AAA Tournaments/All-Star Teams

[Burnbabyburn]

Which are the premier Girls summer tournaments? Meltdown? Super Series? MN Selects? Looks like Selects is up against Super Series this year. This would indicate that there are 1000 kids playing hockey that weekend. Kind of waters down the whole "All-Star" thing, doesn't it?

What's the difference? Who plays in each? Who picks the teams, how would someone with no idea figure this out?

[royals dad]

There is a good thread on the selcts in the youth forum. It has the links and instructions on nominations. We have done selects in St Cloud and the Elites in Blaine. Not sure what the best is many of the teams were made up of about the same girls at those. My family likes the St Cloud one the best, the tourney has an all star weekend feel to it. I think the skills compatition is a highlight for the players.

Not sure about the watered down part. At the two tourneys my daughter has played in the games are faster than regular season games and are usually close. You will see some of the girls who play up or on the boys teams. Some of the others you listed are more AAA/Club team tourneys and not individual invite tourneys. The best part is that they get to meet the girls the will be playing against all the way through HS.

If your player gets a chance these can be fun with a short time commitment and I would highly recomend it. Go West!

[drop the puck]

If you have two all-star tournaments the same weekend that still translates to just 8 teams or 4 teams (N, S, E, and W) for each tournamentat at each age group.

Based on geographic boundries that still only translates to an average of 1 girl or less per associaiton per age level.

That in my book is all-star hockey.

Relationships (who you know) often plays a significant role in filling these rosters from player 11 - 17.

[mnhcp]

We love these tournaments but I do have a pet peve. The coaches. Not necessarily the coach of the Select Team but the association coaches. Both can be a problem. Many Select coaches haven't the time to go out and prospect kids so they have to rely on coaches input. Unfortuneately coaches aren't always the most objective often nominating their own kids and overlooking more talented players on their own roster. Things aren't always the way we'd like and neither are the various Select teams.

[TNFHL]

Two Nations Female Hockey League is a cost spring hockey league that was formed in 2006. 2010 League games will be played over 3 weekends (MSP, Winnipeg, Fargo) with the Championship weekend held at Blaine Super Rink in early June.

TNFHL has a spot available in our US Platinum Division (92/93/94/95) . If you are interested, please refer to our website.


http://www.2nationsfemalehockeyleague.com/

[OntheEdge]

Which are the premier Girls summer tournaments? Meltdown? Super Series? MN Selects? Looks like Selects is up against Super Series this year. This would indicate that there are 1000 kids playing hockey that weekend. Kind of waters down the whole "All-Star" thing, doesn't it?

What's the difference? Who plays in each? Who picks the teams, how would someone with no idea figure this out?

I think there is an ever changing opinion and fact of what are the premier summer tournaments. It seems to change every year.

In general, I'd say at the younger ages the MN Selects is pretty good and the better open tournaments lately have been the Schwan's Blue Invitational (for 19U) Meltdown and the International Cup but it depends on which level you are playing and depends on which tournaments the top AAA teams select to play in each year. In a down year the top teams might bypass a tournament. I think this has been happening at the 19U and 16U levels of the Minnesota Meltdown since it conflicts with the National Development Camp.

Remember most of these tournaments are primarily money makers for someone. An exception is the TNFHL. The Two Nations Female Hockey League is a not a for profit league and is probably one of the best deals out there.

Additonally, some of the top 19U AAA teams such as the Jr. Whitecaps and the Icecats have been shifting away from the for-profit tournaments and concentrating on scrimmage festivals with other top teams to save cost and to make sure the talent level is high. These elite organizations also play in some tourneys outside of Minnesota selecting the tournaments that give their kids lots of exposure to College scouts. Relationships have been cultivated over the years with the organizers of these tournaments (e.g. NAHA) and getting in is by invite only so you have to be a player on one of these elite teams to participate.

In regards to your questions in the final paragraph: (1) What's the difference? Some tournaments are better than others but its difficult to determine which is better each year so I don't think there's a lot of difference to comment on. I think its more important to spend most of your summer money on development. Organizations such as FHIT, OS, CADP, Potter's Pure Hockey and others do a good job working on skills. I think the best organization depends on the fit for your particular daughter's needs and desires. (2) Who plays in each? MN Selects, Super Series, Gopher State, etc are all by invite. A coach decides who he wants to pick for his team. Most of the other tournaments (e.g. Meltdown, International Cup, Schwan's Blue Invitational, etc) are wide open and anyone can put together a team to compete. It takes a lot of work to organize a team and financial risk but it can be fun. (3) Who picks the teams, how would someone with no idea figure this out? The coaches pick his or her team. Someone with no idea needs to find someone who has an idea to help him or her get involved if you want to do that. Generally if your daughter is a superstar at her level the top teams will find her. If she isn't I suggest spending your money on training. Many times training organizations will be a good place to find a team to play on. If you are really struggling to find a place for your daughter to play then the easiest place to start is to join the MN Showcase AAA league.

I hope this helps.

[TNFHL]

Two Nations Female Hockey League will also facilitate player placement.

Players/parents must foward a bio to TNFHL so that is added to the Player Placement List. This list will be circulated to teams and the teams will determine which players they would like to bring into their fold based on their criteria. Of course, players/parents can decide accordingly if this a good match.

TNFHL does not guarantee player placement, but this does provide exposure for the players. For the past 3 seasons, during the Championship weekend; scouts have been invited and many have attended.

[Ufeelshame]

MN Selects in St. Cloud is great. We have had a tremendous experience. The non-parent coaching is a huge plus if you can get it. I do agree that the Association Coach can help or hurt your player when they are contacted by the Selects Coach. Most of the times they help.

[jackdaw]

MN Selects I believe is the original of the "top" players. There are a number of copy cats: Mid-West Selects, Super Series, Preview Cup to name a few.

The teams are only as good as the coaches connections. Most are filled with the core of the same kids and who can make it or wants to pay the approx. $200 for 1-2 practices and 4 games. It is not a good deal, but the kids like it and feel honored to be asked.

If you can only play in one, I would go for MN Selects.

[Phish12]

Three points. First, Minnesota Selects requires a hotel stay in St. Cloud. Enough said. No chance I'm shelling out a couple hundred more dollars for a weekend in St. Cloud (no offense St. Cloud, I'm sure it's lovely there in March...). Our experience is that the Super Series is every bit as good, maybe better based on last year's rosters, and it's in the Metro. Second, Midwest Selects is in August and is nowhere near as well attended. Many of the top kids have a heavy AAA schedule in August and elect a weekend at the cabin, etc. Third, make sure the coach will actually be working hard to put together a true all-star team. Some take short cuts and put a bunch of their kids' friends on. That usually results in lop-sided games. A 3-2 win or loss is far more valuable (and fun) than a 7-0 drubbing. Bottom line, my kid has had a great time meeting and skating with other talented, motivated kids, at these tournaments. If your kid gets asked and you have the time (and cash), let them have some fun!