youngblack 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I always hear canadians ragging on american hockeyand the level of play especiallly the lower levels(under midget) and i say I have to agree and disagree. In some cases yes there are leagues and travel teams that suck and have kids who think they are hotshots and are the next crosby, but youve got states that produce prime kids that can play at all levels ...especially the east coast states. Im from new york brooklyn to be exact and im black , so already im not supposed to be good haha, but ive played travel (playing) juniors, been to canada bein looked at by colleges and I KNOW i can hang with canada kids cause i have ... buh ye any stories or opinions on that ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jason Harris 31 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youngblack 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.ye thats true aswelll Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
no1 draft pck 3 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.Exactly, i wish it was like picking up a soccer ball and going to the field to practice. Where i live, id be lucky to have 1 day out of the year with a frozen pond or lake. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IniNew 53 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.Exactly, i wish it was like picking up a soccer ball and going to the field to practice. Where i live, id be lucky to have 1 day out of the year with a frozen pond or lake.That's ok, we get lucky if it drops below 30. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youngblack 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 haahah i can go to PA with my grandparents for frozen pond and i always have open hockey here if you dotn wann play in a league so i can praxctice everyday if i felt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WSjo22 1 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 well being from an area where the play wasn't all that great and having to make the decision of having to move away from home at 15-16 to play in a Canadian based league (OPJHL) I'd have to say for the most part that Canadian Hockey is better than US as a whole, but of course there is a couple of areas that this isn't truewell being from an area where the play wasn't all that great and having to make the decision of having to move away from home at 15-16 to play in a Canadian based league (OPJHL) I'd have to say for the most part that Canadian Hockey is better than US as a whole, but of course there is a couple of areas that this isn't true Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tonguesOUT4life 17 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 well being from an area where the play wasn't all that great and having to make the decision of having to move away from home at 15-16 to play in a Canadian based league (OPJHL) I'd have to say for the most part that Canadian Hockey is better than US as a whole, but of course there is a couple of areas that this isn't truewell being from an area where the play wasn't all that great and having to make the decision of having to move away from home at 15-16 to play in a Canadian based league (OPJHL) I'd have to say for the most part that Canadian Hockey is better than US as a whole, but of course there is a couple of areas that this isn't truewhy did you type out the same sentence twice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronnychencharik 0 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 Mavis Beacon told him to get in some extra practice. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chk hrd 164 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.have to disagree, alot of rinks in Canada close over the spring/summer, here in the States we usually can skate everyday. I don't think region has as much to do withit as people think, some top ranked youth teams are from the West. I think alot has to do with how much is put into the orginizations and how much passion the kids have. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ahriman 1 Report post Posted May 23, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.ye thats true aswelllExcept that in Illinois where lakes (if we had them) would be frozen for that period of time or more, I still would have had to drive 40 minutes to the closest rink that kept ice after March..... My take: if you didn't live in Minnesota or had parents capable of fostering (and encouraging) your obsession with hockey in the US, yeah those cannucks were probably better. Not that I don't have issues with Minnesota's issues with pride but they are good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WSjo22 1 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 well being from an area where the play wasn't all that great and having to make the decision of having to move away from home at 15-16 to play in a Canadian based league (OPJHL) I'd have to say for the most part that Canadian Hockey is better than US as a whole, but of course there is a couple of areas that this isn't truewell being from an area where the play wasn't all that great and having to make the decision of having to move away from home at 15-16 to play in a Canadian based league (OPJHL) I'd have to say for the most part that Canadian Hockey is better than US as a whole, but of course there is a couple of areas that this isn't truewhy did you type out the same sentence twiceI didn't mean to I have no clue how that happened Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmiami 4 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 What's up youngblack, I'm from NYC too. What's your rink? Aviator or Stark? I play at Aviator at least a couple times a week. I think the US had made huge inroads as far as producing better players. Go back 20 years and you'd be hard-pressed to find a Yank on an NHL squad. That is far from the case today.Hockey is the national sport in Canada. They eat, sleep and breathe hockey. They have a lot more rinks, and it is cheaper to play. In the US it is always a nice surprise to meet someone else who plays, or has played, hockey. In Canada, when you meet someone, you can safely assume that they play, or have played hockey. Everybody. No need to even ask. Imagine if it was like that here?In the US you really have to go out of your way here to pursue the sport and get good. It's pretty rare to end up in D1 without going through either Juniors or Prep. What is Applecore Juniors now...like 7K or such for a season? Canadians love to rag us on hockey. Let 'em rag. If you went up there, played, and held your own, then that is all that matters. Keep working hard. Hopefully you end up playing some D1 and get drafted by the Blueshirts. A black player from Brooklyn on the Rangers? How nuts would that be? Spike would become a hockey fan. Actually I think he is already a bit of a fan, as his son plays hockey at Chelsea Piers. Keep working hard! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
K9 Unit 1 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 believe me its not cheaper to play in canada lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youngblack 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 What's up youngblack, I'm from NYC too. What's your rink? Aviator or Stark? I play at Aviator at least a couple times a week. I think the US had made huge inroads as far as producing better players. Go back 20 years and you'd be hard-pressed to find a Yank on an NHL squad. That is far from the case today.Hockey is the national sport in Canada. They eat, sleep and breathe hockey. They have a lot more rinks, and it is cheaper to play. In the US it is always a nice surprise to meet someone else who plays, or has played, hockey. In Canada, when you meet someone, you can safely assume that they play, or have played hockey. Everybody. No need to even ask. Imagine if it was like that here?In the US you really have to go out of your way here to pursue the sport and get good. It's pretty rare to end up in D1 without going through either Juniors or Prep. What is Applecore Juniors now...like 7K or such for a season? Canadians love to rag us on hockey. Let 'em rag. If you went up there, played, and held your own, then that is all that matters. Keep working hard. Hopefully you end up playing some D1 and get drafted by the Blueshirts. A black player from Brooklyn on the Rangers? How nuts would that be? Spike would become a hockey fan. Actually I think he is already a bit of a fan, as his son plays hockey at Chelsea Piers. Keep working hard!just to skate or play open hockey withthe adults i go to aviator(being that im only 16) but to play its abe stark i played stars then metro moose juniors buh i didint play as much as i wanted because of my stautre so im cummmin back down this year and play midget again mayb..or just hs and ye juniors here is lik 6-7 and then hotell feesi think and uni's and shit its expensive.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlackIce 1 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.have to disagree, alot of rinks in Canada close over the spring/summer, here in the States we usually can skate everyday. I don't think region has as much to do withit as people think, some top ranked youth teams are from the West. I think alot has to do with how much is put into the orginizations and how much passion the kids have.Sorry dude, I would have to disagree with you here. Very few Canadian rinks close down for the summer. Most rinks are open all year round in the major Canadian cities. I live in the greater Toronto area and if I really wanted to I could play 7 days a week :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
K9 Unit 1 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 my local rink closed for reno...sucks, too lazy to go to others xP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bar_down_21 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 I played in the OHL cup this year with a team out of Rochester. We played with the best canadian teams out there easily (besides a slip up against the Marlies). I think there was a gap between Canadian and American born players, but its pretty much gone now.The team I played on never practiced or played together before that tournament, so if we played all year round we would have done even better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dontdumpdangle 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2009 i just played against some kids from the world junior team (canada) at the pre draft and i wasnt impressed. they were all solid players, but when you think canada's world junior team and the kind of players that have played for them in the past, i expected them to be better. canadians have better hockey opportunities because hockey is more mainstream in canada. how many canadians are in the nfl? that being said, i dont think that the high level players from canada are better than the high level american players (pat kane ripping up the ohl), but hockey as a whole throughout all levels is much better in canada just because of the popularity of the sport. i bet that ushl teams would beat ohl teams Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Larry54 243 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 I think those players who live in climates where the lakes and rivers stay frozen for 3-5 months have an advantage over other regions, because they can skate so much more often. This isn't limited to Canada or even North America.have to disagree, alot of rinks in Canada close over the spring/summer, here in the States we usually can skate everyday. I don't think region has as much to do withit as people think, some top ranked youth teams are from the West. I think alot has to do with how much is put into the orginizations and how much passion the kids have.Sorry dude, I would have to disagree with you here. Very few Canadian rinks close down for the summer. Most rinks are open all year round in the major Canadian cities. I live in the greater Toronto area and if I really wanted to I could play 7 days a week :DAll the city-owned rinks close during the summer in Montreal. Some privately owned rinks stay opened. I just play roller hockey in the summer, and I welcome the change. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youngblack 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 I wsih I lived in canada , I wanna play for a team that has a home away from home option were i can stay with a family during the year to play on a team or something to that nature Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dontdumpdangle 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 play in the ej, its basically the same as canadian jr a except you get better college exposure and it cost way more Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
youngblack 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 hahah it cost way more thats great lol.. yea im goin to a re try out for the nj hitmen they play ej... and Il do the home away from home if i make it , but about how much ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jmiami 4 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 believe me its not cheaper to play in canada lolWhat does it cost to play Open in Toronto where I see you are from? The reason I ask is that I was playing an Open game in NYC a few months ago at cost of 30 bucks. The Colorado Avalanche were practicing in the adjacent rink as they were in town to play the Rangers the next night. Our game ended same time as their practice and we all crossed paths in the dressing rooms afterwards. Shop-talk ensued. One of the Avs player from Canada was astounded that we had to pay 30 bucks for Open. He said where he is from it is like 7.50 CAD to play. I'm not sure where he was from in Canada exactly. But now you got me curious. What does it cost to play Open in a big city like Toronto, or Montreal? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BlackIce 1 Report post Posted May 25, 2009 believe me its not cheaper to play in canada lolWhat does it cost to play Open in Toronto where I see you are from? The reason I ask is that I was playing an Open game in NYC a few months ago at cost of 30 bucks. The Colorado Avalanche were practicing in the adjacent rink as they were in town to play the Rangers the next night. Our game ended same time as their practice and we all crossed paths in the dressing rooms afterwards. Shop-talk ensued. One of the Avs player from Canada was astounded that we had to pay 30 bucks for Open. He said where he is from it is like 7.50 CAD to play. I'm not sure where he was from in Canada exactly. But now you got me curious. What does it cost to play Open in a big city like Toronto, or Montreal?The average price for a pick up/shinny game in the Toronto area is $10. At some of the city owned rinks you can play pick up/shinny for $4.55. That's about the same price as a large coffee at Starbucks. :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites