AHA traveling east again

[MassMan#18]

I was surprised to see that AHA is traveling east again in January to play. They play Catholic Memorial (MA) and Mount Saint Charles (RI) over the Martin Luther King weekend.

Unfortunately, I will be out of town for the first game against CM. This will be the better of the two games. CM should have a decent team this year. (Mass HS is just starting official games this week). They should be able to give AHA a decent game.

I'm hoping to see the MSC game. Probably won't be as competitive a game. It's been several years since MSC has been able to field a strong team. This year looks no different.

Win or lose, it's always good to see the Minn teams play.

In other east/west action...Delbarton HS out of NJ is traveling out the MN to play Holy Family (I think) and Breck. Delbarton has a long tradition of being a top hockey school in NJ, and is the reigning NJ champion. I've got to see them a few times as they travel to RI each year to paly a couple of games. They are a decent team, but will probably be a bit over their heads against Breck. Not sure about HF.

If anyone sees any of these games, I would appreciate a report and opinion.

Enjoy the season....

[Iceburg]

In other east/west action...Delbarton HS out of NJ is traveling out the MN to play Holy Family (I think) and Breck. Delbarton has a long tradition of being a top hockey school in NJ, and is the reigning NJ champion. I've got to see them a few times as they travel to RI each year to paly a couple of games. They are a decent team, but will probably be a bit over their heads against Breck. Not sure about HF.

If anyone sees any of these games, I would appreciate a report and opinion.

Enjoy the season....

I believe Delbarton has Alex Velischek on their team. He is the son of former North Star Randy Velischek. Also a Providence recruit.

[defense]

COOL
I wish there was more of this cross country travel...kinda fun to see....
who would win, Minnesota state champion or New England champion(they do have a NE champ right??) if not, Mass champ???

[TheMeanRichJokeMan]

I don't believe AHA has ever lost to either CM or Mt. St. Charles.

[Zamman]

I don't believe AHA has ever lost to either CM or Mt. St. Charles.

I believe the first time they travelled out east. both teams won. 2002? I will check

[kickinwing]

please get me that imformatiom. it is vital!

[HShockeywatcher]

Why don't more top teams do this? It's a great experience.

[MNHighSchoolHockeyGuy]

I was just watching the documentary "Ice Kings" the other night on altitude sports network about Mount St. Charles.There rink is gnarly,It's an old airplane hanger and they stil use chicken wier fence inplace of plexiglass.

[Iceburg]

please get me that imformatiom. it is vital!

2001-02
Mt. St. Charles 2, Holy Angels 1
Catholic Memorial 3, Holy Angels 2

2002-03
Holy Angels 4, Catholic Memorial 1

2004-05
Holy Angels 5, Catholic Memorial 0
Holy Angels 3, Mt. St. Charles 1

2005-06
Holy Angels 11, Mt. St. Charles 0

[jancze5]

"COOL
I wish there was more of this cross country travel...kinda fun to see....
who would win, Minnesota state champion or New England champion(they do have a NE champ right??) if not, Mass champ???"

THey do, it's called Midget Major AAA. It even features a national champion crowned with a rep from Mass and even one from Minnesota (Shattuck without really a Minnesota roster) and 14 other teams representing districts from throughout the US...but we all know that.

[Panthers]

Exceed Hockey Development is putting on an event next year in the Twin Cities that will showcase East coast teams against top Minnesota high school teams. I think it starts the day after Thanksgiving.

www.exceedgoals.com

[gitter]

Why don't more top teams do this? It's a great experience.

I'm pretty sure taxpayers would rather have their money funding the actual education of students as opposed to paying absorbent travel costs to play hockey games across the country.

Perhaps private schools such as AHA, H-M, and STA can spend money more liberally - not going to happen with public schools.

[oldguy]

Why don't more top teams do this? It's a great experience.

I'm pretty sure taxpayers would rather have their money funding the actual education of students as opposed to paying absorbent travel costs to play hockey games across the country.

Perhaps private schools such as AHA, H-M, and STA can spend money more liberally - not going to happen with public schools.

My understanding is that the players families pay for this trip... airfare, hotel, and meals, as an "extra" to the standard HS hockey fee charged by the program.

So if the same was done with public schools, the "taxpayers" would not be covering the bill, the player/families would be.

What a great life experience for these young men, regardless of the outcome of the games.

Marching bands from public schools have been invited to play at college football bowl games. In most circumstances, the community and/or the schools have done fund raising activities to support the trip...so it can be done if the community supports its programs.

So,... was your comment just narrow minded uncreative thought on your part, or just another slam on the privates?

[gitter]

Why don't more top teams do this? It's a great experience.

I'm pretty sure taxpayers would rather have their money funding the actual education of students as opposed to paying absorbent travel costs to play hockey games across the country.

Perhaps private schools such as AHA, H-M, and STA can spend money more liberally - not going to happen with public schools.

My understanding is that the players families pay for this trip... airfare, hotel, and meals, as an "extra" to the standard HS hockey fee charged by the program.

So if the same was done with public schools, the "taxpayers" would not be covering the bill, the player/families would be.

What a great life experience for these young men, regardless of the outcome of the games.

Marching bands from public schools have been invited to play at college football bowl games. In most circumstances, the community and/or the schools have done fund raising activities to support the trip...so it can be done if the community supports its programs.

So,... was your comment just narrow minded uncreative thought on your part, or just another slam on the privates?

My point was not to slam any private school at all. When I played varsity hockey the athletic fee was $50 for the year. I'm not too good at math, but I can't imagine the $1750 collected by the 35 players on JV and varsity covered all the expenses from helmets, jerseys, tacklas, socks, ice time, bus rental, fuel expenses, hotels, tournament entry fees, etc. for the entire hockey year. We bought sticks as players for $6/stick. I know the local outlet wasn't just giving the hockey team a generous "discount" - the school was covering the difference in cost there as well. I know for a fact none of the parents were obligated to pay anything extra at the high shool level. We never held "fundraisers" or anything of the like. Keep in mind this was not more than 10 year ago - so we're not talking the 70's in terms of pricing. That leads me to believe the difference came out of the schools fund allotment.

And you know what, if it were so easy for these parents/families to come up with the money, then as HSWatcher said, why aren't more teams doing it? According to your theory, if all sorts of public school marching bands are playing college bowl games, certainly it'd be a piece of cake to set up some public school hockey games in Michigan, Mass, etc. So you tell me why no public schools are going then, because it sure sounds to me like you've got all the answers.

[oldguy]

I'm pretty sure taxpayers would rather have their money funding the actual education of students as opposed to paying absorbent travel costs to play hockey games across the country.

I know for a fact none of the parents were obligated to pay anything extra at the high shool level.

And I know for a fact, that AHA families did pay for this trip as "extra" fee.

The difficulty I am having with your statement is the word "obligated".

Participation in this trip was by "choice", not obligation.

So again, if the oppportunity is offered, teams/parents/communities can & will find a way to fund it if it means enough to them...

Many of these families sacrificed personal vacations and other things in an effort to pay for the trip...

Again, it is a "life experience" that is worth extra money. Many of these kids/families would never have the opportunity to travel to Boston in their lifetime if not for the this trip.

Perhaps this is just one additional reason that folks make the choice to attend private schools...They are willing to go the extra mile to provide opportunities for their children regardless of what it takes...

[Zamman]

Lots of sports teams and interest groups at public schools go on week long trips, there is this wonderful tool called "fundraising". I know this for a fact. The Richfield girls softball team raises funds so they can spend a week in Florida for training. I have been on to trips with the Richfield Band on a cruise to the Bahamas and to Ireland.
Any team can do it, but you need to raise the funds and then give up something at home. AHA loses to home dates because of this, plus the issue with getting homework done on a long weekend with games and travel.

[tjkhavgam]

does anyone no how long boerger is out for? and when does webb get back?

[gitter]

Look - I have zero problem with private schools. Look at any of my posts, never once have I said anything derogatory about them, in any way, shape or form. I just stated they (private schools) have more money to spend, much like a CEO has more money to spend than a receptionist. If that is not true, then I stand corrected. I've got more than a handful of friends and colleagues that attended private schools.

I never once said it wouldn't be a good experience for the kids. I simply answered a question as to why I thought more teams don't fly across the country to play hockey games.

[Charliedog]

Just as a side note. Hill-Murray's hockey fee is $250 plus the cost of any clothing. The public school near my home has a fee of only $150. Anyone know if these fees are in line with other schools?

[MassMan#18]

please get me that imformatiom. it is vital!

2001-02
Mt. St. Charles 2, Holy Angels 1
Catholic Memorial 3, Holy Angels 2

2002-03
Holy Angels 4, Catholic Memorial 1

2004-05
Holy Angels 5, Catholic Memorial 0
Holy Angels 3, Mt. St. Charles 1

2005-06
Holy Angels 11, Mt. St. Charles 0

Just one correction Iceberg....It was MSC who traveled out to MN in 2002-03. They beat SSM 5-2 then lost to AHA 4-1.

[kickinwing]

thank you very much . GO IRISH!!!!

[Walter Sojack]

Just as a side note. Hill-Murray's hockey fee is $250 plus the cost of any clothing. The public school near my home has a fee of only $150. Anyone know if these fees are in line with other schools?

Not sure, but obviously fees differ school by school. In my own experience on a different team, players' families payed extra out of their pocket for trips. The team trips cost much less money than individual vacations as airlines, hotels, etc. are able to give great deals for group travel. And, plays and their families were given the choice if they wanted to go on the trip or not.

Much is the same in baseball as more and more minnesota teams are pullin out their checkbooks to fund spring break trips. I had the opportunity to participate in both hockey and baseball trips and would definitely anty up the money again if my kid were to go.

[NEhockey]

I was surprised to see that AHA is traveling east again in January to play. They play Catholic Memorial (MA) and Mount Saint Charles (RI) over the Martin Luther King weekend.

I'm hoping to see the MSC game. Probably won't be as competitive a game. It's been several years since MSC has been able to field a strong team. This year looks no different.

Enjoy the season....

Several years since MSC has been good?? Try 2. In 2005 AHA and Mount played a great game in which AHA ending up winning 3-1 (3rd goal was an empty netter). AHA went on to win the MN state title that year.

I do agree with you that CM is better than Mount this year, but not by much because Mount is much better than they have been over the past couple. Mount was missing its best player last week when they scrimmaged CM; it was a good game with CM winning 2-0. Mount is currently 3-0 in RI having scored 17 goals and given up 0.

[MassMan#18]

I was surprised to see that AHA is traveling east again in January to play. They play Catholic Memorial (MA) and Mount Saint Charles (RI) over the Martin Luther King weekend.

I'm hoping to see the MSC game. Probably won't be as competitive a game. It's been several years since MSC has been able to field a strong team. This year looks no different.

Enjoy the season....

Several years since MSC has been good?? Try 2. In 2005 AHA and Mount played a great game in which AHA ending up winning 3-1 (3rd goal was an empty netter). AHA went on to win the MN state title that year.

I do agree with you that CM is better than Mount this year, but not by much because Mount is much better than they have been over the past couple. Mount was missing its best player last week when they scrimmaged CM; it was a good game with CM winning 2-0. Mount is currently 3-0 in RI having scored 17 goals and given up 0.

I don't mean to quarl with you NE, but I've been following MSC for about 15 years ... going to their holiday tournament every year, several games each year, and playoffs. They simply haven't had a good, dominant team in several years. (Not since Chaput left anyway). If they played AHA tight in 2005, then fine. But that 2005 team wasnt a shadow of the 2001 or 2002 team that played AHA ... and those teams were a downgrade from earlier teams. I think the program has been in a long slide for a while now.

If they have a good team this year, great. (I'll see for myself tomorrow night). I hope they can give AHA a game this year. But, based on what I saw last year, I'm not counting on it.