MCBAIN on Channel 5 News Tonight on D6

[muckandgrind]

My kid will play both Choice and association hockey this year.

If people only want to do association, by all means that's what they should do. If people want to offer their kid more and they can handle it, they should be able to.

In the end this is all about D6 making a questionable rule to try to hurt a small business that competes with their associations.

I agree with most of your post and congrats that your kid can do both! It sounds like he is a mite aged player and I think that it is a great benefit for him to have other opportunities and that it should not be a problem for the association mite team. The only part we differ on is that I think D6 has a 'right' to set up a rule - although my preference is that it would only be at the higher age levels. This is their way to help out their association programs which is part of what they are suppose to do. My guess is that they didn't just go looking to set up a rule but were probably asked to look into the matter because MM is located in the middle of D6.

Personally, I think it is best to leave those decisions to each individual association and not set up an overall D6 rule but, my guess is D6 was being asked to take a stance to help out the local associations. Don't forget that most associations are already fighting the battle to help build hockey by offering it for a lower price to the masses which include kids who are just experimenting with hockey all the way up to very committed hockey players. It is the backbone of our program in Minnesota so I wouldn't want to destroy the associations either.

Like I said in my comments, I applaud MM and Bernie for all the things he has to offer. I do not believe that he should back down or change his business plan if he doesn't want to. I'm sure he is aware that part of running a business that in part threatens the association hockey program is that the associations (or their Districts) may fight back.

I don't agree with you that D6 had a right to make this rule. Hopefully, someone will challenge it and we'll find out if it will stand up.

IM, you're a lawyer, what's the verdict on this silly powerplay by D6?

Would you say that Bernie has the "right" to make this same rule? Would you also characterize MM's policy of not allowing their players to skate on other teams a "silly powerplay" also?

[Benito Juarez]

Over the years I have seen a number of "Bernies kids" play on other teams throughout the summer in various tournaments......of course, that is with the exception of any Blades teams.

[muckandgrind]

Over the years I have seen a number of "Bernies kids" play on other teams throughout the summer in various tournaments......of course, that is with the exception of any Blades teams.

They may have done it....but it was against his "rule". I know he had this rule because the son of a good friend of mine played on his 96 Machine team...Now, maybe the has relaxed it, or gotten rid of it altogether. I don't know because the 96 Machine is no more.

[HockeyDad41]

I agree with most of your post and congrats that your kid can do both! It sounds like he is a mite aged player and I think that it is a great benefit for him to have other opportunities and that it should not be a problem for the association mite team. The only part we differ on is that I think D6 has a 'right' to set up a rule - although my preference is that it would only be at the higher age levels. This is their way to help out their association programs which is part of what they are suppose to do. My guess is that they didn't just go looking to set up a rule but were probably asked to look into the matter because MM is located in the middle of D6.

Personally, I think it is best to leave those decisions to each individual association and not set up an overall D6 rule but, my guess is D6 was being asked to take a stance to help out the local associations. Don't forget that most associations are already fighting the battle to help build hockey by offering it for a lower price to the masses which include kids who are just experimenting with hockey all the way up to very committed hockey players. It is the backbone of our program in Minnesota so I wouldn't want to destroy the associations either.

Like I said in my comments, I applaud MM and Bernie for all the things he has to offer. I do not believe that he should back down or change his business plan if he doesn't want to. I'm sure he is aware that part of running a business that in part threatens the association hockey program is that the associations (or their Districts) may fight back.

I don't agree with you that D6 had a right to make this rule. Hopefully, someone will challenge it and we'll find out if it will stand up.

IM, you're a lawyer, what's the verdict on this silly powerplay by D6?

Would you say that Bernie has the "right" to make this same rule? Would you also characterize MM's policy of not allowing their players to skate on other teams a "silly powerplay" also?

Muck, I am not sure where you are getting your information, and I am not saying you are wrong, but I have spoken to the parents of other MM kids and I haven't heard about any team that doesn't allow a kid to skate with another program if it doesn't directly conflict with something on their schedule. In fact I know of several kids on the Machine and other teams that have skated on different teams this year.

I don't have any knowledge of the Brick situation this year. I've heard the rumors, but I don't know anyone on the 2000 team so I haven't had a chance to ask anyone about that yet. I do know several of the parents on the 97, 99 and 01 teams and they have had kids sub on other teams. They tell me it's no big deal. I've never heard of a kid getting cut from a team over there for subbing.

[TriedThat2]

HD.41
Don't think I called out Muck and Seek. A couple of suggestions....1) Crossword puzzles might help the stress 2) Knitting could help or 3) Try some new medication.

[Benito Juarez]

I would guess the rules have lightened up a bit over the years, as long as you still bleed orange while subbing you're okay.

[HockeyDad41]

HD.41
Don't think I called out Muck and Seek. A couple of suggestions....1) Crossword puzzles might help the stress 2) Knitting could help or 3) Try some new medication.

Who are you again? Thanks for the suggestions.

[seek & destroy]

Muck, I am not sure where you are getting your information, and I am not saying you are wrong, but I have spoken to the parents of other MM kids and I haven't heard about any team that doesn't allow a kid to skate with another program if it doesn't directly conflict with something on their schedule. In fact I know of several kids on the Machine and other teams that have skated on different teams this year.

I don't have any knowledge of the Brick situation this year. I've heard the rumors, but I don't know anyone on the 2000 team so I haven't had a chance to ask anyone about that yet. I do know several of the parents on the 97, 99 and 01 teams and they have had kids sub on other teams. They tell me it's no big deal. I've never heard of a kid getting cut from a team over there for subbing.

I have no knowledge of what Bernies rules are but your response indicates that there IS an issue if there are conflicts (i.e. players can't have scheduling conflicts with MM things). That is the big problem with all of this stuff.

D6 (whether right or wrong) has decided to NOT let individual families decide what thing they will do on any given day...you must decide for the season what choice you want to make. Based on your response, it sounds like when scheduling conflicts arise between MM and the association the assumption/rule by Bernie is that the player will go to MM.

As I said earlier, I think it would have been better to leave the rule to each individual association rather than have 'big brother' make a district rule but my guess is they were getting pressured to take a stance. I specifically think that they are silly to impose any rules on mite players. But, it looks like, based on your note, Bernie is fine with players playing on any team they choose so long as it does not mean they will miss MM.

[HockeyDad41]

Muck, I am not sure where you are getting your information, and I am not saying you are wrong, but I have spoken to the parents of other MM kids and I haven't heard about any team that doesn't allow a kid to skate with another program if it doesn't directly conflict with something on their schedule. In fact I know of several kids on the Machine and other teams that have skated on different teams this year.

I don't have any knowledge of the Brick situation this year. I've heard the rumors, but I don't know anyone on the 2000 team so I haven't had a chance to ask anyone about that yet. I do know several of the parents on the 97, 99 and 01 teams and they have had kids sub on other teams. They tell me it's no big deal. I've never heard of a kid getting cut from a team over there for subbing.

I have no knowledge of what Bernies rules are but your response indicates that there IS an issue if there are conflicts (i.e. players can't have scheduling conflicts with MM things). That is the big problem with all of this stuff.

D6 (whether right or wrong) has decided to NOT let individual families decide what thing they will do on any given day...you must decide for the season what choice you want to make. Based on your response, it sounds like when scheduling conflicts arise between MM and the association the assumption/rule by Bernie is that the player will go to MM.

As I said earlier, I think it would have been better to leave the rule to each individual association rather than have 'big brother' make a district rule but my guess is they were getting pressured to take a stance. I specifically think that they are silly to impose any rules on mite players. But, it looks like, based on your note, Bernie is fine with players playing on any team they choose so long as it does not mean they will miss MM.

I could be complete wrong about this. I just don't know and I have never spoken to Bernie about it. Just from what I have seen and heard from other parents, I don't think his leadership over there is as draconian as some muck it out to be.

[nhl'er]

Does anyone have a current update where this issue stands between D6 and MM?

[Cut Above]

Yup, same as it was. They're sticking to it.

[Quasar]

Does anyone have a current update where this issue stands between D6 and MM?

New Rules - Leagues **revised 7/22

District 6 recognizes that participation on a District 6 youth hockey team is a time intensive and competitive activity and, in the spirit of advancing the overall best interests of both its youth participants and the District 6 teams, has determined as follows:

A player registered with a District 6 member association may not register or play hockey with any other organization, association or team during the winter hockey season, including playoffs. If a player is found to be registered or playing with another team, the District Director will determine, in their sole discretion, what sanction shall be assessed which may include, without limitation, suspension for the remainder of the District 6 winter hockey season, including playoffs.