Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:22 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:03 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:39 am

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:55 pm There are a lot of posts about the West in this thread, but wondering if anyone can provide any feedback on some single A teams in the East. My son is currently playing in AA East but I feel my son is better suited for single A hockey. I've heard good things about Forest hill, Leaside and North Toronto teams, some not so great things about the Knights and York Mills. Any thoughts?

We play in the east on the markham islanders. We are not a good team and our better players are underage and will be going to AA their own age next year. I can tell you that Forest Hill is an incredible team that has very little drop off and a good goalie on top of it. Knights the coaches seem like great people, Forest Hill they have very young coaches but are very good dudes! North Toronto Green is run very well, the other North Toronto seems ok as well. Leaside are top of the league but we always play them well. We played Vaughan Rangers in their tournament and competed well we lost 4-2 I think. If your kid is 2015 maybe think about the Islanders, they will have a new coach. Happy to talk further and give you more feedback. My email is [email protected]

This is really insightful... thank you. Glad to hear good things about the Islanders and Knights. We live around Yonge and Wilson so Markham might not be too far.

Glad I can help. Islanders play out of Thornhill community centre which is a pretty good location for people in east york region or mid north york. The away arenas are never farther than scarboro. Islanders first year teams have trouble because there is no feeder system but by year two people start to come because they have good people coaching that care about kids.

Forest Hill, Avenue Road and Leaside are likely the best landing spots from a development perspective, although they are likely going to lose a few players to AA, likely 4 from Forest Hill and at least 3 from Leaside from my view from the stands. So those teams might not be a bad starting point for your son. With that said, there will be a lot of movement, even upwards from Select at NT and Leaside that will push for spots. Knights are a great organization that might be looking for new players having underacheived mostly. Yorkmills is likely out in front of their skis based on really good goaltending. Markham needs an overhaul, sounds like they are getting one.

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:34 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:22 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:03 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:39 am

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:55 pm There are a lot of posts about the West in this thread, but wondering if anyone can provide any feedback on some single A teams in the East. My son is currently playing in AA East but I feel my son is better suited for single A hockey. I've heard good things about Forest hill, Leaside and North Toronto teams, some not so great things about the Knights and York Mills. Any thoughts?

We play in the east on the markham islanders. We are not a good team and our better players are underage and will be going to AA their own age next year. I can tell you that Forest Hill is an incredible team that has very little drop off and a good goalie on top of it. Knights the coaches seem like great people, Forest Hill they have very young coaches but are very good dudes! North Toronto Green is run very well, the other North Toronto seems ok as well. Leaside are top of the league but we always play them well. We played Vaughan Rangers in their tournament and competed well we lost 4-2 I think. If your kid is 2015 maybe think about the Islanders, they will have a new coach. Happy to talk further and give you more feedback. My email is [email protected]

This is really insightful... thank you. Glad to hear good things about the Islanders and Knights. We live around Yonge and Wilson so Markham might not be too far.

Glad I can help. Islanders play out of Thornhill community centre which is a pretty good location for people in east york region or mid north york. The away arenas are never farther than scarboro. Islanders first year teams have trouble because there is no feeder system but by year two people start to come because they have good people coaching that care about kids.

Forest Hill, Avenue Road and Leaside are likely the best landing spots from a development perspective, although they are likely going to lose a few players to AA, likely 4 from Forest Hill and at least 3 from Leaside from my view from the stands. So those teams might not be a bad starting point for your son. With that said, there will be a lot of movement, even upwards from Select at NT and Leaside that will push for spots. Knights are a great organization that might be looking for new players having underacheived mostly. Yorkmills is likely out in front of their skis based on really good goaltending. Markham needs an overhaul, sounds like they are getting one.

Avenue Road has great coaching as well, the organization is doing well at various older age groups. The benefits of paid coaches.

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 9:53 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:34 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:22 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 12:03 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 8:39 am

Guest wrote: ↑Thu Feb 13, 2025 10:55 pm There are a lot of posts about the West in this thread, but wondering if anyone can provide any feedback on some single A teams in the East. My son is currently playing in AA East but I feel my son is better suited for single A hockey. I've heard good things about Forest hill, Leaside and North Toronto teams, some not so great things about the Knights and York Mills. Any thoughts?

We play in the east on the markham islanders. We are not a good team and our better players are underage and will be going to AA their own age next year. I can tell you that Forest Hill is an incredible team that has very little drop off and a good goalie on top of it. Knights the coaches seem like great people, Forest Hill they have very young coaches but are very good dudes! North Toronto Green is run very well, the other North Toronto seems ok as well. Leaside are top of the league but we always play them well. We played Vaughan Rangers in their tournament and competed well we lost 4-2 I think. If your kid is 2015 maybe think about the Islanders, they will have a new coach. Happy to talk further and give you more feedback. My email is [email protected]

This is really insightful... thank you. Glad to hear good things about the Islanders and Knights. We live around Yonge and Wilson so Markham might not be too far.

Glad I can help. Islanders play out of Thornhill community centre which is a pretty good location for people in east york region or mid north york. The away arenas are never farther than scarboro. Islanders first year teams have trouble because there is no feeder system but by year two people start to come because they have good people coaching that care about kids.

Forest Hill, Avenue Road and Leaside are likely the best landing spots from a development perspective, although they are likely going to lose a few players to AA, likely 4 from Forest Hill and at least 3 from Leaside from my view from the stands. So those teams might not be a bad starting point for your son. With that said, there will be a lot of movement, even upwards from Select at NT and Leaside that will push for spots. Knights are a great organization that might be looking for new players having underacheived mostly. Yorkmills is likely out in front of their skis based on really good goaltending. Markham needs an overhaul, sounds like they are getting one.

Avenue Road has great coaching as well, the organization is doing well at various older age groups. The benefits of paid coaches.

Agree with the Avenue Road Ducks coaching, also Forest Hill and the knights have impressive coaching. Personally, we have stayed away from Parent coached teams as the environment tends to get very nepotistic, hence why we have avoided NT teams. Seems like birthday skates have started at NYK and FH, not sure about the other teams.

Does anyone have any information on if Duffield, Avalanche or GT Caps will be creating a team in the East in 2015 A for next season? New teams are supposed to be announced today?

Pretty sure no new teams are allowed based on the annocement from Ontario Hockey

Forest Hill, Avenue Road and Leaside are likely the best landing spots from a development perspective, although they are likely going to lose a few players to AA, likely 4 from Forest Hill and at least 3 from Leaside from my view from the stands. So those teams might not be a bad starting point for your son. With that said, there will be a lot of movement, even upwards from Select at NT and Leaside that will push for spots. Knights are a great organization that might be looking for new players having underacheived mostly. Yorkmills is likely out in front of their skis based on really good goaltending. Markham needs an overhaul, sounds like they are getting one.
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Avenue Road has great coaching as well, the organization is doing well at various older age groups. The benefits of paid coaches.
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The insistence of parent coaches at NT is always a mystery, generally the surrounding area is quite affluent and can afford paid coaches, in fact the organization employs a variety of expensive trainers on a weekly basis, so why not just pay for a coach that can run practices.

Looking to bring my kiddo down from AA as well but into the West. From what I’m reading it looks like there may have been some drama early on in the season but now we’re at the end of the season, which teams would you say have the best development and coaching (added bonus for a great parent group!).

Looking to bring my kiddo down from AA as well but into the West. From what I’m reading it looks like there may have been some drama early on in the season but now we’re at the end of the season, which teams would you say have the best development and coaching (added bonus for a great parent group!).

Guest wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 3:47 pm Looking to bring my kiddo down from AA as well but into the West. From what I’m reading it looks like there may have been some drama early on in the season but now we’re at the end of the season, which teams would you say have the best development and coaching (added bonus for a great parent group!).

My son plays for the Humber Valley Sharks and its a great organization in my opinion. We have friends on the Attack and they love it as well. The coaching staff at HVS is excellent and the parent group is great. Finding a good parent group is huge and definitely underestimated by many, in particular at this age group. There is drama everywhere, but the West is not even close to the amount in the east where its waaaaaaay worse. Toxic delusional parents over there that will walk over their neighbor to get ahead.

Guest wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 7:43 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Sat Feb 15, 2025 3:47 pm Looking to bring my kiddo down from AA as well but into the West. From what I’m reading it looks like there may have been some drama early on in the season but now we’re at the end of the season, which teams would you say have the best development and coaching (added bonus for a great parent group!).

My son plays for the Humber Valley Sharks and its a great organization in my opinion. We have friends on the Attack and they love it as well. The coaching staff at HVS is excellent and the parent group is great. Finding a good parent group is huge and definitely underestimated by many, in particular at this age group. There is drama everywhere, but the West is not even close to the amount in the east where its waaaaaaay worse. Toxic delusional parents over there that will walk over their neighbor to get ahead.

Couldn’t agree more re: the importance of a great parent group and so good to hear about HVS having a good one at this level! I don’t think the same could be said about HVS AA based on what I’ve seen at games so this is refreshing to hear. Really appreciate the insights!