Player shortages everywhere

[Guest]

Maybe it’s because all the camps and teams are being aimed at the higher end of the spectrum of player.  A lot of parents feel like if you are attending all the Supa Leet Premiere summer league and playing AA/AAA, you’re looked down on.  I know a few parents who changed programs this year because they think their 10 year old is going pro and they need to be at a rink with a “pipeline.”

Where are the camps and clinics for kids playing for fun?  Ones that don’t include endless drills with no relation to in game play?  We’re losing kids because hockey is expensive to begin with, but having everything aimed at the better players turns a lot of kids off and they head for other sports.

[Guest]

Far too expensive and time consuming for a third rate product. Most programs are poorly run with amateur hour coaching. Youth hockey is horribly mismanaged by USA Hockey which does nothing but collect millions in mandatory fees. Other sports offer athletes far better opportunities.

[Guest]

I know our club is looking for players, but it isn't totally because of lack of players. They have actually added 4 more teams than they had last year. So overall there are more players, they just need a few at certain levels to fill out the teams.

[Guest]

It’s a bad product. Most travel teams are comprised of kids who should be playing house league. Parents don’t want to pay a fortune for travel to 4 out of state tournaments with a team consisting of kids who can’t even skate up to standards.