USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

[speed_skater]

So we are attending our first Nationals. It's really great that the site has 6 rinks all together, but there have been some parking woes. Some really great competition, referrees have been excellent - it's great to see so many women on the ice in the stripes and it's great to see that the refs skate better than most of the players (not typically the case).

Was wondering, however, about the gate fee? It's $15 per day (which is in effect 1 game if you are here with your child) or $30 for a weekend pass. Is this typical or does the host team and site get to decide? Seems a bit much - and for kids that have a relative that comes to see 1 game (grandparents) it's nuts! Just wondering if this is always the case.

 

[hkymom12]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Yes that's typical entrance fee for Nat'ls. Am watching the boys Tier1 in Buffalo and it's $15/day & $35/weekend + $5 for the program!!

 

[Genbeau]

So we are attending our first Nationals. It's really great that the site has 6 rinks all together, but there have been some parking woes. Some really great competition, referrees have been excellent - it's great to see so many women on the ice in the stripes and it's great to see that the refs skate better than most of the players (not typically the case).

Was wondering, however, about the gate fee? It's $15 per day (which is in effect 1 game if you are here with your child) or $30 for a weekend pass. Is this typical or does the host team and site get to decide? Seems a bit much - and for kids that have a relative that comes to see 1 game (grandparents) it's nuts! Just wondering if this is always the case.

Typical. The host needs to cover the costs for rinks, refs, etc. Can be a bit of a financial risk. Therefore, some organizations don't actually WANT to host.

 

[giwan]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

So we are attending our first Nationals. It's really great that the site has 6 rinks all together, but there have been some parking woes. Some really great competition, referrees have been excellent - it's great to see so many women on the ice in the stripes and it's great to see that the refs skate better than most of the players (not typically the case).Was wondering, however, about the gate fee? It's $15 per day (which is in effect 1 game if you are here with your child) or $30 for a weekend pass. Is this typical or does the host team and site get to decide? Seems a bit much - and for kids that have a relative that comes to see 1 game (grandparents) it's nuts! Just wondering if this is always the case.

They catch you at every turn possible, it's a real money grab. Though fun to see them skate as usual.

 

[NoGo]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

I did the bid to have the Girls Tier II Nationals in Dallas. The association here had to provide / pay:
• USA Hockey for the refs (gave a check to USA Hockey)
• Schedule & pay for the ice (100 2 hour slots)
• Print the program (USA Hockey provides a front cover)
• Hospitalities rooms at all rinks
• Hotel rooms for USA Hockey
• Meeting room for all meetings
• Orders and store apparel (USA Hockey vendor) – then sell it
• Select a photographer
• Volunteers to do all this

Get to keep:
• Gate fee
• $10 per hotel fee, per night stayed
• Profit from programs
• Percentage from appeal sales
• Fee from photographer

There is a lot involved in preparing the bid. We started in early summer of 2009. It cost us $4000.00 just to apply!
We were selected just before the 2010 Nationals. We have spent the last year getting ready…

I think the association here will do okay. As with any thing in hockey, it isn’t cheap. Personally, for me it has been worth it! To have 48 girls team here is crazy. There are less than 200 girls the whole state that play hockey, we got 500+ from across the country here for a week!!!!!

 

[Cali]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

When you put it that way it doesn't sound like a money grab to me. USA Hockey sounds like our OWHA.

 

[NoGo]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Hockey in general is a money grab.

Seriously though, this is not. Even USA Hockey tries to keep the price reasonable. For example, the $10/per room-per night is set bt USA Hockey in an effort to keep the cost reasonable…

By the way…
http://www.usahockey.com/Tournament/TournamentScheduleUser.aspx?EventID=2855&AgeDivisionID=10

 

[speed_skater]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Thanks that helps put it in perspective.

 

[Call It]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

It seems that the number of teams is down from previous years, at least the younger ages. The U14 has 12 teams total and 5 are from New England. This could be a money issue. I have heard that Nationals has changes coming to it, like no U12. Also, to be able to play in Nationals your assoc. must have mites to midgets. Most of the u19 teams would be gone.

 

[IceIsNice]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

A SWEEP for Assabet Valley!

Congrats to Mr. Gray, Coaches Laing and Horan for the older girls as well as to the coaching staff and players at every level.

An awesome day for an already most successful program!

 

[NoGo]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

I know the title of this is Tier I…
The Alliance Bulldogs 19U took the USA Hockey Girl’s Tier II National Championship! This is their 2nd National Championship and marks a back-to-back win (2011 & 2012. This is their third trip in a row to the Tier II finals (lost to the Mass Spitfires in 2010).

This does mark the end of their run at the Tier II level as the girls look to the future.

Coach Stan Tugolukov will be moving to the Dallas Stars Elite next year and will be coaching the 19U Girls there. The team will make the move to the Tier I level. The Dallas Stars Elite 19U will be playing in the Tier 1 Elite League starting in the fall of 2012. (www.dsehc.com)

 

[backcheck]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

I know the title of this is Tier I…
The Alliance Bulldogs 19U took the USA Hockey Girl’s Tier II National Championship! This is their 2nd National Championship and marks a back-to-back win (2011 & 2012. This is their third trip in a row to the Tier II finals (lost to the Mass Spitfires in 2010).

This does mark the end of their run at the Tier II level as the girls look to the future.

Coach Stan Tugolukov will be moving to the Dallas Stars Elite next year and will be coaching the 19U Girls there. The team will make the move to the Tier I level. The Dallas Stars Elite 19U will be playing in the Tier 1 Elite League starting in the fall of 2012. (www.dsehc.com)

Congrats to your program in building and making the transition to Tier 1. We all know how much work that it takes from volunteers and it does not happen without some deticated people leading things. Several of your girls will be playing D1 this next year, and that is the greatest testiment to your program and the coaching the girls have received.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

So we are attending our first Nationals. It's really great that the site has 6 rinks all together, but there have been some parking woes. Some really great competition, referrees have been excellent - it's great to see so many women on the ice in the stripes and it's great to see that the refs skate better than most of the players (not typically the case).

Was wondering, however, about the gate fee? It's $15 per day (which is in effect 1 game if you are here with your child) or $30 for a weekend pass. Is this typical or does the host team and site get to decide? Seems a bit much - and for kids that have a relative that comes to see 1 game (grandparents) it's nuts! Just wondering if this is always the case.

Although I had creds as a player, although there was someone at the "gate", which was just a table at the front end of the hallway where entrance fees were collected and programs sold, they didn't seem to be particularly vigilant when people walked in about checking to see if they had paid. By Saturday afternoon, when the quarters for Seniors and some Girl's semis were played, there wasn't anyone at the table, and Sunday for the semis and finals the table was unstaffed and the programs were on it for free.

One thing they did do, if you know the facility at all, is make sure all the auxilliary doors were shut so everyone had to enter through the front doors. If you had a game in Rink 6,(that has one of those aux.fire doors) which I did Friday night, instead of going in the side door, which is usually left unlocked, we had to go in the front door. The only way to get to 6 is up the stairs, through the upper central mezzanine area where cafeteria lounge is located, team photos were being taken, the vendors set up, game video on display...through throngs of people, kids milling about, running around, around the corner where crowds were gathered to watch games through the glass on either side of the hallway. There are rides for kids in the middle of the hall (think mini carousel, race car - the kind that back in my youth you put a quarter in and got bounced, tipped, or spun in a circle for a minute or so), After you run that gauntlet with equipment bag, shower bag and sticks, relax, you're almost there. Yep - just enter Rink 3 (I think - it might be 4) on the top bleacher level, battle more spectators in a smaller area, down a short flight of staduim steps around a tight corner, down more stairs, through the hallway, and presto, you've arrived.

You have to allow an extra half hour between fighting through the crowds, stopping halfway for a Power Bar and energy drink, to get to the lockerroom. Then play the game and repeat the procedure in the other direction

 

[DC78-82]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

While I think the tournament was well run and organized, I was disappointed by the facility staffs' inability to keep up with the event. These kinds of crowds and tournaments are nothing new to this facility, and they should be well-prepared, but by Saturday there wasn't a stall in any of the Women's rooms that had a sheet of toilet paper in it, the locker rooms were a mess - we had to sweep ours before each use, and there wasn't a drop of hot water in the three shower rooms we used, although I did hear the zamboni drivers saying their water was too hot.

This is basically the home rink for the league I play in, and unfortunately, this is par for the course there.

 

[OnMAA]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Although I had creds as a player, although there was someone at the "gate", which was just a table at the front end of the hallway where entrance fees were collected and programs sold, they didn't seem to be particularly vigilant when people walked in about checking to see if they had paid. By Saturday afternoon, when the quarters for Seniors and some Girl's semis were played, there wasn't anyone at the table, and Sunday for the semis and finals the table was unstaffed and the programs were on it for free.

One thing they did do, if you know the facility at all, is make sure all the auxilliary doors were shut so everyone had to enter through the front doors. If you had a game in Rink 6,(that has one of those aux.fire doors) which I did Friday night, instead of going in the side door, which is usually left unlocked, we had to go in the front door. The only way to get to 6 is up the stairs, through the upper central mezzanine area where cafeteria lounge is located, team photos were being taken, the vendors set up, game video on display...through throngs of people, kids milling about, running around, around the corner where crowds were gathered to watch games through the glass on either side of the hallway. There are rides for kids in the middle of the hall (think mini carousel, race car - the kind that back in my youth you put a quarter in and got bounced, tipped, or spun in a circle for a minute or so), After you run that gauntlet with equipment bag, shower bag and sticks, relax, you're almost there. Yep - just enter Rink 3 (I think - it might be 4) on the top bleacher level, battle more spectators in a smaller area, down a short flight of staduim steps around a tight corner, down more stairs, through the hallway, and presto, you've arrived.

You have to allow an extra half hour between fighting through the crowds, stopping halfway for a Power Bar and energy drink, to get to the lockerroom. Then play the game and repeat the procedure in the other direction

Not too mention the Fire hazard regulations probably being violated.

 

[speed_skater]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

To respond to the 2 prior posts -

There was a fire alarm and full facility evacuation on Sunday AM. Everything was quite orderly, but not sure what would have happened if there were smoke or other indications of a real fire. Just about everyone evacuated out the front doors. The emergency exits did open and some of the player went out those doors, but would have been pretty chaotic if there were truly an emergency.


As for the venue - I agree - totally typical for this place. Such a great venue, but alway doing "just enough". There were games scheduled for 8AM on Sunday on sheets of ice booked until after 8AM; meanwhile other sheets of ice were open and available and not scheduled to be used until 8:10 or after. Parking was also a nightmare most of the time. How hard would it have been to run a shuttle from one of the numerous nearby office parks? Was crazy seeing the fire trucks arriving and cars all over the place.......

All in all a good event though.

 

[giwan]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Congrats to your program in building and making the transition to Tier 1. We all know how much work that it takes from volunteers and it does not happen without some deticated people leading things. Several of your girls will be playing D1 this next year, and that is the greatest testiment to your program and the coaching the girls have received.

Congrats to the Alliance and other winners.

I would like to gather thoughts/opinions on how much difference people believe there is between Tier I and II level girls team?

Secondly, some teams that go to the National Championships are teams made up of all star groups for lack of a better description. Where a team is selected from several groups of teams. This team qualifies but the players actually play in different associations and teams for their regular (?). This meets all the rules so nothing illegal there, but there are some teams that have only been on team and no other. Is this truly fair?

 

[DC78-82]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Congrats to the Alliance and other winners.

I would like to gather thoughts/opinions on how much difference people believe there is between Tier I and II level girls team?

Secondly, some teams that go to the National Championships are teams made up of all star groups for lack of a better description. Where a team is selected from several groups of teams. This team qualifies but the players actually play in different associations and teams for their regular (?). This meets all the rules so nothing illegal there, but there are some teams that have only been on team and no other. Is this truly fair?

At least with regard to the teams at the Senior level, we have to be on the roster of the National bound team by a specific date, and that team must have played in 15 USA Hockey approved games by a specific date, while each player has to have 10 games with that team (the 10/15 rule). You can't be rostered on 2 different National bound teams in a season.

Little League Baseball is very different, in that for their World Series they all assemble an All Star squad, but my understanding is that the 10/15 rule and dual roster prohibition are strictly enforced for USA Hockey Championships. I'll leave it to someone to find the specific rules on the book

 

[NoGo]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Girls have to be on the roster (1T) by midnight of Dec 31 for the season they are playing. The team must play 14 games (20 for youth teams) and each player must have played in 10 of those games. This is verified by the affiliate registrar, and the district registrar for district play. They are verified again for National play.

Managers of the teams must have birth certificates, USA Hockey registration, signed forms, a matrix of game (showing dates & who played), score sheets etc. It is truly a pain, but must be done.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: USA Hockey Nationals - Tier I - Marlborough, MA

Girls have to be on the roster (1T) by midnight of Dec 31 for the season they are playing. The team must play 14 games (20 for youth teams) and each player must have played in 10 of those games. This is verified by the affiliate registrar, and the district registrar for district play. They are verified again for National play.

Managers of the teams must have birth certificates, USA Hockey registration, signed forms, a matrix of game (showing dates & who played), score sheets etc. It is truly a pain, but must be done.

True - there was a team that was planning to play in our regionals whose books didn't pass, thus they were disqualified. Whether or not you have fullfilled the game requirements, if you don't have them documented, you're ineligible.