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Girls selected to represent Minnesota at the Advanced 15's National Camp in St. Cloud.

Player Position Team (2011/12) Grade (2011/12)
Bizal, Grace D Hopkins Varsity 9
Boyle, Lauren D Eden Prairie Varsity 9
Flaherty, Taylor D Lakeville North V 9
Mancheski, Claire D Breck Varsity 9
Sorensen, Paige D Wayzata Blue U14A 9
Steffen, Mekenzie D Benilde Varsity 8
Bergland, Emily F Thief River Falls V 9
Boeckers, Annie F North Wright Co. V 9
Dahlquist, Charly F Eden Prairie Varsity 9
Keller, Kippen F Benilde Varsity 8
Morse, Morgan F Lakeville South V 9
Rasmussen, Dana F Dodge County V 9
Shaver, Sophia F Wayzata Varisty 9
Voight, Paige F North Wright Co V 9
Rooney, Maddie G Andover Bantam A 9

Alternates invited to participate in the Herb Brooks Pre-National Training Camp.

Player Position Team (2011/12) Grade (2011/12)
Magnusson Annie D Fergus Falls Varsity 8
Turnquist, Taylor D Spring Lake Park V 8
Effertz, Ashley F Buffalo Varsity 9
Gardner, Demi F Warroad Varsity 8
Hanscom, Abbey F Holy Family Varsity 9
Kolstad, Rebekah F Mankato East/Loyola Varsity 9
Lund, Karlie F Blake Varsity 9
Pierre, Brooklyn F Woodbury/Cottage Grove U14 A 8
Schugel, Brooklyn F New Ulm Varsity 8
Schwartzman, Leah F Breck Varsity 9
St. Clair, Rachel F Hopkins Varsity 9
Zarembinski, Rebecca F Hill Murray Varsity 9
Bench, Lauren G Burnsville Varsity 8
Logan Knip G 3 Totino Grace Varsity 9
Storms, Brianna G Moorhead Varsity 9

Note to all prospective candidates for the REEBOK High Potential Programs in the future: You'd better find a way to get onto a TEAM REEBOK AAA hockey team to have the best chance of making the selects team. Not surprisingly, 9 of the 14 skaters selected for the 15s National Camp play summer hockey for Team Reebok.

Just don't think that getting on any team with the Reebok name in it will help.
It looks like a good second choice would be to get on the Icecats, since 5 of the 14 skaters come from there. It only leaves the goalie who is still playing on the boys side and the skater who lives nearly 300 miles from the Twin Cities as the only selectees not coming from either of these two teams. Adding in the alternates, Team Reebok and the Icecats account for 17 of the top 30 girls. I don't follow the boys side closely, but I suspect these numbers put to shame all the discussions about Machine vs Blades over there.

demongoed wrote:Note to all prospective candidates for the REEBOK High Potential Programs in the future: You'd better find a way to get onto a TEAM REEBOK AAA hockey team to have the best chance of making the selects team. Not surprisingly, 8 of the 14 skaters selected for the 15s National Camp play summer hockey for Team Reebok.

Maybe there's another way to look at this. Could it be that in girls summer hockey, the top girls end up playing for a very few teams, and therefore, many or most of the National Camp choices come from those teams? Seems to me that's the way it's been for several years. You could count on the top players being on the Ice Cats or Jr Whitecaps rosters, and then yes, many of them were selected to National Camp. To imply that they were selected because they were on a given summer team is misdirected.

Perhaps, but out of the 11 girls from Team Reebok who tried out, 9 made the national team and 1 is an alternate. One of the alternates NOT from Team Reebok was one of the 3 top point getters in the tournament and was in the top 2 in scoring for Blake varsity this past season. She was selected as an alternate, while 4 forwards from Team Reebok with far fewer points were selected for the team. I know that points don't account for everything, but just in this example, if you compare statistics both for the tournament and during the past high school season, this Blake player has proven herself.

It's just not reasonable to believe that so many of the state's strongest players tried out for and made one AAA team. There are many really good players who do not play summer hockey, or play for other teams. It seems more likely that Team Reebok players were given the benefit of the doubt and/or if you didn't have that team, or the Ice Cats, on your application, you were at a disadvantage from the start.

Demongod you obviously have no idea how AAA hockey works...these girls didn't tryout for Team Reebok they were "selected" by the Team Reebok coaches. Much the same as the Select 15's are "selected. For the most part, the best players make the best teams in AAA.

In terms of Blake scoring, you are kidding I hope...that has no impact on a players selection to a USA Select team. Lastly, if I'm not mistaken isn't said Blake kid a member of the Ice Cats??? Once again, one of the best AAA teams with a lot of really good players.

demongoed wrote:Perhaps, but out of the 11 girls from Team Reebok who tried out, 9 made the national team and 1 is an alternate. One of the alternates NOT from Team Reebok was one of the 3 top point getters in the tournament and was in the top 2 in scoring for Blake varsity this past season. She was selected as an alternate, while 4 forwards from Team Reebok with far fewer points were selected for the team. I know that points don't account for everything, but just in this example, if you compare statistics both for the tournament and during the past high school season, this Blake player has proven herself.

It's just not reasonable to believe that so many of the state's strongest players tried out for and made one AAA team. There are many really good players who do not play summer hockey, or play for other teams. It seems more likely that Team Reebok players were given the benefit of the doubt and/or if you didn't have that team, or the Ice Cats, on your application, you were at a disadvantage from the start.

I watched a AAA Reebok team (u16 level) at the Stick it to Cancer tournament this year. Only one contest was close, and that was a game many of the top Reebok players missed. Most games Reebok switched their forwards and D during the third period to prevent the score differential from being double digits. Much anecdotal evidence makes me think it is likely that the strongest players ARE ending up on a few top summer teams. No surprise that those teams are well represented on the selects rosters.

So going back 10-12 years that I have watched the girl's summer hockey these top Teams do bring together some of the top players who get to the National Camps and D1 or D3.

The MN Icecats were first and then the MN Jr Whitecaps doubled the number of elite slots. Both Teams beat most MN Teams and have great head to head matches. The National Camp players were either on those Team or invited to join the Teams. MN places 30-40 D1 women players a year and I think most play elite summer hockey on these Teams. They get exposure at some of the top tournaments like Chowder Cup in Boston or at NAHA Labor Day weekend Tournament in Burlington, Vermont. A MN player who gets seen at National Camp or Top Summer Tournaments has a leg up to play D1 over players only in HS or playing in MN only tournaments.

Tom Press, Winny Brodt and Chris Peterson (and others) have also helped many players connect with D1 or D3 coaches who are looking to find top MN players.

I couldn't agree with you more joehockey! The bottom line is the best players have the best chance for D1 hockey! We live in a world where if you are good you are going to be seen. The USA Selects process is without question the best way to get on the radar. With that said, you can still find your way to D1 through being an Elite high school player as well as participating in high-end National tournaments.

The best girls minus a few injuries or players with conflicts (1 for sure maybe 2 maximum) made the USA 15's team!

Congrats to the girls and not what team they play on because as Herb Brooks made the boys say in 1980...they all play for "TEAM USA" now!

Dynamo-
You are right. I had no idea how this process works, and I appreciate your candor. The consensus above from you and those who have been involved in this for years is that the Team Reebok and Ice Cats coaches in essence pre-qualify players for consideration for the national team by asking them to play on their teams. If a player is not identified by these coaches, she is assumed not to have the requisite skill level and will not be a candidate.

Despite what the program description says, then, the opportunity to be considered for the National Team is not a reality, according to the experts above, for any but the Reebok and Ice Cats players. The “tryout” is really more of a camp for the other girls. This is an important distinction and good information for families to have going forward as they consider where best to spend their money for hockey development.

Like a typical town hockey board meeting I read some of this and scratch my head???? Coming to any conclusion that the process is not fair is discrediting the the 15 girls that made it. The idea that you have to play for any program to make it or that the name Reebok had anything to do with it is short sighted. If you have followed this age group for the last 6 years it should not be a surprise that girls off Team Reebok and the Ice Cats made it. I would bet money it did not say on their evaluation sheets what AAA team they played for. Follow the Elite AAA teams and you find great players. Let's give the girls and the process credit. Look to the 98 group for next year and you will find more of the same.

dynamo wrote:I couldn't agree with you more joehockey! The bottom line is the best players have the best chance for D1 hockey! We live in a world where if you are good you are going to be seen. The USA Selects process is without question the best way to get on the radar. With that said, you can still find your way to D1 through being an Elite high school player as well as participating in high-end National tournaments.

The best girls minus a few injuries or players with conflicts (1 for sure maybe 2 maximum) made the USA 15's team!

Congrats to the girls and not what team they play on because as Herb Brooks made the boys say in 1980...they all play for "TEAM USA" now!

So the best HS player in my daughters 2010 HS class was Bethany Brausen now at Minnesota - great player and Miss Hockey in 2010. One year she was not picked for the National Camp maybe as a U16? I think she was a great player who absolutely should have gone. She used that not to sulk but to become the best player in MN - she was an Elite HS player who just loved/loves the game. I can think of other players who did not go to National Camp but are playing successfully at the D1 level. Love the game and play it as a game get stronger, faster and smarter and opportunities develop. Fewer than 20 MN girls get to National Camp (with at large named for drop outs) but 35-40 girls a year from MN have the chance to play D1 and another 40 play D3.

Well said Joe...Of the 30 players still training, everyone of them has the skill and drive and deserve to be there. They could flip-flop the groups and there would be no arguements. Who knows what USA Hockey brainytrust is searching for.

I don't have much to offer on the subject other than to say it's refreshing to see a healthy, respectful debate on an interesting topic without name calling, unfounded accusations, and sore feelings. Yes, no process is perfect and I'm sure this process doesn't have a monopoly on perfection, but well spoken, everyone, thanks.