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Old 02-05-2013, 07:51 PM   #25
Derek Sutton
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The OP was in regards to spring hockey, which is a whole different can of worms then minor hockey, so lets stick to that, I will outline some of the differences. Spring hockey is essentially unsanctioned, meaning no residential rules regarding where kids play. Also no governing body such as Hockey Alberta to handle discipline, officiating, game times etc... As well most spring clubs are private "for profit" businesses.

I became involved in spring hockey in 2006 with a 6yr old. Back then there were only a handful of teams around. Top Guns, S A selects, Foothills Elite and the Wolverines. It was at the time considered AAA. Less then three years later there were nearly 10 teams. The focus was no longer on giving kids high level competition which really lackss until pee wee in many areas, but on, making money and parents trying to avenge hurt feelings. anyone with an ice time and 12 friends with kids became a AAA spring team. If your kid was cut from one team you just went to a different team, or stated your own. If a coach benched your kid, you just went to a different team or started your own. Spring hockey, like so many other kids activities became a showcase for the parents. Back in 2006 local tournaments such as the Stampede Challenge and the showdown in in Cowtown were top level competition having 6 or so teams in each age group with teams coming from Vancouver, Minnesota etc... 2009 would feature 8 teams in three divisions in nearly every age group tiered in to gold, silver and bronze no longer AAA, the teams were nearly all from Alberta as well. The the hockey was no longer elite competition.

Spring hockey tournaments are a full time job for the promoters, as the linked article mentioned. The same groups run tournaments all over from Edmonton to Winnipeg to Las Vegas which are usually poorly organized, poorly officiated and. There sole objective is to make money, and parents don't seem to care.

The costs vary from club to club depending n the number of tournaments, ice times and amount of travel. As well as track suits, jerseys bag, gloves etc.. but what has also happened over the years is that teams have a core of 12 or so players that play together and form the team, funding and all. When they go to a tournament they will bring in 2-4 star players who play for free because they want to win. The parents of the core 12 have bank roll the ringers in their original fees they pay at the start of the year. This has become the norm. I know first hand on several occasions where kids have gotten all expense paid tournaments air fare, food and hotel.
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Last edited by Derek Sutton; 02-05-2013 at 08:08 PM.
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