USA National Select teams 14,16,18

[trilogy]

When are the invite letters sent out?

Last year, they were sent out at the end of February.

Seems like not much notice, 3-4 weeks, what if the kid is going on a spring break, are they just out of the deal?

[benattherink]

In last year's letter, it stated that they realized that some girls may have conflicts (vacations, etc), but the player would have to make a choice.

[jumpstart]

What chance does a 14U girl have in being selected if the HS coachs are the ones voting?

[trilogy]

In last year's letter, it stated that they realized that some girls may have conflicts (vacations, etc), but the player would have to make a choice.

Gee that's not much of a choice considering that the last time I bought a plane ticket that was refundable was say ten years ago

Non-issue for my family probably, no nomination last year so probably none this year either. Which is just fine, she works her butt off in whatever camps she goes to so what more can a parent ask for.

[unbelievable]

What chance does a 14U girl have in being selected if the HS coachs are the ones voting?

There's a subtle distinction. It's actually determined by birth year, not what level played. So they are mainly looking at 15 year olds on up. And Minnkota only sends girls to 3 levels: 1992, 1991 and 1990/1989 birth year groups. Other areas across the country send 1993 birth years. Each year the birth year advances one year. This year the girls selected go to:

1992 - St. Cloud, MN
1991 - Rochester, NY
1990/89 - Lake Placid, NY

Check out the "Girls Minnkota Development Camp flyer" link at:

http://www.minnesotahockey.org/

Also, Minnesota Hockey sponsors an Advanced 15 Summer Camp in Mankato, MN. There's another link on the Minnesota Hockey site above.

[jumpstart]

There's a subtle distinction. It's actually determined by birth year, not what level played. So they are mainly looking at 15 year olds on up.

Thank you. I think I understand the process, and overall I think it is a good one. I probably did not ask my question clearly. Say there is a young 1992 (8th grader) who lives in a town that does not let her play high school and plays 14U instead. What chance does she have in being voted on if high school coaches never see her? I'm sure there are a number of girls in this same boat.

[MNHockeyFan]

Thank you. I think I understand the process, and overall I think it is a good one. I probably did not ask my question clearly. Say there is a young 1992 (8th grader) who lives in a town that does not let her play high school and plays 14U instead. What chance does she have in being voted on if high school coaches never see her? I'm sure there are a number of girls in this same boat.

I think she would probably be overlooked, unless the high school coach takes a real interest in the 14U team and has seen at least several of their games. Even then, the high school coach may choose to favor the players on his or her own team instead.

[SEMetro]

Can't you just ask your high school coach if he/she nominated her?

[WillWork4Hockey]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't U14 coaches also get ballots to nominate a portion of the youngest group?

[jumpstart]

I'm not asking about the nominating process. I'm asking about the voting process and how much of a chance a 14U has.

[Thunderbird77]

To the parent of the U14 player:

This year, since the 1992 and 1991 years have been split, it may be easier for a 1992 (prime age group for U14) to be selected. In years past,the fact that two age groups were put together made it very difficult because the younger girls had to skate against players a year older, most of which had two or more years of varsity experience. This is not to say that there aren't some great players at the U14 level, but it is quite a challenge to compete at a try-out against varsity players. There is a big jump from U14 to varsity.

[SEMetro]

I didn't think it was that tough to get into Phase 1 - anyone have any idea on how hard it is (candidates versus spots available)?

[TheGame]

Last year there were over 600 nominations that were included on the ballot for the two levels. There was a total of 160 per level invited to Phase 1 or a total of 320 players, so basically a 1 in 2 chance....

[WillWork4Hockey]

To clarify....High School coaches nominate and vote on High School players (1989/1990, 1991, and 1992). U14 coaches nominate and vote on U14 players with 1992 birthdays. Once the players get invited to Phase 1, they skate with others of their same birthyear regardless of what level they have been playing during the winter.

[Puck Bag]

I think it's pretty tough when you have essentially a 1 in 2 chance. I've only been through the process once but I was essentially told that I was lucky my daughter was nominated and chosen.

I agree with the earlier post though, the younger kids get a little chewed up at Phase 1. There are a lot of very talented younger women who with a couple of years varsity experience really stand out at Phase 1.

Hopefully you have a pro-active 14U coach and he / she has nominated their worthy players. Even if they get in a tough tryout it's worth the experience because at 14 there is always next year, and next year and next year ect ect.

[OntheEdge]

I have had a ton of the same questions, so thanks for asking these. I do know that some coaches put almost all their players in that are eligable, and some never put any in at all, even for a vote. This is the troubling part, and makes it not so legit, and some of the best players never get even on the ballet, but the end result is some pretty good hockey, and for the most part a lot of the right kids end up in the final groups. There are also many other factors, as kids may not be able to go, family vacations, injuries, and so on. I do think it is a great thing, and run very well, but I'd question whether all the best tallent actually gets there to even try out?[/quote]

Hopefully I'm doing this right (I'm a new subscriber). I've been reading this Board for over a year. My daughter plays U14 so I've enjoyed reading the comments.

My only comment is that I agree with the latter half of your statement; however, I have seen the letter that goes out to U14 coaches. They are instructed to only the most skilled players and to limit their nominations to 1-2 players. In some respects I think this is a good idea to manage the numbers but some of the stronger U14 teams might have more than 2 that are worthy of nomination.

[ghshockeyfan]

FWIW there are always circumstances that may warrant looking at more than 1-2 from each U14 (or HS team per age group) for that matter.

Usually, what I've found, is that girls that are deserving rarely get left out of the process entirely. Keep in mind, this is an INITIAL IDENTIFICATION process relative to being considered for the Nat'l team! So, the hope is that, while not perfect, that the system works well enough to get kids that belong to the appropriate phase of the process - or the majority at the right phase, with a select few sometimes not quite making the next phase.

Now, as I've said before, there are some kids that may not advance as far as we think they should, but I'd guess that very few get left out entirely. We can see a kid or two that we feel made Phase 1 but should have made it to 2, etc. but I would say that it's rare for kids to be overlooked year-after-year if they're truly deserving.

That's the strength in a process with integrity!!! You may at times actually have to make hard decisions instead of making it a "free-for-all" "open tryout" or for all those "willing to pay $xyz." We have enough of those programs out there IMHO.

This program, as of now, is being done right. It is as fair, unbiased, and honest as any can be. I have no suggestions as to how to improve it, as if I did I would obviously voice them here as I do with nearly anything else that pertains to G Hockey that I feel can be improved.

ONE THING THAT I WISH WOULD HAPPEN - in a related sense - is that we would get a TRUE "Before & After" Girls Elite League together based on NDP. This would allow for the perceived political nature of other options to be removed and also would help concentrate all the best talent in one true "elite league" vs. many similar fractured offerings claiming to be this.

[xwildfan]

I think parents should definitely talk to their coaches about having their daughter nominated. I know of one top player whose coach did not nominate her (for reasons of self-interest that I won't get into); her parents contacted a MN Hockey official (Joan ?). This player made the final team. Point is: don't assume that every coach nominates his players.

[MNHockeyFan]

I think parents should definitely talk to their coaches about having their daughter nominated. I know of one top player whose coach did not nominate her (for reasons of self-interest that I won't get into); her parents contacted a MN Hockey official (Joan ?). This player made the final team. Point is: don't assume that every coach nominates his players.

I'm not surprised that this occasionally happens.

One other possibility is that some very good players on the top AA teams might get overlooked if the coach follows the recommendation to nominate just 2 or 3 of his own. If you take an Eden Prairie for example, I wouldn't be surprised that their No. 5 or No. 6 player is as good or better than the BEST player for (fill in the blank)'s team. The same situation might apply to Roseville, Edina, Holy Angels and a few other really deep, top quality teams.

And for the younger players, how do the coaches objectively compare the better U14A players to the better 7th-8th graders playing varsity, especially when they might not have seen many of them play?

I don't dispute what ghs is saying, that there are very few deserving players that get overlooked for Phase 1, but you certainly see how this MIGHT happen.

[OntheEdge]

Thanks guys. I like to hear others opinions.

I do think that in anything subjective like judging abilities of players especially when some players play different levels and in different areas, there will be good players overlooked and lesser players that will get the chance. Like drafting players in the pros it is difficult to judge. If judging talent was easy every first round draft pick in the NFL would succeed and every undrafted player would be out of football.

Since it will be my first opportunity to see the process work I will be very interested since I know many of the girls at this level.

From an association viewpoint I know that there are always a few that continue to thrive based on past success and a few that continue to get overlooked based on their past mediocrity. Not all athletes develop at the same rate.

[gopher9]

The letters for the first phase our out. Some have recieved them in the mail 2 days ago.

[ghshockeyfan]

The letters for the first phase our out. Some have recieved them in the mail 2 days ago.

I assume that these are sent out in a similar time frame for all regions, but I won't assume that until I hear confirmation...

[OntheEdge]

The letters for the first phase our out. Some have recieved them in the mail 2 days ago.

I assume that these are sent out in a similar time frame for all regions, but I won't assume that until I hear confirmation...

It appears that they are being sent out. I know a girl that got one today (Saturday).

[ghshockeyfan]

The letters for the first phase our out. Some have recieved them in the mail 2 days ago.

I assume that these are sent out in a similar time frame for all regions, but I won't assume that until I hear confirmation...

It appears that they are being sent out. I know a girl that got one today (Saturday).

What region are you (is she) in? N/SW/E/C?

[OntheEdge]

I assume that these are sent out in a similar time frame for all regions, but I won't assume that until I hear confirmation...

It appears that they are being sent out. I know a girl that got one today (Saturday).

What region are you (is she) in? N/SW/E/C?

She is in the SW region and was notified of her selection for the Advanced 15 camp. She is very deserving and no she is not my daughter.