Try-outs for 2002 girls for Team MN going to Europe

[36Guy]

I had 8 girls do this trip! Best experience ever.

Selects Hockey is holding their tryouts for their 2002 Team MN at the Super Rink in Blaine on Sunday October, 19th. Players chosen at the tryout will be invited to participate in the U14 Girls World Selects Invitational (WSI) in Bolzano, Italy,where they will play against top prospects from other countries. The goal is the field the most competitive 2002 team possible and help elite players along their hockey career path as they grow and develop on and off the ice.

Date: October 19, 2014

Location: Schwan Super Rink, Blaine, MN

Time: Schedule below

Cost: $99 per player

Includes: 3 Ice Sessions, Lunch, Jersey, Tape & Refreshments (Players Only)

Website: http://www.selectssports.com/page/show/ ... ermissions

Kelli Vossler
Hockey Operations
LEGACY Global Sports
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[pepperpot]

Real mission: Make money from parents who are dumb enough to shell out thousands to send their little girl to play hockey in Europe. Hockey "career" for a 12 year old girl? Everything that is wrong with youth sports on one post. Priceless.

[zambonidriver]

Peppe,r no one said you had to have your daughter try out!! Everyone I have talked to has said it is a wonderful experience. Are youth sports out of whack? maybe but the choice is for each individual family. You could say the same thing about any student exchange program high school or college.

[36Guy]

Real mission: Make money from parents who are dumb enough to shell out thousands to send their little girl to play hockey in Europe. Hockey "career" for a 12 year old girl? Everything that is wrong with youth sports on one post. Priceless.

Went 2 summers ago...There were 2 USA teams. 19 of the girls are that went are signed D1 and 12 will be participating for Team USA and Team Canada at the 18U World Championships. Well organized it is my daughters fondest memory. PRICELESS!

Pepperdip, stick to what your doing, sounds like it's working.

[nu2hockey]

You need to clarify, plz
You said 2 summers ago and i have a hard time believing that 19 2000's have signed D1 offers.
Even 99's cannot be "signed" nor can 98's yet.

[pepperpot]

Nu2hockey- they obviously make exceptions to phenoms who have played against the greatest European talent.

Anyway I never said it wasn't a choice, never said they wouldn't have a grand time. In my opinion, its much like the Emperors Clothes. The people involved with the bastardization of youth sports would never admit they are part of the problem. Too close to the trees to see the forest. When someone mentions a hockey career and 12 year olds in the same breath, well, it speaks volumes. The race to be the best is starting earlier and earlier. Helicopter hockey parents buy into the sales pitch of having to play year round, play AAA, go to Europe to play against the biggest and bestest talent Europe has to offer (LOL!). Keep huffin the paint. You're too far gone to save at this point. Just keep yelling "MOVE YOUR FEET!" when you are at the rink. Then your 12 year old phenom who signed with the Goofers will be well prepared for their hockey career.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Those of us who know (or think we know) who 36guys daughter and these other players really are - well let's just say he knows what he's talking about. Have to chuckle every time a guy who undoubtedly speaks to his daughter (niece) every season about the inherent unfairness of a game and system that's about who you know and what you spend, rather than on A SINGLE MINDED DETERMINEDNESS TO EXCEL. They aren't top tier elite league players and D1 commits because they went to Europe. They are top tier elite league players and D1 commits because a decade of good parents and good coaches instilled in them a WORK ETHIC and POSITIVE ATTITUDE and the INTEGRITY OF CHARACTER AND LEADERSHIP on and off the ice. They may have had the financial support to seek out these kinds of opportunities but there is NO SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT. For every $ spent, every travel or tourney opportunity you skoff at.... There were hundreds of hours in the garage stick handling and thousands of pucks shot.
Time to stop playing the victim. Time to quit dismissing the decisions of other families because they aren't right for your family. And especially time to recognize the people who are invested in improving the game for ALL of our daughters, not just their own.
College puck recruiters will never consider a trip to Europe as a 12 year old as a requisite resume item for their players. But ask yourself what that kid did to make and do well on that team. Which came first..... The talent or the tryout or the tourney. You obviously despise the way the game is trending. Curious why... (Ok not really. Sorrynotsorry.)

[Hansonbrother]

Real mission: Make money from parents who are dumb enough to shell out thousands to send their little girl to play hockey in Europe. Hockey "career" for a 12 year old girl? Everything that is wrong with youth sports on one post. Priceless.

I used to think your quips were funny, until I realized that you're just bitter. Why do you put down all the opportunities of today's kids? Have you ever traveled in your life? Reading about a trip to the Black Hills or Hawaii isn't the same as being there. If you can afford a trip to Europe and have the skills to make a team that's going, why is that a bad thing? Personally, I think it's an amazing opportunity for the kids that go. They get to play hockey, get to see amazing sights that they couldn't see here, and who knows, maybe they meet a life long friend while doing it...ya, that sounds horrible. If you look at this trip as a means to the Olympics, yes, you're dreaming. But if you look at this trip as an experience they'll never forget or a chance to participate in something that they may never get the opportunity to do later in life, ya, then it's worth the price.

[pepperpot]

Save me the soapbox speech Never. I take EVERYTHING you SAY with as much cred as a NIGERIAN BANKER telling me I've inherited MILLIONS. Hanson- as much as I don't take myself seriously, this is a subject that does show me the problem with youth sports. It's too easy to say good for them, they took a trip to Europe and had fun making Russian friends or whatever. That's not my point. Hockey is losing ground with the youth. Why? As class lines widen and parents (not kids) become more and more competitive, you see more and more of the garbage that people like Never spout about, all under the idea that it is the secret ingredient to success. Success for girls is not based on trips to Europe, Elites, Selects, I'mthebests, Premiers or any other profit scheme that someone cooks up. As more and more parents buy into this garbage, the next door neighbor who sees the money being spent and the time needed to commit in order to be an elite or European prospect at age 12, the sane parents are quickly deciding not to allow their kids to get involved with such a sport. My Sis has told me countless stories about this, friends who would just as soon homeschool their kid than have them try and compete with the crazies in even elementary school. And anyone, I mean ANYONE who thinks that select teams don't have politicking play a part of selection, well I guess I'll pass my Nigerian Bank interest onto them so they can afford the trip to Europe. I can tell you I am thankful my tour is over. I love to watch the girls game from a different perspective. I hate to watch many of the girls parents, and I hate listening to them even more. So, thankfully I have this blog to act as my outlet. The Mrs. is thankful too.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Save me the soapbox speech Never. I take EVERYTHING you SAY with as much cred as a NIGERIAN BANKER telling me I've inherited MILLIONS. Hanson- as much as I don't take myself seriously, this is a subject that does show me the problem with youth sports. It's too easy to say good for them, they took a trip to Europe and had fun making Russian friends or whatever. That's not my point. Hockey is losing ground with the youth. Why? As class lines widen and parents (not kids) become more and more competitive, you see more and more of the garbage that people like Never spout about, all under the idea that it is the secret ingredient to success. Success for girls is not based on trips to Europe, Elites, Selects, I'mthebests, Premiers or any other profit scheme that someone cooks up. As more and more parents buy into this garbage, the next door neighbor who sees the money being spent and the time needed to commit in order to be an elite or European prospect at age 12, the sane parents are quickly deciding not to allow their kids to get involved with such a sport. My Sis has told me countless stories about this, friends who would just as soon homeschool their kid than have them try and compete with the crazies in even elementary school. And anyone, I mean ANYONE who thinks that select teams don't have politicking play a part of selection, well I guess I'll pass my Nigerian Bank interest onto them so they can afford the trip to Europe. I can tell you I am thankful my tour is over. I love to watch the girls game from a different perspective. I hate to watch many of the girls parents, and I hate listening to them even more. So, thankfully I have this blog to act as my outlet. The Mrs. is thankful too.

I actually agree with a lot of that pepper. But the costs (that have definitely increased 1000% just in the five years between my son and daughter) are not just a youth hockey issue. It's a youth gymnastics issue, and youth choir issue, and youth robotics team issue, and a youth scouting issue.

I definitely think that the specialized skill of skating is an intimidating aspect of entering the sport, maybe even more than $$. If your 10 year old kid wants to start hockey and he's never been on skates before, it's regretfully probably too late for him to compete well enough to stick with it. Not saying the new player can't catch up. He just probably won't stick around long enough to do it. The immediate gratification of success in this sport just doesn't exist against kids who've been skating since they could walk. And that is really too bad. ("Stick with it." See what I did there?)

For every kid who played every day of their life, whose parents spent every $ on every kind of development or invite program and who eat sleep breathe the game and earn that big time D1 spot, there are dozens of others who did the same thing and won't make it. For every kid outside the metro whose hockey experience is limited by time or money or geography and doesn't have a shot to play beyond high school, well there's a kid who got there rink ratting every night and destroying sheet rock in the garage and basement.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there are as many ways to D1 as there are D1 players. The intensity of almost all competitive youth programs gets fiercer every year. But at least for my family the game has been critical in developing so many things other than proficiency in hockey. I also know the kids and families my son is hanging out with, and that if they are out on the street at night its only because they've dragged the nets out.

Damn right I would send my kid to play in Europe if I could. Probably the only chance this old man will get to travel there!

[InigoMontoya]

Another perspective of crazy parents:
Not every kid working hard at a sport (or music, or dance, or robotics) they love has D1 aspirations. Some know what they want to be when they grow up, some want to go to a much smaller school, some want the full college experience.

The experience of a D1 athlete isn't the same as that of one of the other 40,000 kids on campus. In many ways it is better, but in many, many ways it isn't how an 18 year old girl hopes to spend the most formative 4 years of her life. Up at 6:00 to lift weights, shower and breakfast, class, lunch, class, practice, shower, training table, study table, off to bed; up at 6:00... Some kids want to stay up late, sleep in late, go to a party (or two), hang out in the dorms, join a couple clubs, study with classmates rather than teammates...

Some girls are passionate about becoming secretary of state, a supreme court judge, a pediatrician. And along the path to that passion, as youth and high school athletes, they enjoy kicking butt on the ice, field, court, diamond, course. Hundreds of them will also enjoy D3, club, and/or intramural sports while in college, and likely complete a triathlon or marathon while in grad school.

Throughout these journeys, there are often parents who are sacrificing, aiding, pushing, helping these kids to succeed at whatever it is that they choose to chase. And somewhere, someone is pointing out how crazy that parent is.

[zambonidriver]

As a parent of a former d1 player union 2014 this is what I have learned. First the commitment is huge and the sacrifice is greater though based on what I have observed over my step daughters career. 1. she had time to have a life. She partied went on spring break had time to enjoy herself and found time for a boyfriend. She learned to budget her time. She was able to hold down a job in the summer and get her workouts in and skate. She went to we fest and did everything a young adult that did not play a D1 sport did. I will say this if she did not play in some of these what we call checkbook events she would have never been seen buy the Eastern schools which mainly recruit Canada. Best of all she got a great education from a school we could never have been able to afford if we had not allowed her to participate. A real easy way to determine if it is worth it is ask your child if they want to tryout for a program let them make the decision. My youngest is going to tryout this weekend because one she wants to and two her mother and her want to take this trip together. A trip our family would never go on if the opportunity wasn't offered. If she makes the team it would be a wonderful experience. Who cares if she goes on to play anywhere after high school. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

Great reply. And good luck to your daughter!

[pepperpot]

I guess I have a better appreciation of the Eastern Universities then if they are able to accurately identify and evaluate talent at the U12 level.

[zambonidriver]

[quote="pepperpot"]I guess I have a better appreciation of the Eastern Universities then if they are able to accurately identify and evaluate talent at the U12 level. [/I guess you missed my point it is about networking and exposure my step daughter started with Codp as a u 12 and continued with it all throughout her hockey career she ended up going and playing in hockey night in Boston Her freshman sophomore and junior years all of the eastern schools were there and she got on the radar of those schools through her play. We always asked her what she wanted to do. You do what you want but don't bag on other people for giving their kids opportunities. I think a chance to go to Europe is a great chance and 99.00 is a small price to pay for the chance to go. I know the experience will be a learning experience for our family if my daughter makes it great if she doesn't maybe it teaches her a lesson about life either way a 12 year old will have had a great experience. D1 is not the goal of this tryout.uote]

[36Guy]

Real mission: Make money from parents who are dumb enough to shell out thousands to send their little girl to play hockey in Europe. Hockey "career" for a 12 year old girl? Everything that is wrong with youth sports on one post. Priceless.

Pepperdip, you are a bitter man. Your ability to evaluate and comment on something you know nothing about is why Karl is pissed. Yes, trash talking and speculation is great, but people like you that drive the dagger so deep with ZERO knowledge on the subject is painful.

Nobody said this was for everyone, I mentioned it was a great experience for my daughter. Tons of great hockey, well organized, we went Dachau Concentration camp where she learned a great life lesson, learned to meet girls from other cultures and played hockey in the Alps.

Your realization that your dream of living through your daughter is gone makes the very thought of words like "Selects" or "Elite" burn wholes in your eyes.

As far as scouts go, I know the first 2 girls that committed to the U of M in the 2016 class were 15 years old and the same with the 2017 class at
Wisconsin. In addition, I know 2 major college coaches were actually coaches on the 2000 trip.

Can't be scouted at 12?? I know a 7th grader from Mound that is on everyones Radar.

And last(maybe), don't be so arrogant to assume that the checkbook is bad for hockey, yes like everything in life there is good and bad. We choose to use it for opportunities ours would like. However, do not assume that success from the checkbook. Perhaps stopping by and watching a young girl shoot pucks, stick handle, run hills and do core everyday(not once a week) would perhaps allow you to give at least one 16 year old girl some respect.

Sooo...let's be honest, this is really about 2 dads and not the kids. Really, just one time as an adult. If 15 families, phenoms or average Jills go to Europe and play hockey and have a great time, how is this a bad thing?? Or are we to believe because we can type on a forum that we have better social analytical skills that these 15 parents enjoyment was somehow clouded by a deep drive to make their kid D1? It could not possibly be because the saw Dachau, 2 Olympic villages, took gondola to the top of the Alps, the Wineries, the Italian food, the train through the mountains, the hockey, the sitting with other girls teaching each other foreign words and trading sweatshirts that they still have today could it?

[zambonidriver]

This has been a great discussion basically it is all about choice and what is best for our daughters. I admit that my wife and I have spent money on triple A and individual training for our kids. Though we have given them the choice. We are very lucky because we have the means to do this. I will say this things like the chance for this European trip fuel the passion for the sport. If my daughter makes it it might turn into a family trip. Also remember as our children get older the opportunities for experiences like this dry up because you have to be on the national team to travel to Europe. The politics of the national team make association hockey look tame. So take the opportunity and try like the say nothing ventured nothing gained. Everyone is entitled to their opinion My wife and i have chosen to invest our disposable money into athletic opportunities for our children which is our choice. We do not regret it all of our children are strong independent mentally tough people who make good choices. We see our youngest headed in that direction. It is ok to see your hard work rewarded.

[jg2112]

Can't be scouted at 12?? I know a 7th grader from Mound that is on everyones Radar.

If this is who I think it is, yes. Best youth girls' player (skater, not goalie) my daughter and I saw last year. Won the state title game almost by herself. A phenom.

[Hard water fan]

I can see not much has changed since last year. Pepper- there is no cookie cutter answer to any of the this. My daughter attended the WCS tryout (as a goalie) several years ago just to have the experience...it was a great time seeing the different kids from outside MN. She was asked to go to Europe and we passed as we felt the money would be better spent on something else. They then asked another '98 goalie from MN and she went- her Dad said it was fabulous. I don't know if it helped her college outlook or not, but I don't think that was the reason they went. Regardless, as it has been said- to each their own. I do agree that youth sports has gotten a bit crazy competitively. The days of Ken Yackel camp or nothing is over. Lots of options, and I agree that a lot are about money... BUT, we want opportunities for our girls. Opportunities are good. BTW 36- Lots of parents from Cloquet come across as bitter. Playing second fiddle to Duluth can wear on you...

[massalsa]

Can't be scouted at 12?? I know a 7th grader from Mound that is on everyones Radar.

If this is who I think it is, yes. Best youth girls' player (skater, not goalie) my daughter and I saw last year. Won the state title game almost by herself. A phenom.

I believe that I know whom you speak of. I think that she is an 8th grader btw and rumored to be attending Breck this season...she will definitely contribute to that team! From what I have heard she is a fun teammate and a generally great kid to be around. She is a january 2001 that would be a legit 2000 player...in fact she might play AAA with a pretty good group of 2000 players! She is the best 2001 player I have seen. I have seen quite a few...

I spoke with several families that did the trip last year (with 2001 players) and every one of them thoroughly enjoyed the trip and many are planning to do it again this year.

[titleist]

Can't be scouted at 12?? I know a 7th grader from Mound that is on everyones Radar.

If this is who I think it is, yes. Best youth girls' player (skater, not goalie) my daughter and I saw last year. Won the state title game almost by herself. A phenom.

I believe that I know whom you speak of. I think that she is an 8th grader btw and rumored to be attending Breck this season...she will definitely contribute to that team! From what I have heard she is a fun teammate and a generally great kid to be around. She is a january 2001 that would be a legit 2000 player...in fact she might play AAA with a pretty good group of 2000 players! She is the best 2001 player I have seen. I have seen quite a few...

I spoke with several families that did the trip last year (with 2001 players) and every one of them thoroughly enjoyed the trip and many are planning to do it again this year.

Great trip, my daughter loved it and liked many of the players. The biggest shame was not having enough MN kids playing on this team, that they had to fill the roster with alternates from other teams...and by the middle of the first game, you could see why they were alternates. Would be really nice if they could fill a whole squad with MN kids. The assistant coaches were awesome!! Kim Martin, the 4 time Swedish Olympic goalie and her husband Jay are the bomb and will be back again this year. My daughter can't wait for this trip again!

[Hansonbrother]

Can't be scouted at 12?? I know a 7th grader from Mound that is on everyones Radar.

If this is who I think it is, yes. Best youth girls' player (skater, not goalie) my daughter and I saw last year. Won the state title game almost by herself. A phenom.

I believe that I know whom you speak of. I think that she is an 8th grader btw and rumored to be attending Breck this season...she will definitely contribute to that team! From what I have heard she is a fun teammate and a generally great kid to be around. She is a january 2001 that would be a legit 2000 player...in fact she might play AAA with a pretty good group of 2000 players! She is the best 2001 player I have seen. I have seen quite a few...


I spoke with several families that did the trip last year (with 2001 players) and every one of them thoroughly enjoyed the trip and many are planning to do it again this year.

I know of which kid you speak, but there are many players 2001 that are catching this kid fast. The player of which you speak has arguably one of the best shots I've seen, but lacks the quickness and backcheck of others that I would put against her. At the U12 level, she was arguably the best. At the next level...time will tell.

[InigoMontoya]

Especially if the next level is playing HS hockey at Breck. 12U to HS is quite a jump, even if she was the very best 12 player last year.

[Nevertoomuchhockey]

She's only been playing 12u for association hockey. That Machine team has been playing up in every tourney I've ever seen them in. Both 16u and 19u. If you didn't know you would never have guessed she was significantly younger. Breck struggled last season and my money says she starts varsity from the get. She isn't very fast, but she's a talented and intimidating tough player. Not sure of the history of how she got to Breck, but IMHO they couldn't have picked a better player to have immediate impact and shore up their systems. Right player right time.

[nu2hockey]

Sister plays there. Wouldn't say Breck struggled as much as young team learning to play. Only 2 of their losses would be considered head scratchers. Split with Blake and played very tough schedule. Imo the winner of sec 5a should be odds- on favorite to win state, with Breck and Blake being in the top of class a. (Maybe Mound-Westonka also) .