2025 WHL Entry Draft

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Dupont is special, so you can't pass on him. Makes me curious if other medium-to-high profile players were ever passed over because of this.

I doubt it. Seattle Thunderbirds and Spruce Grove of BCHL are both owned by the HSL owner and have picked lots of HSL/JPHL Kids. I think those leagues are why Western Canada is seeing a resurgence of talent of late. Those Dupont Spartan teams were insane. Easily winning every tournament in North America.

Model is identify early and take them out of the hockey Canada streams and extreme development and icetime from an early age. Like Chinese female gymnasts or Tiger Woods or Williams sisters. Whether this is a good thing for the kids is debateable.

[Knut]

Originally Posted by fotze2

I doubt it. Seattle Thunderbirds and Spruce Grove of BCHL are both owned by the HSL owner and have picked lots of HSL/JPHL Kids. I think those leagues are why Western Canada is seeing a resurgence of talent of late. Those Dupont Spartan teams were insane. Easily winning every tournament in North America.

Model is identify early and take them out of the hockey Canada streams and extreme development and icetime from an early age. Like Chinese female gymnasts or Tiger Woods or Williams sisters. Whether this is a good thing for the kids is debateable.

I know a few kids who made those high end HSL development teams. They are coming back now to the MHA. The Coaches play the crap out of the top kids and the others sit on the bench. Travel is insane and they are not making any good friends with the families as they are so intense. Their Kids were just not having an enjoyable time. 10 year olds should NEVER sit except for discipline or injury.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Knut

I know a few kids who made those high end HSL development teams. They are coming back now to the MHA. The Coaches play the crap out of the top kids and the others sit on the bench. Travel is insane and they are not making any good friends with the families as they are so intense. Their Kids were just not having an enjoyable time. 10 year olds should NEVER sit except for discipline or injury.

Ya it’s not Kansas and is rife with its own bull crap. There is a lot of hockey for sure. My kid got called up to play on that DuPont dream team, he never has played better than and since with kids who can accept a pass and get it back. Pretty much every kid in the dub draft from Alberta played those leagues. Pue (3rd overall), Benny Oliverio, haille. The whole list.

This trope that multi sport life balance is the way. I would love to believe it’s true, but it’s not even debatable.

Hell, even Basha. His folks didn’t “believe in spring hockey”. I begged him to play with us. Then in September at tryouts they saw the delta. And he was in intense spring hockey forever more. (Same team as yakemchuk for inter at sake).

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by fotze2

This trope that multi sport life balance is the way. I would love to believe it’s true, but it’s not even debatable.

Those kids whose parents had them playing baseball and lacrosse on top of "not spring hockey" spring hockey were the ones I felt most sorry for. What about actual "life balance"? How about non-structured activities, free play, interacting with kids outside of the sports loops, or other interests?

Then there were the mental gymnastics or straight out lying about how their kid wasn't in spring hockey. I remember another parent telling me that certain retired NHL player had told him he didn't believe in spring hockey. That mofo had his own spring team for his kid, complete with jerseys with his initial on it.

[fotze2]

Originally Posted by Nancy

Those kids whose parents had them playing baseball and lacrosse on top of "not spring hockey" spring hockey were the ones I felt most sorry for. What about actual "life balance"? How about non-structured activities, free play, interacting with kids outside of the sports loops, or other interests?

Then there were the mental gymnastics or straight out lying about how their kid wasn't in spring hockey. I remember another parent telling me that certain retired NHL player had told him he didn't believe in spring hockey. That mofo had his own spring team for his kid, complete with jerseys with his initial on it.

Total liars. Its hilarious. Also that players who played high level don't do spring/summer for their kids. Bull crap. Tony Amonte was a psycho when he was here. Warrener moved back to Buffalo for a year for his kids hockey.

We were on a team with Yakemchuk and Basha in Canmore in the summer. Yak has played a tonne of spring summer hockey.

Also turns out there is a lot of time to be wasted in the summer months for these kids so ice once a day does not in any way preclude them from doing other sports and activities, plus they hang out with their close friends and they are getting in phenomenal shape and being healthy as hell.

There is a kid on Brooks Bandits that has played hockey 360/365 days a year and turns out he's really bloody good because of it.

If you are close to the NHL, 95% chance you had a crazy hockey parent or two.

[Knut]

Finally reached the "hockey'd out" point for my hockey crazed kid. Been going 6-7 hours a week of Development with him since Mid April + 4 Spring games. Have the Stampede Challenge tournament this weekend and then it slows to only 3 hours a week until the end of June. Likely take July off to golf/Kayak. Then August back to development camps.

My oldest plays too but one year in Spring was enough for him. He just wants to play with buddies. Loves the game but is content to play in the Mid-low divisions. He works his butt off on the ice but doesn't get too hung up on the wins and losses. Comes to the defense of his teammates, loves to pass the puck and buys into the team mentality. He is getting every positive out of hockey without all the negatives.

We put the time and effort in based on their lead. There is not a chance i would want to be in the rink if my kid didn't want to be there. You can tell some kids just despise it at this point. We had an exhibition game for the Spring team and a couple parents were losing their minds over their kids play. The kids were miserable. One of them told me he wants to quit hockey and play football instead.

The reality is that 99% of these kids will be playing non-contact men's league by 23.

[fotze2]

All roads lead to beer league!

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by fotze2

All roads lead to beer league!

This is so true and something I wish more parents would realize.