2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

[Trillium]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

Montpetit is in the McGill tournament next weekend. Team BC Pursuit will be at Winterlude and plays in tournaments out in the mid west.

Are any top teams planning to attend either of those tournaments? Most of the top teams will be at NAHA next weekend...so the depth of competition at least at McGill may be lacking as a result.

 

[mainehockey07]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

MAHA is holding to a rule that states no participation by a team,player or coach in a non USA Hockey sanctioned tournament shall take place. If they do then none of the mentioned gets to participate in the State tournament which puts them out for a chance to go to Nationals. As it stands now MAHA is not letting Little Caesars or Honeybaked participate as they both went to NAHA in September which is not sanctioned by USA Hockey. In years past this rule had been turned a blind eye as NAHA took place before September 1 which is prior to the official start of the Michigan Hockey season. This year they missed by a couple days. Rumor has it someone, somewhere made a stink about it so MAHA is standing by the rule. MAHA is stating that they are abiding by the USA Hockey rule on this issue. Both teams are now appealing this decision and are asking MAHA to not punish the players as they or the parents, or the majority, did not know about the tournament being sanctioned or not. The teams management are asking to punish the directors or coaches but not the girls. Both teams have stated their cases and mentioned that if MAHA is standing on a vague USA Hockey rule which apparently does not have as abrupt punishment then how is it all the other teams that attended are not under the same fire as the 2 Michigan teams are. Also questioned by both teams is why was it okay for the head of MAHA's daughter to participate in NAHA a few years back with no reprocussions and now it is taboo for a Michigan team to participate. Politics and egos are at the fore front in Michigan for the next week or so. Should you have a reply to this and you would like to voice your opinion to Patty Madden of MAHA her contact info can be found at www.maha.org or you can locate it on the USA Hockey site. To me it does not seem fair to not let these girls go to States as they were only going to a tournament that they were told the teams were attending. How many girls or parents actually check to see if the tournaments are sanctioned or not. I know in the years I took my daughter I personally never checked.

Hopefully the girls will be able to play. not being able to because of something they had no control over is not right at all and would probably crush most of the girls-especially the seniors

 

[gotice]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

Hopefully the girls will be able to play. not being able to because of something they had no control over is not right at all and would probably crush most of the girls-especially the seniors

Yea, the NAHA girls can relate

 

[GHF]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

SSM beat Colorado Select 2 out of 3 this weekend in Denver. I hear Select out shot SSM in the first 2 games with better or equal scoring chances, but didn't see any shot counts to confirm that. Colorado won the thrid game 5-4, the first time they've beaten SSM ever.

JWHL East Weekend in Troy, NY beginning on Friday.

 

[unbelievable]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

I believe Colorado defeated SSM last season (2/21/09) at SSM 4-2.

 

[mainehockey07]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

Yea, the NAHA girls can relate

the naha girls have never played in nationals though, so they are probably used to it by now! the michigan girls play in states and nationals every year, so to not be able to this year would be much harder to accept than if they had never played in them before

 

[gotice]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

the naha girls have never played in nationals though, so they are probably used to it by now! the michigan girls play in states and nationals every year, so to not be able to this year would be much harder to accept than if they had never played in them before

I disagree. Some of the girls at NAHA have played at the tournament with their prior youth teams. Regardless, being denied an opportunity to participate for the first time is just as hard as being denied to participate for the second or third time.

 

[GHF]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

I believe Colorado defeated SSM last season (2/21/09) at SSM 4-2.

Can't find anything to dispute that. I may have been given inaccurate info.

 

[unbelievable]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

From the SSM web site:

http://www.s-sm.org/athletics/interscholastic/team.asp?teamid=31825+%7C+Upper+School+-+Athletics+-+Girls+Prep+Hockey&yearid=2008+-+2009

 

[Trillium]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

the naha girls have never played in nationals though, so they are probably used to it by now! the michigan girls play in states and nationals every year, so to not be able to this year would be much harder to accept than if they had never played in them before

Both situations suck. For NAHA, it is difficult to accept that year after year you are denied something merely because of an uneven application of rules based on geography. I don't think you just "get used to" injustice of any kind, which implies that if something's been that way for a long time it makes it any more acceptable.

On the other hand, what I hope you are trying to say is this: the girls at NAHA at least made a choice of their own free will, knowing in advance that the consequence of attending NAHA would be to have to forego Nationals.

Those at LC and Honeybaked were blindsided by a new/different rule application, and had no control over or awareness of the impact of merely attending a pre-season tournament. In that sense, there may be added shock and dismay, and with no corresponding upside (ie the whole NAHA educational/hockey experience) to help cushion the blow. Had they known the extreme consequences of attending the tournament I suspect a different decision would have been made.

 

[bbtt]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

Those at LC and Honeybaked were blindsided by a new/different rule application, and had no control over or awareness of the impact of merely attending a pre-season tournament. In that sense, there may be added shock and dismay, and with no corresponding upside (ie the whole NAHA educational/hockey experience) to help cushion the blow. Had they known the extreme consequences of attending the tournament I suspect a different decision would have been made.

And better yet, why aren't the events at NAHA sanctioned? I don't know the specifics but I would guess that to be sanctioned by USA Hockey, you would have to be a registered team/organization. Unlike qualifications for Nationals, any team can register without regards to geography so it seems like this could be a case of nose thumbing.

Seems to have pretty high consequences (especially with the large number of events put on by NAHA on an annual basis).

 

[GHF]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

especially with the large number of events put on by NAHA on an annual basis

... And the visibility they provide to those who participate.

 

[IceIsNice]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

Couple of thoughts...first, doesn't such only serve to water down the field even more than it already is? You can't help the fact that some districts just dont' seem to be able send truly competitive representatives, and I get why that can't be helped, but.... with all the money that folks spend to bring their kids to nationals, often on only 3 weeks notice, it would seem to me that USA Hockey would want to put on the best tournament possible with the best field, and not disqualify a team because they happen to have played in a very competitive tournament offering outstanding competition and tremendous exposure including the opportunity to play some of the best teams from Canada as well.

If I am biased at all, it is only because the NAHA tournament turned out to be a very special experience for my own daughter, not to mention an eye opening one for myself. It so happens that this was the only tournament that she had ever played in during her entire youth career which featured as many high caliber Canadian teams in the same field as so many top American teams. It was a great experience, with great exposure, and I think MAHA and USA Hockey should be viewing this from a perspective other than their by-laws.

Simply put, the litmus test ought to be.... is it good for hockey? is it good for the girls?

 

[bbtt]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

... And the visibility they provide to those who participate.

I guess LC and HB are wishing for a little less visibility right now...

That being said, I do not think it is anyone's best interest to not allow them to attend States (unless it was made clear to them up front the cost for doing so.)

 

[justthedriver]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

Had they known the extreme consequences of attending the tournament I suspect a different decision would have been made.

I know for a fact the majority would have made another deicision than the one that was made. It is especially troubling when the MAHA womens director was on the phone a few weeks prior to NAHA with LC and knew both teams were going as it was posted on their websites, and did not offer up that if attended a price would be paid.

 

[Trillium]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

it would seem to me that USA Hockey would want to put on the best tournament possible with the best field...It so happens that this was the only tournament that she had ever played in during her entire youth career which featured as many high caliber Canadian teams in the same field as so many top American teams. It was a great experience, with great exposure, and I think MAHA and USA Hockey should be viewing this from a perspective other than their by-laws.

Simply put, the litmus test ought to be.... is it good for hockey? is it good for the girls?

I don't disagree, and not that this will be any consolation, but we suffer from alot of the same political b.s. here. Last December's Stoney CAN-AM showcase featuring 6 of the top teams in N.A. was the best hockey I have ever seen by a mile, and probably the best experience and exposure my daughter ever had...including Nationals. In their infinite wisdom , this summer the OWHA (the governing body for girls hockey in Ontario) withheld sanctioning from the planned repeat of this event, perhaps hoping that the teams who entered would withdraw. It seems that only after various clubs in the PWHL went over their heads and pressured the OWHA's governing body (the OHA, which also governs male hockey), was the sanction for the Stoney event finally attained in October.

Whether something is good for hockey is unfortunately often low on the list of considerations once someone above gets their knickers in a knot.

 

[playthegameonthepond]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

The NAHA Labor Day tournament has never been sanctioned in order to permit summer Canadian teams to participate who could not if it was a USAH Hockey sanctioned event. Same philosophy as the Chowder Cup, Magog Silver Seven, US and Canadian events, and there are others. There is no standard in USA Hockey of a drop dead date when tournaments have to or should be USAH sanctioned. All the other NAHA events are because there is no barrier to participation for either US or Canadian teams.
Over the years that has allowed the participation at the NAHA Labor Day tournament of many quality Canadian teams and players from such teams as the Pacific Steelers, So Alberta Selects, Rocky Mountain Storm, Summer Storm (winner one year with a great cast of DI NCAA players now), Southern Ontario Stars and others. Quite a few of the players on these teams and others who participated from Canada feature players now on the Canadian U18, U22, and National Team. These teams self-insure to cover that side of things not covered by Hockey Canada, and other than that, there are no issues.

 

[she scores]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

IMHO Montpetit number one in Canada.

Aeros, Missy and BC Pursuit next three teams.

I think you are maybe right but the Pursuit of Excellence Academy out of Kelowna are undeated this year beating NAHA white in the Nepean tournament 5-1.
Also went undeafeated at the Hocktoberfest U19 tournament. I think the Pursuit team is loaded with talent and I hear they have a very young back end with 2 girls grade 10 and 1 girl grade 9. They also have the grade 10 National U18 MVP playing, with U18 team Sask Captain. Would be nice to see them play each other somewhere?

 

[she scores]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

I don't think you know your hockey, the pursuit team has talent that is overflowing. They have the U18 MVP Naitonals and Sask teams captain.
They have all very young and talented girls, they have not lost a game and beat NAHA white in Nepean final 5-1. I seen them win the Hocktoberfest U19 Tournament with 9 skaters the whole weekend. They consist of alot of grade 10's and even a grade 9 girl so young and talented. The front end is very powerful grade 12 girls some top in Canada.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams

I don't think you know your hockey, the pursuit team has talent that is overflowing. They have the U18 MVP Naitonals and Sask teams captain.
They have all very young and talented girls, they have not lost a game and beat NAHA white in Nepean final 5-1. I seen them win the Hocktoberfest U19 Tournament with 9 skaters the whole weekend. They consist of alot of grade 10's and even a grade 9 girl so young and talented. The front end is very powerful grade 12 girls some top in Canada.

I know quite a bit of hockey. Have actually seen all four of the teams I mentioned play on various occasions already this year, and seen many of these players play at Nats. All four teams are excellent teams.

Have you seen Montpetit play ?. Even with their best player, who was the top scorer in last years U18 worlds, out they won the McGill tournament in fairly convincing fashion going 5-0. They have been ripping it up in the CEGEP league, and won a tournament with University teams in it earlier in the year. 10 of their players have played for team Quebec, many of them for several years. They have one of last years TC U18 goalers and the Top Scorer for TC in U18 worlds last year.

Like wise Missy and the Areos are in a class by themselves in the PW, and met in the final in the Stoney tourney, probably one of the hardest ones to win. Aeros carry 10 players who played in the Final at Nats (7 Red, 3 Blue), and another who played in it last year but no longer age eligible. Missy has six players from Nats.

While NAHA is good, they have not yet set the world on fire, so winning over them may not rank as high as you suggest. NAHA did not get out of the round robin in their own tournament, lost to BC in the Nepean tournament, and lost to Colorado in the JW last week.

So for now I stand by my order for Canadian teams:
1 - Montpetit
2 - Missy
3 - Aeros
4 - BC Pursuit
5 - Several Candidates.

P.S...Done these rankings in the past, and was often close with my predictions. Last year I predicted the Ottawa Sens and Dawson to be top notch. Most disagreed on my Sens evaluation and picked Stoney or the Aeros instead. Sens ended up winning the PWHL championship and Dawson won the Challenge cup, but lost in the Final in CEGEP after being undefeated all year in Quebec. Main reason they lost the final was cause they were missing Poulin who was at worlds.

I think Missy will win the PW this year, with the Aeros in the final, and Montpetit will win the CEGEP loop, provided their top gunner comes back in time for the playoffs. If not, Limiloui will win the CEGEP loop.

P.S.2. IMHO the best player of BC pursuit is the one that was not even playing at Nats (Injury). She would have made a difference for her province for sure.