Forum > General Youth Hockey Info
AA now water downed
Guest:
My son dropped down from AAA to AA and switched programs. We figured it would be more fun, less travel and less money. One of my biggest gripes about Tier 1 hockey was the travel and lack of quality teams. The majority of teams we played were no better than AA/A hockey teams, so we figured why not just play AA hockey and spend less time traveling. Of the last 6 games my sons new team has played, 5 out of 6 teams are no better than an average A team. Its like the tier 1 situation all over again. People say some Tier 1 leagues are better than others, some have upper and lower divisions. What's the point of playing Tier 1 hockey if you're in the lower division? wouldn't that be more like AA? I don't get it? Its the same for AA. Hockey programs putting together AA teams that are no better than an A/B teams. They get crushed and for what, so they can say they play AA or that the organization offers a AA option? Has hockey gotten this diluted that not only is tier 1 hockey becoming watered down, the same thing is happening at the Tier 2 level? What is the solution? I have always looked at AAA as the best of the best top to bottom. AA should be for kids that are bubble AAA players that need more time to develop and most likely will go on to play AAA in the near future. But why are parents and teams so delusional to think that just because they have a AA team that the kids are worthy of the title? I think teams and parents need to really evaluate the teams they are putting together and how good the kids really are. The level of play for your child and their ability don't matter, parents want to think it matters and it doesn't, but the declaration of what designation you choose as a program does matter. It doesn't help the true AA teams that are looking to get challenged and play good hockey and it certainly doesn't help little Johnny to go out and get crushed 10-0 for half the season. In that situation nobody wins. Time for a reality check.
Guest:
Agreed. Too many so called "elite teams" out there with mediocre talent calling themselves whatever
Guest:
Just curious, where and what level? The DVHL seems to be limited with AA teams at most levels. 16U has the most teams at 14. All the other levels are 8-11 teams at most for AA.
Guest:
I think the issue at AA level is all the additional "AAA" teams, which should be AA. Those "AAA" teams refuse to.play the better AA teams because it would diminish the "AAA" brand when they get beat or play a close game with AA.
Now the true AA teams have difficulty. The watered down "AAA" teams which are really AA won't play them and the AA teams are really A.
Curious what level are you encountering the issue.
Guest:
Are these games you've played so far league games, EJ / AHF, or tourney?
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