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Did anyone get a chance to watch any of the Phase 2 tryouts this past weekend? Did anyone standout? <p></p><i></i>

What stood out to me was the fact that there were many Division I and III schools present to watch the players at both the older and younger levels, including east coast colleges. The calibre of play and the skill level of the players gets better every year and the evaluators must have a difficult time choosing the players that advance. There were a lot of great games to watch. Good luck to everyone who participated, it was really fun to watch. <p></p><i></i>

Which D1/D3 college coaches did you see there? <p></p><i></i>

when will the spots be posted? <p></p><i></i>

U of M, Mankato, St. Cloud, North Dakota, Harvard, Ohio State, Boston College, RPI, Boston University were the D 1 coaches I saw. I think there were a lot more but not sure which ones. This is a great list and Minnesota Hockey should be proud of this great event. <br>I asked one of the Boston College coaches a question - the question was Wow what a long weekend for you guys? He then replied there is a lot of money out there on the ice and we need to see all of it. Great Point - a lot of D1 scholorships on that ice this weekend. It was pleasure to watch! <p></p><i></i>

The spots should be posted by Friday <p></p><i></i>

The Picks are now posted! <p></p><i></i>

Congrats to all. I bet some at-large still to be named as well. Many amazing players aren't on this list as well!<br><br>Main MN H:<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.minnesotahockey.org/news/new ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>88-89:<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.minnesotahockey.org/assorted ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>90-91:<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.minnesotahockey.org/assorted ... <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br><br>8 of 21 90-91's from the East team... must be the coaching - <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... ckeyfan</A> at: 4/13/06 9:23 am<br></i>

nice representation as always, thanks for posting <p></p><i></i>

What about Erickson from GR/Greenway and Thunder from Cloquet? They went last year? Did they have a bad weekend in New Hope? <p></p><i></i>

You know there were many great players trying out last weekend. My question is what are the evaluators looking for? Do they have special evaluators for the goalies? How about for the D? Do they have a specific type of D player they are looking for? For what it is worth I think that there should be no program with names and numbers. I think that the evaluators should only get numbers, yes obviously some girls they are going to know, but it puts players on a more even playing field. I also feel that just because you went before or because of age shouldn't make a difference. I was told that to get to Lake Placid you need to play individual hockey, but then when you are there be a team. Isn't this a team sport? We are sending out very confusing messages to these girls, and they are wrong. GShockey what do you think? <p></p><i></i>

I really hope they didn't have special evaluators for each position. These were college coaches right? They know hockey and what each position player should be able to do. Megan Pezon was cut last year if I remember right. Didn't have a good weekend and paid for it. Yes, it seems like the same old names again, but maybe that's because they know how to play the game with and without the puck. The messege is you don't need to be a NDP to go play college hockey and get a good education. <p></p><i></i>

I agree in fact with all the scouts that were there why go to Lake Placid. I don't know if they were college coaches or not? Megan Pezons got to go last year as an at large player, so even though she didn't make it to Phase 2 she went anyway. But I do think that they need to have evaluators that know D and Goalies. <p></p><i></i>

To my knowledge evaluators judge on numbers, not names. I'm not part of the "official" final selection process as I was just a coach. They kicked me out of the room when that started and I inadvertantly walked in!<br><br>Every process could use constant reconsideration. I think that many improvements have been made to the process through the years, and the program will again be revamped next year with single birth age year groups. We will likely complain about that no matter how much work or perfection we see done.<br><br>There were goaltending specific college coaches there. I saw the top "coach-in-chief" for goaltending too. Think how hard it is to pick just 2 goalies - one of the 88/89 and one 90/91.<br><br>Most college recruiters/assistants can identify the top talent at any position.<br><br>Some players don't show well and they do pay a price. Sometimes these are some very amazing players.<br><br>Let me say that one suggestion I have is to have some of the non-MN college coaches that made the trip be evaluators next year too in some capacity. This may mean that none of us can accuse the evaluators of knowing names/kids/etc. - but - in all honesty, even those non-MN coaches may very well know the MN kids! Esp. those that go to Lake Placid/Rochester!!! THAT IS THEIR JOB AS RECRUITERS...<br><br>What I've found is that most of the time the reason that college coaches know certain players names is that those certain players are the BEST PLAYERS!!! What a concept!<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> It's not as if these players have publicists, etc. hyping them to coaches for name/face/player recognition... <p></p><i></i>

How many 91's made the 90/91 team? <p></p><i></i>

I think there are three 91's: Komarek, Kortum and Wheelhouse <p></p><i></i>

The National camp tryouts (Phase 1 and Phase 2) are not for the purpose of helping players get a college scholarship. The program is in place for the sole purpose of identifying potential US National Team and US Olympic Team candidates for the future. In order for the Olympic Coach to have a good look at the candidates, they are evaluated each year in New York for a week. It is a process that helps the coach and his staff to track the skill development of elite players. <br><br>Attending the National Camp, whether at Lake Placid or Rochester, does not guarantee any player a D1 college scholarship or a spot on a future Olympic Team. The reverse is also true - you may be selected to play D1 hockey and never be invited to National Camp.<br><br>Selection to the National Camp in any given year does not guarantee that you will be selected the next year. In truth, you may never be selected again, or you may be selected every year. Each player must continue to work hard to achieve their own personal goals and play hockey for the pure enjoyment of the game. <p></p><i></i>

Although they are not meant to have the sole purpose of scouting......you must admit it is great exposure! These girls are truely making a name for themselves even if they don't make it to NY. It was great to see all the scouts from all over coming to watch Minnesota's cream of the crop ladies. <p></p><i></i>

How many of the girls that made it this year have made it before? <p></p><i></i>

How many girls made it last year, but not this year? <p></p><i></i>

We have to wait for at large bids... Those are a ways off yet I would bet. <p></p><i></i>

"At-Large" selections are not usually completed until May. Only about half of the USA Hockey Districts have completed their tryout process at this time. "At-Large" players are selected from a pool of players that includes players from the entire country. <p></p><i></i>

There is an NCAA rule that Division I college coaches cannot be evaluators at these events and that is why you don't see any of them working the tryouts (they can be here recruiting and evaluating players). Division III coaches are allowed to participate as evaluators and Minnesota uses some Minnesota/USA Hockey Coaching personnel and evaluators who have been National Team players in the past and/or Olympians when available. There were evaluators judging only the goaltenders but input was also received from the other evaluators. This process has been fine tuned over the years and because there are more players every year who are excellent, it makes it tougher to get selected. Players must come in tip top shape and earn the chance to advance. With the two year age brackets, players who advanced one year may not advance the next year. Hopefully some of that will be alleviated with the single year camps proposed for next year for the 15 and 16 year olds. USA Hockey has not made a final determination yet whether it will be single or joint for 17 and 18 year olds next year. It will depend on what the National Team Coach/Olympic Coach wants. There is a camp in August that has usually been for Under 22 players and prior to Olympic years it has been a National Team camp for players trying to make the Olympic Team. Those camps will be decided after the June USA Hockey Annual Meeting out at Colorado Springs. <p></p><i></i>

Another stupid NCAA rule that I had never heard of! Understandable though. It would seem that it should be the other way around. D1 able, D3 not, but I'm sure my rationale for this is different than the NCAA's...<br><br>Maybe D3 eastern/non-MN coaches should be invited to, & allowed to evaluate at, the tryouts in the future... as I expect the NCAA rule won't change anytime soon! <p></p><i></i>

Minnesota would have to pay for the flight and hotel room for any eastern coaches they invite to evaluate at the tryouts which would add additional fees for the girls to tryout, so this is probably not a good plan. Most of the coaches help out at the eastern tryouts in their own state or a neighboring state and may not be available to attend the Minnesota tryout if it conflicts with the same dates. Not to mention it is a time consuming process and Minnesota finds it difficult enough to get coaches and other individuals to volunteer for a three day weekend in their own state. Volunteers are hard to come by in this day and age. Minnesota struggles each year to find enough people who want to give up another weekend for hockey. <p></p><i></i>