Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

[OnMAA]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

Looks like they're improving it: http://www.proamhockey.com/2011-women-s-cc-s12007

I was in it this morning. Not much of an improvement at this stage. New feel and look, but right now it is an empty shell with a bunch of advertising. All the links point back to the empty shell. No information in it whatsoever, not even a phone number. Hopefully someone can answer the questions from my earlier post.

 

[SlewFoot]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

Season is over. Time to think summer

There is also talk about a competing event in Marlboro. Does anyone have more details/opinions on that.?

In regards to a competing event in Marlboro, Kelly Katorji was brought in to promote the new Girls Beantown Classic, which is scheduled on the same weekend as the Chowder Cup. I think Mr. Katorji runs the Toronto Prospects tourney. It sounds like a good deal (see details below). The problem I see is now people are trying to figure out which tournament is going to attract the best teams, which might hurt both tournaments. I've been told Mr. Katorji has a stellar reputation and will do a good job but the question is, are the best teams willing to switch? Being the tournament's first year, will enough good teams take the leap of faith. Below is information regarding the Beantown Classic and why it is supposed to be better than the Chowder Cup, which was sent to me by a friend.:


4 games guaranteed vs only 3, plus you will also play playoffs (format to be decided)

NO gate fee for parents, money saved in your pocket

ONE location (which is more ideal for scouting to occur vs multiple locations – this is a major attraction to any college if in fact they are to attend a summer event)

Lower team entry fee

Better Scheduling

Updated roster lists

Better Divisions (I think this is addressing the problems with the Chowder Cup not doing a good job of putting the right teams in the correct brackets)

Smaller number of teams, much easier for scouting, especially if ONE location

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

I think Mr. Katorji runs the Toronto Prospects tourney.

You thought right. He has been running that event for many years.

The one thing he spends a lot time and effort on for the Toronto Prospects event is to ensure a balanced competition and correct placement in divisions, something that is at times severly lacking at the Chowder Cup. Since he is familiar with the talent pool (via his scouting services), he has a better chance to do that part right.

 

[Hux]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

The Beantown Classic is another cash grab attempt to capitalize on "showcasing" players. It, like Hockey Night in Boston, failed miserably because it came on the heels of Chowder Cup and could not attract enough high end players to warrant coaches spending time at the event. No college coaches, no players down the line. (though for some reason HNIB manages to suck in people every year, despite ridiculously over-sized rosters, though there is never a D1 coach, and barely a DIII coach to be found).

I don't see things changing for either Beantown or HNIB. Save your money for skating and shooting lessons.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

The Beantown Classic is another cash grab attempt to capitalize on "showcasing" players.

While that is true, lets call a spade a spade. The Chowder cup is a cash grab event as well, and a pretty good one at that.

 

[pakidnyc]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

The Beantown Classic is another cash grab attempt to capitalize on "showcasing" players. It, like Hockey Night in Boston, failed miserably because it came on the heels of Chowder Cup and could not attract enough high end players to warrant coaches spending time at the event. No college coaches, no players down the line. (though for some reason HNIB manages to suck in people every year, despite ridiculously over-sized rosters, though there is never a D1 coach, and barely a DIII coach to be found).

I don't see things changing for either Beantown or HNIB. Save your money for skating and shooting lessons.

I have spoken to several college coaches personally and they tell me that they would much rather goto Beantown (one rink) to be able to see girls placed in the appropriate levels (age and ability) and be able to watch some younger teams while they are there as well -- again, all in the same rink.

 

[playthegameonthepond]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

Don't believe your assessment pakidnyc, college coaches have long liked the numbers assembled for Chowder, as they get to assess a lot of kids with whom they are talking at that time.... Thing is Chowder is what it is, they have never made it out to be anything else... Beantown claims to be a lot of things, looking to get in on the cash grab, just like they have turned Prospects into...

 

[IceIsNice]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

I've heard from a couple of college coaches that the Chowder can be challenging to scout due to the lack of parity and the the distance between rinks. Particularly on Friday night, anyone who has tried going from Canton to Foxboro to Dedham knows exactly how difficult this commute can be. Mapquest / Garmin might tell you 20 minutes or so between these sites, but it can truly be up to 3 times as long. One coach told me last year, he was half way to Canton and realized he'd barely make the last few minutes of the game he wanted to watch, and so he turned around. The player he planned to scout ended up only being scene in blowout affairs, leaving him with a less than satisfying observation.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: Mid Summer Classic - Chowder

Don't believe your assessment pakidnyc, college coaches have long liked the numbers assembled for Chowder, as they get to assess a lot of kids with whom they are talking at that time.... Thing is Chowder is what it is, they have never made it out to be anything else... Beantown claims to be a lot of things, looking to get in on the cash grab, just like they have turned Prospects into...

I agree with pakidnyc. While Chowder has the name, their expansion into multiple sites far from each other drove many a scout crazy last year. It was not bad when it was just in Foxbory and Iorio, two reasonably close rinks, but the others are further away and in areas where traffic can be a mess, specially on a Friday afternoon in the middle of the summer.

I would not be so quick to knock prospects. They provide a good service and they always ensure reasonable parity in competition. While they might have trouble attracting teams away from Chowder in the first year, don't be surprised if they make it a success longer term, much better than previous HNIB and Beantown events. On the surface they put a lot more effort into it than chowder, and that tends to pay dividends longer term.