Agree, talk of the Vipers entering the EHF Elite is no longer anything more than a pipedream.

Its funny how people get so worked up over this. They played some of the best teams in the region. Just because they didn't win all their games doesn't mean they aren't a decent team.

Normally I would agree with you. The Vipers are a BS organization. They coach the kids to head hunt, and play some of their games in the worst rink in the area, if not the country. From some of the posts here, it sounds like they cheat on their roster, too.

I have zero desire to have my kid play against this franchise.

Not sure about other levels but in defense of the vipers 06 team, they beat up on all the teams in the black division. My Son plays for another EHF team but even I have wondered why they don't let them put teams in Elite. The 06 team would have crushed the bottom teams in the elite division. Probably would have finsished in the middle of the pack in Elite. I suspect the issue must be with their other levels as to why they are not being let in. Given credit due, they were a very good team last year and they year before

With the Bandits not competing at the 06 elite level this year I thought this was a good chance to move a team up and the vipers would have been a good choice to move up on at least a one year probationary period. Having heard that the 6th place Caps skated circles around them I disagree with your assertion that they would crush the bottom half of the elite division. They might get 1 win each off of the caps,kings,falcons and top gun but on the whole they would be the ones to be crushed. My advice would be to enter tournaments that have elite level teams in it. At least that way they can get some competition during the season

You just mentioned closed to half of the division. Hence, "they would finish in the middle of the pack" I suspect they would be beaten but most of the upper half but they would not be crushed by most. Unfortunately, the only teams the upper team really crushed were the bandits

Get over yourself. Talking about a big head.

I know 06 parents invented hockey, so I can't believe you're really this ignorant. Elite has nothing to do with which teams have talent, it's about programs that have a seat at the table. That's why there are so many crappy elite teams (to go along with a lot of crappy tier 1 teams) in both the EHF and E9/BHL. Nothing new here. It's all about the money. The Vipers and other like them came late to the table and weren't a founding EHF member (or E9 for that matter, which is why they jumped to the EHF to begin with) and have major "territorial" issues with other programs, so they will never be given a seat at the table in either league no matter what the coaches are promising. Only way the Vipers or any other non-founding member of either league is going to get a regular seat at the elite table is to start their own league. And honestly, as long as a program can field 3 teams per division no matter how crappy the hockey is, the owners could care less what division their teams play in. Its all about your money.

"I know the 06 invented hockey" So clearly you are not an 06 parent so why are you so concerned with this post? And as far as all the "crap" team in 06...why do you care and how do you expect 9 year olds to perform. I'm sure you 11 year old is already committed right? Because you must have something to compare it to. You must have been to your kids game when he was 9 to know how it was like going to a real bruins game and this is what you are comparing 9 year old to, right? SMH

Every ten years there arises a crazy group of parents. . . the new '96 parents of youth hockey have landed, please take them to your leader.

They have two really good kids that probably shouldn't be playing there. After that, they'd be a middle to lower team in BHL or black Tier 1.

You have no idea what you are talking about