Northern Minnesota AAA options?

Discussion of Minnesota Youth Hockey

Moderators: Mitch Hawker, east hockey, karl(east)

Post Reply
Goose21
Posts: 242
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:31 am

Northern Minnesota AAA options?

Post by Goose21 »

I am looking for information on AAA programs in Northern Minnesota (Grand Rapids, Duluth, Bemidji, Brainerd, etc.) for my son who is an upper level mite. As a newer hockey parent I am not too familiar with the AAA system, but he is one of the better players at his level and is looking for more hockey after the season.

Any information or advice on the following programs or others in Northern MN would be greatly appreciated.

Northland Hockey Group
Northern Wings
Jr. Bulldogs

Thanks
black sheep
Posts: 332
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 8:57 pm

Post by black sheep »

Lake Superior Stars and Northern Wings will pull most of the top talent, with LSS being the historically stronger of the two.

All of the rest will just be opprotunities to play with large ranges of skill levels.

Both LSS and NW have websites with coaches info. Shoot them an email letting them know you are interested.
Goose21
Posts: 242
Joined: Wed Dec 05, 2012 8:31 am

Post by Goose21 »

black sheep wrote:Lake Superior Stars and Northern Wings will pull most of the top talent, with LSS being the historically stronger of the two.

All of the rest will just be opprotunities to play with large ranges of skill levels.

Both LSS and NW have websites with coaches info. Shoot them an email letting them know you are interested.
Thanks for the reply. I was just checking out the Wings website. He went to a camp last year with a player who was of similar ability who played for them. I'll shoot them an e-mail.

I heard basically the same about the Stars and Wings, and a few mixed comments about NHG. I know nothing about the minwis program. I was hoping some on the site might have some more infomation, experiences or advice. Are their any other programs I could check out?

Thanks again.
4theloveofit
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:57 pm

Post by 4theloveofit »

Northern Edge who runs the Reebok Nationals teams out of the twin cities put a new AAA program based out of Fargo, ND called the MinnKota Nationals. This is a team of ND/Northern MN players that may be an option that branches off that successful program. For a first year program they had very good tournament success, but it is a better program for player skills development. You can find them on the web also :D
Duluthguy
Posts: 169
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:30 pm

Post by Duluthguy »

Another program to check out is Rapid Fire. My kid played in the program last summer and it was wonderful. Their teams at the younger levels are more competitive than the "older" levels because higher-end kids at those levels have already played for the Stars or Wings, etc. But some of the younger level teams are strong, particularly 2002.

The program just started last year and the guys who run it would admit they had much more interest than expected and that produced some "growing pains" in certain circumstances. But not in our situation. It was great for our family. I'd definitely include them for your consideration.
HockeyStorm
Posts: 157
Joined: Fri Oct 03, 2008 10:42 pm

Post by HockeyStorm »

Northern Storm AAA Hockey

www.northernstorm.net
flpucknut
Posts: 64
Joined: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:24 pm

Post by flpucknut »

My son has played for the MN Jr Moose program the last two seasons....and we have been a very pleased. I believe at our level (03) the bulldogs were out of the northern suburbs, places like cambridge. Good tournaments, like anything else your experience will have to do with who you get as a coach and who chooses to join your team.

We have played against all the teams you mentioned and they all looked to be well run with quality kids. Like others have said some are a little higher level than others but its all about what you are looking to get out of it.
RapidFireGM
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:00 pm

Rapid Fire AAA

Post by RapidFireGM »

www.rapidfirehockey.com

AAA tournament teams and summer hockey development programs. This program is designed to make your son a better hockey player. The focus is on development, not just on playing in tournaments.

Feel free to contact us directly from the contacts page on the website...
Post Reply