Which AAA team is best for us?

[JDogsDad]

My first post but I'm really trying to figure out which AAA team would be best for my son's development. I've read a lot about invite vs open level teams and am wondering if it would be better to be on a Top 5 Open Team or play on a less prestigious Invite team?
There are a lot of AAA teams out there and lots of kids that want to play on them so how do you choose when/if you have options?

[InThePipes]

My first post but I'm really trying to figure out which AAA team would be best for my son's development. I've read a lot about invite vs open level teams and am wondering if it would be better to be on a Top 5 Open Team or play on a less prestigious Invite team?
There are a lot of AAA teams out there and lots of kids that want to play on them so how do you choose when/if you have options?

What birth year is the player? Which programs are in consideration?

[old goalie85]

Where do you live/how good is the kid/how old/how much $ do you have to spend/does the kid play other sports/yada yada.

[JDogsDad]

My first post but I'm really trying to figure out which AAA team would be best for my son's development. I've read a lot about invite vs open level teams and am wondering if it would be better to be on a Top 5 Open Team or play on a less prestigious Invite team?
There are a lot of AAA teams out there and lots of kids that want to play on them so how do you choose when/if you have options?

What birth year is the player? Which programs are in consideration?

He's a 2003, his list:

Blades
Machine Orange
Machine Black
Miracle Gold
Legacy Invite
Legacy Open
The team he was on last year-Invite Level

Thanks!

[JDogsDad]

Where do you live/how good is the kid/how old/how much $ do you have to spend/does the kid play other sports/yada yada.

TC metro/he's on the invite bubble/deep pockets/football, baseball

Looking for MAX development!

[O-townClown]

Ask him where he wants to play and confirm that he's making an informed choice (for a 9-year-old) by having him cite positives and concerns about all the options that were considered.

[InThePipes]

My first post but I'm really trying to figure out which AAA team would be best for my son's development. I've read a lot about invite vs open level teams and am wondering if it would be better to be on a Top 5 Open Team or play on a less prestigious Invite team?
There are a lot of AAA teams out there and lots of kids that want to play on them so how do you choose when/if you have options?

What birth year is the player? Which programs are in consideration?

He's a 2003, his list:

Blades
Machine Orange
Machine Black
Miracle Gold
Legacy Invite
Legacy Open
The team he was on last year-Invite Level

Thanks!

Did he alread tryout and receive invitations to these teams? If I'm not mistaken, several teams on this list have likely already filled or nearly filled their rosters.

[JDogsDad]

What birth year is the player? Which programs are in consideration?

He's a 2003, his list:

Blades
Machine Orange
Machine Black
Miracle Gold
Legacy Invite
Legacy Open
The team he was on last year-Invite Level

Thanks!

Did he alread tryout and receive invitations to these teams? If I'm not mistaken, several teams on this list have likely already filled or nearly filled their rosters.

Strictly a list of teams he likes. Yes he's tried out, no he didn't make every team on this list, that would be CrAzY! Rosters rock solid in Sept, sure...

Back to my original question, how do you really decide between teams if/when you have a choice?

[observer]

how do you really decide between teams if/when you have a choice?

Coaching
Location
Cost
Team
Schedule (10 practices and 4 tourneys or 30 practices and 2 tourneys)
Tournaments and location
Roster size should be 15 skaters

Don't let it be the "club." Some clubs have solid coaches and teams at some levels and not at others. Look at each team individually not the club.

As teams get older they practice less. Squirt and PeeWee is heavier on development and more practices may be more appropriate. Also, as teams get older good teams will have much fewer moving parts. A squirt team may upgrade 6 players where a bantam team might change 3.

[InThePipes]

how do you really decide between teams if/when you have a choice?

Coaching
Location
Cost
Team
Schedule (10 practices and 4 tourneys or 30 practices and 2 tourneys)
Tournaments and location
Roster size should be 15 skaters

Don't let it be the "club." Some clubs have solid coaches and teams at some levels and not at others. Look at each team individually not the club.

As teams get older they practice less. Squirt and PeeWee is heavier on development and more practices may be more appropriate. Also, as teams get older good teams will have much fewer moving parts. A squirt team may upgrade 6 players where a bantam team might change 3.

Agree and there are hundreds of threads comparing these organizations on this board and like most things in life, those opinions are widely varied and you probably can't go too wrong with any of the programs you've listed.

If you are comfortable enough to do this, you could tell us which teams have provided invitations and then you may get more of a direct comparison and experiences from people who have been with those teams/programs in the past.

[Docs_88]

I concur with InThePipes although from your post it sounds like cost would not be an issue. Coaching and location(@ $4.00/gallon) are huge pluses. Also, take a look at the cost per hour of ice. Look at Legacy cost vs. Miracle cost and the number of hours and Miracle comes out on top. My son is kind of in the same boat, on the bubble between open and invite. What sucks about the whole Sept. tryout is that if/when you make a team you may as well kiss anything else ie. traveling baseball goodbye. The kids and parents have to decide in September weather or not they are going to play baseball in April. A friends son made an Invite team but may turn down the invite because he wants to play traveling baseball. I guess my point is that other sports may factor into the decision as well.

[Sunsetcliffs98]

Not providing enough info to make a call. What part of metro are you from? Where did he play this past summer? What tryouts did he do and what teams have offered a spot?

[HockeyDad41]

Play local invite, supplement with high end clinics for specific development and still have time to play other sports/family activities.

Sometimes I wonder if being on the super duper AAAAAA teams is more about the parents ego than the kid's "development".

[JDogsDad]

I concur with InThePipes although from your post it sounds like cost would not be an issue. Coaching and location(@ $4.00/gallon) are huge pluses. Also, take a look at the cost per hour of ice. Look at Legacy cost vs. Miracle cost and the number of hours and Miracle comes out on top. My son is kind of in the same boat, on the bubble between open and invite. What sucks about the whole Sept. tryout is that if/when you make a team you may as well kiss anything else ie. traveling baseball goodbye. The kids and parents have to decide in September weather or not they are going to play baseball in April. A friends son made an Invite team but may turn down the invite because he wants to play traveling baseball. I guess my point is that other sports may factor into the decision as well.

Docs_88,

I really appreciate your response. I knew there would be others in the same boat. This is a REALLY tough call to make in SEP with plenty of time to stew over it in MAR. In our case, not all "invite" teams are created equal and the local team might be a paper tiger. I've talked with both the invite and open coaches of a Tier 1 team and am convinced they are going to have an AMAZING year next year with tons of talent. The kid will most likely be on this open team and I have no doubts development will be top notch. Decision should be made by tonight. Pretty sure lots of 'rents are going through the same frenzy right now, more to follow...

[Aimforthefivehole]

If you can find a team with a highly respected paid non parent coach - you will find stability. Stability in AAA hockey is lack of turnover. If you find a team with only one open roster spot and 25 kids are all fighting for it, then all other things being equal (level, distance,etc..) I would have him skate for that team. If the team you are trying out for is established in the metro but struggles to hold players then I would look elsewhere. It's a little like finding a job, you don't want to switching jobs every year if you can avoid it unless of course you son is being promoted to the Super Elite status like the Blades.

[letthemplay]

I concur with InThePipes although from your post it sounds like cost would not be an issue. Coaching and location(@ $4.00/gallon) are huge pluses. Also, take a look at the cost per hour of ice. Look at Legacy cost vs. Miracle cost and the number of hours and Miracle comes out on top. My son is kind of in the same boat, on the bubble between open and invite. What sucks about the whole Sept. tryout is that if/when you make a team you may as well kiss anything else ie. traveling baseball goodbye. The kids and parents have to decide in September weather or not they are going to play baseball in April. A friends son made an Invite team but may turn down the invite because he wants to play traveling baseball. I guess my point is that other sports may factor into the decision as well.

I would look for programs that allow your player to focus on being an athlete first. Some programs have attendance policies and some encourage the hockey player to play other sports and in return will get a better hockey player in the end. The cost of one program vs. another is part of the equation, but you also have to look at stability, other kids, coaches, tournaments, development, etc. I hope that the coach doesn't revolve from program to program every two years.....just my 2 cents.

[black sheep]

Sometimes I wonder if being on the super duper AAAAAA teams is more about the parents ego than the kid's "development".

I hear that often and think it is mostly an unfair assement. sometimes it has to do with a specific goal, and what type of development path the parents have chosen. Be honest...10 yr olds are not making developmental decisions.

What do you want from AAA, to just play some competitive hockey? Or do you want to play on a team that competes in the major tournaments like Winnipeg / Chicago so you can compete against the best competition available?

The super duper AAAAAAAAAA team will give your elite level player the opprotunity to compete at the highest level. that does not guarantee your D1 ride, but you sure find out in a hurry how you can compete at that level and where your development needs are.

Maybe just having some fun and skating is more your style, then the options are limitless, just need to find the right fit.

There is no wrong choice really.

[JDogsDad]

Sometimes I wonder if being on the super duper AAAAAA teams is more about the parents ego than the kid's "development".

I hear that often and think it is mostly an unfair assement. sometimes it has to do with a specific goal, and what type of development path the parents have chosen. Be honest...10 yr olds are not making developmental decisions.

What do you want from AAA, to just play some competitive hockey? Or do you want to play on a team that competes in the major tournaments like Winnipeg / Chicago so you can compete against the best competition available?

The super duper AAAAAAAAAA team will give your elite level player the opprotunity to compete at the highest level. that does not guarantee your D1 ride, but you sure find out in a hurry how you can compete at that level and where your development needs are.

Maybe just having some fun and skating is more your style, then the options are limitless, just need to find the right fit.

There is no wrong choice really.

Thanks Black Sheep,

My son and I take hockey very seriously and our enjoyment comes from skill development and a very high level of competition. He's not the kid that just "likes to be out there clowning around with his buddies". That's why this decision is pretty tough, he has an open spot but is looking for an invite team and the disciplined environment and competition it provides. We'll see...

[barry_mcconnell]

If he is offered a spot on Blades or Machine Orange, obviously you jump on it.

If your choice is MG or Legacy, I'd go MG. Good value and good coaching. Definitely emerging as the #3 program in Minnesota. Be aware though that most of the dads seem to wear lots of MG logo gear. That might not be your thing.

Legacy seems more like a tournament program (grabs kids from other programs).

[InThePipes]

If he is offered a spot on Blades or Machine Orange, obviously you jump on it.

If your choice is MG or Legacy, I'd go MG. Good value and good coaching. Definitely emerging as the #3 program in Minnesota. Be aware though that most of the dads seem to wear lots of MG logo gear. That might not be your thing.

Legacy seems more like a tournament program (grabs kids from other programs).

I think that is probably it for true invite teams in the metro for the 2003 year, at least based on last year? Maybe a team like Euro, Vapor, Magicians, HTH, the Black teams at Made/MG could become a lower level invite team in the next year or two?

[observer]

This program stuff means nothing. Some programs have good teams and the very same programs have weaker ones. There is a player or two on every team in town better than the bottom half of any of your super invite level programs. I know some parents think because they're on a certain team means something but it doesn't mean jack for half the kids. Especially at the younger ages. Open vs. Invite also means very little at the younger ages.

The pre ordained Mr. Hockey, Grant Besse, was a Junior Gopher. Open level. Michealson, coming to the Gophers as a true Freshman was also an open level player. Lettieri, open level. It means nothing.

Find a good coach with nice kids on the team, nice parents, close to home, solid development and 3-4 tourneys and your player will be fine.

[NATS 03]

We are having a free 03 Skate this Tue the 18th @ 7:15 in Richfield. The coach is Cole Bassett. He is unreal!! Played and coached the US National U18 Development Team! Gold Metal on the bench in 2010!!! He also coached in the ECHL last yr. He is currently a scout for the US National Development Team and the Sioux City Musketeers USHL.

[NATS 03]

To confirm a spot in the NATS 03 skate please email 03nats@gmail.com.

[letthemplay]

If he is offered a spot on Blades or Machine Orange, obviously you jump on it.

If your choice is MG or Legacy, I'd go MG. Good value and good coaching. Definitely emerging as the #3 program in Minnesota. Be aware though that most of the dads seem to wear lots of MG logo gear. That might not be your thing.

Legacy seems more like a tournament program (grabs kids from other programs).

My buddy's son is playing for Legacy and it sounds like they should have an excellent team. They made some changes and the program is on the rise. I think they're skating somewhere around 40-50 hours for just development ice. He said that MG lost some really good players?

[HockeyDad41]

I concur with InThePipes although from your post it sounds like cost would not be an issue. Coaching and location(@ $4.00/gallon) are huge pluses. Also, take a look at the cost per hour of ice. Look at Legacy cost vs. Miracle cost and the number of hours and Miracle comes out on top. My son is kind of in the same boat, on the bubble between open and invite. What sucks about the whole Sept. tryout is that if/when you make a team you may as well kiss anything else ie. traveling baseball goodbye. The kids and parents have to decide in September weather or not they are going to play baseball in April. A friends son made an Invite team but may turn down the invite because he wants to play traveling baseball. I guess my point is that other sports may factor into the decision as well.

Docs_88,

I really appreciate your response. I knew there would be others in the same boat. This is a REALLY tough call to make in SEP with plenty of time to stew over it in MAR. In our case, not all "invite" teams are created equal and the local team might be a paper tiger. I've talked with both the invite and open coaches of a Tier 1 team and am convinced they are going to have an AMAZING year next year with tons of talent. The kid will most likely be on this open team and I have no doubts development will be top notch. Decision should be made by tonight. Pretty sure lots of 'rents are going through the same frenzy right now, more to follow...

What did you decide?