Then move to New Bedford!


Boys Hockey: With a shortage of players for next season, the program at New Bedford High could be in jeopardy

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/sports/20170216/boys-hockey-with-shortage-of-players-for-next-season-program-at-new-bedford-high-could-be-in-jeopardy

We had the varsity debate at practice the other night. Make Varsity and not get much play time and could be significant difference in size or play JV/full season U14? Thoughts?

How about bagging public HS and playing full season U14, U15, U16, U18? Better development path than the majority of publics.

I think it depends on the HS. There are some very good JV programs at some HS's while other's not so much. If there is a good JV program, solid coaches,18-20 games, and a set practice schedule....that's more than enough (and it's free). The kids start to learn the coach's system's, they get to know teammates and make friends, and they get a taste of playing against some older bigger kids. At some point the kids need to get away from being in a bubble, play out of their age bracket, and start to become young men.

New Bedford is in a tough spot, just like all of the big public in that area,

First off the school system is such a mess that none of the kids go there solely for sports anymore, However New Bedford has to have the biggest decline ever in the history of high school hockey.

This team was a multiple time Top 20 team in the state several years ago, playing in states, sending numerous players to college, juniors, preps and pro. The drop off is amazing.

Care to share where there are these "good JV programs?" 'Cause I don't know of any.

U14 is tough year. In both the FED and the E9 the first half of the season is pretty good hockey. It is what you are used to if you grew up playing club. After Thanksgiving it is a completely different story.

If you are on a full season team and your coach does a good job putting together a solid team that can compete in the first half one of two things will happen:

1) More kids than you expected will be gone to play high school. Varsity, JV whatever. Kids who claim they are even trying out decide to and then they are gone. You have 9 kids at practice and games. Random kids show up to fill in on the days you can't get 9. There is one good team in your league with a full bench that kicks your ass.

2) You have the one full team inn your league and every game you show up to has an opponent with 8 kids that you blow off the rink.

I think U14, U15, U16 full season is on the horizon in New England, it is just not here yet. It would definitely be in the best interest of the development of New England players, but the draw to play in front of high school buddies is just too strong, either for the kids themselves or their parents.

The state of high school in Massachusetts is in a real decline. If you go watch the hockey IQ and skill level of the public schools, it is just not on par with what you are used to seeing in club hockey. The Catholics are a little better, but the top Catholics are not near what they were even a few years ago.

One option that you have, and you should keep in mind:

1) Play on the best 1/2 U14 team that you can.
2) Tryout for your high school team if that is a viable option.
3) if you are happy with the results of HS tryouts , then play high school.
4) If you are not happy, make a few phone calls to full season teams and you will easily find somewhere to play. Almost every team is looking for players.

The Biggest and most important thing for the U14 and U15 year is to take a deep breath, relax, adjust your expectations. Things will be different, but it will be ok. There is still a lot of time to make it to whatever your child's final goal is.

Suggest you come out to Blaine, MN this time next year and tell me that full season isn't "here yet" in New England. The quality of hockey on display leaves any - yes, any - public HS hockey program in the dust.

MN is the best for sure. Not even close! Not sure your point about OP saying that FS Midgets "not here yet"? It is not here yet and how does that relate to MN?

T1EHL full season playoffs are this weekend in Blaine. 48 teams (U16 and U18) from across the country, including teams from MA and NH.If you're wondering where your kid should play in HS, and you put these games side by side with your public HS team, there won't be any doubt from a development and hockey experience perspective.

Agreed in part; NH Monarchs u16 / u18 is a very nice alternative to poor HS hockey. BA is better for sure but still not better than Prep hockey ( see results vs prep school teams ) and probably the same or a little better than CC hockey.

Jr Bruins are a nice alternative. The USPHL upper half is good hockey, lower half not so much. Their Mass selects schedule and out of league games makes them the best bet.

My kid is in 7th grade. He will play varsity next year in private school.

You must be very proud.

And totally delusional.

Don't get sarcasm?

For $50k, you too can get your kid on varsity as a freshman!
(also sarcasm)

Very familiar with the prep school circut. 8th grade is still middle or lower school. Can't think of any prep day schools with hockey for 8th grade. Unless your kid is a 16 year old freshman (I've seen it happen)?

Exactly how "familiar" are you? I've seen 8th graders playing varsity in several top prep programs. And not just playing, playing top line/pair.

Any reason you'd draw a distinction between day and boarding? But I know quite a few day prep schools that offer 7th / 8th grade hockey. Rivers, St. Seb's, Belmont Hill (very small boarding population, no 7th or 8th), Nobles (doesn't offer boarding to 7th or 8th)...Should I go on?

Belmont HIl has 6th-8th as well. They have a 5th , 4th and 3rd team along with JV, and V.

You make it sound like a 16 year old Freshman is rare. An "on time" Freshman with a birthday in the first half of the year turns 15. So any kid with a Jan - June birthday - as the majority of elite hockey players do - that repeated anywhere along the line, whether it was 1st grade or 9th (very common for boys out of a public HS to be asked to repeat academically), will turn 16.