Wildcat

3 minutes ago, forbin said:

Includes uniforms, independent games and tournament fees too though so actually not too bad considering most others are around $3k with uniforms, independent games and tournaments all being extra. 

Plus probably as much practice ice as they want with Aviators and Vipers gone.  No 50 min half ice slots at 9pm

39 minutes ago, Nepotisim_anyone said:

Raise costs… for what? Frozen pond? 

Because they have some strong teams and see an opportunity to squeeze those people.  They're betting they'll bite the bullet and stay on a strong team rather than risk going elsewhere

At 14U, the Icemen team that was ranked 3rd in the country didn't even make the championship game

For 16U and 18U, it's 90 minutes without an ice cut and 100 minutes with an ice cut.

Aviators will probably just be more of the same at Shadyside.  Not much ice time plus limited opportunities for growth.  The school teams there use most of what's available.

20 minutes ago, Loach said:

I think I said this before, but based on personal experience, you do need both internal and outside evaluators. You still need the head coach to make the final call, but good for that person to have data to make the decision that comes from both assistants and independent evaluators. You need to have a fair and competent head coach who has a good group around him to hold him accountable. I've seen tryouts that lean too heavily on independent evaluations miss out on key players who are great contributors during the prior season but don't show well in the individual-oriented tryouts.

And at the same time, a kid could come in and wow the evaluators but then the coach talks to people who know him or the family and he's a total headcase.