Clubs want loyalty and commitment from their players but will toss that same player to the trash in a second. The club my son plays for will be having 2 18U teams with the need for 4 goalies. For the 1st eval we had 8 signed up, 7 returning and 1 newish one. The club cut 2 returning goalies after day 1 leaving 6. Our one 18AA spot is a lock so that leaves 5 going for 3 spots. As a skater dad I'd say 4 of the 5 are pretty even, 3 returning and the newish one. Being they are even this is were loyalty from the club should come in. The 3 returning are with the club 4+ years were the newish one was with the club yrs ago and left because he was to good for them. Now that the club he left for is having turmoil we are good enough again. From the look and sound of things one of the clubs top goalies from last yr will be cut. I know my son and other players want him to be on their team, not only is he a very good goalie, he is a locker room leader.

Sounds like pretty stiff competition.  Even if clubs are loyal to kids, it sounds like there aren’t enough goalie spots for even the returning players.  Hopefully some are willing or able to play out.

last yrs stats for the top 5
level 16AA GP 23 GS 19 GGA 1.82 SV% .922 W15 L5 T0 PP/SHGA 13
level 16AA GP 27 GS 25 GGA 2.93 SV% .897 W8 L15 T0 PP/SHGA 23
level 18A GP 17 GS 17 GGA 2.18 SV% .9 W12 L3 T2 PP/SHGA 6
level 18AA GP 31 GS 23 GGA 2.4 SV% .892 W8 L14 T1 PP/SHGA 18
level 18AA GP 22 GS 22 GGA 2.43 SV% .903 W17 L5 T0 PP/SHGA 12

The part that sucks for the goalie everyone thinks will be cut is he graduates this year and was accepted to a couple colleges that have club hockey, one even came to one of our games to watch him. I was standing there at the end of the season when 1 of our more respected coaches told him and my son that they have his vote for AA this year. So he declined those colleges and decided to attend community college to play a 2nd yr and help his friends with unfinished business. Add the fact that our hockey director asked multiple times if he was coming back, it is going to be a slap in the face. Hope we are wrong.

" So he declined those colleges and decided to attend community college to play a 2nd yr and help his friends with unfinished business. "

I assume there is more to this story than deciding not to go to a "real" college, heh, to play a 2nd year of 18U.  probably wants to try juniors perhaps?

All in all, I'd vote for college, casual club hockey, and a successful career in a public company, over the presented path.  Just saying...  Then again, there's always an Academy with online learning for 30k instead of high school! #careerchoice #div1scholarshipftw