As a father of two in college and one in juniors, I just want to give you parents a heads up to enjoy all of this chest pounding while it lasts. NHL Central Scouting list came out today. There are 3 MA kids in the top 220 North American skaters listed. While being in 1st place in the EHF Squirt Minor division may make you the popular guy at the bar now, enjoy it while it lasts because this current development model being used in Mass with 100 games per season isn't working and it's just getting worse.

So go on these threads and tell people their kid's team sucks, but just remember, what goes around comes around...

OK...you've got it all figured out. Thanks for the update. Anyone who thinks their kid is going to the NHL or D1 is deranged, based strictly on percentages of kids that play hockey vs the percentage that advance to each level. If your kid is good he'll be found; there are no secrets - doesn't matter where he plays.

Generally speaking the people who look at youth hockey as a means to an end will always fail to see the bigger picture. Enjoy that your kid is involved in a competitive sport /league and learning lessons that will help them in the future. If they end up playing at a high-level, and a sport helps to open doors to further their education then it's a huge win.

Very few will earn a living playing any sport but most people can recall important lessons they learned regarding commitment, work ethic and being a good person.

As the poster above indicates, the race to get 100 games in a youth season is a race to the bottom.

I think what the OP is saying is that some of these parents on here calling teams of 07's "scared" and worried about their "MHR ratings" are likely loser dads that played JV soccer in high school and are trying to live vicariously through their kids. Parents that feel the need to come on here and brag under an anonymous name that their 8 year old's team was 2-0 on the weekend and then simultaneously make fun of other 8 year old's teams while hiding behind a computer, well chances are, they're going to ruin it for their kid one way or another.

Agree completely with your point. My kid is never going to play D1, much less professional-- I want him to have the team experience and a great sport to play for life. That said, it's discouraging as a MA hockey person that our representation on national teams (men and women) and in the NHL has fallen off so steeply. Many here have talked about the causes: too many games, too many "elite" clubs, etc.

I disagree. A few years back I was at a BU hockey game. just about every kid was from Canada. If you watch that team this year there are more than a half of dozen kids from MA and 80% of the team from the US. BC also has a few MA kids and those two teams are two of the best around. Just saying more MA kids playing DI right here at home......

And all of them played Tier 1 hockey as well. Either in the AYHL or EHF.

Ping Pong or Badminton ?

Either is next to Toyota .

Great Post!

Connect Four is my thoughts

Where is the list? I want see if my kid is on it. Seriously, curious to see what ages are consider and who's on it.

Shoot. There goes my dream of my little dusty bender being a top 5 pick in the NHL Draft. Is this all really worth it?

c'mon fellow dboarders...this is some guy who has a squirt/peewee (probably from the cape) who's trying to fool you all. Sure, there are several knuckleheads out there living vicariously, but I believe the large majority are here to poke fun (mostly at the dad's living vicariously!)
You all have been duped!

You obviously don't know what Central Scouting is.

here is a real life conversation I had with my 10 year old:

Son: Dad I am going to play in the NHL
Me: I believe in you, but I hate to break it to you, the odds are stacked against you, but I will help you as best as I can.
Son: OK. Dad I am going to play in the NHL

so, I assume some of us had these conversations. I don't care what the stats - boy wants to play D1 and pros, what do you want me to say - Quit now because you never gonna make it. Ain't gonna happen. let them dream, and let them dream big.

You must be the lobbyist for the MA Select Hockey Owners Association. Keep the money train rolling baby! Hey dumb dumb, no ones telling you to have your kid to quit. The OP is telling you that once again, the MA pay to play system where everyone is "select" or "elite" has proven once again that it doesn't work. You, as an adult, are free to make whatever decisions you want about your kids youth "career." Just be prepared that this will change in about 4-5 years when someone else will be making the decision for him, and you.

I would argue that the lack of representation from New England kids on the US national teams has as much to do with the rise in popularity of the sport in the non-traditional hockey states as it does with the youth hockey model around here. It's not just Massachusetts, Michigan, and Minnesota anymore.

That being said, the model stinks and could really use some restructuring. I wish Mass Hockey would step in and define Tier 1 and Tier 2 and do away with all this nonsense of self-certifying your teams as "AAA".

If that makes you the popular guy at the bar you must hang out with some real losers! Youth hockey has never come up in one of our social outings and definitely not a league and division. My friends all played hockey in college and beyond and have kids who play hockey and not a word! I think I would get a beer thrown in my face if it even came up! That's pathetic!

You sir are a liar, you do not have two kids playing college hockey and one playing juniors. You are trying to stir the pot after the scouting list was released today.

As I have always maintained on here, if playing elite club hockey makes your kid good enough to be a top producer or captain is high school team and then play club hockey in college then it is all worth it. Most youth players will never make it that far, never mind D1 or pro.

But, obviously there are exceptions to the rule, I mean, you have three kids who have defied the odds and are playing college and one in juniors all from one family. Unless you were simply stating that they are in college and unable to play even though they were elite EHF players, then I get it. But clearly you are the same poster from the "draft prospects" thread, trying to add clout with your claims of three kids playing upper level hockey.

Get a life ! Do you even realize how disappointed your wife is upstairs while you type this stuff ???

Not the poster you're trying to rake, but his posts were in the middle of the workday, while yours was at 12:45 AM. Seems you may have been projecting a little bit about the disappointed wife?

I don't know why you would doubt if he has three kids (notice he didn't say boys) playing at a high level. That's the way it tends to work.

Because the wording was exactly the same from the other thread that they wanted to get a rise out of people, and then when that didn't work they started a new thread looking for a reaction.

and I get "the way it tends to work", but do you not see the irony in someone posting that the system is broken and nobody's kids will make it, except his three. His posting defies his own argument.

Yeah, I liked that disappointed wife line too! This coming from a guy disgruntled guy texting in the middle of the night. Classic d-board buffoonery! That's the reason I pop on here every now in then. Comic relief at its best.! And you're absolutely right about the family tree thing. Not a necessity if you have a talented and focused kid, but good family genes and a parent or parents with level heads that have played a sport at a higher level goes a long way. I know some will scoff and the leprechaun crew will stomp their feet and pout, but it is what it is. Read the bios of kids from DI or DIII. The vast majority have parents and/or siblings that play or played a college sport.

Thanks Mike!