Guest wrote: ↑Sun Feb 02, 2025 10:36 am
At this point, finishing U14 AAA and transitioning to U15 AAA you need ask yourself a question - Why is my kid still playing? There are a few answers
1) He wants to have fun, and after U16 its beerleagues
- then move to the midpack team where you will win some games, have like minded friends and win some mid-pack tourneys to remember (may be even some summer Canlan AA trouney - but who cares, for memories a medal is medal). The main point is - stop being obsessed about coaches, playing time, stats etc. And statistically, that's where most will end ...
2) He wants to play OHL and then have an shot at NHL draft or NCAA. Then you can honeslty answer yourself what makes a player making a draft. Being on a top team, able to win at critical times, score at critical games (not when you run-time someone in the middle of 2nd) contributes a lot to that. U16 Gthl has 2 stud teams - DMF and TT and 3 runners ups (JRC, VK and TM) in comparison to U14 (with 2 stud teams and 1 runner up) - AND these two top teams have 1/3 of the first two rounds of draft (20 players) and the 3 runners up have another third (another 20 players).
It is very likely (based on both stats, team composition, future selections and where the kids from other teams are right now) that the current U14 top teams will take the 50% of the draft in two years. For sure, a kid from Elgin may go under #1 and a kid from COW may go under #3, but its the numbers game in the end....
- So if you want to be there - get on a top team and try to fight for every second of ice you can get, and if you are not big enough, compensate with skill, grit and iq. Yes, you have to be liked by coach as well. So if you dont get that kind of treatment - consider your options - time is ticking.
3) You are certain that your kid is a 'late bloomer' and want to invest in him so he becomes a spuerstar when he is 20. Its possible, and there lots of examples like that - "pavol datsuk" is the one I like
- then dont worry about the team at all. Let him play whenever, train and hope for the best (and plan to fund it for another 6 years) - but be prepared for the outcome of echl training camp and then a stint in the second french division, where the pay is a bowl of soup and a very nice baget.
But in any case, stop complaining about top 3 orgs and the coaching. All three are different and good and have different objectives:
1) VK needs to win, to have as many players at draft as possible so his resume is built up and he can move up in the world
2) JRC needs to have players who are paying the fees at his school and winning is very important but comes second after that objectives
3) TM just needs to be in top 3 to keep reputation