Youth Hockey - catch all
- Thread starter tonyandpals
- Start date
I hear you. I'm headed there Saturday.
And it's not a dump in the class of Zapustas or Hockeytown...more in the Bavis kind of way
Where is everyone playing?
I've got a '13 playing Peewee A for Falmouth in the south shore conference and playing in the E9 with the Seahawks.
My daughter is a '15 playing Squirt A for Falmouth in the SSC
Edit: just figured maybe some of us may bump into eachother...
I've got a '13 playing Peewee A for Falmouth in the south shore conference and playing in the E9 with the Seahawks.
My daughter is a '15 playing Squirt A for Falmouth in the SSC
Edit: just figured maybe some of us may bump into eachother...
My '10 is in central CT playing in the CHC for Eastern Conn Hockey Org (ECHO). Our HS only has a single varsity team so he's playing his second full year of bantams and then next year we'll figure out a half-year midget team and he'll likely try out for HS as a sophomore.
It's a shame too, our town has a pretty big hockey presence and there's certainly enough kids/interest to field a JV team, but the HS HC just doesnt want to. I remember when my son was still in squirts we stayed after practice one time since the HS had a game coming up. I pointed to the ~12 kids in shirts & ties standing together near the glass and told my son that must be the JV team here to cheer the varsity on. A parent near me corrected me and explained those were the kids on the roster who didnt get to suit up for the game even. They then went on to mention that while the coach suits up 20 for every game, only 14-15 (not counting goalies) actually ever hit the ice outside of warmups.
It's a shame too, our town has a pretty big hockey presence and there's certainly enough kids/interest to field a JV team, but the HS HC just doesnt want to. I remember when my son was still in squirts we stayed after practice one time since the HS had a game coming up. I pointed to the ~12 kids in shirts & ties standing together near the glass and told my son that must be the JV team here to cheer the varsity on. A parent near me corrected me and explained those were the kids on the roster who didnt get to suit up for the game even. They then went on to mention that while the coach suits up 20 for every game, only 14-15 (not counting goalies) actually ever hit the ice outside of warmups.
My oldest (14yo) gave it up this year. Wasn't interested in playing for the high school. Just not a super competitive kid.
My daughter (now 10yo) gave it up two years ago. Thought she might try it again after a year off, but wasn't happening.
My younger son (also 10 [twins]) is a 2014 playing in the E9 for the East Coast Wizards. We're not doing a full time town this year as we'll have the "middle school" ie 5th Grade team starting up after Thanksgiving. Nice quick 10-12 game schedule where he'll get to play with his town buddies. I do miss that group though and the extra games he got in the VHL to help his confidence.
My daughter (now 10yo) gave it up two years ago. Thought she might try it again after a year off, but wasn't happening.
My younger son (also 10 [twins]) is a 2014 playing in the E9 for the East Coast Wizards. We're not doing a full time town this year as we'll have the "middle school" ie 5th Grade team starting up after Thanksgiving. Nice quick 10-12 game schedule where he'll get to play with his town buddies. I do miss that group though and the extra games he got in the VHL to help his confidence.
2012 elite Terriers. Tough league…Mid Fairfield still the top team by a large margin, the Eagles are a few steps below them, then it everybody else.
My son is a 2015 and he's on the Minuteman Flames in Marlborough and accepted an alt slot on the BHL Thunderbirds team. We don't have a town team anywhere close to us so it was an alt slot in a non fed league if he wanted more ice. The flames team is good, the tbirds...well its ice time lol.
My nephew, who I'm very close with, is a 2010 who is an alt RHD on the 14U minuteman flames (Ryan Kesler and Alex Tanguay were coaches on one of the teams they played this summer) that came in 3rd at nationals last year and he also plays up on the U15 Springfield Pics. Looking for prep schools for next year!
A couple of the Minutemen squads are very good. Springfield's 2013 squad is quite good...a lot of those BHL/E9 Legacy programs are pretty hit or miss from what I've seen.
I am just getting into this hockey thing, but my son is '14 Squirt A for Parkway (West Roxbury/Rozzie/JP) in the Valley Hockey League. My daughter is '17 and progressing very rapidly, playing Town Line League and U8 girls for Parkway. Pretty fun!
We just played the '13 Wizards...couple of kids who could skate and one kid with a serious set of mitts
Ya the 2010 team is their best team but some of the other elite squads are very good as well. For 2015, the best teams around are the 15 mid fairfield rangers (fed), 15 elite winterclub (e9) and the 15 elite railers (e9). I'd put my money on that winterclub team. They paritied out of 2015 in the E9 and are kicking ass against 2014s and they have the railers number.
The fed and E9 elite usually has 1-2 really good teams per birth year that suck up a lot of surrounding talent and then cannon fodder, unfortunately.
2011. Moved over from Breakers to Boston Advantage this season. We should have made the move much sooner. The coaching and skills are awesome and Breakers despite many nice families and coaches is a dumpster fire for his year. Also play town for Pembroke (Bantam A). He’s on a middle school team roster (which isn’t really part of the school, it’s just middle school grades Friday night league), but he has a practice on Fridays, so we are pretty much out for MS.
My son started thinning down sports on his own this year. Soccer and flag football are out, but then he added club lacrosse and cross country. As cross country ends, town travel Basketball kicks in. It’s a lot, but he drives it and has a nonstop motor. As long as grades are A’s and B’s and coaches are ok w what he can and cannot make, we are good w it.
My son started thinning down sports on his own this year. Soccer and flag football are out, but then he added club lacrosse and cross country. As cross country ends, town travel Basketball kicks in. It’s a lot, but he drives it and has a nonstop motor. As long as grades are A’s and B’s and coaches are ok w what he can and cannot make, we are good w it.
Yeah with all teams, there are a few kids that standout. Overall the boys programs at ECW are a bit of an afterthought with the strength of the girls program. But we have good coaching, great teammates, it's 12 minutes from home, and my son is happy there. Took us until mid-November to get our 1st E9 win last season. Already have one this year!
What's up with your RPI? 3-0 but behind all teams you beat...
2010 Bantam who skated early, didnt want to do it, and then came back in peewees and now has his eyes set on playing high school.
2015 Junior Ranger and also plays town VHL - We were E9 last year and should be this year. We swept through parity tournament and just had a total collapse vs the Junior Bruins in the final game in the 3rd. Lost by a goal and now are playing BHL and killing teams 15-0 every game.
2015 Junior Ranger and also plays town VHL - We were E9 last year and should be this year. We swept through parity tournament and just had a total collapse vs the Junior Bruins in the final game in the 3rd. Lost by a goal and now are playing BHL and killing teams 15-0 every game.
Their system is all messed up. This happened to us last year because the top 2 teams were so damn good (the Winter club 15 team moved up and is playing in the 14 division). A loss to them was worth more than a win vs the lower teams. Man i hate RPI.
We beat the three lowest RPI teams (aside from us). It's a bit silly. Obviously statistical rankings need some time to normalize (this board is one place I don't need to note that I'd guess) but we haven't played anyone that good yet. Yet the Junior Bruins, who have played the same teams we have are in 2nd...I'd also venture to guess there's an error in those standings.
I didn't realize that E9 has a kind of two-tiered scheduling- As a qualified team we play the bottom other 4 teams more times than the top 5...I get it but I don't.
And the whole legacy thing is really stupid...they really should have all (or almost every) program qualify. Or at least have a criteria for getting an auto bid. Last year the Patriots (not to pick on them) were 4-25 with a dash 199 GD...maybe they're just not good enough for this level. No chance that's good for the players either
I didn't realize that E9 has a kind of two-tiered scheduling- As a qualified team we play the bottom other 4 teams more times than the top 5...I get it but I don't.
And the whole legacy thing is really stupid...they really should have all (or almost every) program qualify. Or at least have a criteria for getting an auto bid. Last year the Patriots (not to pick on them) were 4-25 with a dash 199 GD...maybe they're just not good enough for this level. No chance that's good for the players either
My son was cut from the 2015 Railers team in March. You will have your hands full with them. The icemen are very physical but hot and cold. Our team bullied that Junior Bruins team last year. My son scored 2 goals in a game and the coach walked off after the second one. He's not that bad, dude!! The rest of the league is not very good, same as last year.
Yeah, something up for sure. I get the RPI thing, but a team that beat us 2x is undefeated and behind us. So it needs some work still
They've moved to that weighted schedule. We're in the bottom half as well, so we should be "in" more games this year. Two winnable games this weekend, so we'll see.
I hear you on the autobid/legacy piece. We'd likely be in the BHL. We were a 4 win team last year, but lost a ton of 1 goal games.
Im certainly not suggesting your son’s team should be in the BHL, but you guys should have gone through some sort of qualifying…but that’s not how things work. Glad to hear this season has gotten off to a positive start.
Currently DRAGGING my daughter out of bed for a trip to the Bog…at least my son gets up quickly
Currently DRAGGING my daughter out of bed for a trip to the Bog…at least my son gets up quickly
Oh no, wasn't suggesting you were. It's just something we've talked about often in our org. They insist on having their top teams in the E9, which is fine. But over the last 5-6 years they've had just a few teams on the boys side that have competed. We do still go through parity, but it's more for the sake of seeing where the other teams stand, as we know we're in. Not that it would change much...
We're not as bad as we sound and things are trending the right way. Should still be a great season. Two home games (Bedford) this weekend, so that's great for me
Hockeytown yesterday- my son was very concerned but they've actually fixed up that one side better than I expected. Locker room was less offensive as well. 13 Americans were VERY good too...3-4 top end players, no drop-off in effort and basic skill going down the lineup. Seahawks hung in there but it got away late. They're learning that E9 means bring it every game or else.
Lake Placid next weekend. Taking 2 days off of work and paying $1000 or whatever sucks, but it should be a blast. I played up there with an adult team a couple of years ago and it was fun, but Can-Am does a ton of cool stuff for the kids.
Lake Placid next weekend. Taking 2 days off of work and paying $1000 or whatever sucks, but it should be a blast. I played up there with an adult team a couple of years ago and it was fun, but Can-Am does a ton of cool stuff for the kids.
We're doing Placid in mid-December, but not the Can Am tournament so the cost is a lot more reasonable. Hoping our coaches/team reps try to set up some fun team activities while we're out there.
@Dummy Hoy - Please let me know if you guys do any cant-miss activities/sites/etc that I can recommend to our team.
@Dummy Hoy - Please let me know if you guys do any cant-miss activities/sites/etc that I can recommend to our team.
I’m going up to a Lake Placid tourney in a couple of weeks for maybe the 6th or 7th time. I’m pretty over it, but the kids still love it.
They turned the old 1980 bobsled track into a mountain roller coaster and it is totally worth a visit.
https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/todo/cliffside-coaster/
They turned the old 1980 bobsled track into a mountain roller coaster and it is totally worth a visit.
https://mtvanhoevenberg.com/todo/cliffside-coaster/
You were on after us. Rink was in good shape. You could use the locker room bathroom if you had to...but I still wouldn't. Still hung the bag up.
The 14 Americans are very good as well, top 10 in the state. We hung around in the first (0-2) but fell apart in period 2. Ended up 8-0.
We're off to Lake Placid this weekend as well. I'll keep an eye out for the Seahawks swag.
We beat the 14 Americans in the finals of parity...they had some kids who could really move. Would love to see you this weekend. Safe travels
It’s good for you.Ah so it was you guys who kept them from moving up to the 13 division. Thanks
We play after you in the USA rink tomorrow…I’ll come down a little early to watch. I’ll probably be wearing my black CC Lightning jacket.
We’re on at the 1980 at 6:45 tonight
I just noticed that. I'll look for you after ours. I'll be on the bench, D door.
You guys are off to a nice start. We tied a winnable game this morning. I think we'll be alright tonight.
Sorry, missed ya…didn’t know you were on the bench. Watched the end of your tie, you guys had the ice tilted. Good luck today
We’re off to catch the mountain coaster and then to the skills. 8:00 game at the 32 tonight, think we’ve already clinched the final…
We’re off to catch the mountain coaster and then to the skills. 8:00 game at the 32 tonight, think we’ve already clinched the final…
Yeah I noticed you guys up top with a spot locked into the gold medal game. Congrats.
We had a must win today, and couldn't give up more than one goal because the first tiebreaker is GA. (after head to head, which we tied against them) We gave up one early, but manager to keep them off the board the rest of the way. We got up +6 in the 3rd, so the run time helped, but had some close calls. So we're on to the gold medal game after the 3rd tie breaker.
Let's bring home two for the E9!
We had a must win today, and couldn't give up more than one goal because the first tiebreaker is GA. (after head to head, which we tied against them) We gave up one early, but manager to keep them off the board the rest of the way. We got up +6 in the 3rd, so the run time helped, but had some close calls. So we're on to the gold medal game after the 3rd tie breaker.
Let's bring home two for the E9!
I would like to understand the training regimen that gets a bunch of 6 year olds skating and stick handling like the 2018 Mid-Fairfield mites that are beating us approx 20-3 midway thru the 2nd period. Absolutely unbelievable.
They draw from a huge area. Most of the team has the disposable income to pay for a lot of private training. A parent of one of the 2012’s owns a bunch of rinks in the area. They have been beating the shit out of us and the rest of the league for the last 6 years.
No such luck for our heroes from Cape Cod…tough 3-1 loss. North stars played well and got the bounces they needed. We outshot them 2-1 but it wasn’t our day. My boy did score but that was little consolation for him. Took a good hour on the ride home for him to perk up, but he was good from there. Fun weekend and nice to get to see Tony again (we played hockey together a lifetime ago)
We did just barely hang on. As stressful as the last 2 minutes were, it was one I felt we had the rest of the way. Just got a little dicey at the end.
I caught that final score, tough break. You guys were in that weird tournament spot where your last game meant nothing to you, but controlled who you played in the final. Obviously you want to win and the two best teams played in the finals, and you were capable of beating the Stars, but still one of those tourney quirks.
Appreciate you coming down to watch rinkside and letting me know you were there. I was telling my son about the seahawks connection and started to do the math on when we played, and immediately felt very old.
I bought the streaming access. It doesn't look like there's a download the game options, but I play on running them through a screen capture. If you, or you think your team, want a copy of your games, let me know. I'll snag them.
I caught that final score, tough break. You guys were in that weird tournament spot where your last game meant nothing to you, but controlled who you played in the final. Obviously you want to win and the two best teams played in the finals, and you were capable of beating the Stars, but still one of those tourney quirks.
Appreciate you coming down to watch rinkside and letting me know you were there. I was telling my son about the seahawks connection and started to do the math on when we played, and immediately felt very old.
I bought the streaming access. It doesn't look like there's a download the game options, but I play on running them through a screen capture. If you, or you think your team, want a copy of your games, let me know. I'll snag them.
I have no illusions that our plucky town league bantams are going to do anything other then get absolutely creamed when we go in December, but I'm hoping it's a great experience otherwise. Will be the last time most of them play together as most go off to play HS next year and we're very mixed on where the kids are from. Thankfully we will likely only lose 1 this season to HS so our dynamic shouldnt change too much.
Heading to Jay Peak on Thursday with the Flames. Can't wait to play a bunch of fed teams lol. What do I need to know? Where is the liquor store?
Nothing like driving 4 hours to play a team that's 20 minutes from you. At least they seemed to try to avoid those matchups in the prelims at Lake Placid. We were only in a group w/ one other local team (Flames) and we didn't play them at all. Last year w/ my older sons team based out of Sommerville, they did the same thing. We ended up playing Billerica in the 5/6 game.
Re Jay Peak, there is a country store / gas station / deli on your left a few miles before you get to Jay which has a tremendous beer selection (plenty of Heady Topper and other treats). Also, the main bar and pool bar have great beers. The pool are is humid as can be. You’ll want to be in a bathing suit and a dry fit tee in there…