One of the major characteristics of the Arrows organization that I am most proud of is our willingness to make changes to improve on some aspect of our program. I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you a change to the way in which we will identify our travel teams effective for the 2004/2005 hockey season.

The Long Island Amateur Hockey League (LIAHL) along with the New York State Amateur Hockey Association (NYSAHA) of which it is a member, use the following USA Hockey Tier-to-Letter conventions: Tier I (one) = “A”; Tier II (two) = “B”; Tier III (three) = “C”. The Arrows are a USA Hockey Tier II organization. This means that at each age classification at which we field a team, the team is registered as “Tier II tournament bound,” meaning that the team is eligible to qualify for the NYSAHA Tier II state championships and USA Hockey Tier II national championships. The mite team is an exception to this as there is no state championship offered at mite level. Furthermore, there is no Squirt national championship tournament offered. These teams compete in the “B” division of the LIAHL meaning that we will be playing a league schedule against other similarly recognized and registered teams of member organizations of the LIAHL.

By LIAHL rule, any second teams that a Tier II organization like ours might field at any given age classification must be registered as Tier III non tournament bound (USA Hockey rules dictate that any single organization cannot register more than one tournament bound team per age classification.) We will field one such team this year at the PeeWee age classification. Historically, this team would compete in the “C” division of the LIAHL meaning that the team will be playing a league schedule against other similarly recognized and registered teams in addition to any teams of the LIAHL that may be registered primarily as Tier III organizations (e.g., Great Neck Bruins). This may change this coming year with the growing number of non tournament bound second teams being fielded by some of the Tier I organizations (e.g., the Gulls, the Royals) and the league structure, if one is implemented, that will govern their play.

Outside of the LIAHL, in neighboring regions such as New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, youth hockey leagues and organizations have adopted a different Tier-to-Letter scheme, as follows: Tier I (one) = “AAA” or “AA” or “A”, Tier II (two) = “AA” or “A”, Tier III (three) = “B.” You have probably already heard of or know of Tier I organizations advertising themselves as “triple A” teams. Certainly the superior/elite teams rightfully should. In this scheme, a weaker Tier I team can opt to designate themselves as “double A” or “single A” team based upon its perceived strength. Likewise, Tier II organizations can designate their stronger teams as “double A” (“AA”) and their weaker teams as “A.” An application of this would be as follows: A Tier II organization may have a Squirt team that is predominantly made up of highly talented “major-aged” (i.e., second year) players and as such, consider this team as being very strong. This team would be designated as a Squirt Tier II “AA” team. Whereas its Bantam team that same season may be composed of a majority of “minor-aged” (i.e., first-year bantam) players and could thereby classify themselves as a Tier II “A” team. The coaching staff for each of our travel teams will be coming up with their designation based on their assessment of the team. So designated, each team will them be able to seek out the most appropriate level of competition for itself which will hopefully eliminate one-sided games, along with the confusion and dismay expressed by parents and players who have been heard saying things like “The New Jersey Penguins are an “A” team. Why are we playing them?

Since these are designations are of our own choosing, we can adjust them should the team prove stronger or weaker than originally perceived. These designations will also help us in selecting and entering our teams into appropriate levels at tournaments.
In closing, I hope that I’ve explained this new concept that we will be implementing clearly. If not, or if you have any questions about it, or about any aspect of our organization, don’t hesitate to contact me. The best way to do that is via email (theyees@aol.com).

Have a great summer. Keep the kids skating!!!

Glen Yee