Model Camp Rosters/Elite I and II tryouts

[HOFam'r]

I think if you asked most kids and parents if they enjoyed the experience with the elite 2 league a high % would have a lot of good things to say about it. I know parents and players have given that guy over with section 6 much credit for how much fun he made it for the kids. Now can they repeat? Everyone thats involved seems to be doing a good thing so I give you all credit. I'm sure they'll get things worked out with section 4.

I think it is good and bad. It is quite expensive to travel 6 hours and have your kid play 3 shifts a period which was my experience. The League is a pay to play league and not many kids get turned away so it at times is not good hockey, the coaching is suspect and there is little to no team concept and many games turn into 'hack' games so it is more likely that your kid could get hurt cheaply in these games.

The good: It is a decent way to prepare kids with limited or no varsity experience for the high school level.

[Tony Soprano]

HOFam'r, too bad your experience was not the best by the sounds of your ice time. What section team were you with? With only 3 shifts per 17 minute period your team must have been in the box too much, or your coach was in it to win at all expenses and that is not right in either case.

I disagree that not many kids get turned away. I know in several of the metro sections there were 50 to 60 players trying out and with the team rosters between 22 and 25 players that means some players were turned away. I have also seen a few players that did not make the Upper Midwest tryout come down and play in the Elite II to pick up some decent games.

The play of the game has gotten better over the past 2 years and is not as cheap as it was in the first year for sure. It could get better, but some of that is on the coaches shoulders as well. I think most of the teams have varsity players along with a mix of a few JV players and then some high end bantam players as well.

Overall it is a pretty good place to play some warm-up games, but too bad so much travel is involved at times. I tend to agree more with what itstime wrote myself as an overall description of the league. Of course there will be some problems along the way, but I think the league is doing everything they can to keep it as clean as possible.

[GR3343]

I think if you asked most kids and parents if they enjoyed the experience with the elite 2 league a high % would have a lot of good things to say about it. I know parents and players have given that guy over with section 6 much credit for how much fun he made it for the kids. Now can they repeat? Everyone thats involved seems to be doing a good thing so I give you all credit. I'm sure they'll get things worked out with section 4.

I think it is good and bad. It is quite expensive to travel 6 hours and have your kid play 3 shifts a period which was my experience. The League is a pay to play league and not many kids get turned away so it at times is not good hockey, the coaching is suspect and there is little to no team concept and many games turn into 'hack' games so it is more likely that your kid could get hurt cheaply in these games.

The good: It is a decent way to prepare kids with limited or no varsity experience for the high school level.

I'll have to dispute a couple of your points. From my experience, it's not a pay to play league. There's tryouts and then those selected have a team fee. What team doesn't? They didn't just take the first players with money & say you're on the team. There was very few instances where the games turned into "hack" games. At least not the ones I saw. There was chippy play at times, but there again, that happens all season every season, every level. And while the coaching was suspect at times, there still seemed to be hockey knowledge on the benches. As far as the 3 shifts per period, Sec. 7 didn't run into that problem as the team was pretty balanced, and they didn't have specific units, PP or PK. When a player was up, he was on the ice. And for the individual play, I saw spurts both ways. In closer games, the players tended to play a little more team oriented, in blowouts one way or the other, I saw a lot less passing. It's a great prep for either the 1st year player or a kid that didn't play a ton at the varsity level. The league seems to be headed in the right direction.

[DENIED]

Depending on which section, I suppose each is run by different people.
All I can speak for is 2A & 2AA the tryouts were not even watched 90% of the time by the so called evaluators!
It looked like they had the teams down on paper before the tryouts even started. If you came from a big time school, no matter your talent level you stood a better chance of making the team.

[Tony Soprano]

DENIED - Sounds like the section 2 tryouts were not handled very well. Unfortunately there is really no set format that each section has to follow. You would hope that each section has qualified hockey people on staff that can run an organized tryout. Hopefully this has been communicated to the commissioner Bill Moore, if not he cannot address the problem.

[HOFam'r]

I think if you asked most kids and parents if they enjoyed the experience with the elite 2 league a high % would have a lot of good things to say about it. I know parents and players have given that guy over with section 6 much credit for how much fun he made it for the kids. Now can they repeat? Everyone thats involved seems to be doing a good thing so I give you all credit. I'm sure they'll get things worked out with section 4.

I think it is good and bad. It is quite expensive to travel 6 hours and have your kid play 3 shifts a period which was my experience. The League is a pay to play league and not many kids get turned away so it at times is not good hockey, the coaching is suspect and there is little to no team concept and many games turn into 'hack' games so it is more likely that your kid could get hurt cheaply in these games.

The good: It is a decent way to prepare kids with limited or no varsity experience for the high school level.

I'll have to dispute a couple of your points. From my experience, it's not a pay to play league. There's tryouts and then those selected have a team fee. What team doesn't? They didn't just take the first players with money & say you're on the team. There was very few instances where the games turned into "hack" games. At least not the ones I saw. There was chippy play at times, but there again, that happens all season every season, every level. And while the coaching was suspect at times, there still seemed to be hockey knowledge on the benches. As far as the 3 shifts per period, Sec. 7 didn't run into that problem as the team was pretty balanced, and they didn't have specific units, PP or PK. When a player was up, he was on the ice. And for the individual play, I saw spurts both ways. In closer games, the players tended to play a little more team oriented, in blowouts one way or the other, I saw a lot less passing. It's a great prep for either the 1st year player or a kid that didn't play a ton at the varsity level. The league seems to be headed in the right direction.

The experience in which I speak was two seasons ago...Did not play last year because it was my opinion that the league was just a money maker for certain individuals i do not appreciate. Our team (section consisted of at least 4 lines of forwards and 4 or 5 sets of defensemen. If the league was not a money maker league and a true "Elite' development league then wouldn't the teams consist of 3 line of forwards and 3 sets of de?

I saw several players hurt and several others that could have been hurt in the time I watched the league. I thought the talent level was mis-aliegned with several high skilled players playing against kids who needed to develop some skills...led to skilled players pummeling lesser developed and lesser developed hacking the skilled...my opinion.

Coaching was interesting and really didn't consist of anything but the formation of lines and yelling at referee's...I dont think many were taught much as this league is just games...and like anything of course there were favorites in an league where kids 500+ too play. I saw alot of dis-satisfaction. Is the league worthless? No..Is it a watse of time...NO..but it is a league that is expensive and makes someone money.

I think it is important to decide if it makes sense for you or your player to pay for it or if you or kid would be better served getting a job and lifting weights in your garage.

[Can't Never Tried]

I think it is good and bad. It is quite expensive to travel 6 hours and have your kid play 3 shifts a period which was my experience. The League is a pay to play league and not many kids get turned away so it at times is not good hockey, the coaching is suspect and there is little to no team concept and many games turn into 'hack' games so it is more likely that your kid could get hurt cheaply in these games.

The good: It is a decent way to prepare kids with limited or no varsity experience for the high school level.

I'll have to dispute a couple of your points. From my experience, it's not a pay to play league. There's tryouts and then those selected have a team fee. What team doesn't? They didn't just take the first players with money & say you're on the team. There was very few instances where the games turned into "hack" games. At least not the ones I saw. There was chippy play at times, but there again, that happens all season every season, every level. And while the coaching was suspect at times, there still seemed to be hockey knowledge on the benches. As far as the 3 shifts per period, Sec. 7 didn't run into that problem as the team was pretty balanced, and they didn't have specific units, PP or PK. When a player was up, he was on the ice. And for the individual play, I saw spurts both ways. In closer games, the players tended to play a little more team oriented, in blowouts one way or the other, I saw a lot less passing. It's a great prep for either the 1st year player or a kid that didn't play a ton at the varsity level. The league seems to be headed in the right direction.

The experience in which I speak was two seasons ago...Did not play last year because it was my opinion that the league was just a money maker for certain individuals i do not appreciate. Our team (section consisted of at least 4 lines of forwards and 4 or 5 sets of defensemen. If the league was not a money maker league and a true "Elite' development league then wouldn't the teams consist of 3 line of forwards and 3 sets of de?

I saw several players hurt and several others that could have been hurt in the time I watched the league. I thought the talent level was mis-aliegned with several high skilled players playing against kids who needed to develop some skills...led to skilled players pummeling lesser developed and lesser developed hacking the skilled...my opinion.

Coaching was interesting and really didn't consist of anything but the formation of lines and yelling at referee's...I dont think many were taught much as this league is just games...and like anything of course there were favorites in an league where kids 500+ too play. I saw alot of dis-satisfaction. Is the league worthless? No..Is it a watse of time...NO..but it is a league that is expensive and makes someone money.

I think it is important to decide if it makes sense for you or your player to pay for it or if you or kid would be better served getting a job and lifting weights in your garage.

How many are rostered on Midwest Elite?

[Stealth]

It looks like 24 to 25 with 3 goalies on the rosters.

http://www.elite2hockey.com/index.htm

[Can't Never Tried]

I meant the Upper Midwest Elite league, or as some say Elite 1.
Do they run 20 plus rosters?

[Iceburg]

Model Camp rosters so far

Team 1
G Kurt Altrichter (St. Thomas Academy)
G Jordan Yaggy (Rochester Mayo)
D John Eide (Irondale)
D Ben Gislason (Breck)
D Alex Kelly (Hill-Murray)
D Michael Mooney (Breck)
D James Trevathan (St. Paul Academy)
F Michael Anderson (Saints)
F Sam Coatta (Minnetonka)
F Charlie Devries (Blake)
F Marshall Everson (Edina)
F Connor Gaarder (Edina)
F Josh Gross (Maple Grove)
F Josh Leinum (International Falls)
F Tommy Lundquist (Minnetonka)
F Berkley Scott (Anoka)
F Charlie Taft (Edina)
F Tom Mitchell (Monticello)

Team 7
G Cody Campbell (Pikes Peak Miners midgets)
G Jim Kruger (Minnetonka)
D Matt Campbell (Mankato West)
D Rick Norenberg (Maple Grove)
D Brent Putney (White Bear Lake)
D Alec Rush (Eden Prairie)
D Peter Spratte (Rochester Lourdes)
D Blake Thompson (Eden Prairie)
F Josh Birkholz (Blake)
F Nick Brunette (Blake)
F Noah Gavin (St. Thomas Academy)
F Chad Hennum (Elk River)
F Jack McFarlane (Cloquet)
F Jordan Neduzak (Pembina Valley Hawks midgets)
F Kevin Sienko (St. Thomas Academy)
F Gino Villella (Mounds View)
F Tyler Voight (Rochester Lourdes)
F Ryan Walters (St. Thomas Academy)

Team 8
G Nick Maiers (St. Cloud Cathedral)
G Matt Grove (Crookston)
D Brendan Baker (Edina)
D David Crowe (Breck)
D Patrick Regan (Edina)
D John Van Winkle (Minnehaha Academy)
D Rick Weber (Rochester Mayo)
D Lucas Whelan (Wayzata)
F Sam Blaisdell (Minnehaha Academy)
F Travis Boyd (Hopkins)
F Brad Fisher (Rochester Mayo)
F Cole Gunner (Richfield)
F Grant Huttel (Hermantown)
F Zach May (Burnsville)
F Michael Morin (Breck)
F Tyler Obermoller (Worthington)
F Andy Pearson (Burnsvile)
F Ben Wiegand (Stillwater)

Team 9
G Tyler Olson (Totino Grace)
G Ben Podobinski (Roseville)
D Chad Bannor (Hermantown)
D Harrison Blankenship (Blake)
D Bryan Mitchell (Red Wing)
D Mike Nagel (Totino Grace)
D Dan Roschen (Red Wing)
F Jared Maetche (St. Cloud Tech)
D Gavin Tufte (Blaine)
F Schyler Adams (New Prague)
F Luke Bayer (Blaine)
F Chris Fischer (Apple Valley)
F Matt Johnson (Stillwater)
F Adam Krause (Hermantown)
F Tyler Nowicki (Woodbury)
F Colton Warner (Apple Valley)
F Jeff Westerhaus (Hill-Murray)
F Tyler Zepeda (Hill-Murray)

Team 12
G Tyler Bruggeman (Mankato West)
G A.J. Underwood (Grand Rapids)
D Izaak Berglund (Little Falls)
D Jake Binder (Lakeville South)
D Justin Faulk (South St. Paul)
D Mik Ortenblad (Buffalo)
D Zach Palmquist (South St. Paul)
D Sam Rendle (Grand Rapids)
F Andrew Bruggeman (Mankato West)
F Lucas Gervais (Fergus Falls)
F Ryan Miller (South St. Paul)
F Connor Reilly (Holy Angels)
F Ryan Reilly (Holy Angels)
F Kyle Reinarts (New Ulm)
F Bill Simon (Lakeville South)
F Garrett D'Aigle (Cambridge)
F Joe Nelson (Duluth East)

Still looking for teams 2,3,4,5,6,10 and 11

[nopuckluck]

TEAM 3 ROSTER
G Paul Moberg, Forest Lake
G Michael Nelson, Spring Lake Park
D Thomas Fallen, Armstrong
D Nolan Kirley, Hayward
D Alex McLean, Duluth East
D Tai Larson, Warroad
D Jake Tilleson, Roseville
D Jacob Wood, St. Louis Park
F Riley Borer, Breck
F Tyson Fulton, Breck
F Issac Kohls, Hill-Murray
F Colin Mayer, Mound Westonka
F Alex Pumper, Northfield
F Archie Skalbeck, Hopkins
F Grant Spanier, St. Cloud Tech
F Chris Sylvester, Little Falls
F Steve Theis, St. Cloud Apollo
F Nick Widing, Hill Murray

[2pipesnin]

HOF
You are so far off base about the Elite II league! I am sure there are going to be some coaches and teams that did not neat your standards. But my son played last year and he had a great time! The coach was positive and fair. The team practiced once a week. I thought all the teams played hard. Wisconsin and SSM provided some additional great competition. Yes, you are going to travel and nothing is free theses days ($700 for a one week hockey camp during the summer). But the bottom line was the players had fun, played hard and made some new friends. Priceless!
I believe the extra players were to be alternates and they would only show up to play if the regular players were not going to make the game. Our coach did a great job of coordinating the kids to make sure we had the right number of players at each game. I would recommend Elite II to any player that did not make the Elite I level. Elite I is normally picked before the tryouts anyway. As a player, do not get discouraged, tryout for Elite II and have fun, gain some confidence and make a few new friends. You will not be disappointed.

[myhockey]

I will stand behind the Elite 2 100%. My son had a blast he made freinds that he keeps in contact with and that is price less. the hockey itself was very competitive and the kids worked hard. Bill Moore is improving this league every year I hope that it stays around for many years to come. I have been told the elite 1 group is better exposure for scouts and all that stuff but there is alot of selfishness when it comes to moving the puck it is hey look at me I can carry the puck coast to coast. If you had a bad experience with Elite 2 then that is too bad. That is a part of life not everything goes the way you want it to so move on and give it another try.

[HOFam'r]

HOF
You are so far off base about the Elite II league! I am sure there are going to be some coaches and teams that did not neat your standards. But my son played last year and he had a great time! The coach was positive and fair. The team practiced once a week. I thought all the teams played hard. Wisconsin and SSM provided some additional great competition. Yes, you are going to travel and nothing is free theses days ($700 for a one week hockey camp during the summer). But the bottom line was the players had fun, played hard and made some new friends. Priceless!
I believe the extra players were to be alternates and they would only show up to play if the regular players were not going to make the game. Our coach did a great job of coordinating the kids to make sure we had the right number of players at each game. I would recommend Elite II to any player that did not make the Elite I level. Elite I is normally picked before the tryouts anyway. As a player, do not get discouraged, tryout for Elite II and have fun, gain some confidence and make a few new friends. You will not be disappointed.

Sounds like a ringing endorsement...you forgot...
-Pay $600
-Play 3 shifts a period
-travel 2000 miles
-buy expensive hotel rooms
-play in front of your parents
-play against mixed competition
-enjoy your time on the bench and in the car

[HOFam'r]

I will stand behind the Elite 2 100%. My son had a blast he made freinds that he keeps in contact with and that is price less. the hockey itself was very competitive and the kids worked hard. Bill Moore is improving this league every year I hope that it stays around for many years to come. I have been told the elite 1 group is better exposure for scouts and all that stuff but there is alot of selfishness when it comes to moving the puck it is hey look at me I can carry the puck coast to coast. If you had a bad experience with Elite 2 then that is too bad. That is a part of life not everything goes the way you want it to so move on and give it another try.

Another loud endorsement of Elite Too Hockey! Like I said...I would not do it again and dont believe it helps a lick unless you are a bantam trying to make the high school team. It is a HUGE money maker regardless of what anyone says. The attitude above is why we have too many choices as Hockey parents...people are consumed in making sure Little Joey has a 'we are Elite Too' hockey jersey. Parents there are sharks out there feeding on your billfold...please dont feed the sharks boys...if joey is good enough they will ask him to play elite 1 and then you'll know you have something.

[Pucknutz69]

I will stand behind the Elite 2 100%. My son had a blast he made freinds that he keeps in contact with and that is price less. the hockey itself was very competitive and the kids worked hard. Bill Moore is improving this league every year I hope that it stays around for many years to come. I have been told the elite 1 group is better exposure for scouts and all that stuff but there is alot of selfishness when it comes to moving the puck it is hey look at me I can carry the puck coast to coast. If you had a bad experience with Elite 2 then that is too bad. That is a part of life not everything goes the way you want it to so move on and give it another try.

Another loud endorsement of Elite Too Hockey! Like I said...I would not do it again and dont believe it helps a lick unless you are a bantam trying to make the high school team. It is a HUGE money maker regardless of what anyone says. The attitude above is why we have too many choices as Hockey parents...people are consumed in making sure Little Joey has a 'we are Elite Too' hockey jersey. Parents there are sharks out there feeding on your billfold...please dont feed the sharks boys...if joey is good enough they will ask him to play elite 1 and then you'll know you have something.

So just put the skates away and call it quits if you don't get asked to skate for the Elite 1 or don't make a team? My son doesn't play for Roseau, Hill nor Edina so I guess I should just tell him to quit go live in the basement and play computer games non stop, cause his HS team will never have a chance at making as he is not playing for one of the ELITE HS Teams! The league may have had a rough start when your player skated but it has made strides in the right direction. You are just one of the parents that paid a lot of money through the years on nothing but hockey (forgetting that education does matter) and now that your kid is done and you have nothing else to do you just want to blame someone else for your kid no getting that D1 scholarship. Thanks for the input but my son and my money will take our chances with the ELITE 2 again this year. Bad hotels, sharks and all.

[nipe87]

been reading this thread for awhile now and thought I would chime in with my thoughts and experiences.

Played elite 2 last year and must say I thought it was a decent league to prepare myself for the hs season.

[HOFam'r]

I will stand behind the Elite 2 100%. My son had a blast he made freinds that he keeps in contact with and that is price less. the hockey itself was very competitive and the kids worked hard. Bill Moore is improving this league every year I hope that it stays around for many years to come. I have been told the elite 1 group is better exposure for scouts and all that stuff but there is alot of selfishness when it comes to moving the puck it is hey look at me I can carry the puck coast to coast. If you had a bad experience with Elite 2 then that is too bad. That is a part of life not everything goes the way you want it to so move on and give it another try.

Another loud endorsement of Elite Too Hockey! Like I said...I would not do it again and dont believe it helps a lick unless you are a bantam trying to make the high school team. It is a HUGE money maker regardless of what anyone says. The attitude above is why we have too many choices as Hockey parents...people are consumed in making sure Little Joey has a 'we are Elite Too' hockey jersey. Parents there are sharks out there feeding on your billfold...please dont feed the sharks boys...if joey is good enough they will ask him to play elite 1 and then you'll know you have something.

So just put the skates away and call it quits if you don't get asked to skate for the Elite 1 or don't make a team? My son doesn't play for Roseau, Hill nor Edina so I guess I should just tell him to quit go live in the basement and play computer games non stop, cause his HS team will never have a chance at making as he is not playing for one of the ELITE HS Teams! The league may have had a rough start when your player skated but it has made strides in the right direction. You are just one of the parents that paid a lot of money through the years on nothing but hockey (forgetting that education does matter) and now that your kid is done and you have nothing else to do you just want to blame someone else for your kid no getting that D1 scholarship. Thanks for the input but my son and my money will take our chances with the ELITE 2 again this year. Bad hotels, sharks and all.

Have at it! Like I said some people might feel differently but I know how i feel...throw some weights in that basement and run outside and skate in a cheap 4 on 4 league close to home if you dont play football and you will light years ahead of elite too. Sorry, but the experience I had was terrible.

[Tony Soprano]

HOFam'r, I think you have made your point about the bad experience you may have had with your time on an Elite II team. I sure hope you brought all of this up to the league director while it was happening. If you did not, them shame on you, not the league. I was involved with the league the past 3 years and have already said each year it did improve and may improve again this year, who knows.

It is like everything else, not everyone will be happy, but it seems like most people that have posted on this thread have had positive experiences with the league. It certainley is your choice to never get involved with Elite II again, but make sure you are careful where you spend your money, there are a lot of other programs out there to be careful of, and in the end, yes they are all in the business to make some profit otherwise why would they be in the hockey business. Everyone can make their own choices, that is the beauty of it all.

[HOFam'r]

HOFam'r, I think you have made your point about the bad experience you may have had with your time on an Elite II team. I sure hope you brought all of this up to the league director while it was happening. If you did not, them shame on you, not the league. I was involved with the league the past 3 years and have already said each year it did improve and may improve again this year, who knows.

It is like everything else, not everyone will be happy, but it seems like most people that have posted on this thread have had positive experiences with the league. It certainley is your choice to never get involved with Elite II again, but make sure you are careful where you spend your money, there are a lot of other programs out there to be careful of, and in the end, yes they are all in the business to make some profit otherwise why would they be in the hockey business. Everyone can make their own choices, that is the beauty of it all.

It's funny how people involved with the elite too program downplay the value of Junior tryouts and anything that doesn't involve USA Hockey and vice versa...face it ...hockey is about money and Elite Too makes a ton-

24 players x 10 teams = 240 players
x
$600.00
=
$144,000.00
-
200 games
x
$250.00 (Ice and Refs)
=
50k

144k
-
50k
=
94k Profit

not to mention extra $$$ from sales of tee' etc...

It is not a league to exclusively develop players...it's a league where someone makes some pretty good cash..not saying it's a bad thing but there is money to be had so it's not just a bunch nice guys teaching your kid too play...it's a job for many..

[Tony Soprano]

HOFam'r - sounds like someone got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Seems like you are dissapointed you did not come up with the Elite II cash cow idea according to your figures. Some people really have no concept of how much work goes into any program.

[Can't Never Tried]

HOFam'r - sounds like someone got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Seems like you are dissapointed you did not come up with the Elite II cash cow idea according to your figures. Some people really have no concept of how much work goes into any program.

Oh boy ! trust me, this is his pleasant side!

[HOFam'r]

HOFam'r - sounds like someone got out on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Seems like you are dissapointed you did not come up with the Elite II cash cow idea according to your figures. Some people really have no concept of how much work goes into any program.

Maybe I have no concept of the work that goes into it..why don't you elaborate? I would be more than happy to learn a thing or two. Plus my figures dont include tryout fees and profits..

[Tony Soprano]

You still have never answered my question, did you ever go to the league director with your list of concerns?

[GR3343]

Sounds like a ringing endorsement...you forgot...
-Pay $600
-Play 3 shifts a period
-travel 2000 miles
-buy expensive hotel rooms
-play in front of your parents
-play against mixed competition
-enjoy your time on the bench and in the car

-$600 - Cheaper than some summer camps or leagues
-Play 3 shifts a period - Still not buying that one. Didn't see that often.
-travel 2000 miles. - Where the hell do you live, Canada? Tough to put that many miles on when the majority of the games were in Blaine.
-buy expensive hotel rooms - Stay with a friend or relative, offsets lodging.
-play in front of your parents - Crowds weren't huge, but there were more than parents, each weekend, I saw a number of scouts from colleges, USHL, NAHL, etc...
-play against mixed competition - This will happen no matter what team you ever play on. Some will always be better than others.
-enjoy your time on the bench and in the car - Most teams I saw had 3 lines and 3 sets of d. At :45-1:00 shifts in a 17 min per, this adds up to around 5 shifts per period, maybe more, so that doesn't hold water either. As for the car ride, it is what you make of it. It can be a miserable, bitching time(as I suspect it is in your case) or a time of conversation(serious or otherwise).

The Elite II program in my opinion is on track to acheive what its Mission Statement is, and that's to help aid in the development of the underclassmen for preperation for the upcoming high school season. End of story.