So for what reason do you think the good players stay in the E9? Why doesn't everyone just leave and go to EHF elite if that's where it's at? E9 does have people go D1 so clearly those folks could be EHF elite if they wanted to.

There's definitely more of a pride thing when it comes to Fed/EHF. Teams often want to really let that it be known oh we're part of the EHF! Even if it's a lower gold or team that stinks. Like you should still be impressed because they are part of The Fed. In the E9 you don't seem to hear the league mentioned that much. It just comes down to what team someone plays for and that's that.

I'm even surprised these days by how often I hear oh my son plays for such and such 'elite'. It just sounds cringey. They can't just say, oh he plays for such and such team...they have to let people know the level...and the kid could be like 6. If you need to talk about something so much and throw it in someone's face you're often times trying to prove something.

This suggestion has merit. I propose that the Youth Hockey Dboard should be subcategorized as an alternative, with the following in order of priority.

1) 2014's
2) EHF>E9
3) All other EHF age groups
4) Anonymous Gripes and Trash Talk (complaining about alternates, refs, coaches, parents, programs)
5) Skills, Camps, Training & Tournament Teams
6) E9, BHL, PHL & Town
7) Random news articles that have nothing to do with youth hockey

Suggestions welcome

I see there is a whole separate forum for girl's youth hockey and prep. Why not have sub-forums for different leagues? Maybe even teams? Or maybe one for mite's since that is not real youth hockey yet they make a large part of youth hockey.

It does get lame seeing the same chest thumping dad's posting the day in the life of tween SSK, BJE, BJT and occasionally IHC elite. It's clear there's a rivalry or a we're the best attitude and I'm guessing this board might get more action if those posts had their own forum. Or perhaps the moderator enjoys that piece?

someone else could also create a new MA hockey forum I guess. As much as this forum is called 'New England' it really only seems to be MA EHF elite topics. Everything is ELITE...where can i find ELITE tournaments...omg if it's not elite my life is meaningless!

I have no problem with the forum being anonymous. Not everyone is comfortable asking questions on let's say MA hockey forum with their 'real' identity. But this place does get nasty as well because people are allowed to be anonymous which starts to take away from normal conversations.

Nothing wrong with having pride in your kids' team but much of what is spewed here regularly is not facts. And yes plenty of gossip (aka the SSK/IHC thread yesterday and a BJT fight last week)

Let's be honest. This is a tabloid. If it were TV, it would be Jerry Springer. It's why we all come here. I think the admin should have a thumbs up and thumps down option.

I get that youth hockey can be difficult to navigate but to act like one league, let alone one level is the only thing that matters seems ridiculous.

Just curious what year/program OP's kid plays for? If they are being developed, why does it matter they aren't being talked about?

What the EHF Elite has over the E9 is more depth and competition. My bender has played in both. He was a top 3 player on his E9 team which was in the top 3rd and is an average player on his EHF team that is middle third. He is not ‘Elite’ by any means. He is an average AAA player. Most EHF Elite teams have 1 maybe 2 “elite” players. Some have none. The best have 3 or 4. That being said the EHF is more competitive top to bottom (Bandits / Breakers not withstanding). Just look at the scores. Some kids develop better with better competition. However for some, playing E9 could be better for developing confidence and applying skills during a game. I think Ideally if we wanted the best hockey, programs could have AAA, AA and A teams with movement allowed for the first half of the season depending on development and performance. The kids would benefit most from that. Unfortunately the parents Egos would not develop as they want and the “business model” would fail.

I think people are missing the point. This thread wasn't started in an attempt to argue over which league is better. The issue is that this particular forum only seems to think the EHF (elite) matters and that isn't true.

The suggestion of having different forums for different leagues and teams seems like a good one. Again, this forum gives a false impression of New England hockey. The top 4 EHF elite teams aren't all that's happening.