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I heard some teams, not 12u, already folded. Is this true?

Knowing the most you can about what you're paying for and committing to is a fair ask.

He's right, and the family knows how to hype the kid.

Some of them sadly probably do pay some snake out there to advise them.

Armstrong Arrows have a few openings at 12U - All skill levels. Please reach out to Arrows Hockey Director at: aahlhockeydirector@yahoo.com

What exactly is in an offer beyond the spot on the roster? I love how some talk about receiving offers like they need to discuss with their agent.

I'll take your word for it! It wouldn't surprise me.

Not!! Just like his cousin, it's 90% Jon Sr. and his training methods.

I watched the game against Slovakia today, and that kid has acceleration like a freaking rocket!

I didn't see that, but kudos to them. We need more of that.

He's excellent. Probably one of the only kids the pens can actually take credit for.

Humphreys left the pens because his brother was cut if I recall - we are getting past the birth years I know much about these days. The mom ran the pens sled or special needs team, don’t recall which. Parent’s got pissed and sent their kids off to prep school. Probabaly the correct decision for the better kid even though it was made with emotion. All of us old timers know who the Mooney familay is - who they are related to. Never saw the kid play, couldn’t tell you how good he is.

I do recall seeing the guy with the Huskies account say in s post here that they will wait to see what they have before claiming a certain level. Or something to that effect.

Bishop Kearney

Everyone this time of year thinks they become a mastermind. Organizations, parents, and players. We all make it the free-for-all James Gatz mentioned, and everyone wonders why there are so many disgruntled people out there. There has to be a better system than this one. You have organizations saying "come play for us, we're AA" without returning anyone or even knowing who will be on their team! Silly. However, they do that because a parent won't let their kid play there if that organization was honest and said "we won't know our level until kids come to tryouts, accept, AND STAY on the team." Why? "Maybe there is a higher level team out there you get on, Billy." To the "staying on the team" part, I don't know why organizations just don't charge a higher, non-refundable commitment fee to dissuade players from jumping after accepting. Yeah, so more well-off family may be willing to eat that fee, but it's less likely to happen if it really hurts. A $300 deposit is chump change compared to what this sport costs anyone on an annual basis. And more and more people are willing to eat that fee no matter the cost. James Gatz, I like any of those options better than this crapshow, but good luck getting anyone to jump on them. What about having a fourth option where independent organizations go first, then have a week off, then PAHL AA, then PAHL A/B, THEN supplementals? PAHL can't regulate the independents, but they can regulate their members. Logically, it should be AAA, then AA, then A, then supplementals for teams that need players to fill teams. I agree with the original premise, though: This overlapping (especially with supplementals taking place before other organizations even have tryouts) is bunk. Thoughts?

Actually not really any one thing. That's the point. Who are the coaches, does the kid fit in with the other kids, location, do the tryouts show that they will have a enough for a team or was turnout weak, what team will the kid place on, what kind of schedule will there be (will practices or out-of-town travel conflict with school hockey).... There's lots of stuff. Things change year to year everywhere. Whether the kid has stuck with one team for his whole life or played for a few, sometimes kids or a parent want to explore a change. And sometimes they don't, and that works out also.

Local hockey organizations did little to contribute. Or at least, there's more to the story than local hockey.

There are plenty of ways the tryout season could work. The current model is basically a free agency free for all. I am not sure that's not the best. It let's the kids play where they want to play and lets organizations build teams. Players have to be selective with where they tryout and have commitment fees at stake if they want to play the field. The system isn't perfect, but it works. Thinking through potential alternatives each have their own issues. The independent teams add a layer of complexity, for a league like the PAHL, they could have some league rules tryouts/offers. (of course those rules would have to approved by organizations, who are not likely to vote against their interest). Option 1--An offer clearinghouse. It could work like residency placements for doctors. Players tryout at different places. Players and organizations submit priority list to the clearinghouse and the clearinghouse matches players with teams. Players have no choice but to play for that team. Does anyone really want this and trust the clearinghouse? Talk about taking away a coaches role in building a team. Option 2--Impose geographical boundaries on team formations. Any takers? Option 3--Schedule tryouts so there are few overlaps and require organizations to keep offers open until league-wide commitment date. No organization would vote for this and it likely would lead to lots of supplementals. I'm sure there are other approaches, but I can't think of any that improve on the current approach. The current approach maximizes the individual player's freedom of choice. Some of those choices have consequences...

offers on a team that is good enough for Johnny

What are you shopping for that you are going to find out at tryouts?

I think your point about taking your kid to 4-5 tryouts is exactly why they do it. If there was any sort of allegiance to an organization they would just schedule whenever. But with everyone window shopping around town, you have to try and lock your kids in before they see something else they like.

As the title says. Why? Not even just regular tryouts, but teams having supplementals at the same times as teams are still doing regular tryouts? As a parent, I would have no problem with my kid going to tryouts for 4-5 organizations. But it's really hard to do that when you're possibly going to miss at least a day at other places. So now you're sort of forced to put all your eggs in one or two baskets instead of going to several and missing a day or two of each. Now this has to be on purpose, because there's not a lot of hockey going on right now at the rinks but not only are dates the same, but times overlap. I get every org wants to get the commitments first before the others, but they're also missing out on kids that would otherwise perhaps at least get in the door of another org and consider playing there. It's just another hockey thing that seems to be made more complicated than it needs to be.

Well how about that? 2 Pittsburgh players on this team and yet the nay-sayers on here still bash local hockey. Seems it's mostly disappointment of their own that they are displaying.

The best kids don't stick around anywhere for 18u. The best kids are playing USHL, OHL, NTDP at 16u and certainly by 17u. And i'd guess a good number of the "next best" kids are playing some other Junior League by 18u as well.

Edited. Thank you! Tonight 4/25