Trouble a brewin' with Wayzata Peewee A

[flatontheice]

No to reignite the flame, but there were rumors circulating that one parent who knows what it takes to be a good coach; and is not to fond of over involved parents himself, was looking for alternatives for his kid (his older boy left before eligibility expired to play junior). The beneficiaries of the current situation appear to be Benilde and possibly Blake.

Mario?

[walk on water]

Nothing wrong with either of them. They both have their hearts in the right place. We as parents turn these things into brew-has. We are all so worried about the polotics we forget the kids. 99% of the kids forget about a loss 20 minutes after a game. We stew about it for weeks. You are lucky to have this quality of people involved in your program. I know many associations out there wish they had people with these credentials. I'm not from your district but my son has played for LP and we know the other dad. They are both greay guys .

[mngopherfan]

No to reignite the flame, but there were rumors circulating that one parent who knows what it takes to be a good coach; and is not to fond of over involved parents himself, was looking for alternatives for his kid (his older boy left before eligibility expired to play junior). The beneficiaries of the current situation appear to be Benilde and possibly Blake.

Mario?

Is he moving up this year? I saw that the HS squad lost A LOT from their team last season...

[thinkb4engaging]

Too late now to make a move for the 9th grader you have in mind-though I think it is all just hot air. He had his chance to move and did not take the opportunity before his 1st day of 9th grade. Now his parents need to move residences or sit out a year. Doubt he will be ALLOWED to move up to high school at Wayzata.

[bananastick]

Too late now to make a move for the 9th grader you have in mind-though I think it is all just hot air. He had his chance to move and did not take the opportunity before his 1st day of 9th grade. Now his parents need to move residences or sit out a year. Doubt he will be ALLOWED to move up to high school at Wayzata.

Tell me the last time a 9th grader played on the HS team at Wayzata? Blake Wheeler wanted to try-out and was told no.

[sorno82]

Tell me the last time a 9th grader played on the HS team at Wayzata? Blake Wheeler wanted to try-out and was told no.

Wow, that was a brilliant move. A blue chip player who actually wanted to play at Wayzata and they shut him down. Edina let Everson play even though they were stacked.

[hockeyknight]

Let the kids play a game they love to play for those reasons.......it's not about you as parents and BTW, be glad you have quality coaches to coach your kids. BTW, pretty sure none of your kids are going to play beyond high school....so relax and enjoy their youth.....

[iceman23]

Every time we have skated with LP the team has revoled around his Kid. He is a poor choice because he is just positioning himself to continue to faor his kid. Lance should stay in the stands!

[spin-o-rama]

Every time we have skated with LP the team has revoled around his Kid. He is a poor choice because he is just positioning himself to continue to faor his kid. Lance should stay in the stands!

All the revoling and faoring are going to be the runition of Wayzata hockey.

[woodley]

Every time we have skated with LP the team has revoled around his Kid. He is a poor choice because he is just positioning himself to continue to faor his kid. Lance should stay in the stands!

All the revoling and faoring are going to be the runition of Wayzata hockey.

That's just rediculous!

[Toomuchtoosoon]

I am hearing a lot of talk on how the squirt tryouts were rigged. People without kids involved are shaking there heads.

[Fire and Ice]

What makes LP more qualified to coach the PW A team at Wayzata than the current coaches?

Because he played in the NHL; that doesn't make you a good coach.

I wanted make sure no one wrote that because I have seen plenty of high caliber players that make very poor coaches. Believe it or not they can't teach what they were very good at it.

Now if you would answer the above question. Thank you.

[Toomuchtoosoon]

Actually, LP is a great coach. He cares about the kids and does a great job. The real problem is the fact that he is a parent and has established relationships with many other parents that have kids that get along with his kids. He will hold clinics and skate with these kids which is innocent and decent. The problem comes whe he has a say on which kids make the A team and who doesn't. He may be totally honest in his evaluations, but the perception is that the kid who is friends with his kid will get the advantage. IT is human nature. Wayzata avoided the issue by leaving the current peewee A coaching staff in place.

The current controversy in Wayzata is the potentially rigged squirt tryout. Great guy and coach runnning the team, but the kids who made the A team have been skating together for some time before the tryout. Many parents feel that the team was decided well before the tryout. You can't blame them since it appears some kids leapfrogged about 10 others. The dads are active in the association and have done a lot of good things, but their have lost a lot of respect since no one believes their kids legitimately made the team. There is a lot of talent in the organization, so picking any of the top 30 to fill the last few spots won't impact the quality of the team, but the integrety of the process is compromised. Kids and parents know when the fix is in. The sad fact is many kids quit the game all together when they know it isn't fair. The parents involved should be embarrassed by their actions, but they are too tied into their kids status to give a crap.

I am hearing this from people who do not have a kid involved, but are still disgusted that Wayzata would let crap like this go on. It is absolutely pathetic, but the Wayzata board does not have the balls to step in and rectify the situation. I saw it with my kids growing up, and it appears to be getting worse. Use a non-parent coach without ties to the organization if you want to be legitimate, or deal with kids giving up since they think that no matter what they do, they will not have a fair chance.

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

solution?

1. Have two A teams made up of the best 30 skaters in the program.

2. Have three A teams made up of the best 45 skaters in the program.

Go Wayzata... be the one that benefits develop of the kids before winning as young adults.

[puckfan]

The current controversy in Wayzata is the potentially rigged squirt tryout. Great guy and coach runnning the team, but the kids who made the A team have been skating together for some time before the tryout. Many parents feel that the team was decided well before the tryout. You can't blame them since it appears some kids leapfrogged about 10 others. The dads are active in the association and have done a lot of good things, but their have lost a lot of respect since no one believes their kids legitimately made the team. There is a lot of talent in the organization, so picking any of the top 30 to fill the last few spots won't impact the quality of the team, but the integrety of the process is compromised. Kids and parents know when the fix is in. The sad fact is many kids quit the game all together when they know it isn't fair. The parents involved should be embarrassed by their actions, but they are too tied into their kids status to give a crap.

I am hearing this from people who do not have a kid involved, but are still disgusted that Wayzata would let crap like this go on. It is absolutely pathetic, but the Wayzata board does not have the balls to step in and rectify the situation. I saw it with my kids growing up, and it appears to be getting worse. Use a non-parent coach without ties to the organization if you want to be legitimate, or deal with kids giving up since they think that no matter what they do, they will not have a fair chance.

If there are many players that are the on the bubble, say 10-15, and the coach is making that decision, maybe it comes down to the parent factor

[gopherwannabe]

Politics happen in all associations in all sports. However, the politics have been really bad in the past 3-5 years in Wayzata. Why have they been
so bad? The answer is very easy. Mr. LP.

I know, I know , he does a great job teaching skills. But, many other coaches are just as good. The difference is that they try to develop all of the kids. He just wants to coach the so-called elite ones or his friend's kids.

It is baffling to many, why the Wayzata hockey board doesn't tell him to go away. He may put on a great dog and pony show, but it is obvious that he is all about developing his own boys and only wants his boys to play with certain kids.

At the end of the day he is just another over the top parent who happened
to play NHL hockey.

[muckandgrind]

I'm not connected to the Wayzata program in anyway, so I don't know if what some people are saying about LP is true.

What I WILL say, however, is that if you are going to call out a person by name on a public message board like this, you shouldn't hide behind a screen name. It's pretty easy to hurl insults at someone by name when you are doing it anonomously. Not so easy if you identify yourself when doing it.

[My_Kid_Loves_Hockey]

For all you that seem to know Lance so well that you can comment on his coaching abilities/motives/big plans, please have him contact me so I can put him in touch with our association, we unlike Wayzata feel that you can never have enough quality coaches.

[gopherwannabe]

Muck and Grind-I only speak the truth.

Honestly, I am terrified of "LP" and his followers.

[MNHawker]

For all you that seem to know Lance so well that you can comment on his coaching abilities/motives/big plans, please have him contact me so I can put him in touch with our association, we unlike Wayzata feel that you can never have enough quality coaches.

Ditto...

LP, bring your whole Family northeast bound; we would welcome your presence...
Bring your Posse too...
The Lakes Area or TPC has Beautiful Housing, and now more affordable than ever.
Plus - 8 sheets of Ice in one building, right in your Backyard.
Also, A Solid Summer AAA Developmental Program Growing Rapidly which uses this same building…
No Pre-Madonna’s, just a bunch of Blue collar (well some white) worker’s getting it done.

[spin-o-rama]

For all you that seem to know Lance so well that you can comment on his coaching abilities/motives/big plans, please have him contact me so I can put him in touch with our association, we unlike Wayzata feel that you can never have enough quality coaches.

Ditto...

LP, bring your whole Family northeast bound; we would welcome your presence...
Bring your Posse too...
The Lakes Area or TPC has Beautiful Housing, and now more affordable than ever.
Plus - 8 sheets of Ice in one building, right in your Backyard.
Also, A Solid Summer AAA Developmental Program Growing Rapidly which uses this same building…
No Pre-Madonna’s, just a bunch of Blue collar (well some white) worker’s getting it done.

You forgot to mention that it is a Pre-melocation.
(Sorry, couldn't resist)

[guilford]

LP is a great coach because he researches what works for this age group and applies it accordingly. He teaches the kids more about teamwork than any coach we have ever had in any sport, including short shifts to preserve energy, proper nutrition, sleep requirements, etc. Although not part of his "posse," we never had any complaints about anything with him - period. We can tell which kids have been coached by him or not. He doesn't allow selfish play, puck-hogging, temper tantrums, all that stuff.

[edge]

Wow, sounds like gopherwannabe has all the answers, I can't believe throwing a guy under the bus while keeping his own mask on. Any program would love to have the problem of to many good coaches.
LP's kids are very gifted and seem to be nice humble kids.
gopherwannabe remember its a game for the kids and it only last a short period of time, try enjoy the ride and you may want to tend to some bridges.

[gilmour]

It sucks when anonymous people start taking digs at volunteers - without the volunteers, whether they are board members, concession managers, equipment coordinators or coaches, we have nothing. Maybe try getting involved to help fix the problems because every association has their share of issues.

If you think any tryout process is going to be perfect than wakeup...it isn't. Do your best to put your son or daughter in the best position to succeed and hope for the best.

As for parent coaches, I would suggest that the parent coach not be given a chance to pick the last five...have the evaluators pick the 15 and hand them over to the coach...I bet the coach would prefer to have it that way so he or she wouldn't have to deal with the emotional situations related to cutting or keeping his friends kid.

[gopherwannabe]

All I know is that my kid and a few others aren't playing Squirt A when they clearly should be. How can they make the final 24 last year as 1st years but they don't make the team this year as 2nd years?

Here is the answer I rec'd when I asked that question. "LP is an evaluator and he picked his buddy's kids."

But you're right, I'm the bad guy for writing the truth about Mr. LP.

Also, I am going to take your advice and speak with Mr. LP directly about his favoritism towards his friend's kid's.