Seems to me you need to add a Mite travel team. I know, I know...easier said than done. But, if you didn't have a squirt travel team, your peewees would suffer as 1st year travel players, right? Round up twelve 8-year old kids and two dads, and call them a mite travel team...just like everybody else.

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Originally posted by HockeyFan:
Now in that 52 differents for the A group of BTHL team you also have these Medium Association that were made to play AA by BHTL. Indy Racers #129, Sylvania #130 Louisville # 133.

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I don't know much about Louisville, but the Racers and SMAHL definately are not small associations. Not great years last year at AA squirt, but not like they were totally blown out either. Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but the Sylvania team was probably the second team selected (with the first team playing Little Ceasars). They could have played A if they wished but probably choose to play AA--just like the second Cardinal team. You admit that Louisville was probably appropriately placed last year, so at the AA level those three examples don't seem to point out a big problem.

What about the two A teams that went undefeated in the regular season--there are issues on both sides of the spectrum. Looks like they might have been better playing up. (Assuming the goal is the find the appropriate level of competition.) It will never be perfect but it does a pretty good job. I would entertain an approach that took into account years of travel experience by the second year (age wise) players at the mite and squirt levels, but exactly how would that work? I am not sure you can just say we will treat them as first year players. Would you just increase the number of second year players allowed? Count them as only 3/5th of a second year player? What? One goal of this system is and should be simplicity. I don't think anybody wants to hire a compliance officer just to figure out where a team could be placed. I would be interested if there is some suggestion however. Simply treating them as first year (age wise) players, however, fails to take into account the experiences otherwise gained playing hockey and the potential physical advantages another chronological year provides.

Actually, the powers-that-be convinced the BTHL last season that SMAHL's BTHL Squirt AA team was the 5th picked team from this area. I recall that because the boys had the opportunity to try out for teams from nearby associations, whether they acted or not, qualified the team for the A division. There were only three 94's on the team. With visions of repeating the Butler County Blackhawk debacle of 2002, there was a change of heart on this end and the team went AA.

Have a Mite age travel team would be great if we had the players to do so. With only about 37 mite players hard to do. Most kids in this area don't even do cross ice until age 7 or 8. Yes this is a recurreting problem and is our problem not anyone elses.

No for team playing up see they have the chance to make that call. for team that feel they will not compete at the level set by the rule have no chance to play one level down. I think it should be a team by team call made not just a blanket call.

You can look at how the assocation has done in the past at that level. You can look at number of players that have played travel.

I agree that it is a good start to set playing level. I feel that it is to black and white to be fair.