FWIW I have a 2004 and the vast majority of 2004s played bantam minor this season (at least EHF Elite and E9 players). For the 2005s, the hockey will be good next year, just like you have gotten used to throughout the youth years. I would suggest staying put another year to work out the checking aspect of the game and play another year with your peer group.

Not that I know anything (this is my first time through), but I'm going into next year (U14) looking for a full season because I'd rather err on the side of too much hockey than too little at this age level. I just remember my age 13-14 years and how much I played and how much that helped my development. I've got him in a program that will provide practices, skills, and weight training throughout the year. He can't afford to have an off year or a year with less hockey when he's ramping up for HS, and he needs to hit the weights hard now that he'll be 14 going on 15.

Highly doubt your bender is a higher end 05. Probably not good enough to make a good Elite team, so daddy would prefer he play U14 Tier 1 to say he's playing up.

And to the 05 guy, I have no problem with your guy playing up but most 04s are going to be freshmen next year not 8th graders

Most 04s *should* be freshmen next year (2/3 of them, statistically), but many are 8th graders after having repeated a year, or will be repeating 8th grade.

It feels like I know a ton of September, October, November and December 2004s who will be in 8th grade next year! I’m not seeing a lot of Bantam Major options... seems to be going away in favor of U 14 teams!