Raging Bulls Development Camps Tryout

[muckandgrind]

[quote="dogeatdog1. 3)when your kid tells you that the best kids he's playing with never played AAA, he's probably right. 4) the two kids I know that went to 15s had never played on a AAA team, the one kid I know of getting a full ride to Harvard this year never played on a AAA team (but he has a straight A average). 5) As a parent, listen to your kid, they know what they want to do.

Now, I'm not saying playing AAA is a prerequisite for being an elite level player, because as you said, there are SOME very good players that have never played AAA in the off-season. That being said, I would say that MOST of the top elite level players at the Bantam/High School level DID play in the summer by their bantam years, at least.. I guess the definition of "elite" is the key. My definition is the top 20 kids at any birth year, and from my experience, just about all of those kids play competitive hockey in the summer....usually for teams like the Blades or Icemen.

But, you're right, it's the parent's job to LISTEN to your kid and understand what their make-up is. Some kids love to play AAA summer hockey more than they love playing association hockey. Every kid is different. There is no shoe that fits all sizes.

[dogeatdog1]

[My son wanted to quit hockey
The facts in that long winded story: 1) if your kid is burnt out at peewee you have lost him....no, because the drive always had to come from within him. Let them go, if it's something they want you won't be able to stop them. 2) a summer team is not a necessity, there is A LOT of great training out there that doesn't take a summer long commitment, and once a kid is playing peewees they are getting more than enough games. 3)when your kid tells you that the best kids he's playing with never played AAA, he's probably right. 4) the two kids I know that went to 15s had never played on a AAA team, the one kid I know of getting a full ride to Harvard this year never played on a AAA team (but he has a straight A average). 5) As a parent, listen to your kid, they know what they want to do.

I don't buy the Best kids never played AAA bull ... Every once and a while. you get a kid like that. Not very often. When you talk to the parents at the rink now days you all hear them talk about jimmy plays for the XAAA and joey plays for the YAAA,, very rarely do you hear that the superstar on the team is a phenom that has quit hockey and came back this year after a two year hiatus to hone his skills at curling. I am around a lot of rinks and I am sure that those kids would be the talk of the rink. Once you lose the mode of transportation in hockey is tough to get it back. The Harvard kid is most likely a self motivated kid that will succeed at many things in life. (Plus I don't know for sure but I don't think Harvard gives athletic Scholorships) I am totally in favor of Multisport players but again you need to realize that your options are limited and that most kids need off season training of some sort.

[dogeatdog1]

Wikapedia is a great thing.. The Harvard Guide: Harvard's Athletic Excellence. ... the League's founding document, the Presidents' Agreement of 1954, there are no athletic scholarships. ...

tough to believe that what you write is fact when you toss out items like that. Just funnin with ya

[DMom]

Wikapedia is a great thing.. The Harvard Guide: Harvard's Athletic Excellence. ... the League's founding document, the Presidents' Agreement of 1954, there are no athletic scholarships. ...

tough to believe that what you write is fact when you toss out items like that. Just funnin with ya

Danny Fick, senior defenseman, Forest Lake, full ride at Harvard, signed a letter of intent to play hockey for them. Haven't a clue what the fine print of the scholarship says, that's sort of the point. Study hard, keep your grades up, prove you are well-rounded and excel at something you love doing and you will go a long way in life.

I think the reason people think kids who succeed without AAA hockey are a myth is because their parents aren't the type to hang out on a hockey board and their stories are not mine to tell, I only mention Danny by name because Let's Play Hockey and the local paper have. The fact is it is about determination, athleticism, and genetics, not who you write a check to. It also would be virtually impossible without great coaching along the way. Whether you can find that at your association or via your high school coach or via camps or summer teams, the kids need to be taught.

My only disagreement is that we should lead the parents of six year olds to believe that there is only one path, and anything else will lead straight to rec league. I have three sons and each of them is taking a different path in hockey, in school, in life but I hope they all end up the same place when they are 20, 30, 40, 50.....determined, hardworking, and happy.

One may play for the Icemen, one for the Raging Bulls, one for team Red Bull, one for Showcase B mites, one for no one at all, and one may hang out at the cabin all summer long but take time to shoot because he wants to and stick handle because he wants to, and not many people could say, Today, which will be more successful in hockey. Too many unknowns.

To get back on topic, buyer beware when writing any check, but I've heard nothing but good things about this program.

[InigoMontoya]

I'm skeptical that someone won't come on here telling all of us the kid that never played AAA, played MASH in the spring and fall, in the 3-on-3 league through the summer, and spent three weeks each summer in Fairbault.

Why is "study hard and you'll go to Harvard" OK to spout to our kids, but "work hard and you'll play college sports" is akin to child abuse? Not only do genetics play just as big a part in cognitive development as in physical development, but there are fewer spots in Harvard's freshman class than athletic scholarships available, and everyone in the world is jockeying for that Harvard spot, and I don't have to be a US senator for my kid to get better at hitting a baseball. It'd be fun to see the odds comparison. "Put that book down; don't you know the odds of getting accepted into medical school are stacked against you."

[InigoMontoya]

The fact is it is about determination, athleticism, and genetics, not who you write a check to. It also would be virtually impossible without great coaching along the way. Whether you can find that at your association or via your high school coach or via camps or summer teams, the kids need to be taught.

What I read you saying: it is who you write a check to. Great coaching, whether in summer or winter, doesn't come for free - you're going to write a check to somebody; you're being disingenuous if you say the payee line is unimportant.

[DMom]

The fact is it is about determination, athleticism, and genetics, not who you write a check to. It also would be virtually impossible without great coaching along the way. Whether you can find that at your association or via your high school coach or via camps or summer teams, the kids need to be taught.

What I read you saying: it is who you write a check to. Great coaching, whether in summer or winter, doesn't come for free - you're going to write a check to somebody; you're being disingenuous if you say the payee line is unimportant.

You are right, and finding the right place to write a check is not easy. People come here for help with that. People stepped up and said they were happy writing this particular check. I'd rather hear that than people bashing programs, although, frankly, a little more of that and people would save some money, but I am guilty of keeping my negative opinions to myself. Mainly because just because something isn't a good fit for my family does not mean it isn't for another, conversely, it is more likely to be true that if it is a good experience for someone it probably will be for someone else.

And one obvious issue is that my oldest, who is doing well, DID play 'real' AAA and he had some very good coaching both there and during association hockey, and, as I indicated, he has asked to play again, in the right situation. BUT the idea that you have to give up all other sports and only play for a AAA team in the summer "or you'll be playing rec hockey" is not correct either. He never gave up baseball, but he has missed fishing opener the last few years.

[InigoMontoya]

I have certainly been accused of selective memory, but I don't recall anyone who has extolled the virtues of summer hockey ever say you have to give up baseball or the fishing opener (he should be foregoing that to spend time with his mother). I have seen many that condemn summer hockey say that.

[tickytackcall]

NA

[old goalie85]

Hey dog eat crow... take a look at hockey hub . com. that should give you
the confirmation pertaining to young Mr. Fick.

[MoreCowBell]

My experience with summer AAA hockey was never about preparing my son for the NHL, it was about experiences. My son played for the Blades 15 yrs. ago and it was the best times he ever had playing hockey. It was the best coaching he ever got, made friends with kids all over the state, it was kind of nice to get away from people in your own association all of the pecking orders and politics. Went to Calgary and saw a Rodeo, toured the Saddledome, visited Glacier Nat'l. Park played some great teams and won Calgary Stampede Tourn. Went to Ottawa saw Niagra Falls, Went to Toronto went to Gretzky's restaraunt and the Hockey Hall of Fame. We probably would never had seen any of these had it not been for AAA Hockey, we always treated it as our summer vacation. Now we can sit back and watch some of his former teammates play in the NHL.

[dogeatdog1]

Hey dog eat crow... take a look at hockey hub . com. that should give you
the confirmation pertaining to young Mr. Fick.

Hey old goalie you musta gotten hit in the mask too many times... I didn't say that he wasn't going to Havad.... I said they don't give Athletic scholorships... Iread the article before I sent my wikapedia comment...all the talk about being a kid that was burned out by peewees? going to Harvard spouted by Dmom... sounds like the kid was a rink rat that liked to study to me... Props to him and good luck. I agree with MCBell. have fun see the world and have your kid be a good kid and he will succeed.. I have no wild dreams of JR DOGEAT hitting the bigtime unless he picks up on his golf game... I hear there is a spot on the tour for a good looking young buck that can play the field

[old goalie85]

DOGG... YOU THE MAN!!!! no doubt alot off the "mask"
. Just don't have to many from F.L. [ TOWN PRIDE TALKING THAT IS IT]. MY BADDD...

[hockey_is_a_choice]

Dog and Dmom,

Here's the scoop. You're both right. Harvard does not offer traditional athletic scholarships. However, Harvard has the largest endowment of any US university or college, roughly $34B in 2007, which translates into approximately $3M per Harvard student. If Harvard wants your child because of his or her athletic or academic skills, Harvard will make the tuition affordable for your family, which could mean your family pays zero in tuition.

As for the discussion about the virtues of AAA hockey, pay attention to CowBell--enjoy the experiences. Your kids' youth experiences are priceless and the years go quickly. In a nutshell, whether your kid is a good fit for AAA hockey depends on the child.

We have two sons, our youngest son plays summer hockey and our oldest son thought we abused him by signing him up for summer camps. We thought our oldest son was our unmotivated slacker (no, we never made the comment in front of our son). Our oldest son didn't receive an athletic scholarship, but he did receive an appointment to a military college, which means mom and dad won't be writing big checks. My point is kids have a funny way of letting us know what they want to do and we, as their parents, need to listen to them.

[DMom]

Dog and Dmom,

Here's the scoop. You're both right. Harvard does not offer traditional athletic scholarships. However, Harvard has the largest endowment of any US university or college, roughly $34B in 2007, which translates into approximately $3M per Harvard student. If Harvard wants your child because of his or her athletic or academic skills, Harvard will make the tuition affordable for your family, which could mean your family pays zero in tuition.

As for the discussion about the virtues of AAA hockey, pay attention to CowBell--enjoy the experiences. Your kids' youth experiences are priceless and the years go quickly. In a nutshell, whether your kid is a good fit for AAA hockey depends on the child.

We have two sons, our youngest son plays summer hockey and our oldest son thought we abused him by signing him up for summer camps. We thought our oldest son was our unmotivated slacker (no, we never made the comment in front of our son). Our oldest son didn't receive an athletic scholarship, but he did receive an appointment to a military college, which means mom and dad won't be writing big checks. My point is kids have a funny way of letting us know what they want to do and we, as their parents, need to listen to them.

You said it much better than I tried to, and congrats to your son, those appointments aren't easy to earn. I am not at all against summer hockey and we have had some great times, we also had great times this summer and the results were the same. Young parents need to know that and not write a check to any program that calls itself AAA. People came on here and said they liked this program. I, for one, am glad they found something they feel they can recommend to others.

[dogeatdog1]

Royal 24 has got to be happy too that all this was started by him and this has been top posted for a while.

I was just e-mailed a must read article for all new hockey parents. Funny and a good read that fits in to this thread perfect. I especially like the one paragraph on celebrating after scoring.

enjoy.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/notebook/_/page/ ... everywhere

[lkool]

Wow, Ive never seen a thread with so many first posts. I'm not sayin, I'm just sayin.

it is like hearing a tout " vegas has made a mistake on the line, i have inside information" fhit says this coach and program is not a best buy. Buyer beware.

does fhit document this somewhere? or is this from a private conversation?