AAA summer hockey for kids

[CroCop]

Has anyone one here had or have experience with any of these programs/teams. I,m looking for info and opinions and which programs are available in Alberta.

[Sample00]

yup, been there, done that.
not a great experience.
We dealt with Canwest AAA Allstars
Wolverine AAA as well.
both are in the Edmonton area.
Most of the team is already picked prior to the "tryouts" there is typically only a spot for a few kids (less than 5) per team.
its a good experience if you want your child to go up against some of the best players in the area and for that reason its good to spend the 100 bucks for the ice time for the tryouts. I think you get 5/6 ice times.
but, be prepared to travel every single weekend from April til July 1st.
cost is usually $1000.00 for the season. tournaments, hotels, flights etc are extra.
personally, I wouldnt do it again. it takes too much time away from kids doing other things besides hockey.
I like seeing my kid playing baseball or golf etc. Having said that though, I have a bit of a sour taste in my mouth from it.

[MolsonInBothHands]

Yup my son has been involved in the Foothills AAA for a couple of years, and everything Sample has said applies to programs down here. What year is your child? I know there was a new program out of Strathmore that was looking for 98's to try out.

[Berger_4_]

My younger brother is playing again this year (damn kid and his much better hockey playing abilities) out of Sedgewick...which I think is Foothills...I know he had a heckuva time last year (same with the parents/older siblings...camping+hockey=awesome weekends). I think there's supposed to be a team starting in Camrose as well, but I wouldn't recommend siging up for that one, as the guy who's running it is a complete dick.

But yeah, if the kid can play at that level (and the money isn't an issue) I'd sign him up. It was astounding to see how much better all of the kids got. It's amazing what playing with kids your own skill level can do for you.

And Sample, is it true that the Wolverines ask for a 3000 dollar check as soon as your kid makes the team?

[Tyler]

I hate to say this, but AAA summer hockey is a detriment to kid's development.

Get him out playing ball or golfing in the summer. By October he's just going to be run-down and injury prone. Gretzky, Cherry, and lots of prominent hockey minds have all said this.

I remember playing summer hockey and it was terrible. You get a the culmination of parents who, unlike during the season where they're primarily there because the kid wants to play, its parents who think their kid is going to make the NHL - which is never enjoyable.

That and they think their kid is entitled to the world because they just cut a check for some outrageous amount of money to play an extra two months of hockey.

[Berger_4_]

Must have been the team you were on. Where my brother was, it was a great time. Nobody pressured him in to going an playing, and he signed up right away again. Of course there's the odd bad egg parents who think their kid is a superstar and is headed to the show. I dunno, maybe it's a big city thing

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

And Sample, is it true that the Wolverines ask for a 3000 dollar check as soon as your kid makes the team?

no, I have no knowledge of that.
my son got scouted by the Wolverines at the time and when we went there, he had a case of the nerves. it was second year Novice.
there were only two goalies invited, my son being one of them. The coach from Drayton Valley was and still is a dick!. He chose to go with one goalie because there was another kid on the team that could play goal if he needed him. He wanted to have the extra skater on the roster.
I think under the right circumstances it might have been a good experience for my son, but as it was, it wasnt meant to be.

[Berger_4_]

Oh okay...that's what I'd heard, and if so...wow...sports are good and all but come on. 3 grand plus hotels, equipment, gas...yikes. Some families have too much money.

And it's too bad to hear what that coach did to your son, but it seems that the better the level of hockey, the bigger chance you have of meeting some real dicks and/or a**holes. Which is too bad really. I'd think that's what burns the kids out on hockey more than actually playing. It's the fact that a lot of the coaches (and some parents) take it way too seriously. Hope my kids only ever have to deal with me screaming at them in the car on the way home

[cgy2london]

Played Three seasons with the Southern Alberta Selects. Would really reccomend it. for young kids, playing that level gives them much better competition than Calgary Minor Hockey Div 1. I played both seasons in pee wee, and my 1st in Bantam. It was one of the biggest factors, if not the biggest factor in me being able to move into AA/AAA and eventually signing pro.

I know lots of ppl that are against it. Especially at the older ages. I wouldnt suggest doing it into Bantam as thats when kids are needing to be getting ready for there dub camps. And working out, and training in a gym is probably a better tactic then taking the 17 hour bus ride every weekend at that age. I do also know many guys that prefered to play a summer sport, like soccer but from my experience getting to play at that level was a huge oppertunity for me. Be careful though, especially at the young age, many kids can get worn down, and eventually get Mono. This was the case for many kids when i was playing.

At the end of the day i still say two thumbs up for summer hockey, just out of intrest sake are the big three still Rockies, Selects, Elite? Top guns still as terrible as ever? Naa was also always good in my day, Chipcherra was unstopable with them when i was playing