by Guest » Wed Mar 20, 2024 6:15 am
If you think politics and $ influence ends at AAA, think again. In many ways, it is worse and more of an unregulated wild west. It remains a game of who you know and how much you can pay.
I don't think you can make the jump from AA to Jr A, but it depends on age. Absolutely no chance as a U17 - there are only 2 spots available for 16 year olds and they barely take in any AAA 16 year old goalies. Remember Jr A is from 16-21 years old. They aren't going to gamble one of their 2 spots for one of their 2 goalies on a AA who's never had to face a season of AAA shooters. It's hard enough for a player - they can always take a chance, put them out for a few minutes - but way different for a goalie.
If you are good enough, then that's great. But the biggest problem you have at AA is how does any Jr A team even find out that you are good and how can they really assess how good you are when you are only facing AA shooters? The scouts don't bother coming to AA games so how are you going to get noticed and assessed? Before you compete for a spot, you are competing just for attention. Including word of mouth. Scouts will ask around the AAA coaches but they won't think much of you if you are just AA. If the scouts are not seeing you and coaches are not seeing your or playing against you, then you are not in the conversation.
If you think politics and $ influence ends at AAA, think again. In many ways, it is worse and more of an unregulated wild west. It remains a game of who you know and how much you can pay.
I don't think you can make the jump from AA to Jr A, but it depends on age. Absolutely no chance as a U17 - there are only 2 spots available for 16 year olds and they barely take in any AAA 16 year old goalies. Remember Jr A is from 16-21 years old. They aren't going to gamble one of their 2 spots for one of their 2 goalies on a AA who's never had to face a season of AAA shooters. It's hard enough for a player - they can always take a chance, put them out for a few minutes - but way different for a goalie.
If you are good enough, then that's great. But the biggest problem you have at AA is how does any Jr A team even find out that you are good and how can they really assess how good you are when you are only facing AA shooters? The scouts don't bother coming to AA games so how are you going to get noticed and assessed? Before you compete for a spot, you are competing just for attention. Including word of mouth. Scouts will ask around the AAA coaches but they won't think much of you if you are just AA. If the scouts are not seeing you and coaches are not seeing your or playing against you, then you are not in the conversation.