Listen, lay off the steady diet of lead paint while your watching Fox news genius...This has nothing to do with Socialism, or every kid becoming an "elite athlete" but of course you look it at that way because you're 'obsessed with your 11 year olds hockey" and "competition"-I suggest looking inward as to why that is. Some of us just want our kids to have fun and have the best long term shot at developing. And oh btw no one is trying to take your new money retirement fund so save the political rhetoric for your pompous office conversations and FB posts.

The community based model, tax-payer funded or not is an overall better system based on the numbers, and it produces better hockey players and provides more access to the sport for all. I know I know, that comes into direct conflict with your survival of the fittest belief even if it's a child at stake, sorry. Do yourself a favor, take a look at the list from the most recent USA national development team. Assuming Googling something is competitive enough for you, there were two kids from MA, and 9 from MN. The two from MA went to $50k+ elite high schools while the MN kids played mostly for their local high school...Facts are the facts, MN model is better, especially at the youth level. Coaches don't even pick the teams at the youth level, they use 'placers' to come in for tryouts. I personally don't believe business transactions should be handled outside the market, but I prefer as little business/Politics in youth sports as possible. Facts are the facts, and prove the MN model to be the better system for development and the child's overall experience and enjoyment of the game itself. I'm sure it's not without it's flaws.

So booyah keep teaching your kid to be overly competitive instead of a team player and watch how life treats him. No Coach cares where your kid played before 13-14 years old anyway. Your kid will probably make a lot of money, just like you (and feel compelled to share that point with everyone), but what good is all that money when he has zero friends to share the extra time it will provide and he ends up a beer leaguer because you taught him life is a competition.

Let's keep all that in perspective next time you're checking to see if my wife is hotter than yours at the rink numnuts.

Read this article as an example of what I said in my last post:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2011/04/11/money-power-and-a-culture-clash-in-minnesota-youth-hockey/#1c7c7c3148c0


Read this article if you want to know why OUR development model sucks and we've ruined the sport here:

https://www.stateofhockey.com/news_article/show/894956-hockey-is-different-here

Hockey is not for most people due to cost & time. In other news water is wet.

Call me crazy but when people ask me this very question. My response is always the same. My son has a passion for hockey and absolutely loves being on the ice. He loves it no matter what, practice, skills, open skate or games. As he has gotten older he now loves the competition of the sport as well. He has a desire to play in HS (public or private) whatever his skill level allow. As a 12 year old boy he dreams of college and nhl but realistically he knows it is a long shot at best. I call it an investment in his happiness; friendships; and a life time of memories.

By the way, he is not on an elite level team but it is not because he did not make it. He chooses to stay with his team that he has played many seasons with. He has awesome coaching who work hard to develop all the kids. I supplement the lower level (T1) of play with skills.

We all need to keep it in perspective.