They're being facetious. It's a good question. Why are the Chicago and Detroit teams so much better from PeeWee on? Does it start at the Mite level?

And, we are going to that model. USPHL announced that are going to have tuition-free Junior hockey next year. For that to happen, the stronger youth teams from the Fed are going to have to be absorbed into the USPHL to support the economics. They can't do it through ticket sales.

The "sell" is, Johnny is better off being fourth line on Jr. Bruins and competing against super-regional competition than first line on Worcester Sharks. They will point to the record of success when that model is used - '97 SSK, '00 and '01 MMF that were competitive against anyone in the country. And, the best of those kids are 1st round NHL draft picks, D1 players/commits, NTDP players. Bring the best Mites together, keep them together, play fewer games and do more skills at the younger levels. Your kid will get noticed more, improve more, and you, Mom and Dad, will have more bragging rights than you do today.

Rarely do the 'best Mites' make it to Bantams as anything more than average...unless they have the right family tree.

Yes, absolutely, but go play Belle Tire or Little Caesars or Chicago Mission and tell me that their system doesn't work.

I have a limited understanding of what they do differently at the Mite and Squirt levels, but my guess is that they start with the best "mites" and as some don't develop they are replaced with some that do. But, the core stays reasonable stable, which we don't see that much here, with some limited exceptions.

My 09 player is the best munchkin eater after games. By far. He's AAAA Platinum.

They start with the best kids at an early age and focus on skills to develop them with an eye towards making them the best players at 14 and beyond. They don't chase wins at mite or squirt.

Don't kid yourself. They start with the kids of parents that are silly enough to pay $3000 for mites to play full ice, when they should be playing small ice learning to stop & start and actually touch the puck once in a while.

I think you're confusing the Massachusetts model with the anywhere but here model.

My 2010 is "playing up" with the 09's this season....I'm sure you have heard about him already.

Oh yeah him...I read about him on one of those scouting websites that you pay $60 a month to have access to.

My 09 is going to be a POWER ranger for Halloween. Red Ranger.
C'mon. get real

Most of those kids will not stay with the sport once they figure-out a D-1 full ride in lacrosse is a fraction of the work as it is with hockey.

More importantly, the best 09's in the area haven't discovered hockey yet !!