multiple A teams?

[puckboy]

I heard Edina is fielding multiple A squirt teams? Is this happening at other levels in Edina or other towns. thoughts?

[AAATourney]

I heard Edina is going with 2 squirt A teams but they will NOT be balanced (top 15 on one team and 16 thru 30 on a second team)...Maple Grove is going to do 2 squirt A teams but they are looking to balance them with 30 kids - not a good idea in my opinion...the basis for this is development which is great but when you balance them the bottom 10 kids are benefiting while the top 10 are being held back.

- I voted NO in the Poll but I would support a large association to go with 2 A teams but NOT have them be balanced...I would really be in favor of it if they went 13 kids per team...the top teams plays in the first tier tourneys and the second team plays in the second tier tourneys...the second team is going to be made up of 40% - 50% first year squirts so the decision makers have to be careful if they decide to go with balanced teams that too much competition doesn't spoil the development and the FUN for everyone involved.

[MGHockey12]

I was dissapointed to hear our association was considering 2 squirt A "Balanced" teams, 13 players each. Having coached the majority of these kids for tha last 4 years and watching a season of Squirt A, I can say that the Maple Grove Squirts will be watered down to marginal at best.

Maple Grove has 2 returning A squirts, and will have approximately 3-4 from the Osseo side. There are a handful of B1 returning that play at the A level, and maybe 2 kids from the Super Mite level.

This would put the realistic number of A players at around 13-14, plus only one goalie coming close. The remaining goalies will struggle at the B1 level.

I am definately against this and hope that the Maple Grove Board will see that this is the wrong setup for Squirts in 08-09.

[Whatthe]

heard Edina is going with 2 squirt A teams but they will NOT be balanced (top 15 on one team and 16 thru 30 on a second team).

Can field 2 teams at the same level, but not unequal teams, per D6 rules.

[AAATourney]

Whatthe, thank you for correcting my bad info -

[spin-o-rama]

heard Edina is going with 2 squirt A teams but they will NOT be balanced (top 15 on one team and 16 thru 30 on a second team).

Can field 2 teams at the same level, but not unequal teams, per D6 rules.

They can be unbalanced if the DD approves it.

10.6 Associations which have 2 or more teams at any given level shall attempt to evenly balance the player skill levels between those teams. Upon application by an Association, the District 6 Director may, in his sole discretion, grant an exception to this policy where it is believed that all involved teams, even if not evenly balanced, will nonetheless be competitive within District 6.

I think that multiple unbalanced A teams in Edina will be competitive. They have the raw numbers and the results of last year's squirt B teams in season play and in the D6 tourney show the skill depth.

Rumor last year was that Edina wanted 2 unbalanced A teams and the DD didn't grant the exception. The B team dominance and MM squirt choice league could change that. Any insight from anyone who is in the know?

[whockeyguy]

Good God these are squirts, we are talking about and now we only want 13 to a team and only the top 13 out of Edina, Give me a break, thats what is called development,, and then Maple Grove, Is this the same association that wanted to combine back with Osseo, well if you have numbers good enough to field 2 A teams there is NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO reason to look at a merge,,,,, were the heck is common sense in this,,,,,,, heck Edina can field 3 A teams and still be competitive, or did i Miss something ,, is Mn Hcokey putting on a state tournamnet for these kids so they can have the X feel also,, or did the Stanley Cup get moved to this level

[blondegirlsdad]

Any word on whether Edina decided to do the same with girls? I know there was discussion about it.

[U10Father]

Edina's U12's could easily run 2 A teams. I hope they do so the rest of D6 U12B has a chance.

[spin-o-rama]

Edina's U12's could easily run 2 A teams. I hope they do so the rest of D6 U12B has a chance.

What are you talking about? All 3 U12B teams had losing D6 records last year. Granted, some of next year's U12 players will be moving up from U10, but the U10Bs, while winning, were not dominant like Edina squirt Bs.

[Tenoverpar]

I heard Edina is applying for 2 high school hockey Varsity teams as well...

[puckfan]

So how many of these Edina/MG kids are going to be looking at playing with the most hated team on this site, the FIRE or playing at the dreaded MM?

It will be interesting to see how parents react to having their players skate on teams that will now have the top 25 to 30 kids from their association vs the top 13-15 that the traditional teams had.

Everyone that said it should be done will now get their wish it sounds like.

I can't wait pretty soon they will have only Squirt A, Peewee A and Bantam A leagues and everyone will get a trophy or medal.

[spin-o-rama]

I heard Edina is applying for 2 high school hockey Varsity teams as well...

You're off a little. Varsity will be playing WCHA and JV will be playing MSHSL.

Last year I was critical of Edina only doing 1 squirt A team. I'm sure there will be some criticism of associations doing 2(or more) A teams. I think it is a good thing as long as the teams are competitive. I would define that as .500 or better against the top string A teams.

[Can't Never Tried]

I remember when "A" hockey was the best of the best and was considered competitive hockey regardless of the level. Yes, the practices were still about development, but the idea with "A" hockey was to be competitive and win.
If you were more about just hacking around and not taking it real serious there was "C" league or house.

How can you have a true "A" team if you break them up equally?
Is there something wrong with having the very best 15 skaters play "A" hockey?
Or is everyone a "A" player today?

So what if there are dynasties....there are winners in the world, and those that want to be!

[sorno82]

What most people do not realize is that there is not a big drop-off between 10 and 30 in these huge associations. Therefore, 1 playing with 30 is not that much different than 1 and 15 playing together.

Sid the kid, Alex O, Gretzky have\had no trouble playing with significantly less skilled players, so why should a top squirt? In a couple years, the roles could be reversed-you never know.

[spin-o-rama]

CNT,
I am fine with 2 balanced teams at the squirt A level. They are 4th and 5th graders. No formal league stats are kept. Maybe there is an end of season district tourney. This is a highly developmental time. Having a stacked team for Fargo shouldn't be the big concern. However, unbalanced A teams is better than sticking A level players at the B level.

Unbalanced A teams makes more sense at PW and Bantam.

There does need to be good judgment to ensure that the teams are competitive to be fair to the other A level teams. I think my .500 rule would work.

[gilmour]

If they want to field two A teams knowing that the goal is hopefully win half of their games for the purposes of "development" than I sure hope they don't expect charge the same fees as the have in the past for their squirt A teams...meaning, if it is really about "development" than lets not spend any money on out-of-town tourneys and put the money and effort towards initiatives that develop kids - skating instructors, stick handling instructors, ice time, shooting coaches, etc...there has been a difference between A and B teams dues - if they go with 2 A teams then charge the parents the same as the B teams.

[Can't Never Tried]

Well in my honest opinion then, if they are that big.... then split.
That makes more opportunity for all players.
I believe in a pure top 15, but I will agree that if you could field another team, and it's been an ongoing growth issue that will continue, it's time to split up.
Edina used to be east/west why not go back to it?

[U10Father]

>What are you talking about? All 3 U12B teams had losing D6 records last year

Whoops, my bad. I was just basing it on the strength of last year's U10As, who pretty much dominated (along with Eden Prairie) and who I wasn't going to be crazy about my kid playing U12B against. What I forgot is if you have that many good kids, you also have that many more that aren't as good, and which will water their B teams down. So long as Edina has 60 U12s they'll pretty much suck at the B level with their talent spread out. Edina would be better off fielding two C teams if they want their B team to be better. But there isn't any U12C.

[spin-o-rama]

Well in my honest opinion then, if they are that big.... then split.
That makes more opportunity for all players.
I believe in a pure top 15, but I will agree that if you could field another team, and it's been an ongoing growth issue that will continue, it's time to split up.
Edina used to be east/west why not go back to it?

Ah, but that would result in balanced A teams that you hate and harm the dynasty that you enjoy. (I knew that you were a closet Hornet fan when you said that.)

A side issue is some associations may want to coop a super A team to combat the Wayzata/Edina type first string A teams and then we will basically have that mega division.

It's so much easier when everyone just throws their stick in the middle at the outdoor rink.

[spin-o-rama]

U10Father,
EP may be the bigger problem for you guys. Edina U10A went 1-5 against them this year. Edina's only other loss was to Rochester.

[Can't Never Tried]

Well in my honest opinion then, if they are that big.... then split.
That makes more opportunity for all players.
I believe in a pure top 15, but I will agree that if you could field another team, and it's been an ongoing growth issue that will continue, it's time to split up.
Edina used to be east/west why not go back to it?

Ah, but that would result in balanced A teams that you hate and harm the dynasty that you enjoy. (I knew that you were a closet Hornet fan when you said that.)

A side issue is some associations may want to coop a super A team to combat the Wayzata/Edina type first string A teams and then we will basically have that mega division.

It's so much easier when everyone just throws their stick in the middle at the outdoor rink.

No that's not at all what I meant, I'm saying either you play your top 15 as A players, next 15 at B etc. within your Assoc. if they kick the snot out of everyone else..so be it, but if ya gotta have more then one A team because you feel there are more A level players in your Assoc. tough hop..then split off so you can have your other A team.
Trophies for all!!
As far as an Edina closet fan I doubt it pretty funny though!

[spin-o-rama]

I knew what you meant. I had to try to get your goat, though.

I think a lot of the other D6 teams would like Edina to have 2 A teams. And that is probably better than splitting the association. Their girls program is the size of a medium small association (60 or so per level). To split it would make for struggles that other associations have with their girls programs. That would be only 1 of the negatives with a split. Having 2 A teams as needed on a year by year basis would be a better solution.

Edina's community (school district) has far less kids than in the old East/West days. Is the hockey participation rate higher today? Or were there an obscene amount of kids in those 2 associations?

[U10Father]

>U10Father,
EP may be the bigger problem for you guys. Edina U10A went 1-5 against them this year. Edina's only other loss was to Rochester.

They both kicked us around. Edina just dominated US worse.

[jancze5]

With how dominating last years Edina squirt A's were, I wouldn't feel pressed to say that the second tier of players 16-30 wouldn't be very competetive as a A team. Let's be honest, Edina is devoloping alot of young talent thanks in part to the commitment locally to the training programs at Minnesota Made along with kids with desire. Having players willing to work makes a difference.

With that said, we all know that as these boys get older stuff just changes. In the end, maybe 6-10-12 boys of any specific school year group will end up as Varsity players in high school.

I was out doing some local recruiting myself for my mens league team. We have 3 guys pushing 50ish who won't be around in 10 years, so that's about when the 98's will be getting out of high school, so I'm scouting these kids now for future roster spots...

(come on, you have to laugh at that)