B&A Hockey only this year???

[ghshockeyfan]

My understanding is that there are 3 proposals for the Fall/Spring GEL (Girls Elite League) currently ready to be considered. If one of these is accepted, this will allow for the end of the agreement to have B&A teams as we knew them this past year.<br><br>Should be interesting to see how this plays out... <p></p><i></i>

[SEMetro]

considered by MN Hockey or by people trying to put a B&A league together? <p></p><i></i>

[PeterPuck123]

where can we see the three proposals? <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

MN Hockey.<br><br>Proposals to be presented this weekend at the "Spring Meeting" I imagine??? <p></p><i></i>

[HockeyInformer]

A lot of Girls would love to see the before and after league this year! My daughter has grown up playing lots but being left without any games at a very crucial part of the year, right before her hs season and right after. these breaks are good for rest but over too long of a time you can tell that she is getting out of shape and has the ants in her pants to get back to the rink. the boys have this program and it is great for exposure, and a good time to meet new people. this would be great for our committed minnesota girls! <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

What is critical is that B&A GEL be a setup that is fair, unbiased, and doesn't have parents involved in the selection process or team/player composition decisions.<br><br>Also, there will be those out there to make $$$ off this, and while that has to be expected, it's important to not allow that to become too much of a factor in this... <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

One of these preliminary proposal outlines was delivered at the MGHCA fall meeting:<br><br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.bgoski.com/simley/prop1.jpg" ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> <p></p><i></i>

[keepitreal]

I know there's a lot of support for this idea from hockey minds far more enlightened than mine, but allow me to play devil's advocate for a moment. I have two concerns:<br><br>Doesn't an "elite level" B&A only add more to the plate of players who already have considerable opportunity to participate off-season? Since these players are already the most sought after, doesn't ODP, OS Spring, Chicago, etc., and a seemingly unlimited number of AAA tournaments cover this? I think the real consideration should be afforded to the 2nd and 3rd tier players-- it seems to me that's where the development hole is. How large a league are we talking here? Will there be sufficient space for new blood or is it just to be mixing up the existing top level AAA teams? And doesn't private enterprise, to a degree, already handle this?<br><br>Secondly, realizing the present proposal addresses the "before", I agree there is a gap for many of these kids in that August-October timeframe, but many could use a break right about then. Anyway, what's wrong with the focus being on the school team and captain's practices rather than yet another "all-star" team? Doesn't this drive yet another wedge between an elite player's attitude and her more mortal HS teammates right when they should be coming together? If the HS team continues to take a backseat to "elite" hockey (4 months vs 8 months) with more and more selective leagues, how can we expect the most gifted players to keep their heads on straight and lead, for most, a less successful HS team? They're kids after all. It's not hard to see how everyone might get a little full of themselves and find it hard to endure their "real" season.<br><br>High School hockey in Minnesota is a unique asset. I think everyone agrees we should protect it. I will not argue that the best players tend to develop greater skills playing against the best competition; my only questions are how much is enough and what about the gap between elite and many otherwise dedicated, hard-working players who would be on the outside of an elite B&A league? Wouldn't Minnesota hockey be better servered trying to identify those players with the most potential to take a step up to the elite level, rather than provide yet another affirmation for those very aware they are the best?<br><br>Let me go on record saying I am not at all against the B&A idea; in fact if it's like the boy's HS program I think exposure to different coaches and hopefully less politics than private teams is a good thing. I think we just need to be very careful here as to not undermine the HS structure, nor create another environment that might further divide the "elite" players from their HS teammates. <p></p><i></i>

[ghshockeyfan]

Good points.<br><br>I think the argument is against PERCEIVED bias and corruption by the private enterprise entities currently in existence. I've heard the discussion include the concern of that if those running this are after $ before doing what's right by the kids, then...<br><br>Beyond that, I've always advocated for tiers. This would address those beyond the already recognized "elite" who are players that want to work to get to the next level - not just recreational players during the season. We also have TONS of private enterprise organizations that will take anyone with a pulse to make a $, but there too becomes the concern about cost that could be regulated by sanctioned league(s) vs a free-for-all as we currently have...<br><br>The purpose of adding more months of B&A GEL hockey is to keep the kids @ their HS, not drive them away. I suppose the reverse could be argued in that with more submersion could lead to increased exodus. We haven't seen that with Juniors for boys since the Boys Elite League started however - in fact quite the opposite I understand? The thought process is that if kids want to play high level hockey when it's not offered by HS or non TB/SSM AAA, then they will leave for TB/SSM AAA hockey if we don't provide an alternative - or a kid will then be more apt to consider transfer/private school so they get some high level hockey in season w/o a B&A GEL to surround a non-stellar regular season home-team opportunity.<br><br>I don't believe that B&A GEL hockey would interfere with regular HS pre-season events as it would be weekends only.<br><br>There will always be a divide between the advanced players and those that are recreational. Those that are in the middle, not top ability yet but developing/hard working, are the hard part as you say.<br><br>What scares me is no control over the advanced situation. Letting things go as is would seem to be the worst thing we could do. Most AAA hockey is out of control May-Aug already, and if we look the other way for Aug-Sept & Mar-May, that is a huge mistake I believe. <p></p><i></i>

[keepitreal]

I appreciate your thoughts ghs and would have great confidence in a program like this if you or those with the same commitment for girls hockey were able to administer it.<br><br>My family's experiences in a couple different "elite" off-season teams and organizations has been the opposite of anyone making money. I actually see many coaches coming up a few bucks short out of their own pockets for their efforts. I praise anyone who devotes this much time and energy to my kids.<br><br>Player selection, on the other hand, is a highly subjective thing and undoubtedly influenced by a number of seen and unseen reasons, including less sinister things like proximity, affordability, friends, affiliations, knowledge of players, exposure, history, "pedigree" and so on, but also politics, i.e., who you know. Because these are private teams that operate under their own rules, there will always be questions and acusations, some accurate, most not. Funny, you rarely hear a parent speaking badly about their own organization, only as you say, their PERCEIVED biases and assumptions of corruption about OTHER organizations. GEL would solve some of this-- I think.<br><br>Likewise, some leagues are about making money for those who put their energies into it, but I don't begrudge them for trying to make a meager existence in the hockey world as a professional coach or administrator. If their services are valuable, they survive. If not, well... <br><br>It's funny you should mention "control" because I believe that is the primary reason off-season private hockey thrives. <br><br>Again, I have no problem with a MGHCA administed league, but the devil is in the details. I think it's essential to incorporate enough scale to have tiers for emerging players rather than merely the elite players. It's clear the private marketplace has stepped into the vacuum of B&A hockey for girls, so a more affordable, coached program with integrity would be embraced--but only if you can create a path to the top level in doing so. <!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>Without this path, you're just another elite league vying for the players that are already in highest demand.</strong><!--EZCODE BOLD END--> And unless you can elevate the players underneath, you're really achieving very little. Every elite level player I know gets as much or more hockey than they can handle right now. <br><br>And watch out, the first good player that OE's to the school of their GEL coach-- that will create some controversy!<br><br>I for one, however, can't imagine why HS coaches would come back for more abuse in the spring and summer. Aren't you tired of us parents by about November 15th? <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :rollin --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/roll.gif ALT=":rollin"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... pitreal</A> at: 4/28/06 3:16 pm<br></i>