USA Hockey National Championships

[PuckRush]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Back to original question, will the Minny HS school kids do this if they had travel. There are so many local opportunities available to them and most have them have played out East over the course of their minor careers. With 56 D1 commits on the 5 local teams not sure how many would travel while school is in session.

I think Minnesota is a unique situation. The state principal's association has the "no outside team" rule, meaning players cannot play for a high school and a travel team during the high school season. That works for Minnesota because the state has a sizeable population of female hockey players which means high school games can be competitive. But more importantly, it keeps things sane. Minnesota kids can focus on high school hockey, and then play competitive travel hockey in shoulder and summer seasons.

I'd be happy to have my daughter participate in the Minnesota model. Less windshield time, more ice time.

But that model can't work in other states. No other state has the population to field competitive public high school hockey teams. So players are forced to play on these travel teams during the high school hockey season.

If USA Hockey was thinking about the future, they'd move their entire season out of winter. It would go from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That way kids could go to and play for their public schools AND play competitive hockey in the summer, JUST LIKE MINNESOTA.

The female hockey world has changed a lot in 20 years. There were very few states with high school hockey. Today there are many that have it. Frankly, the only thing holding back high school hockey for girls is USA Hockey. Lots of kids leave their public schools for "hockey high schools" and prep schools and strip their states of talent. Move USA Hockey to the summer, and we'd have strong high school hockey, which in turn makes hockey stronger, which makes USA Hockey stronger, and so on and so on...

But that makes too much sense.

 

[D2D]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

U19 Semifinals
Shattuck-St. Mary's 2, Chicago Mission 1
MN Elite Black 6, MN Elite Red 3

Championship: Shattuck-St. Mary's vs. MN Elite Black


U16 Semifinals
MN Elite Grey 1, Boston Jr. Eagles 0 (OT)
Shattuck-St. Mary's 3, MN Elite Sky 1

Championship: Shattuck-St. Mary's vs. MN Elite Grey

 

[giwan]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Check out @MinnHockey's Tweet: https://twitter.com/MinnHockey/status/716786155270840321?s=09

 

[D2D]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

U19 Championship
Shattuck-St. Mary's 2, MN Elite Black 1 (OT)
SOG were 30-20 MN Elite Black

U16 Championship
Shattuck-St. Mary's 2, MN Elite Grey 1
SOG were 24-23 SSM

 

[joecct]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Silly question
Boys brackets are 17/18 (18U) & 15/16 (16U)

Girls brackets are 16/17/18 (U19=18U) and 14/15 (U16=15U)

Why the difference?

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Check out @MinnHockey's Tweet: https://twitter.com/MinnHockey/status/716786155270840321?s=09

I know that the Minnesotans think that they invented everything hockey, but the system described here is what many of the MA/NE Tier 1 U16 and U19 girls teams have been doing for years. They play a Summer/Fall Tier 1 schedule, play the state tournament over Thanksgiving weekend to qualify for Nationals, and then go dormant while their players go off to play for their HS (usually prep school for the better players) for the season. If they qualify for Nationals, they come back together after the HS/prep school season to prepare for Nationals. The following programs have been doing this for as long as I can remember: Assabet, Spitfires, Wizards, Breakers, Charles River... I think the Polar Bears and Stars do this also. So this is not revolutionary to say the least. It is different at the U14 level because a lot of those girls don't play high school hockey yet.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

I know that the Minnesotans think that they invented everything hockey, but the system described here is what many of the MA/NE Tier 1 U16 and U19 girls teams have been doing for years. They play a Summer/Fall Tier 1 schedule, play the state tournament over Thanksgiving weekend to qualify for Nationals, and then go dormant while their players go off to play for their HS (usually prep school for the better players) for the season. If they qualify for Nationals, they come back together after the HS/prep school season to prepare for Nationals. The following programs have been doing this for as long as I can remember: Assabet, Spitfires, Wizards, Breakers, Charles River... I think the Polar Bears and Stars do this also. So this is not revolutionary to say the least. It is different at the U14 level because a lot of those girls don't play high school hockey yet.

I missed where the article said it was revolutionary, maybe you could point it out to me.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

If USA Hockey was thinking about the future, they'd move their entire season out of winter. It would go from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

No, the opposite. Hockey is a winter sport. Keep it there. For the older kids, summer should be used for cross/strength training. For the younger kids summer should be used to play other sports. You can still have on ice skill development during this period.

If you make hockey a 12 month sport, you will find a lot of kids suffering from burnout by the time they get to Midget.

 

[PenaltyKill]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

No, the opposite. Hockey is a winter sport. Keep it there. For the older kids, summer should be used for cross/strength training. For the younger kids summer should be used to play other sports. You can still have on ice skill development during this period.

If you make hockey a 12 month sport, you will find a lot of kids suffering from burnout by the time they get to Midget.

The difference between the Minnesota system and the previously described New England system seems to be that players try out for spots on a state-wide tournament team, not a club team. If Mass, NY, etc. did that, you'd have much more competitive teams showing up at Nationals

It's not about the season these girls play in (and who are we kidding, any player who wants to play in college pretty much skates year round, in addition to playing other sports), it's the system, and as someone from Mass, I'd say the Minnesota model is better

 

[Call It]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

The difference between the Minnesota system and the previously described New England system seems to be that players try out for spots on a state-wide tournament team, not a club team. If Mass, NY, etc. did that, you'd have much more competitive teams showing up at Nationals

It's not about the season these girls play in (and who are we kidding, any player who wants to play in college pretty much skates year round, in addition to playing other sports), it's the system, and as someone from Mass, I'd say the Minnesota model is better

The MN Teams are geographically based, where as Mass Club Teams are based upon recruiting.

 

[Call It]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

No, the opposite. Hockey is a winter sport. Keep it there. For the older kids, summer should be used for cross/strength training. For the younger kids summer should be used to play other sports. You can still have on ice skill development during this period.

If you make hockey a 12 month sport, you will find a lot of kids suffering from burnout by the time they get to Midget.

Amen!

 

[Call It]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

I know that the Minnesotans think that they invented everything hockey, but the system described here is what many of the MA/NE Tier 1 U16 and U19 girls teams have been doing for years. They play a Summer/Fall Tier 1 schedule, play the state tournament over Thanksgiving weekend to qualify for Nationals, and then go dormant while their players go off to play for their HS (usually prep school for the better players) for the season. If they qualify for Nationals, they come back together after the HS/prep school season to prepare for Nationals. The following programs have been doing this for as long as I can remember: Assabet, Spitfires, Wizards, Breakers, Charles River... I think the Polar Bears and Stars do this also. So this is not revolutionary to say the least. It is different at the U14 level because a lot of those girls don't play high school hockey yet.

Is Assabet going to make a come back? The system that combined the two just won the U19 & U16 National Championships, SSM. Shouldn't teams like NAHA be at Nationals?

 

[pokechecker]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

The MN Teams are geographically based, where as Mass Club Teams are based upon recruiting.

and the consequence of this is that a kid from a family low in SES can still play, increasing the player pool

 

[giwan]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Is Assabet going to make a come back? The system that combined the two just won the U19 & U16 National Championships, SSM. Shouldn't teams like NAHA be at Nationals?

NAHA simply did not qualify and Assabet had girls leave the program and play for another team.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

NAHA simply did not qualify and Assabet had girls leave the program and play for another team.

Not sure if this has changed in recent years, but in the past NAHA teams were not eligible to compete for their region.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

No, the opposite. Hockey is a winter sport. Keep it there. For the older kids, summer should be used for cross/strength training. For the younger kids summer should be used to play other sports. You can still have on ice skill development during this period.

If you make hockey a 12 month sport, you will find a lot of kids suffering from burnout by the time they get to Midget.

AAgree about your conclusion. Having seen the CODP and the amount of time kids spend with that in addition to spring & fall leagues I wouldn't want to do it.

But really, hockey should be a summer sport. Who wants to go into a -10C rink when it is only 0 outside? Now in August, when it is 35C THEN I want to go to the arena!

 

[agfire]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Sorry, but I believe you are off base for most of the country, where..

1. The 19's and most of the 16's hated the opening ceremonies. The kids that participated were the 14's and the 12's (when they used to come).
2. Traveling for 7 days when school is in session is ridiculous.
3. Taste of Minnesota? You think that would have added something if they did it right? No way.
4. Swag. Really?

Do it right.

1. There needs to be at least a month between regionals and nationals. That way people can plan.
2. Hotels should be blocked so there's a discount for the parents, not a surcharge so the tournament can get their kickback.
3. Admission should not be charged.
4. Fund it by charging every team competing in a state and regional a "nationals' fee". In other words, if you are vying for nationals, you pay, whether you go or not.
5. A 3 day tournament. One hour games if you have to.
6. And most importantly... hold it at sites where it's easy for most of the families to get in and out of.

No one needs any "extra" stuff. Come for the hockey and if you want to stay extra days to do "extra" stuff, do it on your own.

.


Yes, very good point. If you travel to Nationals, be prepared to take out a second mortgage just to pay to see something you have already paid for.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

[/B].


Yes, very good point. If you travel to Nationals, be prepared to take out a second mortgage just to pay to see something you have already paid for.

It's true that Nationals are expensive, but in my opinion it is a great experience for the girls and does wonders for self-confidence and maturity - you can always not play if you don't want to spend the money or time. With regards to the timing of district qualification tournaments, the MA U16 and U19 national tournaments are held over Thanksgiving weekend so these folks have 3-4 months to make travel reservations to Nationals and get reasonable rates. At the U14 level it is still held in March (not really sure why). But it is up to the local districts to schedule their qualifying tournaments, not USA Hockey - you should be complaining to your local district if you have a problem with the timing.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

Not sure if this has changed in recent years, but in the past NAHA teams were not eligible to compete for their region.

New England district wouldn't recognize them originally because they didn't like the model of hockey first schools - it was a major discussion back in the day. Regardless of whether the NE district would entertain it now, I think that NAHA may have just stopped applying eventually because it didn't really matter - their girls play in the JWHL, win it regularly, and most go on to some level of college hockey, which was the objective of the program in the first place. They just don't value it.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: USA Hockey National Championships

and the consequence of this is that a kid from a family low in SES can still play, increasing the player pool

There are plenty of kids low in SES playing club and prep school hockey in New England. Clubs waive fees and preps provide financial aid on a frequent basis, particularly for better kids.