you seriously don't make any sense. so you say there are more quality players in private than in public. greater concentration equals greater depth equals better hockey. I agree the prep like everything in NE hockey is diluted, but your argument makes zero sense.

coaches are recruiting individual kids, not third or 4th lines.

Every time the prep vs. public discussion starts, the prep haters come out of the woodwork. Then you turn the lights on, and they go scurrying away.

Guess what, Sluggo, my kid is a current Keller Div. player. I think that means I DO in fact know a little bit about the current landscape.

The better of his teammates - his current teammates - have D1 commitments. How many on your kid's public HS team do? How many have left to go play prep for two years?

Others, like my kid, have interest being shown but haven't decided. We personally don't see any advantage to doing a verbal, as he's still growing and his play is still improving.

Yes, some will probably have to play Juniors after they graduate - my kid, too - and I have a feeling some prep players will start to leave school and go to the USHL. Leaving the NTDP out of the equation for simplicity, some kids from my kid's birth year are going already, but from the publics and Full Season teams. Not yet from top preps. But, just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it isn't going to start.

Midget tournaments? Have you looked at the rosters? almost all of the best kids on the best half season/tournament teams are current prep players. Yale, Cape Cod Whalers, River Rats, all Prep players.

I was able to find the Whalers U16 and U18 line charts on MHR. 39 players. 37 Prep. 2 from CC. That leaves zero public players.

Do you still want to have this debate?

Oh, I get it Sluggo....I get it. O.K. your kid play prep hockey then I see where you are coming from.

Without beating my chest too much (Wow! a current Keller Div. player!) my older boy had a pretty good high school, junior and current college career so I have no ax to grind or tuition payment to justify. He also played on a couple of the teams you mentioned so yeah I know a bit about it. I also know who coaches the teams and where they tend to find players, relax. You come on here acting like prep hockey is what it was years ago and it's the only place to play and it's clearly not. Kids do not go from prep to D-I college like you claimed; THEY ALMOST ALL GO TO JUNIORS. How do you get to juniors? It doesn't matter and you can get there through publics, catholics, preps and now through the junior teams own programs. Come to grips with it. I know you are spending a boat-load to get your kid a high school education and a couple years of juniors isn't cheap but good luck to you.

Granted Im not there just yet with my boys, if I can get a FA package at a prep and not have to pay tution for hockey how is Prep not the best option? Solid education/life experience and good hockey seems to make sense.

Agree 100% Plus it can get the little bugger out of the house sooner!

Seems like 100% FA package is a rare thing at most schools though - yes?
If so, the real question is, if you have to pay 40-60% tuition (with partial FA package), is it STILL worth making the jump.

I don't think you can put a price on a great education for your kid .

Man you're living in the past. In the past 6 years it's pretty safe to say that the majority of kids that played D1 played Junior hockey either in the USHL, USPHL or a few in the NAHL. Prep is now just high school hockey to get the kid ready for Juniors.

Wasn't trying too be funny at all. Not sure why you would think you can speak for me.

What I was going for was that the "Mickey Mouse" reporter decided to do a story based on the kid having a non-traditional hockey background. Think he does the same story on a kid from Coral Gables?

Doesn't look like D Boarders know much about journalism. THN is hardly a "Mickey Mouse" publication.

M I C....see you real soon!...K E Y........M O U S E.......Mickey Mouse

More important in that article and something that USA Hockey has pushed with this kid is the fact that he never played on a full season "Elite" team prior to this.

The key to having a future "star" kid - is the type of aftermarket rims Daddy sticks on his Escalade. Spinning Gold ones guarantee Division 1.

Funny story. First they point out "Randy Hernandez isn't the son of a famous NHLer" to try to show there was no nepotism which USA Hockey has long suffered and then the go to great lengths to point out he's a Florida kid (untapped market), a hispanic kid (untapped race), who had little access to playing on good teams (USA Hockey love$ town hockey growth).

So basically the story states "see it wasn't the troubling nepotism of loading-up with legacy kids that has plagued USA Hockey (and most of hockey in general) in the past rather it was a self serving political pick which we need more of for the sport of hockey to grow (read: membership due$) the sport in the U.S."

Good luck to the kid and good luck to USA Hockey's PR efforts.

Spot on!