Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

NP and CHA parent - I know this story is accurate. There shouldn’t even be a dad coach at the age and level this team is at - we were promised by CHA they were moving away from that. And this spring team is now made up of several kids who shouldn’t be on the team but are because either the son is friends with the kids or the mom is friends with the moms.

And it’s why quite a few of us have kids trying out elsewhere for fall

Honestly though, the CHA spring teams are so watered down that's a tough comparison. None of the coaches want to coach the spring teams and very few of the top players want to play, so you end up with teams of players who range from AA to house league together, with any available coach tossed in.

Ultimately though, CHA should be making the coaching decisions not the coaches in isolation. You see the same bias even when they are paid coaches - they tend to pick kids with families they like and have coached before.

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

NP and CHA parent - I know this story is accurate. There shouldn’t even be a dad coach at the age and level this team is at - we were promised by CHA they were moving away from that. And this spring team is now made up of several kids who shouldn’t be on the team but are because either the son is friends with the kids or the mom is friends with the moms.

And it’s why quite a few of us have kids trying out elsewhere for fall

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

Is it toxic dad culture or did your kid stink but they were nice enough to let them practice with the spring team but found a player who is capable of keeping up with the speed of the game for the tournaments?

This. Guarantee their kid is a house league talent making excuses for why their kid didn't make a travel team.

This. This is why people think hockey has a toxic culture. I say this as a parent with a kid on a AA team that won a lot more than it lost last year. I see this in my own program. It’s why I sit in a corner by myself during the games.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

Is it toxic dad culture or did your kid stink but they were nice enough to let them practice with the spring team but found a player who is capable of keeping up with the speed of the game for the tournaments?

This. Guarantee their kid is a house league talent making excuses for why their kid didn't make a travel team.

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

Is it toxic dad culture or did your kid stink but they were nice enough to let them practice with the spring team but found a player who is capable of keeping up with the speed of the game for the tournaments?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

This is a pretty serious claim. Can you show an example of a team where their roster differed for a tournament compared to the league? I've never seen them making tournament-only USA Hockey rosters.

They've had non-dad coaches at older ages. Surprising to hear this.

Anonymous wrote:Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

This is a pretty serious claim. Can you show an example of a team where their roster differed for a tournament compared to the league? I've never seen them making tournament-only USA Hockey rosters.

Each has their own culture. I’m presuming you’re coming from a place with not a lot of hockey options.

Here’s something to watch out for — at the Capitals Hockey Academy, your child could try out for a spot on the team, be awarded it via a written email, and then later be asked to step aside for one of the tournaments so that the Coaches son’s best. friend can take your space. The same kid who didn’t bother to try out. That’s the kind of toxic Dad culture you’ll find there.

Frederick Freeze
Caps Academy
Tri-City
Bowie Bruins
St. James
Reston
Ashburn
Piedmont
Chevy Chase Club
Jr. Black Bears
Nova Ice Dogs
Southern Maryland Sabres
Potomac Patriots

Tricity Eagles (Laurel) had 5 14U travel teams this past season, but not sure about next season.

Pluses are a big facility at the Gardens Ice House, comprehensive program, with lots of clinics and other support throughout the year.

Cons are it may take you and hour to get to practice in rush hour.

Tryouts are in April: https://www.tricityeagles.com/travel_tryouts/

Reston might be a drive for you, but could def be worth it.

MYHA is a great program and not a money grab

Tricity has 14U teams at all levels and a nice facility. If you are interested in a team and are new, you should check out the tryout clinics.

There are travel teams out of Laurel (tricity eagles), Kettler (now medstar), Howard county, Frederick, Odenton, Annapolis. I’m sure there are more I don’t know of.

What travel hockey clubs options are available for a kid who will be in 14U next year?. Was in lower A and B travel teams previously in a different state. Located in Chevy Chase now. I know MYHA, but any other options to explore?