***Alliance teams***

[Judgeandjury]

I was talking to someone "in the know" last night and he told me that the Alliance is "no more", in fact, it never officially "was". I realize that Capra still references it on the Easton website, but that doesn't mean anything. So all this complaining about something that doesn't even exist is all for nought.

Muckandgrind- You are so wrong! Without disclosing too much information I know metro area kids that were part of the alliance teams last year that chose to play for newer programs this year that aren't allowed to play in certain alliance tourneys. Do your home work and ask around. The people running these tourneys are excluding metro area kids that used to play for their programs. 100% truth.
The reason they're excluding kids that used to play with them is the fact they don't want other parents to see that there are greener pastures for the kids.

I think the Easton website says some thing like this:

Team Easton AAA Hockey Club
One Of The Top AAA Invitational Hockey Clubs In The Metro Area And A Member Of The Minnesota United AAA Hockey AllianceInspired to help athletes become their best...without sacrificing other sports, cost and being a kid!

I mentioned the fact in my previous post that the Easton website still has the "Alliance" mentioned, but if you knew Bob Capra, that wouldn't surprise you. At one time he claimed the Blades were part of this alliance, which was a lie.

Like I said, whatever "Alliance" there is is just Tim Hawkinson and Bernie McBain, and I was told that McBain was pulling out to leave just Hawkinson, who runs Showcase, Easton and CCM. The Cylones/Legacy are going through their own issues as evidenced by the name change.

Just because some teams weren't allowed to register in the Meltdown or Easton does not mean the "Alliance" is at work. Like I said, let's see how this plays out. We haven't seen any brackets for any tournaments yet. It could be some teams were "allowed" to register because they were wanted to make room for the CCM teams, which Tim Hawkinson controls.

That being said, I know that, at the very least, there was an intention of creating an "alliance" among several separate entities to shut other programs out...which is stupid and may be the reason why the Magicians started the Warrior Cup and why the Icemen started the Caribou Coffee Classic.

I'm not defending Showcase, MM or anyone else. I don't have an issue with them preventing weaker teams from entering their tournaments, but shutting out quality programs is stupid and will only hurt them in the long run.

This is my concern about the alliance:
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.

[dogeatdog1]

Blacklisting 10 year olds will get him lots of $$$$. Let MONEY MCbernie cut his own throat if he is that dumb... tough to believe he would be so arrogant.. but you never know.

[muckandgrind]

Muckandgrind- You are so wrong! Without disclosing too much information I know metro area kids that were part of the alliance teams last year that chose to play for newer programs this year that aren't allowed to play in certain alliance tourneys. Do your home work and ask around. The people running these tourneys are excluding metro area kids that used to play for their programs. 100% truth.
The reason they're excluding kids that used to play with them is the fact they don't want other parents to see that there are greener pastures for the kids.

I think the Easton website says some thing like this:

Team Easton AAA Hockey Club
One Of The Top AAA Invitational Hockey Clubs In The Metro Area And A Member Of The Minnesota United AAA Hockey AllianceInspired to help athletes become their best...without sacrificing other sports, cost and being a kid!

I mentioned the fact in my previous post that the Easton website still has the "Alliance" mentioned, but if you knew Bob Capra, that wouldn't surprise you. At one time he claimed the Blades were part of this alliance, which was a lie.

Like I said, whatever "Alliance" there is is just Tim Hawkinson and Bernie McBain, and I was told that McBain was pulling out to leave just Hawkinson, who runs Showcase, Easton and CCM. The Cylones/Legacy are going through their own issues as evidenced by the name change.

Just because some teams weren't allowed to register in the Meltdown or Easton does not mean the "Alliance" is at work. Like I said, let's see how this plays out. We haven't seen any brackets for any tournaments yet. It could be some teams were "allowed" to register because they were wanted to make room for the CCM teams, which Tim Hawkinson controls.

That being said, I know that, at the very least, there was an intention of creating an "alliance" among several separate entities to shut other programs out...which is stupid and may be the reason why the Magicians started the Warrior Cup and why the Icemen started the Caribou Coffee Classic.

I'm not defending Showcase, MM or anyone else. I don't have an issue with them preventing weaker teams from entering their tournaments, but shutting out quality programs is stupid and will only hurt them in the long run.

This is my concern about the alliance:
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.

I find this really hard to believe. You are saying that a 'Non-alliance" AAA team was invited to play in a tournament, but was told one of their players couldn't participate??? I know of a player who will be playing in the upcoming Meltdown tournament who just last year played on the Machine....are you saying that he better be careful that McBain doesn't see his name on a roster of this "non-alliance" team because he will be barred from entering the arena??? This is preposterous.

Take a look at the Meltdown Open tournament....other than Showcase and CCM, where are all the so-called "Alliance" teams? How about the Arvada Ice Cats, the Denver Jr Pioneers, the Minnesota Flames, The Extreme, Minnesota Ice Hogs, Fire South, Breakaway, Northern Wings, the NW Prospects, Team South Dakota, etc......ALL "non-alliance" teams, how on Earth did they ever gain entry to an "Alliance" tournament?? I really believe this is all a bunch of nonsense.

[Judgeandjury]

You can believe what you want. I still claim the Choice leagues are great but that's because the kids get more ice time throughout the winter. I have nothing against the Choice leagues it's the summer teams that are a joke.
Keep in mind all year long the Machine team is the main focus at Minnesota made. Every revolves around the Machine. The Deuce, Snipers and Grinders are left behind in importance. Mernie McHockey makes sure to have younger kids play up so they can get more ice time playing against better kids so the Machine will benefit the next year. Most of the kids on the 2000 machine that played in the Choice squirt league were in over their head. Great benefit for the 2000 kids.

If you doubt this story call Mernie McHockey and ask him. Ask him if he's allowing non-alliance metro area kids to play for the non-alliance team and let me know what he says.

[muckandgrind]

You can believe what you want. I still claim the Choice leagues are great but that's because the kids get more ice time throughout the winter. I have nothing against the Choice leagues it's the summer teams that are a joke.
Keep in mind all year long the Machine team is the main focus at Minnesota made. Every revolves around the Machine. The Deuce, Snipers and Grinders are left behind in importance. Mernie McHockey makes sure to have younger kids play up so they can get more ice time playing against better kids so the Machine will benefit the next year. Most of the kids on the 2000 machine that played in the Choice squirt league were in over their head. Great benefit for the 2000 kids.

If you doubt this story call Mernie McHockey and ask him. Ask him if he's allowing non-alliance metro area kids to play for the non-alliance team and let me know what he says.

I can do better than that, I KNOW of former MM (Machine) players who have made the switch and ARE playing in so-called "Alliance" tournaments.

I understand that McBain can be a blow hard, but he doesn't possess as much power as you seem to think he does. Another example, Snuggerud, who coached the 95 Machine last year had a big "fall-out" with McBain and left MM with a majority of the team to play for Breakaway Hockey. If McBain were as powerful as you say he is, then explain how Team "Breakaway" will be in the Meltdown in a couple of weeks. While you're at it, explain how McBain allows the Legacy to be part of the so-called "Alliance" when they were formed by disgruntled former Machine coaches???

[Judgeandjury]

Like I said believe what you want. I can only tell you what happened to my buddy. His kid is not allowed to play with his new team and Bernie used the alliance story to keep two players out of the tourney.

With being part of Minnesota made for the past two years I know Mernie McHockey is more than paranoid at anything that moves. If anyone is a threat to his business he doesn't waste time getting rid of them. Please believe I'm not on here making up stories.

I guess people will have to give it some time and hopefully Mernie McHockeys true identity will shine through.

[muckandgrind]

Like I said believe what you want. I can only tell you what happened to my buddy. His kid is not allowed to play with his new team and Bernie used the alliance story to keep two players out of the tourney.

With being part of Minnesota made for the past two years I know Mernie McHockey is more than paranoid at anything that moves. If anyone is a threat to his business he doesn't waste time getting rid of them. Please believe I'm not on here making up stories.

I guess people will have to give it some time and hopefully Mernie McHockeys true identity will shine through.

At least tell us what team he is not allowed to play for...you don't even have to say what birth year.

There must be more to this story, because I know of many former coaches and players alike who left MM under less than amicable circumstances and will be playing in so-called "Alliance" tournaments for so-called "Non-Alliance" teams.

[Judgeandjury]

Like I said believe what you want. I can only tell you what happened to my buddy. His kid is not allowed to play with his new team and Bernie used the alliance story to keep two players out of the tourney.

With being part of Minnesota made for the past two years I know Mernie McHockey is more than paranoid at anything that moves. If anyone is a threat to his business he doesn't waste time getting rid of them. Please believe I'm not on here making up stories.

I guess people will have to give it some time and hopefully Mernie McHockeys true identity will shine through.

At least tell us what team he is not allowed to play for...you don't even have to say what birth year.

There must be more to this story, because I know of many former coaches and players alike who left MM under less than amicable circumstances and will be playing in so-called "Alliance" tournaments for so-called "Non-Alliance" teams.

That's what doesn't make sense in this case. The only thing I can think of is Mernie McHockey doesn't like when younger kids leave and join newer programs. If this happens then other parents question why some one left the beloved Minnesota made. If they see another player paying less money and receives the same amount of ice time I think Mernie McHockey feels potentially more and more kids could leave in the future. This year Minnesota made lost a fair share of kids on their AAA teams more so than usual and he doesn't want that to be a trend. If new programs open up with the same amount of ice time at a better price and closer to home people will bail. Since this is a business Mernie McHockey isn't playing nice.

[stupidiswhatstupiddoes]

Nobama, although I like your name, I do not agree. Subway is one of the top tournaments in the summer. Check the web site, top Canadien teams plus most Machine and Blades teams. I'm not sure if you can find a better summer tourny. 96 Machine won the tourny in Detroit (Showdown in Motown). Machine and Blades do very well in the big tournaments. Other MN AAA teams do not do as well , that is why people hate the Blades and Machine. We all hate winners.

Mernie McHockey is trying to create the best tourney in town and using the alliance to do it. He's trying to make the Stars and Stripes tourney the real deal.
Problem is he's already inviting non-alliance teams to play in it. I heard one out of town team is using metro area non-alliance kids to play in it.

I was talking to someone "in the know" last night and he told me that the Alliance is "no more", in fact, it never officially "was". I realize that Capra still references it on the Easton website, but that doesn't mean anything. So all this complaining about something that doesn't even exist is all for nought.

The Alliance was and is still in play - Showcase, Minnesota Made and the other Alliance teams use the Alliance concept when it is beneficial to their programs but there are definitely cracks starting to appear in the unification of Showcase, Minnesota Made, Monopoly and Cyclones/Legacy/whatever they are called now.

If you are part of the Alliance it doesn't mean you have to play in their tournaments, it just means you can get into their tournaments.

I really don't care if there is an Alliance or not - what I found funny was how tough Showcase thought they were with putting this together - TH acted like a real JA and thought he had it all figured out by basically saying I will control the AAA league, AAA tournaments, AAA Open Teams and AAA Invite Teams.

He, in essence, created internal competition with the Easton Teams (which he tried to hide and cover up last year saying they weren't part of Showcase - that was a lie) and the Open Teams. Also, by creating Invite teams but not sending them to reciprocate in tournaments that are put on by teams that have been loyal to the Meltdown and Easton became a problem - he didn't want to spend the money so the Easton team parents get to pay Invite Team dues but never have to really pay to play in a tournament - hhmmmmm.

[Judgeandjury]

Mernie McHockey is trying to create the best tourney in town and using the alliance to do it. He's trying to make the Stars and Stripes tourney the real deal.
Problem is he's already inviting non-alliance teams to play in it. I heard one out of town team is using metro area non-alliance kids to play in it.

I was talking to someone "in the know" last night and he told me that the Alliance is "no more", in fact, it never officially "was". I realize that Capra still references it on the Easton website, but that doesn't mean anything. So all this complaining about something that doesn't even exist is all for nought.

The Alliance was and is still in play - Showcase, Minnesota Made and the other Alliance teams use the Alliance concept when it is beneficial to their programs but there are definitely cracks starting to appear in the unification of Showcase, Minnesota Made, Monopoly and Cyclones/Legacy/whatever they are called now.

If you are part of the Alliance it doesn't mean you have to play in their tournaments, it just means you can get into their tournaments.

I really don't care if there is an Alliance or not - what I found funny was how tough Showcase thought they were with putting this together - TH acted like a real JA and thought he had it all figured out by basically saying I will control the AAA league, AAA tournaments, AAA Open Teams and AAA Invite Teams.

He, in essence, created internal competition with the Easton Teams (which he tried to hide and cover up last year saying they weren't part of Showcase - that was a lie) and the Open Teams. Also, by creating Invite teams but not sending them to reciprocate in tournaments that are put on by teams that have been loyal to the Meltdown and Easton became a problem - he didn't want to spend the money so the Easton team parents get to pay Invite Team dues but never have to really pay to play in a tournament - hhmmmmm.

I agree! The alliance is alive and these programs will twist and turn and create rules to benefit their programs. Even if this means trying to corner the market on AAA hockey.
I don't care who you are, or what you do, you cannot tell people they cannot have their kids play for other teams if they choose to leave your program. Then ask yourself do you really want your kids playing for these programs?

[muckandgrind]

I was talking to someone "in the know" last night and he told me that the Alliance is "no more", in fact, it never officially "was". I realize that Capra still references it on the Easton website, but that doesn't mean anything. So all this complaining about something that doesn't even exist is all for nought.

The Alliance was and is still in play - Showcase, Minnesota Made and the other Alliance teams use the Alliance concept when it is beneficial to their programs but there are definitely cracks starting to appear in the unification of Showcase, Minnesota Made, Monopoly and Cyclones/Legacy/whatever they are called now.

If you are part of the Alliance it doesn't mean you have to play in their tournaments, it just means you can get into their tournaments.

I really don't care if there is an Alliance or not - what I found funny was how tough Showcase thought they were with putting this together - TH acted like a real JA and thought he had it all figured out by basically saying I will control the AAA league, AAA tournaments, AAA Open Teams and AAA Invite Teams.

He, in essence, created internal competition with the Easton Teams (which he tried to hide and cover up last year saying they weren't part of Showcase - that was a lie) and the Open Teams. Also, by creating Invite teams but not sending them to reciprocate in tournaments that are put on by teams that have been loyal to the Meltdown and Easton became a problem - he didn't want to spend the money so the Easton team parents get to pay Invite Team dues but never have to really pay to play in a tournament - hhmmmmm.

I agree! The alliance is alive and these programs will twist and turn and create rules to benefit their programs. Even if this means trying to corner the market on AAA hockey.
I don't care who you are, or what you do, you cannot tell people they cannot have their kids play for other teams if they choose to leave your program. Then ask yourself do you really want your kids playing for these programs?

You keep basing McBain, and yet you still keep your son involved with his program....I don't get it. If I had as much of an issue with him as you did, I would've yanked my kid along time ago.

[buttend]

Keep in mind the reason why this alliance was formed to keep new AAA programs from starting up competitive teams. Competitive teams will take good players away from their programs which equals less money.
With that said the two programs that started the alliance have both watered down AAA hockey by forming weaker teams to make more money. I fear that each year this so called alliance will accept more and more teams if they feel the need. So the two money making programs will soon be making a lot of money and dictating where teams play AAA summer hockey.

The concept of the Alliance, created by Showcase, Mn Made, Cylcones ( Legacy) was to strengthen their teams/programs. Make their programs more attractive to the better players. Creating better competition for out-state AAA teams. Bacically creating a dividing line in the sand between AAA and AA levels in the Twin Cities metro area.

Right or Wrong this is the concept

Cyclones, Deuce, Easton, Easton, Machine being AAA ( Invite)
Snipers Grinders, Showcase teams for AA ( Open)

MM and Showacase can not attract the top teams from Canada and the Midwest ( IL, MI, WI,MO) to tournaments because of the talent level of teams in the MN tournaments. Top teams are not going to come to MN spend the time and money to play against the St Croix AllStars and win 12-0. The top outstate teams want to play the Blades and the Machine. There are enough players in the metro area to support 5-6 good teams hence the concept. The Blades teams at the older levels are skipping MN events because of this. Now the younger Blades teams are playing MN tournaments but they are playing in Alliance events. Why? Because they have the best teams available playing in them! This is the exact reason for the Alliance. If you want your son playing against the best teams you will have to have your son on one of those teams. BTW Stars ans Stripes will be the best local event this summer. with the best teams at all age groups.

Now that the TC area has 50+ AAA teams per age level and growing , thus watering down the talent per team, there was the desire to create that AAA, AA level.

Take a look at the Winter season at any A level. The top teams want to play the top teams when playing in tournaments. The Top metro A teams Edina, EP, Wayzata, OMG, Woodbury, WBL etc would not enter their teams in small association tournaments. These teams always enter the same events because those event are "Invite Only" events and draw the best teams. You will not see Edina and Wayzata teams in the Two Harbors open!

SQA
Fargo
Bloomington
Edina Invite

PWA

EP Tourney
Roseau Tourney
Edina Tourney

Bantam A

Shattuck
Edina
Roseau

Duluth also has great tournaments at all levels


Blades Teams in MN Events 2000-1995

Meltdown (96,98,99,00)
Stars and Stripes (96,99)
AAA Classic (99.00)
Easton Cup

Other MN events attended by Blades teams. 3 all by the 2000 Blades
LSS Stars, Icemen Cup, Intl Cup.

The 95 and 97 Blades are not playing in any MN events?

[trippedovertheblueline]

99' Blades are not playing in the MN Meltdown, they are playing in the Stars and Stripes.

[Judgeandjury]

The Alliance was and is still in play - Showcase, Minnesota Made and the other Alliance teams use the Alliance concept when it is beneficial to their programs but there are definitely cracks starting to appear in the unification of Showcase, Minnesota Made, Monopoly and Cyclones/Legacy/whatever they are called now.

If you are part of the Alliance it doesn't mean you have to play in their tournaments, it just means you can get into their tournaments.

I really don't care if there is an Alliance or not - what I found funny was how tough Showcase thought they were with putting this together - TH acted like a real JA and thought he had it all figured out by basically saying I will control the AAA league, AAA tournaments, AAA Open Teams and AAA Invite Teams.

He, in essence, created internal competition with the Easton Teams (which he tried to hide and cover up last year saying they weren't part of Showcase - that was a lie) and the Open Teams. Also, by creating Invite teams but not sending them to reciprocate in tournaments that are put on by teams that have been loyal to the Meltdown and Easton became a problem - he didn't want to spend the money so the Easton team parents get to pay Invite Team dues but never have to really pay to play in a tournament - hhmmmmm.

I agree! The alliance is alive and these programs will twist and turn and create rules to benefit their programs. Even if this means trying to corner the market on AAA hockey.
I don't care who you are, or what you do, you cannot tell people they cannot have their kids play for other teams if they choose to leave your program. Then ask yourself do you really want your kids playing for these programs?

You keep basing McBain, and yet you still keep your son involved with his program....I don't get it. If I had as much of an issue with him as you did, I would've yanked my kid along time ago.

Muck- As I've stated before his Choice leagues are second to none. There isn't a Mite league in the state that can touch MM. The Choice squirt league teams could beat most squirt A teams and majority of squirt B teams depending on goalies. With that said Mernie McHockey doesn't have any direct contact with any of the Choice teams with the exception of creating practice plans for the coaches. Otherwise you really never see Mernie McHockey. The problem started with AAA hockey when he told my buddy his kid cannot play in his tourney. When asked why he stated that the kids are not part of the alliance but either is their new team. So the out of metro area kids can play in his tourney but the kids that live in the metro area cannot play.
I think I've beaten this subject to death. If you do not believe me you can always ask Mernie McHockey himself. I'm sure he'll find a way to justify his reasons.

[muckandgrind]

I agree! The alliance is alive and these programs will twist and turn and create rules to benefit their programs. Even if this means trying to corner the market on AAA hockey.
I don't care who you are, or what you do, you cannot tell people they cannot have their kids play for other teams if they choose to leave your program. Then ask yourself do you really want your kids playing for these programs?

You keep basing McBain, and yet you still keep your son involved with his program....I don't get it. If I had as much of an issue with him as you did, I would've yanked my kid along time ago.

Muck- As I've stated before his Choice leagues are second to none. There isn't a Mite league in the state that can touch MM. The Choice squirt league teams could beat most squirt A teams and majority of squirt B teams depending on goalies. With that said Mernie McHockey doesn't have any direct contact with any of the Choice teams with the exception of creating practice plans for the coaches. Otherwise you really never see Mernie McHockey. The problem started with AAA hockey when he told my buddy his kid cannot play in his tourney. When asked why he stated that the kids are not part of the alliance but either is their new team. So the out of metro area kids can play in his tourney but the kids that live in the metro area cannot play.
I think I've beaten this subject to death. If you do not believe me you can always ask Mernie McHockey himself. I'm sure he'll find a way to justify his reasons.

You still haven't said what AAA team your buddy's kid plays on. If it's a weak AAA team, than I can understand why McBain won't allow it to play.

[Judgeandjury]

Muck- No need for names. If this team was weak Mernie McHockey wouldn't invite us to play in his tourney. He's all about making his tourney the best tourney in town. (which is fine)
Once again he invited a team to play but part of the agreement with this team is the fact they cannot bring kids that live in the metro area. It has nothing to do with lack of talent in this case. My complaint has everything to do with a grown man telling another grown man that no metro area kids can play in his tourney.
Keep in mind it's Mernie McHockey's goal to make his tourney the Brick tourney of Minnesota. To do this you want to bring the best teams and players to the tourney. Right?
There is no way that Mernie McHockey wants his parents to see former players playing on a good team, doing well and having fun.
His excuse? The two players aren't on a alliance team but either is their team. So the team is invited and he picks and chooses who they can bring.
Like I said this is a true story. Please call Mernice McHockey and ask him. People can choose to believe or not. No man should have the right to dictate where others play hockey. It will only be a matter of time until this all catches up to him. This is a direct reflection on him and his program. He has to be the best which is fine but at what cost?

[muckandgrind]

Muck- No need for names. If this team was weak Mernie McHockey wouldn't invite us to play in his tourney. He's all about making his tourney the best tourney in town. (which is fine)
Once again he invited a team to play but part of the agreement with this team is the fact they cannot bring kids that live in the metro area. It has nothing to do with lack of talent in this case. My complaint has everything to do with a grown man telling another grown man that no metro area kids can play in his tourney.
Keep in mind it's Mernie McHockey's goal to make his tourney the Brick tourney of Minnesota. To do this you want to bring the best teams and players to the tourney. Right?
There is no way that Mernie McHockey wants his parents to see former players playing on a good team, doing well and having fun.
His excuse? The two players aren't on a alliance team but either is their team. So the team is invited and he picks and chooses who they can bring.
Like I said this is a true story. Please call Mernice McHockey and ask him. People can choose to believe or not. No man should have the right to dictate where others play hockey. It will only be a matter of time until this all catches up to him. This is a direct reflection on him and his program. He has to be the best which is fine but at what cost?

Well, OK, like I said, I know of other kids in the same situation ("non-alliance" metro area kids playing on "non-alliance" Minnesota teams) who will be playing in these "Alliance" tournaments, so there must be something else going on here that you're not telling us.

Like I said, I have nothing wrong with him weeding out the weaker Minnesota teams that call themselves "AAA" to make the tournaments stronger. What I don't agree with, is the philosophy of also barring strong Minnesota teams. Maybe he feels he has to keep a certain number of spots available for non-Minnesota teams. Who knows?

All I know is that there are ALOT of local AAA tournaments to choose from that aren't part of the so-called "alliance".

[puckfan]

There is no way that Mernie McHockey wants his parents to see former players playing on a good team, doing well and having fun.

This is the key to the situation that you describe, if people see that his former players go someplace else and succeed, that won't sit well.

Lets just let the Alliance be and move on with playing hockey. It won't take long and everyone will be able to tell if it's a success or failure.

[buttend]

There is no way that Mernie McHockey wants his parents to see former players playing on a good team, doing well and having fun.
His excuse? The two players aren't on a alliance team but either is their team. So the team is invited and he picks and chooses who they can bring.
Like I said this is a true story. Please call Mernice McHockey and ask him. People can choose to believe or not. No man should have the right to dictate where others play hockey. It will only be a matter of time until this all catches up to him. This is a direct reflection on him and his program. He has to be the best which is fine but at what cost?

J&J

I hope your friend is not as upset with this situation as you are. With the number of times you have posted on this I can see the decisions, if any, that were made against your friends boy really bother you. You feel morally wronged.

You need to face the issue head on, not on some hockey forum. Meet with Bernie tell him your troubles, your concerns.

Call him, Bernie "Here come the Judge"
When you get here tell him directly " Mernice McHockey, you have wronged my friends boy by excluding him from your invitational tournament"
Tell him " you should not have the power to make these decisions nor should you have the power to try to corner the summer AAA market"
Dont forget to ask him " Where's the new 3rd rink"? and "Where is the new parking lot"

I'm sure Bernie will understand your concerns and have a nice discussion with you. Be sure to report back to the forum with all the details.

[Blue&Gold]

I've been reading all of this, and I have to add a few comments.

My hockey-parent times where of the time with Bernie's MN '88 team. My son didn't play for Bernie but he did play against him. He is now playing D1 hockey on scholarship, so there is still hope besides playing for MM. However, he (Bernie) did find some of the best talent and worked well with them. I applaud Bernie on stepping up and trying to do good things for the kids as far as developing their hockey skills.

Here's what I really want to say: If my son were 4 years old today, I'm really not sure that he would take up hockey. He could have played just about any sport (and did) but chose hockey as his #1 game. We did AAA stuff (which included a lot of driving since we don't live in the metro area) and the tournaments that came with it. We traveled for the Blades to Canada as well as other trips to Vancouver, Winnepeg, Ottowa and many in the US. The money we spent was well spent in the time we were together but if he hadn't have gotten this far in hockey, it still would have been good. But the money you are spending now, with an even slimmer chance of success (it seems) is out of this world! The expectations to play at a higher level is crazy (to me).

My son would be doing other things if we started over. I don't say this as a dad whose son wasn't good enough. I would still do the things that we did do, but it seems to me that the bar is set awfully high now. When folks talk about how expensive hockey is, I think of this thread.

Good luck to everyone! Enjoy the game, and don't forget to have some summer with the kids...

[muckandgrind]

I've been reading all of this, and I have to add a few comments.

My hockey-parent times where of the time with Bernie's MN '88 team. My son didn't play for Bernie but he did play against him. He is now playing D1 hockey on scholarship, so there is still hope besides playing for MM. However, he (Bernie) did find some of the best talent and worked well with them. I applaud Bernie on stepping up and trying to do good things for the kids as far as developing their hockey skills.

Here's what I really want to say: If my son were 4 years old today, I'm really not sure that he would take up hockey. He could have played just about any sport (and did) but chose hockey as his #1 game. We did AAA stuff (which included a lot of driving since we don't live in the metro area) and the tournaments that came with it. We traveled for the Blades to Canada as well as other trips to Vancouver, Winnepeg, Ottowa and many in the US. The money we spent was well spent in the time we were together but if he hadn't have gotten this far in hockey, it still would have been good. But the money you are spending now, with an even slimmer chance of success (it seems) is out of this world! The expectations to play at a higher level is crazy (to me).

My son would be doing other things if we started over. I don't say this as a dad whose son wasn't good enough. I would still do the things that we did do, but it seems to me that the bar is set awfully high now. When folks talk about how expensive hockey is, I think of this thread.

Good luck to everyone! Enjoy the game, and don't forget to have some summer with the kids...

I'm sure there a more than a few parents taking out a second mortgage in the hopes that their player will develop into an NHL player some day. But it's my belief, that most parents are willing to spend the money because their kids enjoy it and also to further develop them in the hopes that they will make their high school varsity team some day.

[Judgeandjury]

I've been reading all of this, and I have to add a few comments.

My hockey-parent times where of the time with Bernie's MN '88 team. My son didn't play for Bernie but he did play against him. He is now playing D1 hockey on scholarship, so there is still hope besides playing for MM. However, he (Bernie) did find some of the best talent and worked well with them. I applaud Bernie on stepping up and trying to do good things for the kids as far as developing their hockey skills.

Here's what I really want to say: If my son were 4 years old today, I'm really not sure that he would take up hockey. He could have played just about any sport (and did) but chose hockey as his #1 game. We did AAA stuff (which included a lot of driving since we don't live in the metro area) and the tournaments that came with it. We traveled for the Blades to Canada as well as other trips to Vancouver, Winnepeg, Ottowa and many in the US. The money we spent was well spent in the time we were together but if he hadn't have gotten this far in hockey, it still would have been good. But the money you are spending now, with an even slimmer chance of success (it seems) is out of this world! The expectations to play at a higher level is crazy (to me).

My son would be doing other things if we started over. I don't say this as a dad whose son wasn't good enough. I would still do the things that we did do, but it seems to me that the bar is set awfully high now. When folks talk about how expensive hockey is, I think of this thread.

Good luck to everyone! Enjoy the game, and don't forget to have some summer with the kids...

Well written. This is why my buddy chose to move his son to another AAA team. He wanted him to play baseball, fish and enjoy the cabin and what summer has to offer.
He never thought anyone would dictate when his son can and cannot play in a tournament.
This topic has been beaten to death. I agree it's time to move on and see what happens. I guess I found the story very interesting. I've heard some off the wall stpries about youth hockey and this one is right up there.

Good luck to everyone this summer.
Enjoy.

[manchild]

Here is the straight story...

First of all if you look at who is driving the two threads about the Alliance it is Judge and Jury. Judge and Jury is a guy named Pat Ne____. I won't finish his last name because I don't want to name names. And it is not his buddy freinds kid it his own, as we all have already figured out. That why he is so bent about this issue. He is not getting his way.

The 99 Blades want to get into the Stars and Stripes Tournament after the tournament was full with 12 teams. They were told that the only way to get them into the tournament was if they could find another team from outside the state to also play in the tournament. This would give the tournament 14 teams. It is very diificult the have a 13 team tournament.

The Blades came back with the Jr. Badgers which is also call the MN/WIS. They were told by Mn Made that that would not work because the team is made up of a number of Minnesota players and the team needed to be a team of players from out side of Minnesota. Then Jr. Badgers then came back and said the they would not carry any Minnesota players for that tournament and would that work.

Minnesota Made Hockey wanted to help out the 99 Blades teams coach Gerry Anderson because Bernie and Gerry have a pretty good relationship even though compete against each other. The 99 Blades and the Machine teams have a number of games and a cook out planned for later this summer. So wanting to help the 99 Blades team get into the tournament they agreed that it would work for the Jr. Badgers to play because without any Minnesota Players it would be a true out state team.

So first of all, Minnesota Made did not invite the Jr. Badgers team they ask to play in the tournament. Second, why wouldn't Judge and Jury be upset with his own team for selling him out so they could get into the tournament? Third, it is an invitational tournament so they can take any teams they choose.

In the end at the 99 level they have 14 teams and 5 of them are from Minnesota. The feeling is that Minnesota is well represented. There are 5 are Canada and the rest are from outstate. It should be a good tournament.

As for Judge and Jury his issue should really be with his team where coaches left his son off of the roster because they wanted into the tournament or is it that he may already be burning a bridge at his new team? May be it is not worth all the trouble.

[Judgeandjury]

Time to let it go.

[Doglover]

My two cents and it's probably worth less than that:

The Alliance is just another name for Showcase Hockey. They tried to corner the AAA market in MN but it didn't work - End of story.

Manchild-thanks for clarifying all of these posts. I think we all figured out this was what had probably happened.

Subway is not one of the strong Canadian tournaments.

MN AAA summer hockey has gotten a bit out of control and all of the manuevering by Showcase/Easton and McBain will backfire. No one wants to pay serious money to play weak teams in their tournaments unless you just want to collect trophies for the trophy case. Parents - you've been warned. Stick with the historically strong teams or form a team with your kids' buddies and have some fun in the open tournaments. Summer is too short - play baseball and lacrosse and some hockey and go to the cabin. They grow up too fast.

Remember - just my two cents!!