I have been following this forum for some time and have gotten a kick out of the discussions regarding Bernie McBain and his Minnesota Made program. I just picked up Let's Play Hockey and noticed Mr. McBain is now expanding his program by at least two teams at the 1996 level. I am wondering what everyone's thoughts are regarding this move?
Do you think that he is doing this because of his love of kids and he just wants to spread his perceived wealth of hockey knowledge to as many players as possible?
Or is he doing this because he is quickly realizing that privately owned hockey rinks are almost impossible to run profitably and the only way he can financially survive is to keep forming different tiers of the Machine and getting parents to "drink the kool aide" and buy into his coaching-by-intimidation system with the hopes that little Johnny will get a D-1 ride as a Mite?
As I see it, his actions by doing this expansion may be a precursor for the possible demise of his "empire" at the Minnesota Made rink (I have heard that the rink manager, Bernie's wife, etc. have all been taken off the payroll). It appears he is frantically scrambling to cut costs and try and generate some sort of revenue (which I fully understand he needs to do as a business owner). I'm guessing that the current families that play for him should prepare for $3000+ summer seasons for the "honor" of putting on a Machine jersey.
Minnesota Made adding more teams?
Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)
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johnnyhockey
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SEC Scotty
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If someone is unhappy with the coaching, instruction, and player development they get at MM, all they have to do is pull their kid out. Most of the criticism I am hearing is from people who don't have kids in MM.
Most parents have their kid at MM because they see improvement in their young hockey players, not because of any Kool-aid or high expectations for their kids.
If it costs more money than it is a personal choice much like a private school.
Most parents have their kid at MM because they see improvement in their young hockey players, not because of any Kool-aid or high expectations for their kids.
If it costs more money than it is a personal choice much like a private school.
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boardmember
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Re: Minnesota Made adding more teams?
4thekids wrote: Do you think that he is doing this because of his love of kids and he just wants to spread his perceived wealth of hockey knowledge to as many players as possible?
Or is he doing this because he is quickly realizing that privately owned hockey rinks are almost impossible to run profitably and the only way he can financially survive is to keep forming different tiers of the Machine and getting parents to "drink the kool aide" and buy into his coaching-by-intimidation system with the hopes that little Johnny will get a D-1 ride as a Mite?
As I see it, his actions by doing this expansion may be a precursor for the possible demise of his "empire" at the Minnesota Made rink (I have heard that the rink manager, Bernie's wife, etc. have all been taken off the payroll). It appears he is frantically scrambling to cut costs and try and generate some sort of revenue (which I fully understand he needs to do as a business owner). I'm guessing that the current families that play for him should prepare for $3000+ summer seasons for the "honor" of putting on a Machine jersey.
Thanks for great insight and opinion!
One would think hes doing it because of the high demand for Offseason hockey and the fact that he has a 2 sheets of ice he has to fill to keep his business running. There are other hockey business in the Twin Cities that do not get as much critism as MM but they are out their competing for families hockey dollar just as he is. Noooooo......... hes just wants everyone to drink his Kool-Aid and his intimdation system.
Showcase ( Fall Session) 291+ Teams $$$
Boys AAA 45 Teams
Boys AA 6 Teams
Girls AAA 22 Teams
Mite League 58 Teams
Showcase League Sq, PW, BTM 125 Teams
High School League 35 Teams
MASH ( Fall Session estimates) 80+ teams $$$
Mite League 20+ Teams
Girls
U8 6 Teams
U10 10 Teams
U12 10 teams
Squirts 16+ teams
PeeWee 16+ teams
Bantam 8 teams
High School N/A
Private AAA
Machine/Duece 6 Teams
Blades 7 Teams
Icemen 2
Predators 5 teams
Various other teams, Cyclones, Outlaws, Edge, Chiefs
Yes, there is a big demand for the hockey dollar. Bernie is looking to expand which he can by looking at demand from the teams above. But only Bernie and MM can be critized because he is in it for the money and not "4thekids"
MM
Boardmember,you forgot to nail him on the cost,it's not $ 3,000,it's about 1/2 that, for the best training money can buy.Or maybe I should send my son to a showcase team,for some of there top notch training,and 10 games against some great competition!
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Teen Spanish
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Teen Spanish
Last edited by waylon on Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
My son has played in the showcase leagues and the showcase AAA league the past 6 years, not much developement there (it's good for just games).
Also there hasn't been much developement at the association level. He did 3 clinics at MM this summer and this is the most improvement i've seen in the last 7 years of him playing hockey. He finally had someone that would tell him to do a drill over if he was not doing it right. It's too bad it took this long to find that.
Also there hasn't been much developement at the association level. He did 3 clinics at MM this summer and this is the most improvement i've seen in the last 7 years of him playing hockey. He finally had someone that would tell him to do a drill over if he was not doing it right. It's too bad it took this long to find that.
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Hockey!LoveIt!
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calling all machine and deuce parents
If you're a Machine parent or deuce (is that the other team?), please enlighten the faithful here about what exactly you get for your money?
What is your commitment for real? Are you really locked in with 5 days of ice and not allowed to play other sports? If you miss practice to go to boy-scouts are you banished to the 3rd line? Did you spend 15K last year on hockey or were your costs more in line with association hockey, but doubled because you played all summer as well?
I think we have alot of people with no association to the MM or any of the teams just throwing banter and non-factual based opinion, which is great, but really isn't necessarily giving the program a clear picture.
What is your commitment for real? Are you really locked in with 5 days of ice and not allowed to play other sports? If you miss practice to go to boy-scouts are you banished to the 3rd line? Did you spend 15K last year on hockey or were your costs more in line with association hockey, but doubled because you played all summer as well?
I think we have alot of people with no association to the MM or any of the teams just throwing banter and non-factual based opinion, which is great, but really isn't necessarily giving the program a clear picture.
I don't care if MM exists or not.
Since I live a long way from the TC, it is not an option for my gkids.
As a MH board member I do not care if MM exists or not.
It is a free country (sort of, if you have the money.....).
What seems to grate on me as that people (parents) put so much expectation on a kid by spending a lot of money and time on an 8 year old boy or girl.
Being from up north, I know how the hockey programs (associations) work. I also know the numbers. From D16 numbers, we vary from 4% to 5.5 % of our peewee/bantam numbers moving on to D1 hockey. A very high percentage. Roseau and Warroad are constantly mentioned as top HS hockey programs. East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls are close behind. Down the road we have Grand Rapids, Hermantown, the Duluth programs (Marshall, East) and Cloquet. Throw in I Falls and Virginia and Hibbing every so often and we have top level competition wothout large numbers (all single A by definition). And all playing association hockey.
The difference in my mind is tradition, community support and a 'we versus I' mentality. Not knocking my relatives, friends etc in the metro area, but think about it.
Oh, and all those kids playing for Bernie, I hope they're successful, but more so I hope they are having fun and creating memories that make them life-long hockey people.
Since I live a long way from the TC, it is not an option for my gkids.
As a MH board member I do not care if MM exists or not.
It is a free country (sort of, if you have the money.....).
What seems to grate on me as that people (parents) put so much expectation on a kid by spending a lot of money and time on an 8 year old boy or girl.
Being from up north, I know how the hockey programs (associations) work. I also know the numbers. From D16 numbers, we vary from 4% to 5.5 % of our peewee/bantam numbers moving on to D1 hockey. A very high percentage. Roseau and Warroad are constantly mentioned as top HS hockey programs. East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls are close behind. Down the road we have Grand Rapids, Hermantown, the Duluth programs (Marshall, East) and Cloquet. Throw in I Falls and Virginia and Hibbing every so often and we have top level competition wothout large numbers (all single A by definition). And all playing association hockey.
The difference in my mind is tradition, community support and a 'we versus I' mentality. Not knocking my relatives, friends etc in the metro area, but think about it.
Oh, and all those kids playing for Bernie, I hope they're successful, but more so I hope they are having fun and creating memories that make them life-long hockey people.
Last edited by elliott70 on Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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boardmember
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Re: calling all machine and deuce parents
jancze5 wrote:If you're a Machine parent or deuce (is that the other team?), please enlighten the faithful here about what exactly you get for your money?
What is your commitment for real? Are you really locked in with 5 days of ice and not allowed to play other sports? If you miss practice to go to boy-scouts are you banished to the 3rd line? Did you spend 15K last year on hockey or were your costs more in line with association hockey, but doubled because you played all summer as well?
I think we have alot of people with no association to the MM or any of the teams just throwing banter and non-factual based opinion, which is great, but really isn't necessarily giving the program a clear picture.
Commitment. 100 hours practice, 20-22 games end of March - end of August. Practice is 2-3 times per week 2 hour practices so roughly 50 practices. Break, entire month of July. Almost 5 to 1 Practice to game ratio. Can you play baseball? Yes, but you can't miss a practice/game for another sport
Cost. I paid $1500 last winter for Association Squirt A hockey ( 72 hours practice, 35 Games, 6 Acceleration sessions)
Summer Hockey at MM $1700 100 hours practice 22 Games + Dryland Homework
Bernie coaches 2 teams 96 & 97 Machine, other teams have parent coaches that follow MM training and philosphy. Diciplined enviroment, heavy emphisis on stickhandling, passing, skating. Same formula for the new teams.
Is this Program for everyone? No, All the Private AAA Clubs ( Machine, Blades, Icemen, Predators, Lake Superior Stars, Northern Wings etc) require a commitment to the team if you make the team! From there some kids/parents just do not want to play origanized spring/summer hockey, others do. When you look at the number of teams playing Spring and Summer Showcase and MASH leagues there are 1000's of players playing out of season hockey here in the Metro area!!
Can You play baseball ? Yes/No Yes, for inhouse or community. No for AA travel. My neighbor's 11 year old played AA Travel Baseball this summer 6-7 days per week End of April to August 70+ Games!! Now he's in Fall baseball clinics and leagues.
Can you play other sports? Yes, All the kids on the teams are multi sport athletes. They play baseball, soccer, golf, football, Lacross.
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regdunlop77
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Re: calling all machine and deuce parents
jancze5 -- could you please answer the same questions from a Blades parent perspective?jancze5 wrote:If you're a Machine parent or deuce (is that the other team?), please enlighten the faithful here about what exactly you get for your money?
What is your commitment for real? Are you really locked in with 5 days of ice and not allowed to play other sports? If you miss practice to go to boy-scouts are you banished to the 3rd line? Did you spend 15K last year on hockey or were your costs more in line with association hockey, but doubled because you played all summer as well?
I think we have alot of people with no association to the MM or any of the teams just throwing banter and non-factual based opinion, which is great, but really isn't necessarily giving the program a clear picture.
elliott70 wrote:I don't care if MM exists or not.
Since I lie a long way from the TC, it is not an option for my gkids.
As a MH board member I do not care if MM exists or not.
It is a free country (sort of, if you have the money.....).
What seems to grate on me as that people (paretns) put so much expectation on a kid by spending a lot of money and time on an 8 year old boy or girl.
Being from up north, I know how the hockey programs (associations) work. I also know the numbers. From D16 numbers we vary from 4% to 5.5 % of our peewee/bantam numbers moving on to D1 hockey. A very high percentage. Roseau and Warroad are constantly mentioned as top HS hockey programs. East Grand Forks and Thief River Falls are close behind. Down the road we have Grand Rapids, Hermantown, the Duluth programs (Marshall, East) and Cloquet. Throw in I Falls and Virginia and Hibbing every so often and we have top level competition wothout large numbers (all single A by definition). And all playing association hockey.
The difference in my mind is tradition, community support and a we versus I mentality. Not knocking my relatives, friends etc in the metro area, but think about it.
Oh, and all those kids playing for Bernie, I hope their successful, but more so I hope they are having fun and creating memories that make them lifelong hockey people.
Nicely stated
Re: calling all machine and deuce parents
[
jancze5 -- could you please answer the same questions from a Blades parent perspective?[/quote]
Well, I think the Blades (or at least the team my son skated with) do things a little different and WAY cheaper. The Blades (In my opinion and only involving the team I have been associated with) are about providing an oppurtunity for "top-end" players from different organizations to train and play with each other gearing towards a limited amount of tournaments.
I can tell you that the gentleman that coached my son ran what my son refered to as "the best practices I've ever been to in 9 years". The folks who kids played were great to be around and 95% were association players, minus 3 Fire players. Our specific team would gear up heavily in a 2 week period, go play a tournament, compete very well against top notch North American talent, come home, go back to Lacrosse/baseball/tennis/golf and then pick it back up a few weeks later for the next tourney. It was a good experience and just the right amount of off season games/practices. Nothing overboard, not expensive, just some extra hockey. No kids were yelled at, they were actually coached and tought minor things to help them with their game. Coaching is everything!
Do I think MM has a market...absolutely. I just think when you chuck a kid on the ice another 100 hours in the summer at 7 and 8 years old, then at 9 and 10, it just might be excessive. SHOULD these players develop into better skaters way earlier than their association bred peers, yes. Will it result in long term anything..can't say. I can tell you that one of my sons had a player who scored over a 100 points as a first year pee wee, didn't grow an inch, didn't get any faster, and scored 15 points as a second year pee wee and now isn't even skating this year..just lost interest. I know that doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen.
Geez, we all love hockey, the kids love hockey, if the kid wants to play, let him play....period.
jancze5 -- could you please answer the same questions from a Blades parent perspective?
[/quote]Well, I think the Blades (or at least the team my son skated with) do things a little different and WAY cheaper. The Blades (In my opinion and only involving the team I have been associated with) are about providing an oppurtunity for "top-end" players from different organizations to train and play with each other gearing towards a limited amount of tournaments.
I can tell you that the gentleman that coached my son ran what my son refered to as "the best practices I've ever been to in 9 years". The folks who kids played were great to be around and 95% were association players, minus 3 Fire players. Our specific team would gear up heavily in a 2 week period, go play a tournament, compete very well against top notch North American talent, come home, go back to Lacrosse/baseball/tennis/golf and then pick it back up a few weeks later for the next tourney. It was a good experience and just the right amount of off season games/practices. Nothing overboard, not expensive, just some extra hockey. No kids were yelled at, they were actually coached and tought minor things to help them with their game. Coaching is everything!
Do I think MM has a market...absolutely. I just think when you chuck a kid on the ice another 100 hours in the summer at 7 and 8 years old, then at 9 and 10, it just might be excessive. SHOULD these players develop into better skaters way earlier than their association bred peers, yes. Will it result in long term anything..can't say. I can tell you that one of my sons had a player who scored over a 100 points as a first year pee wee, didn't grow an inch, didn't get any faster, and scored 15 points as a second year pee wee and now isn't even skating this year..just lost interest. I know that doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen.
Geez, we all love hockey, the kids love hockey, if the kid wants to play, let him play....period.
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skateguymn
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:01 pm
Commitment summer only?
A very solid account of the offseason (April - August) program for the Machine teams. What was not mentioned however are the mulititude of "OPTIONAL - Not required but highly suggested" weekly skates that Bernie drops on the team/families at a moments notice("Open ice? hmmm let's see throw a dart, hits 96's Sunday night edge work anthoer $400). I have heard the commment personally, "What are they going to do say NO?". Not going to say who said it I will let you figure that out.
These sessions can occur in the summer months or during the winter months. Sunday night skill development winter breakfast clubs etc...
Once you are on a Machine team, previously "Optional" programs turn into more of a requirement. No families do not HAVE to attend but the desire to have a kid on the Machine begins to dominate parents better judgement. Eventually the cost of Machine hockey does hit several thousand dollars and yes it does go all year long. Primarily because parents get addicted and want more more more.
Anything wrong with additional skates? I do not think so IF the families know what they are getting themselves into. Problem is these programs are NOT listed in your program overview so I assume you have not yet received notice. Let's face it, most of the players attending MM do not come from the orphanage......Pretty well off for the most part.
For the record I will contend that the skill development program is as solid as it gets. The value is in the repetitions and accountability for each kid to perform a skill properly before advancing. I ask all of you (COACHES) on this website, are you actually capable of this or do you simply run drills to run drills. Is youth hockey practice ice used from time to time for the head coach to show off his slapshot to the parents in the stands or actually build the skills required for kids to advance. Until we all get it right and follow through with our convictions for the masses and not only our own kids, these programs will exist and prosper. Period.
From a financial standpoint I cannot comment other than to say there is reason to believe something is brewing.
Overall I commend the business plan and effort that Bernie and his investors have put forth. HOCKEY is our game and it should be in all of our best interests to support it in all its forms (Most importantly when youth hockey is being offered for the betterment of the child). We are a small community and anyone among us can be impacted by his/her actions including the people at MM.
These sessions can occur in the summer months or during the winter months. Sunday night skill development winter breakfast clubs etc...
Once you are on a Machine team, previously "Optional" programs turn into more of a requirement. No families do not HAVE to attend but the desire to have a kid on the Machine begins to dominate parents better judgement. Eventually the cost of Machine hockey does hit several thousand dollars and yes it does go all year long. Primarily because parents get addicted and want more more more.
Anything wrong with additional skates? I do not think so IF the families know what they are getting themselves into. Problem is these programs are NOT listed in your program overview so I assume you have not yet received notice. Let's face it, most of the players attending MM do not come from the orphanage......Pretty well off for the most part.
For the record I will contend that the skill development program is as solid as it gets. The value is in the repetitions and accountability for each kid to perform a skill properly before advancing. I ask all of you (COACHES) on this website, are you actually capable of this or do you simply run drills to run drills. Is youth hockey practice ice used from time to time for the head coach to show off his slapshot to the parents in the stands or actually build the skills required for kids to advance. Until we all get it right and follow through with our convictions for the masses and not only our own kids, these programs will exist and prosper. Period.
From a financial standpoint I cannot comment other than to say there is reason to believe something is brewing.
Overall I commend the business plan and effort that Bernie and his investors have put forth. HOCKEY is our game and it should be in all of our best interests to support it in all its forms (Most importantly when youth hockey is being offered for the betterment of the child). We are a small community and anyone among us can be impacted by his/her actions including the people at MM.
Development
Take resposibility for your kids development,if your association is not doing it look outside that,My sons have played for the Blades,Icemen,Machine,Fire,Rockets,we have done every camp,clinic,you could imagine,I have waisted $,and have got my $ worth.
Nobody has all the answers,my kids have played for NHL,D1 guy's they are not allway's the best coaches,if your new ask around,look at the results,Bernie gets results!I did not play this game growing up,but have been a student of it the past 15 yrs,my opinion is to be successfull at this game you must develop quick hands quick feet and a quick mind,all 3 are worked on for many,many hours by the machine,for now Thats where we'll be,Don't forget, it still must be fun! Being good at what you do is fun,and it takes hard work to be good!!!!!!!!
my 2 cents
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HANDJOB BLONDE
Nobody has all the answers,my kids have played for NHL,D1 guy's they are not allway's the best coaches,if your new ask around,look at the results,Bernie gets results!I did not play this game growing up,but have been a student of it the past 15 yrs,my opinion is to be successfull at this game you must develop quick hands quick feet and a quick mind,all 3 are worked on for many,many hours by the machine,for now Thats where we'll be,Don't forget, it still must be fun! Being good at what you do is fun,and it takes hard work to be good!!!!!!!!
my 2 cents
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HANDJOB BLONDE
Last edited by waylon on Fri Mar 18, 2011 12:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Hockeyguy_27
- Posts: 745
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Re: Development
From what I've seen and heard about this program (MM) I would NEVER have my son or daughter involved. Fear and intimidation do work, no question, but this type of coaching isn't appropriate for kids who are 9-10 years old in my opinion. Also, kids should be able to play other sports in the summer. I believe sports such as lacrosse, baseball, football and soccer can make kids better all-around athletes and ultimately, better hockey players.
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Hockey!LoveIt!
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:44 pm
Re: MM
But, if there is a conflict...is your son allowed to choose which sport he wants to play, without consequences??waylon wrote:My son plays Baseball,golf,football and Macihine hockey no problem
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Neutron 14
- Posts: 5339
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Re: calling all machine and deuce parents
Seems to be an informed, objective opinion. How rare we are treated to such a post(posts) from a parent, that is not indulging to the point of being an embarrasing shill to the choice they have made. (Hint Waylon) Thanks Jancze5. Its tough to argue with your last sentence.jancze5 wrote:
Well, I think the Blades (or at least the team my son skated with) do things a little different and WAY cheaper. The Blades (In my opinion and only involving the team I have been associated with) are about providing an oppurtunity for "top-end" players from different organizations to train and play with each other gearing towards a limited amount of tournaments.
I can tell you that the gentleman that coached my son ran what my son refered to as "the best practices I've ever been to in 9 years". The folks who kids played were great to be around and 95% were association players, minus 3 Fire players. Our specific team would gear up heavily in a 2 week period, go play a tournament, compete very well against top notch North American talent, come home, go back to Lacrosse/baseball/tennis/golf and then pick it back up a few weeks later for the next tourney. It was a good experience and just the right amount of off season games/practices. Nothing overboard, not expensive, just some extra hockey. No kids were yelled at, they were actually coached and tought minor things to help them with their game. Coaching is everything!
Do I think MM has a market...absolutely. I just think when you chuck a kid on the ice another 100 hours in the summer at 7 and 8 years old, then at 9 and 10, it just might be excessive. SHOULD these players develop into better skaters way earlier than their association bred peers, yes. Will it result in long term anything..can't say. I can tell you that one of my sons had a player who scored over a 100 points as a first year pee wee, didn't grow an inch, didn't get any faster, and scored 15 points as a second year pee wee and now isn't even skating this year..just lost interest. I know that doesn't happen to everyone, but it does happen.
Geez, we all love hockey, the kids love hockey, if the kid wants to play, let him play....period.
MM 4 Teams
adding additional teams is all about the money. I have heard they are losing in the range of $25,000 per month and they may not be able to do any better then that. I don't think the shareholders can be happy with that.
Like one of the prior posts, the upfront costs are only $1500 to $1900. It is the "Optional" clinics that get everyone. I have friends that payed in excess of $3000 this summer to play on the Machine and Duece.
Finally, my son has played against the Machine and Duece teams for the past couple of years. Most of these kids are already being caught up to. The benefit that these kids have is that they play as a team better then anyone else in their age group. They may not be better hockey players, but they understand how to be a team. That is one of the hardest things to get kids playing summer hockey to understand. But, when you skate 120 hours you have plenty of time to work on systems.
Like one of the prior posts, the upfront costs are only $1500 to $1900. It is the "Optional" clinics that get everyone. I have friends that payed in excess of $3000 this summer to play on the Machine and Duece.
Finally, my son has played against the Machine and Duece teams for the past couple of years. Most of these kids are already being caught up to. The benefit that these kids have is that they play as a team better then anyone else in their age group. They may not be better hockey players, but they understand how to be a team. That is one of the hardest things to get kids playing summer hockey to understand. But, when you skate 120 hours you have plenty of time to work on systems.
Re: MM
waylon wrote:My son plays Baseball,golf,football and Macihine hockey no problem
I am guessing your son does not play travel baseball. I know a parent of a young Machine kid. The dad would like to see his son play travel baseball. However, the commitment to the hockey prevents that from happening.
Tim Hawkinson and Pete Carlson. Why are we not slandering these two men as well? Tim hawkinson owns Showcase and Pete Carlson runs the Super Rink. Tim Hawkinson's Showcase Hockey is a for profit business and Pete Carlson starts loads of programs just sell ice at the Super Rink.
Could the reason be that they do not have highly successful AAA teams that almost never loose? Let's face it Bernie is a very easy target given the fact that you can say what ever you want on the on this forum and you do not have to sign your name to it.
People love when successful poeple fall. There are alot of people that would love to see this guy fall, but he is always expanding and growing. He is not everyones cup of tea. This true, but his story is a great one. They just did a story on him in the Edina magazine and the guy started with absoluty nothing and has now built a 8 million dollar ice arena and has had in developing some of our states best young talent. His story is as American as they get.
So what I would like to know is what is your problem with Bernie? If you don't like the way he coaches, don't do his programs. Could it be that he did not take your kid on one of his teams or are you jealous?
There are alot of poeple that love the guy. Why? because he's good, but he is certainly not for everyone. My son started skating in his programs over the summer and they have been great. We started after seeing his 96 and 97 Machine teams play. I guess you could say we are on his "side".
Could the reason be that they do not have highly successful AAA teams that almost never loose? Let's face it Bernie is a very easy target given the fact that you can say what ever you want on the on this forum and you do not have to sign your name to it.
People love when successful poeple fall. There are alot of people that would love to see this guy fall, but he is always expanding and growing. He is not everyones cup of tea. This true, but his story is a great one. They just did a story on him in the Edina magazine and the guy started with absoluty nothing and has now built a 8 million dollar ice arena and has had in developing some of our states best young talent. His story is as American as they get.
So what I would like to know is what is your problem with Bernie? If you don't like the way he coaches, don't do his programs. Could it be that he did not take your kid on one of his teams or are you jealous?
There are alot of poeple that love the guy. Why? because he's good, but he is certainly not for everyone. My son started skating in his programs over the summer and they have been great. We started after seeing his 96 and 97 Machine teams play. I guess you could say we are on his "side".
Bernie is a great guy. He has done a lot of positive things for Minnesota hockey. He is an out of the box thinker. Hopefully his $8 million dollar investment works out for him.
In my opinion, problems begin when training and all of the other offerings (not just Bernie's deal) that are available become the parents obsession. There can be a "keep up with the Jones" mentality. Believe it or not, some people can barely afford all of the activities that they are sending their kids to. Does that add stress to a family?
There is no blue print out there that gaurantees your child's hockey success. Parents will do what they feel is best for their kids. Hopefully all will keep in mind that hockey is a sport and sports are suppose to be fun.
In my opinion, problems begin when training and all of the other offerings (not just Bernie's deal) that are available become the parents obsession. There can be a "keep up with the Jones" mentality. Believe it or not, some people can barely afford all of the activities that they are sending their kids to. Does that add stress to a family?
There is no blue print out there that gaurantees your child's hockey success. Parents will do what they feel is best for their kids. Hopefully all will keep in mind that hockey is a sport and sports are suppose to be fun.
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boardmember
- Posts: 96
- Joined: Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:31 pm
Re: MM
breakout wrote:waylon wrote:My son plays Baseball,golf,football and Macihine hockey no problem
I am guessing your son does not play travel baseball. I know a parent of a young Machine kid. The dad would like to see his son play travel baseball. However, the commitment to the hockey prevents that from happening.
Waylon, I'm guessing your son is not on the PGA Jr Tour or playing Traveling Football, so the multiple sports your son plays along with Machine hockey does not count. It can only be legit if you play all sports at the highest level possible, all at the sametime and try to manage those schedules with your skating schedule !!