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Bantam A or AA vs High School

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toma_13:
I'm relatively new to moving my son up the ladder as he progresses (2nd year Bantam).  My choice is Bantam (either A or AA) or LAKHSL (JV or Varsity depending which one he makes)....  Can any of you experienced parents let me know of the main differences in both quality and price between Club and High School League?   Son is solid team player but not "star" quality.   Thank you.

Hockey sophist:

--- Quote from: toma_13 on July 07, 2020, 09:45:58 AM ---I'm relatively new to moving my son up the ladder as he progresses (2nd year Bantam).  My choice is Bantam (either A or AA) or LAKHSL (JV or Varsity depending which one he makes)....  Can any of you experienced parents let me know of the main differences in both quality and price between Club and High School League?   Son is solid team player but not "star" quality.   Thank you.

--- End quote ---
We had a similar choice last season.   BNAA or D-1 HS?   He had played BNAA the year before and it was appealing to play for his school.   D-1 was definitely more competitive than typical BNAA although if the choice is a club team like the Bears, Saints, or Kings it could be a tossup.   Probably depends on the coach and your son's social preference.  D-1 in ADHSL was competitive and out-of-state tournaments, especially in Minnesota, offered tough competition.   The opponents are bigger, faster, and more physical than BNAA.  Our son matched most HS opponents physically but he still played a little intimidated at times.  Some of these opponents are 18. It did teach him to pass quicker. 

The problem with JV is that the best players may also play Varsity and/or could play on good AA Bantam or Midget teams but the worse players are sometimes in-house level.  That is a huge variation.  If your son is used to passing, he will pass to an in-house level player who will lose the puck.  How does your son or you respond to that?   It makes for a weird game.  Doing the right thing can lead to a bad play.  It is relatively easy for a good player to go coast-to-coast at the JV level, which violates the team-oriented goal but can be confidence building in contrast to D-1 Varsity.   Watched some D-2 games but cannot speak to that level.   A good AA coach and program should be better than JV.   A key issue is when you need to make a decision.  Just be happy if your son can play this season and safely.

toma_13:
Thanks for your insight.   Yes you hit it on the head when you described my boy who is pass first and wants to make the right play.. Although some would argue that will not get you noticed - but hopefully a good coach can always use that type of player.    Perhaps it would be best to try out with the AA team with a good coach.   Then have High School as a fallback.    Do you know who usually has try-outs first?  Club or HS?   I imagine even that is up in the air this year! 

Rats13:
I'm under the impression the ADHSL is a higher level of hockey then most of LAKHSL?

lcadad:

--- Quote from: Rats13 on July 07, 2020, 07:48:28 PM ---I'm under the impression the ADHSL is a higher level of hockey then most of LAKHSL?

--- End quote ---


Depending on the team, no doubt about it.  But there are a lot of teams in the ADHSL, and not all of them are great. 

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