Easton AAA/Predators

dingle · Post by **dingle** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:48 pm

Any word on the new Easton AAA teams? One post said the Predators and Icemen teams have disbanded and will incorporate into Easton AAA, if so, which teams does this involve?

BoogeyMan · Post by **BoogeyMan** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 5:45 am

Dingle, I received an email asking my son to tryout for the 98 Icemen. I think the Predators team is now the Easton Stealth team from the south metro. The Easton Synergy team is from the north metro team. The Icemen are not having a 99 team this year.

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 11:50 am

I know that the Icemen are having 96 thru 98 this year - I heard that the 97 and 98 had a lot of quality players at their tryout and have put the pieces together to have a strong program. Do not know about the earlier Icemen but I believe the 94 Icemen are a good team.

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Post by **My_Kid_Loves_Hockey** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:57 pm

Who is really behind the Easton teams? I hear that it definatly is not the Showcase group, but when you go to their website, the look is exactly the same as all the Showcase hockey flyers.

Air Force 1 · Post by **Air Force 1** » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:26 pm

My son is on the '95 north team and I asked the coach if Showcase was backing it he said no, but that one of the Showcase execs was on the Easton board. Also, Showcase has a subdivision that does apparel and grafics, maybe Easton is having Showcase do some of that work for them.

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:09 am

EastHockey, can AAA get its own link? I am tired of dad's talking smack about their $12,000 wunderkind investment/association B player. Enough is enough already! It is the height of MN Hockey remove the clutter please!

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:03 am

Just follow the money and watch out for the smoke screen...the money tells you who is behind the program.

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Post by **My_Kid_Loves_Hockey** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:20 am

Northwoods oldtimer, settle down, I don't see anybody talking about $$$$$$$ or how good their kid is anywhere in here.

I think that there is a ton of knowledge on this site (some good, some bad). I know that there are others who have forgotten more than I'll ever know but it is a great place to get information from so let us use the resource!

wiscobad · Post by **wiscobad** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:34 pm

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 7:46 pm

impressed by what?...lot's of talent?...this program doesn't run in the winter season - how can you know if they are working on the "fundys" if they havent even practiced yet?

hockeymomof3 · Post by **hockeymomof3** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:03 pm

Does anyone know anything about the AAA Minnesota Miracle Teams out of the Herb Brooks Center? Heard they are having two teams this year, 97 and 98 birth years.

Studly02011 · Post by **Studly02011** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:24 pm

for 93's the stealth team is the predators.
and the synergy team is the mn stars.

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Post by **My_Kid_Loves_Hockey** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:07 pm

I think they are still having tryouts for some of the younger teams, I would think that the kids have made commitments already. I know MM started plucking kids real early to fill out their new teams.

steelheader · Post by **steelheader** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:46 pm

Oh boy! Lots to learn in this age (parent) group!

Sudden Death · Post by **Sudden Death** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:32 pm

Easton is Showcase. Bob Capra is working for Tim Hawkinson at showcase, running this program. Showcase would like to put together some teams that are stronger than their AAA league teams. Team that would be strong enough to travel outside the state and be able to compete.

They rolled Mr. Capra's Predators team into Easton. They feel they can pick up a kid from here and there and have a third AAA group/club to play at that higher level with the Machine and Blades.

They are not putting the showcase name on it because the showcase AAA team are not at that level and they want the perseption that this is better, and it might very well be. Who knows?

Northwoods oldtimer the board is for Youth hockey in Minnesota, so take a pill.

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Post by **My_Kid_Loves_Hockey** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 4:11 pm

That seems so weird that they are trying to hide the fact that Showcase is behind this. I talked to a coach of one of the teams about this and he assured me that Showcase had nothing to do with it.

Thanks for the information, I wanted to see what somebody else knew about this deal.

council member retired · Wed Dec 26, 2007 10:38 pm

showcase enterprises is on the board of directors.
( IF u want to compete with bernie, u better have a weekend at bernies)
Easton aaa team at some levels would lose 9 out of 10 to the top showcase team at their level.
Easton (local rep ) contributes $300.00 to the team in warmups.
Showcase AAA coaches do not know their team is being pieced to select the best players to the Easton team. Showcase true motto " u lose for winning"

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:08 pm

They're taking all the kids from their Showcase AAA teams at each age level to put together the Easton AAA teams? Wouldn't that kill that AAA league?

So $300.00 in warmups gets your name in lights? No sticks, skates, bags etc........?

jancze5 · Post by **jancze5** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:07 am

why would these teams kill the league?

These are just 2 more teams that won't play in the league, but rather just tournaments, is that correct? (hopefully an Easton person can answer that)

My understanding is this is just 2 more outlets for more kids to play, ala the Blades, Machine, etc...

crossovers8 · Post by **crossovers8** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 8:46 am

I agree jancze5. Yes, I believe these teams will just play in a few invite tournaments (not open tournaments with Showcase AAA teams). This is really a way for Showcase to protect some of its marketshare by retaining the kids who may otherwise go off to "independent" summer AAA teams. I'm not sure how these teams will match up to the Blades or the Machine, but there are plenty of other independents popping up around the area. Everyone seems to want the control and cachet of an independent AAA team. The question will be, can these teams actually address the skill development needs of the kids or will it just be a few more summer tournaments & games?

Sudden Death · Post by **Sudden Death** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 12:45 pm

Who is on the board of directors? Does anyone know for sure. If it has a board is it a non-proft? If so there must be a public dissclosure some where that has all of that information?

regdunlop77 · Post by **regdunlop77** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:03 pm

This is from Craigslist.
$1 seems like a very reasonable tryout fee.

MARK 12/30 for TEAM EASTON AAA HOCKEY TRY-OUTS '98/'99 Players - $1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reply to: see below
Date: 2007-12-23, 12:32PM CST

TRYOUTS FOR AAA "TEAM EASTON" ELITE LEVEL Hockey TEAM will be 12/30 for players born in'98 & '99.

PLAYING RINKS: N. Metro (Home Ice: Primary-Fogarty, Secondary-Champlin/others)

SEASON: March 20-May & August-September 2008

TOURNAMENTS: The ***TOP*** Local AAA Tournaments have been secured & guaranteed for the Synergy Teams in 2008:

Minnesota Meltdown Invitational (April 24-27, 2008)
Independent AAA Hockey Classic (May 15-18, 2008)
Easton AAA Cup Invitational (August)
TBD (September)

GAMES: Additional 6-8 games beyond tournament participation

PRACTICES: 75 hours of on-ice practice featuring:
****CORY LAYLIN***** - www.euroamericanhockey.com

PLAYER TRAINING: Team training, focused on individual player skills hosted by ***FHIT****. The FHIT program, and its staff, specializes in player development and advancement.

UNIFORM AND APPAREL: Players chosen will receive ***EASTON*** (Home/Away) jerseys, socks and Synergy warm-up suit and gift.

TRY-OUTS are on DECEMBER 30th, 2007 for more information contact:
Robert Capra rwcapra@msn.com
www.eastonaaa.com

My_Kid_Loves_Hockey · Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:53 pm

jancze5 wrote:why would these teams kill the league?

These are just 2 more teams that won't play in the league, but rather just tournaments, is that correct? (hopefully an Easton person can answer that)

My understanding is this is just 2 more outlets for more kids to play, ala the Blades, Machine, etc...

What I mean is, if there are some talented players that end up playing for the Showcase legue now, does Easton move then on to their tournament team? If so that dilutes the talent in the regular AAA league they run, nobody wants to pay that much money for rum-dum hockey now do they?

I think that will hurt their league....JMO.

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:21 pm

I don't think there is any question that this will hurt the AAA Showcase league - if Showcase moves the best players out to the Easton teams than that dilutes the AAA Showcase league...pretty simple concept.

Besides, if they are not making the Showcase affiliation public than they must be trying to hide something.

Sudden Death hit the nail on the head - he has the facts correct.

I can't blame Showcase for trying something new...it is worth a shot...but for a company that is about making money I think it is too bad that they are trying to be deceptive. It will be interesting to see if their program matches their offering in their marketing pieces.

BostonHockey · Post by **BostonHockey** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:50 pm

Sorry new to this site and we are just moving from Boston. We are just confused as where to have our son play hockey. He is a 2000 and a goalie. Yes we will continue to work on his skating. We went over to Parade in Mpls today to see Showcase tryouts for 2000/1999 AAA. They also have another league call Dynamo. We signed him up for a January tryout in Blaine. Where else should we look? Does anyone have any feedback about this program and will he even be put on a team if we do not know anyone.

In Boston all season long they play by birth year not the July cut off date. They also play a lot more games (not that it is right)

Any feedback/guidance would be great.

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Easton AAA/Predators

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