Funny, FE emailed pricing today. 2011 is $6950, competitors were below $6000 for Peewee Major this season. So you’re paying $1000 more for a coach with absolutely no background in the sport other than watching Guy run power skates and a team that is 7-33 and lost 20 straight.
It isn’t development over wins. The wins aren’t happening no matter what philosophy the staff has.
Why would a player leave a tier 2 team that is stronger based on all of this?
Yup, and they must forget that many of the same 2011 kids that they kind of need now, are well aware of what happened to the 2011 team that was thrown together right after the Venom left
Team Information - MYHockey
Full disclosure: I am a parent with a son playing for a non-FE team this year, is looking to tryout for FE and my kid has taken private lessons/power skating with the 2011 coach. I have followed the 2011 team closely because of my sons desire to play for them next year.
That 2011 team from the 2021-22 season was put together by another hockey director and some of the best players who made that team chose not to join. If those players joined that 21-22 FE team, they would have been way better. Also I can't comment on next years prices, but I was told the prices listed are not what was paid this year. On average the prices paid this season were $1850 less than what is posted.
This years 2011 team was put together with players from 6 different teams, mixed age (2011/2012) and has had a tough year. The coach is excellent and your comment about "watching Guy run power skates" is just idiotic. Do your homework on someone before you disparage them. Winning is not the most important thing when you are rebuilding a program. Player improvement is the most important thing. Every player on the 2011 has markedly improved and are much more prepared to play Tier 1 next season. It was a big jump for all of these kids and every team they played, with the exception of about 6 teams, are just better teams. Not more talented, but just better teams that have been playing together for 2+ years.
Your question about why a kid would leave a Tier 2 program that is stronger is valid. At the H08 Spring ID skates I spoke with multiple parents at 2011, 2012 and 2013 ages. The answer to your question was two fold. First parent said their kids wanted to see how they stack up against Tier 1 competition and FE is one of maybe 2 Tier 1 teams that has openings. Second they had multiple complaints about their current rinks. The most common complaints:
- Their kids are not getting better
- The coaches worry about their own kids more than the other players on the team
- The hockey/program directors do not listen to their complaints and they treat the parents like they are a nuisance rather than a paying customer.
- They do not feel like they are getting what they paid for. After spending money on private lessons, power skates and off ice training, they think Tier 1 offers a better bargain. (The parents may reconsider this complaint due to BB prices for next season. I know I am.)
This question "Why would a player leave a tier 2 team that is stronger based on all of this?" is why I suspect the person who wrote the above post is a coach or hockey director from another rink. I suspect Flyers Youth or Hollydell as both have AA teams ranked above 2011 FE and multiple players from each rinks 2011, 2012 & 2013 AA teams were at the ID skates. I think you are very worried about losing your players to FE. I also think that before you bash FE & their coach you need to look at your own coaches and get your own houses in order.