Apologies for the late response. I'm new on here but I'd like to share my two cents.
Congrats to Assabet on a national championship. They had a very skilled team and worked hard throughout the tournament. Coming from someone who went to the game to enjoy some good hockey though, I would not say the better team won. Assabet controlled the play the first period for the most part, but from that point on SSM dominated. I believe the shots on goal by the end of the game were something like 40 to 20 in SSM’s favor. SSM hit 4 crossbars and had one puck go in the net just inside the post and come out, being ruled no goal, while spectors behind the boards, SSM and non SSM, speculated that it was in fact in the net.
The reffing was a point of interest to me. I previously mentioned the goal that was called off, and penalty inconsistency was another issue. For those of you familiar with the hockey world, it is my understanding that in most significant, highly competitive games refs are more reserved and let the players play. For the first 2 period or so the main ref did so, but during regular play she would periodically call what I perceived to be very weak penalties, for both teams, and let the more evident penalties slide. The most shocking of all to me was the fact that she called 4 in the 10 minutes overtime, 3 on SSM and 1 on Assabet. None of the penalties she called were blatant or caused a major turn over in the play and her making the calls eventually led to the game ending as Assabet scored with a minute left in the overtime on a powerplay. It is a heartbreaker when the refs participation in the game so highly effects the outcome.
Regarding the conversation about Assabet and Shattuck being regarded (or not) as a club, I know that both organizations take girls from an assortment of areas. Many speculate that SSM takes the top girls from the top girls organization around the US and Canada. Although I have not followed the program a whole lot, from what I have seen it seems they take mediocre players from these programs and develop them (with the exception of a few highly skilled girls). The fact that these two organizations have a pool of girls to recruit from is not their biggest advantage in my opinion. I believe these organizations are on more of an even playing field because both teams of composed of players who are on the ice every day, whether at SSM or at various prep schools out east. From my understanding it seems that Assabet is more of a tournament team, composed of players who are not as close and familiar with one another, or at least not on the level that the SSM girls seemed to be. As a player who previously played youth hockey, my most treasured memories were the ones I shared with my teammates that I became so close to and went through the highs and lows of the season with. I mean is that not why athletics are so cherished in our society and such an important aspect of the lives of so many youth today? I personally was never able to compete on a national level but I suspect that winning a national championship with those girls you spend so much blood, sweat, and tears with would truly be something unique and special. From what I could tell, Shattuck seemed to be composed of a group of girls that were fighting for one another, and Assabet struck me as a team of individuals.
Either way, congratulations to both teams for making it to the finals and to Assabet Valley, the 2010 u19 National Champions! And hats off to all the teams who competed and to USA Hockey and Green Bay for putting on a great tournament!
