Squirtacular

Docs_88 · Post by **Docs_88** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:59 am

Having been to both I would take Fargo every time. We played in Fargo last year and the kids had a great time playing against teams from Phoenix, Boulder CO, Saskatchewan, ND, and MN. The Sheels arena is awesome and of course SunMart is a unique arena if it can actually be called an arena. It's a great experiance for the kids if that's going to be your out of town tourney. The Squirtacular was great tourney too but we played our games on Wed, Thurs, and Sat (did not make it to Sun) all late in the evening so there were not a lot of kids around for the pin trading. We were just kind of in and out. Made for a REALLY expensive 3 game tourney but that on us for a bad showing.

SCBlueLiner · Post by **SCBlueLiner** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:39 am

The Fargo Squirt Tournament is one of the best tournaments I've ever experienced. It is pretty much the highlight of many youth hockey player's career. We have high school seniors who still list it as their most memorable hockey experience, it makes that big of an impression on them.

Our team went last year and had a wonderful time. One of the players asked me the week following the tournament (last year) whether they had the same thing for Pee Wees because they wanted to go back again (this year). The Pee Wee Ice Jam is nice, but not on the same level as the Squirt International.

I'd like to see an association put on something for the Pee Wees like Fargo puts on for the Squirts. Back when I played it was the Bloomington Silver Stick. It would be nice to see something like that happen again.

old goalie85 · Post by **old goalie85** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:52 am

I remember the Silver Stck. It was cool. I think you could go to nationals if you won the one in Bloomington.

Docs_88 · Post by **Docs_88** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:16 pm

I think the Squirtacular is on the right track. I'll probably get blasted for this but maybe they could think about breaking out the brackets like Fargo does so more teams have a chance to play on the weekend even if its not for the ship just to try and get more games in for the money. I'm 100% for playing against top competition, I think it only makes the kids that really want to get better, but I wonder if they will start losing teams if an association looks at the cost vs. their opportunity to play more than 3 games.

Bleed Maroon and Gold · Thu Jan 23, 2014 12:24 pm

[quote="old goalie85"]I remember the Silver Stck. It was cool. I think you could go to nationals if you won the one in Bloomington.[/quote]

That is correct they still have several regional tournaments to go to nationals around the U.S and Canada. The winners of each regional go to the finals tournament. Which depends on the year could be held in Canada. tournament is great I have taken a team to nationals when I was coaching in New Jersey.

iseepalms · Post by **iseepalms** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 3:01 pm

In the Squirt's they still have what is called the Midwest Regional in North Saint Paul which in the "A" Level I don't know who won but in the "B" Level it was won by Johnson/Como but Minnesota does not particpate in the nationals due to the age requirements.

Bleed Maroon and Gold · Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:00 am

[quote="iseepalms"]In the Squirt's they still have what is called the Midwest Regional in North Saint Paul which in the "A" Level I don't know who won but in the "B" Level it was won by Johnson/Como but Minnesota does not particpate in the nationals due to the age requirements.[/quote]

According to the Silver Stick website they do not have a Midwest regional and I could not find any regional that takes place in Minnesota. Do you have a link to that regional by chance because I would love to check it out. Here is the link to the Silver Stick website. http://www.silverstick.org/view/silvers ... uJ_u7TnbRY

iseepalms · Post by **iseepalms** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:06 am

Like I said in my post it is still called the North Saint Paul "Midwest Regional" but they don't send a team to the regionals like back in past. It would be on the North Saint Paul Youth hockey website.

Bleed Maroon and Gold · Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:10 am

[quote="iseepalms"]Like I said in my post it is still called the North Saint Paul "Midwest Regional" but they don't send a team to the regionals like back in past. It would be on the North Saint Paul Youth hockey website.[/quote]

Thank you I found it but I do not see any tie to that tournament to the Silver Sticks tournament.

iseepalms · Post by **iseepalms** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:07 am

Years ago it use to be but since Minnesota changed their age requirements Minnesota stopped sending teams. You know Minnesota thinks they are better than the rest of the country at hockey, otherwise we could all play against each other.

Bleed Maroon and Gold · Fri Jan 24, 2014 10:48 am

[quote="iseepalms"]Years ago it use to be but since Minnesota changed their age requirements Minnesota stopped sending teams. You know Minnesota thinks they are better than the rest of the country at hockey, otherwise we could all play against each other.[/quote]

I agree with that. I wish Minnesota hockey would get it right because being able to play in tournaments like that are a once in a lifetime experience if you make it out of the regional.

iseepalms · Post by **iseepalms** » Fri Jan 24, 2014 11:29 am

I Agree, Have the ages the same through out the country.

57special · Post by **57special** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 8:54 am

Then the Peewees would be eligible for the Grandaddy of them all, the Quebec Tournament during their Winter Carnival. The competition is truly world class.

Froggy Richards · Post by **Froggy Richards** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 9:40 am

iseepalms wrote:I Agree, Have the ages the same through out the country.

What is the reasoning that MN hockey is different? I know I've heard an explanation in the past but don't really remember what it was. Something about it being more compatible with the High School State tournament. How would changing to birth years affect High School eligibility?

SCBlueLiner · Post by **SCBlueLiner** » Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:31 am

Froggy Richards wrote:
iseepalms wrote:I Agree, Have the ages the same through out the country.
What is the reasoning that MN hockey is different? I know I've heard an explanation in the past but don't really remember what it was. Something about it being more compatible with the High School State tournament. How would changing to birth years affect High School eligibility?

I heard it was to protect JV hockey more so than Varsity.