Want to Make AAA

[iamcanadian 0]

Hey guys,

I'm currently playing Single A and I want to make Triple A in the Spring. It would be Minor Midget draft year for the OHL so I really want to make AAA and have an impact. Anyways how many points would be a good goal for me to set or PPG, I'll end up playing 45 games this year. Ya, I know points isn't everything, lots of people call me an "overall player". So far this season I have 12 goals, 12 assists, 24 points in 11 games, 2.18 points per game. I'm just trying to get a good idea of what I need to do, thanks.

EDIT- Well I have decided I'm going to take this very seriously. I have about 6 months until the AAA tryouts and right now I plan on making the team by then. I am called up to a AA practice tomorrow. Does anyone have any nutrition or training advice. I will be skating almost every weekdend at the Adult Shinny's where I got the chance to play with Pro, OHL, Junoir A, CIS and NCAA players. Add more icetime to that because I made my high school team the other day. So does anyone have any advice on how I should go about this, like I said I'm going to take this very seriously the next 6 months.

[chippa13 1844]

If you're worried about points then I wouldn't worry so much about going anywhere in hockey.

[Michael9 57]

Forget about points, and just try to improve as much of your game as you can. Put alot of effort of emphasis on your food speed and making smart decisions when you have the puck.

[Krev 86]

Having great hockey sense will get you even further up on a scouts list. Hockey sense leads to smart plays, which lead to scoring chances, which lead to goals, assists, and points. Obviously, conditioning and foot speed play into creating those chances.

[AIREAYE 248]

Having great hockey sense will get you even further up on a scouts list. Hockey sense leads to smart plays, which lead to scoring chances, which lead to goals, assists, and points. Obviously, conditioning and foot speed play into creating those chances.

Conditioning and Nutrition is a BIG thing, considering ur playing 45+ games and a number of practises. Your body must be able to handle that AND perform as well

[chk hrd 164]

It is a giant leap from A to AAA. There are very few kids who can go from A to AAA and be competative.You can forget about any points you had in A level because it won't happen in AAA. Work on your entire game on and off the ice. You may think that you are a good skater, stick handler and position player now but AAA will be happening twice as fast. The biggest difference will be the speed of the game. You need to keep your legs moving, they shouldn't stop until you are off the ice or hear a whistle. You will be facing the biggest, strongest, fastest players that can play better than most kids thier age.

[top_shelf_24 0]

I have a few buddies who have played triple A and they say the main difference between A and AA is size, and the difference between AA and AAA is everything.

My one friend would use his hands and say "here's the difference between houseleague and A." he holds his hand a few inches apart. "Here's the difference between A and AA." again, he holds his hands a few inches apart, maybe a little more than the last time. Finally, while holding his hands as far as his arms will possibly let him, "and there's the difference between AA and AAA."

I haven't played AA or AAA but I'm sure some of the players on here who have can understand what my friend was trying to say.

[kovyperron5727 0]

I have a few buddies who have played triple A and they say the main difference between A and AA is size, and the difference between AA and AAA is everything.

My one friend would use his hands and say "here's the difference between houseleague and A." he holds his hand a few inches apart. "Here's the difference between A and AA." again, he holds his hands a few inches apart, maybe a little more than the last time. Finally, while holding his hands as far as his arms will possibly let him, "and there's the difference between AA and AAA."

I haven't played AA or AAA but I'm sure some of the players on here who have can understand what my friend was trying to say.

A lot depends on the AAA team as well. I play AA and some AA teams can compete with AAA. Anyways to the OP work a lot off ice and during practice go all out every drill. It works, trust me. Speed of the game is the difference at each level, speed of players and speed on decision time. Your in Midget Minor now so if I were you I'd shoot to make Major AAA in at least 2 years, so like I said work harder than all your teammates and you will pretty much lap them in terms of overall skill. I did sprints every day and went from being the slowest kid on my team to by far the fastest and still am. And up to today I still work on someting every day so bottomline work your ass off and have a good mindset and you can make AAA, and get drafted in the OHL draft. Good luck!

[W.Heinle 0]

chk hrd and top_shelf_24 are right on the money.

My son plays AAA and the team picked up some AA players. Only 1 of them will probably stick to AAA.

I would suggest go and watch some AAA games when you get a chance.

Also find out who the AAA coaches are and get in touch with them. Maybe you can get them to go and watch you.

[raganblink 82]

Its a huge leap from AA to AAA. Like, the best player in a AA league could some what compete in AAA. The hand on the stick thing is spot on. the BEST player in A would have a really hard time on 4th line AAA. Unless ofcourse if that person commits himself and works hard constantly in practice, than weight trains, and gets more and more and more practice in, then they could be somewhat competitive. But unless they work their ass off, its nearly impossible.

[Warriorsdman 1]

The team that I am playing for is comprised mainly of good u16 aa players, playing u16 aaa their second year of midget minors. Last season, these kids averaged over 2 points a game, and dominated most teams they played. 11 games into the season, our leading scorer has 8 points. Everything changes. Stats no longer matter, and you only look good when the team plays well. The only way to get to and stay at the aaa level is to bust your ass non stop.

Two seasons ago, i played bantam a, then u16aa last season, and now u16 aaa this season. the biggest difference is the speed. Everything happens so much faster. Time that you had with the puck in a and aa hockey is now gone. Guys don't just bump you, they want to put you through the wall every time. Nobody takes a shift off, ever. Every practice or off-ice workout has to be taken as seriously as a game. Every drill has to be done with maximum intensity every single time. If you think about it, there are 2400 players playing u16aaa. the numbers are against you to go on to play anywhere after aaa.

The one point that I think everyone starting/wanting to play aaa should hear is a line from our program's u18 coach. "There are very few players and teams in the country who can out-skill their opponents. You have to out work them."

Strength is a big part too. Not knocking a guy down, but being able to withstand the punishing hits and workouts during the season without letting your level of play change. If you can, try to skate with the aaa kids/team over the summer. But just an fyi, the speed at the summer skates for those kids is about 50% of what it will be at tryouts.

[iamcanadian 0]

My brother went from A to AAA to junoir A to CIS so it's not near-impossible, I've seen it happen.

[BLKHKhockey 0]

Have your parents become millionaires.

[Krev 86]

Have your parents become millionaires.

Yeah, that's really helpful. Thank you for that wonderful post.

[maxamillion 3]

Forget about points, and just try to improve as much of your game as you can. Put alot of effort of emphasis on your food speed and making smart decisions when you have the puck.

Food speed is very very important in hockey.

[AIREAYE 248]

lol I have a goalie friend who went from Green (which is the lowest HOUSE LEAGUE level) to A in one year :P

[Warriorsdman 1]

The comment about the footspeed is something I forgot to mention. Quick feet are essential. Coaches really notice the guys who constantly move their feet, as they make something happen every shift. Get an agility ladder (20 bucks on ebay), and go at it for a solid 20 minutes a day. within a month you will start to notice a difference.

[iamcanadian 0]

Have your parents become millionaires.

Not millionaires or anything, but that's not whats stopping me

[kovyperron5727 0]

Have your parents become millionaires.

Haha that's true with some teams, like I know of people in DFW who's parents have paid more for their kid to play AAA even though they shouldnt have been there. I've seen it in AA as well

[raganblink 82]

Well if they did become millionaires, than they could buy you a sheet of ice, and you could train on it every second you weren't at school or sleeping.

If i ever become loaded off my ass i am totally building my own rink. How sick would that be? Plus, i'd like have NHL ready kids when they are 16.

[Speedz98 15]

Well if they did become millionaires, than they could buy you a sheet of ice, and you could train on it every second you weren't at school or sleeping.

If i ever become loaded off my ass i am totally building my own rink. How sick would that be? Plus, i'd like have NHL ready kids when they are 16.

+1 to that

[bednarz877 0]

Have your parents become millionaires.

Yeah, that's really helpful. Thank you for that wonderful post.

said part is, he right. at least in chicago

[Krev 86]

Have your parents become millionaires.

Yeah, that's really helpful. Thank you for that wonderful post.

said part is, he right. at least in chicago

Yeah, and Cali. Been through that one personally.

[shooter27 116]

The biggest difference as you move up the ladder in this game is speed. Not just flat out skating speed, but speed of play, speed of decisions, speed of making passes, making choices, etc. Whether the jump is A to AA, AA to AAA, Bantam to Midget, Midget to Juniors, Juniors to College, College to Pro, Minor Pro to NHL, its all about how well you can do things at top speed. That jump also grows exponentially as you move up the ladder. So if the speed difference is 2x from AA to AAA its like 20x from the Minors to the NHL. Open space gets smaller, passing lanes get tighter, hits get harder, openings close faster scoring holes disappear. Play the game as fast as possible, make fast plays and decisions, get comfortable playing the game at an uncomfortable rate of speed.

[BlackIce 1]

The biggest difference as you move up the ladder in this game is speed. Not just flat out skating speed, but speed of play, speed of decisions, speed of making passes, making choices, etc. Whether the jump is A to AA, AA to AAA, Bantam to Midget, Midget to Juniors, Juniors to College, College to Pro, Minor Pro to NHL, its all about how well you can do things at top speed. That jump also grows exponentially as you move up the ladder. So if the speed difference is 2x from AA to AAA its like 20x from the Minors to the NHL. Open space gets smaller, passing lanes get tighter, hits get harder, openings close faster scoring holes disappear. Play the game as fast as possible, make fast plays and decisions, get comfortable playing the game at an uncomfortable rate of speed.

+1 everything shooter27 said is true!