What would you have done with the top 3 teams in the PEEWEE 'B' division? Should they have played in the 'A' or stayed where they were, and moved a few of the 'A' teams down? How would this have been done at the begining of the year?

There is not much you could have done. You could say move them with the bottom three team of A and you would have had a good group.. Then what do you do with the bottom thrre in B and the others in A? See there is not really much BTHL can do my point is I see going Independent as a better option for most teams like ours. We did fine and will do fine in the tournament this coming weekend. I know that the best games this year and the last few years going back to 2002 have been the non-league games and tournaments. So my thought is way not play that kind of schedule all year?

I think that the BTHL gives the kids on each team a common goal...A League Championship. Something to work towards. If you look at the NHL or AHL or any league, there are teams that have better records than others. I think the BTHL did a great job this year.

HF-I understand your predicament. However, I have been to many a tournament where the director lets in a team that should not be playing at the level it let them in at. There have been times where they let in a AA team to an A bracket, just to fill it out. There have also been times where they let in an A team into an AA bracket to do the same. This situation occurs more times than not. It is very rare that there is parity in a tournament field.

You can, however, schedule teams independantly, with like ability. That seems to be the best solution for you. I know you seem content with that. I, however, agree with Josh that it is good for the common goal of a team to play for a league championship.

On another note, what should the Butler County bantam AA team do for next year? They are a minor team that won the Buckeye bantam AA this year, both league and tourney. Should they play in the league they already won as minors? There best move would be independant and play as many high level AA and Mid AAA teams as possible.

All you want to do is challenge kids to do their best for their own developement. And along the way have some fun doing it. It does not matter if you are in a league or not. Again, I like the league concept, but it is not for everyone. Developement should be the common goal. League Championships are great, but if the boys don't learn anything along the way and are not having fun, what is the purpose?

quote:

Originally posted by redwing19:
HF-I understand your predicament. However, I have been to many a tournament where the director lets in a team that should not be playing at the level it let them in at. There have been times where they let in a AA team to an A bracket, just to fill it out. There have also been times where they let in an A team into an AA bracket to do the same. This situation occurs more times than not. It is very rare that there is parity in a tournament field.

I think all of you are misunderstanding me I have no problem with how it is done I feel it is done the best it can be. As for tournament letting in other teams not in that level I would not agree. Out of some 20 Tournament in the last five years I have only seen once were a team was let in knowingly by the tournament that was so much better no one came within 5 goals of them in any game. Yes I have seen weak AA or A teams playing down but games were close and they were even beat many times. That is the problem with any sport there are teams that fall half way between levels what do they do? I know are team last year went independant played teams at A and AA levels. Played in tournaments as A. Most teams we palyed at the AA level were middle or lower BTHL teams. We went 16-1-2 in A games. and 1-6-3 in AA games and won 1 of three tournament we went to, we faced 3 AA teams playing down in that tournament one team played twice. Out of the A games most were within 1-3 goals same with AA and tournament games. Every could have went either way. Five years of travel hockey it was the only year my sons team went independent and the only year there were not at least 5-10 games that were 5+ goals win by one of the teams. So that is all I can compair it to and that is way I feel it could be better.

Coaches here do not seem to care about winning a League Championship because the regulare season mean little when all teams can play in the so called playoff. Winning Buckeye Championship is the same as winning any Tournament.

Are you saying your coach didn't care about the league standings, and as such ended up a third seed in the upcoming tournament? So now that it is a tournament this weekend they will play their best? I really do not understand that mentality. If my son does not play his best, I am right there. If I am going to pay travel hockey money, then get in the car and drive a couple hundred miles, I do not accept anything less than the best he can play. He has found this out a couple of times this year. He has also found out that playing his best is much more fun, even when you lose. If your coach is not coaching as you think he should or there is some other problem with your sons team, then you have the option to talk to him. You also have the option to go elsewhere. I really do not understand why you are putting your dissatisfaction on the BTHL. The St. Louis Blues are the worst team in the NHL, does that mean they should go independent next year? SHould they join the ECHL?

Also, from the outset of the season everyone involved with my sons team wanted a league championship. They won it in the last weekend of games. They are very proud, but cannot wait for this weekend, to finish the job.

This isn't a personal attack. I am just voicing my opinion.

Josh no you took everything I said in the wrong way. I can say our coach does not and has not ever talked to the kids about there standing in the league all year. It is driven in that you play your best every game every shift period.

I feel our coach is doing the right thing during the season as to not put a focus on league games more then non-league games they are all the same.

In no way have I said what our coach or any other coach is doing wrong.

My opinion on this is simple. League games during the year do nothing other then seed you. If a team was allowed to play in the tournament at the end of the year that was not a BHTL team they would have the same chance of winning as all BHTL teams do. The advange to jioning a league is

1. Easy scheduling of 20-24 games done in one day.

2. Knowing your home ice has games schedule and rules for teams that do not show.

3. Getting to know kids and parents from other assocations over time building friendships.

Notice the tournament a league championship is not in there. Joining the league is the only way to play in this tournament and you pay for it at the begaining of the year. Everyone has a chance to win it. Winning the year is nice but does nothing other then bragging rights.

I do believe there are some good reason to join a league. I also think you find my blow out games when you do because it is next to impossiable to have a division from top to bottom even without telling other team we don't have enough teams as bad or good as you to have a division.

Now to compair any of this to the NHL is so crazy I have a hard time even replying to it. NO ST. Louis should not go independent next year beacuse the regular season in the NHL DOES mean weather you get into the playoff or not. So it does mean something

With that said no one is to take that to mean I think that is the way youth hockey so be because I DO NOT THINK THAT. I think they do the best they can with what they have. I just feel if you want a even team schedule you are better off going out of a league.

I know comparing BTHL to the NHL was out there. It seems we agree on most points. How many games does your team play this season? Even if your team is totally independent, you just can't count on games always being 1-0 games. If a good player gets hurt on either team or if there are proir commitments by the starting goalie, anything can happen. I guess the whole point of joining a league would be to have a number of games with teams that are 'similar' to the make-up of your own team.

Our coach didn't speak of the championship either, it was just a goal, due to the fact we entered in to the league.