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As a dad that is just starting to get a grip on the AAA hockey landscape, I was wanting to know to how bad is the watering down of upper end hockey in the state.

Does anyone think that there will be some narrowing of the AAA field?

I sure hope not.

The deal with off season hockey is you want to build the base. The more kids playing off season hockey the better. The more AAA (summer) teams the better. The more ice time the better. What end result will this give? A larger pyramid of kids skating in the summer which will raise the level of play in the winter.

Minnesota's summer club hockey scene has somehow been called AAA. "Watered down"? Yeah. There are a few AAA-level teams, several AA, and some A.

getoveryourbadself wrote:

Wow, now that you put it that way, I've completely rethought my position. I can clearly see the light. Only 40 kids at each age should be allowed to skate in the summer. Shut down all the arenas; melt all the ice; but some basketball hoops and wrestling mats down on the floor. Hopefully the two remaining programs will realize that there are no other options for kids and jack up pricing, so it cost 10-12,000 to play in the summer. Then only the "right" parents will be able to get their kids an opportunity to develop.

I was rolling my eyes at the original post. I'm annoyed at the high and mighty, self-absorbed individuals that think that summer hockey should be reserved for their so-called "AAA" level kids only. Signed..."getoveryourbadself"

My bad.

The more the better for kids. Why do adults feel a need to put letters [AAA,AA,A] on kids. Who cares? Let as many play in the water as possible.

old goalie85 wrote:. Why do adults feel a need to put letters [AAA,AA,A] on kids. .

becasue we need to....

AAA Loons vs AAA Blades would not be fun for anyone...

AAA was started for the top talent to play one another...that is ok

It is also great that there is opprotunities for all of the rest of the kids who want to play. It will help them and their associations.

AA (B) talent may soon be next yrs AAA (A)

AAA vs AA summer or A vs B winter benefits nobody

All AAA coaches and managers know where their team fits in. They schedule games and tournaments based on where they fit. Until you've won a couple "open" level tournaments I wouldn't register for an "invite" level one. It can be more difficult if you're talking about a newly formed 2002 team but it gets sorted out as the team goes through the years. There are posers on all but a couple of the 2002 teams. There are no posers on the 95 invite level teams.

Don't worry about it. The more kids skating during the off season the better.

Do not know much about loons, but can say that Reabok nats 98, or 00 should not play Blades or machine. These are invite teams and we all know that. My point is simple let all kids who want to play play! We also all know that the majority of kids don't fall into that talent group.[Blades Machine] It is still great "SUMMER" hockey. Why is it watered down? Most of the kids fall into the group below those two teams. Most of the kids playing are good players for thier ages. I guess I'm sick of the term watered down. [personal problem I guess]