on that team. I don't care what you think of Edina as a whole, these KIDS rocked. I have seen many Peewee teams that could not hold a candle to the Team play they show and to think, these kids are only 10 years old. Very impressive and well deserved.

[dogeatdog1]

Edia sounds like they have quite the team.

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

That team
Is clearly heads and tails above everyone else! Are they even having fun anymore or is it getting a bit boring for the kids?

That team is having sooooo much fun that they can't take it. Just think at 7 years old they get to spend half of each day thinking of hockey and the other half on ice. each and every day... summer... winter... summer... winter. I am sure that by the time they are Bantams there might be one or two of them that are getting looks from the pros... the others might be so burned out that they are not playing hockey.... That is the chance you take when you live the dream of winning the Fargo tourney

[ALSANITI]

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

That team
Is clearly heads and tails above everyone else! Are they even having fun anymore or is it getting a bit boring for the kids?

That team is having sooooo much fun that they can't take it. Just think at 7 years old they get to spend half of each day thinking of hockey and the other half on ice. each and every day... summer... winter... summer... winter. I am sure that by the time they are Bantams there might be one or two of them that are getting looks from the pros... the others might be so burned out that they are not playing hockey.... That is the chance you take when you live the dream of winning the Fargo tourney

Really??? They are kids. Can't anyone here just tip your cap and move on. 10 year olds playing hockey. It does not get any better than that. Let them at least get to the age of Bantams before they have to be exposed to your ridicule and jealously!

[57special]

Edia sounds like they have quite the team.

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

That team
Is clearly heads and tails above everyone else! Are they even having fun anymore or is it getting a bit boring for the kids?

Well winning is fun, but IMO winning a 3-2 game where you know the other team can beat you in a second is a lot more exciting than beating someone 7-0 in a Championship game. I hope that next year they consider having two A teams (not an A1 and A2) IF the talent coming up is as good as it is this year. It will dilute the talent at both the B and A level, but I think that will be a good thing. I think the kids learn more by playing in close games where a mistake will cost them a game. Nobody can possibly feel good about winning 16-1, 18-0, or 13-0, can they?

At present the B teams combined record excluding intra-squad games in 94-7-3. If you took the top 4 players off each team and sent them up to A it would level the playing field big time so that Edina would be playing at the level of the competition rather than a half step above it.

Win-win situation for both the Edina players and their opponents, no? In another year it could just as easily be some other team (i.e.Wayzata) in the same situation.

[JoltDelivered]

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

That team
Is clearly heads and tails above everyone else! Are they even having fun anymore or is it getting a bit boring for the kids?

Well winning is fun, but IMO winning a 3-2 game where you know the other team can beat you in a second is a lot more exciting than beating someone 7-0 in a Championship game. I hope that next year they consider having two A teams (not an A1 and A2) IF the talent coming up is as good as it is this year. It will dilute the talent at both the B and A level, but I think that will be a good thing. I think the kids learn more by playing in close games where a mistake will cost them a game. Nobody can possibly feel good about winning 16-1, 18-0, or 13-0, can they?

At present the B teams combined record excluding intra-squad games in 94-7-3. If you took the top 4 players off each team and sent them up to A it would level the playing field big time so that Edina would be playing at the level of the competition rather than a half step above it.

Win-win situation for both the Edina players and their opponents, no? In another year it could just as easily be some other team (i.e.Wayzata) in the same situation.

I can see your logic but I don't consider this a win-win for Edina. I'm not part of their association which makes me a neutral 3rd party observor. I will say at this point in time, they are utterly dominating squirt hockey and quite honeslty have been for a while. Why change? It really doesn't appear they they have a development problem. Look at the stats you provided. So it doesn't make sense to mess with a system that ain't broke for development reasons. If I sat on their board and somebody brougt me the multiple A teams idea, I would need a much better reason to vote for it.

They tried the two A teams a few years ago and it didn't go well. I know, I know, they loaded one team and filled the 2nd team with essentially their top B players and I know you are advocating for a more even split approach. But I can guarentee those that would be involved next year (squirt age parents) would be very gun shy to try this again regardless of model.

As bad as it sounds, parents, players and board memebers love winning, especially winning championships. It's fun, it makes people feel good and it makes people feel proud. And I don't see the Edina association changing anything soon. I would imagine that if you look at it from their perspective, the system is working perfectly.

As far as a Win:Win...if they decided to dilute the talent by creating mulitple A teams...that's more of a win:win for the rest of us.

[ogelthorpe]

So I assume since Edina dominates, they have been running the adm for years?

[C-dad]

That team
Is clearly heads and tails above everyone else! Are they even having fun anymore or is it getting a bit boring for the kids?

Well winning is fun, but IMO winning a 3-2 game where you know the other team can beat you in a second is a lot more exciting than beating someone 7-0 in a Championship game. I hope that next year they consider having two A teams (not an A1 and A2) IF the talent coming up is as good as it is this year. It will dilute the talent at both the B and A level, but I think that will be a good thing. I think the kids learn more by playing in close games where a mistake will cost them a game. Nobody can possibly feel good about winning 16-1, 18-0, or 13-0, can they?

At present the B teams combined record excluding intra-squad games in 94-7-3. If you took the top 4 players off each team and sent them up to A it would level the playing field big time so that Edina would be playing at the level of the competition rather than a half step above it.

Win-win situation for both the Edina players and their opponents, no? In another year it could just as easily be some other team (i.e.Wayzata) in the same situation.

I can see your logic but I don't consider this a win-win for Edina. I'm not part of their association which makes me a neutral 3rd party observor. I will say at this point in time, they are utterly dominating squirt hockey and quite honeslty have been for a while. Why change? It really doesn't appear they they have a development problem. Look at the stats you provided. So it doesn't make sense to mess with a system that ain't broke for development reasons. If I sat on their board and somebody brougt me the multiple A teams idea, I would need a much better reason to vote for it.

They tried the two A teams a few years ago and it didn't go well. I know, I know, they loaded one team and filled the 2nd team with essentially their top B players and I know you are advocating for a more even split approach. But I can guarentee those that would be involved next year (squirt age parents) would be very gun shy to try this again regardless of model.

As bad as it sounds, parents, players and board memebers love winning, especially winning championships. It's fun, it makes people feel good and it makes people feel proud. And I don't see the Edina association changing anything soon. I would imagine that if you look at it from their perspective, the system is working perfectly.

As far as a Win:Win...if they decided to dilute the talent by creating mulitple A teams...that's more of a win:win for the rest of us.

Another issue with squirts is - how do you know how good they'll be? I read here that 15 of these 17 kids came over from MM choice league. It's not like they were tearing up the A squirt league last year as first years and this year they are a super team.

Now, with PW and Bantam it's a different story as you have some history there. I think the Edina Board should think seriously about two bantam A teams next year. The group that'll be bantams won A peewees last year, the two B1 PWs played each other for state, two of the B2 PWs played for District and two of the C PW played each other for district title. That group of players will be strong again when they get together next season as bantams, no reason to think otherwise. That would be the year to do two bantam As (this will be the same group that did so well as squirts that they did two As the following year).

[observer]

I think the Edina Board should think seriously about two bantam A teams next year.

That's not going to happen either. There are State titles to be won at PWA and Bantam A as well as PWB and Bantam B. Even two Squirt A teams, weighted or balanced, causes a problem because then they become PeeWees and half need to go back to B which would create a big internal firestorm.

Interesting problem without an easy solution that would please Edina.

[Mnhockeys]

Edia sounds like they have quite the team.

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

Their stat and winning Fargo are very impressive, indeed. Never saw them play ... how do they dominate a game if someone can explain?

Assume they have no weak skaters, everyone can skate, pass, catch and stickhandle, and of course team works???

Or they are all super stars, everyone can tear down a whole defense line and chase down every puck? Just curious.

[MR. NOITALL]

Edia sounds like they have quite the team.

Undefeated, no ties. Have scored 293 goals, let in 16.

Their stat and winning Fargo are very impressive, indeed. Never saw them play ... how do they dominate a game if someone can explain?

Assume they have no weak skaters, everyone can skate, pass, catch and stickhandle, and of course team works???

Or they are all super stars, everyone can tear down a whole defense line and chase down every puck? Just curious.

They are good, real good - never seen such a well coached and so many skilled players on a squirt team.

[57special]

I don't think any parent or coach should be proud or interested in playing a team that they can beat by 5 goals or more on a regular basis. I don't blame the coach of an A team for getting his kids to play to the best of their ability, but any coach or parent who gets joy out of beating someone 8-0 or 12-1 needs to get their head examined. My experience is that the vast majority of parents on the winning side of lopsided games feel for the kids on the losing side. Remember, it's not unusual that they will have a friend or family member on the other team also.

I think the present situation in Edina at the Squirt A and B level is a problem with an easy solution. At present the Peewees are good, but not dominant, so i don't see a need to do the same there.

[MR. NOITALL]

I don't think any parent or coach should be proud or interested in playing a team that they can beat by 5 goals or more on a regular basis. I don't blame the coach of an A team for getting his kids to play to the best of their ability, but any coach or parent who gets joy out of beating someone 8-0 or 12-1 needs to get their head examined. My experience is that the vat majority of parents on the winning side of lopsided games feel for the kids on the losing side. Remember, it's not unusual that they will have a friend or family member on the other team also.

I think the present situation in Edina at the Squirt A and B level is a problem with an easy solution. At present the Peewees are good, but not dominant, so i don't see a need to do the same there.

The only problem is that this team will beat most teams by 5 by not running up the score - they are good -

[57special]

If i understand you correctly, yes, the present Edina Squirt A team will win by a large amount no matter what they do this year, though there is always the chance of an upset. My point is that there should be an adjustment made next year IF it is obvious during tryouts that there are a lot of high talent level kids available.

[JoltDelivered]

If i understand you correctly, yes, the present Edina Squirt A team will win by a large amount no matter what they do this year, though there is always the chance of an upset. My point is that there should be an adjustment made next year IF it is obvious during tryouts that there are a lot of high talent level kids available.

You can't make a decision like creating a 2nd A team on the fly during tryouts. There are just too many implications. Qualified coaches need to be identified, tournaments need to be entered, district scheduling and so on. Those decisions and other similiar decisions need to made long before tryouts ever start. If Edina were to create a 2nd A team, my assumption would be they would announce that sometime in the summer.

But again while beating teams 8-0 on a consistent basis may be distasteful to you, don't assume it's distasteful to our friends in green and white. I doubt this is even a casual conversation in the Edina asociaition.

[Tabes05]

http://mwsportsguy.blogspot.com/2011/03 ... arena.html

[Survey]

Great post ! Thanks for sharing

[old goalie85]

Cool sounding place. GREAT POST !!!!

[C-dad]

But again while beating teams 8-0 on a consistent basis may be distasteful to you, don't assume it's distasteful to our friends in green and white. I doubt this is even a casual conversation in the Edina asociaition.

And you'd be wrong. It won't gain much traction, but it'll be discussed.

[57special]

Cool sounding place. GREAT POST !!!!

spent many an hour there. Not a "cool" place to be in the middle of January, it's COLD!!

[57special]

If i understand you correctly, yes, the present Edina Squirt A team will win by a large amount no matter what they do this year, though there is always the chance of an upset. My point is that there should be an adjustment made next year IF it is obvious during tryouts that there are a lot of high talent level kids available.

You can't make a decision like creating a 2nd A team on the fly during tryouts. There are just too many implications. Qualified coaches need to be identified, tournaments need to be entered, district scheduling and so on. Those decisions and other similiar decisions need to made long before tryouts ever start. If Edina were to create a 2nd A team, my assumption would be they would announce that sometime in the summer.

But again while beating teams 8-0 on a consistent basis may be distasteful to you, don't assume it's distasteful to our friends in green and white. I doubt this is even a casual conversation in the Edina asociaition.

There were definitely some conversations about it, but seen through the light of last year's so-so Squirt A team. This year's team success has been so overwhelming that it will raise the question again.

There were some HIGHLY qualified coaches ready to go for a second A team, and many tournaments have a later entry date. I'm not sure about when the District makes the schedule, though.

It's not that it's distasteful so much as it's just not good hockey. Players develop best when they are tested in games, IMO. Also, the goalies must be bored stiff back there!

[JoltDelivered]

If i understand you correctly, yes, the present Edina Squirt A team will win by a large amount no matter what they do this year, though there is always the chance of an upset. My point is that there should be an adjustment made next year IF it is obvious during tryouts that there are a lot of high talent level kids available.

You can't make a decision like creating a 2nd A team on the fly during tryouts. There are just too many implications. Qualified coaches need to be identified, tournaments need to be entered, district scheduling and so on. Those decisions and other similiar decisions need to made long before tryouts ever start. If Edina were to create a 2nd A team, my assumption would be they would announce that sometime in the summer.

But again while beating teams 8-0 on a consistent basis may be distasteful to you, don't assume it's distasteful to our friends in green and white. I doubt this is even a casual conversation in the Edina asociaition.

There were definitely some conversations about it, but seen through the light of last year's so-so Squirt A team. This year's team success has been so overwhelming that it will raise the question again.

There were some HIGHLY qualified coaches ready to go for a second A team, and many tournaments have a later entry date. I'm not sure about when the District makes the schedule, though.

It's not that it's distasteful so much as it's just not good hockey. Players develop best when they are tested in games, IMO. Also, the goalies must be bored stiff back there!

Oh...Don't get me wrong, I hear ya. I agree. My previous comments have been more of a third party obervation of Edina's standard operating procedure rahter than a disagreement with your logic.

Entering each hockey season, the families of Edina have exteremly high expectations. And as well they should. They have been extremely successful and with every successful year they put behind them, the next year comes with equal or even greater expectations. When the expectations are that high year after year after year...it's very difficult to make a case to dilute the talent pool at any given age in the name of development. Quite honestly, I was very surprised they were able to create two A teams a few years back. Although, the fact that the association didn't allow evenly split teams tells me there was a fair amount of pushback somewhere in the ranks and a compromise was reached. Additionally, one could argue that the double squirt A teams from a few years ago was more of a ploy to keep players in Edina rather than lose them to Bernie's choice league and not really so much about development. But that's just speculation from a nuetral, 3rd party, observor.

And one final thought on development...I thought it was the American Development Model that developed kids best...not being tested in games.