Selects, SuperSeries, Preview Challenge Cup, etc...

[massalsa]

All,

I have a daughter who is a newer player (just finished her 3rd winter season) and I think I have developed a working knowledge of AAA last summer after she was asked to be a practice player on a team (is now a regular player on that team now).

She has not played girls association hockey (only played boys due to #s and level of play offered at the local association) so I am kind of in the dark on these after season invite weekend tourney type things with North, South, East, & West teams. Which of these late March to early April tourneys are the better ones or worth going to for what seems to be $150-$180 or so? It looks like there is a practice or two, 3-4 games, and sometimes a jersey. I feel like I have seen bag tags and other merchandise from some of these as well.

She is in 6th grade and is an August 2001 if that matters at all in your answer.

Thanks in advance.

massalsa

[massalsa]

I guess I should say that I am not trying to get invites to these but trying to figure out which of these are worth being a part of (she has been invited to play in a couple of these but know really nothing about them). The promoter people all seem to do a good job of marketing their tournament but wanted an independent opinion on these and others that I may be unaware of at this time. Thanks.

[InigoMontoya]

They are all just for fun. I think St Cloud spends a little more effort on the show, but they're all a jersey and 4 games playing with and against kids that are probably, top to bottom, depending on where you play, a little better than the kids played with and against during the winter. Not all the superstars play, and like everything else, some kids get on teams because of who they know. I find that there is generally quite a bit of selfish play - the kids often don't know each other very well, and would rather try to score their own goal than watch a stranger score a goal on their great pass. The kids always seem to have fun, though, so if you have an extra couple hundred buck and the weekend is free, have at it.

Which region would be considered your home? The selects tourney uses MNH districts to strictly control which team a kid is eligible; super series seems to be a little more flexible. Would MM be considered D6, since it's in Edina? If those kids are considered free agents, then aren't you just going to play for your summer coach? How's that going over there? I hear some changes from last year's roster; several tryouts were held.

[BluehawkHockey]

Which region would be considered your home? The selects tourney uses MNH districts to strictly control which team a kid is eligible; super series seems to be a little more flexible. Would MM be considered D6, since it's in Edina? If those kids are considered free agents, then aren't you just going to play for your summer coach? How's that going over there? I hear some changes from last year's roster; several tryouts were held.

DON'T do Selects. They are huge hypocrites. My daughter has been invited twice to play only to have the invitation pulled both times. Once by the coach, the second time by the board. Don't waste your time with them. Do super series if you get invited.

I know selects basically keeps the team together for the whole 4 years so by the third/fourth year, the teams only have a few of the best players.

[massalsa]

Which region would be considered your home? The selects tourney uses MNH districts to strictly control which team a kid is eligible; super series seems to be a little more flexible. Would MM be considered D6, since it's in Edina? If those kids are considered free agents, then aren't you just going to play for your summer coach? How's that going over there? I hear some changes from last year's roster; several tryouts were held.

Inigo, my kid does play at MM but also plays Peewee A in D3. She is considered West for Selects but won't be on that team this year (or maybe ever…who knows?). Regarding the 01 Orange there are some kids that ejected from last year's team and it is their right to do so. We have now skated a couple of times and we picked up some really nice girls that will be strong replacements for a couple of the strong players that left. I am guessing that they could have probably handled it a little better (the parents of course…) but they did it their way. We look forward to a great summer of hockey and my daughter loved her Peewee team and experience and has really had some great skill development from MM. Learning how to hit, be hit, and avoid hits has been really great and I am sure that those skills will be useful for the rest of her hockey life. From the couple of Bantam games I have seen and loads of association Peewee A and "Super Squirts" at MM I believe that introducing checking to the kids as 10/11/12 year olds is probably better than when they are older, stronger, and angrier (let alone being grossly mismatched physically) Bantams.

Bluehawk, my kid was extended an offer to play for another region as the "West" team was fully rostered. Apparently the West won the tourney last year at her age and as a result the coach asked everyone back to defend their title. Sounds a little political (and kind of lame imo) to me but it is what it is. In the past in order to play outside of your region you needed to get permission from your home region coach at your kids age and then you get a 1 year exemption or something like that. Apparently someone was caught in a pretty sticky situation (or lie) last year when the Selects organization realized that they were NOT from the region they were playing for and shenanigans were happening. So…my kid can't play for the West (or the North, East, or South!). Not the end of the world for sure.

[Snap Happy]

...Apparently the West won the tourney last year at her age and as a result the coach asked everyone back to defend their title

Very interesting. I heard that Selects had to allow 3 new players each year -- ie, they can't ask the whole team back.

[BluehawkHockey]

My daughter has always had fun playing these things. Made some good friends that she gets to play against during the winter.

She has done 2 or 3 of these every spring for the last 3 years. Are they worth the money, probably not but she enjoyed them. Kept her on the ice between winter hockey and summer hockey.

This year it appears it is going to be even more expensive. Asked the president to refund our registration fee and let me know. That was on Tuesday. Haven't heard a peep from MN Selects since then. Real class organization.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Here is another award for the forum awards Karl...

Most likely parent to have their kid blackballed from all future invite tourneys.

[BluehawkHockey]

Here is another award for the forum awards Karl...

Most likely parent to have their kid blackballed from all future invite tourneys.

My last post was about an organization taking our money and then refusing to return it after they decided she couldn't participate. If that is OK with you, then I've got a group you could send a nice big check to. You don't get anything for it but we will thank you for the money.

[InigoMontoya]

Bluehawk, my kid was extended an offer to play for another region as the "West" team was fully rostered. Apparently the West won the tourney last year at her age and as a result the coach asked everyone back to defend their title. Sounds a little political (and kind of lame imo) to me but it is what it is.

Looks like 3 new skaters and a new goalie for the title defenders.

[Ritz727272]

This stuff is nothing but a fun weekend of "checkbook" hockey!

Being from the North, the Super Series was always fun. Had the entire hotel in Plymouth and the girls had a blast and the parents' "socials" in the lobby would sometimes last until the next day!

To figure out, "Which is the best?" is like wiping your backside before you dump....It just doesn't make sense!

[massalsa]

Looks like 3 new skaters and a new goalie for the title defenders.[/quote]

I heard last weekend of 1 new skater for that squad. It is what it is...hope it is fun for all. We will have fun doing our thing...maybe next year, maybe never!

[InigoMontoya]

Title defended: 7-1

To paraphrase Herb Brooks, Sr, 'Looks like the coach made the right choice.'