USARS Nationals - 18U Elite

[imasamurai]

What a joke! The 18U Elite Division at the USARS Nationals (cough, cough) in Feasterville, PA, this weekend only has three teams. That's the best they could do? I've seen house league tournaments with better turnouts. And, what's with the Goodsports Jaguars playing 18U Comp? They qualified NARCh Platinum at the Broomall regional. I know the coach's kid is hurt, but does one player really make the difference between a team playing Elite or Comp?

[GROWL]

Well I saw this team (GS Jags) play a number of times over the spring and early summer. There roster appears to have changed dramatically over the past few weeks. When the Breakaway 89s broke apart, I believe they inherited a few players initially, but the past few weekends those players have been playing for a different team. Thus why they have probably dropped to the COMP bracket.

We have the same problem in the 16 U Elite division. Why dont they just put all the teams into one division and split them apart for playoffs. Nothing prestigious about a 3 or 4 team bracket.

[imasamurai]

I've seen the Goodsports Jaguars at several tournaments and their roster changes all the time. Sometimes they have Nike Team Breakaway 89's playing for them, sometimes they don't. What teams have you seen some of the NTB 89's playing for?

[wingdingwally]

Bigger joke would be on the three teams that entered Who are they and how stupid are they for going?

[GROWL]

Well this past weekend, the same kids that had been playing with the Jags were now playing for the Lightning.

As for the teams that are playing. They arnt stupid for going, they paid there money already and I'm sure USARS isnt just about to refund them. This brings up a great debate. Tournaments like this force you to pay before a schedule comes out, so you don't no show on them, but this is a prime example of a double standard that exists in the business. Good business practice would have been to offer these three teams there money back.

The last time I entered a team in USARS nationals was in 2002 in Rochester. We played in a five team division and four of the teams were all from the greater Philadelphia Area. Maybe USARS should close up shop and let AAU fully take over.

[ISFN]

Way back in 2001 USARS hosted a Nationals just for Elite teams, I'm not sure if they have a separte tournament now like the used to I don't follow it much anymore but back then in 01' it was at All American in St.Louis and it was a pretty big event and I remember their being some pretty good teams from all over.

I tried looking up the info./results from that tournament on usarollersports.org and of course they have nothing even mentioning it but I'm positive it happend I have video a medal to prove it:p.

If anyone can find or has any info. on their elite nationals from 01' or any year really I'd be interested in seeing it.

[InlineMBA]

I remember in 2001 the USARS Nationals being held in Rochester, NY.

As for this years teams in the 18U Elite - I'm sure the Cougars are tuning up for their run at NARCh Platinum.

Steve Inge

[ISFN]

You're correct the nationals were held in Rochester, but as I stated they held a seperate nationals for the elite teams, thus calling it the USARS Elite Nationals.

[InlineMBA]

Best I could do so far:

http://www.usarollersports.org/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/12/09/43975a60a42bf

I'll keep trying,

Steve Inge

ps - check out 1999, North American Ball 15/16 Division, MVP: Bill Katinsky. Should I post this on the PIHA forum? Nah.

[TheSnake22]

I know the bandits are probably sending a bunch of teams, the 18's are going for sure last. year usars nationals were here in pittsburgh and there wasnt a great turnout from what i recall..

[wingdingwally]

Growl, you are right, it is probably offensive to label the teams attending as stupid.They dont know ahead of time the teams scheduled .

Do the younger divisons have poor turnout as well?

[GROWL]

http://www.hockeycentralflorida.com/usars07/schedule.pdf

I'm a bit confused by the address of this, but the link came straight from the AAU website. Check it out and see the breakdown yourself.

With the link that exists between AAU and USARS, why do they still have seperate events like this. The same can be said about USA Hockey and NARCh now. I know the answer is obvious, but wouldn't these 'governing bodies' recognize that less 'national' tournament series would most likely strengthen the sport and the national events?

[patb16]

Flynn,

If I am correct, the NARCh Club division is part of the transition during combination of USA Hockey Inline and NARCh. I think eventually, the plan is to have NARCh take over completely. Someone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

See:
http://www.usahockey.com/Template_USAHockeyInLine.aspx?Nav=TE&ID=1000&USAHockeyType=INLINE

[FrankFrank]

Sorry, don't mean to bust in on all of this as late as I am... but I was just reading through some of the prior year champs for USARS...
http://www.usarollersports.org/vnews.../43975a60a42bf
Someone take a look at the 1995 one and look on page 3... is that the one and only... 99 ???

F~F

[Drexel63]

Wayne?? No... ;)
Looks alot like Jimmy V though.

[wingdingwally]

I shouldnt just pick ed on USARS AAU. TORHS has 4 teams in their 18U elite nationals

[Center_ice]

If I remember correctly Flynn, your jr. growl team played in the USARS nationals event in Raleigh few year back..

[GROWL]

Not true. My Little Flyers team played in Raleigh for AAU Jr Olympics in 2002, but the Jr Growl went to NARCh for nationals in 2003, which I believe is what you were referring to. Many of my players that year played in that event with another team (sportsplex wolves) and I was there for part of it.

USARS Nationals at sportsplex last weekend was nothing more then an overly expensive regional event. No vendors, No impressive trophies, Nothing worth ever doing again unless it is in your backyard and your warming up for a respectable tournament.

Hey Bill and Ray get our here, Sauce and I need someone to spank on the BP Table.

[hockkid13]

I agree with Growl. I was at the USARS event as a spectator and to me it seemed more like an organized in house tournament, rather then a national event.