Top Tier AAA Teams

AAATourney · Post by **AAATourney** » Wed May 14, 2008 12:33 pm

We don't have Tier1 AAA in Minnesota but when association hockey ends we do put some very good teams together that can compete and beat registered Tier1 programs. Here is how I see it - there are becoming more and more AAA programs that are diluting the talent pool which will result in our state not being as competitive or dominant. Based upon program longevity, performance and recognition outside of Minnesota the top 3 Metro AAA teams are:

Metro
* Blades
* Machine
* Icemen

Outside of the Metro area there is one standout program:

Outstate
* Lake Superior Stars

I would consider these to be the top 4 programs in the state based upon the criteria mentioned above (longevity, performance & recognition)

Agree or disagree???

pucks are funny · Post by **pucks are funny** » Wed May 14, 2008 1:15 pm

" Here is how I see it - there are becoming more and more AAA programs that are diluting the talent pool which will "result in our state not being as competitive or dominant."

While I do agree with your top teams overall, I would disagree with this : " Result in our state not being as competitive or dominant"
The top team ( s) should be able to continue and roster the top players that desire to play at this level during the spring / summer season. More teams is more opportunity for others to reach that top level and keep top players improving. You would expect that the Blades, Machine players know darn well that some of these kids on other teams want their spot. Competition is a good thing for the customer.

I also do not think Longevity, Recognition would be a determining factor in a top team. Machine's 1st team was 96', Icemen I believe started a 94' team a few years ago.

In recent tournaments the three top teams mentioned have done real well overall. Including both at Michigan, Toronto, and the Meltdown Invite...there performance did not support a weakening program. Perhaps in a year or two Minnesota will be fortunate enough to have a dozen top teams at each age level.

puckfan · Post by **puckfan** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:25 pm

You would expect that the Blades, Machine players know darn well that some of these kids on other teams want their spot

I think that number is shrinking quicker than you think.

Why would kids at 9-13 years old want to be forced to choose going to a hockey practice vs being able to play in a baseball/soccer game. I know that there are plenty of programs out there that give kids a choice to attend the function they choose.

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:34 pm

The Blades and the Icemen offer flexibility - I know that the Icemen ask that when it comes to hockey that the Icemen are the priority when it comes to conflicts with other hockey programs/teams...for example, missing a practice to play in a MASH game isn't going to be acceptable.

But, in the case of my sons Icemen team, when the parent provides notice that their child is not going to be at practice due to a non-hockey function conflict (i.e. soccer or baseball) that the coaches respect that decision.

DMom · Post by **DMom** » Fri May 16, 2008 6:47 am

the biggest problems come with the tournaments. like this weekend, there are a number of big ball tournaments, Brooklyn park hosts a large one and than there's the hockey tournament this weekend. Even back when my oldest was a mite there was the preview challenge cup and he had a ball tournament somewhere in the southwest part of the cities. we considered ourselves lucky that he could make all of the games with a minimal amount of time in the car. the state baseball tournaments have conflicts with prospects in the past. fast forward a few years and we wouldn't be so willing to put him, or his brothers, through that kind of weekend again. It's a lot on a kid and on a family.

I agree that there are are more and more kids who are willing to leave the big name programs. I think if you put in the work families can find offseason programs that work for their kids. You do have to give the Icemen and the Blades credit for encouraging multiple sport kids, and I've heard that from others about those two clubs. Frankly at twelve, they'd leave baseball and hockey behind if there was another option that included girls!!!!! Maybe coed traveling soccer

puckfan · Post by **puckfan** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:09 am

How did all the top teams do this weekend in the Independent?

Machine,Blades, Icemen, etc?

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:19 am

From what I saw the Machine, Blades and Icemen all did well...too bad they do not post the scores! (or, atleast I could not find them anywhere).

WildFan · Post by **WildFan** » Mon May 19, 2008 11:38 am

I saw some of the '98 and '99 over in Richfield.

'99: Blades won the tourny beating the Machine 5-3. The Blades and Machine were clearly the class of this division. The deuce got smoked by the Blades and Machine. The other 5 teams in this division were over matched.

The only '98 game I saw was the Lake Superior team and they beat the '98 Blades 7-4. Lake Superior was a solid team.

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Mon May 19, 2008 7:34 pm

I think there are plenty of young players that would want to fill the spots on the machine/blades teams. I seen plenty of them watching the machine play over the weekend and making comments about it, maybe it will give some a goal to shoot for to get better.

puckfan · Post by **puckfan** » Tue May 20, 2008 7:23 am

Yeah, just what you want your kid to do. Make that decision that I am going to give up all the other summer stuff just to play hockey. No baseball/soccer, etc.......

They may want to just by watching them, but once they are given the ultimatum.......it's anyones guess!

Puck Hog · Post by **Puck Hog** » Tue May 20, 2008 2:43 pm

Just curious what thoughts are on the Northern Wings. I'm not sure how they are at all levels but their teams are usually pretty darn good.

Thanks

watchdog · Post by **watchdog** » Tue May 20, 2008 4:34 pm

the wings have totally fallen off the map at most levels. the problem being to much of the local crop and the buddie system. your not gona compete with either.

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Wed May 21, 2008 12:25 am

The Blades and the Icemen run great clubs that do allow the kids to play other sports. The problem is exactly what DMom pointed out though - the conflicting tournament weekends that are tough on everyone. I've heard the Machine are pretty up front about the fact they don't want their kids playing spring or summer sports - at all. I give them credit for being honest, but I think most reasonable parents (or at least the ones that aren't dealing with their NHL bound, first born) realize that's a huge mistake to make for many, many reasons.

There are all kinds of choices though for all kinds of families. Definitely as the kids get older, you probably want your kid on the Blades if you want to get to the "big" tournaments like the Prospects. Most the Blades kids are also on Adv. 15, 16 and 17. All the AAA clubs start to filter down to the one team that by that point has captured all the best players by about 8th or 9th grade. Just the way it seems to work but the Machine could change that a bit - too soon to tell with the '95 team being the highest age group I think. Again, you have to make the best choice for your kid and your famiy. Just one opinion after having gone through it a couple times.

Tenoverpar · Post by **Tenoverpar** » Wed May 21, 2008 7:53 am

Just wondering why AAA spring hockey is so big here and why people always want to talk about what team or program is the top?

This state despises AAA hockey doesn't it? Yet, the same folks who want to berate the Fire program and the methodology of the Machine, are the same guys on here talking about hockey right now and tournaments and teams and players.

I'm going to start a new POST about AAA hockey and get some opinions..

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Wed May 21, 2008 8:30 am

People don't despise AAA hockey, just don't like it during the winter season and prefer our grand hockey tradition of HS/association hockey. In the spring/summer, it's the perfect time to play AAA and many of the MN clubs are pretty darn competitive with these teams from other states that have big sponsors, huge budgets, and play together all year long. I do prefer our current system - I consider it the best of both. The kids play with their buddies all winter from their community, building community spirit and dream of playing in the HS State Tournament at the Excel. In the summers they play for the AAA clubs.

Really not too tough to understand. I also understand the reason for clubs like the Fire, especially for kids from weak associations or poorly run ones, or ones with bad coaches or way too much politics. There does need to be an alternative but call me a traditionalist - in my ideal world the MN system works and we produce some pretty great hockey players that are also proud of their communities.

gilmour · Post by **gilmour** » Wed May 21, 2008 11:40 am

Doglover hit the nail on the head...well stated.

DuckDuckQuackQuack · Post by **DuckDuckQuackQuack** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:22 pm

'99: Blades won the tourny beating the Machine 5-3. The Blades and Machine were clearly the class of this division. The deuce got smoked by the Blades and Machine. The other 5 teams in this division were over matched.

Top four teams in 99's:

1) Blades
2) Machine
3) Snipers
4) Deuce

98 Machine rolled over the Lake Superior Stars to win it.

ironrangehockey55 · Post by **ironrangehockey55** » Thu May 29, 2008 7:32 am

I was at the tourney watching my grandson. I agree with you duckduck that the 99 machine and blades were the class of the division. the rest of the teams including the snipers and duce were overmatched in that division. from the scores the machine and blades easily handled the snipers duce, and every other team in that division. the kids are still young and they will develop. hats off to the machine and blades teams.

DuckDuckQuackQuack · Post by **DuckDuckQuackQuack** » Thu May 29, 2008 6:03 pm

ironrangehockey55 wrote:I was at the tourney watching my grandson. I agree with you duckduck that the 99 machine and blades were the class of the division. the rest of the teams including the snipers and duce were overmatched in that division. from the scores the machine and blades easily handled the snipers duce, and every other team in that division. the kids are still young and they will develop. hats off to the machine and blades teams.

It will be interesting to see how the teams change over the years. There are a lot of 98 and 99 teams there.

DuckDuckQuackQuack · Post by **DuckDuckQuackQuack** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:43 pm

Doglover wrote:People don't despise AAA hockey, just don't like it during the winter season and prefer our grand hockey tradition of HS/association hockey. In the spring/summer, it's the perfect time to play AAA and many of the MN clubs are pretty darn competitive with these teams from other states that have big sponsors, huge budgets, and play together all year long. I do prefer our current system - I consider it the best of both. The kids play with their buddies all winter from their community, building community spirit and dream of playing in the HS State Tournament at the Excel. In the summers they play for the AAA clubs.

Really not too tough to understand. I also understand the reason for clubs like the Fire, especially for kids from weak associations or poorly run ones, or ones with bad coaches or way too much politics. There does need to be an alternative but call me a traditionalist - in my ideal world the MN system works and we produce some pretty great hockey players that are also proud of their communities.

Dog Lover, Well said! I agree with everything you said. I'd like to consider myself a traditionalist but there is no doubt AAA is on its way. Right or wrong people want alternatives. People are willing to pay more money for more instruction.
I'm a believer: "To each his own" every family has to do what's best for their situation. I'm not going to worry if some kids up in Northern Minnesota obtain more training or ice time. I could careless if parents are sending their kids to Russia for hockey camps. Since it doesn't have any negative effect on me or my family I have no concerns.
I get a kick out of people that are so concerned that kids are leaving for places like Minnesota made. But yet when the same kids get older and they go and play hockey for a private school everything is fine. Lets not forget about open enrollment.
Do you know how many times I hear woulda, coulda, shoulda because some high school lost 3-4 players to play on better teams. Its ok for older kids but not younger kids. Why is this?

Gotothenetman · Post by **Gotothenetman** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:53 pm

DuckDuckQuackQuack wrote:'99: Blades won the tourny beating the Machine 5-3. The Blades and Machine were clearly the class of this division. The deuce got smoked by the Blades and Machine. The other 5 teams in this division were over matched.

Top four teams in 99's:

1) Blades
2) Machine
3) Snipers
4) Deuce

98 Machine rolled over the Lake Superior Stars to win it.

I saw the 99 MN Edge play the Deuce and pound the them 7-2. The Deuce had 1 shot on goal in the first period. I do not think the Edge are at the level of the Blades or the Machine yet, but I would bet there one of the top 3 99 teams around.

taxi43 · Post by **taxi43** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:52 pm

I coach a local baseball team. I have a Blades player on my baseball team. This Blades player was told by his Blades coach that he had to attend all Blades practices and games. Therefore, he has to miss all conflicting baseball games and practices.

We just played a baseball game for 3rd place in a local baseball tournament. As usual, this Blades player has to miss the baseball game to attend a Blades practice. It is a waste of my time having him on the baseball team.

And then I read here that his Blades team got smoked by the Machine in their recent game. What a waste of time for the kid.

Cooper48 · Post by **Cooper48** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:52 pm

Taxi43

What Blades team is your player on?

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:11 pm

[quote="taxi43"]I coach a local baseball team. I have a Blades player on my baseball team. This Blades player was told by his Blades coach that he had to attend all Blades practices and games. Therefore, he has to miss all conflicting baseball games and practices.

We just played a baseball game for 3rd place in a local baseball tournament. As usual, this Blades player has to miss the baseball game to attend a Blades practice. It is a waste of my time having him on the baseball team.

And then I read here that his Blades team got smoked by the Machine in their recent game. What a waste of time for the kid.

[/quote]

Must be a 1995 player. How come I keep hearing about the Blades teams are baseball friendly and that they are allowed to play other sports in the summer. The MnMade teams are ridiculed for this policy, but at least they are up front about it. My son is on a MnMade team this summer, and he has played traveling bball for 5 years. He is 13 and wants to work hard on hockey this summer, thankfully the bball coach is willing to work with us with his schedule.

taxi, were you in the deleno tournament?

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:41 pm

It might be the parents of the '95 Blades player that feel that hockey is more important than baseball. Often times, the player and the coach are not the ones making the choices when conflicts arise. Of course, the fact that you're a Machine parent may shed light on the post as well. I think if you talk to most Blades or Icemen parents, you'll find your player is an exception - especially if he chose to miss a baseball tournament game for a hockey practice. Not fair to try to cast a shadow over the entire organization because of one player.

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