GE-C-Tou

FrancoisD, There are a lot of decent school hockey programs on the Island of Montreal. Hence, the metropolitain LEQ teams compete with these programs and lose a lot of talent. With the 2005s, they lost more players to the schools. Maskoutain, If you look at the names of the 2002s, 2003s and 2004s in SIL back when they were U12, you will notice that SIL is also exposed to an exodus towards the school options as many of the names have disappeared.

Prez, I don't know which level you are referring to but if it's Bantam AAA Major... Lions won that game and kept on playing - if this was 1/4, then they played semis and the final and every kid on the team ended up playing more minutes and they won. Vince Lombardi once said: "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score ?" Look at Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball and any other team sport. And for Hockey, look at what is done outside our distinct society and you will realize that equal playing time after a certain age is not the norm. Life isn't fair, life is a meritocracy and playing sports teaches life lessons and helps prepare our kids for real life. You guys at HQ do a lot of good things but the equal playing time thing, although it's great in novice, atom and peewee, should be somewhat relaxed in bantam. As we say here: just my opignon (or opinion ?) !

First step to be considered exceptional is to get surclassed to play Midget AAA at 14 yrs old. We all remember the 2001s with Parent, Poulin and that group - no one was granted exceptional status. Five 2002s were surclassed - no one was even close None of the 2003s were surclassed - although a few could/should have played up - Mianscum finished top scorer in Espoir, Roy from the Beauce and Tinling were dominant in Bantam AAA with over 2pts per game. Mianscum would go 1st round and maybe 1st overall if he was eligible for the Q draft in June. I believe the 2004s could have a handful in Midget AAA - On D Luneau Warren and Charboneau all could play midget. While up front, we can imagine that the Lions could bring up a few forwards (Lastarza, Swan, Vidicek, Rozzi) The next exceptional is likely one of the forwards from the Lions who all had exeptional stats in their first year bantam.

M.L. had 47 pts in Bantam AAA as a 13 year old vs 19 for Alexis Lafreniere and 24 for Samuel Poulin at the same age/same level Maskoutain, your boy is a goalie !!!! you should know you can't compare stats from the 80s and 90s to more recent stats !

Next one could be a 2004: LaStarza, Warren and Gravel were dominant in their first year at the Bantam level - I don't see a goalie playing Midget AAA at 14 but I wouldn't be surprised if the other two got surclassed... with a dominant year in Midget AAA next season, either one could end up with exceptional status and play in the QMJHL at 15. All of this being said, the probabilities are very slim.

None of their 2004s are at the Bantam major camp ??? Ray, if they are only trying out for releve, how could they make major. It would be a shame if they kept those kids in Minor

Hockey Quebec sent a letter this week to all parents with kids enrolled in U13 and U14 It said: 1. Ice time has to be EQUAL 2. Players must play at EVERY POSITION (Forward has to play center, right wing and left wing) 3. NO SPECIAL TEAMS (power play or PK) 4. Lines have to change EVERY GAME (kids have to play with everyone on their team) 5. It's RELEVE RULES for body contact in both U13 and U14 6. You can complain directly to HQ if these rules are NOT applied by your coaches What do you think about this ? Is it a good thing... at that age ???

These are all great rules to keep kids in hockey, as when you start skipping turns and/or getting injured hockey does become less fun ! However, keeping the majority of the kids happy and manufacturing your fair share of pro hockey players, to me, are two very different objectives. It is obvious that HQ decided to favour the former rather than the later. Second year Bantam, the top kids are one year away from Midget AAA and potentially two years away from the Q - "restrictive" body contact, playing different positions every game and equal playing time/responsibilities are all rules that are good for novice, atom and peewee but are those rules really what's best to get the top prospects in the province ready to compete at the next levels ??? I would argue strongly that they are NOT. These decisions will have positive impacts and negative impacts - HQ has to keep that in mind when they get blamed down the road for the lethargic number of Quebec born players selected at the NHL Entry Draft 4-5 years down the road.

That isn't the question - the question is will Bantam Major go with "restrictive" body contact next season ???

Have the regional teams been announced for JDQ ? Does this replace U15 ? Thanks JC

It's August already and training camps will get underway within a week in most regions: 1.Who will the top teams be in 2016-17 ? 2. JS was the top 2004 in scoring last season at the top level and TL was the top D in the province. Will either of them or any other 04's get surclassed to Bantam ? 3. Does anyone know where the Defi will be held this year ?

Ray, I agree, Lions have enough talent for both teams to be very strong in the front. It's their backend and their goaltending where depth is a real issue. In my view Select du Nord will be the top team. Their first line last year was an all 2004 line... and some of the 04 parents were involved with the team - all being equal, I expect those three kids will play a LOT and be the most dominant line in Peewee AAA this year. Mo, I can't say I agree with your theory in regards to surclassing - TL would have wasted his time in atom two years ago... he was the best defenseman in the league as an 04 last year. Same for S.Poulin and X.Parent a few years ago in Peewee and again last year in Midget AAA.

It happens at every level. Kids who played PW AAA last winter were playing 2003 D2 last weekend in Drummondville. WTF !

Lac St-Louis Lions are #1 and #2 in PWAAA, #2 in BantamAAA and #2 in Espwoir... not a bad !

Here is the schedule for the Dèfi https://www.publicationsports.com/ressources/files/498/Defi_Pee_Wee_AAA_2015_Laval_(1)55e065a18590c.pdf?__utma=181332280.773641846.1440968600.1440968600.1441248412.2&__utmb=181332280.2.10.1441248412&__utmc=181332280&__utmx=-&__utmz=181332280.1441248412.2.2.utmcsr=google%7Cutmccn=(organic)%7Cutmcmd=organic%7Cutmctr=(not%2520provided)&__utmv=-&__utmk=188822827

After the first day, I guess the results at THE SHOW do not allow us to conclude that you are doing a better job than the Brick 04 people did last year. From watching the games on line, it seems like most of the names on the Quebec team do not sound French. Is this a Lac St-Louis team with a few additions or a true Team Quebec ? JC

Bengi, I believe you are wright. With the 2004 vintage there was enough depth and talent in Quebec to win it all. I also believe the people who tried to sabotage this year's edition by holding back players should be ashamed of yourselves. And to those who stayed behind out of solidarity, I feel sorry you missed out on a great week. Nothing you were warning people about ended up happening. Can you spell U LT E R I O R motive By the way, the mastermind behind the great plan and his son were in Edmonton… What the F@#k happened to "we all go or none of us go" ??? I guess solidarity avenue is a one-way street :razz: JC

Sutter concedes Canada is failing at grassroots level After Canada fails to medal at back-to-back world juniors By Terry Koshan ,Toronto SunFirst posted: Sunday, January 05, 2014 05:20 PM EST| Updated: Monday, January 06, 2014 07:49 AM EST Canada's head coach Brent Sutter directs his team against Germany during the second period of their IIHF World Junior Championship ice hockey game in Malmo, Sweden, December 26, 2013. (REUTERS) MALMO, SWEDEN - Brent Sutter has coached Canada in three world junior championships. And from his spot behind the bench, Sutter has taken notes. Plenty, to be sure. Is Canada getting it done at the grassroots level across the nation, in minor hockey? In a word — or in Sutter’s case, several — no. “There’s too much focus on winning and losing at such a young age,” said Sutter, who also has a keen eye from his perch as owner, general manager and coach of the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. “And not enough about the skill part of it. That’s truly where it starts. At 16, 17 when they hit the Canadian Hockey League, there should already be a standard of skill already in place. “I think there are times there is too much focus on winning and losing hockey games and Xs and Os at a young age and not enough on developing the skill sets.” Sutter takes his cue from the world junior, where Canada has failed to win gold for five years in a row. And for the first time since Hockey Canada began its Program of Excellence in 1982, Canada was denied a medal in consecutive years. That became fact on Sunday with a 2-1 loss against Russia in the bronze-medal game. Finland, meanwhile, shocked host Sweden 3-2 in overtime on a goal by Buffalo Sabres prospect Rasmus Ristolainen. Last winter in Ufa, Russia, the hosts defeated Canada 6-5 in overtime to take bronze. “When you’re at this level and you see certain things ... how can we get better?” Sutter said. “That’s got to come from top to bottom. “We do a great job, but where are the areas we can be better? “That’s my feelings. There are probably a million people out there thinking I’m full of crap. That’s fine. When you’re in this, you see it first-hand. You see where the skill-sets are in some of these other countries, the speed of the game they play at. “It’s pretty astonishing how some of these teams have grown in that area.” Sutter was asked whether he thinks the CHL should ban the import draft because it has a hand in developing European players, including some who have had significant roles for their respective countries in the world junior. A CHL ban on drafting import goaltenders will go into full effect this year. CHL clubs are allowed two imports. “The import draft is great for our league,” Sutter said. “It adds skill to our league. A lot of those European players that come to our league are top-end players. But development starts at peewee age, at bantam age, at 10 years of age. “It’s about developing your skills, your skating. You see how some of these teams in Europe have done a remarkable job with that. We have to evaluate that.” Sutter took into consideration that Canada didn’t have four eligible players because they are in the NHL — Morgan Rielly, Nathan MacKinnon, Sean Monahan and Tom Wilson. But other countries this winter also didn’t get players because they were in the NHL. And it should also be remembered that Canada is not getting blown out of the water at the world junior. The two fourth-place finishes come after a 14-year run of winning a medal. Any other country would love that kind of track record. Hockey Canada senior director of hockey operations Scott Salmond doesn’t foresee a day when Canada adopts a system similar to that in the United States, where the country’s best under-17 and under-18 players head to Ann Arbor, Mich., to learn under the national team development program. “The reason other countries have programs like that is because they don’t have the infrastructure we have and I’m not even sure that is the best way,” Salmond said. “One thing we have that other countries don’t have is the Canadian Hockey League. “We have to be better in the time we have those players. I think the partnership is good and we are working together to make sure our national teams have played an important role in junior hockey in the country.” Like Sutter, Salmond, of course, can’t help but see the clear ways hockey has become a global sport at the world-junior level. “There are a lot of good teams that spend a lot of time together,” Salmond said. “You can see in their structure and in the way they play. We need to find ways for our best players to play together more often.”

Last spring was decent... but it doesn't bode well at all for next year ! I was told most of the good teams were leaving: Cascades and Nordiques going to LEAAAQ Panthers ADF not doing tournaments anymore Stallions playing 02 This would mean the Ice Storm, Star Dogs, Governors, Cantoniers, Olympics and HST are all that's left.

Six recommendations to coaches on how to improve - From Réal Turcotte's web site 1. Each coach must spend the first half of his practice working on Stickhandling and incorporate skating and shooting in the drills. Every player has a puck on his stick for a minimum 30 minutes. 2. Spend part of the second half of the practice on team skills as you incorporate Stickhandling moves in your drills. Save the last 15 minutes or so for scrimmage. Either 5 on 5; 4 on 4; or 3 on 3 with the focus on puck control and make it fun! 3. Schedule 3 practices every week. This is a must. You can combine or share ice with another team. Don’t settle for anything less when you commit to develop skills. This is a necessity. If you are going to play “Dump and Chase” and get it out of the zone, style of play then you don’t need to practice at all. Just show up for the games and the whole system goes back to square one. Nothing will change except that more Europeans will get the N.H.L. and college slots. Deservingly so. Then in two years we will have another “Summit Meeting” to find out that nothing has changed. Now what do we do? “Let’s restrict the number of Europeans allowed to play in the N.H.L.”. Don’t laugh! Some prominent hockey personality already suggested that possibility. This is our sport. Let’s buckle down as coaches and teach the skills to our kids. There are no other solutions. This is it. 4. Focus on puck control and reward that behavior. Always reward what you want your players to achieve. It can be just a few words such as “good job” or “that’s the way”, even a pat on the back or thumbs up will do. 5. Do the kids and yourself a big favor don’t teach them systems except when the opponents are controlling the puck in your zone. Volunteer coaches tend to emulate systems used by Pro teams. “That is the worst mistake you can possibly make.” Pro systems are designed to cover up weaknesses or lack of offensive talent. Pro coaches have one job to do and that is to win or else get fired. Your job as a youth coach is to help each kid develop to his or her full potential. If you do that, your team will win more than their share of games in the process. Ron Wilson, coach of the Washington Capitals, said it best at one of the hockey seminars. “Systems kill development and creativity. Every time you introduce a system you are taking away the player’s development and his creativity.” In other words, let’s kiss the neutral zone trap good-bye along with the left wing lock or any other crippling system that impairs the full development of your players. Make improvement your goal and minimize winning. 6. Attend the Turcotte Stickhandling Hockey School. I know what you’re saying, “He is selling his hockey school” and I agree with you but the reason why I would like to see your son or daughter attend our school is because of the tremendous benefits he or she can derive from it. There is no other place where you can get this exclusive training that is needed for the full development of your child’s skills. We are willing to run short clinics just so you can get the right exposure for development. Then you decide. Don’t miss your opportunity!

Early Specialization Too Soon Originally published in Los Angeles Sports and Fitness, May/June 2013. As a seventh grader dribbled around his back and attacked the basket during a middle school championship game, the parents commented to each other about the quality of play. One mother explained that several players played on a year-round competitive team in addition to their school team. The year-round play likely helped their team win the game and the championship. Their skills were a little more advanced than their opponent; they made some free throws, and they made better decisions in 2v1 fast breaks. Of course, they also may have won because one player had more facial hair than I had when I graduated from high school or because they had the tallest, most coordinated player on the court. They also may have been lucky, as this was the first time in two seasons and four games that they had won against this opponent. In youth sports, there are many explanations for a team’s success; people choose the narrative that fits their perspective. If a mother spends several thousand dollars per year on a competitive travel team, she attributes her son’s success to this year-round play, not his size advantage. The mother of the shortest player on the losing team may attribute the loss to her son’s lack of physical maturity, not his non-existent skills. The coach may attribute his team’s success to his coaching, not his players’ year-round play with another coach and team. Everyone has his or her own perspective, and the truth often includes a little of everyone’s perspective. Is the year-round play or early specialization good for those children? The answer depends on the children’s and the parents’ goals. If the goal was to win a middle school championship, playing year-round on a club team probably enhanced their opportunity to win. If the goal was to have fun or to keep the boys busy and out of trouble, playing on a club team likely kept the children busy, though there may not be a guarantee of fun. If the goal was to enhance their future playing opportunities in high school and beyond, the early specialization in basketball likely did not benefit the players compared to playing in many different activities at this age. Nearly every player on my freshmen basketball team this season played football or soccer before basketball, and our opponents’ best players were football players. Are they the most skilled basketball players? Will they have the longest basketball careers? I don’t know. Some may choose football; some may not grow; some may not have grades; some may not practice hard enough. It is hard to predict the future. However, I would say that the multi-sport athletes have a better chance to develop into varsity basketball players than the single-sport players. The multi-sport athletes were stronger and quicker, which provides a better base on which to develop better basketball skills as they continue to play. Additionally, many, if not most, of the best players in professional sports were multi-sport athletes during their childhood. LeBron James was an all-state wide receiver in high school; Tom Brady was drafted in the Major League Baseball Draft; Miguel Cabrera was offered a professional volleyball contract. Aberrations? No. According to an article circulating online that looked at the top 10 players in each of the four major professional leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) as determined by ESPN, 82% of the top 40 athletes played multiple sports during their childhood. These observations are supported more and more by research. A recent study looked at the association between the number of sports played at 11, 13, and 15 years of age and the level of competition between 16 and 18 years of age. Those who competed in three sports at 11, 13, and 15 were significantly more likely to compete at a national level between the ages of 16 and 18 than those who practiced only one sport (Bridge & Toms, 2012). This study suggested that multi-sport athletes do not have their national or professional aspirations curbed by their late specialization, but instead suggested that playing multiple sports may increase one’s chances of becoming an elite athlete, much like the observations of professional athletes. A 2011 study found that elite athletes specialized in a single sport at a later age and trained less during childhood than their near-elite peers (Moesch, Elbe, Hauge, & Wikman, 2011). The elite athletes in this study intensified their training more in adolescence than did the near-elites. The organization of practice during the mid-teens was seen as the crucial factor separating the two groups, meaning that my freshmen are approaching the time of differentiation. How hard will they practice? What will they do in the off-season? How much will they lift weights and take care of their bodies? How much playing time will they earn? These are the questions that will determine their future participation and success, not the number of sports that they played in childhood or amount of practice hours in basketball prior to high school. I know a high-school coach who believes that he can identify his varsity starters when they are in middle school. He must be amazing, as I do not know how the 14 freshmen on my team will turn out in the future. He believes in his talent identification skills; I believe that he creates a self-fulfilling prophecy that ensures that he is correct. Research has shown that only a third of international pre-junior athletes reappeared as senior athletes (Barreiros, Côté, & Fonseca, 2012). Whereas there is more competition for national team positions than for varsity high-school positions, the research again suggests that the years that determine one’s success in high school and beyond are during the high-school years. With my team, are the taller guys done growing? When will the shorter guys hit their growth spurts? Who will work harder during the off-season? Who will decide to focus on football, baseball, or soccer rather than basketball? For most sports, there is no evidence that intense training and specialization before puberty are necessary to achieve elite status. Some specialization is required to develop into an elite athlete. However, for most sports, this specialization should be delayed until late adolescence to optimize success while minimizing injury, psychological stress, and burnout. (Jayanthi, Pinkham, Dugas, Patrick, & LaBella, 2012). In a tennis study conducted in Chicago, Dr. Neeru Jayanthi compared the sport participation of injured and uninjured adolescent tennis players. The injured players spent more than 5 times as much time playing organized tennis compared to recreation and free play, whereas the uninjured players spent only 2.6 times as much time in organized tennis. Whereas both groups engaged in the same amount of total exercise, the specialization in the single activity appeared to be the precursor to injury. Beyond physical injury, some adolescents may burn out on the activity if training year-round in one activity for a number of years through their childhood. I have trained several players who turned down college scholarship opportunities because they were sick of the sport and the training and wanted to do normal things. If the goal is to win middle school championships, specialize. One’s sport-specific skills will develop more quickly with the additional hours of play and practice, and this may lead to the desired championship. However, this early specialization generally leads to an earlier peak in performance. For these children, winning the middle school championship may end up as their crowning achievement in basketball. Was that the goal? Is that a good outcome for the year-round play? Numerous studies have shown that late specialization leads to better adult performance and decreased injury and dropout rates. For long-term sports participation, enjoyment, and success, playing multiple sports throughout childhood with greater specialization as one moves through high school appears to be the best path. By Brian McCormick, M.S.S., PES Coach/Clinician, Brian McCormick Basketball Author, Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development Director of Coaching, Playmakers Basketball Development League

How was the calibre ? Is Saskatchewan a contender ?

Would the Jr. Canadiens and Stallions gold 04s compete with the Div.1 03s ??? That could be where they belong ! sort of like the Wild 01s a few years ago J-C

The Ice Warriors will make it out of their pool and should win it all. In my view, they're the best team in "La viel Capital" this w-e. J-C

Most of the 02 teams will be at the Montreal Meltdown...