HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

USA Hockey, for the first time, has been granted player development money by the NHL. Its money USA Hockey has wanted for a long time, and this year they are getting $8 million. The NHL, as investors of sorts, expects the money to be spent on elite player development. Approximately $2 million will go directly to Ann Arbor, and much of the remaining $6 million will go to an extension of the NTDP called the High Performance Initiative and Long Term Athlete Development Initiative. The HPI/LTADI initiative is designed to offer many of the training benefits of the NTDP to 36 organizations that agree to the player development philosophy.

Each of the 36 organizations will be expected to operate 18-and-Under, 16-and-Under, 15-and-Under, 14-and-Under, and 13-and-Under teams each in their own super league. There are other parameters to be followed, practice to game ratio, etc.

While most of the United States is club level hockey, either AAA or AA, MN is unique with it’s grass roots community based youth programs and high school hockey. Over the years we have seen private group’s attempt to supplement hockey development during the offseason through AAA teams and elite leagues an various on ice and off ice training camps/clinics.

Since the NHL is the investor and expects the money to be spent on elite player development, how could MN Hockey focus on elite player development with out negatively impacting its community based model?

Perhaps they can start this spring conducting tryouts at the following level:

1997 birth year/2009-10 season U12 Major Peewee
1996 birth year/2009-10 season U13 Minor Bantam
1995 birth year/2009-10 season U14 Major Bantam
1994 birth year/2009-10 season U15 Minor Midget
1993 birth year/2009-10 season U16 Minor Midget
1992 birth year/2009-10 season U18 Major Midget

97, 96 & 95 levels could use the current MN Advance 15 format, through the 12 districts, with a spring festival and summer festivals. Through out the spring/summer in each district they would have a STP program in which these players would be required to attend regularly. All spring festival players and alternates would be eligible to train at this regional training site through out the spring/summer.

Starting Sept. 1, 96 & 97 district teams would starting practicing/playing games in state wide elite league (like the high school elite II league). Season would end Nov. 1 and players would return to their local association.

At the 95 level, after the state festival MN hockey will also designate “final 54”. These players would be divided into three equal teams and also be required to participate in a regional STP program. Also, starting this year, MN Hockey should start sending the 95’s to the select 14 national festival. NTDP wants to see these kids at this age and MN hockey should allow those elite MN players this opportunity. MN Hockey should be supporting to the NTDP program/model, especially if they want those funds.


94 through 92 should follow the current MN Advance 16 & 17 format, by high school, 8 sections, down to final 54. Now you have your talent pool for your “3” elite teams. Divide the group into 3 equal teams, keeping Geographic’s in mind. Organize regional STP program for these three teams, requiring players and alternates to participate.

Starting Sept. 1 95, 94, 93 & 92 teams would start practicing and playing in the USA Hockey Super League vs. each other and teams from the other 33 organizations through out the USA. Season would end Nov 1 and everyone would go back to their high school program or local association program.

Immediately following the state high school tournament, the 92, 93 & 95 teams would get back together, practice, play in a 4 team regional playoff (which includes SSM) with the winner advancing to the U18, U16 and U14 nationals.

In addition, LTADI expects each organization to run 6U, 8U, 10U, 12U programs that will follow the LTAD model. Perhaps a percentage of the overall funds should be allocated towards this age group through the current community based HEP & STP programs.

I wonder if all the best kids will want to do this what about other sports and the summer teams they are on already

Thanks for your partial translation of this new USA Hockey plan. Interesting and potentially very exciting. You mention Advanced 15, 16 & 17 selection as a way to pull names together. Remember that the Advanced process is not the best players at any level but a balanced number of players selected from each District (Advanced 15) or High School Section (Advanced 16 & 17). My guess is that for this process they would like to identify the actual best players at any birth year.

Nice Summary. I haven't heard any mentioning of coaches. Who coaches these teams will be an interesting aspect that influences the decision making process of these young men.

The high school forum says the youth piece isn't advancing for now.

observer wrote: You mention Advanced 15, 16 & 17 selection as a way to pull names together. Remember that the Advanced process is not the best players at any level but a balanced number of players selected from each District (Advanced 15) or High School Section (Advanced 16 & 17). My guess is that for this process they would like to identify the actual best players at any birth year.

yes observer, the current process needs be tweaked so they are identifing the best players at any birth year and not allocating spots as they do in the advance 15 and some cases in the 16/17's.