by Guest » Thu Apr 18, 2024 12:00 pm
It's the parents' responsibility to ensure their kids understand that this is nothing but spring hockey; but if you're going to mix in a tournament or two as part of a player's development, while waiting to get back to real hockey, DraftDay is a perfectly fine option.
90 of the 150 2008 skaters (60%) who played in the 2023 edition of DraftDay were selected in the 2024 OHL draft. An impressive number when you consider that participants included U.S. born players who were likely not looked at closely, and some players who might have expressed their desire to go another route. In addition, the top three goalies that were selected to the O where also at DraftDay.
Picks 1,3,4,7 and 9 were there.
57% of RD 1picks (12 of 21)
57% of RD 2 picks (12 of 21)
There are exceptional hockey players who weren't there, many by choice, and others who flourished during their winter season, but that's the norm for any tournament, at any level, for any cohort.
If you're going to enter your kid in a spring tournament, there's nothing wrong with giving them an opportunity to compete against high-level talent, which this specific tournament seems to attract on an annual basis.
I think it's unfair to generalize all of these "ELITE" kids as "being raised to THINK they are the Best of the Best", or to suggest that they all "disrespect anybody else on their team and at school".
I agree that some of them are that way. We've all overheard them talk around the rinks. That is unfortunate, and that is 100% on the parents.
But I also know players who've been here, and who've channeled their passion for hockey, their dedication, their hard work, and their competitiveness to open doors for them on and off the ice, while being respectful towards others along the way. Hockey parents, as a whole, need to be better to ensure that we have more of these positive examples.
It's the parents' responsibility to ensure their kids understand that this is nothing but spring hockey; but if you're going to mix in a tournament or two as part of a player's development, while waiting to get back to real hockey, DraftDay is a perfectly fine option.
90 of the 150 2008 skaters (60%) who played in the 2023 edition of DraftDay were selected in the 2024 OHL draft. An impressive number when you consider that participants included U.S. born players who were likely not looked at closely, and some players who might have expressed their desire to go another route. In addition, the top three goalies that were selected to the O where also at DraftDay.
Picks 1,3,4,7 and 9 were there.
57% of RD 1picks (12 of 21)
57% of RD 2 picks (12 of 21)
There are exceptional hockey players who weren't there, many by choice, and others who flourished during their winter season, but that's the norm for any tournament, at any level, for any cohort.
If you're going to enter your kid in a spring tournament, there's nothing wrong with giving them an opportunity to compete against high-level talent, which this specific tournament seems to attract on an annual basis.
I think it's unfair to generalize all of these "ELITE" kids as "being raised to THINK they are the Best of the Best", or to suggest that they all "disrespect anybody else on their team and at school".
I agree that some of them are that way. We've all overheard them talk around the rinks. That is unfortunate, and that is 100% on the parents.
But I also know players who've been here, and who've channeled their passion for hockey, their dedication, their hard work, and their competitiveness to open doors for them on and off the ice, while being respectful towards others along the way. Hockey parents, as a whole, need to be better to ensure that we have more of these positive examples.