At 12:17 PM 7/25/95 -0400, Steve Rockey - Librarian wrote:
>I was most interested in is what Mike says about a decline in school
>boy hockey especially in Massachusetts.  It seems to me that he is
>correct in that I think there has been a significant increase in the
>number of players who play junior or prep school hockey instead of
>or after high school before they play college hockey.  However, there
>is an alternative interpretation.  It may be that the average level of
>skills in college hockey is higher in contrast to the number of NHL
>type players (my contention).  The players that make it may need a
>higher level or more years of preparation than high school can
>provide.  This may be even more pronounced for players originating
>from places other than Minnesota.
 
My son (the goalie Wyatt Smith, not the U Minn recruit Wyatt Smith) just
graduated from St Louis Park High School in Minnesota and had the pleasure
of playing in goal for the past two years behind the University of Minnesota
recruit, Erik Rasmussen. Wyatt has spent the past few weeks trying out for
various Jr Teams in the midwest and has finally landed a position as a
goalie with the Mighty Ducks Jr team in Anaheim. He will be leaving with two
other Minnesota players next week on their trek towards southern California
and Junior hockey in the Sun Belt.
 
This process of trying out for Junior teams has allowed me, as a Minnesota
hockey parent, to compare the relative talents of Minnesota high school
graduates with the expectations of Division I college hockey. I feel that
the expectations of Division I programs regarding the incoming recruits is
higher today than it was in previous eras. From what I can tell, with very
few exceptions, most Minnesota High School varsity players are not ready for
current Division I needs and the Jr leagues are providing an opportunity for
Minnesota high school graduates to take the steps necessary to develop into
Division I level players.
 
Minnesota high school hockey has not, as far as I can tell, diminished in
quality at all, but the expectations of post-high school hockey is quite
high today. I am very surprised at how few Minnesota high school players
(relatively speaking) go through the Junior hockey system.
 
Just a hockey parent's opinion.
 
<<<from the duck pond>>>
 
Jim
 
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