The 06 level was without some of the top players due to the Brick. The BA team went 2-2, and beat the LI stars who eventually won the tournament in a game that wasn't as close as the score, and did so without its goalie and stud defenseman.

I watched them play the freezers. BA had a goal not counted, hit 3-4 posts and dominated the play. Freezers goalie stole the game for them. It was also 2nd BA game of day and 1st for Freezers. If I were in the E9 I would be worried about this BA team.

Hate to say about 9 year old team but Mass edge looked terrible.

Thanks coach - please stop making excuses. The problem we have is that the team is centered around 2 players. Parents are tired of this, especially when we are not winning. Last season the team fell apart. Don't be surprised if you see more of us playing in the EHF under the alternate guise this upcoming season. Please lose the vineyard vines shorts!

More of US playing EHF, I didnt know parents played on these teams, and what makes you think your bender is good enough to player real elite hockey in the EHF

"ENOUGH TO PLAYER" are you from Mexico hombre?

Not much BA bashing here only parents denying this was the BA elite team, they were beat, it happens, learn from it and move on. Makes no sense to deny this happened, point fingers as to which little Johnny wasn't in town, no Brick last weekend by the way. BA has a very solid program year in and year out. Now other teams are catching up, BA skills and development is slipping a little which other programs have noticed and capitalized on. This is part of the cycle of business. Plenty of time before the season begins. BA obviously had some concerns at this level otherwise they would not have entere this team into the Blue Chip. Now they have bench marked the team, adjustments will be made and they will enter 1-2 more tourney before the season begins.

BA going down next year again to the mighty Spartans. Watch out for the Avalanche too! #nhselecthockeyrules (except popgun, they flat out
suck)

There was no brick team tourney last weekend, but Brick team members are not allowed to play in any other tournaments over the summer. This is also a completely re-vamped BA offense and will no longer rely on only 2 players.

Yes there is a rule, however it is for the actual team players not the alternates. I watched a few of the 06 games with Smitty. Didn't really see much difference between the old and new BA. Freezers are made up of mostly EHF tier 1 players (Dual State River Hawks) Again this is the difference between the FED and the E9. The FED teams at all levels beat up on the E9 over the course of the 3 day event. Thanks for coming out without you guys this tournament at its current rates would not have been possible.
#FEDWINNING!

fed winning seriously. how old are you? 12? its a spring hockey tournament that means nothing but more money in the organizations pocket and less in yours. Everyone knows spring hockey is for the benders who cant keep up in the winter or the daddy's who think their kid is the next Crosby. have your kid go play some baseball/soccer/lacrosse/basketball/take a hike/boulderdash/spartan junior. lots of options besides worthless spring hockey.

For clarification:
The Tropics team in tourney was BA's elite E9 team and the other team in tourney registered as BA was their select team BHL team at least at the 06 level anyway. Who was the crazy coach on bench yelling at top of his lungs Friday?

For clarification:
The Tropics team in tourney was BA's elite E9 team and the other team in tourney registered as BA was their select team BHL team at least at the 06 level anyway. Who was the crazy coach on bench yelling at top of his lungs Friday?





Let me guess, the 06 team, coach with the white beard ? lol

And I would hold off on judging the Tropics teams as top tourney teams. They are getting a lot of their teams for next season together playing as Tropics teams in summer tournaments, even the lower end AAA teams are playing as "Tropics".

He is relative of owner taking over as head coach this season.

Saw him or should I say heard him. Too funny

Hell ya what a waste of time and money. The competition stinks this year.

How astute! Quick on the uptake.

Can someone please explain to me what constitutes a "money grab" vs a non "money grab" as it relates to youth hockey. It is always said in a manner that would leave you to believe that someone is committing a crime.

They are all "money grabs", even the beloved brick that people think will get there kids into the NHL

But that's my point. It's a business. The point of business is to grab other people's money. Are these Spring hockey club owners supposed to run the teams for free?

Good exposure... Maybe the should sponsor the DBoard...

I shake my head every time I see it.I'm convinced those who use it have no idea how the concept of the economy and business works

I think if an owner/rink/tournament is not providing what they promote, then we are OK to call it a money grab. For instance, "Come to the Bender Showcase at NESC to skate in front of NCAA Division 1 coaches and over 25 prep coaches from throughout New England." And then it turns out to be Minuteman Flames EMHL tryouts. That would be a money grab. I admit that one sounds pretty obvious, but there are shades of gray.

I think in the case of the Blue Chip, an expectation has been created by parents that there is some sort of promotional benefit to playing their kid in this tournament (which is ridiculous, of course). I'm not sure if this comes from the tournament people, or the fact that quite a few of the top players in the region end up playing on the Blue Chip Selects team. Anyway, I would vote that this tournament is not a money grab, but a well run spring tournament that doesn't purport to give you "exposure" to scouts or prep coaches, only to provide your kid a place to play some semi-competitive spring hockey.