T1 tryouts

[Guest]

Has nothing to do with the quality of the facilities or anything said on this board. Every club gets bashed equally.

Facts are BBNA gets most of their players from outside. Very few FE kids have advanced to the academy team at 2009, 2010 or 2011 birth years.

Also, with all due respect to the kids and coach, the 2012 team is not better than many of the local AA teams and the schedule they play is bottom of THF, not more competitive than what you’d get in AHF. Why would anyone leave a legitimate tier 1 program for this?

What is a legitimate Tier 1 program? Seems LF, JrF, VFM, and other 2012 AYHL teams have major issues. PHC & Avalanche are the only AYHL teams that look like they will be top 40 in MHR.  I am told a lot of 2012 THF teams have benefitted from AYHL defections. As far as FE is concerned, I am told they actually have 5-6 kids from 2012 age targeted for BBNA. The issue is the other part of the roster. I am also told CK overhauled the entire program to get more BBNA coaches on the ice with FE teams. Will this make things better? Only time will tell. For now, I will keep my kids at AA and visit FE for maybe the best power skates around!

[Guest]

I actually laughed out loud at this.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/39978/black-bear-academy-16u-aaa

Not a single FE player

18u has what 4? lol

absolutely love the confidence however.

Will love to see what 2011 FE kids play for BBNA. I have to imagine, 0

[Guest]

If the coaching is fantastic why is an overhaul of the coaching staff needed?

[Guest]

I actually laughed out loud at this.

https://www.eliteprospects.com/team/39978/black-bear-academy-16u-aaa

Not a single FE player

18u has what 4? lol

absolutely love the confidence however.

Will love to see what 2011 FE kids play for BBNA. I have to imagine, 0

2010 team had no talent at all. Maybe 1 kid could have made it but he left for Prep School. BBNA recruited with that in mind. 2011 has 3 FE signed to BBNA not 0. So you are wrong on that. Good luck on your next prediction Nostradamus!

[Guest]

Everyone must be living under a rock. These debates over AYHL/THF, weak tier 1 programs will all be over soon. The entire purpose of NDL is to shrink tier 1. Most of these programs are going to lose tier 1 status or just disappear altogether. Only the strong programs who do not get NDL will survive.

[Guest]

We were at FE and had no issues with coaches, kids, or organization, but the rink quality sucks. As for the pathway from FE to BB, from what I saw, it is pretty limited.  We had 3 kids on our team considered.  All three declined due to the coast, which is significant.  I do think BB is doing a good job, just expensive.

And, in all honesty, in the NJ/PA area, there needs to be fewer AAA teams.  At many of these AAA tryouts, there are no cuts happening.  The lower-level AAA teams are just above the good AA teams. 

[Guest]

Spot on. Too many teams. Too much AA disguised at AAA.

[Guest]

My bad not 0, 3 whole players within your system are able to continue playing in the same league. What does that tell you about “doing it right!”

Cannot develop or recruit at the younger levels. What once was great has been washed away for a LONG time now. I understand defending them, but no need to provide misinformation of 3 out 15 kids can continue past pre-wee

[Guest]

My bad not 0, 3 whole players within your system are able to continue playing in the same league. What does that tell you about “doing it right!”

Cannot develop or recruit at the younger levels. What once was great has been washed away for a LONG time now. I understand defending them, but no need to provide misinformation of 3 out 15 kids can continue past pre-wee

Who cares what you or anyone else thinks about a program? No one can tell who will be good until 15 at the earliest and even then a good 18 year old that goes D1 may crap out for a number of reasons. Odds that any kid at any rink plays above club in college are slim. Most kids get distracted at older ages. Kids get to high school and don't want to spend 6 hours at the rink during the week and then all weekend. They want to socialize with friends, party and be with their girlfriend. Some kids play other sports and chose those over hockey. I am told multiple kids from FE 2011 stopped playing hockey for other sports they liked better but that these kids did not have a shot at BB. This is why not everyone makes it. Only the disciplined, focused kids who love hockey have shots at making it no matter how much talent kids have. My one son will most likely stop playing after Bantam because he loves lacrosse but my other son love loves hockey.  I am not on here defending FE or any rink. I am saying it is a roll of the dice and no one knows if a so called "Elite" 12 year old will actually become an Elite 18 year old. Just stop the trashing of rinks and kids and let them have fun. I used to be a crazy hockey dad, but once my kid hit Bantam I realized a couple of things: 1- my behavior was hurting my kids and 2- if my kids make it (I am told by people who know more that me that they have legitimate shot at hockey and other at lax) it will be up to them and not me. The kid must want it and no matter how great a coach is, it still comes down to so much more than what they do at the rink. Off ice training shooting/stick handling, off ice speed/explosive work, getting stronger the correct way and studying the game on his own. As parents we can only offer advice, ultimately the kid must decide if high level hockey is what they want. Just sit back and enjoy the ride no matter what they chose because before you know it they will be grown up!