I've seen a lot of talk about tryout/AA/AAA craziness in other posts, and I can attest that it's WAY worse than past years.
Every year I help families track tryouts, and this year it's a mess. Like others have said, some programs are being left, others are being overwhelmed, AAA kids are going AA, etc. We've read enough about the AAA problems, but I have heard of (and witnessed) multiple AA tryouts with over forty skaters. And I have also witnessed regular A-level tryouts with less than ten.
This is beyond sad, because it is the kids who suffer. I mean, where does the A Major Black kid go who knows -- and whose family knows -- he is A Major Black? This year? The tryout with four kids and a goalie.
We know what's going to happen when all these AAA/AA tryouts end. It's already started -- SUPPLEMENTALS and tons of orphan players.
I feel bad for the level-headed families who are ultimately left out in the dark, so I thought we could all come together on this site and post UNBIASED supplemental information and team overviews (this team needs forwards, this team needs two D and a goalie, etc.). Not to poke fun, not to say "serves them right," but for the kids who are in danger of losing one season of what we all know is a VERY short, VERY fast youth career. I personally don't like some programs, but I will still post what they offer if I find it. Again, it's for the kids.
I am a North Hills guy, so I'm limited to mostly northern information, and I don't have info on all the northern programs. I've also been helping '07 to '09 kids this season, so I'm limited there. So please jump in if you have anything (especially in the south and other age groups). I think it would make more sense to have separate topics for different age groups (18U, etc.), too.
Can we do this?