Bauer AAA?

[Phish12]

Anyone know anything about this new Bauer AAA program? Is it another Bob Capra (Easton, et al) team? Saw a flyer for it (coupled with another "sponsored" AAA team whose name I can't recall) at a recent tournament.

Anyone know what will happen to MN Edge now that HDC has been sold to Total Hockey? Alive and well?

Anyone who thought the Alliance would reduce the number of break-away, independent AAA teams should think again. I keep hearing that more and more coaches are looking at taking their team (or players) and forming an independent. Soon we will have as many AAA teams as we do winter association teams. Based on the huge talent disparity I saw between AAA teams at a recent Alliance tournament, I can see why.

[gdahl]

I agree that the number of AAA teams seems to be in a trend where the number of teams far exceeds the talent levels. I have no problem with kids playing summer hockey. I wish more would do so. But to honestly name every summer hockey team AAA is getting ridiculuos. I understand their is the invite and open classification...but those are getting quite muddled as well. I think there needs to be a better classification system for summer hockey. I do have a kid who plays and his team has won games by the running clock rule and lost games by the running clock. Why cant we have these summer teams form AAA, AA, and A levels....otherwise known as A, B, and C in the winter season?

[muckandgrind]

My advice is to stay clear of any program associated with Easton or Bauer and try and find a quality not for profit program instead. You'll get more bang for your buck.

[ThePuckStopsHere]

My advice is to stay clear of any program associated with Easton or Bauer and try and find a quality not for profit program instead. You'll get more bang for your buck.

Who and how many non-profit AAA organizations are there?

[buttend]

My advice is to stay clear of any program associated with Easton or Bauer and try and find a quality not for profit program instead. You'll get more bang for your buck.

OK Muck, you opened this up.....Give us your list of "quality" non-profit AAA Clubs. Lets not start w/ the Blades because you just don't shop at that club, they call you.

[hockey_is_a_choice]

Profit versus nonprofit is a distinction without a difference. Nonprofit AAA teams can pay coaches and administrators just like for-profit AAA teams generate income for their owners. Serious consideration should be given to whether a AAA team delivers on its promises, delivers value on your investment, and is run by people who are interested in your kid as well as their own kids.

The Blades are nonprofit; the Icemen are nonprofit; MM is for-profit; Skate To Excellence is for-profit; the Easton and CCM teams are for-profit; Team RBK is for-profit; and the Legacy is for-profit.

I don't begrudge any business--nonprofit or for-profit--making money off of AAA programs. I, however, expect AAA programs to be fairly managed. As Muck said on another thread, the nice thing about AAA hockey is that if you think the program stinks, you simply move on. . .

[muckandgrind]

My advice is to stay clear of any program associated with Easton or Bauer and try and find a quality not for profit program instead. You'll get more bang for your buck.

OK Muck, you opened this up.....Give us your list of "quality" non-profit AAA Clubs. Lets not start w/ the Blades because you just don't shop at that club, they call you.

The Icemen, Rockets, and Raging Bulls are all, I believe, not-for-profit. But as with any team, you want to check out the coaches, players, and philosophy before you write out that big check. If you're happy with a for-profit organization, that's great...but you really need to be careful. I'm only saying that because I have made mistakes in the past and have learned from them....and let me just say that buyer beware in regards to the whole Showcase/Easton/Bauer/Monopoly/Capitals AAA organization.

[skilldevelopementguy]

My advice is to stay clear of any program associated with Easton or Bauer and try and find a quality not for profit program instead. You'll get more bang for your buck.

OK Muck, you opened this up.....Give us your list of "quality" non-profit AAA Clubs. Lets not start w/ the Blades because you just don't shop at that club, they call you.

The Icemen, Rockets, and Raging Bulls are all, I believe, not-for-profit. But as with any team, you want to check out the coaches, players, and philosophy before you write out that big check. If you're happy with a for-profit organization, that's great...but you really need to be careful. I'm only saying that because I have made mistakes in the past and have learned from them....and let me just say that buyer beware in regards to the whole Showcase/Easton/Bauer/Monopoly/Capitals AAA organization.

I do agree with the idea of doing your research on how an organization has operated in the past and how satisfied their participants have been before deciding on a team. In doing so you'd find that not all of the groups that are lumped together above are the same. Some have a very high rate of satisfaction and are operated quite differently from the others. Truth be told, the way you make it sound like just one organization is misleading.

[muckandgrind]

OK Muck, you opened this up.....Give us your list of "quality" non-profit AAA Clubs. Lets not start w/ the Blades because you just don't shop at that club, they call you.

The Icemen, Rockets, and Raging Bulls are all, I believe, not-for-profit. But as with any team, you want to check out the coaches, players, and philosophy before you write out that big check. If you're happy with a for-profit organization, that's great...but you really need to be careful. I'm only saying that because I have made mistakes in the past and have learned from them....and let me just say that buyer beware in regards to the whole Showcase/Easton/Bauer/Monopoly/Capitals AAA organization.

I do agree with the idea of doing your research on how an organization has operated in the past and how satisfied their participants have been before deciding on a team. In doing so you'd find that not all of the groups that are lumped together above are the same. Some have a very high rate of satisfaction and are operated quite differently from the others. Truth be told, the way you make it sound like just one organization is misleading.

Showcase/Easton/Bauer/Monopoly/Capitals AAA organization IS just one organization. Bob Capra and Tim Hawkinson run them all out of the same office in St. Louis Park. Ever notice that the Easton and CCM websites BOTH have links to Showcase Hockey not to mention the similarity of the websites??? Ever wonder WHY???

[skilldevelopementguy]

Monopoly started a year before the capitals and ccm. I don't know the details, but this is how I understand it...

Those guys with showcase are the go to for the ccm sponsorship. The monopoly have an agreement with them to carry the ccm flag in the northwest suburbs.

[muckandgrind]

Monopoly started a year before the capitals and ccm. I don't know the details, but this is how I understand it...

Those guys with showcase are the go to for the ccm sponsorship. The monopoly have an agreement with them to carry the ccm flag in the northwest suburbs.

It's completely incestious. They are all related and work together.

[skilldevelopementguy]

Ok, this is getting off topic. Bottom line, you have shared your perspective. It doesn't match what I have seen with regard to the ccm part.

[he shots he scores]

Here's a question for you. I have a 98 goalie and might be looking for a new AAA team. Not looking for a lot of practice time because we do camps. Looking for a team that competes. Whats your advice?

[EnjoyTheShow]

My understanding is that the Monopoly program is run out of Competitive Edge in Rogers. The coach I spoke with told me their affiliation with showcase was the CCM sponsorship and participating in local "showcase" run tournaments. He said they started their program with one team 2 summers ago and were approached with a sponsorship this summer as they grew to 6 teams.

Pretty sure they aren't too closely affiliated, as that Capra guy was trying to convince a monopoly parent to go to easton while I was watching a game. If I understand, Capra is an employee of showcase and runs the Easton program for them.

Could be wrong, but a few people backed this info.

[Terry.Moore]

[ Lets not start w/ the Blades because you just don't shop at that club, they call you.

Actually, the Blades encourage inquiries. We have players every year who call us first and end up on the team.