HighSchoolHockeyForums.com

I am new to the whole AAA hockey scene. My son is a '97 and loves hockey and would skate every day if he could. We also play baseball and soccer. I have read enough posts on here, so I don't need a whole bunch of pro vs con on playing all year round. It is what my son wants to do. What I am really looking for is some information from parents and players that have kids or have played on independent AAA teams. Who runs the best AAA program in MN, what should I watch out for and is it the program or is it the coaches for a specific age group that make a team and its players great? Your help is much appreciated. Thanks<br> <p></p><i></i>

through all ages the blades are probably the best team especially their 91 and 92's. <p></p><i></i>

One bit of advice almost all AAA programs are a buisness. Except the MN Blades. Form your own team and save a bundle. <p></p><i></i>

sorry. just was anwsering who the best team is. <p></p><i></i>

Another team to look at is the Minnesota Iceman...They're probably the 2nd best team to the Blades, and a bit cheaper if im not mistaken? <p></p><i></i>

You are right about them being the best team. Allthough there are other programs that have great teams as well. Iceman, Lightning, Stars, (Duluth Area) Wisconsin Fire. Mn Jr Gophers there is a few. Impact Hockey is great not a team but great program. Team Midwest also has a school or program. <p></p><i></i>

Its the travel thats expensive. <p></p><i></i>

Are you talking about summer AAA or in season AAA? I believe that Shattuck is currently the only team registared through Mn Hockey and all of their players live on their campus during the school year. <p></p><i></i>

DEPENDING ON YOUR SONS TALENT, THERE ARE<br>SOME GOOD PROGRAMS, ICEMEN, BLADES, PREDATORS<br>LIGHTNING ARE ALL GOOD DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU<br>ARE LOOKING FOR.<br>MY SON HAS PLAYED FOR THE ICEMEN FOR THE LAST<br>TWO SUMMERS AND SHOWCASE AAA, SHOWCASE IS<br>FUN BECAUSE IT'S ALMOST ALL GAMES BUT THE <br>ICEMEN IS WHERE HE DEVELOPS AND IS CHALLENGED.<br>THERE ARE ALOT OF OPTIONS; IT MAY TAKE TIME<br>TO FIND THE ONE THAT FITS HIM BEST.<br>GOOD LUCK!<br> <p></p><i></i>

92 chiefs were good last summer in 2005 <p></p><i></i>

I played on the icemen last year and i loved it. It might be a little costy but personally i think it is worth it. A lot of good coaching meeting new friends and you get to travel to canada and places you will never go during the season(depending on your team). <p></p><i></i>

It should have nothing to do with the games you play, yes most kids only want games and your games need to be competitive, but look at everything else the club provides. Do they have quality coaches, balance of practices, do they run clinics for skating and stick handling, how much travel is involved for tournaments. Summer hockey costs more because everyone wants to make a buck! Tournaments in winter cost on avg $500, in the summer they start at $600 and top out at $1400. Ice cost is less but people shouldnt be expected to do everything for free, most clubs barely make enough to grow and when parents dont pay they will take the hit. So keep asking questions, read every bulletin board in every arena, make phone calls and ask lots of questions. Its not a teams record from last year that makes a good club, its all about the development. Which kids in your association improved the most from last year, thats where I would start to look. Good Luck! <p></p><i></i>

Baseball, soccer AND hockey?? Be careful, dad... even if he wants to do it (which kid doesn't??), you are the parent and you have to be reasonable about demands on your son's time. Make sure there's time just to be a kid.<br><br>There are thousands of articles in circulation on this subject (i.e. Hal Tearse at MN Hockey - <!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.minnesotahockey.org/coaches/ ... Player.pdf),">www.minnesotahockey.org/c...ayer.pdf),</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--> and the conclusion is that the kids should have "seasons" until they are pee wee age. Year around hockey until they are 10-11 years old is counter productive.<br><br>I assume that all you heard out of those two paragraphs was "blah blah blah" and you want to get to the real meat and potatoes... gferhock mentioned that you should observe the kids that improved the most from last year (the fact of the matter is that at 8 years old, that is most likely a kid that didn't do any hockey last summer), and inquire about their off season training. I would agree with that if you are absolutely convinced that it's right for your son.<br><br>Look up a fella named Bernie McBane. <p></p><i></i>

Thats sound advice Bernie is a great guy. <p></p><i></i>

Nickel,<br><br>Your opinion about playing year round and letting the kids be kids is a valid point. Kids do need to be kids, but they also need to do what they love. Sports and hanging out with his friends is what my son loves to do. I am not looking for a hockey boot camp, ie The Machine. I am looking for a AAA program that has its priorities in order for any age kid. Family/Friends, Education and Hockey. But at the same time I want my son to improve from year to year. Playing association hockey and only association hockey just won't do it. Even in a large suburban association there is such a wide range of talent at every level that the top end kids just don't improve their skills to the best of their ability. It is my opinion that kids improve more by playing with kids of equal ability and that can only happen by playing some type of spring and summer AAA hockey. Please don't get me wrong, playing with the friends you grew up with and playing in the State Tournament is what every kid should strive for in Minnesota. It is what makes Minnesota High School Hockey so great. All these people that think by sending your kids to private school or open enrolling them at another school will help them get a ride or looked at more are dreaming. If the kid has the drive and is good enough they will get looked at. Just my opinion and probably too much information. Have a good day.<br> <p></p><i></i>

Spaulding. Kids that play AAA Good AAA are great players already. Thats why they get recruited to those teams. The Pond Or out door rink Shinny Games with older siblings Watching other great players. Thats what makes them better. <p></p><i></i>

If your son/daughter is lucky enough to train with Impact Hockey - that is the deal!<br><br>If you are looking for your player to play games then look to the MN Lightning, Preds, Blades, Icemen , etc...<br><br>My belief is that summer is for baseball GAMES so my son will play baseball and train with Impact Hockey.<br><br> <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmnhs.showUserP ... keyDad9</A> at: 2/25/06 6:21 pm<br></i>

One more thing to add. Somebody mentioned that the Showcase league is "fun" because it's all games. My advice would be to steer clear of ALL things Showcase. The coaches are usually sub-par, the league is not competitive (I'm talking strictly Showcase leagues... it's too difficult to get true a, b and c teams matched up), it's it's just that... ALL GAMES. Don't expect your son to develop by only playing games. It doesn't work that way.<br><br>Showcase has it's place, don't get me wrong... but if you and your son are serious about development, there are better venues. <p></p><i></i>

that would be me, I mentioned my son played both<br>showcase aaa and for the icemen.<br>I also said showcase was fun because it was all games<br>but his development and challenge came from the icemen.<br>for my son it worked out great, showcase was like pond<br>hockey and he was able get creative and just have fun.<br>it was an expensive pond and this year we are passing<br>on the showcase.<br> <p></p><i></i>

wat i did was i worked out a deal with the coach since i played for the 13A team so i dint have much time but for all the ice i could make i payed like 15$ each hour and that ended up bein cheap and still a great way to keep on playin <p></p><i></i>

The only real advice you should take from all this is, get a hold of Bernie, he is the best of the best. Great guy, talk to him, will tell you what you should and should not do, he will be honost with you and if your lucky at some point he will train you kid.<br><br>Call Bernie. <p></p><i></i>

There is a new Club in town that is going to based in the Northern suburbs. The club will be sponsered by Christian Bros Hockey. The club is going be based on development and emphasizes players to participate in other summer activities. I do not know much more about it, so you will have to ask around. <p></p><i></i>

is this new team for winter play or just offseason. What age groups? <p></p><i></i>

Nines,<br><br>Are you going to Coach it?<br>What ages?<br> <p></p><i></i>

90 thunder lost 1 game last year when they had 7 guys winning every tourny they played in <br><br>record 23-1-1 <br> <p></p><i></i>