A few things on this thread I find funny. 1. the statement that the same players that were good long ago are still the ones good now? LOL! ok buddy. The roster of my son's AAA team at 9 was almost completely different at 15. The "superstar" at 9 on the roster is now out of hockey altogether. I hear that statement a lot these days and its typically said, not by the superstar parents, but the hangers-on, buddies and pay for pub websites. The reason NZ and NEHJ use the kids names is laziness and the appearance of credibility (if they talk about the kid that everyone else is talking about, they must know their stuff). The problem is that hockey parents dont know what they are looking at. They see hits and goals, rarely notice skating, edges, vision, playmaking, or what players do when they dont have the puck. I have seen lots of guys score tons of goals hanging out at the blue line waiting on a pass or skating through weak competition and scoring a goal. Looks amazing but strangely enough, they never scored during games against strong competition. The people that matter dont care if your kid scores a goal which is why there are so many angry parents after a team is picked saying, "he scores the only goal and the cut him????" NZ and NEHJ will tell most what they want to hear, and if they dont, you will share my opinion of them until they mention your kid LOL, then they must know something right?
2. COVID dudes, COVID. None of what is going on right now matters at all. Its a lot of desperate parents, risking their families health convinced their kid NEEDS more hockey games as they are so close to someone finally noticing them. There is a reason for all these leagues, tournaments, showcases etc. $$$$$ they all recognize that there is money to be made off parents that cant accept the dream is over. Where we are from there are 6 Junior hockey leagues operating. 6!
Save your money, stay healthy and be patient. If your kid is only motivated when they can play the game, they are already telling you what you need to know. If they hit the gym and do what they can there is still hope. Talk with Mr. St.Louis about his path to the NHL, not exactly the guy NZ or NEHJ would have been touting.

^^Mostly 03 players who will not even play in college

Says the NHL scout

Close..Bottom line is that the kids there are unknown, no PR machine getting there names out. There are good kids everywhere but the ones that make it start the PR rolling at 12 or younger. Watched a kid that I haven't seen in years just as good if not better than most of the kids there and hes never going to get a look, you know why? No PR for the kid. Yes he is at prep now and will put up good numbers but its to late, nobody knows who he is. There was 1 D1 commit there, nice kid, good family, wasn't even the best player on his team never mind the other 3 teams but got the PR machine rolling at 12, got in touch with the right people and look where he is now. Very sad, but very true in todays game!! Now, with schools offering an additional year to seniors, the kids at this event would need to wait until they are 22 to have a shot and that is very unlikely.

NZ and IM commented on every kid at the MCDC. My impression of his article is that he sees opportunity and potential in every kid! We're talking about 05s to 02s not 99s.
Yes everyone there could possibly play D1.

My kid went and said it was a great chance for him to skate with some strong players. I thought it was short money to be on the ice with quality kids and terrific coaches.

I'll let you know how he does, 4 years from now!

Did the coaches actually coach? If they did then its worth it, from what I understand they just refed some scrimmages.