Not as simple topic. And Norcal seems to be different than Socal. In Norcal there still aren't enough players to field 2 AAA teams in most/all the age groups. It's been tried. Which really sucks, because competition would be good for all clubs involved, and the geography of the bay area makes some commutes almost impossible.
Probably different in Socal, but I don't know.
Where should your kid play? At the highest level that they will actually get ice time. I've had kids in AA and AAA and the hockey is definitely different. Most AA kids cannot be successful at AAA. When they are put in that situation (due to short rosters, bad choices, etc), it is typically a miserable experience of failure, ridicule from team mates (remember, they are kids), and sitting on the bench. It usually ends up being a short stay at AAA, with lots of unhappiness and hurt feelings.
AAA kids playing down in AA typically hate it too. It's not just about skill, speed, or size. It's about hockey sense and understanding the game. An actual AAA player stuck in AA will complain about teammates that can't catch passes, don't take it seriously enough, and are constantly in the wrong place.
If your kid didn't make an AAA team it's almost certainly because they aren't playing at that level. Don't worry about it - play AA where they will actually hit the ice, and let them develop. Tell them they need to try harder and put in more time - that's usually the honest truth.
It's like the old adage at most workplaces - no boss ever gives someone a promotion because they think they can do the job. They give them a promotion because they actually ARE doing the job and deserve it. Same with advancement from AA to AAA. And the reality is most AAA coaches have years or decades of experience looking at players and are motivated to succeed. They do remarkably well picking out the right kids at tryouts.
An AA player won't magically become a AAA player by being on an AAA team. It doesn't work like that.
As for getting seen, I actually disagree with some of the statements above.
Level does make a difference for kids that want to be picked up early. AA kids are not typically going to get drafted into the WHL. An example: Jr Sharks had 4 players (or in one case ex-players) drafted in the WHL Bantam draft last year. All of them played AAA. I think that's very typical. AAA teams will also be at tournaments with scouts like Tier 1 Elite tournaments. Much less so for AA as they simply can't get in to those tournaments.
Most scouts have a very limited number of trips they can take (in NCAA it's actually mandated to 1 per year), so they are going to focus on AAA tournaments. That's also why prep schools can be good - they are typically on the east coast where the scouts are. And prep schools are essentially commercial ventures - to a large degree you pay your way in.
Does that mean an AA player is never going to go anywhere? No, not at all. It will just take longer, and the 'route' to playing in college might be a bit less 'sexy' than getting drafted, etc. Most colleges are looking for 19 year olds. There is lots of time. The most important things are:
- Figure out where your kid will develop
- Don't put them in a place where they will sit on the bench or be miserable
- Encourage them to put in the extra time. Shoot 100 pucks a day. Do extra on ice practices. Work out off ice. Keep your marks up. It's a huge commitment. There are very few successful AAA players that "just show up for the practices."
