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If you dont know that then you shouldnt be blogging about AAA hockey.

Last summer my 12 year old worked for the family business, EARNED some money and is paying for his own hockey this winter.
Lets think of all of the money we spend on summer hockey...the best investment is to save that money for college because unfortunately, most youth hockey superstars dont get scholarships!

JoltDelivered wrote:

If you dont know that then you shouldnt be blogging about AAA hockey.

So this is blogging? Where did that term come from anyways? I've always found that to be a disruptive term. 7-10 years ago we called this thing a message board.

Last summer my 12 year old worked for the family business, EARNED some money and is paying for his own hockey this winter.
Lets think of all of the money we spend on summer hockey...the best investment is to save that money for college because unfortunately, most youth hockey superstars dont get scholarships!

Anyone else catch this misdirection? If the best investment is saving for college, why is a 12 year old blowing his hard earned cash on hockey? Shouldn't he be saving that money?

Very clever Jolt!

muckandgrind wrote:

chillin wrote:All this talk about McBain...I know him well enough to know that all the talk, good or bad, is great in his mind. I don't really agree with his views on hockey, cant say I even like the guy, but my kid goes to Lake Placid every year because Bernie is good to HIM, and he has fun.
We have been asked to play for the Machine, but my son chooses to play Football on the B team, baseball and golf.
We used to play summer hockey, and the Blades used to be the team to beat, but now summer hockey is about collecting money, getting 20 kids on a team and parents egos.
Last summer my 12 year old worked for the family business, EARNED some money and is paying for his own hockey this winter.
Lets think of all of the money we spend on summer hockey...the best investment is to save that money for college because unfortunately, most youth hockey superstars dont get scholarships!
I wish Bernie and his guys the best.
We are playing with our assoc.---no matter how backwards they may be!

I think you're generalizing a bit. Sure, there are SOME AAA programs that are setup to make money, but there are many more that aren't. Some teams just split the total cost of ice/tournaments evenly between the parents and nobody makes money off it.

Everybody is different. Some kids have more fun playing summer AAA hockey than they do playing winter association hockey (my son is one of those kids). Not everyone plays baseball or football, some kids like to play golf or go to the cabin. You just need to find a team that fits your needs and lifestyle.

I have also heard some scary things about McBain including making a player hop on one leg. Personally, that's not something I would want to be part of.

mnhcp wrote:

muckandgrind wrote:

chillin wrote:All this talk about McBain...I know him well enough to know that all the talk, good or bad, is great in his mind. I don't really agree with his views on hockey, cant say I even like the guy, but my kid goes to Lake Placid every year because Bernie is good to HIM, and he has fun.
We have been asked to play for the Machine, but my son chooses to play Football on the B team, baseball and golf.
We used to play summer hockey, and the Blades used to be the team to beat, but now summer hockey is about collecting money, getting 20 kids on a team and parents egos.
Last summer my 12 year old worked for the family business, EARNED some money and is paying for his own hockey this winter.
Lets think of all of the money we spend on summer hockey...the best investment is to save that money for college because unfortunately, most youth hockey superstars dont get scholarships!
I wish Bernie and his guys the best.
We are playing with our assoc.---no matter how backwards they may be!

I think you're generalizing a bit. Sure, there are SOME AAA programs that are setup to make money, but there are many more that aren't. Some teams just split the total cost of ice/tournaments evenly between the parents and nobody makes money off it.

Everybody is different. Some kids have more fun playing summer AAA hockey than they do playing winter association hockey (my son is one of those kids). Not everyone plays baseball or football, some kids like to play golf or go to the cabin. You just need to find a team that fits your needs and lifestyle.

I have also heard some scary things about McBain including making a player hop on one leg. Personally, that's not something I would want to be part of.

Oh my god, hop on one leg. That's terrible! Just aweful. Tell us more. You mean to tell us that Bernie singled out 1 kid for no apparent reason and made them hop on one leg?

muckandgrind wrote:

mnhcp wrote:

muckandgrind wrote: I think you're generalizing a bit. Sure, there are SOME AAA programs that are setup to make money, but there are many more that aren't. Some teams just split the total cost of ice/tournaments evenly between the parents and nobody makes money off it.

Everybody is different. Some kids have more fun playing summer AAA hockey than they do playing winter association hockey (my son is one of those kids). Not everyone plays baseball or football, some kids like to play golf or go to the cabin. You just need to find a team that fits your needs and lifestyle.

I have also heard some scary things about McBain including making a player hop on one leg. Personally, that's not something I would want to be part of.

Oh my god, hop on one leg. That's terrible! Just aweful. Tell us more. You mean to tell us that Bernie singled out 1 kid for no apparent reason and made them hop on one leg?

I don't know the reason for it, but I do know he did it in the middle of a game....and for the life of me, I can think of ANY reason to humilate a child like that or to cut a player in the middle of a game (which as he done also)......can YOU???

Again, I don't have an issue with people wanting to send their kids to Bernie. It's a free world.....I'm just not one of those people.

mnhcp wrote:

muckandgrind wrote:

mnhcp wrote: Oh my god, hop on one leg. That's terrible! Just aweful. Tell us more. You mean to tell us that Bernie singled out 1 kid for no apparent reason and made them hop on one leg?

I don't know the reason for it, but I do know he did it in the middle of a game....and for the life of me, I can think of ANY reason to humilate a child like that or to cut a player in the middle of a game (which as he done also)......can YOU???

Again, I don't have an issue with people wanting to send their kids to Bernie. It's a free world.....I'm just not one of those people.

But to force him to jump on 1 leg, WOW?

chillin wrote:Since I believe that the "AAA" classification has become a bit saturated over the past couple of years, I have a new idea for hockey next summer. I am going to organize "AAAA"!!!!!!!!!!!! We will be the best team ever! Then I will build the first year-round outdoor rink and parents with young superstars will trip over themselves to give me all of their money!! Local Hockey Associations will fear me!

DuckDuckQuackQuack wrote: Why do you care where kids play hockey? No one has ever been able to answer this question

O-townClown wrote:

DuckDuckQuackQuack wrote: Why do you care where kids play hockey? No one has ever been able to answer this question

The question has been answered many times. You just don't like the answer.
When someone purports to have superior developmental methods and makes the absurd claim that "great players aren't born...they're made!" in the face of tremendous evidence to the contrary it is only natural that people are curious.

Conventional thinking is that elite hockey players possess tremendous talent, a very strong work ethic (especially in your teens), and have ample access to ice time. Many people have the latter two. Time will tell, but I'm on record for claiming Minnesota Made will ultimately prove the opposite - great players aren't made - since most kids from their Mite Choice program will end up being average.

For the right player, the truly gifted, the intensive Minnesota Made approach will be ideal.

If McBain said what pitching guru Mike Marshall says - come train with me and I'll make you a better pitcher - I don't think anyone would care one bit. His marketing approach is beyond over the top.

High Flyer wrote:

mnhcp wrote:

muckandgrind wrote: I don't know the reason for it, but I do know he did it in the middle of a game....and for the life of me, I can think of ANY reason to humilate a child like that or to cut a player in the middle of a game (which as he done also)......can YOU???

Again, I don't have an issue with people wanting to send their kids to Bernie. It's a free world.....I'm just not one of those people.

But to force him to jump on 1 leg, WOW?

MNhscp, would you be ok with a player doing ten push ups?

O-townClown wrote:

DuckDuckQuackQuack wrote: Why do you care where kids play hockey? No one has ever been able to answer this question

The question has been answered many times. You just don't like the answer.

When someone purports to have superior developmental methods and makes the absurd claim that "great players aren't born...they're made!" in the face of tremendous evidence to the contrary it is only natural that people are curious.

Conventional thinking is that elite hockey players possess tremendous talent, a very strong work ethic (especially in your teens), and have ample access to ice time. Many people have the latter two. Time will tell, but I'm on record for claiming Minnesota Made will ultimately prove the opposite - great players aren't made - since most kids from their Mite Choice program will end up being average.

For the right player, the truly gifted, the intensive Minnesota Made approach will be ideal.

If McBain said what pitching guru Mike Marshall says - come train with me and I'll make you a better pitcher - I don't think anyone would care one bit. His marketing approach is beyond over the top.

Boardmember wrote: There are hundreds of Hockey camps and schools in Minnesota that make claims about their products.....Its called Marketing.....Example.. Peak Preformance Hockey camp "Take your game to the next level" slogan along with Phil Kessel's name on the Home page as an alumni!
Herb Brooks " Minnesota Miracle Elite Training Program" Slogan " Acheive your dreams" "Our training will take your skills to the next level" all those slogans lead me to believe that they will MAKE ( thus MADE) my skills better at their camps!

O-townClown wrote:

DuckDuckQuackQuack wrote: Why do you care where kids play hockey? No one has ever been able to answer this question

The question has been answered many times. You just don't like the answer.

When someone purports to have superior developmental methods and makes the absurd claim that "great players aren't born...they're made!" in the face of tremendous evidence to the contrary it is only natural that people are curious.

Conventional thinking is that elite hockey players possess tremendous talent, a very strong work ethic (especially in your teens), and have ample access to ice time. Many people have the latter two. Time will tell, but I'm on record for claiming Minnesota Made will ultimately prove the opposite - great players aren't made - since most kids from their Mite Choice program will end up being average.

For the right player, the truly gifted, the intensive Minnesota Made approach will be ideal.

If McBain said what pitching guru Mike Marshall says - come train with me and I'll make you a better pitcher - I don't think anyone would care one bit. His marketing approach is beyond over the top.

muckandgrind wrote:It depends on how you define "great". There is no denying that the players who put in extra time and effort to work on their game will get better than players who don't. So, for the player who's goal it is to make their high school varsity team some day, there is a big benefit to them skating in the summer in an environment where they can be challenged.

Playing a sport can be comparing to playing an instrument. The more you practice, the better you get. Sure, some kids are born to be better athletes, but even THEY need to work hard to get to whatever level they are shooting for.

O-townClown wrote:

muckandgrind wrote:It depends on how you define "great". There is no denying that the players who put in extra time and effort to work on their game will get better than players who don't. So, for the player who's goal it is to make their high school varsity team some day, there is a big benefit to them skating in the summer in an environment where they can be challenged.

Playing a sport can be comparing to playing an instrument. The more you practice, the better you get. Sure, some kids are born to be better athletes, but even THEY need to work hard to get to whatever level they are shooting for.

There's no question, muck. The notion that hard work is a substitute for being blessed with talent is absurd, and there's no denying that either.

Most of your musicians don't play Carnegie Hall. This isn't to say it isn't a worthy goal to try to get there, but the reason to play an instrument is because you like it. Enjoyment. Fun.

Many people have seen McBain's operation and don't think it looks like a lot of fun for the young players. Just a shared observation. For those that love it there - great.

O-townClown wrote:Selling people on the idea that you can reach the next level - whatever that is - with a hockey school? Say it ain't so! Of course you go to hockey school to improve.

Not sexy, but you don't find people questioning why people send their kids to Plant City or Zephyr Hills or wherever.

http://drmikemarshall.com/

Lots of hyperbole here.

Our first AAA team was the called The Minnesota 88s, the team was made up of players born in 1988. Over the seven years that the team was together the focus was on high repetition skill training, very little systems and we only competed in tournaments. By the time the 88s reached draft age, 8 of them were drafted by NHL teams. After the 88s had run their course we started a '96 team called the Minnesota Machine. With the same development strategy and focus as with 88s,“The Machine” quickly became one of the top '96 teams in North America. They have made it to the championship game of every '96 tournament they have ever played in both in the US and Canada. They have won every tournament but one. It wasn’t long and we were approached by many families about getting that same kind of training for their players. Since then, we have added Machine teams at most all levels and in 2006 started a second AAA club called the Deuce using this same training model. Now in 2008 we have added two more AAA clubs; The Grinders and The Snipers.

Is it any wonder the guy's a lightning rod? I think the 1996 team just played a tournament where they didn't reach the final. Can't be!

O-townClown wrote:

DuckDuckQuackQuack wrote: Why do you care where kids play hockey? No one has ever been able to answer this question

The question has been answered many times. You just don't like the answer.

When someone purports to have superior developmental methods and makes the absurd claim that "great players aren't born...they're made!" in the face of tremendous evidence to the contrary it is only natural that people are curious.

Conventional thinking is that elite hockey players possess tremendous talent, a very strong work ethic (especially in your teens), and have ample access to ice time. Many people have the latter two. Time will tell, but I'm on record for claiming Minnesota Made will ultimately prove the opposite - great players aren't made - since most kids from their Mite Choice program will end up being average.

For the right player, the truly gifted, the intensive Minnesota Made approach will be ideal.

If McBain said what pitching guru Mike Marshall says - come train with me and I'll make you a better pitcher - I don't think anyone would care one bit. His marketing approach is beyond over the top.