Based upon past couple years results, MMF played man down all game, obviously they underestimated them and lost 5-6. IHC won their superbowl and its only September

I'm not even sure what you're suggesting. While the refs were horrible, MMF didn't play man-down all game. IHC had to defend against two 5-3's in the second. IHC dominated the first, played man down most of the second and then came away with a nice win.

As far as your mixed metaphor, IHC didn't win their superbowl, but it was nice to get the MMF monkey off their back. Many parents on both sides said after the game that it would be nice for these teams to play every weekend. Great competition and good hockey.

My son played prior and I stayed for part of the game... IHC was better team early and then the Refs blew the thing apart and flow was gone for both teams... pretty sure they actually put the wrong team in the box at one point on a blatant trip. might be the worst ref performance I have seen. IHC seemed to be 1 or 2 guys down most of second...! But the sh!% calls went both ways. These teams will have some good games and with any luck actually have real refs at some point. Missed the end but IHC must have made a run as they were down a couple when I left.

I stayed to Dad hahaha!!! I think i saw a few scouts in the stands they were tracking PK and PP stats... planning on giving Johnny a full ride to play college hockey and then straight to the bruins. In fact your kid is so good he should see if he can get an invite to the bruins camp next summer.., I heard they are looking for strong to quite strong pee wee's .... slow down fatty

Unfortunate that the insane parents on here don't read your post. You just made the point on here that even the sainted EHF has only a few good teams in every birth year. The rest are just fillers, roster or league or otherwise. In other words, for the most part, no matter what league he plays in, your player isn't "elite" regardless of what the guy who cashes your check tells you.

Top 4 or 5 EHF Elite teams are usually pretty competitive with one another. From there, it's a pretty sharp decline. I don't think it matters at mites, it starts to become an issue at squirts where teams are starting to get a core group of kids and by PW it's pretty evident that there are 4 or 5 teams and then the rest.

I have no solution but it would be nice to have a large number of teams at mites, fewer at squirts and by PW have 4 teams that can complete with one another and complete nationally. A Southern MA/RI, a Northern MA/NH, Western / Metro West MA and Eastern (Boston) MA teams. The revenue would be split among the EHF clubs in the area districts and the gaps could be made up by either charging more tuition or fielding another team at a lower tier. Each team would need to roster 3 full lines of F and 6 D, 2 goalies.

Southern MA / RI - Bandits, Caps
Northern MA - IHC, TG
Western / Metro West - MMF, SSK, CT Huskies(maybe)
Eastern - BJE, Terriers

MFF - on their own.

I'm sure there are many holes in this approach but I'm just spit-balling.

Some real high end talent on both teams. Then it begs the general question not just for kids on those teams but for most high end teams at that age. Is my kid better off watching kids make all the plays, or on a lesser team/league where he has more of an impact on the game.

Real answer, and long-spoken cliche, is one most parents don't want to hear.
It's better for your kid to be an impact player on the next team down.

If your kid is not getting special teams, not getting .5 PPG as a FWD, not on the ice a lot in close games and/or at the end of games......then he will likely be better off being on another team where he can do those things.

Most parents let their egos get in the way.

I acknowledge there are exceptions. I'm not saying every Elite 3rd line winger needs to play Selects....but parents should know when their kids are making an impact and developing the right way. And the best way to develop (outside of practice) is to play in the right situations more often.

Way too many parents willing to mortgage their kids development and "career" in order to chase an elite spot.

Happens all the time, and the parents will never admit it. They know deep down their kid is probably better suited for another year or 2 at the Tier 1 level but they personally can't take their kid isn't labeled "elite" and will chase an elite spot on another team. It ends poorly for these kids 9 out of 10 times, it is sad to watch.

Good point. I did this with my boy for a year and moved him down to E9. It definitely helped, got his confidence up and his point production back on track and then moved back to the FED. Not saying it's for everyone but it helped my boy.

Like I have been saying, kid struggles needs seasoning send him down to the E9 and let him gain some confidence. Once he gets that confidence or squares away the part of his came that was hurting him, bring him back up.

It is like I have been saying for months, the FED Elite is the NHL, E9 is the AHL. Some parents like this poster get it and take advantage of the resource.

Kid works hard and make it back to the show. Kid is going places.

#fedelite4lyfe