Slapshot,

http://www.iceline.info/Flyers/tryouts08/structure2008.htm

Says Airfare to Madison tournament only. Please point out where it says tournament fees and bus fees are included. Lists 4 of the 7 will have team buses, doesn't say it's is free.

Says Tuesday Summit, so Summit once a week. I know our club does two a week with Velocity.

Practices 2 times a week, I know several Jr teams 3 practices a week.

Throw all the travel expenses out the door for now, if my son can have 4 extra dryland and 4 extra practices a month for six months for only $700 more.

I know our Jr team videos games, practice jerseys, helmets, gloves, shells, socks, game jerseys, decals, bags, trainer for home games (away games supplied by away team so always a trainer to help) all included.

We also attended most of the same showcases as the Jr Flyers just in a different bracket.

I'm not knocking what Bud does, I'm just knocking the price. You can do it cheaper and keep that money for college or whatever else you like to do. Maybe even strippers?

Are you saying Tristate charges $6000? For this money it includes all buses and all tournament fees, no hidden costs like summer fees, fund raising etc. if so that is pretty good.

Just a question why so many guys on roster http://www.tristateselects.com/info/jb_roster.asp?page=jb_roster looks like 42 names listed most hardly played any games?

That's because Jr's is not youth hockey, you don't pay and play. If you don't perform you can get limited ice time or be scratched for games just like in college. But you still have all your practice and dryland to work hard and improve. Some kids can't deal with it or parents can't deal with it and leave. Some kids move in trades, some up and some down.

Kids can also move from C, to B to A or vice versa according to play. Example: 92 from Syracuse moved mid season from B to A.

Bus/Vans are included for all trips 100 miles like Atlantic Jr teams. For TriState 99% of away games are over 100 miles unlike Atlantic teams which have so many local games not covered under transportation. Some Jr teams require the kids travel on buses at added expense for these games under 100 miles, not TriState.

We don't attend tournaments, they are showcases and they usually double as league games if the team is in the Empire so no additional charge.

I've never seen fundraising at any home games or practices.

There is an optional Summer program which includes practices, showcases. But that's the same for any Midget program, when we skated VFMM and JrPhantoms/Comcast summer hockey was extra $$$ and extra expenses. Last years summer showcase teams was a mix of kids from the team, kids looking at the team and some kids just looking to goto the showcases.

Does Bud's team do summer/spring showcases? I did see other local Jr teams at the showcases we attended but they were Jr B showcases not Midget ones. I don't see mention of Summer stuff on the link, just Fall/Winter.

Slapshot,

BTW you will see kids like Justin Farrell listed twice, he came back from prep school and skated with several teams over a few weeks then he decided to play for VFMM where they had a goalie position open and to play with some old teammates. He played a few games for TriState.

slapshot,

I heard they had a good turnout for buds team and some good players went over, who ended up making the squad?

Comcast had a good turnout of kids but I heard a Majority were AA kids, not many returning AAA kids from U18. Few from U16 AAA, they were calling around trying to get some players who left to come back.

good turn out about 75 for juniors on rink #3 and 73 for midget majors on rink #1 16U looked about 25. some minutemen players, some little flyers, comcast one reading other rest jr flyers. had a goaltender from austria fly in for the tryout he did not make bud's team but made the Jr B team. I can hear the high school bitching already LOL

summer stuff: 3 practices then shootout at ice line (if enough teams at no cost) and about 15 practices and 3 day mini camp then august tournament included in winter fees.

wow... cash cow on those tryouts..