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is this like high school Class AA?

Basically, yes. MN Hockey is switching to a multi-class playoff system that mirrors the HS classification. We'll see it at the Pee Wee level next year as well.

thanks for the info. It is only for playoff or regular season as well?

lkool wrote:thanks for the info. It is only for playoff or regular season as well?

Just playoffs. AA teams will play A teams during the regular season, just like HS...but they won't be worth any points as far as District standings are concerned.

I know in district 10, if you are A then you will play the A teams twice and AA teams once and from my understanding all the points will count in the standings but you will be seperate according to class for the playoffs, regionals and state tournaments.

If someone in the know could help with some questions?

Can info on this be found somwhere?

How will they format the "A" and "AA" post season? new district teams for playoffs? or just the A/AA left in each district

what stats are used to determine "A" and "AA"

Will there be a master list of all "A" and "AA" teams?


regards to the A,B1's will this be in effect for both? "A" for A and B1's, as well as "AA" for A and B1's?

I really don't see this changing anything major with the Top teams that usually go due to the top teams will still be going to the "AA" State Tourney for both A and B1, like they always do

I guess what we will now see is a new group of associations going to the "A" State Tourney for both A and B1

may be interesting to see who the lower tier powers will be thru the years? will we see the same teams in it every year? or will the "A" State have new groups each year

If this sticks it really should put more Associations at ease with going at least A

is this something that may over time fall into the out of town tourneys as well?
X is hosting an "A" tourney Dec.
X is hosting an "AA" tourney Jan
etc..

I really don't see anything bad with this idea, looks pretty clear that MN Hockey just wants to have another level for post season play, just like HS

Minnesota HS has TWO!

Youth Hockey NOW has three to four that their associations use as their top level.

The move-in floodgates will be at an all time high... Watch for the A programs to lose a ton to the new AA.

= The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

MrBoDangles wrote:Minnesota HS has TWO!

Youth Hockey NOW has three to four that their associations use as their top level.

The move-in floodgates will be at an all time high... Watch for the A programs to lose a ton to the new AA.

= The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

are you always so negative?!--every post you do, it is the same thing-- poor is me. Maybe you should be Mr. BoNegative

There are 48 "AA" teams slated for the Bantam level for the 2012-2013 season. The "A" level will be the new hybrid level for next season combining the smaller level "A" teams or more successful B1 teams under the current system. I would venture to guess that some "AA" programs will have both "AA" and "A" teams.

The "A" teams will have the option to opt up to "AA" level in October as well "AA" teams have the option to opt down (with approval). Those "AA" teams will compete in their district play but not in their district tournaments as all 48 teams will be split into 4 regions for post season play. If the number of teams competing at the "AA" level is more that 48 there will be play in games.

The regions will be 3 metro and 1 outstate (reasonable with the size of most outstate communities). Not sure if it has been decided how they will split up the teams or how they will seed them.

Now for my opinion - This is good for increasing the competitive level across the board for MN youth teams. However it still does not change the level of play for our very top end kids. I would like to see us implement some sort of Hybrid advanced 15/USA hockey level of play. District teams that compete at the Minor and Major Bantam levels age groups. They can play each other, community based teams and National teams. Getting the opportunity to compete for the national title and the exposure that goes with it. These 8-10 teams would draw from across the state having a minor affect on each individual community yet leveling the board at the bantam age group. These players would also be competing at the higher level for an entire season not just for a few weeks in the spring and summer.

the_juiceman wrote:

MrBoDangles wrote:Minnesota HS has TWO!

Youth Hockey NOW has three to four that their associations use as their top level.

The move-in floodgates will be at an all time high... Watch for the A programs to lose a ton to the new AA.

= The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

are you always so negative?!--every post you do, it is the same thing-- poor is me. Maybe you should be Mr. BoNegative

Call me Mr. BoReality.

Hockey parents looking for a place to raise their kids would sometimes settle on a smaller association if they played A and in rare cases a B-I program that showed future promise. Now, with a select few at this elite level, the majority will look to these 48 first. Some might settle for A, but the numbers will be obviously lower considering the top level teams are lower in numbers. B-1 level associations will have very little Hockey blood move into their communities...

Add in the movement of already established top level players at a now higher rate and these fewer teams hit the lottery.

Minnesota Hockey is the driving force towards club/tier 1 Hockey.

Negative? What association are you from?

MrBoDangles wrote:

the_juiceman wrote:

MrBoDangles wrote:Minnesota HS has TWO!

Youth Hockey NOW has three to four that their associations use as their top level.

The move-in floodgates will be at an all time high... Watch for the A programs to lose a ton to the new AA.

= The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

are you always so negative?!--every post you do, it is the same thing-- poor is me. Maybe you should be Mr. BoNegative

Call me Mr. BoReality.

Hockey parents looking for a place to raise their kids would sometimes settle on a smaller association if they played A and in rare cases a B-I program that showed future promise. Now, with a select few at this elite level, the majority will look to these 48 first. Some might settle for A, but the numbers will be obviously lower considering the top level teams are lower in numbers. B-1 level associations will have very little Hockey blood move into their communities...

Add in the movement of already established top level players at a now higher rate and these fewer teams hit the lottery.

Minnesota Hockey is the driving force towards club/tier 1 Hockey.

Negative? What association are you from?

the only way for these already established players to leave is by them being allowed to waiver out--so associations should just say no. AA/A won't change much--they will still play each other, Blaine still plays Princeton, Mora, Chisago etc...--they would just be seperated at play-off time--giving the middle to lower "A" teams a better chance to move on. It's not the end of the world, as you are making it out to be.
Not that it matters--but my son plays in a small, northern suburb based association.

the_juiceman wrote:

MrBoDangles wrote:

the_juiceman wrote: are you always so negative?!--every post you do, it is the same thing-- poor is me. Maybe you should be Mr. BoNegative

Call me Mr. BoReality.

Hockey parents looking for a place to raise their kids would sometimes settle on a smaller association if they played A and in rare cases a B-I program that showed future promise. Now, with a select few at this elite level, the majority will look to these 48 first. Some might settle for A, but the numbers will be obviously lower considering the top level teams are lower in numbers. B-1 level associations will have very little Hockey blood move into their communities...

Add in the movement of already established top level players at a now higher rate and these fewer teams hit the lottery.

Minnesota Hockey is the driving force towards club/tier 1 Hockey.

Negative? What association are you from?

the only way for these already established players to leave is by them being allowed to waiver out--so associations should just say no. AA/A won't change much--they will still play each other, Blaine still plays Princeton, Mora, Chisago etc...--they would just be seperated at play-off time--giving the middle to lower "A" teams a better chance to move on. It's not the end of the world, as you are making it out to be.
Not that it matters--but my son plays in a small, northern suburb based association.

You know very little about talent movement to the larger associations. They get new and talented kids every year. Strange, Eh!

Good to hear you're going to keep your kid at Coon Rapids instead of following the masses over to Blaine.

In our rush to dislike Bo, we're losing sight of the fact that he is largely correct. Within the metro, there are certainly some talented kids that stay and play for their local high schools, but there are also a load of them that choose the educational experience of a private school, or the educational experience of a public school with a tradition of winning. Of those kids that choose that experience, the best almost always choose the AA schools over the A schools - if they intend to prove they are the best, they have to play with and against the best. I agree with Bo; I don't think (for the best youth players) it'll be any different.

InigoMontoya wrote:In our rush to dislike Bo, we're losing sight of the fact that he is largely correct. Within the metro, there are certainly some talented kids that stay and play for their local high schools, but there are also a load of them that choose the educational experience of a private school, or the educational experience of a public school with a tradition of winning. Of those kids that choose that experience, the best almost always choose the AA schools over the A schools - if they intend to prove they are the best, they have to play with and against the best. I agree with Bo; I don't think (for the best youth players) it'll be any different.

If he really is from Coon Rapids, he should be getting out of there soon just like the others who went to Blaine. We are have a great time. I'll send you a postcard from the State Tournament

loveitorleaveit wrote:

InigoMontoya wrote:In our rush to dislike Bo, we're losing sight of the fact that he is largely correct. Within the metro, there are certainly some talented kids that stay and play for their local high schools, but there are also a load of them that choose the educational experience of a private school, or the educational experience of a public school with a tradition of winning. Of those kids that choose that experience, the best almost always choose the AA schools over the A schools - if they intend to prove they are the best, they have to play with and against the best. I agree with Bo; I don't think (for the best youth players) it'll be any different.

If he really is from Coon Rapids, he should be getting out of there soon just like the others who went to Blaine. We are have a great time. I'll send you a postcard from the State Tournament

loveit - don't get too sure of yourself, OMG is going to be up to the test.

Anyone that is interested, please go to the district 10 website and click tournaments, then check out the Bantam A/AA bracket.
Talk about a complete CF.
#1AA most likley plays #5AA first game
#2AA most likely plays #6AA first game
#1A(seeded with a bye for winning district... what a joke) most likely
plays #4AA(way to make them feel good about themslves D10!)
#3AA most likely plays#7AA second game. (#3AA has a play in game as does #4AA...)
Try a lamebrained setup like this anywhere else... Laughing stock!!!!
This is what happens when we step all over each other to make the little guy feel good.
Don't get me wrong, make them earn it... in the end they'll get respect and naturally feel good about themselves...
We don't need D10 propping them up and handing them stuff because this
is someone's brainchild on some stupid committee
Buy the way, everyone is in this tournament, including 2 teams with 2 wins and 1 team with the hoop but boy they can sure feel good about themselves cause they got new life!!! not

Intheslot wrote:Anyone that is interested, please go to the district 10 website and click tournaments, then check out the Bantam A/AA bracket.
Talk about a complete CF.
#1AA most likley plays #5AA first game
#2AA most likely plays #6AA first game
#1A(seeded with a buy for winning district... what a joke) most likely
plays #4AA(way to make them feel good about themslves D10!)
#3AA most likely plays#7AA second game. (#3AA has a play in game as does #4AA...)
Try a lamebrained setup like this anywhere else... Laughing stock!!!!
This is what happens when we step all over each other to make the little guy feel good.
Don't get me wrong, make them earn it... in the end they'll get respect and naturally feel good about themselves...
We don't need D10 propping them up and handing them stuff because this
is someone's brainchild on some stupid committee
Buy the way everyone is in this tournament, including 2 teams with 2 wins and 1 team with the hoop but boy they can sure feel good about themselves cause they got new life!!! not

Yes it does not make much sense. However my understanding was this was a pilot program for this year to get some of the "A" teams involved. This is not representative of what will happen next year for the whole state. With that said .... how 3 gets to play 7 and 1 plays 5 I am not sure that works in any scenario.

Intheslot wrote:Anyone that is interested, please go to the district 10 website and click tournaments, then check out the Bantam A/AA bracket.
Talk about a complete CF.
#1AA most likley plays #5AA first game
#2AA most likely plays #6AA first game
#1A(seeded with a buy for winning district... what a joke) most likely
plays #4AA(way to make them feel good about themslves D10!)
#3AA most likely plays#7AA second game. (#3AA has a play in game as does #4AA...)
Try a lamebrained setup like this anywhere else... Laughing stock!!!!
This is what happens when we step all over each other to make the little guy feel good.
Don't get me wrong, make them earn it... in the end they'll get respect and naturally feel good about themselves...
We don't need D10 propping them up and handing them stuff because this
is someone's brainchild on some stupid committee
Buy the way everyone is in this tournament, including 2 teams with 2 wins and 1 team with the hoop but boy they can sure feel good about themselves cause they got new life!!! not

I was talking to some D10 parents of players on this and you are 100% right. These guys have screwed this whole thing up. You really have to wonder how in the world these people hold down real jobs if they do work like this.

loveitorleaveit wrote:

Intheslot wrote:Anyone that is interested, please go to the district 10 website and click tournaments, then check out the Bantam A/AA bracket.
Talk about a complete CF.
#1AA most likley plays #5AA first game
#2AA most likely plays #6AA first game
#1A(seeded with a buy for winning district... what a joke) most likely
plays #4AA(way to make them feel good about themslves D10!)
#3AA most likely plays#7AA second game. (#3AA has a play in game as does #4AA...)
Try a lamebrained setup like this anywhere else... Laughing stock!!!!
This is what happens when we step all over each other to make the little guy feel good.
Don't get me wrong, make them earn it... in the end they'll get respect and naturally feel good about themselves...
We don't need D10 propping them up and handing them stuff because this
is someone's brainchild on some stupid committee
Buy the way everyone is in this tournament, including 2 teams with 2 wins and 1 team with the hoop but boy they can sure feel good about themselves cause they got new life!!! not

I was talking to some D10 parents of players on this and you are 100% right. These guys have screwed this whole thing up. You really have to wonder how in the world these people hold down real jobs if they do work like this.

ok just looked at brackets, and while not ideal

the semi finals would have 1AA vs 4AA and 2AA vs 3AA .... isn't that what you want in the end? How they got there was a little screwy but .....

What's the point of the regular season if one's not rewarded for their hard work? If you had a choice of a path to the semi's would you choose...
A. The Yellow Brick Road or B. Someone's backyard who owns a St. Bernard.
The problem is there are too many teams being rewarded to play in this tournament.
They should've had an 8 or 10 team tourney with top 4 AA teams seeded
Period
I've had it up to here with all the feel good crap!
There, my rant is over. I feel better

loveitorleaveit wrote:

InigoMontoya wrote:In our rush to dislike Bo, we're losing sight of the fact that he is largely correct. Within the metro, there are certainly some talented kids that stay and play for their local high schools, but there are also a load of them that choose the educational experience of a private school, or the educational experience of a public school with a tradition of winning. Of those kids that choose that experience, the best almost always choose the AA schools over the A schools - if they intend to prove they are the best, they have to play with and against the best. I agree with Bo; I don't think (for the best youth players) it'll be any different.

If he really is from Coon Rapids, he should be getting out of there soon just like the others who went to Blaine. We are have a great time. I'll send you a postcard from the State Tournament

It's that type of attitude that creates this problem--instead of trying to be part of the solution--you are part of the problem. I will be interested to see how many go onto the next level of hockey.. probably 1. I guess the end justify the means--at least in your mind.

Intheslot wrote:Anyone that is interested, please go to the district 10 website and click tournaments, then check out the Bantam A/AA bracket.
Talk about a complete CF.
#1AA most likley plays #5AA first game
#2AA most likely plays #6AA first game
#1A(seeded with a bye for winning district... what a joke) most likely
plays #4AA(way to make them feel good about themslves D10!)
#3AA most likely plays#7AA second game. (#3AA has a play in game as does #4AA...)
Try a lamebrained setup like this anywhere else... Laughing stock!!!!
This is what happens when we step all over each other to make the little guy feel good.
Don't get me wrong, make them earn it... in the end they'll get respect and naturally feel good about themselves...
We don't need D10 propping them up and handing them stuff because this
is someone's brainchild on some stupid committee
Buy the way, everyone is in this tournament, including 2 teams with 2 wins and 1 team with the hoop but boy they can sure feel good about themselves cause they got new life!!! not

look at every other district--all teams make the play-offs. This is the first year D10 has done this- is it perfect, no, it's a learning process. every WCHA team makes the play-offs...but bantam hockey they can't? really? It's not that big a deal---I'm sure in the end the best 4 will prevail.

No they don't Juice. Check PWA D10. Don't just make uninformed blanket statements please. Just remember... everyone's a winner in today's world

Intheslot wrote:No they don't Juice. Check PWA D10. Don't just make uninformed blanket statements please. Just remember... everyone's a winner in today's world

I'm talking about Districts other than D10

So kids from say North Branch/Chisago want to play AA they can skate in FL w/o a waiver ? Is that correct??? Or do they still have to open enroll ???