pros and cons of DVHL vs EJEPL

[Guest]

Not a fan of folks saying something is a joke (or sucks) without them providing some sort of reasoning behind their opinion.
So why do you think the NJYHL is better than the DVHL?

[Guest]

My 2 cents are that DVHL and NJYHL are very similar except in a couple of areas.  First, since we have looked at both, the NJYHL is higher priced than the DVHL.  The second is that once you get up to the Midget levels, the NJ runs a shortened season (due to scholastic) and DVHL runs a full season.  There are some NJYHL teams that will extend their seasons with EJEPL but that usually increases the cost even more. 

My sons team played both DVHL (AA) and EJEPL (Diamond 1) and without a doubt the EJ league was far more competitive.  Competitiveness is a plus but it also comes at a cost of wear and tear to the youth players that are playing in two leagues and also possibly scholastic.  IMO, if you on a competitive level, playing in all three are not necessary. 

Good luck in your decisions.

[Guest]

A few reasons why the NJYHL is better then the DVHL

1. Tryouts instead of Evaluations
2. Shortened Midget Season
3. More clubs and teams: therefore, more competitive
4. The Lancaster Firebirds are not in the NJYHL
5. Regional divisions within each level (North, Central, South, etc)

[Guest]

NJYHL is more expensive and the teams are not rated the same way as the DVHL with National and American levels. Some NJ team, a lot of NJ teams in the "A" rating could very well be double A. A lot of the AA level in NJ should be AAA. The shortened midget season is dumb, not looking forward to that.

Long story short. It costs more but the league is far and away better than the DVHL. The EJ is a very good supplement but it does cost more on top of the tournament fees we already pay. One season is almost $4500 for tier ll after tuition and additional fees.

[Guest]

A few reasons why the NJYHL is better then the DVHL

1. Tryouts instead of Evaluations
2. Shortened Midget Season
3. More clubs and teams: therefore, more competitive
4. The Lancaster Firebirds are not in the NJYHL
5. Regional divisions within each level (North, Central, South, etc)

Thank you for you thoughts.
1. Agreed, DVHL is completely disrespectful to players and parents by forcing them to commit to an organization prior to tryouts. 
2. Makes sense if that is important to you.
3. Not sure this is totally true... at least at all levels or every year. Even if it is true that doesn't necessary make the DVHL "a joke", just better.
4. LOL, My experience has been the officiating out there is much worse than actually playing any of thier teams.
5. I assume that helps with the amount of travel?

[James]

I’m laughing here reading all these responses...... what exactly is wrong with DVHL ?
You want to go play EJ .... go ahead. It’s nothing better than a supplement to you real league schedule....also only if your a true AA club.....if your average A or less....save your money and travel time.
Back to the post ...... what exactly is your problem with DVHL?
Only problem ive ever seen is some teams that sandbag....but how would you stop that ?

[bardown]

Look at the standings for each age level now since it's the end of the season. Those same teams will be top 5 contending for post season bids just about every season. You know exactly what to expect every season by last season's results. It's always the same teams on top. The DVHL allows these teams to sandbag every year. Levels should relate to age after pee wee. Only then will the playing field or ice in this case be level.

[Guest]

Agree the DVHL needs to make changes.  The EJ league is nothing more than a vehicle to schedule non-league games.  They don't have a path to the district tournament or nationals, DVHL does.

It's difficult to create birth year teams at Tier II because most clubs don't have the numbers. 

I would propose...

One team at age level:  Must play A.  Club can choose Nat/Am.
Two teams at age level:  Minimum one A and one B.  Club can choose Nat/Am.
Three teams at Age level:  Minimum one AA, one A, one B.  Club can choose Nat/Am.  No more of A-Nat, A-Am, B-Nat.  That's where the problem is.

Any deviation can be petitioned but forfeit of playoff and district opportunity.

[James]

If the standings are the same at each level every year (especially AA) then guess what. Those clubs are doing a great job of coaching and retaining players.....how is that bad? Maybe the lower clubs should adjust their coaching plan or work on keeping players together.
I think it was recommended that if you had at least 2 teams that your top team should play AA.....
If you have say 3 teams....1 at each level and they are all competitive or near the top....I don’t see a problem with that
Like I said ..... all goes to the strength of a club with coaching and retaining players.
As far as evals vs tryouts....you have a pretty good idea of what your getting into....for Christ sake the season just ended 2 weeks prior to next seasons tryouts. The only people that seem to have a problem with that rule is the ones that didn’t make the team they wanted for whatever reason.

[bardown]

The complaints about knowing who is on top every season isn't about AA it's about the sandbagger clubs that don't bother to move up to AA when everybody in the league including themselves know they should. They stay at A National and kill all of the rest of the teams. Happens every year. Lancaster, Haverford, Lehigh Valley to name a few.