We will be attending the Super Series this year. My daughter has done Mn Selects in the past.
I would like to here what people think of one or the other. Or if anyone sees a notable performance.
Selects vs Super Series
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nickel slots
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You will notice the same difference that I did... nothing. Other than the location, that is.
I think if a girl gets asked to do this, it's a great experience for them... but I wouldn't recommend becoming regular customers of either event. Try them both if you get the opportunity.. if you don't, don't lose any sleep over it. Save yourself the $250 (plus expenses). There aren't going to be any college scholarships handed out at either venue, and truth be told, it's not all of the best athletes. It's more of a "who you know" than it is "how you play."
I'm sure other will see it differently, but in my humble opinion, there aren't any spring time tournaments that will present opportunity until they participate in the Advanced 15 program.
I think if a girl gets asked to do this, it's a great experience for them... but I wouldn't recommend becoming regular customers of either event. Try them both if you get the opportunity.. if you don't, don't lose any sleep over it. Save yourself the $250 (plus expenses). There aren't going to be any college scholarships handed out at either venue, and truth be told, it's not all of the best athletes. It's more of a "who you know" than it is "how you play."
I'm sure other will see it differently, but in my humble opinion, there aren't any spring time tournaments that will present opportunity until they participate in the Advanced 15 program.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
It's all small stuff.
It's all small stuff.
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jollyroger
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All 5 or 6 or 7 tournaments are the same. We've been to MN Selects, Super Series, MN Classic Elite, MN Preview Challenge, Midwest Selects (at least this one is at a different time of the year).
The participants are:
1) Coach's daughter
2) Coach's daughter's friends
3) Coach's friends' daughters
4) Daughters of other coaches in the coach's district
5) Daughters of parents who start calling the coach in January and bugging him to make sure their kid is on the team.
6) Then there's room for 1 or 2 unaffilated kids.
The participants are:
1) Coach's daughter
2) Coach's daughter's friends
3) Coach's friends' daughters
4) Daughters of other coaches in the coach's district
5) Daughters of parents who start calling the coach in January and bugging him to make sure their kid is on the team.
6) Then there's room for 1 or 2 unaffilated kids.
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Silent But Deadly
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- Joined: Thu Mar 08, 2007 3:49 pm
Kudo's to you......not too many brave/honest enough to post the truth on this board....I'm loving it........and I AGREE!!!!jollyroger wrote:All 5 or 6 or 7 tournaments are the same. We've been to MN Selects, Super Series, MN Classic Elite, MN Preview Challenge, Midwest Selects (at least this one is at a different time of the year).
The participants are:
1) Coach's daughter
2) Coach's daughter's friends
3) Coach's friends' daughters
4) Daughters of other coaches in the coach's district
5) Daughters of parents who start calling the coach in January and bugging him to make sure their kid is on the team.
6) Then there's room for 1 or 2 unaffilated kids.
Last edited by Silent But Deadly on Thu Apr 02, 2009 2:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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jollyroger
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JohnnyBuck
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I realized I didn't mention my thoughts, they pretty much echo everyone elses.
When my daughter first played selects 5 years ago, it was fun for her. She played 2 years and made some friends from other areas that she still talks to today. I think thats probably the best part.
I liked the fact, at least for the two years my kid was selected, that Mn. selects would not let the same person coach the same group 2 years in a row. How ever that doesn't seem to be the case any more.
The first year my kid wasn't selected to go to St. Cloud, she was bummed. The day the coach came to watch her she had a great game, posted a shut out and stopped several breakaways. I think the coach didn't give her much credit because she was 12b at the time. I think he went w/ 2 10a goalies. My kid was still u10 age but moved up because the association needed a 12 goalie. Well the goalie he picked didn't have such a great tourney. One of the girls parents asked him, why my daughter wasnt picked. Of course he had his reasons. Funny I don't believe he ever came to see my kids team play after that. Might have had to admit he made a mistake.
Long story short I think, they should try to get new coaches every year. So you can say it is a true select team and not who you know team.
Being a goalie dad I like anything that might build her confidence a little. So if or when she is asked, I let her make the decision and give her all the support she wants. Which as they get older seems to get less and less. LOL
When my daughter first played selects 5 years ago, it was fun for her. She played 2 years and made some friends from other areas that she still talks to today. I think thats probably the best part.
I liked the fact, at least for the two years my kid was selected, that Mn. selects would not let the same person coach the same group 2 years in a row. How ever that doesn't seem to be the case any more.
The first year my kid wasn't selected to go to St. Cloud, she was bummed. The day the coach came to watch her she had a great game, posted a shut out and stopped several breakaways. I think the coach didn't give her much credit because she was 12b at the time. I think he went w/ 2 10a goalies. My kid was still u10 age but moved up because the association needed a 12 goalie. Well the goalie he picked didn't have such a great tourney. One of the girls parents asked him, why my daughter wasnt picked. Of course he had his reasons. Funny I don't believe he ever came to see my kids team play after that. Might have had to admit he made a mistake.
Long story short I think, they should try to get new coaches every year. So you can say it is a true select team and not who you know team.
Being a goalie dad I like anything that might build her confidence a little. So if or when she is asked, I let her make the decision and give her all the support she wants. Which as they get older seems to get less and less. LOL
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royals dad
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:41 pm
My daughter has gotten to be on East Selects and East Elites twice and West Selects twice (we moved). Your list doesn't work for any of the teams she has been on. She has enjoyed it a great deal and met players from all over the metro. She likes the Selects better because of the skills competition and the hotel. For her birth year the competition was very similar between the two tournaments.jollyroger wrote:All 5 or 6 or 7 tournaments are the same. We've been to MN Selects, Super Series, MN Classic Elite, MN Preview Challenge, Midwest Selects (at least this one is at a different time of the year).
The participants are:
1) Coach's daughter
2) Coach's daughter's friends
3) Coach's friends' daughters
4) Daughters of other coaches in the coach's district
5) Daughters of parents who start calling the coach in January and bugging him to make sure their kid is on the team.
6) Then there's room for 1 or 2 unaffilated kids.
If your interested in selects you can nominate a player on the web early in the season. The coach is supposed to visit a game or practice to evaluate. I entered a few players I coached on our U12 team last year and the selects coach did come to a game, they didn't make the team but they did get a look.
The opportunity these tournaments bring is a chance to play with kids from other organizations or renew friendships with one's you haven't seen in a while. I think running the Super Series & Selects the same weekend is a good idea. It allows another 70 girls to be selected using the "#1-#5 independent grading system."nickel slots wrote:You will notice the same difference that I did... nothing. Other than the location, that is.
I think if a girl gets asked to do this, it's a great experience for them... but I wouldn't recommend becoming regular customers of either event. Try them both if you get the opportunity.. if you don't, don't lose any sleep over it. Save yourself the $250 (plus expenses). There aren't going to be any college scholarships handed out at either venue, and truth be told, it's not all of the best athletes. It's more of a "who you know" than it is "how you play."
I'm sure other will see it differently, but in my humble opinion, there aren't any spring time tournaments that will present opportunity until they participate in the Advanced 15 program.
Never been to the Super Series. But from pure competition we have always had close games at the Selects and at one of the other events we experienced some lopsided games. I think the preliminary work is much more structured for the Selects when it comes to the director level.
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royals dad
- Posts: 432
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:41 pm
My daughter had a great weekend at Selects, it was fun for her reconnect with past teammates and meet some new freiends. The event was fun and from my perspective it was well run, games stayed pretty much on time and were not to rushed. We love fact that there are no gate fees, makes it easy to go watch some games that have players you know from other age groups at either venue.
There were quite a few ties and 1 goal games which would seem to indicate that the teams were well matched. Although the South dominated the girls side, winning all but one age group. Seemed like there was some turn over at the older ages with some girls on the teams for the first time.
Overall it was a fun weekend for my whole family. Thanks to the coaches and all those who work to put this on, great job!
There were quite a few ties and 1 goal games which would seem to indicate that the teams were well matched. Although the South dominated the girls side, winning all but one age group. Seemed like there was some turn over at the older ages with some girls on the teams for the first time.
Overall it was a fun weekend for my whole family. Thanks to the coaches and all those who work to put this on, great job!
My child has been a participant for the past 2 years in the MN Selects Tournament. There coaches are all non parent and are very great. The way I see it, the only people who complain are those parents of children who did not get picked. Including those who start at the beginning of Jan. to beg for there kids position. I am unaware of any negative comments coming from parents regarding MN Selects but have heard a ton of the others. Not just about teams, but about other things as well. We are supposed to be setting the standard for our kids instead of setting them up for disappointment by making them believe that they are the best and deserve to be on every elite team known to man. when my child does or does not make a team I am always there to congratulate her on her successes but focus on her short comings as well. We as a society need to stop accepting mediocrity as the standard and start raising the bar for our kids. I am not talking about breeding champions or brain surgeons. We need to keep the bar set hi so our children will work for it. The lower we set it the more McDonalds drive through workers and and fry cooks we will get.
PG-
The coaches in the Selects teams are not all non parent. There are many parent coaches, and so this tournament suffers from what all these types of tournaments suffer from in terms of favoritism in team selection.
That said, my kids have participated for many years in the Super Series and have always had fun. The teams, especially this year, are very, very competitive, and I noticed on all the teams names of kids I know to be some of the best in their age group. We do it for fun, and extra playing time period.
The coaches in the Selects teams are not all non parent. There are many parent coaches, and so this tournament suffers from what all these types of tournaments suffer from in terms of favoritism in team selection.
That said, my kids have participated for many years in the Super Series and have always had fun. The teams, especially this year, are very, very competitive, and I noticed on all the teams names of kids I know to be some of the best in their age group. We do it for fun, and extra playing time period.
Do they still have the 2 year maximum coach rule?demongoed wrote:PG-
The coaches in the Selects teams are not all non parent. There are many parent coaches, and so this tournament suffers from what all these types of tournaments suffer from in terms of favoritism in team selection.
That said, my kids have participated for many years in the Super Series and have always had fun. The teams, especially this year, are very, very competitive, and I noticed on all the teams names of kids I know to be some of the best in their age group. We do it for fun, and extra playing time period.
I'm not sure about the term limits for coaches. We've been off an on over the years, with kids at varying ages. My perspective is that this tournament has gotten better and better over the years. I'm not familiar with the MN Selects Tourney, but know families with kids who've played in it and they all have great things to say about that one too.
My daughter had a great weekend at the Super Series tourney. I think, in her age group, there was only one lopsided game. It was her first super series. Now she has done them all I think.
I think the selects has, maybe gotten a little lazy when picking their coaches. The '95 East has had the same coach for the last 3 years, and I bet there are more who have done the same thing or maybe guys have partnered up so they can have the same kids over and over. I bet some of the more successful ages and directions(north, south east west) Have a lot of the players playing together elsewhere (AAA, or regular season) One dad told me that most of the 95 South at Selects played in showcase as the rinkrats and then became the blades.
Personally, I think this takes away from the intended purpose of these tourneys, other than raising money of course. When we went to selects, I asked a coach why he wasn't coaching his kids team, his response was they wont let you coach the same group 2 years in a row. That makes sense, since it is a reward for playing well during the season or at least during the game the coach comes to watch.
Why did they get away from that philosophy? At one point they wouldn't let someone coach their own daughter. I would assume to keep things more objective.
As far as better competition at Selects over Super Series, I saw some amazing girls in Plymouth this past weekend. I would have a hard time believing the everyone in St. Cloud were better than these girls on there respective teams.
Congratulations to all the kids who were selected, it should be fun and I hope it was for them. I just like to see it fair and objective.
I think the selects has, maybe gotten a little lazy when picking their coaches. The '95 East has had the same coach for the last 3 years, and I bet there are more who have done the same thing or maybe guys have partnered up so they can have the same kids over and over. I bet some of the more successful ages and directions(north, south east west) Have a lot of the players playing together elsewhere (AAA, or regular season) One dad told me that most of the 95 South at Selects played in showcase as the rinkrats and then became the blades.
Personally, I think this takes away from the intended purpose of these tourneys, other than raising money of course. When we went to selects, I asked a coach why he wasn't coaching his kids team, his response was they wont let you coach the same group 2 years in a row. That makes sense, since it is a reward for playing well during the season or at least during the game the coach comes to watch.
Why did they get away from that philosophy? At one point they wouldn't let someone coach their own daughter. I would assume to keep things more objective.
As far as better competition at Selects over Super Series, I saw some amazing girls in Plymouth this past weekend. I would have a hard time believing the everyone in St. Cloud were better than these girls on there respective teams.
Congratulations to all the kids who were selected, it should be fun and I hope it was for them. I just like to see it fair and objective.
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blondegirlsdad
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Super Series
We got our first taste of these things last weekend at Super Series. My daughter had great fun, scored a couple goals, met a lot of new people - bonded with some Eden Prairie girls, even(!)
The tournament was extremely well-run, the games were close, although the 20-minute periods threw me off - nursing a one-goal lead and seeing 10 minutes left makes for more tension.
The kids got great wearables out of the thing, my girl has 10 new hockey friends, they gave out recognittion patches for academic excellence, I can't say enough nice things about the experience. My daughter thought it was the most fun she had this year, I'd do it again like a shot if asked.
I'm sure Selects was equally fun.
The tournament was extremely well-run, the games were close, although the 20-minute periods threw me off - nursing a one-goal lead and seeing 10 minutes left makes for more tension.
The kids got great wearables out of the thing, my girl has 10 new hockey friends, they gave out recognittion patches for academic excellence, I can't say enough nice things about the experience. My daughter thought it was the most fun she had this year, I'd do it again like a shot if asked.
I'm sure Selects was equally fun.
One thing you should know about the Super Series is that it is a fund raiser for the Blades program. It is well run, but they seem to be a little subversive about where the money goes. They don't mention it in their programs. I would like to see how many Blade players actually play at the Super Series, versus how many do Selects in St. Cloud. I would like to think if it benefits their players then they should play in it as well. A little hypocritical if they put on one tourney, and then their players go to a different one.
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royals dad
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Pretty much every tournament is a fundraiser. I just really like when the charge the team fee's and then have everything else optional (like at selects, not sure how Super Series does it), things like photos, sweatshirts, food... if we want we spend the money if not we skip it. I really hate gate fee's, charge the team what you need to and then open up the gates. We like to bring the whole family, sometimes grandparents, aunts uncles, even family friends show up. I hate when they get charged to watch a kids hockey game, so much so I don't even tell them about the games. I understand at the HS level but not at youth.Homer wrote:One thing you should know about the Super Series is that it is a fund raiser for the Blades program. It is well run, but they seem to be a little subversive about where the money goes. They don't mention it in their programs. I would like to see how many Blade players actually play at the Super Series, versus how many do Selects in St. Cloud. I would like to think if it benefits their players then they should play in it as well. A little hypocritical if they put on one tourney, and then their players go to a different one.
I know we played against a blades coach at Selects, and some blades players were on teams but I think they were involved with Selects before they were the Blades so I don't see a problem with it. Its good these are on the same weekend so more players get a chance to skate, sounds like the teams are fairly balanced at both tourneys. Its good for girls hockey and a great way to end the winter season.
From the Super Series Website:
"Minnesota are invited to play based on their hockey skills and scholastic accomplishments."
I know of several C Students on my sons Super Series team this year and one kid nearly failing. They never asked about my sons scholastic accomplishments at the Super Series (he would have done just fine).
Don't mean to make a big issue of it but it's kinda funny - scholastic. Crock.
"Minnesota are invited to play based on their hockey skills and scholastic accomplishments."
I know of several C Students on my sons Super Series team this year and one kid nearly failing. They never asked about my sons scholastic accomplishments at the Super Series (he would have done just fine).
Don't mean to make a big issue of it but it's kinda funny - scholastic. Crock.
I understand that these are fundraisers. If you look at the Mn. Select website, it clearly states that they support the food shelves. You seem to have to go to the Blades website to see an association with the super series. I don't think that the Blades program is necessarily a good cause. Putting together a tourney to save, lets say 150 -200 families money. Maybe I will start selling candybars to send my kid to hockey camp and one on one training. I'll call myself a non-profit and say the money is going to support local hockey programs.
Think about how many Blade players chose St. Cloud over their own Super Series. I think most people feel that St. Cloud is a little more elite, I guess. Oh well it is what it is, my daughter enjoys being asked so I am happy to send her. I would like to more coaches who are less involved or more turn over from year to year in the coaching staff. That way there would be less question as to who is chosen.
Think about how many Blade players chose St. Cloud over their own Super Series. I think most people feel that St. Cloud is a little more elite, I guess. Oh well it is what it is, my daughter enjoys being asked so I am happy to send her. I would like to more coaches who are less involved or more turn over from year to year in the coaching staff. That way there would be less question as to who is chosen.
Homer well said for all tournaments i think the good ole boy networks should be broke up and these tournaments can get back to what they were intended for(besides fundraising AAA teams) and being elite tournaments to showcase real talent. Not the same kids every year because parents chum up to these coaches that some how get on staffs or ones who bring all there buddies kids who dont belong to these tournaments. Thanks for all the time
Here's another thought on why the Blades feel the need to run a spring tournament as a fundraiser. It may not come as a shock to many, but hockey is an expensive sport and the Blades incur significant travel expenses which can be tough for families. If you don't help subsidize the cost of spring AAA hockey, how do you give opportunities to players from less affluent families? Do we want hockey to become a strictly elitist sport and eliminate talented kids because their families can't afford it? Think about it gentlemen. Times are tough for many and how are these families going to pay for AAA hockey without fundraisers like the Super Series that offer players (don't have to be Blades players to participate) a fun weekend of good hockey where they meet and play with kids from all over this great state? I commend the Blades for trying to make competitive hockey available for many families.
I do think that Blades players should play in the Super Series and not Selects but there are families that have played in Selects for years before they had the opportunity to play for the Blades. Understandable I guess but I think they should consider switching tournaments.
Agree it's nice they are on the same weekend so more kids get the chance to play. Great experiences at Super Series over the years - but have heard equally high praise for Selects from those that participated there.
I do think that Blades players should play in the Super Series and not Selects but there are families that have played in Selects for years before they had the opportunity to play for the Blades. Understandable I guess but I think they should consider switching tournaments.
Agree it's nice they are on the same weekend so more kids get the chance to play. Great experiences at Super Series over the years - but have heard equally high praise for Selects from those that participated there.
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Silent But Deadly
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Re: Selects vs Super Series
Correct me if I'm wrong on this....I'm pretty sure Selects is based on birthyear and Super Series uses MN Hockey's dates.hemiman wrote:We will be attending the Super Series this year. My daughter has done Mn Selects in the past.
I would like to here what people think of one or the other. Or if anyone sees a notable performance.
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Hockeydaddy
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- Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:13 pm
Down considerably due to the new "Alliance" in the metro. You've got the Blades participating but lots of new Showcase teams that haven't played together much and won't be very strong yet. Look for some seriously lopsided games as is typically the case in the Meltdown. Better and more even games in Selects and Super Series and better hockey overall in my opinion.