Hey kids, I am back for a double dip today. Yep, just like a good ice cream you need more than one scoop.
Alright, so here’s the deal. The boss man wont let me point out and name specific teams for you kids to avoid right now because they are in trouble. But he didn’t say I couldn’t tell you how to figure things out for yourselves! Apparently some teams aren’t liking the truth being out there about how their struggling, but hey, if you are paying the damn bills don’t you have a right to know? Yep, I thought you might agree.
So lets start the investigative process shall we? Now this will take you a little time, but if it saves you thousands of dollars its worth it right? Lets start with USA Hockey Tier III teams because that’s the easiest;
First you need to go to the USA Hockey protected lists http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/916758-protected-lists Those lists were updated again just this past Friday.
Go through each league and each team and look for the following:
Did every team report a protected list. If a team did not put their list out, chances are they have low roster numbers or are not following the USA Hockey mandates. Either way its not a good sign is it kids? Ummmmmm yeah, we got 25 players but we’re just too lazy to report them. Ha Ha Ha Yep that’s leadership you can get behind.
Next, you want to look at teams with less than 20 players reported. Why? Some teams are reporting as many as 5 goalies!!!! Yeah, we got 18 players but 5 of them are goalies! Can you believe this? Its a money grab there kids. Boost your numbers by adding goalies, yep that’s a sure sign of a team that everyone wants to play for.
Third, you want to look for people you know are playing on other teams. That’s right kids, their are some bogus players listed on these lists. Found one of the bosses clients listed on a Tier III team and he has already played his first Tier II game. Tricky stuff though, making your numbers look bigger with players who wont be there. Yep, that’s a team everyone wants to play for.
Fourth. Ask the team exactly how many players they have at each position. Not how many they are expecting to have, but how many are under contract in in town. If they don’t have 9 forwards and 6 defense minimum, plus three or fewer goaltenders, you probably don’t want to give them your hard earned money.
Alrighty, so that’s it for USA Hockey teams. AAU teams are a little harder to figure out right now, but it can be done.
Teams should be announcing and publishing their players signings. Its easy enough to go through them and count the players. Some teams are posting their rosters, and most of those teams are full.
Its the teams not posting information you got to look out for. Teams not promoting their schedules need to be looked at as well.
You can never be too careful kids. This is the year a lot of people have been waiting for. Players shortage and mass expansion coming together in one stupendous season. Don’t let the coaches and recruiters feed you a line of crap either. If they wont tell you their numbers, they got something to hide.
Goalies need to be especially careful. How would you like to be someone’s sixth goalie? Yep a whole lot of ice time and development there eh kids?
The most important rule to remember kids is that a good Tier III organization has nothing to hide. At this point in the year the good ones will only have a limited number of roster spots left to fill. Its simple math. Good teams don’t have to worry about player shortages because people know they are good teams.
Teams that don’t work hard to recruit, don’t promote players, or just wait for any player to get cut to pick them up are the teams that don’t care about you.
Oh yeah, and one more thing, don’t go play Tier III if you can play Tier II or Junior A in Canada. That’s just plain stupid, and their are plenty of teams in Canada still looking to fill a few remaining roster spots.
David Wagner – The Angel Of Death – For Those Who Live Stupidly I salute You
*The Death Pool is a mix of comedy, and satire in connection with recent events. It is not an official report of current events although it may look as though the news is so accurate that it could one day happen or may be happening.
