Team Easton Synergy and Stealth

[stupidiswhatstupiddoes]

It was the first year of these Independent AAA teams (...ok, Showcase on steroids) and wondering how the players and parents would rate their experience for the following teams:

98 Synergy
98 Stealth
97 Synergy
97 Stealth
99 Synergy
99 Stealth

Does anyone think that some of these teams will not exist next year?

[muckandgrind]

It was the first year of these Independent AAA teams (...ok, Showcase on steroids) and wondering how the players and parents would rate their experience for the following teams:

98 Synergy
98 Stealth
97 Synergy
97 Stealth
99 Synergy
99 Stealth

Does anyone think that some of these teams will not exist next year?

They just had their tryouts this past weekend....so I'm assuming they will be around next summer.

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

They just had their tryouts this past weekend....so I'm assuming they will be around next summer.

I think the question was "how would players & parents rate their experience"

Just because they are holding tryouts.......does that mean everything was great?

I heard that there are some coaching changes taking place with some teams (Assistants moving on to other programs).

[pro2b@3]

They just had their tryouts this past weekend....so I'm assuming they will be around next summer.

I think the question was "how would players & parents rate their experience"

Just because they are holding tryouts.......does that mean everything was great?

I heard that there are some coaching changes taking place with some teams (Assistants moving on to other programs).

I heard the same too, regarding coaching changes and also starting a new team from these Easton Teams... Called "Vapor"

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[chillin]

another for profit hockey club...95 was a total joke last summer

[Road Rage]

Such cynicism. You are obviously forgetting that if your son is lucky enough to make an Easton team you get to be part of the awesome new AAA United Hockey Alliance and your kid gets to play for 7th place in all of the Invite tournaments that the truly competitive non-profit teams (Blades, Icemen, some levels of Magicians) can only dream about entering... And yes, I am being cynical.

[KitKat]

I read everyones comments about the Easton teams and have to laugh. This is not a first year program for many of us. Bob Capra who runs Easton, formally ran the Midwest Predators and some of his teams were successful and others were not. I would say, no different then the Iceman at many levels. Having a son who has played in the organization over the past few years I would say it all depends on who is coaching and how the families are. Our team, 97 Easton Stealth, was very succesful this past summer, winning two invitational tournaments and finishing no lower then 4th in 5 tournaments. We have a great coaching staff, great kids and great parents. We are all about development. Other Easton teams such as the '93 and '94 were also succesful this past summer. We don't think we are in the Blades league, but we wouldn't hide from them or anyone else for that matter. Look at the Iceman program and tell me what level they are dominating, why do they always get lumped in with the Blades and Machine. Bob Capra has been running independent AAA summer hockey teams in Minnesota for as long as the Iceman have been around and longer then Machine or Duece. The only two teams that consistantly win at most levels in Minnesota are the Blades and Machine. If your kids don't play on one of those teams, I would shut up, because the program you play in is no better then the Easton program. Sure the program has a few things to iron out, but my experience has been a good one for the most part. You have to remember, this is a long race, not a sprint and programs will come and programs will go, surround yourself with good people and good coaches and your summer hockey experience will be a good one.

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

KitKat,

If I recall correctly my Icemen organization is not out there blaming other programs for AAA getting "watered down".

I think that the "we are better than everyone else (but the Blades/Machine)"mentality is what has everybody shooting darts at the Easton program. I mean come on to put on your website the press release that was quickly removed last week or so is pretty funny. The Icemen/Magicians/Miracle/Edge (and so on) are out there trying to develope kids and will play in whatever tournament they feel they can compete in.

Your right about the 97 Stealth team doing well by the finish in the meltdown and Easton, but at pretty much every other level it has not been as successful. So to say it's everyone else's fault for lack of competition.......I have to chuckle

[KitKat]

My_Kid,

Don't get me wrong, Our 97 Stealth team doesn't think we are better then anyone else. We are about development and surrounding ourselves with good kids and families. Winning and losing is part of the game. But I do know are team wants to paly the best competition we can. I know other levels and teams within Easton aren't as succesful as ours, so this is a tough one for me. Do I personally think the alliance is a good thing, no. I don't want to be on the outside looking in, but at the same time I completely understand other teams thinking they should be included when they are better then some of the Easton teams. Bob Capra shouldn't be made out to be the the only bad guy in this situation. I know Bob put it on his website, but Bernie and Tim Hawkinson are the big pushers of this. They have lost way more kids to start up AAA programs over the past few years and want this alliance to draw kids back to there programs. Bob is only trying to fill up two competitive teams at each level. Bernie has 4 at each level and Tim Hawkinson has 10+.

[Road Rage]

If your kids don't play on one of those teams, I would shut up, because the program you play in is no better then the Easton program. Sure the program has a few things to iron out, but my experience has been a good one for the most part. You have to remember, this is a long race, not a sprint and programs will come and programs will go, surround yourself with good people and good coaches and your summer hockey experience will be a good one.

Interesting that you acknowledge that the Easton program has things to iron out and that other people should try to get their kids into good programs with good people. Doesn't every program have things to work out? Apparently the only good programs with good people are the Easton program, the Machine/Deuce program and Cyclones (at one level only, like Easton). Everyone else should probably just give up, because they aren't in the Alliance!

Bernie and Tim Hawkinson are the big pushers of this. They have lost way more kids to start up AAA programs over the past few years and want this alliance to draw kids back to there programs.

You seem to assume that the only reason people would actually leave a MM program has to do with the level of tournament competition, or even that it has to do with hockey at all. There is more to life than hockey. Perhaps if Bernie did't make his skaters choose hockey -- all or nothing -- over other sports, he would keep more kids. There are a lot of EXCELLENT hockey players out there, athletes who are as good or better than the skaters in his Machine/Deuce programs -- and they are also great soccer, lacrosse, baseball, etc. players. When Bernie forces their hand, they will find, or even develop, a program that is just as good in terms of development and training -- a program that also appreciates the true talent these kids have. There are reasons that clubs lose entire squads (95 Machine, 98 Deuce). No alliance on earth is going to change that.

Bob Capra has been running independent AAA summer hockey teams in Minnesota for as long as the Iceman have been around and longer then Machine or Duece.

If that's the case, maybe he should be looking within before he starts thinking others are to blame for his perceived "lack of good competition." Overall, his programs do not set the world on fire. Others have caught up and passed him. More will do so this season. Setting up a special group with special clubhouse and a secret handshake isn't going to improve his teams.

Ultimately, the Easton tournaments will be looking for teams to play in them, and having thumbed their noses at the MN teams that they should be enjoying competition with, they will find themselves making phone calls to fill spots. Much like they did at, I believe, the 98 level of the Easton Cup Invite last year. Isn't that the level that had the team no one had heard of that played the Machine and LSS so close? I think that team was thrown together at the last minute based on a phone call from the tournament director. IMHO there is plenty of good competition out there, and teams are not going to sit around waitng for the alliance to grace them with an invitation.

[MGHockey12]

My_Kid,

Don't get me wrong, Our 97 Stealth team doesn't think we are better then anyone else. We are about development and surrounding ourselves with good kids and families. Winning and losing is part of the game. But I do know are team wants to paly the best competition we can. I know other levels and teams within Easton aren't as succesful as ours, so this is a tough one for me. Do I personally think the alliance is a good thing, no. I don't want to be on the outside looking in, but at the same time I completely understand other teams thinking they should be included when they are better then some of the Easton teams. Bob Capra shouldn't be made out to be the the only bad guy in this situation. I know Bob put it on his website, but Bernie and Tim Hawkinson are the big pushers of this. They have lost way more kids to start up AAA programs over the past few years and want this alliance to draw kids back to there programs. Bob is only trying to fill up two competitive teams at each level. Bernie has 4 at each level and Tim Hawkinson has 10+.

Remember...the success at the 97 levels is not because of the Easton program itself, but more the fact that the Stealth team was the Predators with existing players and excellent coaches. The Synergy team was put together with Blades practice players and touted as a "Blades II" team.

[hockey24/7]

To go back to the original question that was asked. We were on the 97 Synergy and had a very positive experience. The coaches were great and the kids/parents were too.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

My Kid Loves Hockey,

The facts: The '98 Icemen will benefit significantly from the '98 Deuce kids who left the Duece to play for the Icemen. The '98 Icemen will also benefit from the '98 Machine kid who was cut from the Machine. The former Machine player should be the best player on your team. Unfortunately, the '98 Icemen will still not be on the same level as the Blades or Machines' teams.

Now, here's some speculative thoughts: Could it be that the '98 Icemen were not invited to play in the Alliance because you are being punished for allegedly recruiting kids away from the MM program? Like it or not, even though the Icemen, Blades, Cyclones and other non-MM and non-Showcase AAA programs declare themselves not-for-profit organizations, AAA hockey has become a business. Right or wrong, the for-profit and the nonprofit AAA teams will use whatever tools are in their respective or collective tool boxes to stop (or, at least cut down on) players from leaving their current team to jump to a new team. Because players can't be punished for jumping teams, the order of the day is to punish programs that are on the receiving end of the transferring players. That's business and that's life. In a nutshell, life sucks and then you die.

As for the '98 Synergy invite team, the coach, Jeff Monk, has an impressive hockey resume. Like you, Jeff is passionate about the sport and development. I have communicated with Jeff and yourself about your respective teams. Jeff is an impressive guy. He does not have an elitist attitude, nor does he try to hold himself out as something more than he is--what you see is what you get. Jeff has a can-do attitude, which plays well to parents.

Although my son has never played for the Synergy (we opted for another team that is part of the "evil" Alliance), I wish Jeff success. Further, I know that your team will do just fine this year and the '98 Icemen will find 3-5 tournaments with good competition, even if your team is not allowed to play in the MM or Easton tournaments. Don't sweat the small stuff. You'll be fine with or without the Alliance. You'll also be fine regardless of the number of AAA teams, provided your primary goal remains development.

I may be wrong but I believe your '98 is your first hockey kid. Although I don't agree with most of the opinions of this board, I will say that the old-timers, who have kids who are beyond the age of your son and my '98 son, are wise when they tell us to lighten up and that things will play out the way they are supposed to in the years to come. Relax and enjoy the game. By the time our sons get to high school, the current debate surrounding the Alliance and whether the '98 Icemen (and other AAA teams) are worthy of respect will be something we laugh about as we--hopefully--watch our kids play high school hockey. In closing, we should all continue to remember that most of our kids will make their future livings based on their respective performances in the class room, not on the ice rink.

[5thgraders]

Hmm

[Toomuchtoosoon]

Hockey is a choice.

You must be very blessed to have a guy like Jeff Monk working with your kid. I have never heard of him, but you say he has an impressive hockey resume. Please share some of his credentials with the rest of us.

[DMom]

My Kid Loves Hockey,

The facts: The '98 Icemen will benefit significantly from the '98 Deuce kids who left the Duece to play for the Icemen. The '98 Icemen will also benefit from the '98 Machine kid who was cut from the Machine. The former Machine player should be the best player on your team. Unfortunately, the '98 Icemen will still not be on the same level as the Blades or Machines' teams.

Now, here's some speculative thoughts: Could it be that the '98 Icemen were not invited to play in the Alliance because you are being punished for allegedly recruiting kids away from the MM program? Like it or not, even though the Icemen, Blades, Cyclones and other non-MM and non-Showcase AAA programs declare themselves not-for-profit organizations, AAA hockey has become a business. Right or wrong, the for-profit and the nonprofit AAA teams will use whatever tools are in their respective or collective tool boxes to stop (or, at least cut down on) players from leaving their current team to jump to a new team. Because players can't be punished for jumping teams, the order of the day is to punish programs that are on the receiving end of the transferring players. That's business and that's life. In a nutshell, life sucks and then you die.

As for the '98 Synergy invite team, the coach, Jeff Monk, has an impressive hockey resume. Like you, Jeff is passionate about the sport and development. I have communicated with Jeff and yourself about your respective teams. Jeff is an impressive guy. He does not have an elitist attitude, nor does he try to hold himself out as something more than he is--what you see is what you get. Jeff has a can-do attitude, which plays well to parents.

Although my son has never played for the Synergy (we opted for another team that is part of the "evil" Alliance), I wish Jeff success. Further, I know that your team will do just fine this year and the '98 Icemen will find 3-5 tournaments with good competition, even if your team is not allowed to play in the MM or Easton tournaments. Don't sweat the small stuff. You'll be fine with or without the Alliance. You'll also be fine regardless of the number of AAA teams, provided your primary goal remains development.

I may be wrong but I believe your '98 is your first hockey kid. Although I don't agree with most of the opinions of this board, I will say that the old-timers, who have kids who are beyond the age of your son and my '98 son, are wise when they tell us to lighten up and that things will play out the way they are supposed to in the years to come. Relax and enjoy the game. By the time our sons get to high school, the current debate surrounding the Alliance and whether the '98 Icemen (and other AAA teams) are worthy of respect will be something we laugh about as we--hopefully--watch our kids play high school hockey. In closing, we should all continue to remember that most of our kids will make their future livings based on their respective performances in the class room, not on the ice rink.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

Hockey is a choice.

You must be very blessed to have a guy like Jeff Monk working with your kid. I have never heard of him, but you say he has an impressive hockey resume. Please share some of his credentials with the rest of us.

Toomuchtoosoon,

I believe you read toomuchtoosoon. I never said that Jeff works with my son. Indeed, I said that we chose a different team than Jeff's Synergy team. If you would like to learn more about Jeff, I suggest you call him. He's an approachable, articulate guy. His contact information should be on the Easton Synergy web site.

[Pens4]

These posts are giving way too much credit or blame to any of these organizations. All they do is get you into tournaments and make ice purchasing easier. The character of the coach and players is all that should be looked at when choosing your kids summer team.

Parents that puts there kid on a summer team that doesn't roll 3 lines and incourage creativity and non-pressure is missing a great opportunity. If your kids sits a single shift in the summer...it is crimminal.

Our 94' Stealth team rolls the lines lines and the kids are expected to try things that their in season coach frowns on....you should never hear dump it in from a summer coach !