Has MN Meltdown Lost its Luster?

Pens4 · Post by **Pens4** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:35 pm

A previous post mentioned the next big event for the girls was the MN Meltdown. Being associated with a team that was essentially blackballed from the Meltdown...I would be interested to hear if the board feels the tournament is deep in talent or has become a venue for Showcase to maintain its relevance in girls hockey...particularly at the 12 level. Littering each pool with a couple showcase teams rather than going with the stronger teams. Two years in a row the Showcase directors have not invited the 10A champs back because they left Showcase & went independent. Thoughts??

blondegirlsdad · Post by **blondegirlsdad** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:46 pm

It does appear that Showcase managed to wedge all their AAA teams in there. But there are some good teams too, I see the U12 Blades team, they have some very good players. Does anyone have an idea on the strength of those Showcase teams? Which Associations are they pulling from at U12? Our first-year-in-AAA team was accepted...

Night Train · Post by **Night Train** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:45 am

The girls are different than the boys with most of the top teams, at every level, in the Minnesota AAA Hockey League (Showcase). Why wouldn't you want to be? Get your games, practices, uniforms, tournaments, clinics, extra ice if needed, etc. Reasonably priced and all the administration handled for you. Very difficult, and time consuming (I'm talking hundreds of hours), to do on your own. And, someone needs to bankroll the whole venture. Put up money for ice and tournaments, etc.

Girl team leaders, stay in the Minnesota AAA Hockey League and save yourself the headaches that all the boys teams have gone through thinking they can do it better on their own.

Even if you feel you have to jump out and be an independent why not be in the League to get your games. Everyone is calling around to arrange games when it could have all been done for you.

royals dad · Post by **royals dad** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 2:21 pm

I have been kind of watching this from the sidelines as my daughter goes full time to fastpitch this time of year. What I always hear from those going AAA independent is that the showcase league is to inconstant in talent, to many games are 12 to 0 blowouts. So they go independent and can pick their own games and get more even competition. I can respect that but then why be surprised when you don't get into a showcase tourney? You just basically rejected them.

Night Train · Post by **Night Train** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 3:54 pm

The problem is they can't pick their own games or get more even competition. They call around and want to scrimmage teams that are in the Minnesota AAA Hockey League but those teams already have games on the schedule and so aren't desperately looking for more.

Also people, and it hasn't been mentioned yet. With multiple kids, playing multiple sports, throughout the year, have you ever tried to add an extra date on the calendar? It's really difficult and families don't like to do it at all. I have 3 kids and the calendar is on the wall and packed with practices and games for all kids in multiple sports. We schedule driving and car pools. Add something? No way. It can be major reshuffling and families don't want to do it.

Get on a team. Get in the Minnesota AAA Hockey League. Get your advance expenses covered and a solid schedule in advance. Get in tournaments.

The boys had a chance to stick with the system but a bunch of dads and teams jumped out and now there's too many teams at several levels. Girls teams have a chance right now to have it all and a League to play in. That's cool so don't screw it up. Be part of shaping the Minnesota Girls AAA Hockey League.

blondegirlsdad · Post by **blondegirlsdad** » Wed Apr 15, 2009 4:47 pm

Which, of course, begs the question:

How many girls teams exist in the metro OUTSIDE the Minnesota AAA Hockey League?

And how would anyone who WANTED to schedule some games find out who and where they are?

Our Summer team doesn't play many games at all outside a couple of tournaments, but maybe it would be fun once in a while to get a scrimmage in...

Pens4 · Post by **Pens4** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:25 am

Night Train wrote:The girls are different than the boys with most of the top teams, at every level, in the Minnesota AAA Hockey League (Showcase). Why wouldn't you want to be? Get your games, practices, uniforms, tournaments, clinics, extra ice if needed, etc. Reasonably priced and all the administration handled for you. Very difficult, and time consuming (I'm talking hundreds of hours), to do on your own. And, someone needs to bankroll the whole venture. Put up money for ice and tournaments, etc.

Girl team leaders, stay in the Minnesota AAA Hockey League and save yourself the headaches that all the boys teams have gone through thinking they can do it better on their own.

Even if you feel you have to jump out and be an independent why not be in the League to get your games. Everyone is calling around to arrange games when it could have all been done for you.

In a perfect world it would be great to let the showcase people schedule everything... but developement is hampered a little when your schedule has that shared practice on Saturday night over the 1st weekend in July. As an independent you can keep weekend's open and compress practices before each tournament. And most importantly, we can also schedule the 7 week summer break.

We did ask to participate in the league play only but was denied. I think it is important to have a guality league for the girls to play in. Showcase at the 10 level is the perfect developemental league. The spring and fall teams are great economical ways to get some fun games in. But when you start spending $800+ for a Showcase AAA team I think people expect more than a cookie-cutter approach.

Our season is young and I haven't seen any of the Showcase AAA teams. I am sure they have some quality teams but....jury might still be out that they have most of the top teams at every level.

hemiman · Post by **hemiman** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 2:12 pm

My opinion on showcase AAA vs independent. I am not a big fan of the showcase AAA experience. I don't know how much it is now, but when my kid did it a few years back, I didn't think it was worth the money, the competition wasn't any different than what you would get in their regular spring league.

If I were to form an independent team for summer, I would sign up for a few tournaments and do the regular showcase spring league. There are plenty of skilled teams that can compete and its alot less than the AAA league and more games. The kids would rather play 10-12 games than have 5practices and 4-5 games plus a tourney. I bet for less than 300$ per player you could do the regular spring league and the meltdown. You just wouldn't have the practice time. If you were creative enough you could have a few dryland practices to run through a breakout and special teams play.

neutralregroup · Post by **neutralregroup** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 4:38 pm

Another factor regarding this issue is that some of these kids are playing spring/summer/fall sports. Some independent teams feel that the kids should play other sports, so they run a "slimmed down" schedule. The team my daughter is on has 1-2 practices leading up to each tourney (they play in 4 tourneys).

In our family, the sport that is "in season" always takes priority. Personally, I think most of the kids ages 8-14 become better athletes on the ice if they play other sports off the ice. Also, it keeps the idea of playing hockey fun instead of feeling like a year-round job.

Pens4 · Post by **Pens4** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 6:35 pm

I love that Handle...."neutralregroup"....

FYI...The Blades team in the 12 bracket @ the meltdown is the U11 team playing up. The Blades 12 team is playing at the 14 level. Love the double standard.

observer · Post by **observer** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:09 am

I think the Blades are still sorting out their girls teams. There is no U11 level. Because this is just their second year of offering girls teams the teams are still a little mixed up. Girls AAA teams, like boys AAA, are moving to single birthyear teams so they don't have to entirely rebuild their teams each year. Very smart move. It's always a little tricky with our July 1 winter rule because teams are made up of girls from multiple birthyears. Then they're split in the summer. Some do skate up of course but the goal is to have girls teams at each birthyear. Machine had a 99 team last year and have added a 00 team this year.

For the most part U14 level AAA hockey this summer are teams made up of 94 and 95 girls.

U12 96 & 97
U10 98 & 99

The Blades have some girls at each of the levels but not quite enough to have full teams of girls at each birthyear. They'll get there.

CenRedFan · Post by **CenRedFan** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:59 am

observer wrote:I think the Blades are still sorting out their girls teams. There is no U11 level. Because this is just their second year of offering girls teams the teams are still a little mixed up. Girls AAA teams, like boys AAA, are moving to single birthyear teams so they don't have to entirely rebuild their teams each year. Very smart move. It's always a little tricky with our July 1 winter rule because teams are made up of girls from multiple birthyears. Then they're split in the summer. Some do skate up of course but the goal is to have girls teams at each birthyear. Machine had a 99 team last year and have added a 00 team this year.

For the most part U14 level AAA hockey this summer are teams made up of 94 and 95 girls.

U12 96 & 97
U10 98 & 99

The Blades have some girls at each of the levels but not quite enough to have full teams of girls at each birthyear. They'll get there.

Hmmmmm...here is a list of their teams

http://www.minnesotablades.com/

Their U14 team in the Stick It To Cancer was a mix of young ones and U14's. This I know because a player on our team played with them last year.

Burnbabyburn · Post by **Burnbabyburn** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 3:07 pm

I don't think those rosters are accurate, as I know a couple of those girls play elsewhere

Homer · Post by **Homer** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:01 pm

I watched the u14 meltdown, this weekend. It was the division at the superrink. I belive there were 8 teams in Blaine and 10 teams in St. louis park. I think showcase tried to make the St. Louis Park division stronger than the Blaine division. I can't say for sure, having not watched any games in St. Louis Park. Looking through the program I was familiar w/ a few teams in St. Louis Park and I believe they are stronger teams than anything I saw in Blaine.
I think AAA in general has lost its luster, and with it so has the Meltdown. There are way too many teams that refer to themselves as AAA. Its just very watered down, talentwise. In my opinion alot of the kids I saw, would not play A hockey in an association that has the numbers to make cuts and to have B teams.
Nothing against the kids, they were trying hard, and I am glad they are getting the opportunity to play. I think people promote AAA as better competition, but with all these teams thrown together and calling themselves AAA the talent is level is dropping across the board.

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:23 pm

Observer - I think you might have it wrong about the Blades club. They obviously do have a U11 team - the new team this year is the U12 I believe, which will have to cut many players next year as they did not field a team based on birth year from what I heard. The U11 and the Machine did set up their girls team correctly according to birth year so they don't have to regroup each year. Definitely smarter to put together teams by birth year so the girls can stay together year to year. Totally agree with you that the girls AAA clubs will move toward birth year like the boys so the teams can have continuity and build long friendships.

I don't think the U12 Blades team played in the Meltdown - only the U10, U11 and U14 teams played.

observer · Post by **observer** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:45 am

I guess what I should have said is there is no U11 level. Maybe they should rename their teams by birthyear. Are you saying the U11 team is on the low end of the U12 level, all 97s? I think for recruiting purposes it would be easier to go by birthyear. You say U11 and many wonder what's that? You're saying they're all 97s.

Doglover · Post by **Doglover** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 8:38 am

Good point observer - not sure since the roster does not have birth years but probably an accurate assumption. I think they should go by birth year - then you keep the continuity like boys. I think we are both making the same point - just presenting it differently.

CenRedFan · Post by **CenRedFan** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:08 am

Homer wrote:I watched the u14 meltdown, this weekend. It was the division at the superrink. I belive there were 8 teams in Blaine and 10 teams in St. louis park. I think showcase tried to make the St. Louis Park division stronger than the Blaine division. I can't say for sure, having not watched any games in St. Louis Park. Looking through the program I was familiar w/ a few teams in St. Louis Park and I believe they are stronger teams than anything I saw in Blaine.
I think AAA in general has lost its luster, and with it so has the Meltdown. There are way too many teams that refer to themselves as AAA. Its just very watered down, talentwise. In my opinion alot of the kids I saw, would not play A hockey in an association that has the numbers to make cuts and to have B teams.
Nothing against the kids, they were trying hard, and I am glad they are getting the opportunity to play. I think people promote AAA as better competition, but with all these teams thrown together and calling themselves AAA the talent is level is dropping across the board.

You couldn't be more wrong in your assessment. 99% of the players on my daughters team play in associations that have "A" and "B" teams and they all play A and the other 1% already play on a high school team.

Silent But Deadly · Post by **Silent But Deadly** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 9:21 am

[quote="CenRedFan

You couldn't be more wrong in your assessment. 99% of the players on my daughters team play in associations that have "A" and "B" teams and they all play A and the other 1% already play on a high school team.[/quote]

That's great if that's how it is today....but from our experience two years ago that was not the case. Two thirds of the players were excellent, but there was another third that were not far from what I would consider "beginners". That was our first and only year playing Showcase.

Homer · Post by **Homer** » Sat May 02, 2009 2:48 pm

Cenred,
I have been wrong before, and certainly could be now. Can I ask, what team your talking about? Assuming its u14, thats 1 team out of 18 at the meltdown. Sure, the established AAA programs, like the Blades and the icecats and several others are getting top level players. What I saw at the meltdown in Blaine were not all top level players. Which defeats the intended purpose of AAA hockey. Take the top team from the Campbell division and send them to Blaine and I think the scores could have been ugly.

GR8-justoffthepost · Post by **GR8-justoffthepost** » Tue May 19, 2009 2:36 pm

AAA girls hockey in MN has grown in the past few years. By participant numbers specifically because all the usual suspects (Blades, Cats etc.) have made the effort to continually add a higher caliber player and leave out the lesser caliber player. By doing so, this has created more AAA teams just by purely making some parents unhappy that they were not invited back so they start a new "TEAM". Thus Cyclone/Legacy, St Croix pop up and even Showcase has benefited financially because of this and cudos to them as well for having the foresight to make the option available to such a wide range of talent.

If you build it they will come! Supply and Demand! What ever tag line or cliche' you would like to use, it still is a watered down version of the original. Even the "original" AAA teams have been hurt because of the growing popularity of having an option for many children to play spring/summer "AAA" team. Call it what you will, make your opinions know, but please remember when you put on your own distinction as to what colors/logo you choose to wear, it is buyer beware. Just because it acts like a program, talks like a program, blows a whistle like other programs......does not mean it is AAA hockey.

Gr8 topic!

jollyroger · Post by **jollyroger** » Sat May 30, 2009 1:25 pm

GR8-justoffthepost wrote:AAA girls hockey in MN has grown in the past few years. By participant numbers specifically because all the usual suspects (Blades, Cats etc.) have made the effort to continually add a higher caliber player and leave out the lesser caliber player. By doing so, this has created more AAA teams just by purely making some parents unhappy that they were not invited back so they start a new "TEAM". Thus Cyclone/Legacy, St Croix pop up and even Showcase has benefited financially because of this and cudos to them as well for having the foresight to make the option available to such a wide range of talent.

If you build it they will come! Supply and Demand! What ever tag line or cliche' you would like to use, it still is a watered down version of the original. Even the "original" AAA teams have been hurt because of the growing popularity of having an option for many children to play spring/summer "AAA" team. Call it what you will, make your opinions know, but please remember when you put on your own distinction as to what colors/logo you choose to wear, it is buyer beware. Just because it acts like a program, talks like a program, blows a whistle like other programs......does not mean it is AAA hockey.

Gr8 topic!

I can't tell if you think it's a BAD thing that many more girls are skating year-round on AAA teams or if you think it's a GOOD thing that many more girls are skating year-round thanks to AAA teams. Would you rather have just the select elite few who get elitely selected to play on the Blades and Icecats have the opportunity to play Spring/Fall hockey?

Funny, this spring I saw the U12 Blades get basically dominated by a no-name first year startup AAA team. I guess as more girls skate year-round the gap between the elite select few and the great unwashed second tier of players gets closed--I see how this might upset some people. But this is exactly what the adults involved with the Blades and Icecats envisioned happening in the first place--not to just have one or two elite AAA clubs playing tournaments in Winnipeg and Chicago but a whole bunch of teams like themselves in Minnesota.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Has MN Meltdown Lost its Luster?

Has MN Meltdown Lost its Luster?

Showcase

AAA - keep watering it, it will grow eventually!

Re: AAA - keep watering it, it will grow eventually!