Now that the matchups are posted..Who's going? Any predictions, teams or players to watch?

The 14u AA Division seems way overloaded.... On a quick look I can see several teams that don't have any business being there.......The 14B Division has shrunk to almost nothing and the A hasn't grown. ....Does everyone think they are that good????

Clearly not everyone in the 14AA bracket thinks they can win the whole thing.

Heartland (probably one of the teams you are referring to) where my daughter plays are highly unlikely to make the cut in our 1st year.

Heartland chose AA because if you don't go when you get the chance, you have a difficult time getting accepted in future years.

There is also a personal pride thing, being likely to win your district (Mid-Am does not have a long history of sending competitive teams to nationals at lower age brackets), but not declaring for a tourney at the top level would be not good for the psyche.

As for my d's position, she'd rather be overwhelmed than bored in net.

Which level is you d playing in?

My daughter's team is entered in the 14b division. The tournament is only a short trip for our organization and they have had fun and been competitive the last two years. I was just concerned that there seemed to be fewer teams in the lower divisions and to see some teams that I know are competitive with my daugthters playing way above their heads.

I would also like to know why the Tournament overseers are allowing teams with little or no "credentials" in the AA bracket. One team that moved up from B to AA even though last year they had finished in the bottom half of the B division....My daughter's team is actually 1-1-0 against them this year...

I know that "personal pride" is a big factor....but it is poor team management to be entering girls into non competitive situations..... I would think that they might get good competitive play at a lower level and less of a beating to their egos from being blown away. But then I am well aware that many decisions are based on organizational politics, not the best interests of the children...

If you don't mind my asking which B team moved up to AA?

My understanding is that the Tournament people ask teams who they play against and what their results are before offering them a AA slot.

Heartland was extended AA slots (at u12 an u14 - their only levels) because their only team (u12) last season went to nationals and lost by only 1-3 to Assabet's top team.

New startup or splinter off teams are always put to the A level if they are declaring for nationals.

I'll give you an example - Gilmour Academy's (prep school from Cleveland OH) newly formed pre-post team was slotted at A even though several of their players have played Polar Bear for the Ohio Flames at the AA level in years past. But because it is a new operation (The Flames basically refused to take pre-post players, so they formed their own national bound team), the Polar Bears restricted them to A level for this year, so they decided to go to the Canadian tourney (I can't remember the name right now) instead. Next year, they anticipate being able to play at the AA level, having a year of track record.

Bridgewater Bears:

Last year they were a tier two Atlantic district team and went to the Tournament at:

14B - 1 game point for tournament
19B - 3 game points for tournament

This year the organization got permission to move to tier 1 Atlantic Devision. They are having a tough season and both teams have posted 9-0 losses in their division.

They have teams in 14AA and 17AA.

One of the Atlantic Division Teams that regularly beats them by big numbers lost to Assabet Red last weekend 4-0. I don't know how they got the Polar Bears to but put them there but I think they will take a serious beating, and if they don't it will certainly provide a clear indication of the difference in skill levels in girls hockey.......

What a waste of time to have a B team play at AA.

Well, looking at the schedule, it looks like Assabet 14 Red will get to put up a football or maybe even a basketball score on them.

I agree with you that the Polar Bears could do a better job of screening applicants based upon your observation here.

Heartland gets to play the team from Bridgewater MA - the Bandits. Know anything about them?

I Think they are in the Bay State Girls hockey league...Division 3 stats show 3-0-0 with 14 gf 6 ga. Don't know much about the league except that a team in the same division is squaring off against my daughters team the first game too. Your girls might have a competitive first round...good luck.

I will be watching the 14AA with a lot more interest considering I have a good yardstick to judge my daughters team potential:-)! Unfortunately she is a really good D on a team without any real offence and I am really loyal to the organization. Looking at the 14b field though, I think the team will make a good showing and maybe next year, her last year at 14u, will mix it up with some national teams........

By the way, if you get a break you should bring your daughter over to Taft to get a look at the best 14u goalie in the Atlantic District:-)!