Youth Hockey Tournament Selection Suggestion

So as much as I've poked fun at the Brick and, more recently, the Quebec Tournament too...I realize that, in time, I'll poke fun at the list I'm about to share here too.

See, we experienced the Brick first hand.

We didn't go to the Brick but all three kids gave it a go, tryout-wise, and all three got call backs.

We didn't even bother to show up for those call backs for my younger two as I'd already become aware of the reality of the Brick as my oldest got beyond that round and was an alternate -- err, spare part, actually -- for that final squad.

Lots of practices that didn't actually make him any better but, yes, he's in the fabled Zamboni pic they take every year and has the hockey bag (still wrapped in plastic) and full uniform to showcase he's not a total poser...

2008 and 2009 Boston Jr Bruins Brick Series Teams

Covid squashed his Quebec opportunities and, same idea, I knew better for my middle son and didn't even pursue it.

I won't seek it out for my youngest either unless his full regular season team earns a spot.

So, like, it's one of those things where it feels super important in the moment.

And, then, once you're past that moment...it's meaningless.

Kinda like a high school graduation where all the kids are so proud of themselves for their accomplishment, for sticking it out, and patting themselves on the back for "making it".

Two weeks later they realize they haven't even started.

You're turning 18 and, really, that's not the monumental accomplishment it's been made out to be.

Wisdom, from that let-down realization and experience, starts at that moment.

And parents of kids in their Brick year or shooting to play at the Quebec PeeWee tourney next year can disagree with me all they want now...but get back to me in another year.

Guaranteed, we'll all be on the same page.

So, anyway, even though the Brick is a meaningless over-hyped tournament for little kids, I'm still thankful we gave it a go when my oldest son was 8 years old.

Main reason is that it got his name on a TON of marketing lists for higher end programs -- programs that I'd likely not have even known existed if not for that very first tryout.

I'll warn you now not to accept, or even believe, some of the team invitations you'll receive...but it opens up a whole new world when it comes to youth hockey...and that's a good thing.

Big fish in a little pond isn't a good scenario...when there's a huge pond you just aren't aware of.

Knowledge is power. Exposure is important.

So, from that aspect, I'm thankful for the Jr Bruins and CT Jr Rangers programs that I volun-forced my kids to tryout for.

The Quebec PeeWee tourney is more of the same. Good players, great players, and total frauds all pretending they're NHL bound.

Rabid issue across all youth sports.

I don't want to totally gloss over it but here's the thing with the Quebec tourney... You might feel like a superstar in the months and weeks leading up to it.

If you're lucky, you're not blown out of the water in your first two games and sent home.

Hey, you might even win the damn thing.

But, one week later... no one cares.

Not joking -- no one cares.

And as the kids get older, you see it more and more clearly.

My oldest son's team recently made it to the finals of a higher end tournament at the U16 level. We lost.

The winning team just came off the bench like it was a regular game -- no gloves in the air, no sticks all over the place, helmets stayed on.

It was just another win.

The kids knew.

Had the result been reversed, our team would have reacted similarly. Skate out to the goalie, good game, good game, good game, and then line up for the handshake line.

Run of the mill tournaments are just that, a weekend with four, maybe five, meaningless games.

By age 16, the players know it. Most of the parents do too.

The only exception are league tournaments where your opponents aren't just a bunch of randos but teams you've faced during the duration of the season.

This is why the Stanley Cup works. The Calder Cup. The Kelly Cup. The Commissioner's Cup. The Frozen Four. The Olympics.

The Brick and the Quebec tournaments are not that.

They're overhyped and glorified "championships" but are really just like every other Christmas or Thanksgiving tournament you've ever played in...with better talent.

And now I'm going to say something I'll regret in another four or five years...

At midget age, there are certain tournaments and events or showcases that DO matter.

And it's not so much from a "team" perspective...but from an individual player perspective.

If you have hockey goals, you need to get some exposure and noticed, and to do that you need to get yourself into some of these tournaments...

WSI, Chowder Cup, Cwench, etc...

Cwench is a stupid name -- it's sponsor thing. Used to be BioSteel and then they went bankrupt cause, well, their product was terrible.

Cwench will follow suit, I'm sure.

And, yeah, I know someone is going to email me that Brick teams play at that tournament at the youth level...and, yeah, well, when you know, you'll know.

WSI, the Jr Chowder Cup, the Chowder Cup, and the Cwench (or whatever they call themselves in the future) tournaments are "the" tournaments to get noticed.

My kid got noticed by a scouting service at an NAHL Combine.

The USHL Combines are also great -- provided you're actually at that level and not just showing up and crossing your fingers.

Montreal Meltdown? Chi-town Shuffle? CCM Super Awesome Invite Only Tournament of Interstellar Elite Champions?

Nope, sorry -- those are simply well marketed versions of your local Jingle Bell Tournament that offers B and C divisions and has some overpriced heat press vendor set up in the lobby pushing out expensive low-quality sweatshirts.

Skip them unless your regular season team is going as a group or it's just really convenient.

Like, we live close to Boston. Those greater Boston tournaments are very easy for us.

I'd bet it's not easy for all of the Florida, Texas, Ohio, Missouri, and Arizona based teams we see at them, though...

If it's run by 200x85, Can/Am, or OneHockey, yeah, it's just a money making set-up for the organizers -- there is zero benefit for the players. We've competed in more of those than I even want to admit -- thankfully, all local.

At 15 or 16 years old, if your player is still playing, you shouldn't be chasing those types of opportunities...cause they're not opportunities.

They're really overpriced non-league games. Nothing more.

Hockey is really expensive on its own at the midget and junior level -- make those dollars count and only participate in extracurricular tournaments that actually offer an opportunity.

I posted earlier this year that I made a major misstep by NOT participating in a WSI tournament as my son turned 15.

I'm trying to lessen the damage of that by securing him a spot on a Jr Chowder Cup roster -- that he was "awarded" due to his performance at the NAHL combine.

So, I guess what I'm saying is that you should seek to participate in events that open doors.

At the mite level, simply trying out for a Brick team will open doors to a much larger youth hockey world that you can explore if your player desires it.

From squirt through first year bantam...honestly...nothing really matters.

All the fancy tournament teams and tournaments that litter your social media feeds are, well, fun to play in but serve no purpose in the development or path of your player.

I hate to say that...but it's the truth.

It's all noise -- just be the best player you can be at the highest level you're still able to contribute.

And get better year over year.

When the player is turning 15 -- narrow in on the stuff that actually counts.

Junior league combines (NOT team camps), WSI, Chowder, and whatever the Cwench one wants to call itself.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know -- I love the feedback from all angles!

Chris Rutsch

Hockey Dad

Year round, I spend a significant amount of time and money transporting my three boys to and from freezing cold ice rinks. Not because I expect them to make it to the NHL but because I know the rigorous youth hockey experience will serve them well in the future.