I think some of the more recent posters should re-read my original post. It almost looks like you don’t want the facts to get in the way of your opinions. I think the swing policy should be more liberal for teams with 28 to 34 players. In addition, I have no problem with coaches moving junior varsity players up for a varsity game for any reason. However, when a student can play 18 to 24 varsity games and 18 to 22 junior varsity games, said student is not a junior varsity player or even a swing player, he is a varsity player! Accordingly, when there is a varsity/junior varsity conflict and the student plays for the varsity team everyone, including Carl Wood should agree the student is a varsity player!

I know for a fact that four teams in the Lower Bucks League used the same students for all varsity and all junior varsity games last year except for conflicts between the two teams. The league allowed that so I am not saying anyone cheated. I am saying the Lower Bucks should have said that once a junior varsity player plays a certain number of varsity games he is a permanent member of the varsity team. That’s 4 out of the league’s 7 teams that I know about. The other three teams may have done the same thing as it was permitted. but I only know of the four. I think that’s more than 50% of the league, not the 1% sm14 is talking about.

I am not picking on the Lower Bucks League as most of this boards members knows of my fondness for the lower Bucks League. The Lower Bucks League is not the only league to allow this as all the leagues allowed this. My problem is the leagues including the ICSHL are going to allow even more of this swing crap this year.

While Greg Dugan ran the ICSHL teams could not get away with this crap. Now under new management the ICSHL is going to permit an exurbanite amount of swing players. And the ICSHL is not the only league that is going to allow more swing this year. Other leagues are liberalizing their swing policy this year. This is bad for player development as the players that need the ice time at junior varsity are going to have to surrender their development to varsity players 11 through 20.

My point is about player development. These junior varsity players are going to get less ice time, they are going to play less special teams and they are not going to play as much at key moments of the game. How do these players get their development?

Finally, it is sad that Carl Wood would have to imply that I have some kind of ulterior motive for my position. “[(or are your parents making your life miserable about this, too?), The only reason to worry about what the other team is doing at the JV level is if you have a vested interest in "winning" at the JV level.]” I have a long history of fighting teams that abuse their league’s swing policy, just ask around!

I have always thought that once a person stops debating the issues and makes personal comments about his opposition, that person is conceding the debate. So Carl, I suggest you try to stay out of my head when it comes to my motivation. My head is far to complicated a place for a person such as you!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Top Cat,

Parents have tried to make Top Cat miserable for 25 years and he is still around....so it most be something else that motivates him!

Reading these post shows there are still some people around who care about High School hockey. Although their views and ideas may differ they take the time to write full page post with suggestions that may help enhance high school hockey.

My question is, are the people posting and suggesting change in a position to make the changes? If the Atlantic District is the governing body what if anything have then done to correct the problem?
I hear their hands are all over club hockey so why wouldn't they offer to help High School Hockey?? Last I checked everybodys dollar is the same color green. If the Atlantic District want's to maintain authority over High School hockey they should be on the front lines offering to help and do whats best for both club and school hockey. If they do not fulfill their commitment the HS leagues need to lay aside political influence and contact USA Hockey direct and perhaps go independent or whatever may benefit them.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most of the northern US schools independent?

It's hockey time again!

So. Jersey has a graduated swing player policy and ours is bascially because many clubs don't have enough players for 2 teams but too many players for one team. It's based upon total the total number of players in a club & goes something like this:

24-25 players - lock 10 skaters & 1 goalie
26-27 players - lock 11 skaters & 1 goalie
28-29 players - lock 12 skaters & 1 goalie
30+ players - lock 13 skaters & 1 goalie

A program with 26 players, assuming at least 2 goalies, cannot lock 15 skaters on varsity because that only leaves 9 skaters on JV. With injuries, suspensions, homework, etc, that's not enough to field a viable JV team. So they lock 11 skaters, freeing up 4 skaters to also play JV. Most coaches would "swing" players who can use the extra ice time, like kids that don't play travel club or kids that need more work. So those 4 skaters could play in all the varsity games and JV games. The only restriction is with seniors - they can't play JVB, and, if they're on JVA and they play 2 varsity games, then they've varsity & can't play JVA anymore. There's relatively few abuses.

SJHSHL games start tonight!