are u kidding ..... with all the crap the ihc puts on the ice with their girls. For a decent boys org how does ihc have so MANY bad girls teams. If someone does it right there are plenty of good girl players. Warriors have never gone into the BS of 3rd and 4th teams so why wouldn't they succeed with 1 girls team while ihc just takes checks from 300 girls.
Advantage tried girl teams a couple of years ago and folded. So did the terriers. The breakers are entrenched on the south shore and field four teams for a lot of the age categories.
Seems ridiculous. I know nothing about girls hockey but how can so few have such a large say in who gets to form and maintain a program? Hoping it works out for Americans and Advantage
That was when they didnt have anyone to play... now they can play VJW, Americans, Knights, Advantage.. maybe express will now have someone to play as well.
They should reach out to the Wings. My daughters team played their U19 team last year and they were the best team we played all year, though I am sure they will be in the league this year now. I'm with that post above though I hope it works out for Americans, Advantage and whoever else. More the merrier at this point in girls hockey.
I am still playing catch up. How is it possible there is a single select league when some of these programs have 4 or 5 teams like someone said at each level? What is the benefit of those kids on the low teams. I guess I just dont understand how it is structured I guess and the website is confusing. Are there tournaments for the low teams out there or just the higher ones? Is it worth it overall? Why not just play town hockey at that point? What program has the best coaches?
Sorry don't know the ins and outs of girl's hockey but have 2 daughters about to be 9 and 7 and would like some more information. This thread has been useful though unlike most others on this site.
You hit nail on head with NEGHL. The thing to remember for all these programs(yes some are way bigger than others) is that National at each age group is considered Elite/tier 1 in the girls game (there is no diff like in boys between T1 and elite) The American whether it be upper/middle/lower (that all depends on how many teams, etc.) are all tier 2.
Anything below that you are exactly right that it is same as town (tier 3) girls hockey and the only reason to do is if A. you have money to burn and/or want the better ice times that town teams don't have (ya know 6 am games) as well as to say your girl plays in a more structured and of course organization.
Now here's the other thing to be mindful of. There is a tier 1 and 2 state tournament at end of years. Other states outside of mass have same thing called regionals. HOWEVER, each organization can ONLY send 1 team per tier to states/regionals. So you will never see 2 breakers or wizards in tier 1 as that is reserved for each programs top team and is legit. Typically those teams the better ones anyway are 'mostly' made up of the older birth year (another difference from boys in that in each group you can have the better of the 2 age groups playing for top team) but it usually is the older ones. At tier 2 this is where you need to be careful. Many of the bigger programs list like 2 or 3 tier 2 teams yet only 1 can get into the states/regionals. the better one is typically mostly made up of the better younger year girls kind of like a pipeline for next years tier 1. So if a team has 2-3 tier 2 teams in the AMERICAN hope you get the one with the higher slot of the group bc that will be the one that goes to states, the others sit home and are really paychecks on skates...They also will play in less competive tourneys during the season.