My kid has played town since he started as a second year mite and started club a year later. First two years were great and then the birth year for his club made some idiot decisions and the year a came a mess. We moved over to a new club last year and it’s been tremendous for his development. It really is all about coaching and skills.
Youth Hockey - catch all
- Thread starter tonyandpals
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More drama - I heard the 2014 Advantage (no 2 in the country) is leaving Lovell and has taken over the breakers elite team. Total hearsay, admittedly. Seems a little crazier than normal this year.
We played them twice...they were quite good. Now #2 in the country, whatever, but they had a lot of skill and were very well coached to win hockey games. I'd be a little surprised at this news given that the coach is a higher up with Lovell hockey but who knows.
And yes, things seem a bit more chaotic this year. Glad we have a secure spot with good coaches.
This is 100% it. Unless you've spawned little Gavin McKenna, from a developmental stand point I don't think it makes much difference if your kid is playing e9 or Platinum Fed or whatever, as long as it provides some competition. Find a coach who knows what they're doing and whose philosophies align best with yours- your kid will achieve more with a really well coached town team than going to a swag-infested club program with coaches whose only goal is winning the Columbus Day Nashua Elite Platinum All Star Invitational, U10 Green Division.
agreed. My son was cut from what is now the railers elite team last year and we had to scramble but landed with 2 amazing coaches and he's better than a bunch of the kids on that previous team now because of their time invested in him, despite him playing at a lower level this year. We do tournaments and skates with kids 2 levels up from him and he can play with them no problem now. He's not the best player, but he's competitive, and I wouldn't have said that at all a year ago when we were striving for him to be on "the best team he could make." Coaches really matter so much.
Pretty sure that’s the 2013 team. Guy who coaches 14’s for Advantage is like the #2 guy there. I’d be shocked if they went anywhere.
Could be, I can't speak to the accuracy of the rumor mill. That's a much less fun rumor, though, as they aren't nearly as good.
We lost the 2015's BHL finals to the railers in a close, fun, but disappointing game. Blew a 5-3 lead midway through the 3rd. Son had a chance to bury a 2 on 1 to make it 6-3 but the goalie made a fantastic save. Came down the other end and
Team is getting re-vamped a little, we will be better next year and should fight back into the E9. Was only our 3rd loss in league play all season so the kids were devastated. Fuel for growth onto spring.
Team is getting re-vamped a little, we will be better next year and should fight back into the E9. Was only our 3rd loss in league play all season so the kids were devastated. Fuel for growth onto spring.
I watched this game, Ace Mojica, man. He is tough to handle. They are the "elite" team after all that drama and will auto bid into E9. There are some very bad teams in the E9. Your team is very good and my bet would be on parity up into E9. Good luck!
I'm hearing the E9 is gone. Auto-bids go with it. Parity for everyone.
Don't know how they can pull this off for this year, but we'll see.
Don't know how they can pull this off for this year, but we'll see.
Seeing as we were supposed to start parity in 3 weeks or so, I'm curious as well. I don't really care either way, just want to know what's going on.
Supposedly Lovell, Railers, Thunderbirds want to pull their teams...ditching auto-bids may be an attempt to keep them. Lovell getting raided by Fed teams going to Quebec was probably a big catalyst, but I'd imagine a few years of lopsided scores affecting MHR scores
rolleyes has pushed this as well.
I found this to be an interesting 'primer' on the state of youth hockey in New England. I don't know that I agree with 100% of what he's saying, but he sure has the correct basic premise imo.
Supposedly Lovell, Railers, Thunderbirds want to pull their teams...ditching auto-bids may be an attempt to keep them. Lovell getting raided by Fed teams going to Quebec was probably a big catalyst, but I'd imagine a few years of lopsided scores affecting MHR scores
rolleyes has pushed this as well.I found this to be an interesting 'primer' on the state of youth hockey in New England. I don't know that I agree with 100% of what he's saying, but he sure has the correct basic premise imo.
Tryouts are over and happy my daughter made the Parkway AA Mite team. It was a little iffy - something like 60+ kids tried out for 26 spots on two teams (AAA and AA) and apparently word on the street is Hyde Park is disintegrating and tons of kids are moving over to Parkway from there. She did great on the first night, then the second night was slotted in with a bunch of kids that were clearly playing club (Jr. Eagles and especially Jr. Terriers?) and she started loafing because she couldn't really compete with them right now. And then cause she sorta bombed the second night we thought she might not get a spot but happily not the case.
We also tried out for Newton since we moved, and practice is so much closer to our house, but Parkway has a much much better girls program and ultimately decided to stay. Pretty dumb to stress about a 7 yo but guess that's the way it is!
We also tried out for Newton since we moved, and practice is so much closer to our house, but Parkway has a much much better girls program and ultimately decided to stay. Pretty dumb to stress about a 7 yo but guess that's the way it is!
My kid plays for the thunderbirds as an alternate. Wonder where we are going? The Tbirds have an autobid - would getting rid of them be to ensure that no bad teams are in the top division? I don't really get it. There has been a lot of chatter here so something is definitely happening.Seeing as we were supposed to start parity in 3 weeks or so, I'm curious as well. I don't really care either way, just want to know what's going on.
Supposedly Lovell, Railers, Thunderbirds want to pull their teams...ditching auto-bids may be an attempt to keep them. Lovell getting raided by Fed teams going to Quebec was probably a big catalyst, but I'd imagine a few years of lopsided scores affecting MHR scores
I found this to be an interesting 'primer' on the state of youth hockey in New England. I don't know that I agree with 100% of what he's saying, but he sure has the correct basic premise imo.
edit- Read the article Chris is a friend of my brother's and he has 3 good kids playing for the Aces and Pics out west. His oldest, Duncan, is a hell of a player.
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I think that's the idea...if everyone qualifies, then the "best" 8-10 teams make up the top division.
It's all about the kids, right?
I think the Thunderbirds have benefitted from the autobid in more age groups than not.
Lovell rumors have persisted for months and their behavior to their players is a lot of smoke that something is up. We are 2 weeks from parity and they have 5 programs in the E9/BHL.
Correct. I guess the trade off is the old autobid team will play just the final weekend of parity to try to 'defend' their spot.
Zero clue. Heard from a parent of another team in the same birth year that 2011 are not in the first weekend of parity in May. But our program told us today that is wrong.
This whole thing is the best advertisement EHF could ever wish for. E9, BHL, Lovell, etc should be ashamed.
This whole thing is the best advertisement EHF could ever wish for. E9, BHL, Lovell, etc should be ashamed.
I had a conversation with someone who has a "seat at the table" for the new league. Three weekends of parity. I heard 6 teams at each level, but not really sure how concrete that is or if it was just a passing comment. I don't think there will be an E9 per say. Just a league with teams at different levels. There's a chance to reset teams that they "got wrong" in the fall. Not sure the mechanics behind it.
This person genuinely believes it will lead to better hockey across the board. It just may take a little while to get there. Next season, they expect parity to be in the fall.
This person genuinely believes it will lead to better hockey across the board. It just may take a little while to get there. Next season, they expect parity to be in the fall.
I’ve never seen the point of labeling E9 and BHL as seperate leagues. Isn’t E9/BHL American/BHL National, nothing more than Elite / Platinum / Gold or A / B / C or whatever label you want to apply?
Also, looking at the 2011 teams, last year there were 10 in e9, 7 in American and 12 in National. 29 teams total…I’m sure other years has similar totals / imbalances.
Also, looking at the 2011 teams, last year there were 10 in e9, 7 in American and 12 in National. 29 teams total…I’m sure other years has similar totals / imbalances.
The above was posted in the MA Hockey FB group. No clue the validity.
It also is in conflcit for the Mite Minor and Bantam Major (2011) note on the e9 website that says, “All Mite Minor and Bantam Major teams including auto-bid teams must participate in both May 2nd and May 9th weekends.”
It also is in conflcit for the Mite Minor and Bantam Major (2011) note on the e9 website that says, “All Mite Minor and Bantam Major teams including auto-bid teams must participate in both May 2nd and May 9th weekends.”
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That's the exact message we received for our team.
It looks like they're having those two groups (the youngest and oldest) do more for the sake of parity (if we are to trust the E9 site).
It looks like they're having those two groups (the youngest and oldest) do more for the sake of parity (if we are to trust the E9 site).
6 teams at each level? At the 2015 level, that would be 8 fewer teams. Happy the main team is in the fed
Same with us at the 2014 level. But, we were already playing a weighted schedule as there was a "top" and "bottom" half of the division. We'd play our half 4-5 times each and the other 2x. To me it just shakes out to more games against similar opponents, which should lead to better hockey overall. There's not reason for us to get routed by the 14 Americans 2x a year. I'm sure they'd rather play the Advantage two more times instead of us, too.
sure, i can see the value in that. I do find fewer opponents to be boring. His main team plays in a division of 10 in the fed and I like the diversity of opponent, but his team is good and I can see the argument that the bottom half of the division could benefit by getting their teeth kicked in a little less. playing against 5 other teams for his alt team was definitely not as fun.
Six is absurd...you'd play each of those teams like 6 times.
Quick scan using my son's age group- the 2013s had 30 teams between e9, BHL American North and South, and National.
In E9, 2 out of 10 teams were in over their heads, and another got smoked but played the top teams. My son's team finished below .500 playing the lower schedule, but we never really got blown out.
In American North 2 out of 8 teams were way out of their depth.
In the American South 2 out of 6 were bad, with one being far worse.
In the National 2 out of 6 were over their heads.
I'd suggest that looks something like:
e9- 8 teams
AN- 8 teams
AS-7 teams
N- 7 teams
Maybe e9 gets to be special and only have 6 so their MHR scores never go down (because that's ALL this is about), and then each other division has 8. Or do 3 divisions with 8-10-12 or whatever.
Quick scan using my son's age group- the 2013s had 30 teams between e9, BHL American North and South, and National.
In E9, 2 out of 10 teams were in over their heads, and another got smoked but played the top teams. My son's team finished below .500 playing the lower schedule, but we never really got blown out.
In American North 2 out of 8 teams were way out of their depth.
In the American South 2 out of 6 were bad, with one being far worse.
In the National 2 out of 6 were over their heads.
I'd suggest that looks something like:
e9- 8 teams
AN- 8 teams
AS-7 teams
N- 7 teams
Maybe e9 gets to be special and only have 6 so their MHR scores never go down (because that's ALL this is about), and then each other division has 8. Or do 3 divisions with 8-10-12 or whatever.
Six is just the number I heard tossed around regarding our team. As in, "we may not make the top six." I have no idea if that's across the board, top level, any level, etc. I agree, seeing the same five teams on the regular will get old quick. I like "stretch" games too, any given Sunday stuff. I think they're important to see where you really are. I hope that gets worked in somehow.
For sure. But those teams don't want to play all of us plebs. I kind of feel like they'll get their way on this, but we'll see. I do suspect that the top division (whatever they call it) will carry less teams.
I don't know why they haven't sent the same email most of the other orgs have already got. Seems like more of an advertisement for any non-Lovell team.
Nothing. Coaches just reached out saying they finally got the schedule and here’s the games.
Maybe there was a lot of almost change behind he scenes that never came to be or maybe the division structures post parity still hold some surprises?
No matter the truth, the lack of addressing rumors / change is highly frustrating.
Maybe there was a lot of almost change behind he scenes that never came to be or maybe the division structures post parity still hold some surprises?
No matter the truth, the lack of addressing rumors / change is highly frustrating.
Yeah, playing just the last weekend is a bit of blessing and curse. Positive side, we can play more baseball. Negative side, we'll be playing our first games against teams that have been playing for weeks. Whatever, it is what it is and I'll be watching/coaching my son wherever they land next year.