Standard of Hockey

[jjmills22 0]

Don't worry, I'm about an hour or two south of New Jersey, I used to play in the AYHL. I know all about the Avalanche, Little Flyers, Mid-Fairfield, etc. All great programs that can compete with (and beat) the Compuwares and Caesars, but unfortunately you have some stinkers also. I played for the Little Caps, and it was brutal. Many players on teams like the Caps, Valley Forge, Clippers, etc. have no business in (what should be) AAA hockey.

Really, the AYHL proves my point I was making about Michigan. There are some excellent teams that do justice to AAA hockey, but there are others that just get brutalized.

I think it would be better in NJ if Junior B teams didn't take all the 15 and 16 year olds- waters down AAA a little bit

[hockeyfreak7 0]

I think it would be better in NJ if Junior B teams didn't take all the 15 and 16 year olds- waters down AAA a little bit

Oh, man, I agree. How many junior teams do you guys have up there? Titans, Colonials, Wildcats, Hitmen.....

We have the same problem down here in DC. Except the problem is, DC has FAR less talent than New Jersey. It's awful how everyone who isnt good enough simply gets to make their own new team just so they can feel special. The talent pool is soooo diluted.

[Krev 86]

I'm a little biased but the Atlantic District sends some very good U16 and U18 to Nationals that beat the Compuwares and the Caesars

Which is funny, because the U16 and U18 teams that California sends smoke the Atlantic District.

[starsfan71 9]

California teams are not to be underated. Just like the T- Birds in Colorado aren't, hands down the best u16 team in the US. Could probably smoke a few teams in Canada, they have some serious chemistry.

The Dallas Ice jets are setting up a new "academy" where they are pulling kids out of public school and sending them to ischool so they have more time to practice. I think they can become a pretty big threat at the u18 level in the next few years if they draw the kids they are expecting to.

[hockeyfreak7 0]

California teams are not to be underated. Just like the T- Birds in Colorado aren't, hands down the best u16 team in the US. Could probably smoke a few teams in Canada, they have some serious chemistry.

The Dallas Ice jets are setting up a new "academy" where they are pulling kids out of public school and sending them to ischool so they have more time to practice. I think they can become a pretty big threat at the u18 level in the next few years if they draw the kids they are expecting to.

Played against guys from the Ice Jets a couple years ago. They were phenomenal. I dont know if you know Cason Hohmann, but he was probably the best player, my age, that I have played against.

I know he played in the USHL last year, and he is a potential 1st rounder in 2011.

[jjmills22 0]

Which is funny, because the U16 and U18 teams that California sends smoke the Atlantic District.

I know the Cali teams are very good (my first game at Nationals 2 years ago my team lost to the LA Selects 13- 1) but I the results from the National Tournament show that all of the districts are pretty equal

[starsfan71 9]

Played against guys from the Ice Jets a couple years ago. They were phenomenal. I dont know if you know Cason Hohmann, but he was probably the best player, my age, that I have played against.

I know he played in the USHL last year, and he is a potential 1st rounder in 2011.

Cason is amazingly talented so is Colin Jacobs who is playing in the DUB right now. The Ice Jets could return to the peak they were at a few years back.

[kovyperron5727 0]

Played against guys from the Ice Jets a couple years ago. They were phenomenal. I dont know if you know Cason Hohmann, but he was probably the best player, my age, that I have played against.

I know he played in the USHL last year, and he is a potential 1st rounder in 2011.

I've played with him and his brother before. Him and I both took lessons from the same coach (former NHLer Steve Hazlett) when I played.

Cason is amazingly talented so is Colin Jacobs who is playing in the DUB right now. The Ice Jets could return to the peak they were at a few years back.

DUB? Last I heard he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds

[coldshoulder 0]

DUB? Last I heard he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds

DUB = "W"HL

[Chadd 916]

Come on DUB is so much cooler sounding than WHL, and shorter to type too.

[goblue9280 33]

I think another reason for the apparent talent (quantity wise) gap between the US and Canada can be attributed to the natural athletic abilities of the kids. In Canada where hockey is the top sport, they get the best of the best when it comes to natural athleticism. Here in the US, as kids grow older and start specializing in 1 or 2 sports, the top athletes generally gravitate towards football and basketball.

[Krev 86]

I know the Cali teams are very good (my first game at Nationals 2 years ago my team lost to the LA Selects 13- 1) but I the results from the National Tournament show that all of the districts are pretty equal

The Districts are not as equal as you think they are. When I was there we killed teams from all over the East Coast with at least a 7+ goal differential in 3 different games. Then we ran into Honeybaked and thus ended our run.

So, yes, some Districts are more on par with one another than others, but it's a huge stretch to say that year in and year out all the teams that are sent to Nationals are equal.

[starsfan71 9]

haha yea sorry for the confusion with my dialect. Colin had a slump this year for the thunderbirds, and Cason is commited to Boston Universtiy. It will be interesting to see where they go in the 2011 draft. Colin was praised as the number north American skater for a while but people are now saying he might be a 5th or 6th round pick.

To be honest Cason and Colin are so different in a lot of aspects, size, play style, and especially personality. It will be interesting to see how they each fair if they make it to the NHL.

[Krev 86]

haha yea sorry for the confusion with my dialect. Colin had a slump this year for the thunderbirds, and Cason is commited to Boston Universtiy. It will be interesting to see where they go in the 2011 draft. Colin was praised as the number north American skater for a while but people are now saying he might be a 5th or 6th round pick.

To be honest Cason and Colin are so different in a lot of aspects, size, play style, and especially personality. It will be interesting to see how they each fair if they make it to the NHL.

The Thunderbirds sucked as a whole this year.

[starsfan71 9]

Yea, you could tell the lack of success was frustrating him as well.

[goblue9280 33]

Speaking of native Texans, did you guys see any of Chris Brown (UofMichigan) this past year? Stud of a power forward... hopefully he'll stay 3 more years at Michigan. I can definitely see him playing well at the next level.

[starsfan71 9]

I have actually played with Chris and almost played on his dad's team this year. He is a great guy, I don't know what his plans are right now, his dad said he is going back for at leas the next season if I remember correctly.

[kovyperron5727 0]

Speaking of native Texans, did you guys see any of Chris Brown (UofMichigan) this past year? Stud of a power forward... hopefully he'll stay 3 more years at Michigan. I can definitely see him playing well at the next level.

I live in Chris's hometown, went to middle and high school with him. Played against him and his little brother numerous times. I remeber him being big, fast, and having a sweet wrsiter