USA Hockey Article

[greybeard58]

http://www.mghca.com/news_article/show/ ... _id=115187

05/07/2014, 5:45pm CDT
By USAHockey.com


The dream of playing college and professional hockey grows in most players’ hearts with each passing season. Those aspirations sometimes make it difficult for developing players to hang up their skates in the offseason, for fear they’re missing opportunities to improve and take another step toward their dreams.

But while it might be hard for them to take a break from hockey, that’s precisely what they should do, despite plenty of persuasive attempts to convince kids, parents and coaches otherwise.

Showcase Exposure Not Always Meaningful

The dream of a scholarship or a college hockey roster spot often draws players to summer or spring showcases that pit them against other youth hockey players. The promise of exposure to collegiate coaches and other scouts may very well be a reality, but it isn’t necessarily a guarantee that attending the showcase is the right choice.

According to Bob Daniels, who recently completed his 22nd year as head coach at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., these showcases are rarely as influential as players and parents think they are. Daniels said he and his staff refrain from making serious decisions on recruiting based on performances at showcases.

"What happens a lot is there is someone behind the event trying to convince young players and their families that their showcase is the place to be,” Daniels said. “Maybe they know a few college or major junior coaches are going to be there, and they use that to get other people there. They’re trying to make a profit off the event. This isn't always the case, but it is sometimes."

It’s the Season That Counts

In general, Daniels believes young players can attract the eyes of the right people by playing well on their regular teams, whether it’s a school, town or junior league. Summer hockey, while fun for a lot of kids, comes with characteristics that lead Daniels and other coaches at prominent college programs to disregard much of what happens at showcases.

"We're very cautious about making assumptions on players' talents at these camps,” Daniels said. “A lot of times, some of these young people haven't been playing for a few weeks or they've been playing non-stop and they look tired. We try not to make our decisions based upon the way players perform at these showcases. We want to see players during



their seasons to make our decisions on the players we want to play for Ferris State." Take a Break
Aside from issues with showcases in general, Daniels and a growing number of hockey and conditioning coaches believe too many young people focus too much on playing hockey throughout the year.

As much fun as it is for young people to keep playing hockey year-round, taking a few months to play other sports can be beneficial. Using the offseason to play lacrosse, baseball, soccer or another sport or activity helps players develop a varied skill set and greater overall athleticism. It also gives players a mental break from hockey, which keeps them mentally fresher during the regular season.

Playing year-round hockey, even for the most serious or talented young hockey player, puts them at risk of burning out or sustaining overuse injuries.

"We actively encourage our players to stay away from the ice for a while after our season ends,” Daniels says. “When you spend so much time on the ice, you risk overuse with things like groin pulls or abdominal strains. For players around 13 or 14, many of whom haven't really started growing yet, the chance for muscle overdevelopment or injury exists as well."

Even Daniels himself, a man who has made a successful career out of the sports, enjoys spending time away from the hockey rink.

Continue Training

The coaching staff at Ferris State encourages its players to spend their offseason getting physically stronger while maintaining their physical conditioning.

"We want our guys to spend the couple months after the season in the gym, getting physically stronger or even out on the golf course,” Daniels says.

As players turn 13, 14 or 15 years old, the desire to keep playing hockey beyond high school or other leagues only grows. Their training period should be extended as well if they are serious about a future in hockey.

However, some of the options available to draw the eyes of collegiate coaches may not be as promising as they seem.

“We don’t make assumptions on players during these showcases,” Daniels says. “If a player performs well during their regular season, they’ll be seen by the right people.”

[JSR]

In general, Daniels believes young players can attract the eyes of the right people by playing well on their regular teams, whether it’s a school, town or junior league. Summer hockey, while fun for a lot of kids, comes with characteristics that lead Daniels and other coaches at prominent college programs to disregard much of what happens at showcases.

I call BS on this, atleast on a national basis... If you play MN High School hockey, sure... If you play Tier 1 MM or mm hockey, sure..... but let's say you play Wisconsin High School hockey, I guarantee you that there will be ZERO scouts or college coaches or junior coaches in the stands at a high school hockey game in WI (unless Green Bay Notre Dame is playing Eau Claire) but for the most part zero. I know several coaches and scouts and they've outright said "we do not scout WI high school games, there is no point. If a WI high school hockey kid is good enough to play we find them on and scout them on their B&A team because it's the only place we can see if they really are good enough or if it's smoke and mirrors of them playing lower level competition." ..... So don;t tell me that you will see them or find them at their "school" because outsid eof MN and a couple other places they aren't scouting schools, or AA associations or whatever. They scout Tier 1, and MN Hockey, and prep schools and that is about it.

[goldy313]

In general, Daniels believes young players can attract the eyes of the right people by playing well on their regular teams, whether it’s a school, town or junior league. Summer hockey, while fun for a lot of kids, comes with characteristics that lead Daniels and other coaches at prominent college programs to disregard much of what happens at showcases.

I call BS on this, atleast on a national basis... If you play MN High School hockey, sure... If you play Tier 1 MM or mm hockey, sure..... but let's say you play Wisconsin High School hockey, I guarantee you that there will be ZERO scouts or college coaches or junior coaches in the stands at a high school hockey game in WI (unless Green Bay Notre Dame is playing Eau Claire) but for the most part zero. I know several coaches and scouts and they've outright said "we do not scout WI high school games, there is no point. If a WI high school hockey kid is good enough to play we find them on and scout them on their B&A team because it's the only place we can see if they really are good enough or if it's smoke and mirrors of them playing lower level competition." ..... So don;t tell me that you will see them or find them at their "school" because outsid eof MN and a couple other places they aren't scouting schools, or AA associations or whatever. They scout Tier 1, and MN Hockey, and prep schools and that is about it.

You're full of it. I've seen NHL scouts at Wisconsin high school games, Eau Claire Memorial and Ashwaubenon just this past season. If they're there then it's a sure bet NCAA schools are watching as well.

[about22pandas]

Point is I think there are probably 200 unique match-ups, if not more, where you'll see scouts in MNHS. (Duluth East for instance against 15 teams counts as 15 match-ups). There is maybe 10 match-ups total in Wisconsin, which is basically the two best teams against random teams who also have a high-end talented player who they maybe looking at.

Your average team in Wisconsin isn't going to get a look by any scout unless you have a top-end player on that team. In MN if you are Duluth Denfield for instance, you'd probably have your games scouted 4 or 5 times, at least even if you don't have any player who is considered top-talent.

It just gives kids who otherwise wouldn't have a scout in the stands the opportunity to be seen if they are in MN HS, NE Prep or AAA u16/18 compared to Wisconsin, Michigan, ND, high schools.

In general, Daniels believes young players can attract the eyes of the right people by playing well on their regular teams, whether it’s a school, town or junior league. Summer hockey, while fun for a lot of kids, comes with characteristics that lead Daniels and other coaches at prominent college programs to disregard much of what happens at showcases.

I call BS on this, atleast on a national basis... If you play MN High School hockey, sure... If you play Tier 1 MM or mm hockey, sure..... but let's say you play Wisconsin High School hockey, I guarantee you that there will be ZERO scouts or college coaches or junior coaches in the stands at a high school hockey game in WI (unless Green Bay Notre Dame is playing Eau Claire) but for the most part zero. I know several coaches and scouts and they've outright said "we do not scout WI high school games, there is no point. If a WI high school hockey kid is good enough to play we find them on and scout them on their B&A team because it's the only place we can see if they really are good enough or if it's smoke and mirrors of them playing lower level competition." ..... So don;t tell me that you will see them or find them at their "school" because outsid eof MN and a couple other places they aren't scouting schools, or AA associations or whatever. They scout Tier 1, and MN Hockey, and prep schools and that is about it.

You're full of it. I've seen NHL scouts at Wisconsin high school games, Eau Claire Memorial and Ashwaubenon just this past season. If they're there then it's a sure bet NCAA schools are watching as well.

[JSR]

In general, Daniels believes young players can attract the eyes of the right people by playing well on their regular teams, whether it’s a school, town or junior league. Summer hockey, while fun for a lot of kids, comes with characteristics that lead Daniels and other coaches at prominent college programs to disregard much of what happens at showcases.

I call BS on this, atleast on a national basis... If you play MN High School hockey, sure... If you play Tier 1 MM or mm hockey, sure..... but let's say you play Wisconsin High School hockey, I guarantee you that there will be ZERO scouts or college coaches or junior coaches in the stands at a high school hockey game in WI (unless Green Bay Notre Dame is playing Eau Claire) but for the most part zero. I know several coaches and scouts and they've outright said "we do not scout WI high school games, there is no point. If a WI high school hockey kid is good enough to play we find them on and scout them on their B&A team because it's the only place we can see if they really are good enough or if it's smoke and mirrors of them playing lower level competition." ..... So don;t tell me that you will see them or find them at their "school" because outsid eof MN and a couple other places they aren't scouting schools, or AA associations or whatever. They scout Tier 1, and MN Hockey, and prep schools and that is about it.

You're full of it. I've seen NHL scouts at Wisconsin high school games, Eau Claire Memorial and Ashwaubenon just this past season. If they're there then it's a sure bet NCAA schools are watching as well.

I am not "full of it", I said there are a few unique matchups that will get scouts to their games each year but they are an exception not a rule. You'd be lucky to find them at 10 total games that involve two WI high school teams. Also, those scouts are not at those games because of those teams, they are there almost without exception because a certain player was most likely scouted in the off season playing for Team Wisconsin, because of the kids play at TW the scouts then come to a high school game or two but that is how it works here. You example is great, the scouts were their because of a few key kids who play for TW on both teams and they scouted them first playing for TW and now are coming to that specific game so they can see several kids in action at once that are already on their radar. Scouts do not attend WI High School games unless they've scouted a kid from a TW style B&A team, or national camp, or they have a kid on the team themselves but they don't scout them the way they do MN high school or Tier 1 games. I know what I speak of.