What teams and coaches will be out there next season? I've heard that the Gold Rush will have a team but we don't know there coach or any of the others. Who is recommended for development and fielding competitive teams?
I noticed a lot of people have strong opinions about which Bantam AA teams would be strong upcoming year. It reminds me of last year when most, including I, thought OC will be the team to beat. They had everything going for them all major year (03) players, big which in lot of people's mind equates to better, had lots of returning players some of whom had played for the same coach for many years. We all know how their season couldn't end soon enough. Ducks Bantam AA was claiming to be national bound as well. They didn't make it to states.
The teams that made it to states were all coached by very good seasoned coaches that have a pedigree to take their teams to play offs year after year. Which brings me to the second part of your question DEVELOPMENT.
By far Peter at Bears and Brad at Empire, not in any particular order, rank as the top two coaches for player development. Brad seems to have a knack for taking combo teams to play offs year after year. I have seen his teams grow a lot by the time year ends which is what you want for your kid. I am sure similar great things can be said about Peter.
Some, rightfully so, would also vouch for Saints Bantam AA and Wave 2 Bantam AA coaches as well. They probably rank in the second tier of player development. I don't see anyone at OC that can help a Bantam AA level player grow.
Most of us have a faint heart. We want to play with friends that we know and do not want to leave club/coach due to loyalty. A high level coach gave me an example of how that can be detrimental to your kid's future if you want to make somewhere in hockey. Look at today's OHL draft and you'd notice a California kid, yes a California kid, made it. He has played for GSE, Kings. Pretty much every year he's had a different coach. He kept growing faster than other kids on the team and despite getting good coaching, he had no choice but to move teams. Fake loyalty to coaches or clubs and the desire to join teams that are already good may not be the best decision if development is important to you and your player.
Play your kid for a good coach that will help your kid develop. Don't go to a team that is already good. Your kid may not learn much by watching team mates on their loaded team from the bench. For the last two years we made the toughest, and the best, decision (s) to change club and coaches. Leaving friends wasn't easy for the kid and we know the families on a personal level so that was hard. Parents on our previous teams hated us but both years the same parents came back and told us you did the best thing for your kid. They wished they made the same decisions for their boys that our son made for himself.
Explain to your kid decision have consequences. Ask your child what matters to them and help them make the decision.
Good luck.