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I don't need to prattle on about the vaunted Brick...I just wanna know why the last thread was locked down? The rancor did not seem too intense or out of line. Sure there is strong feelings, but I've seen threads that have much stronger language, insinuations and such, but they keep going on. What was so bad about this one?

Karl, do you got some Bush era censors working for the forum?

Napalm187 wrote:I don't need to prattle on about the vaunted Brick...I just wanna know why the last thread was locked down? The rancor did not seem too intense or out of line. Sure there is strong feelings, but I've seen threads that have much stronger language, insinuations and such, but they keep going on. What was so bad about this one?

Karl, do you got some Bush era censors working for the forum?

Check your inbox.

Otherwise, carry on with the discussion...

The Brick is a great tournament. Take a look at the 94s-97s and see how many players make it to the advanced teams (15s,16s,17s) when they get older. I would say the Blades do a great job at identifying talent at a young age. Love them or hate them this club does get the talented players when they are young. This is an elite tournament. I think its great that Minnesota players have the chance to experience it.

I agree. The Brick is a great tournament. One of the best. I'm a fan of both the Blades & Machine, just not with everything they do. I just think this year's crew is going against their own "code" to have a better showing, so they can "recruit" against the Machine. Having an older Blades kid, I think they don't have to go that route.

Napalm187 wrote:I agree. The Brick is a great tournament. One of the best. I'm a fan of both the Blades & Machine, just not with everything they do. I just think this year's crew is going against their own "code" to have a better showing, so they can "recruit" against the Machine. Having an older Blades kid, I think they don't have to go that route.

Have the Blades ever won this tournament?

Napalm187 wrote:Having an older Blades kid, I think they don't have to go that route.

Why?

Irish wrote:

Napalm187 wrote:I agree. The Brick is a great tournament. One of the best. I'm a fan of both the Blades & Machine, just not with everything they do. I just think this year's crew is going against their own "code" to have a better showing, so they can "recruit" against the Machine. Having an older Blades kid, I think they don't have to go that route.

Have the Blades ever won this tournament?

No, they have never won it.

Bruins wrote:

Irish wrote:

Napalm187 wrote:I agree. The Brick is a great tournament. One of the best. I'm a fan of both the Blades & Machine, just not with everything they do. I just think this year's crew is going against their own "code" to have a better showing, so they can "recruit" against the Machine. Having an older Blades kid, I think they don't have to go that route.

Have the Blades ever won this tournament?

No, they have never won it.

Have they ever come close?
Do we send our best kids to this tournament?
What's the best the Blades have ever finished?

Irish wrote:

Bruins wrote:

Irish wrote: Have the Blades ever won this tournament?

No, they have never won it.

Have they ever come close?
Do we send our best kids to this tournament?
What's the best the Blades have ever finished?

We were in the finals once. I don't think we send our best. Lets be honest, the Machine program has some great kids that could and should have made the teams of the past including this one.
This years Brick seems to be very strong. There are a lot of teams that can win this tournament.

I think Minnesota could do better if they followed the Team Brick model. Team Brick takes players from throughout the province of Alberta. Most teams at the Brick follow this model. I would like to see the Blades build a team from the top players in the state and see what happens. I know they have taken other players not on the current team but essentially the nucleus will make the trip.

I think the problem in Minnesota is understanding the concept of tournament teams. Here in minnesota we flip out if one kid is added to a roster or if kids jump from team to team. Its ok, remember, its just a game. This happens all the time outside Minnesota. We are so entrenched in the association model that its hard to let go. This is the reason we typically dont do well at this tournament. Other regions are sending top players but we still think loyalty. I think for this tournament, just once a year, we should send a team of the best ten year olds and have fun with it.

Bruins wrote:I think Minnesota could do better if they followed the Team Brick model. Team Brick takes players from throughout the province of Alberta. Most teams at the Brick follow this model. I would like to see the Blades build a team from the top players in the state and see what happens. I know they have taken other players not on the current team but essentially the nucleus will make the trip.

I think the problem in Minnesota is understanding the concept of tournament teams. Here in minnesota we flip out if one kid is added to a roster or if kids jump from team to team. Its ok, remember, its just a game. This happens all the time outside Minnesota. We are so entrenched in the association model that its hard to let go. This is the reason we typically dont do well at this tournament. Other regions are sending top players but we still think loyalty. I think for this tournament, just once a year, we should send a team of the best ten year olds and have fun with it.

How do you find the best ten year olds in the state? Does he have to be on the Blades or made roster? A short session of $30 tryout would not do much good.

Pylon wrote:

Irish wrote:

Bruins wrote: No, they have never won it.

Have they ever come close?
Do we send our best kids to this tournament?
What's the best the Blades have ever finished?

We were in the finals once. I don't think we send our best. Lets be honest, the Machine program has some great kids that could and should have made the teams of the past including this one.
This years Brick seems to be very strong. There are a lot of teams that can win this tournament.

So what would it take to send the best team? I know the rights to the tournament belong to the Blades, but does the team need to be called Minnesota Blades? Not trying to create waves, but it doesn't seem right not sending our best players. I'm positive the Canadian teams are sending their best players.

To put it simply, the Blades are not sending the best players. The coaching staff has made some odd roster moves that has left many people scratching their heads. The coaching staff may (or may not) think they have the right formula for success at the Brick this season. Head coach is a hockey nut who loves the kids for who they are, the remaining three asst coaches are only there because of their kids and for some comic relief.

homer87 wrote:To put it simply, the Blades are not sending the best players. The coaching staff has made some odd roster moves that has left many people scratching their heads. The coaching staff may (or may not) think they have the right formula for success at the Brick this season. Head coach is a hockey nut who loves the kids for who they are, the remaining three asst coaches are only there because of their kids and for some comic relief.

Which leads me to my next question. If the Blades (brick) team played Machine before the tournament. Who would win?

Do the Blades bring just Minnesota kids or do they recruit out of state kids?

The Blades will recruit any warm blooded 10 year old who plays to an "elite" level from all across North America and beyond. I believe that if you mixed a few 02 machine players with the current 02 blades you would have an extremely talented team that would have a nice opportunity to do some damage at the Brick.

I would suggest that the Brick should allow 2 teams from Minnesota like they do with Ontario( Pro Hockey, Toronto Bulldogs). Minnesota could send the Blades and the Machine.
The Machine beat the winner of the brick for the 98,99,and 00 levels when they were in Winnipeg. I am not saying Machine would win the Brick but at least they would have a chance at competing for it.
Have the Brick send 2 teams from Minnesota.

2112 wrote:I would suggest that the Brick should allow 2 teams from Minnesota like they do with Ontario( Pro Hockey, Toronto Bulldogs). Minnesota could send the Blades and the Machine.
The Machine beat the winner of the brick for the 98,99,and 00 levels when they were in Winnipeg. I am not saying Machine would win the Brick but at least they would have a chance at competing for it.
Have the Brick send 2 teams from Minnesota.

Blades claims Minnesota hockey = Blades
You claimed Minnesota hockey = Blades + MADE

This is mad hockey!

Thanks for the good humor today Homer87. Ignorance is bliss. As the story goes, Bernie was approached to combine forces at The Brick to send the very best players. His hang up, if you believe the street talk, was his kids would not wear a Blades jersey. Blades offered up Team Minnesota at which point he said no because it hurt Machine. This topic has been discussed ad nauseum. He won't release his top kids so Blades rosters who they roster. Heck, he is so paranoid about the Blades that he won't even scrimmage the Blades. Huh? Seems strange that he won't play his arch rival. I just hope his plane is running in tip top shape because driving everywhere is so middle class.

Fivehole = Fraud

In the past Fivehole was another "parent of an 02' Orange Machine player" just like Irish Eyes. Kind of lose your credability. Both are probably the same person.

Like I mentioned before with Irish Eyes, pretending to be a parent of a different AAA team is just plain sad. Not even smart enough to be consistent.

youngatheart wrote:Fivehole = Fraud

In the past Fivehole was another "parent of an 02' Orange Machine player" just like Irish Eyes. Kind of lose your credability. Both are probably the same person.

Like I mentioned before with Irish Eyes, pretending to be a parent of a different AAA team is just plain sad. Not even smart enough to be consistent.

Lol - next year he'll be the parent of an 03 Orange kid.

youngatheart wrote:Fivehole = Fraud

In the past Fivehole was another "parent of an 02' Orange Machine player" just like Irish Eyes. Kind of lose your credability. Both are probably the same person.

Like I mentioned before with Irish Eyes, pretending to be a parent of a different AAA team is just plain sad. Not even smart enough to be consistent.

You are correct.......add buscuitinthebasket to your list.

Paranoia and speculation running wild on the youth hockey forum. Priceless fodder.

2112 wrote:I would suggest that the Brick should allow 2 teams from Minnesota like they do with Ontario( Pro Hockey, Toronto Bulldogs). Minnesota could send the Blades and the Machine.
The Machine beat the winner of the brick for the 98,99,and 00 levels when they were in Winnipeg. I am not saying Machine would win the Brick but at least they would have a chance at competing for it.
Have the Brick send 2 teams from Minnesota.

Two teams would be a great idea. Once again lets stay away from Blades and Machine. Why not get the best players in the state? Sure a lot of players would be Blades and Machine players but not all.

Irish wrote:

2112 wrote:I would suggest that the Brick should allow 2 teams from Minnesota like they do with Ontario( Pro Hockey, Toronto Bulldogs). Minnesota could send the Blades and the Machine.
The Machine beat the winner of the brick for the 98,99,and 00 levels when they were in Winnipeg. I am not saying Machine would win the Brick but at least they would have a chance at competing for it.
Have the Brick send 2 teams from Minnesota.

Two teams would be a great idea. Once again lets stay away from Blades and Machine. Why not get the best players in the state? Sure a lot of players would be Blades and Machine players but not all.

Why two teams? Have statewide tryouts, pick a team and go. Its ok to go under the Blades banner.
The concept of a tournament team is tough on Minnesota hockey though.

Bruins wrote:

Irish wrote:

2112 wrote:I would suggest that the Brick should allow 2 teams from Minnesota like they do with Ontario( Pro Hockey, Toronto Bulldogs). Minnesota could send the Blades and the Machine.
The Machine beat the winner of the brick for the 98,99,and 00 levels when they were in Winnipeg. I am not saying Machine would win the Brick but at least they would have a chance at competing for it.
Have the Brick send 2 teams from Minnesota.

Two teams would be a great idea. Once again lets stay away from Blades and Machine. Why not get the best players in the state? Sure a lot of players would be Blades and Machine players but not all.

Why two teams? Have statewide tryouts, pick a team and go. Its ok to go under the Blades banner.
The concept of a tournament team is tough on Minnesota hockey though.

Why would you use the Blades banner? Why would kids from other programs want to play under the Blades banner? No way! Team Minnesota. Purchasing new jerseys and requiring players to wear black helmets and black breezers is not asking alot.
I can tell you its alot more appealing for the kids to wear Team Minnesota jerseys and apparel than wearing Blades apparel. (no disrespect to the Blades)
Most important piece to the team is getting some one non-partial to coach the team.