Minor Hockey Talks - Hockey Forum

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 4:02 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 10:48 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 5:59 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 8:24 am Curious why there always seems to be so much negativity directed at MB and, to a lesser extent, VR on this forum. From an outside perspective(we are in omha one more year), just trying to understand where it’s coming from and if there’s any true reasons for that as we’re considering one of the teams next season. One of my son’s buddies is with the MB and played against us last weekend, while a neighbor’s kid plays VR AA. Have seen kids from both programs last weekend playing against us in Everest, and they seemed skilled and respectful—just wondering what the issue is with these teams from those more in the know.

I would cautiously guess that many MNS parents are quite unfamiliar with minor sports. Winning the title seems to have come as a surprise—even to them—and now there’s a noticeable sense of superiority developing. From what I’ve gathered on this forum, they tied with MB and FT, and beat teams that had previously defeated either Beast or Toros. Naturally, that kind of result reinforces their belief in their team’s dominance.
Personally, I see real development as when a coach makes informed decisions about every player he brings on board—knowing exactly why he’s choosing them and how he plans to use them. Just as importantly, he’s fully transparent with the parents about his intentions.

In that sense, VP is a great example. To maximize individual attention and ice time, the coach deliberately kept the roster small. He didn’t take on players he wasn’t confident about. While they didn’t win the title, they ended up with the most players in the league moving on to AAA. It’s like a player accelerator

On the other hand, MNS seemed focused on chasing a title, largely because the coach is trying to establish himself in minor hockey. Aside from 2–3 players, the team was still made up of poor, slow skaters. Yes, they won the title, but barely anyone reached the AAA level—only one kid, and that was more due to his parents’ off-ice efforts than his actual ability. In a year their coach will go to Nats for example leaving poor kids behind

Beast follows a similar model to VP, but with a larger roster, which brings down the average level a bit. One player moved up to AAA, and another 1–2 received offers but declined.

Meanwhile, FT and VR are focused on building strong AA programs. They’re doing a great job and deserve credit for that as well.
Choose what corresponds with your expectations and you won’t regret. Avoid teams that are built around 1-2 players.

The team that had the most players move up was the team my son was on. NYK had 5 move up to AAA, and two others had offers but chose to remain as they weren’t good fits. We were also very happy for our coach who also earned the opportunity to move up.

This has more to do with the fact that NYK was full of parents who were going to go to AAA irregardless of whether it made sense. None of those 5 went to even a mid decent team, all will be on bottom feeders and the parents had to beg for months even for that.

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 6:31 pm Having seen just about every AA team last year and all AAA teams, there is no point in trying to jump up to AAA on a team that is positioned 8-12, it's all parent ego if you are playing on those teams.

Teams 7-5 seeds will be tough to crack as they are looking for other AAA cuts. Teams 1-4 seeds zero chance at all to crack those teams. The main difference is this , AAA is much faster , quicker decisions , and high intensity. I have not seen a kid in AA that would fit in there yet. Some have moved up and I'd suggest most will be back in AA once they realize playing on a bottom feeder AAA team is not worth the 10k.

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 6:55 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 6:31 pm Having seen just about every AA team last year and all AAA teams, there is no point in trying to jump up to AAA on a team that is positioned 8-12, it's all parent ego if you are playing on those teams.

Teams 7-5 seeds will be tough to crack as they are looking for other AAA cuts. Teams 1-4 seeds zero chance at all to crack those teams. The main difference is this , AAA is much faster , quicker decisions , and high intensity. I have not seen a kid in AA that would fit in there yet. Some have moved up and I'd suggest most will be back in AA once they realize playing on a bottom feeder AAA team is not worth the 10k.

MNS had a kid that went to a top 4 aaa teams after just a year in a competitive hockey.
A kid from VP went to a aaa team that will be at leat mid table next season.
NYK D went to one of the strongest teams in aaa.
In another age group I know a kid who went to good aaa(not a money grab run by someone notorious) after a year in A and 2 seasons in AA.
This year’s number 1 in nhl draft ranking played in AA for few years
But of course moving between MM, NYR and TRW makes no sense

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 7:15 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 6:55 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 6:31 pm Having seen just about every AA team last year and all AAA teams, there is no point in trying to jump up to AAA on a team that is positioned 8-12, it's all parent ego if you are playing on those teams.

Teams 7-5 seeds will be tough to crack as they are looking for other AAA cuts. Teams 1-4 seeds zero chance at all to crack those teams. The main difference is this , AAA is much faster , quicker decisions , and high intensity. I have not seen a kid in AA that would fit in there yet. Some have moved up and I'd suggest most will be back in AA once they realize playing on a bottom feeder AAA team is not worth the 10k.

MNS had a kid that went to a top 4 aaa teams after just a year in a competitive hockey.
A kid from VP went to a aaa team that will be at leat mid table next season.
NYK D went to one of the strongest teams in aaa.
In another age group I know a kid who went to good aaa(not a money grab run by someone notorious) after a year in A and 2 seasons in AA.
This year’s number 1 in nhl draft ranking played in AA for few years
But of course moving between MM, NYR and TRW makes no sense

The one and only AA kid who went to a real AAA team is the MNS showboater who went to the Marlies. NYK D kid is not great and is not on a “strongest” AAA team but you know that

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 4:09 pm VP and NYK both imploded for the same reason, preoccupied with chasing AAA without any studs at all. Both were a mess by the end of the season and playoffs if you look back you can see. If NYK had 5 actual AAA kids they would have found themselves in the finals with a +25 spread. It’s all just nonsense, AA players moving up while AA players moving down its the same story that plays out in the bottom half of AAA teams since the beginning of time.

I am not as familiar with VP but I don’t remember a single skater standing out. Plenty of you here in the west can comment.

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 7:22 pm The Marlies took Disney on Ice and left 19 ?

Guest wrote: ↑Wed May 14, 2025 12:20 pm

Guest wrote: ↑Tue May 13, 2025 7:22 pm The Marlies took Disney on Ice and left 19 ?

They play different positions