Hockey

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

I know what you’re talking about and I’m not talking about or judging you. You know you need to send your kid away if he wants to reach his potential. But that’s not unique to dc. It’s true for kids in rural Alberta, Nova Scotia, or Los Angeles.

I’m talking about the parents decked out in tm/wlc/pride gear whose kids have no chance of even playing d3 hockey. Theyre giving up any semblance of a normal childhood for nothing in return. And the fencing/wrestling angle in this thread is just bizarre.

Good luck to you and your son. I hope he does well and you figure it out. In some ways we’re lucky because our kids are aa players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

I know what you’re talking about and I’m not talking about or judging you. You know you need to send your kid away if he wants to reach his potential. But that’s not unique to dc. It’s true for kids in rural Alberta, Nova Scotia, or Los Angeles.

I’m talking about the parents decked out in tm/wlc/pride gear whose kids have no chance of even playing d3 hockey. Theyre giving up any semblance of a normal childhood for nothing in return. And the fencing/wrestling angle in this thread is just bizarre.

Good luck to you and your son. I hope he does well and you figure it out. In some ways we’re lucky because our kids are aa players.

PP here. Thank you for your nice response. I’d love your thoughts on the hockey academy trend now taking root in the DMV. I have heard of several kids going to attend online schools out of rinks including the ST James. Now I’m going to be judgmental. This seems so wrong on so many levels. There is no try out and my guess is that most of these families sending their kids have no clue of the prospects of their kid ever playing hockey beyond high school. Now, not only are they giving up weekends but they are willing to let their kid go to school in a hockey rink for some dream they are chasing. I’m surprised this is even legal.

[Anonymous]

Not a big fan of the St. James model. Unlike other hockey academies, they don’t sponsor teams. Thus, a kid might have to go from school to Ashburn for practice. Having everything in one place is a big selling point for academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

I know what you’re talking about and I’m not talking about or judging you. You know you need to send your kid away if he wants to reach his potential. But that’s not unique to dc. It’s true for kids in rural Alberta, Nova Scotia, or Los Angeles.

I’m talking about the parents decked out in tm/wlc/pride gear whose kids have no chance of even playing d3 hockey. Theyre giving up any semblance of a normal childhood for nothing in return. And the fencing/wrestling angle in this thread is just bizarre.

Good luck to you and your son. I hope he does well and you figure it out. In some ways we’re lucky because our kids are aa players.

PP here. Thank you for your nice response. I’d love your thoughts on the hockey academy trend now taking root in the DMV. I have heard of several kids going to attend online schools out of rinks including the ST James. Now I’m going to be judgmental. This seems so wrong on so many levels. There is no try out and my guess is that most of these families sending their kids have no clue of the prospects of their kid ever playing hockey beyond high school. Now, not only are they giving up weekends but they are willing to let their kid go to school in a hockey rink for some dream they are chasing. I’m surprised this is even legal.

I don't know the specific families you are referencing, but aren't most kids who are doing the online academies playing AAA? If so, I assume they understand their kid’s prospects. AAA requires so much travel that it's hard for some kids to keep up with a traditional school schedule. Online school is more flexible. Our daughter’s friend did something like this to accommodate figure skating schedule and she still got into NYU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

What a pathetically petty response. Hockey parents in the DMV are so predictable. 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

What a pathetically petty response. Hockey parents in the DMV are so predictable. 😂

If you knew even the first thing about hockey you would understand that reply. Clearly you do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

What a pathetically petty response. Hockey parents in the DMV are so predictable. 😂

If you knew even the first thing about hockey you would understand that reply. Clearly you do not.

Actually one thing I’ve learned in my almost two decades in the DMV hockey world. Most hockey parents are not that smart and many of them are petty and jealous when they see an amazing and talented player who they know will never be their kid. Get some therapy. Jealously will eat you from the inside out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

What a pathetically petty response. Hockey parents in the DMV are so predictable. 😂

If you knew even the first thing about hockey you would understand that reply. Clearly you do not.

Actually one thing I’ve learned in my almost two decades in the DMV hockey world. Most hockey parents are not that smart and many of them are petty and jealous when they see an amazing and talented player who they know will never be their kid. Get some therapy. Jealously will eat you from the inside out.

💩

[Anonymous]

Exactly. What a PoS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

What a pathetically petty response. Hockey parents in the DMV are so predictable. 😂

If you knew even the first thing about hockey you would understand that reply. Clearly you do not.

Actually one thing I’ve learned in my almost two decades in the DMV hockey world. Most hockey parents are not that smart and many of them are petty and jealous when they see an amazing and talented player who they know will never be their kid. Get some therapy. Jealously will eat you from the inside out.

Good grief you must be looking in the mirror when you see hockey parents that are not smart. Who gets jealous over a statement on DCUM? When they see a player? Who is seeing anything? I am simply doubting it is truthful based on my hockey experience of a lot of parents overestimating their own children. Therapy? Yeah, ok. Sure. I would tell you to get some help, but you can't fix stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this thread sums up a lot of things I see wrong with youth sports. Why are you trying to pick a sport based on what will get you into a Ivy League school? Why not just let your kid play what they want and learn the lessons - teamwork, winning and losing, working hard, etc. if they really love it they’ll apply themself and get really good at it. Fencing? Give me a break.

And the youth hockey development is nuts. Do you really want your kid to play tier I their entire childhood, skip years of schooling to play juniors, just for a shot at making a ncaa team? Why not just let them play aa (which is rotary competitive all round with great coaching) and for their hs team, and let them play on a college club team if they want. Why chase the dragon? Hockey is such a great sport and has so many lessons in it, and I understand the temptation, but jeez unless your kid is pounding pucks off the garage door 4 hours a day…

Sometimes there are kids, like mine, who simply can’t find teams in the DMV (AA, TM and WLC) that play at his level. Yea, maybe it sounds obnoxious or you think I’m blowing smoke, but he is very competitive and was frustrated by all of the hockey in this area. He simply plays at a higher level. So I hate it when hockey friends turn up their noses and assume we are chasing some hockey dream. The reality is that he loves the sport and got bored with what he had in the DMV. Will he play college hockey? Maybe, maybe not. It’s a long shot especially when you throw in that he’s at a top HS and we won’t let him sacrifice academics for hockey. But please don’t judge our choices. For some kids, there simply isn’t enough here in the DMV to play at a certain level.

Yeah...ok. Sure.

What a pathetically petty response. Hockey parents in the DMV are so predictable. 😂

If you knew even the first thing about hockey you would understand that reply. Clearly you do not.

Actually one thing I’ve learned in my almost two decades in the DMV hockey world. Most hockey parents are not that smart and many of them are petty and jealous when they see an amazing and talented player who they know will never be their kid. Get some therapy. Jealously will eat you from the inside out.

Good grief you must be looking in the mirror when you see hockey parents that are not smart. Who gets jealous over a statement on DCUM? When they see a player? Who is seeing anything? I am simply doubting it is truthful based on my hockey experience of a lot of parents overestimating their own children. Therapy? Yeah, ok. Sure. I would tell you to get some help, but you can't fix stupid.

You also can’t argue with stupid which is what I’d be doing by responding any further.

[Anonymous]

No you can’t argue because you are stupid and don’t have a valid point. Big difference.

[Anonymous]

St James is probably the best run youth hockey program in the area. But I think their academy thing is different. It’s multiple sports, not just hockey. If I had to guess they’re trying to build something similar to img.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a big fan of the St. James model. Unlike other hockey academies, they don’t sponsor teams. Thus, a kid might have to go from school to Ashburn for practice. Having everything in one place is a big selling point for academies.

Huh? St James has teams. I assume the kids in the hockey school thing would play on their aa teams up until 14u then try to get into prep school. Tier I (both boys and girls) in dc is a mess.