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Wow, what a tryout, did anyone else see the 98 Icement tryouts last night?

I believe there were about 38-40 skaters not including goalies. There certainly were a lot of great players and many with AAA stickers on their helmets from various well known AAA programs

It seems the 98 Icemen will be making a significant jump in ablity from what was already a good team. Good luck putting this team togehter coaches.

Wach out Machine, Blades, LSS, the Icemen are comming!

Wow, kids with stickers! Why do all these idiots have their tryouts in the fall for teams that play in the summer?

Reality Check wrote:Wow, kids with stickers! Why do all these idiots have their tryouts in the fall for teams that play in the summer?

You can thank Bernie for that. With the desire to scoop everyone else when he put his first AAA team together since the imfamous '88 team, he was the first to hold a fall tryout. Back in the day recruiting didn't happen until Jan/Feb and even then it was more about watching kids play games with their regular season teams. Now, everyone else has to to follow suit in the fall to compete on the recruiting front.

As always IMHO, while it's clearly stupid, if you don't like it, don't participate.

Reality Check wrote:Wow, kids with stickers! Why do all these idiots have their tryouts in the fall for teams that play in the summer?

Because it's easier to get kids to attend tryouts now than during the winter when association hockey is in full swing.

Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning Reality Check?

My point about the stickers was this, I thouhgt it was nice that there were several kids there from other very succesful AAA programs that were willing to consider the Icemen a good place to play. I think it says good things about the Icemen program.

As far as when the tryouts are held, that could be debated how smart it is or not. Its not for me to decide because I'm not running the team, the fact is, this is when they had it. It is our choice to participate or not. To call what I consider very intelligent, dedicated, and maybe more importanty great poeple idiots, is in my opinion very unfair on your part.

dreampuck wrote:Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning Reality Check?

My point about the stickers was this, I thouhgt it was nice that there were several kids there from other very succesful AAA programs that were willing to consider the Icemen a good place to play. I think it says good things about the Icemen program.

As far as when the tryouts are held, that could be debated how smart it is or not. Its not for me to decide because I'm not running the team, the fact is, this is when they had it. It is our choice to participate or not. To call what I consider very intelligent, dedicated, and maybe more importanty great poeple idiots, is in my opinion very unfair on your part.

Welcome to the board...Get used to it...Your first post, is a very hot topic be ready for all the drama on both sides...If you ever need any psychological assistance, seek tomASS...

I'm curious when the average twin cities association conduct their squirt tryouts. Do some of the AAA tryouts conflict with association tryouts and force players to choose which to attend? When my older son was a bantam, we were still in the playoffs and some of the showcase AAA tryouts conflicted.

Rochester bantams will start tryouts this weekend; 14UA tryouts next week; peewees, 12U and 10U the following weekend; squirts will try out in November after participating in several weeks of skills clinics. The idea with squirts would be to allow them to wrap up football and fall soccer first.

The Icemen are a very credible organization and no doubt they will be better than last years team but to think they will contend with the Blades, machine or Stars is a stretch.
Most of those kids with "stickers" are looking for a team to play with next summer for a reason. No offense but they aren't typically the best players on their previous team.

Mac15 wrote:I'm curious when the average twin cities association conduct their squirt tryouts. Do some of the AAA tryouts conflict with association tryouts and force players to choose which to attend? When my older son was a bantam, we were still in the playoffs and some of the showcase AAA tryouts conflicted.

Rochester bantams will start tryouts this weekend; 14UA tryouts next week; peewees, 12U and 10U the following weekend; squirts will try out in November after participating in several weeks of skills clinics. The idea with squirts would be to allow them to wrap up football and fall soccer first.

Most, not all, associations start their tryouts around the last 10 days of September...usually wrapping up around the 1st week of October.

There are several tryout sessions for Showcase AAA. The first tryout is usually around MEA weekend (October). Other tryouts are end of December, January (MLK Day) and February. Your Bantam should have had an opportunity to attend one of the earlier tryouts.

Personally, I think August / September is the ideal time to conduct tryouts for the Summer teams for the reason I stated in the earlier post...most associations are just getting started with warm-ups, that's about it. Less chance for conflicts.

Seriously, hillbilly1? You obviously don't know any of the kids "with stickers", or their status or ability as it relates to their current AAA teams. In all liklihood you did not even attend the Icemen tryout to see the quality of the skaters out there. You should not be disparaging those kids unless you know the facts, which you clearly do not.

Icemen may very well make an impact rock next season, especially if they include Mix players.

RR- no doubt, I wasn't at the tryout last night.( I did hear from some parents that were though) Nonetheless, I had no intention of disparaging any kids and that is why I spoke in general terms.
With that, the top tier players on the AAA teams that wasmentionedin the early post ( Blades, Machine, Stars) are not attending the tryouts. Are they better than the current Icemen kids? You must think so and so maybe they will improve next year.
I'm not familiar with this "Mix" team. How games/tournaments did they win?

Can I buy my son some of these stickers, or would he actually have to play for the team?

O-townClown wrote:Can I buy my son some of these stickers, or would he actually have to play for the team?

You're killin me Clown !

I think the stickers...teams....no, I mean stickers can be bought. Some are quite nice and will adhere for long periods of time. Others fall off after the first tournament. Choose carefully.

Can I buy my son some of these stickers, or would he actually have to play for the team?

Stickers, jersey's, jackets, hats.....what does it matter. I see plenty of kids with NHL stickers on their helmets too.

With that, the top tier players on the AAA teams that wasmentionedin the early post ( Blades, Machine, Stars) are not attending the tryouts.

Why because the coaches kids from these teams didn't attend the tryouts?
Look at those top teams, the coaches kids hit the ice more than anybody else.....is it because they are the best.

I watched the Mix play in the Easton Cup and took a bunch of so called 2nd tier players and put a good scare in those top teams (not bad for a throw together team).

With that, the top tier players on the AAA teams that wasmentionedin the early post ( Blades, Machine, Stars) are not attending the tryouts. Are they better than the current Icemen kids? You must think so and so maybe they will improve next year.

hillbilly, hillbilly, hillbilly -- No way are your vaunted "top tier players" automatically better than kids who attend any other tryouts. All they did was chose their AAA teams early, perhaps because they were scared (in some instances) that no one else would have them. It's easier to stay where you are comfortable or go where there is a proven track record, than it is to get in on the ground floor of something new and potentially awesome.

PuckFan is right, Mix turned some heads in Easton Cup. That's what you get when you play as a team. No superstars. Many were Icemen and "sticker kids."

hillbilly1 wrote:I think the stickers...teams....no, I mean stickers can be bought. Some are quite nice and will adhere for long periods of time. Others fall off after the first tournament. Choose carefully.

Tournament? My son would put it on his skateboard helmet next to the Hooters sticker or on his Rock Band drum kit next to his sticker from an area team in one of the men's leagues.

O-townClown wrote:

hillbilly1 wrote:I think the stickers...teams....no, I mean stickers can be bought. Some are quite nice and will adhere for long periods of time. Others fall off after the first tournament. Choose carefully.

Tournament? My son would put it on his skateboard helmet next to the Hooters sticker or on his Rock Band drum kit next to his sticker from an area team in one of the men's leagues.

Shootin fish in a barrel

hillbilly1 wrote:RR- no doubt, I wasn't at the tryout last night.( I did hear from some parents that were though) Nonetheless, I had no intention of disparaging any kids and that is why I spoke in general terms.
With that, the top tier players on the AAA teams that wasmentionedin the early post ( Blades, Machine, Stars) are not attending the tryouts. Are they better than the current Icemen kids? You must think so and so maybe they will improve next year.
I'm not familiar with this "Mix" team. How games/tournaments did they win?

FYI - Kids from the Machine, Deuce, Blades and Cyclones were all at the tryout last night.

Thanks for the welcome and advice hiptzech I have been reading these message boards for quit a while and have resisted the temptation to join in. Most of the time its a lof of garbage,I should have stayed out! Exactly what I feared would happen, happened.

Reality Check turned it negative on their first response and the whole sticker thing was obviously taken wrong.

Honeslty it doesn't matter if they Icemen beat the Machine, Blades, or anyone else. I know this, they will have fun, work hard and play as a team, and thats what its about. If they happen to beat a few of the more mature programs great, if not and they played as hard as they could, what else can you do?

Just looking for some fun conversation.

H-E-doublehockeysticks wrote: FYI - Kids from the Machine, Deuce, Blades and Cyclones were all at the tryout last night.

No Snipers! No Grinders! Oh my!

(Probably gonna tell me that this is the wrong birth year to catch some gripping Snipers v. Grinders action.)

dreampuck wrote:Thanks for the welcome and advice hiptzech I have been reading these message boards for quit a while and have resisted the temptation to join in. Most of the time its a lof of garbage,I should have stayed out! Exactly what I feared would happen, happened.

Reality Check turned it negative on their first response and the whole sticker thing was obviously taken wrong.

Honeslty it doesn't matter if they Icemen beat the Machine, Blades, or anyone else. I know this, they will have fun, work hard and play as a team, and thats what its about. If they happen to beat a few of the more mature programs great, if not and they played as hard as they could, what else can you do?

Just looking for some fun conversation.

I wouldn't be to sensitive in here! and you provided a good topic for fun conversation, but you must have been dreaming to think you wouldn't get harassed in here, especially if you've been reading it..... not by me of course....

Did the "Mix" team actually win any games in the Easton Cup? I've seen the current Icemen play and wasn't real impressed. With that said, any cut players (or parents) from the Machine, Blades, Deuce, etc. would hopefully improve the level of play for the Icemen. I would be excited about that too.

Did the "Mix" team actually win any games in the Easton Cup? I've seen the current Icemen play and wasn't real impressed.

Yes the Mix did go 2-2 in the Easton cup. Not to bad for 2-1/2 hours of practice that we were able to throw together the week of the tourny.

Here is the results:
Machine 3-0 (1-0 with 2 min left)

LSS lost 7-5

Easton (south team Stealth i believe) won like 6-1

Midwest Stars won about 5-2

As far as the Icemen team not being real impressive....not enought flash and "top" players for you?

This season it was the Machine, Blades & Stars then Icemen, Deuce, Miracle, Magicians, Edge etc in whatever order you want falling right behind. Not to bad for a first year squads, oh but you probably didn't realize they haven't been together like the other 3.

No, definately not enough flash - sorry. I probably wouldn't put last years Icemen in the same category as Magicians or Deuce. Both those teams were first year teams as well. I definately would not put them in the same category as the Blades or Machine. My point was, good thing you are generating some interest from kids who need a new club. It sounded like y'all were excited about that - improving your club. I know other clubs are reconfiguring their teams as well, for the better. What happens to the Icemen you will cut for those "sticker" star kids? So is the Iceman really the Mix? The Mix beat the Stealth - wow! That is a head turner.