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With a month of practices in and a week of games, what are people's thoughts about the new Tier I program. [/i]

First weekend of games I felt the hockey was slow to start but picked up as the weekend progressed. There are a lot of really good girls in the U14 league so the play will continue to get better as girls get familiar with playing with each other.

I was told the hockey was not very good by one parent. Now, I have no idea if that was overall or just their particular team.

It's not boys hockey I'll say that much. If they can keep people interested and make some adjustments, in a couple years it could be very good.

My thoughts:
Either - cut down from 6 to possibly 4 teams.
Or - keep top girls down (this year many top 02's are playing HS elite).

Then - Bring in more out of state tier 1 teams to play.

AlterEagle wrote:
keep top girls down (this year many top 02's are playing HS elite).

.

Are you sure about that and what teams are they on?

AlterEagle wrote:It's not boys hockey I'll say that much. If they can keep people interested and make some adjustments, in a couple years it could be very good.

My thoughts:
Either - cut down from 6 to possibly 4 teams.
Or - keep top girls down (this year many top 02's are playing HS elite).

I'll be honest, I don't know one 02' playing HS Elite

Some of the top 02's were told not to participate so they are missing some talent. Overall, however, pretty good hockey and good access to high level coaching.
The program definitely has some kinks to work through. In particular, some associations have tryouts during the playoffs. Which could leave some teams short 8-10 players. Which is really unfortunate as this program is being sold as a means to make it to represent MN in the National Championship. MN hockey should have coordinated better with the associations.
I think it will become more competitive in the future.

Hansonbrother wrote:

AlterEagle wrote:It's not boys hockey I'll say that much. If they can keep people interested and make some adjustments, in a couple years it could be very good.

My thoughts:
Either - cut down from 6 to possibly 4 teams.
Or - keep top girls down (this year many top 02's are playing HS elite).

I'll be honest, I don't know one 02' playing HS Elite

There aren't any 02's playing Elite League, but, wanted to see what made AE certain there was

02's are team surge in Elite league

zambonidriver wrote:02's are team surge in Elite league

That makes no sense to me.... No offense to the kids, but why are they putting kids who for the most part, haven't played Varsity hockey, in a league with top Varsity players? Doesn't that water down the competition for the top Varsity players and defeat the purpose of this league?

Hansonbrother wrote:

zambonidriver wrote:02's are team surge in Elite league

That makes no sense to me.... No offense to the kids, but why are they putting kids who for the most part, haven't played Varsity hockey, in a league with top Varsity players? Doesn't that water down the competition for the top Varsity players and defeat the purpose of this league?

Some of them have played in 8th grade. FYI they are playing an exhibition Schedule of only 10 games. My guess is probably to see how they will compete. Just a thought but my guess is to beat MN hockey to the tier 1 punch. Most if not all of the best 02's are not playing in the fall tier 1 festivals. Team Reebok in the elite league is made up of almost all of the younger 01's that made the national camp and were in 8th grade. There are some exceptions though.

Team Surge will only play against Team Reebok and Team CCM and not against the Elite teams ...

Hansonbrother wrote:

zambonidriver wrote:02's are team surge in Elite league

That makes no sense to me.... No offense to the kids, but why are they putting kids who for the most part, haven't played Varsity hockey, in a league with top Varsity players? Doesn't that water down the competition for the top Varsity players and defeat the purpose of this league?

In the O/S League, they beat Mounds View twice in the spring (at least once with S. Brodt on the ice) and defeated Lakeville North 3-0 on Sunday. I suspect at least most of them, save the 7th grader, will be on varsity rosters this winter. I don't think that team waters down any competition.

jg2112 wrote:

Hansonbrother wrote:

zambonidriver wrote:02's are team surge in Elite league

That makes no sense to me.... No offense to the kids, but why are they putting kids who for the most part, haven't played Varsity hockey, in a league with top Varsity players? Doesn't that water down the competition for the top Varsity players and defeat the purpose of this league?

In the O/S League, they beat Mounds View twice in the spring (at least once with S. Brodt on the ice) and defeated Lakeville North 3-0 on Sunday. I suspect at least most of them, save the 7th grader, will be on varsity rosters this winter. I don't think that team waters down any competition.

Team Surge are the Best 02's there are players invited that are not on team OS Jungles Nelson, Wethington, Bothun, to name a few that have been invited that play on other teams. They will be very Competitive. There are some Varsity eighth graders from last year that are 02's that won't be playing that would make this team even better, Best, Mills, to name a few.

jg2112 wrote:

Hansonbrother wrote:

zambonidriver wrote:02's are team surge in Elite league

That makes no sense to me.... No offense to the kids, but why are they putting kids who for the most part, haven't played Varsity hockey, in a league with top Varsity players? Doesn't that water down the competition for the top Varsity players and defeat the purpose of this league?

In the O/S League, they beat Mounds View twice in the spring (at least once with S. Brodt on the ice) and defeated Lakeville North 3-0 on Sunday. I suspect at least most of them, save the 7th grader, will be on varsity rosters this winter. I don't think that team waters down any competition.

Why is Brodt playing if she graduated?

Mavs wrote:

jg2112 wrote:

Hansonbrother wrote: That makes no sense to me.... No offense to the kids, but why are they putting kids who for the most part, haven't played Varsity hockey, in a league with top Varsity players? Doesn't that water down the competition for the top Varsity players and defeat the purpose of this league?

In the O/S League, they beat Mounds View twice in the spring (at least once with S. Brodt on the ice) and defeated Lakeville North 3-0 on Sunday. I suspect at least most of them, save the 7th grader, will be on varsity rosters this winter. I don't think that team waters down any competition.

Why is Brodt playing if she graduated?

It was the O/S Spring League. I think she was okay to skate in that league.

Mavs wrote:
Why is Brodt playing if she graduated?

It was probably her little sister A. Brodt

Hansonbrother wrote:

AlterEagle wrote:It's not boys hockey I'll say that much. If they can keep people interested and make some adjustments, in a couple years it could be very good.

My thoughts:
Either - cut down from 6 to possibly 4 teams.
Or - keep top girls down (this year many top 02's are playing HS elite).

I'll be honest, I don't know one 02' playing HS Elite

I know 17 of them...mmmbop!

HockeyDude20 wrote:

Hansonbrother wrote:

AlterEagle wrote:It's not boys hockey I'll say that much. If they can keep people interested and make some adjustments, in a couple years it could be very good.

My thoughts:
Either - cut down from 6 to possibly 4 teams.
Or - keep top girls down (this year many top 02's are playing HS elite).

I'll be honest, I don't know one 02' playing HS Elite

I know 17 of them...mmmbop!

Well then I guess its people like you who make this forum legit. Without a dog in the fight, I didn't realize until Zamboni pointed it out, that they (02's) are playing a somewhat exhibition schedule...Is it a first, because I don't remember Elite League doing this in years past.

Hansonbrother wrote:

HockeyDude20 wrote:

Hansonbrother wrote: I'll be honest, I don't know one 02' playing HS Elite

I know 17 of them...mmmbop!

Well then I guess its people like you who make this forum legit. Without a dog in the fight, I didn't realize until Zamboni pointed it out, that they (02's) are playing a somewhat exhibition schedule...Is it a first, because I don't remember Elite League doing this in years past.

That's why I'm here- to add legitimacy. Surge does only play two other teams over the course of the league- CCM and Reebok. They probably could play an expanded schedule and play a similar schedule as Sky or Royal and probably be just fine. But as you pointed out Elite League has not done this in the past. And as ZD astutely observed a lot of the decision most likely has to do with the competition from MN Hockey with the Fall Tier I league.

ZD, I hope the new girls pick up the systems quickly! Lol. Kidding, of course. The new girls are welcome additions.

Will be interesting to watch this vs MN Tier 1

MN_Bowhunter wrote:

Mavs wrote:
Why is Brodt playing if she graduated?

It was probably her little sister A. Brodt

Both were out there.

Sounds sticky not having the best girls participate in Tier 1.

observer wrote:Sounds sticky not having the best girls participate in Tier 1.

It might be a one-year anomaly. Tier 1 in 2016 was announced months after most 2002s committed to AAA and the August-September schedule. 2003s weren't offered the chance to try out until June.

It's also worth mentioning that any soccer players, swimmers, and tennis players that are early 2002s have high school commitments in August-September that require their attendance.

HockeyDude20 wrote:

Hansonbrother wrote:

HockeyDude20 wrote: I know 17 of them...mmmbop!

Well then I guess its people like you who make this forum legit. Without a dog in the fight, I didn't realize until Zamboni pointed it out, that they (02's) are playing a somewhat exhibition schedule...Is it a first, because I don't remember Elite League doing this in years past.

That's why I'm here- to add legitimacy. Surge does only play two other teams over the course of the league- CCM and Reebok. They probably could play an expanded schedule and play a similar schedule as Sky or Royal and probably be just fine. But as you pointed out Elite League has not done this in the past. And as ZD astutely observed a lot of the decision most likely has to do with the competition from MN Hockey with the Fall Tier I league.

ZD, I hope the new girls pick up the systems quickly! Lol. Kidding, of course. The new girls are welcome additions.

Do they become eligible for Tier 1? I know there is some criteria that goes into it to be able to play in a tier 1 tourney. Roster and attended x amount of games, etc