2009 Polar Bear Tourney

[GHF]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

"LOL! Glad to see Fitzy is giving his 19AA team some strong competition."

I'm sure all four of these "other" teams appreciate your support! Classy...

I'm sure each if the teams in Div 5 will be giving it their best shot. However, as in many years past, the Polar Bears do not face well known competition this year. The Alliance from Texas, for example, are not even competing in the Rocky Mountain Tier 1 tournament to challenge for a spot at Nationals. For teams like this, the tournament is more about exposure to the college scouts and less about winning. I'm sure they'd be quite happy to take home a trophy, however.

 

[spike]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

However, as in many years past, the Polar Bears do not face well known competition this year.

As in MANY years past? When was the last time PB faced a quality opponent in the round robin phase of their tournament. (hint: never).

 

[Trillium]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

As I said before get ready for the ride Hockey will be on the decline.

I lived it during the early 80's I would say some rinks survived but its very expensive. I think parents paying these kind of bills should be able to
confront coaches its just crazy and for girls that need some competition they need to attend prep school not all get full boats.

Good luck because I see the same decline that happened in 1978 -- through I would say 1988..

I think there is room for all year round club teams that do not charge crazy dollars.

I know of at last 8 -10 good players that quit and at least another half dozen that left prep school.

Its really going to turn for the worse...I hate to see it as well.

Huh??? It would seem Papulaisle may have relatives on this forum also????

 

[OnMAA]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Huh??? It would seem Papulaisle may have relatives on this forum also????

More than one it appears...a few other new posters with cryptic logic we are expected to be able to read between the lines.

 

[IceIsNice]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

You mean not everyone has a "scores" decoder ring?

 

[OnMAA]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

You mean not everyone has a "scores" decoder ring?

At least it is easy to spell the nick name "Scores". "Papulaisle" is much harder and often convert it in in my mind to "Malaise"

Ed: Definition of Malaise.
Malaise: A vague feeling of discomfort, one that cannot be pinned down but is often sensed as "just not right."

 

[scores]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Oh no u r so mean I am going to put some red dots under u r names?????

Is it coach or should we address you as Dad... I guess I hit a nerve.

 

[NJCPolarBear]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Polar Bears did a real bad job with the brackets at U14AA level.

Division 3 is stacked with 6 of the 7 teams I would rate strong to very storng [AV, Nepean, Kanata, Colonials, Bay State, CTNL]...At least in the past few years an attempt was made to even up the brackets...they played other games with scheduling, etc. but at least the brackets were 'fair'....not this year....

 

[OnMAA]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Polar Bears did a real bad job with the brackets at U14AA level.

Division 3 is stacked with 6 of the 7 teams I would rate strong to very storng [AV, Nepean, Kanata, Colonials, Bay State, CTNL]...At least in the past few years an attempt was made to even up the brackets...they played other games with scheduling, etc. but at least the brackets were 'fair'....not this year....

Nepean and Kanata in the same pool. That is silly. These two teams are from the same town and play in the same league up in Ontario. Should have them distributed in seperate pools.

 

[Sweden]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Agree . this happens every year. NEGHL teams playing each other in the prelim rounds.

 

[NoGo]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

LOL! Glad to see Fitzy is giving his 19AA team some strong competition.

So what? It is THEIR tournament and it is prerogative to do the schedule. This group of girls from Dallas has been in the same Division with the PBs every year for the last four. It does not always work…

• 2006 14UAA Texas Attack tied PB 2-2
• 20075 17UA Texas Attack tied and went on to win (girls were 14 & 15 that year, reason for 2009 2008 17UAA Dallas Stars - Same division but schedule was set up to where they did not play
• 2009 19UAA The PB will beat the Alliance.

Alliance 19U is declaring Tier II for Nationals (Rocky Mt District) and playing a salty Tier I schedule to get ready. In fact they will go to Chicago next month and play the Mission on Jan 22. Anyone care to speculate on how that will go? I have my own opinions on that one but my wife has told me I am not allowed to share them…

 

[NoGo]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

I'm sure each if the teams in Div 5 will be giving it their best shot. However, as in many years past, the Polar Bears do not face well known competition this year. The Alliance from Texas, for example, are not even competing in the Rocky Mountain Tier 1 tournament to challenge for a spot at Nationals. For teams like this, the tournament is more about exposure to the college scouts and less about winning. I'm sure they'd be quite happy to take home a trophy, however.

As mentioned above…they are declaring Tier II…

The 19U Alliance team is started out as the Dallas Ice Jets and went Tier I Nationals as a 12U team in 2005. The following year they became the Texas Attack for the next two years (2005-2007) and in 2008-09 season they were the Dallas Stars. After last season the coach moved the girls over to Alliance.

The number and ages of the girls in Dallas have always put pressure on the team to do well at Tier I. They have always been underage. Take this year, of 18 players only FIVE are 92s and ONE 91. The rest are 93, 94 and 95s. They have had to endure the loss key players to prep schools and moves. There are 2 player’s at SSM, 1 at NAHA, 1 at the Washington pride. Politics have taken a toll with 1 at CYA and 2 at VOSHA. All of these players were 1st and 2nd line players. The association name changes are a result of the ridicules aspect of Dallas travel hockey that the girls have gotten caught up in.

The previous associations gave lip service to the girls but never really supported the efforts to grow and develop a program for all girls. It has been difficult to compete with the Abominable Snowwomen out of the Colorado Rockies (Colorado Selects) at the Tier 1 level. Now that Tier II has finally arrived for the girls they are looking forward to competing there. They will still have to get past 2 Colorado teams (TBD) and VOSHA (AZ) during the district playoff in Dallas (Mar 5-6-7).

You are correct in that this is the place to go to be seen and develop the relationships needed to get the girls connected for college. It has worked for my daughter and hopefully this trip will help to close a deal for her. The best shot she has of playing at college came from a contact developed here 3 years ago.

 

[posttopost2]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

I know of one strong U19 team that got locked out of the tournement because the scheduler had personal issues with the team and the coaches. While it is the PB's tournement, if they really want to keep it strong and respectable, they really need to do something about the politics. But then again, without politics, would hockey be really hockey.
That being said, I wish the best of luck to all of the girls and remember to have fun.

 

[NoGo]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

I know of one strong U19 team that got locked out of the tournement because the scheduler had personal issues with the team and the coaches. While it is the PB's tournement, if they really want to keep it strong and respectable, they really need to do something about the politics. But then again, without politics, would hockey be really hockey.
That being said, I wish the best of luck to all of the girls and remember to have fun.

Who?

 

[posttopost2]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Who?

Wish I could tell you, but that info is for the team to release not me personally. I may have spoken out of turn for my friend, and don't want to cause any problems. I just wanted to note that it is unfortunate that it is the girls that suffer due to politics.

 

[Slug79]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Nepean and Kanata in the same pool. That is silly. These two teams are from the same town and play in the same league up in Ontario. Should have them distributed in seperate pools.

Your right, they're in the same bracket, but they don't play each other.
With 2 teams making it from each division, plus wild cards...

 

[Slug79]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

I know of one strong U19 team that got locked out of the tournement because the scheduler had personal issues with the team and the coaches.

Oh really. Believe me, if some team wants to pony up the money, they're in.

 

[futurestar]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Oh really. Believe me, if some team wants to pony up the money, they're in.

That's been our experience too. Pick a division and mail your check in on time and you get a spot.

 

[UCONN FAN]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

"LOL! Glad to see Fitzy is giving his 19AA team some strong competition."

I'm sure all four of these "other" teams appreciate your support! Classy...

Classic deflect defense. I do support the other teams just wanted to point out Fitzy's blatant favortism. LOL

 

[Shipe Family]

Re: 2009 Polar Bear Tourney

Our family has fond memories from this tournament and wish all the girls the best of luck. For all the Alaskans catching flights tomorrow, here's to making all your connections with time to spare and all of your gear waiting for you at the luggage carousel. Do your best, have fun and enjoy the rest of your holiday!