Edina PeeWee A Shenanigans (?)

[EdinaRumors]

Which one of my facts were wrong? If you take all the returning pee wee A and B1 players, afew of the top B2 players and a few of the top squirt A players, don't you think that covers all the A candidates. I don't think this is an EHA sponsored clinic.

How can you cover all the A candidates if potential A candidates haven't even regsitered yet? Regsitartion is STILL OPEN and will be until Saturday. How do you know how many returning A players are registering in Edina until registration closes? Let alone returning B1 and top Squirt A's ...

This private try-out took place almost 2 weeks ago when it should never have even been considered until next week and isn't advertised until september 29th.

Like I said, check your facts. Oops. You can't until September 12th ...

It's not rocket science.

[Nobodyonya]

EdinaRumors you need to get your facts right. I know a couple of the 2nd year parents and they told me that the coaches put on this clinic, not the parents. They have done this the last 5 or 6 years and no one has complained about it. There are 35 players invited, so I think they cover all of the possible A players for the coming year. Also, there is no trip to Colorado. Lastly, in Edina the coaches pick their teams so the "unbiased" selection process is not compromised. I'm sure if a player stands out in tryouts, he will be noticed.

InTheKnow......if in fact that you are in the know (no pun intended) is this activity run by the Association if the Coaches are involved? If so, why not post it on the website? Maybe they have done this in the past 5 or 6 years, obviously the parents that had players that were not invited in past years never voiced there opinion like EdinaRumors is displaying. In reality it is highly unlikely there hasn't been some hub bub going on regarding this in past years it just hasn't been exposed to all other outsiders in this capacity.

[Community Based]

All the new kids coming in with the new participation rule. All hockey playing students at Our Lady of Grace, French Immersion, new public school students, others?, now register with Edina. Edina families "in the know" don't know who will be registering for their program this year.

[InTheKnow]

Sounds like you have some deeper issues.

[EdinaRumors]

EdinaRumors you need to get your facts right. I know a couple of the 2nd year parents and they told me that the coaches put on this clinic, not the parents. They have done this the last 5 or 6 years and no one has complained about it. There are 35 players invited, so I think they cover all of the possible A players for the coming year. Also, there is no trip to Colorado. Lastly, in Edina the coaches pick their teams so the "unbiased" selection process is not compromised. I'm sure if a player stands out in tryouts, he will be noticed.

Is this activity run by the Association if the Coaches are involved? If so, why not post it on the website? Maybe they have done this in the past 5 or 6 years, obviously the parents that had players that were not invited in past years never voiced there opinion like EdinaRumors is displaying. In reality it is highly unlikely there hasn't been some hub bub going on regarding this in past years it just hasn't been exposed to all other outsiders in this capacity.

Well said. If this rogue behavior has truly been running rampant in past years like some have claimed, (without complaint, apparently) it doesn't make it right, fair or ethical.

No one complained about slavery for years. But then someone did. Then a lot of people did. Then they changed things.

Perhaps a dialogue on the issue is called for ... with input not just from the 35 families invited, but also from the 105 families EXCLUDED.

I am curious to know what the EHA's stance is on this practice ... anyone from EHA care to chime in?

[EdinaRumors]

All the new kids coming in with the new participation rule. All hockey playing students at Our Lady of Grace, French Immersion, new public school students, others?, now register with Edina. Edina families "in the know" don't know who will be registering for their program this year.

BINGO!

So how can you invite all the returning PeeWee A, B1 and top Squirt A (who's to say who's "Top" without a grading session) players to this private try-out when registration is STILL OPEN and you don't know who all the PeeWee A, B1 and top Squirt A players are.

[sorno82]

Actually, this situation underlines the NEED in Minnesota for the new Participation Rule and Minnesota Hockey should be applauded for getting it right and giving Minnesotans a CHOICE when it comes to association hockey.
All we need now is for associations to be UPFRONT about their actual selection processes.
If it's a clicky private club, as appears may be the case in this situation, then one can simply enroll in a school who's geopgraphic boundires reside in an association with selection integrity.
I think that is the way to go here. Like the old saying goes, "if you can't join em, beat em"
THANK YOU Minnesota Hockey for the new Participation rule which protects our youth and preserves fairness in this great game.

Newsflash-every association has this going on. By switching associations, you will still be left out of the pre-season clique skate. Last year, the Velocity owner had a bunch of EP Peewees skate in a clinic that were all candidates for the EP "A" team. You registered through the velocity website. Low and behold, not all those kids made the "A" team. It could work against him if he does not bring his "A" game to the pre-season skate.

If the boy is a bubble Edina "A" player, then he would be good enough to be a mid to upper "A" player anywhere else. You could move to that association, but there is a 1 year wait to play on the "A" team.

[Nobodyonya]

Sounds like you have some deeper issues.

Not sure if this was directed to me in response to my question to you, but anyways if, you do not have the answer that is fine I was just merely inquiring what the involvement was here. I have some good friends from Edina that went thru the Peewee program in the last year or two which played for the Edina A Peewee teams I can contact to actually find out what the real status is regarding this activity

[InTheKnow]

[quote]So how can you invite all the returning PeeWee A, B1 and top Squirt A (who's to say who's "Top" without a grading session) players to this private try-out when registration is STILL OPEN and you don't know who all the PeeWee A, B1 and top Squirt A players are.

I am talking about returning Edina players. Like I said before, if there is a kid that plays well in tryouts, they will get noticed.

[InTheKnow]

Sounds like you have some deeper issues.

Not sure if this was directed to me in response to my question to you, but anyways if, you do not have the answer that is fine I was just merely inquiring what the involvement was here. I have some good friends from Edina that went thru the Peewee program in the last year or two which played for the Edina A Peewee teams I can contact to actually find out what the real status is regarding this activity

I was talking to EdinaRumors

[O-townClown]

My head is spinning trying to make sense of this. It is very hard to know exactly what transpired, who was there, and whether this happens each year or was a new development.

This much is obvious:
If your son is a very good Pee Wee and you think that means he will automatically make Edina's A team you are very wrong.

There are plenty of good players that will get cut. And that doesn't mean anything is wrong. No matter what, you can't get 25 or 35 or 45 or whatever into 17. If I have a spare ticket to the Gopher game and invite one of my friends, everyone not invited could claim the process wasn't fair.

Coach Johnson coached Edina's Pee Wees last year and I think he's back. His roster last year had more than one surprise. The notion that the process is 'cliquey' and 'unfair' will never go away. For all the attempts to ensure an equitable process there are going to remain a few loopholes. Fall ice? Parents will get their kids opportunities for additional skating no matter what you do, so I'm not sure this is a bad thing.

The bigger issue, and one that has been completely unspoken, is whether intense competition for 11 and 12 year olds to make a team is healthy or not. Changes to the system aren't coming and what Minnesota Hockey does hardly quashes the pressure. An example is that they don't even keep league records in Squirts and have no state tournament, yet people still cry foul over tryouts at that level.

Hopefully the child of Edina Rumors has fun this year and beyond in youth hockey. That's the important part.

[spin-o-rama]

ER
Your claims do not add up. You said there is nothing wrong with playing Edina B1 and then talked about the shame of your kid being relegated to playing B.

Also, if your kid is a perennial A player then we should assume he made the A team last year. That's a short list and you don't match up.

Do you even know how good you would have to be to be a top 1/2 cert for the PW A team? And you know of more than 1 of these quality players that weren't invited to this skate? You have quite a nucleus of hidden talent. Maybe you should call up Coach Johnson for a scrimmage.

There is lots of available ice in September. Have your dark horse practice up and show 'em at the tryout in early October.

[JoltDelivered]

it's a clicky private club

What isn't in Edina? That community wrote the book on clicky private clubs.

Heck, they actually named one of their tournaments the Cake Eater Classic. I think this is a pretty good indicator of where they are coming from in Hornet land.

[EdinaRumors]

Hopefully the child of Edina Rumors has fun this year and beyond in youth hockey. That's the important part.

Thank You O-town. It's certainly no fun for a child to be left out. Hopefully, all of the children will have fun this year and beyond.

[EdinaRumors]

The bigger issue, and one that has been completely unspoken, is whether intense competition for 11 and 12 year olds to make a team is healthy or not.

I don't think there is any doubt that it is good for them. Intense competition can offer ways to gain insights about one's capacity to develop physical and intellectual skills. Competition accentuates skill-building and strategy-building, teach teamwork, teach ways to identify personal goals, and provide ways to develop criteria for success. Competitions can easily call for maximum effort and may motivate some individuals to increase efforts toward completion of some tasks.

Competitions provide changes of pace and releases for energy and are thought to be most positive when all participants believe from the start they have equal chances of success.

[goaliewithfoggedglasses]

it's a clicky private club

What isn't in Edina? That community wrote the book on clicky private clubs.

Heck, they actually named one of their tournaments the Cake Eater Classic. I think this is a pretty good indicator of where they are coming from in Hornet land.

I don't think you get it, I love the name of that tournament. It's self-deprecating, shows a sense of humor, and completely deflates the derogatory use of the term by others. Pretty clever IMO. (it's also a girls tournament BTW)

The Squirt A1 coach (now the Bantam A coach) held the same kind of event last year before the season. I know for a fact that quite a few players that ended up making the A1 team were not included. Just because you're not invited doesn't mean the team has been chosen, if you're good you'll get a look.

[O-townClown]

I don't think there is any doubt that it is good for them.


Competitions provide changes of pace and releases for energy and are thought to be most positive when all participants believe from the start they have equal chances of success.

Child psychologists, sports psychologists, national governing bodies for hockey and soccer, experts on youth sports, and experts on parenting disagree. While you don't think there is any doubt, others do. (Including those with initials behind their name.)

All participants do have a fair chance to make the team, provided you define fair as being the best players to make the team in the eyes of those doing the selecting. Of course, not everyone will agree on that definition of fair, or the judgment of those making the cuts.

An equal chance? Heck no. The better players have a better chance. Returning team members are virtually assured of a roster spot.

Understand that your posts - right or wrong - make you appear to be someone that has a problem with the reality that your son may not make it this year. Remember the dad in "Blades of Glory" that cried foul when Saterdalen cut his kid? He was okay with everything - coach, process, etc... - until his kid got cut. Then came the letter writing campaign to the community newspaper.

On the other side, remember the father that said the kids that get cut probably spend the rest of their lives regretting it?

Sports are enjoyable. Sports are emotional. Hopefully the emotions don't become so great to ruin the enjoyment.

Good luck this year.

[O-townClown]

Rumors are often no more than just rumors, but there is one going around Edina that needs to be put to rest. The rumor is that;

1.) The Edina PeeWee A Team has already been picked and that,

2.) The parents of the kids picked have already been notified, and that,

3.) The team has entered an out of state Tournament in Colorado in early october, and that,

4.) The parents of the players picked have already made travel plans for Colorado

My question to anyone who may be in the know ... is this true?

If it is true, who is responsible for these decisions?

Considering player registration is open till September 12th and PeeWee tryouts are 3-4 weeks away , is this fair? Is this ethical?

I also realize that rumors are often nothing more than that and I would be happy if someone in an authorative position could dispell the rumor(s) and put this to rest publicly.

Any light shed on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You.

http://www.edinahockeyassociation.com/p ... 8903-board

While your attempts to reach Mr. Doe haven't been fruitful, you should have no trouble reaching a person in an authorative position with these contacts. Phones for each. Might I add that a better place to start than this board would be within the community in question?

Five days later, has this rumor been put to rest?

[O-townClown]

http://www.tbirdhockey.org/page.php?page_id=5683

Is this your tournament? The one that conflicts with tryouts?

http://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.ngin.com ... rev9_3.pdf

Or is this it?

http://www.rmssa.com/

[Hockeyguy_27]

I was sitting at home watching the recap of President's speech and got a phone call asking me to address this ridiculous string of posts... Here it goes:

As a coach of the Edina Pee Wee A team for 9 of the past 10 years. I'm disgusted that you (Edina Rumors poster) would pass judgment on the integrity of our staff in the selection process. We've run the pre-tryout clinic for the past 5 years and a several of the kids who have participated have not made our team...regardless, we do it and will continue to do it until we're told we can't by the board. We take the selection of our teams very seriously and regardless of how big a jerk the boy's father or mother may be, we don't hold this against the child as to do so would go against the core of our beliefs. The same holds true for the level the boy/girl previously played, or if the kid is ugly, overweight or smells bad...none of these things matter to us.

We're not going to Colorado, nor have we discussed travel plans with any of the families, I'd go back and address each of your points but am too tired. The head coach, who is a good friend of mine is about as honest a person as I know. If you have doubts about the validity of anything I'm typing, you can ask O-town as he knows me.

Bottom line, before you cast dispersions upon a group of people's integrity.. (annonomously nontheless) on a message board, you might want to do a little more research. Regardless of who you are, if your son is a good enough hockey player, we will select him for our team.

[EdinaRumors]

http://www.tbirdhockey.org/page.php?page_id=5683

Is this your tournament? The one that conflicts with tryouts?

http://s3.amazonaws.com/assets.ngin.com ... rev9_3.pdf

Or is this it?

http://www.rmssa.com/

LOL. Well you tell me ... I am the one asking.

Nice try on the ad hominem arguments as well O-town, but you'll have to do better than that.

[EdinaRumors]

The rumor was not only put to rest ... but confirmed.

I heard the team already had its first practice last Thursday at Breamar. To keep under the radar its advertised as a Fall Pee Wee Pre -Tryout Skate but we all know thats just a front.

Any idea who ran the skate? What adults were on the ice? Which kids were on the ice?

Bantam A and PeeWee A coachs on the ice.

96 Machine, Deuce and Stealth Edina players
97 Machine, Deuce, Blades, Synergy and Stealth Edina players

Where kids invited to the Pre-skate? Yes
Is the team picked? No! Tryouts have not been held.
Do the coaches, parents and players know who are the top 20 players? Yes, and that can be said in any Association
Is there any competition in this tryout? Yes, spots 11-15 are up for grabs, probably 10-12 really good players competing for those spots. Again same in any association.
Edina A teams are the toughest teams to make due to the number of players. Edina should have 2 PeeWee "A" teams. Last year their PeeWee B1 Teams were in the top 5 all year. It will be the same again this year.

Estimated PeeWee Teams in D6

Edina 9-11
EP 7-8
Burnsville 5
PL 4-5
Shakopee 3
AV 4
Eastview 4-5
Minnetonka 6
Waconia 4
Bloom Kenn 3
Bloom Jeff 4-5
Chaska 5-6

Edina will have almost twice the number of teams over most of the other Associations in D6.

EdinaRumors,

Your beef should not be "I heard the team was picked" we hear that cry every year here. Your beef should be "Why are we not having 2 A teams to give more kids a chance to compete at the PeeWee A level in D6" In reality, if you were not invited to the pre-skate you skater is probably outside of the top 22 players.

[EdinaRumors]

As a coach of the Edina Pee Wee A team for 9 of the past 10 years. I'm disgusted that you (Edina Rumors poster) would pass judgment on the integrity of our staff in the selection process.

Don't be disgusted. Just be transparent.

We've run the pre-tryout clinic for the past 5 years and a several of the kids who have participated have not made our team...regardless, we do it and will continue to do it until we're told we can't by the board.

It shouldn't be run for a select group of kids. It should be open or abandoned. Period.

Bottom line, before you cast dispersions upon a group of people's integrity.. (annonomously nontheless) on a message board, you might want to do a little more research.

The board is a research tool and it allowed me to get the information I was looking for.

Instead of getting defensive, you should realize how your actions look - right or wrong - to those excluded from your process. If your coaching staff has half the integrity you claim they do, they will simply apologies and abandon the practice of private sessions. ESPECIALLY when fathers of players who are trying out are also on the ice.

Moving forward, EHA and possibly MNH needs to rectify this situation.

[iwearmysunglassesatnight]

[quote="EdinaRumors"][quote="Hockeyguy_27"]As a coach of the Edina Pee Wee A team for 9 of the past 10 years. I'm disgusted that you (Edina Rumors poster) would pass judgment on the integrity of our staff in the selection process. [/quote]

Don't be disgusted. Just be transparent.

[quote="Hockeyguy_27"]
We've run the pre-tryout clinic for the past 5 years and a several of the kids who have participated have not made our team...regardless, we do it and will continue to do it until we're told we can't by the board.
[/quote]

It shouldn't be run for a select group of kids. It should be open or abandoned. Period.

[quote="Hockeyguy_27"]Bottom line, before you cast dispersions upon a group of people's integrity.. (annonomously nontheless) on a message board, you might want to do a little more research. [/quote]

The board is a research tool and it allowed me to get the information I was looking for.

Instead of getting defensive, you should realize how your actions look - right or wrong - to those excluded from your process. If your coaching staff has half the integrity you claim they do, they will simply apologies and abandon the practice of private sessions. ESPECIALLY when fathers of players who are trying out are also on the ice.

Moving forward, EHA and possibly MNH needs to rectify this situation.[/quote]


This is the cr(&&y part about coaching. You can't do anything w/out someone putting you under a microscope. Anyone ever put together your son/daughters `1st ever spring team that was made up of kids from your association? WOW, you can really get it then, especially when you were a mite coach. Crazy parents under every rock unless you include my kid then go ahead.... ER you need to focus on ED...no not that...education.. get your head off those commercials

[EdinaRumors]

This is the cr(&&y part about coaching. You can't do anything w/out someone putting you under a microscope.

Thats true glasses. I coached hockey in Minnesota for 30 years. Peewee, bantam, high school ... you name it. We were ALWAYS transparent in our process. I don't understand this new breed of coach who need to do things on the down-low, or exclude kids from the process. Makes no sense. No wonder Minnesota hockey is dwindling in numbers and kids are quitting young. Didn't see that in my day. Without the kids, there is no hockey.