District Ten Bantam Rankings

[golemom]

looking at mn hockey rankings, monticello, sartell, and st. michael albertville, look like they could be good matches, have your coach or manager look into it, a win would probably do wonders for some of the kids. Good luck just tell them to keep their heads up. The kids didn't ask for this, its not their fault.

[InigoMontoya]

Ouch! If you can't possibly win a D10 game, go find a D5 team to play? Where are the STMA parents sticking up for the program? Do they only have squirts and peewees?

[can'tbuymelove]

Princeton 10

CINB 5

[MrBoDangles]

As predicted, CINB is struggling. Blame the board and associations for these kids to be playing up a level...Do they not want the kids to ever experience winning?? Unbelievable!!!

On the bright side, Lost 4-2 to Champlin Park. CINB had a 2-0 lead and gave up 4 goals in the second period. Improved play compared to first meeting
7-1 loss

Lost 8-0 To Blaine. Gave up 2 short handed goals and a defenseman had his pocket picked for another goal...Could have been 5-0
Hats off to Blaine coach for tossing his player #8 ( checking from behind)
No need for that when your up by multiple goals...
Improved play compared to first meeting 11-0,
Blaine is strong!

Blaine lost their Fair play point too. will hurt them in the end of season
point tally...

Up next for CINB - @ Princeton , @ Spring Lake Park...
Go Wild!!

It was a stretch for the associations to choose to play at the A level this year.
If they had chose not to field an A team it would have been all the harder to get back to that level in the future.
I look at this team, playing at this level, in this way. Are you going to get better playing shinny hockey against your 6 year old sister? The kid in the same grade across the street? Or your older brother that's going away to play college hockey? The better the competition, the harder you try, the better you get!
They closed the gap on Blaine - What team is improving at a faster rate?
They closed the gap big time on Champlin Park - What team is improving at a faster rate?
Being positive is contagious and as parent your attitude is spread to your player.
They are winning already............

[hockeydork]

As predicted, CINB is struggling. Blame the board and associations for these kids to be playing up a level...Do they not want the kids to ever experience winning?? Unbelievable!!!

On the bright side, Lost 4-2 to Champlin Park. CINB had a 2-0 lead and gave up 4 goals in the second period. Improved play compared to first meeting
7-1 loss

Lost 8-0 To Blaine. Gave up 2 short handed goals and a defenseman had his pocket picked for another goal...Could have been 5-0
Hats off to Blaine coach for tossing his player #8 ( checking from behind)
No need for that when your up by multiple goals...
Improved play compared to first meeting 11-0,
Blaine is strong!

Blaine lost their Fair play point too. will hurt them in the end of season
point tally...

Up next for CINB - @ Princeton , @ Spring Lake Park...
Go Wild!!

It was a stretch for the associations to choose to play at the A level this year.
If they had chose not to field an A team it would have been all the harder to get back to that level in the future.
I look at this team, playing at this level, in this way. Are you going to get better playing shinny hockey against your 6 year old sister? The kid in the same grade across the street? Or your older brother that's going away to play college hockey? The better the competition, the harder you try, the better you get!
They closed the gap on Blaine - What team is improving at a faster rate?
They closed the gap big time on Champlin Park - What team is improving at a faster rate?
Being positive is contagious and as parent your attitude is spread to your player.
They are winning already............

I think your attitude is right on the money here. I would be wary of losing kids at that level. If you are always losing you may run the risk of players not wanting o play anymore. In larger associations it is not as big of a problem, but in small ones it poses more of a problem. The bantam level is tough enough without having to play over your head in almost every game. Maybe the best thing is to start playing an A and B1 team at squirts and get them used to playing at the younger ages. So it is not so much of a change when you hit bantams.

It is a tough decision because of all the pros and cons on both sides.

Just my 2 cents

[can'tbuymelove]

I believe that CINB is improving and it's obvious in the scores after they've played a team for the second time. I know that it sucks losing and hopefully some of these kids will want to come back and play again next year if these associations continue to merge.

Good game in Princeton last night. Lost 10-5
At least the kids were able to score some goals on them...

[can'tbuymelove]

CINB 4

Spring Lake Park 3

[MrBoDangles]

CINB 4

Spring Lake Park 3

Good for them!

[Cowboy]

Congrat's to CINB A bantams! They have actually been the most competative team in the program even though this is their first win.

All peewee and bantam teams in CINB are a combined 2-52 and have been outscored 75-412.

Make sure you thank your board members! I'm guessing this will be the end of the merge.

[can'tbuymelove]

Congrat's to CINB A bantams! They have actually been the most competative team in the program even though this is their first win.

All peewee and bantam teams in CINB are a combined 2-52 and have been outscored 75-412.

Make sure you thank your board members! I'm guessing this will be the end of the merge.

I believe we are merging for at least another year. Both associations are too weak to play at a competitive level on their own.

[Cowboy]

Are they playing at a competative level now????

On their own both associations could put a competative B1 team on the ice. The only benefit to a merge is to play at an A level and I don't think parents will be willing to fork over the money for another year like this. I am guessing there will be at least a couple more kids leaving the program because it just isn't fun anymore.

There are current board members who are hinting that the merge is done and there are enough angry parents that are planning on running for the board that feel the same. I would be surprised if any board members up for re-election are voted back in.

[can'tbuymelove]

Are they playing at a competative level now????

On their own both associations could put a competative B1 team on the ice. The only benefit to a merge is to play at an A level and I don't think parents will be willing to fork over the money for another year like this. I am guessing there will be at least a couple more kids leaving the program because it just isn't fun anymore.

There are current board members who are hinting that the merge is done and there are enough angry parents that are planning on running for the board that feel the same. I would be surprised if any board members up for re-election are voted back in.

They are playing at a very competitive level right now.
Like Mrbodangles said earlier" would you rather play against your sister or your brother going off to play college" I see improvements in all the kids on this A bantam team. There are a couple kids who may be returning to this association merge next year who would definately help the A bantam team. BH and MO. But we will see.
My son is on the A bantam team and is having a blast, even though they aren't winning, That's all that matters to me right now is he loves this team. They might pull off another win or two before the district season is over... as far as a merge next year...only time will tell.

[Cowboy]

If the kids are having fun I guess that is the main thing. I have no doubt that the kids are improving, but it's not like playing B1 hockey in D10 is like playing your little sister as was mentioned earlier. The current A bantam team would be no better than an above average B1 team in D10. I think the kids would be having just as much if not more fun and actually be learning how to win and believe in each other. Maybe they would be more fired up about hockey too?

One of the kids you hinted at coming back is currently planning on going to TG next year. The other one would no longer be eligible for bantams. And there are 2 kids currently in the program whose parents have hinted that they are done after this year.

I don't have a kid involved but I do care about the program. I think it needs to be rebuilt from mites on up. Ever since the assocation started making the push to have teams at the highest level there seems to be a loss of focus on development. I've watched mites work for a full hour on breakouts because they can't get the puck out of their own end in games. That is a problem in my eyes. As the kids move through the program the lack of basic skills becomes more evident every year. I think they should develop A level players and then play A hockey, not play A hockey in hopes they will become A level players.

As for getting beat soundly in one game and coming back to play the seem team to a closer score being evidence that they're closing the gap I guestion that. Could it be that the opponent knew going into the game that it would be an easy game and weren't fired up to play? Could they have put the backup goalie in? Were players moved around? I don't know, but I would guess if Blaine was told they needed to beat CINB by 10 goals to advance to the district tournament they would have no problem doing it.

[can'tbuymelove]

Cowboy, I know of the kid your talking about who's going to TG. He would have trouble making the JV team. Heck, he tried out for the Wisc. Fire and didn't make that team either... what makes you think he has a shot at the TG program? His parents wanted to know if he could play on this A bantam team just as the season got under way...Very good player, but he needs to try out like all the other kids.

BH is only a first year bantam, he would be able to play a second year if he and his parents chose too.

[MrBoDangles]

If the kids are having fun I guess that is the main thing. I have no doubt that the kids are improving, but it's not like playing B1 hockey in D10 is like playing your little sister as was mentioned earlier. The current A bantam team would be no better than an above average B1 team in D10. I think the kids would be having just as much if not more fun and actually be learning how to win and believe in each other. Maybe they would be more fired up about hockey too?

One of the kids you hinted at coming back is currently planning on going to TG next year. The other one would no longer be eligible for bantams. And there are 2 kids currently in the program whose parents have hinted that they are done after this year.

I don't have a kid involved but I do care about the program. I think it needs to be rebuilt from mites on up. Ever since the assocation started making the push to have teams at the highest level there seems to be a loss of focus on development. I've watched mites work for a full hour on breakouts because they can't get the puck out of their own end in games. That is a problem in my eyes. As the kids move through the program the lack of basic skills becomes more evident every year. I think they should develop A level players and then play A hockey, not play A hockey in hopes they will become A level players.

As for getting beat soundly in one game and coming back to play the seem team to a closer score being evidence that they're closing the gap I guestion that. Could it be that the opponent knew going into the game that it would be an easy game and weren't fired up to play? Could they have put the backup goalie in? Were players moved around? I don't know, but I would guess if Blaine was told they needed to beat CINB by 10 goals to advance to the district tournament they would have no problem doing it.

You were starting to make a little sense until the last paragraph...... I would bet Coon Rapids, Champlin Park, and SLP were playing harder than they have all year to not be the first to lose to CINB.
I would ALSO bet that IF you asked the the kids not one of them would've wanted to play B-1
The 2nd tier of teams should have played B-2
Are they C-I kids that are planning on leaving again?

[Cowboy]

I don't know how good the kid is, I just happen to be talking to a 3rd party 2 or 3 weeks ago who had just talked to the kid that morning. But I don't know if the TG plan was new or from last fall and he since changed his mind. I hope he comes back.

As for the other player we must be talking of different kids. The kid I had in mind is currently in 9th grade and hasn't been in the program for 2 or 3 years already.

How many 1st year bantams are on the current team? Any help from peewees or the B1 team for next year? How about goaltending?

[can'tbuymelove]

6 first year bantams, one of the 6 could have been a bantam last year.
Birthday deal....

A couple kids on the A peewee team are pretty decent as well as some on the B1 bantam team. If the 2 kids i was talking about earlier decide to come back,
along with the returning A players... Should be a little more competitive.

This A team now has 3 B2 players from last year and I think 3 former B1 players from last year as well. And a first year goaltender who has been trying very hard to play at this level.
He's doing a lot of Stauber clinics etc. His situation for next year is High school or may be moving back to Florida.

Not sure of the upcoming Goalies...TB needs a growing spurt.

We will see how tryouts go next year, and hopefully the board listens to the evaluators this time around as far as level of play for ALL teams.

[observer]

I've stated this before but it's always worth mentioning. Nothing is more important than recruiting 4-5-6 year olds. Every Association should have a recruiting committee that makes certain that mite numbers grow evey year. If you're not growing you're shrinking. Associations tend to go through cycles where they get big bunches of kids and then relax their recruiting. That causes down years and it's difficult to get the momentum back. PeeWees and Bantams don't fall from trees and "late starts" have difficulty catching up. It's all about the Mites. Otherwise you'll be wishing every year, "Dam, I only wish we had started with 20 more mites." Always a little short of competing with the top associations.

I'm also a fan of co-oping as it get more kids playing at the appropriate level which is more fun for all of them. Successful teams help future recruiting. More teams at each level have more kids skating at the correct level and more of teams experiencing success.

In order to have successful teams in the future I would strongly advise against breaking up the CINB co-op or both associations will have difficulty getting kids skating at the right level, teams won't be as successful and the recruiting gets damaged. I like the idea of setting the bar a little high for these boys and skating at the A level this season but it's important that the numbers coming up are stronger each year.

MORE MITES EVERY YEAR

[can'tbuymelove]

Very well stated Observer!! I totally agree these 2 associations need more kids joining the mite ranks!

I believe that's why NB has the learn to skate program.
Hoping kids will want to try hockey.

Good post.

[old goalie85]

I grew up in Forest Lake, played hockey, only had B teams.[pee-wee,squirts] When my group became Bantams we had our first 'A' team. My group played together through high school and played aginst the same player that we played at the 'A' level. Forest Lake has always had an 'A' team since. [This took place in early 80]

[old goalie85]

I grew up in Forest Lake, played hockey, only had B teams.[pee-wee,squirts] When my group became Bantams we had our first 'A' team. My group played together through high school and played aginst the same player that we played at the 'A' level. Forest Lake has always had an 'A' team since. [This took place in early 80]

[Cowboy]

In order to have successful teams in the future I would strongly advise against breaking up the CINB co-op or both associations will have difficulty getting kids skating at the right level, teams won't be as successful and the recruiting gets damaged.
MORE MITES EVERY YEAR

The teams won't be as successfull without the coop??????

Perhaps you missed where I posted that the combined record for peewees and bantams was 2-52. That is embarassing.

[MrBoDangles]

In order to have successful teams in the future I would strongly advise against breaking up the CINB co-op or both associations will have difficulty getting kids skating at the right level, teams won't be as successful and the recruiting gets damaged.
MORE MITES EVERY YEAR

The teams won't be as successfull without the coop??????

Perhaps you missed where I posted that the combined record for peewees and bantams was 2-52. That is embarassing.

So you are saying C-I or North Branch would have more talent on their own?????

[can'tbuymelove]

I think cowboy means that both associations could field B1 teams and be competitive.

It's tough doing a merge. Most of these kids have never played together and when your kids are playing top teams who have grown up together and know how to play together," well the end result is too obvious to require elaboration." (common man). I do think it is a great experience for these kids even though they are losing. They play the top kids from the other associations. You are forced to get better or get creamed.

I think as long as it helps them to be better players come high school, why not. They won't be playing the high school teams from Blaine, Elk river, centennial etc.

[Cowboy]

I don't know who would have more talent on their own but just because C-I is a little bit bigger association I would guess they would.

My comment is more about the fact that I don't think either together or alone that there is enough talent to play at the A level. But to merge and play B1 hockey is a step backward. I think they would each have solid team B1 teams on their own. Maybe they wouldn't qualify for playoffs but I would think they would have more than 1 win, plus they get to play with their buddies that they will be playing with in high school.

On this message board it sounds like I am in the minority, but I go to the arena and all I hear is people complaining. Maybe I just keep the wrong company.