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Received a release today from the Minnesota Blades AAA hockey club announcing this year's Team MN that will play in the 2012 Brick Invitational.

Enjoy,

TS

http://youthhockeyhub.com/

Not one '02 Machine Orange player. Where is Irisheyes02???? I thought his kid was going for sure

Good luck to all the boys and coaches. Do us proud.


Past 
Brick participants 
include 
accomplished 
Minnesotans 
like 
Blake 
Wheeler,
 Jack 
Hillen, 
Derek 
Stepan
 and 
Erik
Johnson,
and
 other 
NHL 
stars 
like 
Steven
Samkos,
 Jonathan 
Toews,
Mark Messier, 
Danny
 Heatley,
 Dion
 Phaneuf
 and
 Dustin
Byfuglien.

Mark Messier played in a squirt tournament that is only 23 years old? I bet he was leading scorer.

Could anyone help me on where these kids are from?

Contrary to what has been said before, this is the exact roster that will be in Winnipeg. I noticed no boy from Warroad. I also heard he isn't playing for Winnipeg either. Can't help but think the Blades were more concerned about themselves then the kid. Too bad. The kids are only 10!

Pylon wrote:Contrary to what has been said before, this is the exact roster that will be in Winnipeg. I noticed no boy from Warroad. I also heard he isn't playing for Winnipeg either. Can't help but think the Blades were more concerned about themselves then the kid. Too bad. The kids are only 10!

Not sure about if he is playing for them or not, but word out there is that the parents turned down the opportunity to play for Minnesota. If you turn down the place that you live, not sure you should be able to play for a different team. Tongue in cheek, I am sure Bernie had something to do with it.

Good luck to the boys going.

Strike up the band and start planning the parade route. The coaching staff makes it sound like they were just picked to coach the Olympic team. I am quite certain that every one of these little superstars are destined for the NHL and their phones are ringing off the hook with calls from those pesky player agents. Come on people - These are 10 year old children.

StopTheMadness wrote:Strike up the band and start planning the parade route. The coaching staff makes it sound like they were just picked to coach the Olympic team. I am quite certain that every one of these little superstars are destined for the NHL and their phones are ringing off the hook with calls from those pesky player agents. Come on people - These are 10 year old children.

Great post Madness. Dornbach should be ashamed. How dare anyone (especially a non parent, volunteer coach) get excited to be a part of a lasting hockey memory like The Brick? The shame!!! These boys will have an experience they will not soon forget and in large part, the coaches are the ones responsible for making it happen. If that doesn’t get you excited, what will?

As a parent, don’t you want your kids to be coached and mentored by someone who is excited and passionate about their role? Heaven forbid a positive role model still exists.

And enough with the future NHL drivel. This team is not about future hockey careers, it’s about creating an unforgettable experience……..today! The Brick will be just one of hopefully hundreds of great athletic memories for these boys. It just happens to be an experience that very few can call their own. I might be going out on a limb here, but I suspect Junior Johnny Madness has never made the trip.

To the players, coaches and families, I say good luck and bring your video camera. To everyone in Madness’ camp, you don’t have to support the team or the concept of the tournament. But, do us a favor and keep quiet. After all, as one marginally enlightened man once pointed out.............these are just 10 year old children.

Good luck Team Mn.

Agreed, let the kids enjoy the experience, after all it is about the kids right?

Good luck and have fun win or lose! Enjoy the week!

Make no mistake people, the Brick is 100% about the Blades organization continuing to pull in the $$$$$$ in the future. Most of the kids will have a great experience (with the exception of the third line who will spend most of their time riding the bench) in Edmonton. The team has less than three players who can truly be called "elite" (who calls 10 yr olds elite?) this year.

In no sense is this an elite team - not the forwards, defense, goaltending, or coaches. The Brick is only important to the Blades' organization and those that believe the hype the Blades create about the event. The 01s had 4-5 kids sit on the bench for a week, can't imagine they'll write an uplifting memoire about the event. The 01s that played won 1 game, can't imagine they'll write an uplifting memoire about the event. Get it?

homer87 wrote:Make no mistake people, the Brick is 100% about the Blades organization continuing to pull in the $$$$$$ in the future. Most of the kids will have a great experience (with the exception of the third line who will spend most of their time riding the bench) in Edmonton. The team has less than three players who can truly be called "elite" (who calls 10 yr olds elite?) this year.

Sure, you know what a wealthy organization the Blades are. The coaches are paid so much and dont even ask about the CEO. In fact you can even buy stock in the Blades now. IPO was even bigger than Facebook.

This is AAA hockey, some kids do get played more. This isnt touchy feely association hockey. You newbies have a lot to learn.

WooHa wrote:In no sense is this an elite team - not the forwards, defense, goaltending, or coaches. The Brick is only important to the Blades' organization and those that believe the hype the Blades create about the event. The 01s had 4-5 kids sit on the bench for a week, can't imagine they'll write an uplifting memoire about the event. The 01s that played won 1 game, can't imagine they'll write an uplifting memoire about the event. Get it?

Wooha , You have 1 post on here. Why start now. Maybe your super star isn't on the team. Or why.

Yes, my daughter getting cut was the straw that broke the camel's back and caused me to join this world of chatter.

NCs – take off the rose colored glasses and swallow a dose of reality. When you talk about creating “an experience they will not soon forget”, are you speaking of the kids or the parents. 10 year olds could probably care less if they are playing in Edmonton or Elk River. Now the parents on the other hand…

I am all for positive role models as coaches but the Blades are well known for running extremely short benches and bolstering their rosters which puts many kids firmly on the bench. Let’s be careful on how we define a positive role model. It is not always about the W.

Since you seem concerned about “Junior Johnny Madness”, I would be remiss if I did not confirm your suspicion that no he has never made “the trip”. He is currently undergoing counseling and his doctors say he should be fine. In the meantime, in addition to hockey, he is playing traveling baseball, is active in church, snowboards competitively and freestyle bikes.

I agree with NCs on one thing, bring the video camera and turn it on yourself and ask one question. Who is this really for? If you can honestly say my son, I applaud you. If not…

Perspective – It’s a great thing.

Good luck to all!

Good luck to the boys in Edmonton. They are going to need it. Don't see how this team is much different than in years past. Don't see too many difference-makers up front and the D, while solid, is not spectacular and might be exposed with only having 4. If you got the next Morgan Rielly, Jacob Trouba or going local Jack Walker...it's one thing...but that kid is not on this roster. Don't know enough about this Mo. goalie. Maybe he steals them some games? Even if they don't do well, the money is well worth it for a couple of youth team jerseys from far-flung destinations, the life-long bonds they will establish with friend and foe and being able to hear the "buzz" from playing in one of North America's busiest shopping malls! Good times...

On another note...Whatever did happen to the Sunniest man in Philadelphia, Irisheyes?

So has anyone that has posted here actually been to the Brick, or are these just opinions or better yet, based on "I heard from a friend" comments?

Have people that posted that this is not an "elite" team seen all the players play, or is this just conjecture on your part? If the Machine were going, would you consider that an "elite" team? If the kid from the north was on the team, then would Team Minnesota be elite? I have seen alot of the kids on the team play, either during the Choice League a couple of years ago or this past Squirt season (exception being any kids from outside of Minnesota), and in my opinion, when factoring in their game against Winnipeg and Winnipeg's results against other Brick teams, their results against Bauer Select and the Falcons (Chicago's Brick team is made up mainly with kids from these two teams), it looks to me that Team Minnesota will do just fine and should be competitive. Next week in the NAHC should give an indication.

As others have said in other topics in this forum, the best answer for Minnesota hockey would be to figure out a way for all of the competing AAA organizations to get along and make sure that the best youth hockey players (I am trying to avoid using the word "elite") are going to Edmonton. Unfortunately, I don't see it happening anytime soon.

I have been to the Brick, and I have seen most of these Blades over the last two years too. They will do fine, as in fine I mean being competitive in most, if not all games...but in terms of having a chance of making the Final Four...eh, no. Think they'll win a couple, lose a few, have some memories ( ) spend some $ and forget about it within a week, the kids that is. The adults, will cherish these memories for a last time though...lemme tell you.

Napalm187 wrote:Don't know enough about this Mo. goalie. Maybe he steals them some games?

From what I have heard he isn't their best goalie. They added a 3rd who is better than the other 2.

Napalm187 wrote:I have been to the Brick, and I have seen most of these Blades over the last two years too. They will do fine, as in fine I mean being competitive in most, if not all games...but in terms of having a chance of making the Final Four...eh, no. Think they'll win a couple, lose a few, have some memories ( ) spend some $ and forget about it within a week, the kids that is. The adults, will cherish these memories for a last time though...lemme tell you.

Appreciate the response.

[quote="goaliewithfoggedglasses"][quote="Napalm187"]Don't know enough about this Mo. goalie. Maybe he steals them some games? [/quote]

From what I have heard he isn't their best goalie. They added a 3rd who is better than the other 2.[/quote]

Local goalie or out of state?

Hope they do well!

sourgrapes wrote:

goaliewithfoggedglasses wrote:

Napalm187 wrote:Don't know enough about this Mo. goalie. Maybe he steals them some games?

From what I have heard he isn't their best goalie. They added a 3rd who is better than the other 2.

Local goalie or out of state?

Hope they do well!

Local.

It's Grounds Hog Day and Deja Vu all over again!!!

Same thread, same comments, different year.