IceIsNice
Huh? Whoopie Pies? WHERE???
Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams
Notfromaroundhere's point is well taken, even if it is just ever so slightly embellished.
I really thought the next thing hdbub59 was going to say was let's give medals to all players at Nationals, not just the winners. In fact...let's take a cue from NCAA basketball, and invite the 64, no wait, 65 best teams!
I'd say if NAHA et al can simply follow the rules of participation, why not let them in? The basic rules are simple:
1.) Submit your roster to your district registrar by the due date, usually in November
2.) Pay your fee (duh, right?)
3.) Make sure none of your players are on anyone else's national bound roster
4.) Make sure your players ages are appropriate
5.) Have your team play 14 games under USA Hockey rules against USA Hockey teams, with USA Hockey officials, and keep your official USA Hockey Scoresheets
6.) Ensure that each player participates individually in 10 of your 14 games
Any other basic rules? I think that's it....then pay your district tournament fee, and go play and win your district.
As for the argument about players and teams practicing all year, most New England Club team players also play for a New England prep school or public high school from November through February, sometimes while still playing club on the weekend. These are hardly the kind of youth teams that practice once or twice a week!
The more I hear and read about it, the more I don't understand the NAHA exclusion, and the admission of NSA to Nationals strikes me as a slap in the face. Like I said earlier, USA Hockey basically said to NAHA "no you can't play with us cool kids, go play with the geeks over there".
Notfromaroundhere's point is well taken, even if it is just ever so slightly embellished.
I really thought the next thing hdbub59 was going to say was let's give medals to all players at Nationals, not just the winners. In fact...let's take a cue from NCAA basketball, and invite the 64, no wait, 65 best teams!
I'd say if NAHA et al can simply follow the rules of participation, why not let them in? The basic rules are simple:
1.) Submit your roster to your district registrar by the due date, usually in November
2.) Pay your fee (duh, right?)
3.) Make sure none of your players are on anyone else's national bound roster
4.) Make sure your players ages are appropriate
5.) Have your team play 14 games under USA Hockey rules against USA Hockey teams, with USA Hockey officials, and keep your official USA Hockey Scoresheets
6.) Ensure that each player participates individually in 10 of your 14 games
Any other basic rules? I think that's it....then pay your district tournament fee, and go play and win your district.
As for the argument about players and teams practicing all year, most New England Club team players also play for a New England prep school or public high school from November through February, sometimes while still playing club on the weekend. These are hardly the kind of youth teams that practice once or twice a week!
The more I hear and read about it, the more I don't understand the NAHA exclusion, and the admission of NSA to Nationals strikes me as a slap in the face. Like I said earlier, USA Hockey basically said to NAHA "no you can't play with us cool kids, go play with the geeks over there".