HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

What's the easiest way to get there?
I iwll either come down 169 or east on 62.

169 south to 494 then exit right away and go north on Bush Lake road. There is probably a quicker side street path, but that's the easiest.

Does this help?

From Highway 62:
Traveling from Highway 62, go south on Highway 100.
Traveling on Highway 100 south, exit on 77th Street (Industrial Blvd). Go west approx. 3/4 of a mile to Bush Lake Road. Take a right on Bush Lake Road and continue on to the cul-de-sac. They are the last building on the left.

From Highway 169:
Exit going east on Interstate 494.
Traveling east on 494, exit on East Bush Lake Road. Go north to Bush Lake Road. Take a left on Bush Lake Road and continue on to the cul-de-sac. Again, they are the last building on the left.

Thanks guys.
I will be in town on Friday with some time to kill before MH meetings so thought I would swing over there.

Mark, a trip to the dark side, eh?

Mark, please note there is a CARIBOU Coffee at the corner of
Normandale and Edina Industrial Road. In case you need a warm beverage

It would be great to get your insight on this program Mark..Positive or negative...

I'd be interested on hearing about this program too. From someone who has actually had an athlete involved in it. I am not sure how a person can gain much of an insight on a development program from a brief drive by.

hiptzech wrote:It would be great to get your insight on this program Mark..Positive or negative...

I have several friends who have had their kids go to the program and a couple are still there. Their feedback to me is that it can be a little over the top, especially for the young kids. Bernie comes at the parents pretty hard and even wants the parents to sign a form saying their kids will not participate in other sports....it's hockey & only hockey.

Let's face it, these types of programs are a money making machine. Bernie enjoys talking about all the kids (especially his son) that have come thru his program that have gone on to get college scholarships, play in the pros, and the olympics. Let's be real, those kids are special and would have developed in any program. Bernie never talks about the average kids that never accomplished anything beyond high school. Those stats don't look good on a brochure.

It's a business and it is run that way. The good thing is kids are getting icetime which will assist them in dvelopment. Many young kids start out there then return to play for their associations. Just like any other hockey program, open your checkbook and signup.

Just 1 block west on dewey hill is Lewis park. Lots of adult pickup games in the late afternoon and Sat AM. Show those city slickers some northwoods moves!

O-townClown wrote:Mark, a trip to the dark side, eh?

I have heard of it referred that way.
But I have heard good things, also.

I have the time and not alot of HS or youth games at noon on Friday.

jancze5 wrote:Mark, please note there is a CARIBOU Coffee at the corner of
Normandale and Edina Industrial Road. In case you need a warm beverage

Thanks, but by that time in the trip I will be looking to get rid of some used coffee.

hiptzech wrote:It would be great to get your insight on this program Mark..Positive or negative...

I don't know what sort of insight I can provide, especially from one trip, but I think ALL board members need to see what is going on there. Obviously some people think it is worth while.

HockeyDad41 wrote:I'd be interested on hearing about this program too. From someone who has actually had an athlete involved in it. I am not sure how a person can gain much of an insight on a development program from a brief drive by.

hiptzech wrote:It would be great to get your insight on this program Mark..Positive or negative...

I agree, but believe it is worth stopping by.

spin-o-rama wrote:Just 1 block west on dewey hill is Lewis park. Lots of adult pickup games in the late afternoon and Sat AM. Show those city slickers some northwoods moves!

Late Fri pm and Sat am I will be in meetings.
Good thing, because I really never had any 'moves' (except off-ice).

At my age I would show them how to get hurt (really bad).

Pioneerprideguy wrote:I have several friends who have had their kids go to the program and a couple are still there. Their feedback to me is that it can be a little over the top, especially for the young kids. Bernie comes at the parents pretty hard and even wants the parents to sign a form saying their kids will not participate in other sports....it's hockey & only hockey.

Let's face it, these types of programs are a money making machine. Bernie enjoys talking about all the kids (especially his son) that have come thru his program that have gone on to get college scholarships, play in the pros, and the olympics. Let's be real, those kids are special and would have developed in any program. Bernie never talks about the average kids that never accomplished anything beyond high school. Those stats don't look good on a brochure.

It's a business and it is run that way. The good thing is kids are getting icetime which will assist them in dvelopment. Many young kids start out there then return to play for their associations. Just like any other hockey program, open your checkbook and signup.

I have heard of its up and down sides. Since it is an option in the metro area to association hockey, I thought it only appropriate that I get some sort of look just to be better educated as to what they offer, at what cost ($ and otherwise), what it can do to help assn and what it can or does do to hurt them.

elliott70 wrote:

HockeyDad41 wrote:I'd be interested on hearing about this program too. From someone who has actually had an athlete involved in it. I am not sure how a person can gain much of an insight on a development program from a brief drive by.

hiptzech wrote:It would be great to get your insight on this program Mark..Positive or negative...

I agree, but believe it is worth stopping by.

Absolutely! Let us know what you think of the facility!

I personally have 2 kids in the program (1 mite and 1 first year squirt). You can't beat the ice time (more than double than what we would get in our association) and the squirts practice for 1 1/2 hours by themselves. Great coaches and a great experience so far in our 2 years at Minnesota Made. I would recommend it to anyone!

Pioneerprideguy wrote:I have several friends who have had their kids go to the program and a couple are still there. Their feedback to me is that it can be a little over the top, especially for the young kids. Bernie comes at the parents pretty hard and even wants the parents to sign a form saying their kids will not participate in other sports....it's hockey & only hockey.

Let's face it, these types of programs are a money making machine. Bernie enjoys talking about all the kids (especially his son) that have come thru his program that have gone on to get college scholarships, play in the pros, and the olympics. Let's be real, those kids are special and would have developed in any program. Bernie never talks about the average kids that never accomplished anything beyond high school. Those stats don't look good on a brochure.

It's a business and it is run that way. The good thing is kids are getting icetime which will assist them in dvelopment. Many young kids start out there then return to play for their associations. Just like any other hockey program, open your checkbook and signup.

Your view is interesting. In fact, my first reaction was, "That's rich (pun intended) coming from a private school guy." My guess is that your friends have kids who play on one of Bernie's summer teams. The "over the top" and "hockey and only hockey" comments don't apply well to MMs development or winter programs. Save the hype and rhetoric for the summer AAA threads.

Actually, 2 kids are playing in their Winter program. Any other shots??

Pioneerprideguy wrote:Actually, 2 kids are playing in their Winter program. Any other shots??

I'd be willing to bet Lando4 guy will confirm there are no "hockey only" restrictions on the winter program.

Both my kids play in the winter choice league and summer AAA at MnMade, and there are no restrictions on other sports. In fact, both play baseball in the summer as well as hockey.

Pioneerprideguy wrote:Actually, 2 kids are playing in their Winter program. Any other shots??

No other shots -- at least your honest. Just clarifying that there is a distinction between the competitive AAA environment, and the winter programs which are well run, and with less drama than comes with some associations.

If you have two kids in the winter leagues, then you know firsthand that there aren't any forms being passed around for kids in the winter programs to sign saying they won't play other sports... While the summer teams may have their own standards, your post makes it sound like the everything run out of MM is over the top. However, you already have first hand knowledge, yet chose to quote your friends instead and mix the two. Hmmm.

But based on some your threads on the HS forum, you aren't new to being on the receiving end of a few shots, and it was an easy shot at that.

Mark,

They do good things at MM. Here's what I know of the issues. An association losing 2 or 16 kids is never really happy because each skater is tied to revenue the association had and now doesn't. Maybe it's $2000 of revenue but maybe it's $15,000. That hurts associations. They offer good product and have been a motivating factor for some metro assocations to improve their development practice plans. Evolve through the year, not offer the same drills in February that you did in November, etc. In most instances the Mites and Squirts are on the ice more than they'd likely be at their home association. That is based on a lot of factors like size of assocation, number of teams, number of ice sheets in community and outside of community. They have made some associations tighten up what they offer and how it's marketed as they now have competition which they've never had. Some have been forced to improve and in that regard competition can be good.

I've heard the biggest problem for the associations isn't the loss of the skaters and the revenue but the loss of dads. Often these are the dads of kids that normally would play an extremely valuable role at the association whether it be coach or administrator. Many are athletic former hockey players that can be some of the most important volunteers in any association. As you know there's a limited number of capable, interested, people in each association. There also seems to be fewer stepping up each year for important volunteer roles. MM is for profit so the families pay more as the coaches are paid. Take 8-10-12 capable hockey volunteers and coaches from any association and it hurts. You improve your product with dedicated people so losing the dedicated people is the problem. Some don't want to participate, donate time, energy and ideas, and that's why they make the move.

lando4 wrote:Both my kids play in the winter choice league and summer AAA at MnMade, and there are no restrictions on other sports. In fact, both play baseball in the summer as well as hockey.

I know that this hasn't traditionally been the case. I know you can be on a baseball team, but not a traveling team, as if there is a conflict in times, it is absolutely expected you will be at hockey.

That said this does seem to be changing. As it seems off topic on this thread I will start another.