NickelCity

Thanks EJB! hoping for the same

thanks Chk hrd, and everyone who offered advice. my son elected to sign with the AA team. At the end of the day He wanted to be In a more competitive division. I like his decision. Hes worked out with the team for some power skating and 4 on 4. I really believe he made the right call. The coaches are strong willed no-nonsense guys, with loads of experience. My son always has done the best with a strong no BS coach and I think that’s exaclty what he’s got. Thanks again!

Thanks a lot Vet88, that is helpful to know. Appreciate the advice you’ve given

Yeah the only thing is cost and the economic divide is hitting all sports in similar ways. I know people paying 5,000 a year for club soccer or baseball plus private coaching and travel. The prime difference is they don’t often travel out of state as hockey does. When they do it is oftenfor regional/national end of year tourneys that they fundraiser heavily for. Sucks because especially hockey’s roots are blue collar all the way. Thanks again to you guys for the advice. My son will be skating today with both teams for some 4 on 4 action, then he will have to make a call. I guess in the end if he works harder than everyone else out there he should get to where he wants to be.

Can’t blame him-Not at all. I Ran into a dad last night with a 16 yr old in AAA and he told me the yearly hockey spending for their family. More than some folks make in a year.

Thanks Vet88. The largest gap between him and the best AA kids he’s faced in tryouts has been edge control and skating. His late start of course has him behind in power skating compared to kids who’ve been on skates since 4 yrs old He’s a good athlete, good shot and good hockey sense. His biggest advantage right now is probably size/strength as he is taller and stockier than almost all the kids he has seen/skated with against. Honestly- on some of the AA teams he’d face, he’d be a third line guy. On the AA team he’s been offered, maybe first maybe second line, because they’re new and are starting without a core of players from previous seasons. on the A /non-tiered team, from watching video of their previous seasons I think he’d be able to dominate and I know that’s good for confidence and development compared to chasing pucks as you say vs better skaters in higher tiers. I was mentally breaking it down by practice sessions and where he’d get the most development in practices. The AA team has more full ice practices, and a great power skating coach. the A team has more half ice sessions during the week, one full ice. New coach this year don’t know much about him. Their organization has been around a long time though and has a good history. Thanks again for the insight

Appreciate that feedback 215, already seeing business side in action for certain.

Hi Mark: Thanks for the insight. He has always been the kind of kid that plays his best and with a smile no matter the score, so I think he can handle that (though he won’t like losing all the time). I think what you said about playing up is what I’m most focused on. It will be better for his overall development to play against faster /more experienced kids, and force him to elevate his effort. thanks a lot for the reply.

Hello: looking for advice I can pass along to my 14 y/o son. he started hockey late (played lacrosse and football) but is a very good overall athlete, so he has learned the game quickly. He tried out locally for travel hockey this spring and has two offers from his two tryouts. one is for a non-tier Bantam A team, they are established and last year won the state championship for their league. The other offer is for a Bantam AA tier 2 team. The rub is that this is their first season and clearly at tryouts the kids there were not as good as the ones we have seen trying out for other Bantam AA teams in our area. the AA team has 4 practices and most are full ice, and a very good HC and power skating coach. The A team has three half ice and one full ice practice, and seems to play a “slower game” but the coaches are solid. so the way I see it is he can play AA hockey this year on a team that may struggle to win games but has good coaching and focuses on development. OR he can play For a non tier A team that will compete and win games, but play at an overall less Competitive level and face slower skaters. His is goal is to make it to AAA if possible, but certainly AA next year if not this season. What would you advise if you were in my shoes? Really want to help this kid make the right call. He’s got such a good attitude and work ethic. Really appreciate any feedback I can pass along. thanks a million!