Travel Hockey

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience with travel hockey 10u in Northern VA. I am curious as to the competition to make Caps Academy, ST. James, or the other teams in the area. How many kids are trying out for the organizations teams at each age groups. Huge difference from house league? What have been overall experience with the organizations?

Of course trying out would be the best way to determine my son is at the level. But wouldn’t mind having some understanding before getting into this. Not aiming for the Little Caps. But moving up from House.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with travel hockey 10u in Northern VA. I am curious as to the competition to make Caps Academy, ST. James, or the other teams in the area. How many kids are trying out for the organizations teams at each age groups. Huge difference from house league? What have been overall experience with the organizations?

Of course trying out would be the best way to determine my son is at the level. But wouldn’t mind having some understanding before getting into this. Not aiming for the Little Caps. But moving up from House.

Its been a while (9 years or so) since my kid was a Squirt (10U), but the travel programs are designed to develop house level kids to a travel level. If your kid is in the upper third of players on his house league team, then he'd likely have a decent shot at making one of the Caps Academy travel teams. Not as sure about St. James, which didn't exist back then. If your kid is playing house at MedStar, I definitely recommend talking to Brad Surdam (the hockey director there). He will be able to give you more informed guidance on whether it makes sense to try out, or whether more development at the house level is needed. He obviously won't commit one way or the other, but he'll give a sense of where your kid is. Keep in mind that tryouts aren't for a few months, so your kid may very well be a better player than he is now by the time tryouts roll around in April/May.

-Parent of a 3-year MedStar (Kettler) House League/3-year Caps Academy/7-year Little Cap player

[Anonymous]

Travel Hockey can be a big commitment. My advice would be to make sure your expectations align with the coach and team manager about where travel will be. I see lots of teams traveling to Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas to play "better competition" when in reality, they could go to Philly and get beaten just as bad.

[Anonymous]

Long time hockey parent of child playing Caps Academy travel (10 years). The CHA is not as good as they used to be and St James is catching up. St James for professional coaches and seems invested in bolstering the program, increasing its presence in the travel arena.

Brad Surdam has run CHA to the ground, hiring coaches who yell and insult the players, some of which so beaten down they left the program. The director Brad reports to no one and is accountable to no one. He's on auto pilot, completely checked out. I am sorry to see how awful the program is now when it was run under the prior director under much better circumstances, mentoring and enforcing sportsmanship, not "win or get cast out" mentality Surdam follows. He ignores advocacy, even when players are called racist names by other players. Definitely not worth the cost of travel at CHA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travel Hockey can be a big commitment. My advice would be to make sure your expectations align with the coach and team manager about where travel will be. I see lots of teams traveling to Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas to play "better competition" when in reality, they could go to Philly and get beaten just as bad.

I feel like in hockey, even House can feel like Travel given how few rinks are around compared to fields for other sports.

[Anonymous]

MYHA is a great program with teams from House to Travel Lite to AA. Lots of Northern VA kids play in the league.

[Anonymous]

Loudoun Knights has a really good hockey program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long time hockey parent of child playing Caps Academy travel (10 years). The CHA is not as good as they used to be and St James is catching up. St James for professional coaches and seems invested in bolstering the program, increasing its presence in the travel arena.

Brad Surdam has run CHA to the ground, hiring coaches who yell and insult the players, some of which so beaten down they left the program. The director Brad reports to no one and is accountable to no one. He's on auto pilot, completely checked out. I am sorry to see how awful the program is now when it was run under the prior director under much better circumstances, mentoring and enforcing sportsmanship, not "win or get cast out" mentality Surdam follows. He ignores advocacy, even when players are called racist names by other players. Definitely not worth the cost of travel at CHA.

I don’t disagree that the St James has built up an impressive program in a short time. But everything you write about Brad is the complete opposite of what we’ve experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Long time hockey parent of child playing Caps Academy travel (10 years). The CHA is not as good as they used to be and St James is catching up. St James for professional coaches and seems invested in bolstering the program, increasing its presence in the travel arena.

Brad Surdam has run CHA to the ground, hiring coaches who yell and insult the players, some of which so beaten down they left the program. The director Brad reports to no one and is accountable to no one. He's on auto pilot, completely checked out. I am sorry to see how awful the program is now when it was run under the prior director under much better circumstances, mentoring and enforcing sportsmanship, not "win or get cast out" mentality Surdam follows. He ignores advocacy, even when players are called racist names by other players. Definitely not worth the cost of travel at CHA.

I don’t disagree that the St James has built up an impressive program in a short time. But everything you write about Brad is the complete opposite of what we’ve experienced.

Brad >>>>> Dan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience with travel hockey 10u in Northern VA. I am curious as to the competition to make Caps Academy, ST. James, or the other teams in the area. How many kids are trying out for the organizations teams at each age groups. Huge difference from house league? What have been overall experience with the organizations?

Of course trying out would be the best way to determine my son is at the level. But wouldn’t mind having some understanding before getting into this. Not aiming for the Little Caps. But moving up from House.

Its been a while (9 years or so) since my kid was a Squirt (10U), but the travel programs are designed to develop house level kids to a travel level. If your kid is in the upper third of players on his house league team, then he'd likely have a decent shot at making one of the Caps Academy travel teams. Not as sure about St. James, which didn't exist back then. If your kid is playing house at MedStar, I definitely recommend talking to Brad Surdam (the hockey director there). He will be able to give you more informed guidance on whether it makes sense to try out, or whether more development at the house level is needed. He obviously won't commit one way or the other, but he'll give a sense of where your kid is. Keep in mind that tryouts aren't for a few months, so your kid may very well be a better player than he is now by the time tryouts roll around in April/May.

-Parent of a 3-year MedStar (Kettler) House League/3-year Caps Academy/7-year Little Cap player

I bet I know you, my kid did the same at about the same age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Long time hockey parent of child playing Caps Academy travel (10 years). The CHA is not as good as they used to be and St James is catching up. St James for professional coaches and seems invested in bolstering the program, increasing its presence in the travel arena.

Brad Surdam has run CHA to the ground, hiring coaches who yell and insult the players, some of which so beaten down they left the program. The director Brad reports to no one and is accountable to no one. He's on auto pilot, completely checked out. I am sorry to see how awful the program is now when it was run under the prior director under much better circumstances, mentoring and enforcing sportsmanship, not "win or get cast out" mentality Surdam follows. He ignores advocacy, even when players are called racist names by other players. Definitely not worth the cost of travel at CHA.

It's a shame. He and his father coached my son quite a few years ago. His father was a great coach. Brad---not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel Hockey can be a big commitment. My advice would be to make sure your expectations align with the coach and team manager about where travel will be. I see lots of teams traveling to Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas to play "better competition" when in reality, they could go to Philly and get beaten just as bad.

I feel like in hockey, even House can feel like Travel given how few rinks are around compared to fields for other sports.

House is played at the same rink against other players. Do you even have a hockey player? There are tons of rinks in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MYHA is a great program with teams from House to Travel Lite to AA. Lots of Northern VA kids play in the league.

Driving to Rockville during he week is NOT worth it for NOVA kids. Good option for MD kids or older kids playing HS based at Rockville. TM 15s/16s moving to Piney should help MYHA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Travel Hockey can be a big commitment. My advice would be to make sure your expectations align with the coach and team manager about where travel will be. I see lots of teams traveling to Detroit, Chicago, Las Vegas to play "better competition" when in reality, they could go to Philly and get beaten just as bad.

I feel like in hockey, even House can feel like Travel given how few rinks are around compared to fields for other sports.

House is played at the same rink against other players. Do you even have a hockey player? There are tons of rinks in the area.

CCHL travels around and it's rec/house. House programs have suffered with explosion of rinks and travel teams. Easier to find a fit these days.

[Anonymous]

For VA depending on where you live, look into the Reston Raiders or Ashburn Extreme.