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Anyone know what this is talking about? I am looking to play u16 USPHL next season and have a coach that wants me and is starting a new program. It will be there first season in the USPHL u16, but will they be in this new division and what is this new division the USPHL is talking about.
LINK: https://www.usphl.com/news_article/show/864185
Simple. Two U16 teams generates more revenue than one. If you can fill two teams, why not?
Crap league to crappier league
Not sure what midget league is better then the USPHL. Prep hockey maybe? T1EHL? The USPHL has a good amount u16 players commit to division 1 schools every year.
T1EHL, HPHL and NAPHL all trump USPHL 5 times over....if your kid isn’t in the first 3 you are paying for nothing
Agreed. However I would just add that USPHL more like a 20% drop. Another big difference is total number games. When you look at the other leagues they play way more. Problem with most USPHL teams they play under 50 games. From a cost perspective hard to compare against 70 games. The key to this whole post isn’t necessarily what happened in the past, but more so what’s happening in the future. More and more USPHL teams are playing youngsters up to try to feed and NCDC. It’s hurting them because it’s watering the U16 and U18 Divisions WAY down. Most u16 teams now filled with 04/03’s and u18’s with 02/01’s. If your kid is a good 02 then spending a year in the League at the 16 level will be really bad for him. T1, HPH league and NAPHL usually pure age players within their level, which is why they are better. Just look at the rosters.
You couldn’t be more off from the truth. USPHL teams are like 2k more than most programs in other leagues and have mostly underage players. Check the rosters buddy. Great league for underagers. Not good if looking for best comp in own age group.
Great thread. Certainly at top U16 USPHL teams like Islanders, Bruins and South Kent, it is not mostly underage players. Only a handful of 02’s played U16 this past season and I’m not aware of any 03’s, although there may have been some. I’m sure someone will check rosters and let us know. For the upcoming season, there will definitely be some 03’s and there are a few 04’s playing U16. Bandits will have a couple of 04’s, several 04 Islanders are playing for Bruins, and Islanders picked up a strong 04 goalie. While the USPHL (and all the other leagues mentioned) can be a great option for underage players, I think it’s unfair to suggest the USPHL is not a good option for own aged players. The USPHL is the best local FS option. Are the teams as good as the top ones in other parts of the country? No, but they are still good. From a competition perspective, the USPHL teams will face some of the best teams in the country (and some Canadian teams), especially during the split season at BJB Shootout, Beantown, etc. These events are also heavily scouted. From what I understand, the top USPHL teams will be matched up with the top national teams at these events as part of the merged EHF Mass Selects.
Kings as a top USPHL team? Did you even look at the records from the last bunch of years? Coach is a clown and the program is a total money grab ever since SH left. Bandits? Really? They won like 3 games over the past few season and had kids who left at half way mark to play for their D3 HS...
Islanders and Jr Bruins, yes. Both had mostly 01’s and were good, but had to find other competitors outside of USPHL for good games. The new direction is for both those programs to go all 04’s and collect checks. Kings, Islanders and Bandits all moving their 02’s with any skill up to u18, which tells you what the product will really be like. Neither team can win with right aged kids so move them up? Best 02 players from Islanders, Jr Bruins, Kings, Jr Rangers and Pics all moving to Prep or T1 or other teams...01’s with any skill off to prep or NCDC, leaving a huge void at u18 level.
Come on man...just call it what it is...somewhat local, expensive and not a ton of ice. Most of the programs practice 2 or 3 days a week and ply 40 something games a year, not against T1, NAPHL or HPHL. We are glad your kid plays here and is focusing on hockey versus other things but call it what it is. Basically tier 2 hockey from most of these teams. Look at the new additions for next year. Maine Moose? Really?
Here is a data point. Monarchs came in last year and did well in the USPHL. They are getting booted from the T1 league because they couldn’t compete.
Final point. SKS rumored to be leaving and headed to NAPHL and Indy schedule due poor competition with this new direction. Hmm...play Shattucks and other midwestern teams or pound on the Bandits, 04 and 03 Kings and now 04’s from Islanders and Jr Bruins...not attractive for them from a recruiting standpoint. Sorry to hit you with real facts of what this league is becoming. Make sure you write the check though so Gallant can continue to make more millions.
Ha...sorry your kid can’t make BA
Who said Kings or Bandits are top USPHL teams? U16 Bruins played 63 games, Islanders 70, other local USPHL teams playing less. Looking at the league as a whole, there’s definitely a talent disparity between the top teams and the bottom teams.
Duh. Direct correlation between talent, # games, ranking and quality of program and coaching. Kings a huge money grab....lots of $$$ for nothing. Jr B’s and Islanders good, but from the sounds of it only for 04’s now...
You had me until the last phrase. Why does everybody think U16 is now a Bantam Major league? What a joke. Are there a few random 04’s? Sounds like it, but they will be mostly 02 teams. I’ve even heard some of the 04’s are 6ft + studs, others are high skill players and goalie is obviously a unique position. Everybody always looking for an angle.
Mostly 03's in U16...02's have either moved up to U18 or over to prep.
Very big ego's in the 03 group...mostly parents but some kids too...
Next season...no one said 02's played U18 this season....
And how would anyone know what the rosters will look like in September? Parents? Yeah, that's reliable. Kids word of mouth? Even more reliable.
Again, there was ONE 2001 on the local teams' rosters this year. Bet there won't be three 02s combined next year. These are competitive teams. They have plenty of 2000s and 2001s to choose from, and they want the best 2002s to be on their U16 teams. Do you think the U18 coach is going to take an 02 that can't make the U16 roster, or some 5'4" 15 year old?
Just like a U16 coach taking a 5'2" 100lb 04 to play on his team...
Kings u18 will have multiple 02s. Their u16’s will be mostly 03’s, couple 04’2, a few not very good 02’s. Not many 00’s left, only bad ones....
Islanders mostly 03’s and 02’s
Jr Bruins mostly 04’s and a couple 03’s. They do this every year. My son played as a Bantam major.
Bandits a mixed bag of the 13 kids stupid enough to show up to their April camp (04’s up to 02’s)
And yes, 02’s played u16 last season, 03’s played this season and they will have plenty of 04’s next season.
We’ll be able to have a more informed conversation once next year’s rosters are online. Here’s my over-under:
U18 — Mostly 01 and 00, a few 02.
U16 — Mostly 02 and stronger 03 (common for 03 to play U16 since U15 is new nationally). A few teams will have an 04 or two, many teams will have none.
04 playing U16 is the result of the hockey landscape changing dramatically at U14. Most FS teams break up with kids going SS and HS, some prep. Eighth graders in particular and some ninth graders still looking for FS options. U16 FS can be a much better option at this time than U18 HS or U19 prep, especially with the limited U14 options. Some may even go U15 if not national bound.
03's...yup....Bandits, CP Dynamo, Syracuse, Rochester...