98 Icemen Tryouts Last Night!

dreampuck · Post by **dreampuck** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 10:30 am

Sorry, I should have mentioned the 98 Icemne also have two non-parent coahces who are as equally great! Including a very good goalie coach!

It's a great mix of coaches!

Spud · Post by **Spud** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:07 pm

"The 98 Icemen have fantastic coaches who know hockey, run great practices, care about all the kids, are totally committed to the development of each and every kid and the passion can not be denied!"

If it is true that they cut 1/2 the team after just one year together, it appears that they care less about the kids & their development and more about beating the Machine & Blades. It certainly looks like the passion is there but for whose glory - the kids or the coaches?

dreampuck · Post by **dreampuck** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:57 pm

Spud, I can totally see your point, however, its not quit that simple. AAA hockey is supposed to be about putting the best players you can on the ice. It doesn't really have anything to do with beating the Machine or Blades, just putting the best Icemen team they can on the ice. I dont believe these coaches are putting a team together for glory. I have never seen that trait in any of their coaches.

I know the coaches had a very difficult time making those phone calls, and in fact I believe are starting a second team, with the idea to keep those kids involved and help continue in their developemnt. It is very common for first year teams to make major adjustments, and my guess is from here on out they will not be quit so drastic. I have not seen the roster yet, but my guess is there is about 7-8 Icemen returning and probably about 6-7 new players. The rest will probably be offered spots on the new team. Not sure, but I think most of the players parents that have kids that were cut would tell you it was a good experience, at least they should. I really didn't hear any negative feed back all season from anyone. Many of the kids who did get cut were very good friends of the coaches families and I know that had to be tough. I tell my kids who play hockey - They have to earn their spot every year, wether it's associaton hockey or AAA. Their are life lessons to be learned out of every experience wether its good or not so good.

Haute hockeymom · Post by **Haute hockeymom** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:59 pm

If it is true that they cut 1/2 the team after just one year together, it appears that they care less about the kids & their development and more about beating the Machine & Blades. It certainly looks like the passion is there but for whose glory - the kids or the coaches?[/quote]

Spud - Yes. The Coaches care about the kids (their own).

Its much easier to cut kids than it is to develop them. They want their kids to play at a higher level with better kids and being the Coach goes a long way toward making that happen.

They won't beat the Machine and they won't beat the Blades. Remember, the Icemen are getting their Hand Me Downs.

spin-o-rama · Post by **spin-o-rama** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:11 pm

Spud wrote:If it is true that they cut 1/2 the team after just one year together, it appears that they care less about the kids & their development and more about beating the Machine & Blades. It certainly looks like the passion is there but for whose glory - the kids or the coaches?

The AAA players union is looking into this. Player rights need to be protected. Will there be a strike that shuts down the 2009 AAA season?

dreampuck · Post by **dreampuck** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:15 pm

Haute- I think clearly you are in the minority with your opinion about the Icemen team. Obviously you must feel mistreated by them in some way and I'm sorry you feel that way. Can you shed some light on your situation? Just sitting their and bashing the coaches is not fair. I'm not sure if who your are, if you were on the team last year, tried out this year and got cut, or were one of the many new players that tried out and didn't make it. It doesn't really matter, The fact is, after watching that tryout there were several kids that certainly could have made the team. Many good players got cut and will have other opportunities with other teams.

The two coaches kids are good players and belong on the team, all year they were two of the top players.

puckfan · Post by **puckfan** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:28 pm

If it is true that they cut 1/2 the team after just one year together, it appears that they care less about the kids & their development and more about beating the Machine & Blades. It certainly looks like the passion is there but for whose glory - the kids or the coaches?

Does anybody remember who played last year with the Machine and the Blades? If I recall they had more significant changes than the the 6 or 7 it sounds like the Icemen are making. It seems like some of this years Machine players were with the Blades and last year about 1/2 the Machine got the boot to the Deuce........and the difference is?

HH comes riding in on her "pony" and start jousting away.......you know the great thing about hockey is it's a small community and word gets around quickly. So just remember that sometimes parents are the reason their kids are not asked back to teams too.

Hockey!LoveIt! · Post by **Hockey!LoveIt!** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:28 pm

They won't beat the Machine and they won't beat the Blades. Remember, the Icemen are getting their Hand Me Downs.[/quote]

Did you seriously just call those boys "hand me downs"?

spin-o-rama · Post by **spin-o-rama** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 4:47 pm

Puckfan, good call on mentioning that all teams have turnover.
Some get cut and some leave for greener pastures. Add in some billeted out of staters and I think you have a taste of what Tier I is like. (Jancze, always open to your insight.)

Road Rage · Post by **Road Rage** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:04 pm

Remember, the Icemen are getting their Hand Me Downs.

Really HH? Did you really go there? Hand me downs? Sorry your kid got cut, but you don't need to bring everyone else down to your level. Everyone who took the time to attend the tryout or knows the facts, knows that most, if not all, of the new Icemen left their former team for what the Icemen program offered, both on the ice and off. A lot of those kids took big risks with their former teams just be attending the tryouts. Give them some credit.

If it is true that they cut 1/2 the team after just one year together, it appears that they care less about the kids & their development and more about beating the Machine & Blades.

Hey Spud -- last time it makes for a much better practice when the kids are of generally equal ability. This breeds development. If Icemen are offering the opportunity to play on a second Icemen team, then they are indeed looking out for the kids they "cut" as you like to put it. They will improve much more in those practices than if they are frustrated because the drills are too fast or challenging for them.

Is your kid on the Blades or Machine? Because I thought only the self-absorbed Blades and Machine parents thought that all AAA teams live and die for the chance to beat those teams. Give me a break.

council member retired · Fri Sep 26, 2008 9:31 pm

98' Icemen parents

Only if you want it, here is some advice from someone older and has been around for many years, Slow down a little bit. You appear to bringing this on all on your own. Each response is going to breath a little more life into the fire. The post is like you are seeking approval from a bunch of keyboard hockey gods, yet when they state their opinion so many of you are quick to respond so defensive. To quote HH. "EVERYONE NEEDS TO REMEMBER", actually I don't think they need to know. Enjoy the game.

H-E-doublehockeysticks · Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:30 am

Hey "Haute hockeymom" - FYI - since when is a player that left a certain team of their own accord (let's say the Machine, Blades or Deuce) called a "hand-me-down"? So what would you call a kid that was offered a spot on one of those teams but refused and went with the Icemen instead? A hand-me-up? Well, I can tell you for a FACT that this is what happened in some cases (not only this year but last year also).

As far as concerns about the team cutting half the roster and the slams about the Icemen casting them to the side for new talent - let things unfold and see what happens - the second team thing is out there and it sounds like a great way to keep all the good kids (on and off the ice) together. Also, has anyone considered the responsibility that the Icemen have to their top players that they are keeping? My point being that aren't they just trying to get a group together that is as closely matched in individual talent as possible so that they can push each other and maximize their (each team member's) DEVELOPMENT? I can tell you from past experience things run much smoother on the ice and you get a lot more accomplished if all the kids that are participating have similar skill sets - pretty sure nobody could disagree with that!

Let everyone speculate for the time being about things like the turnover in the team and and the accusations from some about not committing to "developing" the players that got cut, etc, etc. . . It just looks like to me that a lot of kids and parents wanted in so they must be doing something right! Time will tell!

Putt4Dough · Post by **Putt4Dough** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:16 am

i know two parents from the Icemen. basically, not happy with the process. They all feel like the coaches bailed on the team and the kids when they formed the "Mix".

these guys seem to be in it for themselves for sure

GoldenBear · Post by **GoldenBear** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:22 am

Its AAA Hockey, 1) Most Coaches aren't getting paid so anyone bashing a coach...take your toys (son) and leave. How about a thank you for the coach for coaching your kid for nothing during the whole summer. 2) It isn't Association hockey where if you complain, maybe you can get your socialism way...again if you don't like it, coach your own team and try dealing with parents like yourself.

I don't have dog in this fight but it kills me how the coach is the bad guy. Move on disgruntled parents its not the end of the world. I think its great that a coach is trying to put together a top notch team that will help 17 kids become better hockey players over time.

Jimbo99 · Post by **Jimbo99** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:44 am

Not all - but most, should listen to council member. Four, five, six years from now you are going to cringe at the thought you argued about this stuff. They are 10 years old. It's a game. Wait for puberty. Watch the game. Enjoy!

Putt4Dough · Post by **Putt4Dough** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:46 am

sour grapes i guess

if the experience was so bad then why would they tryout and only complain after the fact.

Putt4Dough · Post by **Putt4Dough** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:50 am

Jimbo99

Well Said!

puckfan · Post by **puckfan** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:04 am

Not all - but most, should listen to council member. Four, five, six years from now you are going to cringe at the thought you argued about this stuff. They are 10 years old. It's a game. Wait for puberty. Watch the game. Enjoy!

Seems most of the complainers are now just taking shots at the coach(s).

Are the parents most upset with the fact that they feel their players didn't get good coaching throughout their season?
I would assume that if they have issues with the coach(s) they know how to contact them to discuss it........but it's easier to get on here behind some username at fire shots.

i know two parents from the Icemen. basically, not happy with the process. They all feel like the coaches bailed on the team and the kids when they formed the "Mix".

these guys seem to be in it for themselves for sure

So from what I understand reading this post is that they are forming another team and offering it up to the players that were cut. I guess I can see how they are in it for themselves, taking the time to work on 2 teams is pretty self serving

jancze5 · Post by **jancze5** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 12:29 pm

I think summer AAA is a total crapshoot. Especially when we're hosting tryouts in September/October for Spring teams. We're talking about what, 8-12 year olds right now. Some of these kids are going to explode with the right winter coach, others are going to slip, some are going to grow, others will be tiny.

Here's my basic opinion on summer AAA...we all better thank someone for creating the system we have in Minnesota Youth Community based hockey otherwise we'd see the same thing happening with in season AAA. What I mean is, all of these kids moving summer teams every year is EXACTLY what happens with in season AAA. Everyone is looking for a better fit on a better team. I know at least 15 94 birth year kids that this season, their final Bantam youth hockey year, are all billeting in Detroit to play in the MWEHL. My own son was asked to come to 2 different teams and we chose an education with hockey over our teenager being raised by a family whose values we don't know.

The reality is that it's just all crazy. This board is evidence of it. You can read the posts, last year we talked about 96's, this year we're on to the 98's, pretty soon we'll be talking about the 002 Blades and Machine...I mean, it's just a cycle that won't stop. There are going to be new people with new blood and new little Pitlicks that show up every year.

I'd only say this, I love AAA because for the most part, you don't play bad teams. You don't have a schedule that's 28 blowouts and 6 good games.
Most (at least the top 30) AAA teams have 3 lines...the saying on the East Coast goes like this..A hockey = 1 line AA = 2 lines AAA = 3 lines and a goalie. Does that sound familiar to Minnesota hockey at all except in a reverse fashion High school hockey = 3 lines A hockey = 2 lines B hockey = 1 line.

My advice: be humble and enjoy the kids. I have a best friend who's kid scored over a 100 pts as a squirt and first year pee wee. His second pee wee year he got stuck on the growth chart at 2 foot 6 and suddenly was getting pushed around. Ended up with less than 10 goals. First bantam year, third liner, off the power play, Second bantam year, playing Lacrosse as his #1 sport year round, playing hockey with his prep school middle school team. Done. Was the absolute best kid until he was 11.

DMom · Post by **DMom** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:26 pm

jancze5 wrote:I think summer AAA is a total crapshoot. Especially when we're hosting tryouts in September/October for Spring teams. We're talking about what, 8-12 year olds right now. Some of these kids are going to explode with the right winter coach, others are going to slip, some are going to grow, others will be tiny.

Here's my basic opinion on summer AAA...we all better thank someone for creating the system we have in Minnesota Youth Community based hockey otherwise we'd see the same thing happening with in season AAA. What I mean is, all of these kids moving summer teams every year is EXACTLY what happens with in season AAA. Everyone is looking for a better fit on a better team. I know at least 15 94 birth year kids that this season, their final Bantam youth hockey year, are all billeting in Detroit to play in the MWEHL. My own son was asked to come to 2 different teams and we chose an education with hockey over our teenager being raised by a family whose values we don't know.

The reality is that it's just all crazy. This board is evidence of it. You can read the posts, last year we talked about 96's, this year we're on to the 98's, pretty soon we'll be talking about the 002 Blades and Machine...I mean, it's just a cycle that won't stop. There are going to be new people with new blood and new little Pitlicks that show up every year.

I'd only say this, I love AAA because for the most part, you don't play bad teams. You don't have a schedule that's 28 blowouts and 6 good games.
Most (at least the top 30) AAA teams have 3 lines...the saying on the East Coast goes like this..A hockey = 1 line AA = 2 lines AAA = 3 lines and a goalie. Does that sound familiar to Minnesota hockey at all except in a reverse fashion High school hockey = 3 lines A hockey = 2 lines B hockey = 1 line.

My advice: be humble and enjoy the kids. I have a best friend who's kid scored over a 100 pts as a squirt and first year pee wee. His second pee wee year he got stuck on the growth chart at 2 foot 6 and suddenly was getting pushed around. Ended up with less than 10 goals. First bantam year, third liner, off the power play, Second bantam year, playing Lacrosse as his #1 sport year round, playing hockey with his prep school middle school team. Done. Was the absolute best kid until he was 11.

Thank you. Great advice. I have a 96 and a 98 and I gotta say it doesn't have to be this way.

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