Who will win the cup?

Stars23 · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: MN

Reasons?

The Stars have played together as TEAM longer than the Saints, Mustangs, Fury and even the canadian team rosters have changed over the last 5-10 years. The Stars have pretty much had only 3 changes/additions in 10 years. That is a big advantage.

The Saints are very strong no doubt, but not much experience as a group together. Talent and strength can only get you so far, the team cohesiveness and unity takes time and practice and can mean the difference in a close game.

The Saints will definetely be a force, but don't think having all the depth will result in a sure thing victory.. Depth can actually hurt a team that isn't built right or hasn't bonded right. Players can bicker over playing time, positions played, etc.

The Saints also have not faced the very tough Faisel Burale on Toronto, he is an extremely talented player that Twite and Wilson have no experience against. Tough to defend. Just ask Kram, he is very familiar with Burale. Burale is incredibly fast, wicked shot, fanatastic stick handling, ultra aggressive (and rough). Falconer from Calgary is a force too.

So the Stars experience against that type of competition could be a major advantage. And I see Carolina and Michigan have new additions too! It should be a great tournament.

I will let the Saints talk confident/cocky, they will have to proove they can back it up. Also there is rumors flying around that some of the Saints are too afraid to get hurt so they are skipping local MN league games. Hehe. Smile

Oh and I'm a goalie, so they gotta get past me first. It won't be easy, I've been practicing LOTS. Wink

Go Stars!

23

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MN Stars - 2004 PowerHockey Cup Champions

AmericanBarbie · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 34

I'm not going to make any predictions. It has been two years since most of us have played each other and a lot can change in that time. We, the Saints, are stronger than we were last time and we vow to not play drunk this time. Laughing

But I know it is very possible that teams like Carolina and Michigan could have also strengthened. Anything is possible!

crazylegs · Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 33

What the heck! Are you running for PowerHockey President?

AmericanBarbie · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 34

crazylegs · Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 33

Granted, the STARS gave the Saints about 5 min of glory as their heads were way up their, well, lets just say someplace dark, and allowed 3 goals in 5 min. BUT, the STARS got rollen and SHUT DOWN the Saints from there on. And the Stars won 4-3. So throw out first 5 min and its 4-0. Now thats determination. As for being down a player that game, have you ever even played with this "mysterious" player. I would bet you have not even practiced together so how do you know if he/she is going to even help?

AmericanBarbie · Joined: 22 Jul 2006 Posts: 34

Every minute counts, my friend. Wink

crazylegs · Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 33

What, no reply on the "mysterious player"?? I must be right!

87Saints · Joined: 05 Jul 2006 Posts: 14

This "mysterious" player is not mysterious at all. He was with the saints in 2004 so he has played and practiced with the saints many of times. He will do wonders againts the stars and any team for that matter.

TheOutsider · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 6

Stars23 · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 Location: MN

Hello Outsider,

Each of the various leagues/regions have different critieria and beliefs for putting together tournament teams. There is no standard/policy for choosing squads, nor do I believe there needs to be.

For example, it is my understanding that Calgary and Toronto have league built squads, aka. Selects or All Star type teams. Those leagues have 15-20+ year history with good organizational structure of board members, volunteers, coaches, fundraising, etc. so they have a great system that many would say is fair and capable of picking 'Selects' tourney teams each year.

The U.S. leagues are newer and in the North Carolina & Baltimore areas they do not play local league games. Minnesota started out the same way, it was just a group of guys from MDA camp that started the MN Stars, which founded the U.S. EWHA. In Michigan's situation their local league isn't just power wheelchairs, it includes manual wheelchairs too. Different rules there also.

The Minnesota PHL does have a league of 6 teams, no coaches, very few volunteers that are not player parents, no local MPHL annual fundraisers as of yet. It is a league with a 10 year history but still needs a lot of systematic work to make it operate better and bigger. That takes time and contribution from volunteers and fundraisers. From my experience, the MPHL is more recreational, still competitive but not on the level of tournament play. I believe the Canada leagues are similar.

Some players are not able to travel for various reasons (health, caregivers for the trip, transportation, etc.) and some players aren't ready to play at tournament level. Some leagues believe everyone should play in a tournament at some point, some people believe the best players overall should always compete, or a mix of both philosophies, thats unique to each area.

The Stars and Saints are privately founded and managed travel teams that do not compete in the MPHL as a team, though all of them do play on various MPHL teams.

Also look at wheelchair basketball and power soccer, many of those tournament teams are chosen by their founders or captains, not always are league Selects or All Star teams.

Is there a perfect way to pick a team? That I think is debateable indefinetely. Smile

#23
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MN Stars - 2004 PowerHockey Cup Champions

TheOutsider · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 6

great insight

thanks 23

admin · Site Admin Joined: 03 Jul 2006 Posts: 77

I think in the grand scheme of things, powerhockey is very young. For example, the Stanley Cup began in 1892.

Years from now we'll look back and say wow. Look what we started!

More teams in the future, more development of players, will warrent a change in today's process. For now, just getting a team together and playing is tough enough.

The future looks bright!!