NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

[SlewFoot]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

I'm looking at the schedule and I'm wondering about the strength of teams and brackets. Its difficult to judge since I only hear about teams and haven't seen them first hand. Please correct me if I'm wrong but my GUT FEELING is that the brackets strongest to weakest are as follows:

1 Bracket 4
2. Bracket 3
3. Bracket 2
4. Bracket 1

It seems to me that Bracket 4 has 4-5 really good teams. My personal opinion is that being in the toughest bracket is best for recruiting reasons because then you are playing more games against good opponents. The more tougher games better showcase girls' talents to the scouts. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've been told that most of the scouts are gone by the time the championship game is played so from a recruiting standpoint being in the championship game doesn't really matter much. Obviously winning is always desired but I don't think the scouts care who wins.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

I'm looking at the schedule and I'm wondering about the strength of teams and brackets. Its difficult to judge since I only hear about teams and haven't seen them first hand. Please correct me if I'm wrong but my GUT FEELING is that the brackets strongest to weakest are as follows:

1 Bracket 4
2. Bracket 3
3. Bracket 2
4. Bracket 1

It seems to me that Bracket 4 has 4-5 really good teams. My personal opinion is that being in the toughest bracket is best for recruiting reasons because then you are playing more games against good opponents. The more tougher games better showcase girls' talents to the scouts. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've been told that most of the scouts are gone by the time the championship game is played so from a recruiting standpoint being in the championship game doesn't really matter much. Obviously winning is always desired but I don't think the scouts care who wins.

You are right that scouts don't care who wins. Many will be gone by Sunday, but many others stick around, as this time of year they like to talk to seniors after their last game.

 

[brookyone]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

http://www.winter-hawks.org/page/show/208375-naha-labor-day-tournament-u19-2010-

 

[D2D]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

LC should be weaker this year. They graduated most of their really strong players and it appears that Belle Tire will be the strong U19 team out of Detroit this year. Several top Honey Baked and LC girls moved to Belle Tire.

LC's made it to the final, surpassing expectations. Nice to see them and another U.S. team (the Minnesota Icecats) playing for the championship, for what I believe is the second consecutive year.

 

[joehockey]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

Icecats win the NAHA Tourney by beating Little Ceasars 2-1!

(Source OnEdge)

I believe this is the first Championship for a MN Team.

 

[brookyone]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

LC's made it to the final, surpassing expectations. Nice to see them and another U.S. team (the Minnesota Icecats) playing for the championship, for what I believe is the second consecutive year.

Icecats win the NAHA Tourney by beating Little Ceasars 2-1!

(Source OnEdge)

I believe this is the first Championship for a MN Team.

 

[SlewFoot]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

The top 4 and seven of the eight teams making the playoffs were US teams. With all of the US/Canadian talk, was this an aberation or was there any significance to this? I'm not trying to stoke an discriminatory banter. I just want to know if US hockey players are either catching up or can it be that US hockey players are as good as their Canadian counterparts. There are disproportionate numbers of Canadians playing at US D1 Universities so I assume that the coaches believe that the Canadians are better players but are the US girls catching up?

 

[granddaddyscout]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

The top 4 and seven of the eight teams making the playoffs were US teams. With all of the US/Canadian talk, was this an aberation or was there any significance to this? I'm not trying to stoke an discriminatory banter. I just want to know if US hockey players are either catching up or can it be that US hockey players are as good as their Canadian counterparts. There are disproportionate numbers of Canadians playing at US D1 Universities so I assume that the coaches believe that the Canadians are better players but are the US girls catching up?

Where are you getting you numbers from that there are more Canadian vs US players at NCAA D1 programs?

 

[OnMAA]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

The top 4 and seven of the eight teams making the playoffs were US teams. With all of the US/Canadian talk, was this an aberation or was there any significance to this? I'm not trying to stoke an discriminatory banter. I just want to know if US hockey players are either catching up or can it be that US hockey players are as good as their Canadian counterparts. There are disproportionate numbers of Canadians playing at US D1 Universities so I assume that the coaches believe that the Canadians are better players but are the US girls catching up?

Same thing happened a couple of years ago with the Canadian teams limping home. However none of the big Ontario or Quebec teams attended this year. Wait till the Can-Am and Stoney events to get a better indication of the comparisons this year.

 

[SlewFoot]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

Same thing happened a couple of years ago with the Canadian teams limping home. However none of the big Ontario or Quebec teams attended this year. Wait till the Can-Am and Stoney events to get a better indication of the comparisons this year.

I understand that none of the Quebec or Ontario teams were there but weren't some of them at the Chowder Cup and wasn't the winner of that tournament NAHA? Also, the American U18 National team swept the Canadian U18 National team (I know the opposite happened at U22) but isn't there more parity than what seems to be the common perception that Canadian girls are better hockey players. Also, I can tell you that there were a lot of very good Minnesota players that did not attend NAHA because they had already committed to D1 programs. It appears that at least in Minnesota the girls are getting better every year.

 

[SlewFoot]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

Where are you getting you numbers from that there are more Canadian vs US players at NCAA D1 programs?

I didn't say there were more Canadians than US players. I said "disproportionate".

 

[brookyone]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

I understand that none of the Quebec or Ontario teams were there but weren't some of them at the Chowder Cup and wasn't the winner of that tournament NAHA? Also, the American U18 National team swept the Canadian U18 National team (I know the opposite happened at U22) but isn't there more parity than what seems to be the common perception that Canadian girls are better hockey players.

That perception isn't all that common everywhere ya go.

Also, I can tell you that there were a lot of very good Minnesota players that did not attend NAHA because they had already committed to D1 programs. It appears that at least in Minnesota the girls are getting better every year.

There is a growing number of talented hockey players in Minnesota...but that's actually a trend that has existed for a little while, and yes, they are getting better as well as more numerous.

When you look at the best players from both north and south of the border, there's a few fans south of the border anyway, that don't really believe there's a bunch of ground to be made up...or gap to be closed, besides in the numbers playing aspect that is.

 

[joehockey]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

I understand that none of the Quebec or Ontario teams were there but weren't some of them at the Chowder Cup and wasn't the winner of that tournament NAHA? Also, the American U18 National team swept the Canadian U18 National team (I know the opposite happened at U22) but isn't there more parity than what seems to be the common perception that Canadian girls are better hockey players. Also, I can tell you that there were a lot of very good Minnesota players that did not attend NAHA because they had already committed to D1 programs. It appears that at least in Minnesota the girls are getting better every year.

The unfornate part is the MN girls are limited by MN Hockey from playing in Stoney Creek and other top CDN or US events - you won't see them outside of MN in season unless they are on USA U18.

MN Hockey has been supportive of girls hockey but limits girls to be seen outside of MN. In MN +3500 girls play HS hockey except for MN Hockey has chartered the MN Thoroughbreds in JWHL, the HS post grad MN Crunch and the Shattuck St Marys (only a few MN girls are there). Each year about 40 MN girls go D1 - I think this is top US state. Last year of that number 4 played for Thoroughbreds, 2 played at SSM and other 34 played HS Hockey. HS hockey in MN is cheap (under $300) and girls love playing for thier schools - the overall level of play though is not what they played in at NAHA - which is why the top girls play for MN Ice Cats or MN WhiteCaps in the summer to get some top competition and play together with other top players. The last roll up recruit roll up for 2011-2012 from Hux would say MN girls are continuing to be in demand:

U.S. 38: Minnesota 22; Massachusetts 4; Connecticut, and New Hampshire 2 each;
Alaska, California, Florida, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Vermont 1 each

Canada 4: BC 1; Ontario 2; Quebec 1

MN Hockey did approve the Upper Midwest Elite Girls Hockey League 2 years ago (thanks to push of John Russo, Eric Johnson, Winny Brodt, and Chris Peterson - this format has exsisted on boys side for maybe 10 years and is packed with D1 and NHL scounts) that has the top 60 MN HS girls playing (mostly Jr, Sr) each weekend from end of September through November on 3 teams vs Shattuck - 3 games 1 Saturday night and 2 on Sunday.

There is an opening weekend tournament in UMEGHL with four outside AAA teams and a final week tournament with 6 outside teams. Last year Mission, Little Ceasars, Balmoral Hall, Belle Tire came - Shattuck plays but Thoroughbreds don't - MN Crunch played one weekend. The League is well scouted by WCHA and Eastern Schools usually come to the Tournament weekend. Would be great to see the end Tournament be a NAHA or Stoney type event and I think it will evolve to that.

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

If everyone from the State of Hockey is finished patting themselves on the back.....it should be noted that Western Canada's Rocky Mountain Storm went undefeated (6 & 0) in the tournament in the U16 Division outscoring their opponents 30 to 9 and beating Minnesota Whitecaps in the finals with a 4-3 win in overtime.

Congratulations to this great group of girls.

 

[D2D]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

...and beating Minnesota Whitecaps in the finals with a 4-3 win in overtime.

Appears that the Storm made their shots count and the Whitecaps' goaltending may have been a bit off. According to the game recap the Whitecaps outshot the Storm 34-15.

http://www.winter-hawks.org/game/show/1048970?referrer=214343&subseason=28124&referrer=214343

Up until this final game the U16 Whitecaps were 5-0 so they had a great tournament as well.

 

[brookyone]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

If everyone from the State of Hockey is finished patting themselves on the back.....

Anything positive anyone from the State of Hockey has to say regarding results in this tournament is well warranted and justified and may be repeated as often or as sparingly as they see fit. You could always put Minnesota posters on ignore...but then you would have less material to complain and whine about.

 

[CanHockGuy]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

Appears that the Storm made their shots count and the Whitecaps' goaltending may have been a bit off. According to the game recap the Whitecaps outshot the Storm 34-15.

http://www.winter-hawks.org/game/show/1048970?referrer=214343&subseason=28124&referrer=214343

Up until this final game the U16 Whitecaps were 5-0 so they had a great tournament as well.

Looks like the Storm went with two goalies. Might have been the other way around. Might have.

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

Appears that the Storm made their shots count and the Whitecaps' goaltending may have been a bit off. According to the game recap the Whitecaps outshot the Storm 34-15.

http://www.winter-hawks.org/game/show/1048970?referrer=214343&subseason=28124&referrer=214343

Up until this final game the U16 Whitecaps were 5-0 so they had a great tournament as well.

The U16 Storm certainly had some snipes on their team and their goaltending was stellar.

Watched the U16 Whitecaps in one of their games and agree D2D.... they have a really good squad put together there.

Tomorrow's stars today!

 

[5 4 Fighting]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

Looks like the Storm went with two goalies. Might have been the other way around. Might have.

CHG, both Rocky Mountain Storm teams down in Burlington this past weekend looked at this as a true Showcase tournament, splitting goalies playing time and rolling all 4 lines throughout their games regardless of whether they were on the PK or PP. Neither coaching staff considered winning all that important...only making sure that all the girls had equal playing times in order to showcase their talents. Can`t say that for all the teams however...some people just don`t get it...

 

[CanHockGuy]

Re: NAHA Labor/Labour Day Tournament 2010

CHG, both Rocky Mountain Storm teams down in Burlington this past weekend looked at this as a true Showcase tournament, splitting goalies playing time and rolling all 4 lines throughout their games regardless of whether they were on the PK or PP. Neither coaching staff considered winning all that important...only making sure that all the girls had equal playing times in order to showcase their talents. Can`t say that for all the teams however...some people just don`t get it...

Glad to see this, and glad you pointed it out. The only reason I stepped in there is because of the obvious. We have seen this many times in the past as you know. ....... You have to put the kids ahead of yourself at all times, because their future is the important thing here.