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To caveat on a prior post, I've read repeatedly on here about summer teams, programs, talent, games, tournaments, etc...it seems like most are having great springs and enjoying the depth of talent found in their respective age groups (minus the 96's where the Machine are the best 96 or 95 team West of the Toronto and East of the Pacific).

With that said, do you guys think that it could be feasible to create/develop a sanctioned (structured) AAA Minnesota Spring Hockey league?

screw the winter, in the winter you play where you live and love it and where your community sweater with pride, but in the spring you go to a tryout the weekend after states and we field a league of 8-10 teams with home away series for all and an end of summer tourney.

We have teams: 3 Metro, 1 Moorehead/Fargo, 1 Pembina (and yes, we will all have to go to Pembina), 1 Duluth, 1 from the South, Perhaps 1 from Wisconsin, 1 from Iowa maybe...

any thoughts on the feasibility of this? The teams would be birth year and start at Squirt Major(younger squirts, get off the ice and go play another sport before you're 14 and never hit a golf/base/soccer ball).

Sounds great! I'll help with the Wisconsin team(s). I know the 94, 97 and 98 level players fairly well. If your thinking of a similar structure as the Elite League that would work out well.

I know - you could call it Showcase Hockey and the big tournament could be called the Meltdown. I think it's already been done. There are some great local tournaments already between the one last weekend and the Meltdown and Showcase offers many teams to play on.

Many of the really skilled players want to spend the spring and summer in Toronto at the Prospects, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Chicago and Boston. Definitely not for everyone though.

I think the Machine love collecting trophies at local tournaments to fill the MM trophy case, but the real reason for spring/summer hockey should be development and it's huge to get a view of the rest of N. America and the talent that's out there. The good teams compete at the best tournaments where you are guaranteed good games (not 12-0 blowouts) and development as players - not really important who actually wins - just that they are competitive and develop. If you've never been to one of these tournaments it's tough to understand.

Have to agree with Doglover again - it is about development...the league games would be a drain against development. One of the great things about the off-season hockey is that you are in control and allows you to be creative with your scheduling...you can make each season a unique experience.