Peer disapproval? Are you kidding? If the kids that sensitive about what his friends will think then it's a pretty easy decision. Wait a year then move on to Juniors. His friends will understand that he is trying to further his hockey career, and/or trying to improve his chances of getting a scholarship to a good school. If they don't understand, well then they're not really the kinda friends you want anyway.

You might be right. I think it's easier said than done, though. And why should only senior hockey players have to stop playing high school? Why not football players and basketball players, too? Should hockey players have to reduce there high school experience simply because, if they want to play college, they have to play Junior? Doesn't seem fair to me.

hhfan, there have a few Junior players that have stayed at their high schools and not played for them. How do you think Cardinal O'Hara team felt with Rocco Carzo in the stands as they lost to HGP in the FC finals last year. Do you think he might have made a difference in the finals? He played Junior A with the Little Flyers and was not allowed to play high school hockey. This year Tucker Edmunds sits in the stands at Haven games as he plays Jr A for the Flyers. Add him to their blueline and who knows what would happen.

Anthony Fitti for HH had to sit in the stands and watch his team in a flyers cup in 2005 and lose in the State final that year.

Slagis played for the Little Flyers Jr A last year as well.

Justin Stewart and Tom Newuman for O'hara also missed high school seasons because of that team.

That is a rule of the Little Flyers org. not to let their players play high school so its not a choice of the kids. However i do think its a good rule, those kids practice 5 times a week i believe and typically play at least 2 games every weekend. Teams in the AJHL also have a lot of travel time. So clearly conflicts would arise, but even without worrying about conflicts that is an awful lot of hockey for those kids to be playing. With the money that these AJHL teams costs the kids don't want to afford getting hurt "just playing in a regular high school game."

hhfan

I never said they "had" to stop playing, it's their choice.

Your right it's not fair. But as long as those colleges can recruit from juniors, and as long as the NHL will keep a large amount of focus on juniors then that's what a player needs to do. The reason other sports don't have to make that decision is because hockey is the only sport with a feeder program like this.

my response to both Hawk and Jigga is that I'm sorry those kids were forced by anyone, Jr. team or school, that a choice no other student at those schools was forced to make. Not athletes, band members, drama club members...no one else was forced to choose between an outside activity or a school activity. If the Jr. team required it, while that's up to them, the rest of that Jr. league to the best of my knowledge does not. In my view, it should never be the school system that requires that choice unless it does so universally, for all extra-curricular activities.

Pond -- So your view is that if a kid thinks he wants to play college hockey in his furure, he should have to forego his senior year of high school hockey and play Junior, given the state of affairs as it currently exists. Have I got it right?

quote:

Originally posted by Jigga Beef:
Anthony Fitti for HH had to sit in the stands and watch his team in a flyers cup in 2005 and lose in the State final that year.

Slagis played for the Little Flyers Jr A last year as well.

Justin Stewart and Tom Newuman for O'hara also missed high school seasons because of that team.

That is a rule of the Little Flyers org. not to let their players play high school so its not a choice of the kids. However i do think its a good rule, those kids practice 5 times a week i believe and typically play at least 2 games every weekend. Teams in the AJHL also have a lot of travel time. So clearly conflicts would arise, but even without worrying about conflicts that is an awful lot of hockey for those kids to be playing. With the money that these AJHL teams costs the kids don't want to afford getting hurt "just playing in a regular high school game."

I think you agree with me; It doesnt make any sense to me at all for a high school aged kid to play Little Flyers AJHL.

If your good enough for the OHL or USHL go for it. If not, play on one of the good midget major teams.

hgp -- How about Jr. Flyers, MJHL, or Minutemen, MJHL? Or the Empire League teams? Wipe them out, too? How about the NAHL? All you are suggesting is that Pennsylvania kids not hope to play college hockey, as reality currently exists. And I know that's not your intent. So, what's realistic?

Fist of all, the MJ around here is glorified midget major. If a player plays at a high level, say midget major and has a very successful season and believes he can make it somewhere, wether it be Division 1 or 3 or major junior he should go for it. Otherwise, just play high school and midget. Some of the players on some MJ teams are "A" players at best and are living in a false sense of reality (does that make sense?)

quote:

Originally posted by hgp fan:
I think you agree with me; It doesnt make any sense to me at all for a high school aged kid to play Little Flyers AJHL.

If your good enough for the OHL or USHL go for it. If not, play on one of the good midget major teams.

I most certainly agree with you.

So, Mandell and Jigga --
Both of you are saying that, as the reality of today exists, Pennsylvania kids should not aspire to play college hockey. Because, if a kid follows your perscription, he most certainly won't under most circumstances. The current reality is that college players today, at all levels of play, do not come out of high school or midget AAA hockey. They must also (or rather) play Junior before any D1, 11, or 111 program will even look at them.
So, I ask the question again...based on today's reality, what would you propose?

All i said was that i agree with hgpfan saying that it doesn't make sense for a high school aged kid to play for the Little Flyers AJHL.

Most of the talent that comes out of this area and goes onto to play for "real" Jr. A (USHL, NAHL, Even EJHL) than to D1 college or Major Junior's left this area playing Midgets for the Jr Flyers. Bud's team gets the exposure to his kids and gets them to the next level if they are good enough for it. From what I have heard many of the La Salle kids on Wally's team will be moving on to higher levels giving them all a better chance to eventually play college ice hockey. That VFMM team also gave their kids the same type of exposure Jr flyers players typically get if not more. So when our area's top 2 midget teams are likely moving more players to higher levels than the Jr A and Jr B teams, you start to wonder?

I know just as well as you that playing high school hockey isn't what is going to get you to the next level, but of all the players I named that missed playing high school for the AJHL team have moved on to a higher level? (with the exception of Carzo)The only point i was trying to make is if you're staying in the area anyways, why not play high school.

And Junior as well, in my view.

quote:

Pond -- So your view is that if a kid thinks he wants to play college hockey in his furure, he should have to forego his senior year of high school hockey and play Junior, given the state of affairs as it currently exists. Have I got it right?

Yes, if that's what he thinks is best for him. If not play for a strong Midget Major team. As others have said on this board, you get as much exposure playing with the Jr. Flyers or VFMM Midget Major teams as you do for any Junior team in this area.