Shamrock Shootout-Milwaukee

[kurtandshan 0]

Just wondering if anyone here has ever played in this youth tourney and/or heard of it. I've got a squirt "A" team going and am wondering if anyone has had any experience with it.

[#28 0]

It's a good tourney. I've played in it a couple times when I was younger, and my highschool team played in it my freshmen year. There is good competition, mostly from Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and the surrounding states. My team was going to go this year, but we didn't have enough people that were willing to go.

[kurtandshan 0]

Its been awhile, but what level did you play....We are a pretty good Mi. "B" club and I am concerned we are going to get completely smoked....I know its an "A" tournament but....well its along politcal story. (those of you with kids in youth hockey in smaller areas might understand...)

[#28 0]

I played at the squirt A level and at the peewee A level and my team did well both times. I think we took second place when I was a squirt and I don't remeber what place we took when I was a peewee. If there are teams from the Detroit area at the tourney they will probably be pretty tough to beat. It should be a fun tournament. The Petit Center is a cool rink to play at. It has a 1/4 mile speed skating track with two NHL rinks in the middle of it. When I played in the tourney 3 years ago with my highschool team, some of the games were played at a small rink that belonged to a private school.

Whether the kids win or lose, I'm sure they will have a blast. :)

Edit: Just a heads up...make sure you do not get your kid's skates sharpened in the proshop at the petit center. Last time I played there, I made the mistake of getting my skates sharpened and my skates felt so dull that I could barely skate. Also, my cousin used to play out of the Petit Center and he warned me a few times about their proshop. You are probably better of asking one of the locals where a decent shop is if you need to get skates sharpened.

[Buzz_LightBeer 972]

Yeah pettits sharpeners are not so good since the shop sold out, but theres a nice sale on old sticks there now. Zcarbon woodies $8.50, Red lite/Zbubble shafts

try Hockey Haven, about 10 minutes away.

Take I94 West, to Barker Road exit, go north 1/2 block to Bluemound. At lights, go East (right) to 2nd set of lights (Janacek) turn right, parking is on left, shop is next to gander mtn.

[kurtandshan 0]

Thanks for the heads up,

No teams from Detroit, at least not in our division. Waukesha (B), Evanston Ill, and Dubuque Iowa in our division, Elmbrook eagles are the only other team I know of..

[kurtandshan 0]

Well, we all had a blast, went 2-1: 5-0, 4-3, and felt real good until.....we met what big city "A" hockey is all about, Waukesha. We lost 14-0 OUCH we haven't been beaten even remotely this bad all year, they were a very impressive team and ended up winning the Tourney. The kids took it in stride and headed straight to the pool after the early out on Sunday. All is well.

[#28 0]

Glad to hear everyone had a good time. The blow out could be used as a learning experience. Whenever I've played against really good teams I try to watch how they play and move the puck and try to incorporate some of those things into my game. Tournaments are fun because you don't know what the competition will be like until the game starts.