they were one of the few programs that didn't enter the e9 at the mite level, and consequently got behind the 8 ball..kids didn't wan to go there to play cross ice games- so it's been an uphill battle for them. elite team is much more competitve now, despite their record. i bet the will be good in the next year or so
I think 05 is different. both Elite and Select were strong last couple of years and blew up before this season. 06 teams have been at bottom for last few years.
I think the 06 team turned over the roster this season. They looked like a completely different group of players compared to last year. With that said, they have a handful of top level kids on the 06 team, but there is no depth. Only about 5 or 6 kids on that 06 team play at an elite level, the rest struggle. But the coaches have them skating hard, by the looks of their scores they aren't getting blown out anymore like they were last year. When they came to our rink we were expecting a cakewalk. We won, but they gave us all we could handle. I think its moving in the right direction albeit slowly. Not sure if those coach's will be given another year to get it right though. Their 07s are as good as any 07 team in Mass.
Surprised to see ECW06 finished 2nd at the VJW's Thanksgiving tourney. Low level competition for sure, but eh... baby steps. Definitely a step in the right direction.