what would make someone choose a team like militia over an EHF team or BA?

Just trying to understand as I wouldn't want to take chances on a program that isn't all that well established. If you have a kid that is very good they will likely do well anywhere, but to take a chance on an independent league on a kid that is average...I don't know.

When they hit 14, the FED sinks and teams like Militia rise. 14 is when it starts mattering.

Highest ranked 2011 BHL National Team - Spartans @ 173
Highest ranked 2011 BHL American Team - Casco Bay @ 176
Highest ranked 2011 EHF UG Team - PHC Upper @ 152

I have checked.

If these teams are really that good and the model of theee “independent” teams is so amazing, why do the kids that play on these teams play as alternates on other teams as well? There are alternates on teams in both EHF and E9 from these teams. It’s all fake news that these parents believe in this independent model.

What could you possibly be navigating except finding a good coach, teammates and parents to share your journey with. If you think the hockey actually matters you need to reevaluate your situation.

Not good hockey compared to what?

I think the original post was asking about EHF, E9, BHL & PHL. This proves these teams do play good hockey because the E9 is good hockey and the EHF T1 Platinum is good hockey. They are in direct competition with them.

Spot on. If you took all the truly elite players from one birth year would you even be able to make 1 or 2 full teams? Then you have a level of really skilled players that can support those elite players. It falls off from there and so why bother playing club when most towns have multiple levels of teams that can support these kids. You think the coaching is better? Not always. I've seen town coaches that are hands down better than club coaches. It really is an ego problem with the parents or the parents not really understanding what they are buying.

I didn't say the town teams were competitive or at all on the same level as a true club/select team. I didn't mean to imply that. What I meant was that more kids should stay in town where the level of play and coaching is better suited to their abilities vs having the upper gold, lower gold, etc bs. If more kids did that, you'd have more evenly skilled town teams instead of the wide gaps you see now. However, you occasionally (rarely) see some towns where they do have a majority if not all club level kids and those are the best town teams that year. You're right though that the better club kids start to leave town because it becomes a waste of time and money and they pick up bad habits.

You people realize that there are WAY more kids playing hockey now than there were when we were kids right? More kids = more teams = more leagues. Also a larger talent pool means more high-end kids, breading more competition and ultimately making the game better. In case you haven’t noticed the skill level in the NHL is far higher now than it was even 10 to 15 years ago.

If you don't think there are more kids playing hockey now vs the hayday of the MBHL you are completely tapped.

This data shows a similar increase (5000 kids) between boys and girls over 20 years.

Hilarious reading posts from parents who actually mine data on youth teams and how they are ranked. Nobody outside the parent group cares. It does not matter to anyone. Losers

STFU. That is the reason everyone comes here. No one wants to hear about NESHL which no one has heard of until today. It is silly that people join these new leagues and pay. Why do we need a new league with 4 already. They need to consolidate. People don't join this league of garbage teams. The poster above was right some teams were competitive with UG and crappy platinum. At that point just go to FED UG or platinum. You also have the E9, BHL, and PHL.

I don't think it's a league. I think it is a single 2011 division. Seems like these teams just got together and created their own thing. There is nothing at any other level. I also think that some of these posts are saying that they are better than said BHL, T1 UG, G, PHL as well as most T1 Platinum and E9.

Is the league really that important? Why not just find a good team with a good coach near your house and go from there? A league doesn't make someone a better player.

I had never heard of NESHL until this thread, but based on its name I assume it's just a second team/extra ice time for these players. Nothing wrong with that.

Why do people laugh at or always put down any league that isn't the fed here? Should the fed be the only league in existence?

You can change club teams as often as you want, but you are expected to attend practices and games when you are with a team.

Why hate club? Seems to work. All greats played club. Don't let the press fool you into thinking these people played town. Kids that are good want to play against other good kids. Town doesn't offer that. Watch FED elite and town and tell me you don't see a difference. Towns need to figure out how to coexist. New leagues are dumb just play town.

Elite level club isn't the problem at all, in fact it's great that the better players get the opportunity to play against equal competition. The depth of club is the problem, at a certain level all of the kids in the lower leagues should just be playing town - which will actually improve town development because it will re-centralize the talent again and stop it from being so diluted across BHL, rainbows, phl, etc.

What, why are you triggered?