gotice
"I'm alive. Bring it"
Re: 2009-2010 Top U19 Teams
This subject could be discussed, hashed and rehashed forever. The reality is this rule was never written or enforced until NAHA wanted to compete. There were boys teams, primarily the Green Mountain Glades Bantam team that won the national tournament, as well as the Midget major and minor teams, that did have players from outside the state and country on their rosters. The rule was placed in writing after NAHA began their quest and pursued it in the local courts. The original judge basically stated that Vermont could not enforce a rule that was not in writing. Low and behold the next week the original bylaws were scrubbed from the internet and the new "written" rule was posted.
The bottom line is that USA hockey will not step in, even though all those within USA hockey recognize that it is not an equitable situation. USOC will not step in and enforce their own rules over USA hockey. Nobody wants to step on anybody's toes. NAHA pays the same dues to USA Hockey that every other team in the nation does and are denied a way to compete at the "National" tournament.
USA hockey thought of a compromise by trying to start a "Prep School" Division. Unfortunately, they still allow NSA and SSM to compete at the top National level, while NAHA is relegated to a tournament with a handful of prep schools. The NAHA team (Red and White players who were available) participated in this "Invitational" of a whopping 4 teams and won the tournament. If you asked any of these girls, they would have much rather lost at the National tournament and played in the big show, than to win a tournament with 4 whole teams and little competition.
Everyone in the position of power able to fix this situation, talks the big talk, but no one has the guts to put the action behind their words.
Now that USA has established this "Prep School/High School division" Why not establish rules that determine what qualifies as a prep team and what qualifies as a club team. Perhaps the Prep Teams should be any team that has players, who do not have parental residence in the state that the team is registered in and club teams should be teams comprised of only players who's parents reside within the state. That way all the top teams would play in the Prep division and the homegrown teams would play in the club division. Just a thought.
This subject could be discussed, hashed and rehashed forever. The reality is this rule was never written or enforced until NAHA wanted to compete. There were boys teams, primarily the Green Mountain Glades Bantam team that won the national tournament, as well as the Midget major and minor teams, that did have players from outside the state and country on their rosters. The rule was placed in writing after NAHA began their quest and pursued it in the local courts. The original judge basically stated that Vermont could not enforce a rule that was not in writing. Low and behold the next week the original bylaws were scrubbed from the internet and the new "written" rule was posted.
The bottom line is that USA hockey will not step in, even though all those within USA hockey recognize that it is not an equitable situation. USOC will not step in and enforce their own rules over USA hockey. Nobody wants to step on anybody's toes. NAHA pays the same dues to USA Hockey that every other team in the nation does and are denied a way to compete at the "National" tournament.
USA hockey thought of a compromise by trying to start a "Prep School" Division. Unfortunately, they still allow NSA and SSM to compete at the top National level, while NAHA is relegated to a tournament with a handful of prep schools. The NAHA team (Red and White players who were available) participated in this "Invitational" of a whopping 4 teams and won the tournament. If you asked any of these girls, they would have much rather lost at the National tournament and played in the big show, than to win a tournament with 4 whole teams and little competition.
Everyone in the position of power able to fix this situation, talks the big talk, but no one has the guts to put the action behind their words.
Now that USA has established this "Prep School/High School division" Why not establish rules that determine what qualifies as a prep team and what qualifies as a club team. Perhaps the Prep Teams should be any team that has players, who do not have parental residence in the state that the team is registered in and club teams should be teams comprised of only players who's parents reside within the state. That way all the top teams would play in the Prep division and the homegrown teams would play in the club division. Just a thought.
