*** Poll ***Alliance*** Poll***

[Judgeandjury]

Alliance Yea or Nea?

When asked why the Alliance was formed it was disclosed by two profit organizations that AAA hockey is getting watered down with all the teams forming.
With this said the Alliance was created to keep better competition playing together so it makes you wonder why both these organizations just recently offered weaker AAA teams?
Are they doing it to make AAA hockey more competitive or are they trying to make more money?

I believe without a doubt that they're trying to take over AAA hockey in Minnesota by offereing so called elite teams. By creating the Alliance they're telling other new programs that they cannot compete with them developing hockey players which means they will not allow new programs to compete in higher level tourneys.

Keep in mind that both organizations offered new team within the past two years. Keep an eye out how well both the programs do in tourneys this Spring.
One of the programs started new elite teams last year and did terrible in invite tourneys. In fact some of their other teams at a lower level would've beat them in most games.

Don't buy into the new Alliance. (Buy is the key word)

Give it some time and any of these new programs will develop players like anyone else.

[drop the puck]

what the heck is the alliance

[Judgeandjury]

what the heck is the alliance

You don't want to know.

[Daulton911]

stupidious thing I have ever heard. Its just coaches / parents / orgainzations, etc ego's getting in the way of a kids game. IMO. Summer time. Play hockey, develop, have fun.

[play4fun]

Do the kids get to wear special Alliance patches? Maybe a whole clothing line for them and their families?

I can hardly wait to comment on the color scheme and logo...

[drop the puck]

Great idea. AAA alliance teams only play other alliance teams that wear the patch on their jersey. The patch should cost $50 per jersey or $100 per player.

They can then use the money to create a paid alliance director position so that they can keep AAA hockey at its highest form.

[surehockey]

Alliance Yea or Nea?

When asked why the Alliance was formed it was disclosed by two profit organizations that AAA hockey is getting watered down with all the teams forming.
With this said the Alliance was created to keep better competition playing together so it makes you wonder why both these organizations just recently offered weaker AAA teams?
Are they doing it to make AAA hockey more competitive or are they trying to make more money?

I believe without a doubt that they're trying to take over AAA hockey in Minnesota by offereing so called elite teams. By creating the Alliance they're telling other new programs that they cannot compete with them developing hockey players which means they will not allow new programs to compete in higher level tourneys.

Keep in mind that both organizations offered new team within the past two years. Keep an eye out how well both the programs do in tourneys this Spring.
One of the programs started new elite teams last year and did terrible in invite tourneys. In fact some of their other teams at a lower level would've beat them in most games.

Don't buy into the new Alliance. (Buy is the key word)

Give it some time and any of these new programs will develop players like anyone else.

what are the programs you are talking about to watch?

[Judgeandjury]

Alliance Yea or Nea?

When asked why the Alliance was formed it was disclosed by two profit organizations that AAA hockey is getting watered down with all the teams forming.
With this said the Alliance was created to keep better competition playing together so it makes you wonder why both these organizations just recently offered weaker AAA teams?
Are they doing it to make AAA hockey more competitive or are they trying to make more money?

I believe without a doubt that they're trying to take over AAA hockey in Minnesota by offereing so called elite teams. By creating the Alliance they're telling other new programs that they cannot compete with them developing hockey players which means they will not allow new programs to compete in higher level tourneys.

Keep in mind that both organizations offered new team within the past two years. Keep an eye out how well both the programs do in tourneys this Spring.
One of the programs started new elite teams last year and did terrible in invite tourneys. In fact some of their other teams at a lower level would've beat them in most games.

Don't buy into the new Alliance. (Buy is the key word)

Give it some time and any of these new programs will develop players like anyone else.

what are the programs you are talking about to watch?

No names at this time. I can say one program is from Edina and some people think it's a good Choice to play there if you know what I mean?
The other program likes to Showcase their players and claim they have elite teams that cannot win games. These two started the alliance to make more money and some people are buying into it. I'd rather not disclose their names at this time for fear this topic will be locked or deleted.

[surehockey]

Thanks!!! Still learning all of this stuff and different "types" of youth hockey, (its only taken me 9 years!!!)

[Judgeandjury]

Thanks!!! Still learning all of this stuff and different "types" of youth hockey, (its only taken me 9 years!!!)

If you get time go listen to Mernie McHockey some time. He'll give you the sales pitch of a life time that he thinks all kids can be world class athletes if they devote time, effort and most important Dad's money to his clinics. So you have 7,8,9 and 10 year old kids getting more ice time than the association kids which will automatically make his kids better by getting more ice time at a young age. So the parents compare their kids with Mernie's training versus the association kids development in most cases it's not even close so the parents get really excited and spend even more money on Mernie's clinics only to find out when the kids are about 12 talent will take over regardless where they learned how to play.
Then he'll give you the speach how he developed his kid to be a world class athlete only building off a dream. (and endless hours at the rink - really being developed by ooutside elite programs)

It is a heart warming story that many people buy into.

[play4fun]

Thanks!!! Still learning all of this stuff and different "types" of youth hockey, (its only taken me 9 years!!!)

If you get time go listen to Mernie McHockey some time. He'll give you the sales pitch of a life time that he thinks all kids can be world class athletes if they devote time, effort and most important Dad's money to his clinics. So you have 7,8,9 and 10 year old kids getting more ice time than the association kids which will automatically make his kids better by getting more ice time at a young age. So the parents compare their kids with Mernie's training versus the association kids development in most cases it's not even close so the parents get really excited and spend even more money on Mernie's clinics only to find out when the kids are about 12 talent will take over regardless where they learned how to play.
Then he'll give you the speach how he developed his kid to be a world class athlete only building off a dream. (and endless hours at the rink - really being developed by ooutside elite programs)

It is a heart warming story that many people buy into.

Judge,

I won't argue that there are parents who want to believe that their kids are going to be among the select few who will make it to higher levels in hockey, regardless of their kids' actual abilities. There will always be parents who think they can propel their kids to elite status by buying an extra edge, whatever form that takes.

That said, I'm interpreting the McHockey bashing to be nothing more than sour grapes from a disillusioned parent. Either your expectations weren't met, or your kid isn't living up to your hopes and dreams? That's not a shot at you, but really -- what's your issue with Bernie?

I've listened to his talks personally a few times. In addition to talking about his views on development, he's also made a repeated point of letting parents know that if they have any questions about their player, that he'll provide his take, BUT that they may not like what they hear. While he does sell his program, I haven't found that he sugarcoats his opinions about individual kids' abilities or weaknesses.

It is up to parents to look out for the best interests of their own kids. If they are dillusional about their kids' potential, they'll find a way too spend more than they should on programs that ultimately won't make a difference. Buyer beware -- better yet -- be realistic. Easier said than done for some.

To your point about more ice time automatically making kids better, I agree to an extent. However, I've seen lots of kids skating countless hours at outside rinks that are never going to develop beyond average skaters, because they aren't receiving coaching on how to skate. MM provides the hours and the coaching. The two really go hand in hand. Don't they?

[Judgeandjury]

Thanks!!! Still learning all of this stuff and different "types" of youth hockey, (its only taken me 9 years!!!)

If you get time go listen to Mernie McHockey some time. He'll give you the sales pitch of a life time that he thinks all kids can be world class athletes if they devote time, effort and most important Dad's money to his clinics. So you have 7,8,9 and 10 year old kids getting more ice time than the association kids which will automatically make his kids better by getting more ice time at a young age. So the parents compare their kids with Mernie's training versus the association kids development in most cases it's not even close so the parents get really excited and spend even more money on Mernie's clinics only to find out when the kids are about 12 talent will take over regardless where they learned how to play.
Then he'll give you the speach how he developed his kid to be a world class athlete only building off a dream. (and endless hours at the rink - really being developed by ooutside elite programs)

It is a heart warming story that many people buy into.

Judge,

I won't argue that there are parents who want to believe that their kids are going to be among the select few who will make it to higher levels in hockey, regardless of their kids' actual abilities. There will always be parents who think they can propel their kids to elite status by buying an extra edge, whatever form that takes.

That said, I'm interpreting the McHockey bashing to be nothing more than sour grapes from a disillusioned parent. Either your expectations weren't met, or your kid isn't living up to your hopes and dreams? That's not a shot at you, but really -- what's your issue with Bernie?

I've listened to his talks personally a few times. In addition to talking about his views on development, he's also made a repeated point of letting parents know that if they have any questions about their player, that he'll provide his take, BUT that they may not like what they hear. While he does sell his program, I haven't found that he sugarcoats his opinions about individual kids' abilities or weaknesses.

It is up to parents to look out for the best interests of their own kids. If they are dillusional about their kids' potential, they'll find a way too spend more than they should on programs that ultimately won't make a difference. Buyer beware -- better yet -- be realistic. Easier said than done for some.

To your point about more ice time automatically making kids better, I agree to an extent. However, I've seen lots of kids skating countless hours at outside rinks that are never going to develop beyond average skaters, because they aren't receiving coaching on how to skate. MM provides the hours and the coaching. The two really go hand in hand. Don't they?

You are right they do go hand in hand. I have no problem with that. Let me tell you a story without disclosing too much info.

I have a friend that decided to leave one of the alliance AAA teams this year to play for another program. When this family was at the made he was treated with respect as long as he spent the money to develop his son.
The minute he decided he was going to leave the made to play for another program he made the black list.
His new AAA team was invited to play in an alliance tourney but he was told that his son and another metro area boy cannot play in the tournament because his son and the other boy were not alliance players. Keep in mind the team that was invited to play isn't an alliance team either.
How can some one running a tourney tell another parent that they're son cannot play in a tourney because he's not part of the alliance and his new team isn't part of the alliance?
This is flat out wrong. Now we have alliance teams making special rules. Of course the real and only reason these two boys aren't allowed to play is the fact that they both left the alliance program to play with another program. Who cares?
Now why would Mernie McHockey do this? How would it look if some former players come in and play for another solid team and win some games and have fun doing it? Oh no, some more people might leave his little hockey haven for bigger and better things. He's trying to corner youth hockey to make money and nothing but money. You can buy into his development speech and promises of world class athlete talk if you want. That's fine. But you cannot have one guy so powerful that he can dictate who plays on the team he invites.