Prep Schools 07-08

[sticks21]

Bringing in good freshmen will bring about a slow but steady change. Bringing in good PG's will immediately shake things up. Taft will be very strong this year.


who is taft bringing in???

[Black Bear]

who is taft bringing in???

Can't speak to what a lot of teams brought in in terms of recruits but I know that if Vegas was taking bets right now on the girl's prep season, I'd put a few bucks down on Brewster, at what should be long odds, based on the girls added this year. Certainly can't predict what is going to happen but I think they're going to be one tough team to handle. Like all sports, defense is key and they look to be exceptionally strong defensively. Returning goalie holds all Brewster records and made National Festival last year. They now have a backup goalie, repeat Junior from Alberta who played on their provincial team in the Canada Games. Returning senior defenseman from Toronto who is getting D1 looks. Returning junior defenseman who has played every other shift right from her first game as a freshman. Repeat junior defenseman who has played for Sweden's U18 National team and a new sophomore defenseman from Alaska who made her age group National Festival. Forwards are equally as promising with National Festival, National Club or Canada Games experience for most. Should be a fun team for other teams to play and just as much fun for fans to watch.

[UCONN FAN]

Haven't heard how Berkshire did getting in new players. Any Berkshire parents or player out there?

[yekoh]

Have heard that they have recruited a true freshman from eastern Canada that will be an immediate impact player . Is that possible ..

[yekoh]

Brewster that is..

[Black Bear]

Have heard that they have recruited a true freshman from eastern Canada that will be an immediate impact player . Is that possible ..

She made her provincial team as a 14 year old. One of the seniors played on that same team and said that she is an unbelievable talent. She will be a true freshman and she is from New Brunswick.

[HockeyTeacher]

Brewster that is..

I know that there is a pretty talented young lady from Massachusetts who I think played at Assabet that is attending Brewster (Freshman).
She can fly............

[Black Bear]

I know that there is a pretty talented young lady from Massachusetts who I think played at Assabet that is attending Brewster (Freshman).
She can fly............

Thought that she was a sophomore but you may be right. I've seen her play and she has a real knack for finding the puck, she'll do well at Brewster. I think she is playing for Assabet again this year and I pity whoever has to run her back on forth on Sundays. It's roughly two hours up to Brewster to pick her up, two hours back to Concord, two hours back up to Brewster, two more hours home. With Sundays being really the only day that the girls have free, quite a few are opting to not play club and try to work in some skills sessions pre-season. Those Sundays are really going to be a grind. Been there and I'm glad my daughter chose to pass on club hockey this year.

[RStarr]

Thought that she was a sophomore but you may be right. I've seen her play and she has a real knack for finding the puck, she'll do well at Brewster. I think she is playing for Assabet again this year and I pity whoever has to run her back on forth on Sundays. It's roughly two hours up to Brewster to pick her up, two hours back to Concord, two hours back up to Brewster, two more hours home. With Sundays being really the only day that the girls have free, quite a few are opting to not play club and try to work in some skills sessions pre-season. Those Sundays are really going to be a grind. Been there and I'm glad my daughter chose to pass on club hockey this year.
All girls playing at the elite level (either with club teams or prep schools) need more skills instruction and skating specific instruction. And if there is any one thing that up and coming players can do on their own to help close the development gap between US and Canadian players it is to make time for skills and skating focused sessions. Besides, hours spent driving in the car to ensure that girl gets one more practice and one more game is not going to increase her overall playing ability exponentially…save the hours, save the money, avoid the dangers (of being on the road, of burnout, of unnecessary injuries, etc…) and invest in perfecting the basic fundamentals of hockey.

[Black Bear]

All girls playing at the elite level (either with club teams or prep schools) need more skills instruction and skating specific instruction. And if there is any one thing that up and coming players can do on their own to help close the development gap between US and Canadian players it is to make time for skills and skating focused sessions. Besides, hours spent driving in the car to ensure that girl gets one more practice and one more game is not going to increase her overall playing ability exponentially…save the hours, save the money, avoid the dangers (of being on the road, of burnout, of unnecessary injuries, etc…) and invest in perfecting the basic fundamentals of hockey.

Couldn't agree with you more.

[Hux]

Thought that she was a sophomore but you may be right. I've seen her play and she has a real knack for finding the puck, she'll do well at Brewster. I think she is playing for Assabet again this year and I pity whoever has to run her back on forth on Sundays. It's roughly two hours up to Brewster to pick her up, two hours back to Concord, two hours back up to Brewster, two more hours home. With Sundays being really the only day that the girls have free, quite a few are opting to not play club and try to work in some skills sessions pre-season. Those Sundays are really going to be a grind. Been there and I'm glad my daughter chose to pass on club hockey this year.

Actually she is playing for the Monarchs so as to cut down on the travel time.

All girls playing at the elite level (either with club teams or prep schools) need more skills instruction and skating specific instruction. And if there is any one thing that up and coming players can do on their own to help close the development gap between US and Canadian players it is to make time for skills and skating focused sessions. Besides, hours spent driving in the car to ensure that girl gets one more practice and one more game is not going to increase her overall playing ability exponentially…save the hours, save the money, avoid the dangers (of being on the road, of burnout, of unnecessary injuries, etc…) and invest in perfecting the basic fundamentals of hockey.

I wholeheartedly agree. I have a niece in Canada playing at the Bantam level. Her team has been in practice twice a week since the fourth of the month, but does not play a game until October. The majority of their time so far has been spent working on skating and skills, with only about 10 minutes of practice spent on positional play. In addition, as a team they do dynamic stretching prior to practice, as well as some basic plyos after. Even though they play a 30 odd game schedule with tourneys, their focus is on development. And we wonder why we have trouble beating the Canadians?

As far as "elite" players, this term is so overused it is not funny. Elite players are only found at the National and Olympic team level. Everyone else is an elite hopeful. ;o)

[OTH]

Haven't heard how Berkshire did getting in new players. Any Berkshire parents or player out there?

Here's a mix of Pomfret and Berkshire news.

I'm not a parent of a player at either school but a friend of a Pomfret parent. I was told two good players from Pomfret committed to transferring to Berkshire last spring. I only heard a few days ago about another Pomfret player who also transferred out recently (a big surprise and unexpected I gather) but I missed the reference on where to.

[Black Bear]

[QUOTE=Hux;3322199]Actually she is playing for the Monarchs so as to cut down on the travel time.

I know there are two girls on Brewster's team from the Boston area. The one I was thinking of is listed on the roster of the Assabet U16 Red team.

[UCONN FAN]

[QUOTE=Hux;3322199]Actually she is playing for the Monarchs so as to cut down on the travel time.

I think the player in question is playing for the Assabet U-16 Red.

[Hux]

I think the player in question is playing for the Assabet U-16 Red.

Yes, I see that she is listed on the roster for the 16s. I had heard that she was going to the Monarchs at the request/suggestion of her Brewster coach because of the travel.

[notfromaroundhere]

Yes, I see that she is listed on the roster for the 16s. I had heard that she was going to the Monarchs at the request/suggestion of her Brewster coach because of the travel.

I guess it does cut down the travel a little, not that Boston is that far from Brewster. Although about 1/2 of the time it won't matter becasue the road games will be mostly in Boston anyways.

Mine has started the 2 hour each way commute on weekends for her pre-post. Compared to her travel times before boarding school, this is nothing. She is quite good at making good use (sleeping) of her travel time. ;)

[Redhead'sDad]

Quote: As far as "elite" players, this term is so overused it is not funny. Elite players are only found at the National and Olympic team level. Everyone else is an elite hopeful. ;o)


Amen to that. The term "elite" is used with many organizations, including the one in which my daughter plays. I find its use to be patronizing towards other kids who supposedly are not "elite." We all need to be careful not to take this too seriously.

[Black Bear]

Yes, I see that she is listed on the roster for the 16s. I had heard that she was going to the Monarchs at the request/suggestion of her Brewster coach because of the travel.

Playing at Assabet and at Brewster is possible, Kate Buesser did it, but then as my daughter would say, "but that was Buess, she can do anything". Exceptional athlete but also a very, very exceptional student. And, she lived at home and drove herself. Last year my daughter was doing it until she got hurt and it meant being out the door by 7 AM and depending on the time of the afternoon game, back as late as 7 PM. This year it was a no brainer, my daughter did not feel that giving up her only free day, almost totally, was worth what she would get out of club hockey. And, take my word for it, Brewster to Concord is going to average two hours each way depending on traffic.

[RStarr]

As far as "elite" players, this term is so overused it is not funny. Elite players are only found at the National and Olympic team level. Everyone else is an elite hopeful. ;o)
I should have been more clear but I meant to include players at the national level too, most notably players on the U18 national team. It wouldn't hinder the u22s either (or all national team players at any age for that matter) but the U22's seem to get a little bit of this specific instruction in college (hints to why the US u22's weren't as far behind the HC u22's as the US u18's were behind HC u18s).

Amen to that. The term "elite" is used with many organizations, including the one in which my daughter plays. I find its use to be patronizing towards other kids who supposedly are not "elite." We all need to be careful not to take this too seriously.
I too agree (and same with the term "AAA"). But I am not the one that coined these players elite. These girls play in leagues titled "Midwest Elite" and so on and so fourth. So I guess take it up with the league board or USAHockey or whoever you think hands out such titles.

[notfromaroundhere]

I never realized that the Automobile Club ever endorsed girls AAA hockey teams. ;)