Top Squirt A Teams and Scores

iwearmysunglassesatnight · Mon Dec 21, 2009 8:55 am

[quote="keep skating"]I didn't get to the championship game because of other commitments but I did see the rosters earlier in the day. Tell me this, how can STMA have 14 skaters and 2 goalies who split equal, and Minnetonka can only roster 13 skaters and 2 goalies, one seeing most of the action. Shame on a large program like that doing that at the squirt level.[/quote]

Your absolutely correct, how can STMA not have 15 skaters !

Flyer79 · Post by **Flyer79** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:30 am

Does anyone have the scores for each game of the EP Tourney?

I'm assuming tonka won because of the complaint?

Why does tonka only have 13 skaters?

Why does St. Michael have 14 skaters?

silentbutdeadly3139 · Mon Dec 21, 2009 10:55 am

Flyer79 wrote:Does anyone have the scores for each game of the EP Tourney?

I'm assuming tonka won because of the complaint?

Why does tonka only have 13 skaters?

Why does St. Michael have 14 skaters?

Perhaps its as simple as there were only that many skaters deemed ready/able to skate as an A level player?

Don't see a big issue with those number, particularly with STMA being a smaller association and having 1 less than the "norm"

99GoalieDad · Post by **99GoalieDad** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:04 am

Here's the link to all of the EP Squirt tourney scores:

http://www.ephockey.com/site_maintenanc ... ackets.pdf

I didn't make it to the championship game, but from what I saw earlier, I thought most teams did a pretty good job of rolling lines and I thought both Tonka and STMA alternated net minders each game. Keep in mind both STMA and Tonka played 5 games so one goalie probably got 3 games and the other 2.

I thought it was a great tournament and I didn't even have a kid playing.

Pucksahater · Post by **Pucksahater** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:21 am

Puck does not have a kid playing in choice, he is not here to stir the pot just doing his usual job of hating. He hates minnesota made because his kid could not play on the minn wisc elite team in the stars and stripes tourny.The kid could not play on the team because of pucks actions and now has to blame someone else. All he can contribute to this forum is hate plain and simple.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 12:31 pm

tonka3, stma 2

surehockey · Post by **surehockey** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 1:24 pm

EP Tournament
Jefferson 2 Waconia 2
STMA 2 Roseau )
Jefferson 0 STMA 1
Waconia 5 Roseau 4
STMA 6 Waconia 1
Jefferson 3 Roseau 2
EP 5 Rosemont 3
MTKA 3 OMG 3
N Metro 0 Sioux Falls 0
MKTA 10 N Metro 0
OMG 7 Sioux Falls 0
MTKA 6 Sioux Falls 0
OSMG 11 N Metro 0
EP 3 WBL 0
Rosemont 6 Mankato 0
(missed a couple of game scores)
Semi's
STMA 3 OMG 1
EP 4 MTKA 5
Championship
MTKA 3 STMA 2

dogeatdog1 · Post by **dogeatdog1** » Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:19 pm

keep skating wrote:I didn't get to the championship game because of other commitments but I did see the rosters earlier in the day. Tell me this, how can STMA have 14 skaters and 2 goalies who split equal, and Minnetonka can only roster 13 skaters and 2 goalies, one seeing most of the action. Shame on a large program like that doing that at the squirt level.

Must want to be #1 in the Squrt rankings. wait there are no ranking.they want to win the Fargo tourney? doesn't do much for their Peewees and Bantam teams.. It might develop great b teams at those levels.

Just looked at the LPH rankings.. PW1 no MTKA in the top 20 what a shame...Peewee A #16 I know they play in D6 but that is a gift... BantamA Is #2 I would bet they had a 15 skater team at squirts that year.. Not sayin just sayin..

offside14 · Post by **offside14** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:55 am

I guess I'm thick cause I don't get it. Are you saying that 1 or 2 more players on an associations squirt A team will ensure a top 10 or 20 peewee A or bantam A team? Yes Tonka had 13 skaters but rolled them all fairly equally from what I could see. I'm sure those 2 kids that are playing b1 would say they appreciate the playing time, puck touches and confidence gained by playing there. I'm not sure but my guess is their ice time would have been severely cut down in 3 of the 5 games played. As a parent how would you deal with a kid that doesn't feel a part of the team that just won the championship. In the interest of development of both skill and love of the game if they aren't ready, they aren't ready dont really care how big your association is.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:26 am

My oldest is a soph. in the high school program. He played Bantam A last year. On that team, only five kids were on squirt A[ I looked at the pictures]. Now that is only one group from a very average assosiation.I have another playing squirt A this year see what happens with this group.[I have two more in mites coming up. Have a feeling that every group will be different no matter how many kids the squirt A coach carried on his roster].

Flyer79 · Post by **Flyer79** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:55 am

What about shortening the bench?

Many Squirt coaches do that.

Should they?

dogeatdog1 · Post by **dogeatdog1** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 9:57 am

offside14 wrote:I guess I'm thick cause I don't get it. Are you saying that 1 or 2 more players on an associations squirt A team will ensure a top 10 or 20 peewee A or bantam A team? Yes Tonka had 13 skaters but rolled them all fairly equally from what I could see. I'm sure those 2 kids that are playing b1 would say they appreciate the playing time, puck touches and confidence gained by playing there. I'm not sure but my guess is their ice time would have been severely cut down in 3 of the 5 games played. As a parent how would you deal with a kid that doesn't feel a part of the team that just won the championship. In the interest of development of both skill and love of the game if they aren't ready, they aren't ready dont really care how big your association is.

So your saying the 2 kids that got cut from the A team wouldn't develop more from practicing at a higher level all year and rolling lines with 15 instead of 13 and the two kids that got cut from the B team and had to play C hockey all year would not have had a better chance to develop on the B team? Coaching is typically better at the A and B level. There are many other things that point toward keeping a larger group of kids playin at a highger level. It isn't all about winning especially at squirts. Time will tell.

muckandgrind · Post by **muckandgrind** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:36 am

Flyer79 wrote:What about shortening the bench?

Many Squirt coaches do that.

Should they?

In general, I don't think that the bench should be shortened in a Squirt game. That being said, I don't have a problem with a coach modifying lines in certain situations in a game or tournament.

InigoMontoya · Post by **InigoMontoya** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:47 am

Debating 13 or 15 skaters is penny wise and pound foolish. STMA has 60 kids in the squirt program - 1A, 1B, 2C; should a program with 120 kids have 2A, 2B, 4C? Feel free saving the 2 kids, but don't forget the 13-15 that are overboard.

offside14 · Post by **offside14** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 10:47 am

Yes Flyer shortening the bench to a certain degree does happen in squirts particularly at A level more so than the B and C levels but I have seen it at all designations. Now is it the right thing to do? That we can debate until the someone beats Marty Brodeurs shutout record. Fact is these kids are 9 and 10 and they are competitive especially at the A level. I am a coach on one of the teams that played this weekend and in every hand shake line at the end of every game the look of frustiation and let down was on the face of every kid on the losing team, sometimes to the point of tears. The more competitive the players, the more emphasis gets placed on winning no matter the cost (shortening the bench). We put our trust in our coaches to decide the difference between giving your team the best chance to win and winning at all cost. The coach must understand that he is "developing" his team for their future, and while the bench may be shortened early in season tournaments in tight games, the bench can become a classroom for these kids and the understanding gained as to what is required of them and how to get it done. If these kids are coached along as the season progresses you wil notice your better coached teams dont shorten their benches much at all. It isn't taboo for the kids to learn that in the last 5 min of a semi final or final game if it is tight your coach will make decisions to try to help his team win. You wouldn't tell an intern (doctor in training) to do emergency bypass, why would you put a kid in a position he isn't ready for in front of the rest of his peers. Tell that same intern to do that surgery after watching and practicing it, you might find he gets better than the teacher or coach that taught him. Ultimately everything in squirt hockey will always come back to the same question Does this help my players "develop"?

Flyer79 · Post by **Flyer79** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 12:49 pm

Okay offside 14 does "shortening the bench" apply towards goalies at squirt A as well?

Do you play your top goalie from the semis up in tournaments?

From my experience the kids and the parents are unhappy if there kid gets benched win or lose.

Fortunately, my kid doesn't get shorted but for some parents it must suck.

InigoMontoya · Post by **InigoMontoya** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:00 pm

That is very benevolent, looking out for the kid that may get shorted while your stud is being sent to the blueline to catch a breather until his next rotation to center.

dogeatdog1 · Post by **dogeatdog1** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 1:28 pm

InigoMontoya wrote:Debating 13 or 15 skaters is penny wise and pound foolish. STMA has 60 kids in the squirt program - 1A, 1B, 2C; should a program with 120 kids have 2A, 2B, 4C? Feel free saving the 2 kids, but don't forget the 13-15 that are overboard.

I don't think MTKA has the same problem... with over a hundred kids trying out the kids that get pushed to b and c are not getting their fair shake. if it is a #s game with lower numbers I can see it more. That is your development commitee or board to decide. BTW they make mistakes too.

keep skating · Post by **keep skating** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:05 pm

Thanks offside 14 for helping me figure you out. Your head coach showed alot of class with your goalies in the Hopkins tournament by spliting them in the championship game against Elk River, he also rolled 3 lines. I did not see the EP championship as to if he split them again.

Flyer79 · Post by **Flyer79** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:29 pm

InigoMontoya wrote:That is very benevolent, looking out for the kid that may get shorted while your stud is being sent to the blueline to catch a breather until his next rotation to center.

Good one InigoMontoya. LOL

Every parent at one time or another has had their kid shorted.

My kids have had that happen to them and I didn't like it.

My statement about being fortunate this year wasn't meant to be arrogant.

It is just our turn to not have that happen much.

EnjoyTheShow · Post by **EnjoyTheShow** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:32 pm

keep skating wrote:Thanks offside 14 for helping me figure you out. Your head coach showed alot of class with your goalies in the Hopkins tournament by spliting them in the championship game against Elk River, he also rolled 3 lines. I did not see the EP championship as to if he split them again.

I'm guessing this was sarcastic? I know E.R. shortened things up in the 3rd period of the final and both teams did in overtime. More so E.R.

Do most associations have a policy on this or is it up to coaches?

yeahyeahyeah · Post by **yeahyeahyeah** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 2:51 pm

Our association has a participation policy. Sqt/U10 and below coaches are not allowed to short the bench or have special teams. Our team communicated that they reserve the right to make adjustments at crucial times but by years end all kids will have equal playing time. I think that is fair. Goalies play equal that does not mean every other game however, that means that at the years end of 35 games one will have 17 and one will have 18.

PanthersIn2011 · Post by **PanthersIn2011** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:00 pm

offside14 wrote:Yes Flyer shortening the bench to a certain degree does happen in squirts particularly at A level more so than the B and C levels but I have seen it at all designations. Now is it the right thing to do? That we can debate until the someone beats Marty Brodeurs shutout record. Fact is these kids are 9 and 10 and they are competitive especially at the A level. I am a coach on one of the teams that played this weekend and in every hand shake line at the end of every game the look of frustiation and let down was on the face of every kid on the losing team, sometimes to the point of tears. The more competitive the players, the more emphasis gets placed on winning no matter the cost (shortening the bench). We put our trust in our coaches to decide the difference between giving your team the best chance to win and winning at all cost. The coach must understand that he is "developing" his team for their future, and while the bench may be shortened early in season tournaments in tight games, the bench can become a classroom for these kids and the understanding gained as to what is required of them and how to get it done. If these kids are coached along as the season progresses you wil notice your better coached teams dont shorten their benches much at all. It isn't taboo for the kids to learn that in the last 5 min of a semi final or final game if it is tight your coach will make decisions to try to help his team win. You wouldn't tell an intern (doctor in training) to do emergency bypass, why would you put a kid in a position he isn't ready for in front of the rest of his peers. Tell that same intern to do that surgery after watching and practicing it, you might find he gets better than the teacher or coach that taught him. Ultimately everything in squirt hockey will always come back to the same question Does this help my players "develop"?

Nice rationalization, coach.

I have never seen a youth coach that shortens his bench in December only to roll his lines in February. Never.

Your association said the kid was ready to be put in these competitive situations when they placed him on your team.

Did you really want to compare a life and death situation with a Squirt hockey game? (Heart Surgeon: "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't think you are going to live." Patient: "OK. But what color is the gatorade?")

A quick glance at the STMA website indicates that the SQA head coach (also the association's VP) and his three assistants all have kids on the team. So, offside14, were any of these 4 kids relegated to "development by observation?"

northwoods oldtimer · Post by **northwoods oldtimer** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:08 pm

Holy sheep dip, is this coach for real?

NoExcuses · Post by **NoExcuses** » Tue Dec 22, 2009 4:51 pm

offside14 wrote:Yes Flyer shortening the bench to a certain degree does happen in squirts particularly at A level more so than the B and C levels but I have seen it at all designations. Now is it the right thing to do? That we can debate until the someone beats Marty Brodeurs shutout record. Fact is these kids are 9 and 10 and they are competitive especially at the A level. I am a coach on one of the teams that played this weekend and in every hand shake line at the end of every game the look of frustiation and let down was on the face of every kid on the losing team, sometimes to the point of tears. The more competitive the players, the more emphasis gets placed on winning no matter the cost (shortening the bench). We put our trust in our coaches to decide the difference between giving your team the best chance to win and winning at all cost. The coach must understand that he is "developing" his team for their future, and while the bench may be shortened early in season tournaments in tight games, the bench can become a classroom for these kids and the understanding gained as to what is required of them and how to get it done. If these kids are coached along as the season progresses you wil notice your better coached teams dont shorten their benches much at all. It isn't taboo for the kids to learn that in the last 5 min of a semi final or final game if it is tight your coach will make decisions to try to help his team win. You wouldn't tell an intern (doctor in training) to do emergency bypass, why would you put a kid in a position he isn't ready for in front of the rest of his peers. Tell that same intern to do that surgery after watching and practicing it, you might find he gets better than the teacher or coach that taught him. Ultimately everything in squirt hockey will always come back to the same question Does this help my players "develop"?

Wow!
No 9 or 10 year old should be upset after any game. I'm curious, is it your oldest son thats on the squirt team you're coaching? or do you have an older son that plays hockey as well?

The only reason these squirt age kids are so frustrated or almost brought to tears after the game is not because they lost the game, but because they know what's in store for them after the game. 15 minutes in the locker room after the game listening to the coach tell them how bad they played and then they have to listen to Dad in the car on the way home.

HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

Top Squirt A Teams and Scores

Holy Cow