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Or maybe reefer madness

It looks like there were several “AAA” tryouts over the weekend, with many more to come I am sure. I do not know the specifics since we have chosen not to go the “AAA” route yet, but there seems to be some rumblings about a lot of teams overhauling their rosters. What I am trying to understand is there a lot of movement at the top (Blades and Machine), or are they just playing musical chairs? Is the Machine going to replace existing players with those who have shown promise from the Deuce, Snipers and Grinders, or are they going outside of MM? If MM is pulling players from outside the organization, what does that say about their development model? If practicing for roughly 150 hours with some of the best players around in your age group does not keep you at the top of your game, then have those players/parents been misled about the “players are made, not born” slogan. If they are promoting/demoting from within, then maybe the kids are developing at different rates (or some burn out faster than others).

It also seems odd that there are so many tryouts so soon. We are still weeks away from the association tryouts, and the spring/summer teams are already being formed.

They're just playing musical chairs at the 2nd and 3rd line levels.

Development model? Please...

As far as MM bringing in players from the outside instead of from lower tier MM teams, please understand one thing. Priority number one at MM is to make money. It's a business and it's about the almighty buck. It is a business right? Winning at the elite level breeds new customers not only for the Mahcine but for all of the clinics too. As far as kids on the Duece, Snipers, grinders, etc... There's a reason those kids are on the lower teir teams and chances are they won't create more wins at the Machine level. And remember, wins = money in the hockey business.

Look, if MM doesn't produce an absolute top tier Machine team that wins all over the country, then who's gonna pay Bernie $350 for a 1 week checking clinic for their B level Pee Wee? Have you seen the shrine to the 88 team hanging on the wall when you enter MM? Absolute brilliant marketing tactic!

And the phrase, "Hockey players are made, not born" was created to catch parents. Just like most fishing lures are designed to catch fisherman...

JoltDelivered wrote:They're just playing musical chairs at the 2nd and 3rd line levels.

Development model? Please...

And the phrase, "Hockey players are made, not born" was created to catch parents. Just like most fishing lures are designed to catch fisherman...

A good AAA coach can't turn $hit into Shinola, but he can turn a good player into a better player.

JoltDelivered wrote:They're just playing musical chairs at the 2nd and 3rd line levels.

Development model? Please...

As far as MM bringing in players from the outside instead of from lower tier MM teams, please understand one thing. Priority number one at MM is to make money. It's a business and it's about the almighty buck. It is a business right? Winning at the elite level breeds new customers not only for the Mahcine but for all of the clinics too. As far as kids on the Duece, Snipers, grinders, etc... There's a reason those kids are on the lower teir teams and chances are they won't create more wins at the Machine level. And remember, wins = money in the hockey business.

Look, if MM doesn't produce an absolute top tier Machine team that wins all over the country, then who's gonna pay Bernie $350 for a 1 week checking clinic for their B level Pee Wee? Have you seen the shrine to the 88 team hanging on the wall when you enter MM? Absolute brilliant marketing tactic!

And the phrase, "Hockey players are made, not born" was created to catch parents. Just like most fishing lures are designed to catch fisherman...

So Jolt,

The topic was AAA hockey/tryouts. You make it sound like only MM is shuffeling players in the Fall? According to their website their tryouts are mid October. Easton teams, Icemen, Blades etc all are having tryouts now.

Whats happening at the Cyclones? Looks like your looking to upgrade your 2nd and 3rd lines with tryouts at the 96 and 97 levels at the end of Sept. Word on the street is Cyclones are asking/recruiting players to come at the 96/97 levels now. While I understand they are looking to form 2 teams at those levels I highly doubt the rosters you have today will be the same rosters next year next. Kids will be moved and shuffeled! Look, every AAA orginization wants top players and wants to win. Cyclones are no different!

Make no mistake about it Cyclone Hockey is becoming a big busine$$!

Teams at the following levels

2000
1999
1998
1997 (2)
1996 (2)
1995
1994

Girls U12, U10 levels

Thats 11 team$

+ clinic$

BLAT Training for players (Blatz training for the dads in the parking lot )

12 Hours of ice, 24 players per session, $229 per player
3 sessions:
Squirt
PeeWee
Bantam

w/ ice at $160/hr at Schwans I doubt Cyclones pay that rate) X 12 hours = $1920 per 12 Hour session
230 per player X 24 players = $5520 per session Difference $3600 profit for cyclone hockey? Oh! I forget subtract $10 per player for that BLAT jersey so a minimum $3360 profit per session or $10K for all 3 sessions

BTW that checking clinic you mentioned was $249 not $350

I kind alike the catch phrase on the web site for the BLAT program."This program is designed for players willing to pay the price to become great." It almost implies that hockey players are Made through hard work, and that the 12 hours spent at BLAT will make you a great player.

I'm not down on Cyclone hockey, its a very good summer program. Good kids good, parents involved. If your gonna dish it out on here be prepared to take a little heat as well because your program looks a lot like the one your blasting.

Minnesota made is a business. They're goal is to hold tryouts before any other AAA team in order to get kids signed up early for next year. Once your child makes a team at Minnesota made they'll ask for some sort of down payment to secure your spot. Basically making sure the kids don't jump ship and go to another AAA team. Which is fair.

As for the Machine, Deuce, Snipers and Grinder teams the goal at Minnesota made is to create the best team using the best players from each team. I'm sure they'll be a handfull of outside players but 95% of the players will be Minnesota made players.

Keep in mind that Minnesota made Choice leagues will start playing before most associations even hold tryouts. The Choice league starts October 4th weekend.

I'm impressed that Minnesota made can plan ahead and hold tryouts early. I suppose that's the beauty of owning your own rink. I have to admit Minnesota made is very convenient.

Many other programs that have been holding tryouts. It's all about signing the best kids up early. The others will follow.

Actually Butt, the original poster wanted to know specifically about the MM program and whether or not they were pulling in outside players or calling up Duece, Grinders, Snipers players to fill open slots for next year. He was curious about their well advertised development model and whether or not kids/parents are being misled.

I think we can all agree that every program looks to upgrade during the fall/winter for the next summer. That's just the culture of AAA hockey. I wasn't disputing that.

And I think we can also agree that we won't see too many Duece, Grinder or Sniper players on the Machine teams next summer. But maybe I'm wrong. I have been wrong before...

JoltDelivered wrote:Actually Butt, the original poster wanted to know specifically about the MM program and whether or not they were pulling in outside players or calling up Duece, Grinders, Snipers players to fill open slots for next year. He was curious about their well advertised development model and whether or not kids/parents are being misled.

I think we can all agree that every program looks to upgrade during the fall/winter for the next summer. That's just the culture of AAA hockey. I wasn't disputing that.

And I think we can also agree that we won't see too many Duece, Grinder or Sniper players on the Machine teams next summer. But maybe I'm wrong. I have been wrong before...

and isn't that a sad a statement. One thing to be said for the 96 Machine, at this time last year everyone was sure there would be a makeover on that team (due to the loss to the Blades and the advertisement for MEA tryouts) BUT it didn't happen. Why would MM shake that team up just as puberty is beginning to hit? I get that the parents and kids may be wanting a change but they haven't before, I'd be surprised if they left at this point. Mr. McBain has proven to be quite loyal to this group.