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How many AAA Clubs/Teams are out there?

How would you rank them?

I'll start by saying 1 - 3

1. Machine
2. Blades
3. Deuce

After that who knows, but I would like to know just how many there are a the moment?

1) Machine
2) Deuce
3) Blades
4) Lake Superior Stars

I love the Machine!!!!

From what I understand the Minnesota Icemen rank right up there...

considering longevity as a key point...the Blades have no competition in this case, especially from a program that's boasting about a Pee Wee minor age team that hasn't even hit puberty or hit each other.

jancze5 wrote:considering longevity as a key point...the Blades have no competition in this case, especially from a program that's boasting about a Pee Wee minor age team that hasn't even hit puberty or hit each other.

To boast about a team that is very young seems more Machine like vs. Blades don't you think?

Does the "best organization"mean "best team"?

If so, here is the current status of things:

92-1. Blades 2. TC Federals
93-1. Blades 2. Predators (Preds best a few yers ago, Blades superior in recent years)
94-1. Blades 2. Team Midwest
(Icemen were best 94s and are broken up now)
95-1. Blades 2. Icemen/Machine (Machine won in April, Blades in August. Icemen beat Machine in August to earn a tie)
96 -1. Machine 2. Blades

Anyone else is too young to tell. However, the 97 and 98 levels are currently dominated by Blades and Machine teams.
The Chiefs (93); Lake Superior Stars (95); Predators (94); Fire (94) were all very competive at squirts, but have fallen off since then.

Does "best team" mean "most successful players at higher levels"?

If so, the Blades have no competition. They talk about 200+ D1 players. They also are the most well-known among elite teams in other parts of North America.

hockeyparent11 wrote:Does the "best organization"mean "best team"?

If so, here is the current status of things:

92-1. Blades 2. TC Federals
93-1. Blades 2. Predators (Preds best a few yers ago, Blades superior in recent years)
94-1. Blades 2. Team Midwest
(Icemen were best 94s and are broken up now)
95-1. Blades 2. Icemen/Machine (Machine won in April, Blades in August. Icemen beat Machine in August to earn a tie)
96 -1. Machine 2. Blades

Anyone else is too young to tell. However, the 97 and 98 levels are currently dominated by Blades and Machine teams.
The Chiefs (93); Lake Superior Stars (95); Predators (94); Fire (94) were all very competive at squirts, but have fallen off since then.

Does "best team" mean "most successful players at higher levels"?

If so, the Blades have no competition. They talk about 200+ D1 players. They also are the most well-known among elite teams in other parts of North America.

Didn't most, if not all of Bernie's famed 88s come from the Blades? I believe the answer to be yes

Yes. Their head coach was Irv Singer on the Blades. Bernie became their head coach when the 88s were 12 years old.

93's

1.blades
2. preds.
3.jr. mav's

eagle11 wrote:93's

1.blades
2. preds.
3.jr. mav's

Aren't the Icemen suppose to be good at that age level?

AT 94' the Icemen are good, and at 95' they are very good.
Not sure on the other years.

Gilmour I don't think that you "kept hearing about the Icemen" over the weekend. Anyone that is past squirts and a member of either of the big 3, Icemen/Blades/Machine are circle jerking over it in a arena like todays big event.

Don, can you elaborate on the "circle jerk" comment - i am confused by your choice of words...either that is a new hockey term or you are just a complete perv...

1.Machine
2.Icemen
3.Lake Superior Stars


96 Level

1993
1. stars and stripes
2. blades
3. preds
4. mn stars
5. manitoba jr. falcons
any other good ones?

How do others feel about Team Christian brothers?

my brothers garage had a customer that coached one of their teams.

Is there website on their program like the Blades have?

I believe it'swww.goldmetalhockey.net

There isn't much on the site though. My son has heard they maybe interestd in him and I want to find out more. i think there was another kid from Wisconsin on the 94 team last year.

94's
1.) Blades ( they keep replacing kids with better ones, now they are the best.)
2.) Team Midwest
3.) Icemen/Jr. Stars/Easton (whatever they are going to be called.)
4.) Lake Superior Stars
5.) The Deuce (Bernie is putting together a 94 team. Don't know what kind of talent is available for him, but name recognition will get him some players)

The 88's played for a year or two with the blades when they were 9 or 10. Bernie didn't like what they were doing, so he formed his own team. I don't think they should claim them as their own, but....... Whatever makes you feel good.

The history on the 88s is clear. They were not formed until 2000, when the kids were 12 years old. (Look at the the trophies at MM and look at old programs). Before that they played for the Blades and a team called the Minnesota Spirit. Their coach was Irv Singer on both teams.

As for "claiming for their own", these kids (like all MN players) played for mulitple youth coaches in the winter and at different clinics. They played for Shattuck or NTDP or a high school coach. Many worked with private coaches. Like most successful athletes, these kids worked hard to get to the top.

Give the development credit to the kid.

How soon will we see Minnesota having aaa teams in the winter and year round? there are some nice aaa teams, is it going to be harder for the top couple teams to find someone to play?

Unconfirmed talking out of my BUTT rumor:

94 Blades may try to field 2 teams for the Toronto Prospects tournament.
Trying to actually attract the best players from everywhere onto 2 teams for this tournament instead of having the current top end players being on 5 seperate teams...

Would be interesting to see if it comes to pasture.....

Why would they go with 2 teams? Are they going to do that for all the age groups? Would there even be kids available for the teams 96 and younger? Doesnt the Machine really corner the market for the groups 96 and younger?

are you serious? There are kids, 96 and younger, on the east and north, northwest sides of the cities who aren't willing to make a 30mile drive, through rush hour traffic, three, four, five times a week during the summer. I have heard there are even a few rinks that still leave ice on throughout the summer months that aren't south and west of 494.......not to mention the blades draw from Wisconsin and Iowa