How do you let the 8 time State Champion HS Hockey coach leave your organization? Isn't the reason that you have a hockey director? To bring in players? Don't players go to organizations because of the coaches? If you were a future NT hockey player living in the district wouldn't you think about playing at Wilmette instead of somewhere else so that you had the chance of playing for your future coach? What is the thought process of the WHA Board? Do you really come to play hockey because of a Smith or a Jones? Or is it because of a Melton? Answer that question.

Melton's contract was not renewed for next year because of the North Shore rink's financial problems. The WHA President, Chuck Smith, is a bully and a tool. He rammed that rink through and its costing the club lots of $$$$. The rink is in financial trouble. Smith has also enrolled his oldest kid at Loyola to get out of the way of any backlash from Melton. He was planning on attending NT up until a few months back.
The real losers here are the kids and families of Wilmette. They had a Director that cared about the entire program and also had their back at NT. BM was the best thing that ever happened there. I think he was there for 10 years. Melton has built the Wilmette hockey club to what it is today. Very sad to see him go.

If the families of the Wilmette Hockey Association really care about their program they will try and stop this nonsense. Maybe if they speak up then the rest of the Board of Directors will stand up to this travesty and stop it before it ruins their program. Wilmette, Winnetka and Northbrook are successful because the end result is for the players to play on their HS teams. Who are the hockey directors of these programs? The local HS hockey coaches. This is not a coincidence. Do these hockey directors get paid a lot of money? Yes. But it seems to pay off because these programs are successful at all levels from Mite to Bantam and the only issues that any of these programs have had in recent years is because of a moronic decision by a board to "own" their own rink. Numbers are still up at all of these organizations and it's because of their hockey directors and the fact that they bring players into the organization. Morons like Smith are everything that is wrong with youth sports. " WAAAAAAA my son didn't make the top team and he should because I am the president of the organization!" Talent should be what separates the teams not who is on the board. Get a clue WHA Board, if you let this happen and Melton leaves, your organization will be the lesser for it. 5 years from now people will say WIlmette used to be a great organization where kids came to play and now they are no different than Glenview.

For those in the know it was time for uncle Bob to move on,regardless of the financial difficulties experienced by the club at present.Good luck Bob in your future endeavours.
Enough said!

Gutsy move WHA. That ex director is probably a good guy, obviously a good coach, and perhaps on balance a good hockey director. Did he bust his tail for the organization? Probably not. Did he build the numbers there as opposed to the other members, probably not. Was he making a crazy amount of money while most others toiled for nothing, probably. Was he worth it, probably not. There are tons of other good candidates out there who will be personable, outgoing, hard working, and, work for about half (or less) what he was probably making.

This is about the market adjusting, and an org fed up with having to do all the heavy lifting. No other organization would likely pay some insane amount for a good hockey guy who did not work all that much outside of the obligatory ice times and seemingly refused to surround himself with anyone who might pose a threat to his throne, plus a major competing Hockey job commitment. Say what you want about the current prez, the numbers have grown while everyone else shrunk and are you driving to Vernon Hills on a Thursday eve to make practice?

BM is at NT. Most WHA families will attend NT. Pres kid now attending LA? HA!
What kept PW and Bantam families in Wilmette was BM. They wanted to be developed by him, learn NT systems and have him as a BT AA coach before attending NT. Since he is now gone, there is not a single reason for a Wilmette PW or BT family to stay in Wilmette. Family's will now go where the best teams, leagues (CS)and coaches will be. It will all be how do I develop to be the best player entering NT. Falcons, Glenview, Winnetka should profit... Only time will tell but I will bet the number of players will drop in the coming years at the older levels. I believe the WHA underestimated the impact this will have.

How much money are we talking about for the ex-director????

And now future New Trier kids will run from Wilmette to Falcons, Winnetka etc why? They don't have anyone linked to New Trier.

There were two future New Trier skaters that left the Bantam AA team last year for another program. Your theory has leaks.

The Wilmette coaching staff needs work, but so does the coaching staff at every program in the area.

Northbrook should follow suit... we are all tied to MB...BRUUUUTAL.

is bm in talks with northbrook?

No leaks in my theory. The 2 kids who left went to play CS at Falcons with no immediate plans to play for NT as neither is playing Spring hockey for the NT club. Both have aspirations of jumping back into AAA hockey.
The number of Bantam eligible Freshman in Wilmette that will play for NT in the fall will be large. Wait and see.

New Trier leans to kids with no bantam eligibility. Most of those players will be sent back.

U northshore self proclaimed ELITE r pathetic... AA hockey is garbage. Parents thumping their chests over BAD hockey... Get a clue.. Hockey at NT is garbage .. It is 3 steps below anything reaching for D1, ushl , ohl or MIDGET AAA either mm or MM.. so get over yourselves already......

Is Wilmette hiring a new Hockey Director?

They have already hired a new Director. Announcement will be made at 4:00 today at North Shore Arena.

Any guesses?

That was a big announcement.

For all you non WHA/NT people that can't understand why the WHA board could possibly end the relationship with the successful NT Green Hockey coach; maybe they expect more out of a 100k HD than just winning at Green?

Who is the new HD?

They havent named one yet

I am sure they had one in mind before they canned him. Chuck decides he is going to Loyola and as of a sudden its take down Melton. It seems to me like a huge conflict of interest him running the show.

By default, there will almost always be a president at Wilmette and Winnetka who will have kids going to New Trier or Loyola. The decision was made by 11 people. Look at Wilmette's website and go through the executive board because at least 6 of them voted not to resign Melton.

I agree the 5 idiots who followed his lead are also responsible. Built a program for your kids and thats it. Once again nothing is good enough for North Shore Spoiled Rotten Parents.

Looking at the 6 Exec committee that voted against Melton. Its pretty easy to see how this happened. 1. Spruston lives in Evanston and has a U-16 daughter. Has no hockey background. 2. Traci is house director, kid is terrible, he had his kid quit after spring tryouts due to being unhappy with team selection. No hockey background 3. Griffin, biggest pussy around. Shines Smith's shoes and wipes his ass for him on demand. 4. Glynn, NIHL President, need I say more? 5. Wyze, kid played house until a few years ago, put him in the Griffin pussy category. 6. Smith, the real problem with Wilmette hockey. All 3 kids are benders and House/Bronze level. Smith got booted out of Wilmette baseball a few years back and the same needs to happen in hockey.

You can slander board members all you want, but there is only one person responsible for Bob Melton not being Hockey Director anymore: your buddy Bob Melton.

The facts are the vote was done before that board meeting and the group of 6 should feel real bad. The reason being what goes around...comes around. Wish Melton the best. Chuck your a real beauty!

Why should the gang of six feel so badly, oh great sage one? Please inform the ill informed.

Did they give the individual a chance to defend his position? Not at all. They made the decision before that meeting and mad fools of the 5 other members who were opposed to it. Hey when DJ or whoever figures out the way you work your kid unfortunately will get what you deserve. Remember DJ if he does it to Melton he will do it to you. The bottom line is now those 6 board members need to worry about what will happen to them as Bob is a respected Coach. Time will tell. Don't think it is over.

OMG, whoever disparaged kids on this forum, your karma will even it out!

If the former Hockey Director lands another six figure job as a NIHL club Hockey Director, good for him! Not so good for the others on the board and all the volunteers who make nada, zip, nothing! We shall see but my guess is a huge pay cut is in order here.

Smith has now been exposed. His middle son should be on PW Bronze and daughter on SQ Bronze come FALL. If they make higher teams in the Fall we the customers will raise holy hell. Smith you need to go!!!!

Yes I could not agree more. Bob has 3 or 4 kids that depend on his pay whatever it is 100k for school, college ect. You are the same people that agreed to pay him that amount and then you say F you. Those 6 unfortunately need to learn a hard lesson. When there kids are cut or they don't make a team maybe they should have had more respect for a man who gave 10 plus years to a program. Hope the program goes down the toilet which it will not. But those 6 who everyone knows who you are should use the glass to shoulder check before they get hit from behind the way Bob did.

If they discussed before hand and went over the issues, isnt that their job? If they decided ahead of or at the vote, how does that change anything?

So let me get this straight. You are saying that Bob Melton will retaliate at NT against the kid of any board member who voted not to renew his contract at Wilmette? Now we know how he kept his job for so long!

I heard Lenny Munson is in talks to be the next director. This would be a coup as he is Meltons asst on NT.

You are a complete ass if you defend Melton.
He is the worst HD ever!!!

His position at NT was a complete conflict of interest.

He did not give a shit about the kids of the Wilmette program and hid from parents like a scared mulletted coward.

This is not the role of a HD. This is not the way to run a program.
Melton had become an overpowered, waaay overpaid elitist who only cared about the players that could help him in the future at NT.

That is not what the WHA should be about. Our kids shoudl be able to go to NT without the fear of judgement from when they were mites.

And that doesnt make the board members any better.
The President hand placing his own kids on teams!!!!
He should resign in disgrace.

And if Lenny is on this board...you left us a long time ago...stay away you useless ass kissing deuche bag. Go blow a coach to get your kid on a team.
At least I can skate and teach my players the excellence of edge work.

Lenny is a total pud! 3yrs ago I saw him get tossed from a tourny for green lighting a player! the A hole sent his own kid after this other player who was 3x his kids size and when his boy got his bell rung he sent in the entire team and the ref tossed him after hearing him instruct his players on how to "take out the big defenseman". Then the loser goes into the other teams locker room and starts tossing bags...the cops had to come!!!
Good luck WHA...I would look for some one else.
Try Stan Loberta at the Blues.

Pull Jim Anderson away from the Fury...it wont be hard he lives up north and has to drive 1 1/2 hrs south to a bs org that just got bumped from AAA

Stan Laburda wouldn't make it 1 week with the soft North Shore kids and their coddling parents.

Actually, the Chicago Fury is still a AAA organization that is a member of the 19 member Tier I Elite Hockey League. You are confusing the issue that 6 teams, 3 from Chicago and 3 from Detriot, have withdrawn from that AAA league. Nobody got bumped out of AAA.

Shattuck has joined the defectors and will play in weekend showcases.

Just be happy your organization doesn't have Pat Smith who is the squirt and midget director for the Leafs Hockey Club. This guy is a boob, a failure wherever he has been. He states he placed teams into state championships, but the reality of it is he had good coaches at the time that inspired their teams to excel. It had nothing to do with him. He is a self serving egomaniac who relives his youth by attempting to coach and pulls the blinds over idiot parents who comprise the Leafs board. A sad day for WHA, but be happy your not in the Leafs program with this idiot.

Sincerely,

Fred Flintstone
Barney Rubble

cc: Wilma and Betty, Bam Bam and Pebbles

I received a WHA Executive Committee Club wide E-mail last night (that Smith wrote) outlining their 2011-2012 plans. I can't believe what I was reading.

1. Not replacing Melton with a new HD. Really? Don't need one. Who needs one when you have Chuck Smith runmning things.
2. Promoting 6 current coaches to level directors Mite-Bantam, Girls
3. So we get an average coach at each level that may have played high school hockey or now plays mens league leading our kids??
4. Smith's NSIA rink is in deep financial trouble. He needs money to pay for it. So the answer is to get rid of the winningest coach in HS hockey history. A ex Division 1 college player. A guy inducted into the IL Hockey Hall of fame and replace him with Connor Sedam at Mites? HA! This is the craziest thing I have ever heard. As a father of 2 boys we will be looking for a new club. Does Glenview take in new families?
So now you have Smith acting as HD. He will put all his executive buddies kids on top teams. Coaches will be so afraid of Smith. I am so furious. I hope the families follow my lead and find a new club. Get Smith tossed out of here and restore this club before he ruins it. Oh, did I mention Smith has his kid attending Loyola. Let me get out of the way while the rest of you can get hit by the Melton train at NT. Nice!!!

While most can agree BM has been a great coach for NT and WHA, few can agree about his tenure as HD. The better question is what should WHA expect of its director and what is it worth to the organization. Exactly what does a HD do? If you let the HD answer that then the answer is, not much. Why pay a coach a huge salary to do an administrative job. If he is that valuable as a coach then put him on the ice in some capacity with every team and let him earn his salary.

The monies needs to be spent as close to the kids as possible, not on the bureaucracy. End of story. Let's all move on.

This is a classic case of no innocents... Bob has been asleep at the switch for years as WHD. He has avoided negative feedback by acting like a turtle. And he has let Board members effect team placements which has created a tremendous amount of ill will within the community. But Bob's biggest sin is that he doesn't help his kids go as far as they can in hockey. Experienced parents will tell you that he has almost never helped a kid land a D3 opportunity or even a try out. Not to get into a "can HS hockey players compete at higher levels" debate, but it is impossible to argue that there haven't been kids over the past 10 years at NT that could have had some future years in hockey. It didn't happen because he didn't help. At Wilmette for the past 3-4 years, he has coached his kid, and not much else. He is the "fastest to the parking lot" of any Director in the sport.

The Board ought to also be ashamed. This is terrible management. They let this fester for years now without dealing with it. They also have been too self interested in their own motivations. This community should be the class act of Illinois hockey. This community is full of families that love the sport and do what they can to make it a great part of kid's lives. And to handle the business side this poorly is inexcusable.

BTW, leave the kids out of any arguments. That's very low class.

It took quite awhile from the time WHA sent us an email saying Bob was out, until the posts hit here. It seems obvious to me these are mostly people that have already left for one reason of another, or just typical Complete Hockey losers that try to stir the pot.

Will people leave? Maybe, but if you think Glenview is an improvement, wowie, where have you been???

Please give him a call. I think the Blues would throw a going away party.

I could not agree with you more. While it is sad when someone loses a job, BM (spongebob)deserved
it for every kid that he ****** over during the selection process. Payback sucks!

Lenny M is no good. Call JA at Fury or SL at Blues or KD at CYA or SS at LIC or MB at CYA or Bozo at WGN....NOT LM!!

wow, bad enough to make it personal, but you have to take aim at the *children* of the board members and make a judgement of their skills.? wherever you may stand on the issue, that's pretty low.

I have been a participant in Wilmette hockey for 35+ years as a player/coach/parent. In all fairness that puts the list of candidates at a total of 2 potentials and I am not on the executive committee sop shouldn't be hard to figure out who I am. Let there be no doubt, Bob Melton is, not was, IS an excellent coach. Alo, there is no doubt Chuck Smith has done an enormous amount of good for the WHA. To disagree with either statement is absurd whether you like or appreciate the styles of the respective individuals. Furthermore, it is clear the role of the HD envisioned by the President was different than the role the HD himself was willing to fulfill. The organization is making a bold move and I, being a parent of children in all aspects of the organization(girl/boy/goalie/forward/travel/house), am hopeful it is the appropriate move for the kids. However, I am certain to bash individuals anonymously and threaten to move to other orgaizations is not only cowardly, it hurts your own children. It is better to discuss all concerns with the President directly, express your opinion, endeavor for change, and move forward. Call me if you have any questions.

Does that endeavor for your change include taking a whole team to AAA and decimating your club at an age level. If Chuck Smith and Melton were doing such a good job, why do you guys feel the need to pay $6,000 more to be coached by the same coach and play with the same players?

You are a moron!

Instead of hiding behind ANON and Anonymous, feel free to call me and discuss. You know how to reach me. Otherwise stop spewing mindless blabber that you are not willing to defend personally.

Well...That only narrows that down to 1 person in the club? Lets see, Who has all of those types of players? OB... Please.... u yourself don’t have a clue! ClubJummper should be your new nickname!

Great Blog who ever started it? Great way to VENT some anger towards others! It's part of the healing process, I guess? Now 1 is gone... now how many more will follow?
I’m glad everyone has their facts somewhat true. Funny... No one mentioned about the changes made to the clubs by-laws in the past few years. Also, where are the past board meeting Minutes kept and how do you get them? Why aren’t they posted like other clubs? How much did the club have in the bank three years ago and how much do we have today? Hope that doesn’t come out! Opps, my bad!

The Facts of the real story on the future of this club will come out Soon... Like a Big freaken avalanche by the looks of things. Open WHA board meeting Monday night? I'm there! This should be Quite Interesting. I heard everyone in the club is going and the cops are showing up for directing traffic and parking. Tea and crumpets will also be served. (One cookie, per person please. We are on a tight budget?) Word on the street is BM and LM w/his kid are going to bitch slap Big C in the parking lot, hoping to get his job back. Bring a video camera and tape the show. The looks on the Board faces will be worth a million bucks on some funny TV reality Show! Shit! Maybe I could sell the tape, then buy NSIA and fire everyone to get some purity back into the sport for the kids. Some Boards members will Stay!
P.S.
Remember, they are going to let us know the new plan? Think of it as a trip to a casino, you most-likely won’t come home with much. Just a vague memory of a cream puffed wacked out plan with more parent involvement to offer equality and fairness back to the club. HA! Run by more Dads? Leave it to a pro! I have also heard the World is predicted to end on Saturday? It's off by two days. I think it maybe on Monday instead for some people.
Real question is how many board members will call in that they have come up lame and are in the ER for the night?
Should be a Good show!

Get SD from Galcier in there. He's all about the money...Honey....

why would the board change the original bylaws???
If so which ones and why, thats to gain? I would love to hear that answer.
did they really make changes under a past president and not the present one.
that's shady!! aren't they good buddys, looks fishy to me.
why is J not the prezz now? I liked him!
why is C back in charge after a 4 year term, isn't there a limit in all non-profit associations?
they want restructuring of the club? why not start with a new board of new people... with new ideas. That's my vote!!!!

Glad I'm not on this board!
Won't they need a bigger room for all of those angry people?

C & J changed the by-laws by themselves in a backroom at Midnight. This allowed C to be President for life essentially. This will all come out Monday night. C has also not been honest with what the real cost of NSIA will be costing the families of the WHA. Bad people like C always get whats coming to them. The truth will be told and EVERYONE, excluding C's only 5 friends on the executive committee, will understand what a lying sack of chit C really is.
This club will explode in the coming months. C you are such a tool. Nobody likes you and now they will hate you. Please let the truth be told! You took a very good club and phucked it up.

Why are people dogging LM? He is a good guy and has nothing to do with any of this.

He had some issues with Wilmette as a coach, but I agree. He is a nice man and has nothing to do with any of this.

"Great Blog who ever started it? Great way to VENT some anger towards others!" The sole purpose of this blog is "to provide an enjoyable and educational hockey experience for all hockey enthusiasts." It is not intended to spew anger and venom. I agree with all of those above that the Board meeting Monday night is a great place to go and express your opinion in person. I also agree that LM has absolutely nothing to do with this so why lambaste him for a decision made by others? As for the personal assassination of myself, I hardly call 35 years of involvement with the WHA as club jumping; the involvement continues today as my son will be on the ice just before the Board meeting. Afterwards, I will be in attendance and as you know who I am, come introduce yourself. I anxiously await a face to face conversation.

For those who care, the WHA Board meets at 7:30 tonight at Wilmette Centennial Ice Arena in the basement.

Hey Tim, Your 5'5 so stop with the tough guy act! You have moved one of your kids to Glenview so put down the Wilmette Pom poms. Wilmette is your friend until you find a greener pastures. So just stop spewing your bullshit.

I will be there tonight. It is all about the kids and what is right for them. Disagree as anyone may, but it if you want to make a change, show up, express your opinion, and believe it.

Lastly please introduce yourself but my guess is you do not know me as I am far from 5'5". Insulting me is not getting your agenda completed. Simple fact.

Could it be that 5' - 5" is actually the circumference of his head?

Hey OB you unloyal fuck! Is that your 2001 son's name I see on the CYA website? Are you "moving your feet" to CYA? You 5'5 lying sack of shit! I've been a Wilmette supporter for 35 years!!! Hey little Tim Pull this leg it plays jingle Bells!

It's sad that people are creating such an enormous fire storm here and expecting a riot at a mtg over a HD who was let go and sketchy collection of "facts" about board members and by-laws. Ask for full disclosure on the things you don't understand (I do hope the board can provide that) and we can move about the business of finding great coaches and filling whatever gap BM has left. Let's keep it about the kids and what is in their best interest. It would be a shame to tear apart our community organization over this. My kid wears his Wilmette jersey with such pride; it's terrible and embarrassing to see parents act this way.

Thanks for that totally useless rant. You sound like Jesse Jackson. Using big words..that you can't spell and run on sentences. You probably had a big smile on your face when you read it over and over. "Wow i sound really smart and witty". People will be impressed. You sound like an idiot. Yeah I'll call you for more wisdom from your pie hole.

Quote WHAQuestioner: "Do you really come to play hockey because of a Smith or a Jones? Or is it because of a Melton? Answer that question."

We come to play hockey because it's fun and the kids can play with their school friends. If you really think it matters and that your kid is going to play D1 or be the next Patrick Kane, then by all means, please go somewhere else.

Its clear from your post that your kid is a bronze level bender. Remind him to take off his skate guards before entering the ice. At your kids level you are correct it does not matter who your door opener (coach) is. However, to those of us who have kids that are on the AA teams and want our kids to play at NT, yes it is important.

Is that complete hockey is still in shock over the non-event that was the Wilmette board meeting.

Yes. There were about 30 board members and guests in attendance. Guess how many expressed outrage over the firing of Bob Melton? Zero.
Hey 99.148.25.153, time to shut the fuck up. You are embarrassing your friend.

People like this will always be involved in youth sports, because there will always be people that have no life and have to live it through their kid. They love to spew about how this kid or that is a bender, and they act like their kid is different.

First off, the odds of any kid playing youth hockey in Chicago and then making it to even Jr A is about 10,000 to 1. That's how many kids come and go from our rinks for every one that moves on. And most of the ones that move on are gone from the community hockey landscape by peewee age. So let's get our head on right about what we are doing here in community hockey.

We're building people, and everyone involved should be trying to set an example as to how to behave. Sadly, there is a place like this where sick people can come and anonymously show they just don't get it.

For those who think that only AA players have a shot at making it to the highest level of high school hockey, you are in absolute denial. Someday you will see there are many paths to Green, and all kids deserve the best development plan possible. The Wilmette board does not believe they had that in place, and has made a bold move to try to improve. There are good ideas around this, it remains to be seen if progress will be made.

One look at the United Center rosters would tell you even house players have a shot at development. I see at least one that played house up through bantam. I bet there are more.

And for those that want to rip on high school hockey, you don't get the majority of people in hockey. Your kid is going higher? Good for you. Most of us are happy for you but don't want that for our kid. Good luck if that is your choice.

One last thought, I know a kid playing Jr A in Canada that was cut to JV from a bad local high school team as a junior. He just kept working, what a great concept. Does that fly in the face of 10,000-1 odds, sure, but the point is there is no set path for the few that advance.

"Your kid must be a bender, those of us at AA want our kid playing Green" - you, sir, are one sick puppy. Enjoy the rear view of yourself and your goofy attitude when you figure it out in a few years.

while i agree with the general sentiment of the person who claimed the odds were 10,000 to one that an illinois youth hockey player would play JR A, i dispute the odds. i can think of at least 15 players from the 90 and 91 birth years who have played JR A. ths odds are steep, but not 10k to one, maybe not even 1k to one. the unfortunate reality is playing hs hockey is usually, but not always, a concession that one's career is ending senior year. but the odds arent even 10k to one that a hs senior could play juniors....if they tried....and dont play the perspective card. if anybody had perspective on youth hockey, every single kid would play house league.

If you add in all the kids that have played in Illinois in that birth year since mites, I bet it is closer than you think. Not the number that play each year, many come and go. The total number of 91's that have played is much higher.

No matter, it's still a long shot. Effort from your player towards that is awesome. Attitude from the parents that others in hockey in Illinois have different odds is silly. It's a longshot for any Illinois player.

Stop spewing stuff you know nothing about. Illinois ranks third in supplying kids to the USHL. The NAHL is full of Illinois kids. Take your 10,000 to 1 and put it up your ass next to your boyfriends fist.

Good gosh, you're right! We have much to be proud of in this years entry draft. That first rounder from Alton probably drove 5 hours to play for the Blues. The 3rd rounder from Roscoe probably drove 2 hours to skate in Crystal Lake. Johnny Wingels, finally a local kid, but for the purpose of this discussion he has been in AAA for years, not a New Trier high school player ever.

You're right. Your AA kid has much more to worry about than the benders that will be passing him by someday due to inferior genes. High school hockey is loading up the USHL with talent!

First you raise a point about AA kids and high school hockey having so much to worry about as far as future opportunities. Then you go to state of birth for USHL players to back it up? You um genius!

Enjoy your angry day. I bet you are a peach to be around.

where do you get 2 hours from Roscoe to Crystal Lake?

I'll talk slower for the retard. 11 Illinois kids got drafted in the USHL futures draft. That's 12% of the total. 2 are on USNDT. 6 were invited. Your gerbil is peeking his head out...he's hungry.

....none played community hockey or local high school hockey. Zero. A concept you should identify with.

No doubt the Club has already moved on, and based on the Q & A discussion at the BOD meeting Monday night the WHA will be a much better Club with this change. I'll be patiently awaiting the announcment of the level coordinators in June.

If your goal is to play high school at New Trier then you should just be looking at your sons hockey career as JUST FOR FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With no dog in this race, I want to add my two cents.

I grew up and played for 12 years on the North SHore, and wish my kids could still be there playing. North Shore have the best tradition and clubs, both House and Travel, and of COurse high school...... setting an example for all the CLUB HOPPER style clubs that have taken over since the 90's. Falcons too.

The first mistake WIlmette and WInnetka did is to get suckered into playing Central States at one or two levels the last couple years. Now they are considering AAA as part of the USA/AHAI forced HDL Development platform. What a crock of crap. Instead of being leaders, sticking with the Gold SIlver Bronze structure that has managed to keep thousands of kids enthusiastically playing for almost 50 years.....they club hop and try to keep up with the jonses.

COach Melton was/is terrific. Overpaid? Probably, but I am sure those on the teams from Kenilworth, WInnetka, WIlmatte and Glencoe are not too concerned that it costs them and extra 100 for a terrific leader. Shame on the BOard if what is typed above is true....I would love to know more details....do tell!

Can somebody tel me if Melton will remain as the NT coach this coming year ?

Its official he is moving out East.

East Chicago?

Where is he moving to

northbrook

I wish this sitaution at WHA happened less often, but unfortunately, it is the nature of modern community sports organizations. Clubs are run by moms and dads who have children playing in the program, and those parents are usually unrealistic about their childrens playing ability,as well as having none or very minimal hockey experience. This is when you see the board of directors firing/letting go qualified coaches over their children not being placed on the top team. I don't have a problem with letting parents run the organization, but those parents need to be chosen carefully. There are too many of them that do not know hockey, and only want the position for the power to serve their own purposes, as well as their friends. Obviously, WHA is a case of latter, and they truly need to put a hockey person in charge. Now, does that have to be BM? Not necessarily, but he is qualified for the position. I wish WHA and all of the families involved the best of luck in the upcoming season, we will see how this decision works out.

Melton, like everyone has his good and bad points. The point was made earlier that Melton hasn't helped one kid move on to play hockey at a higher level. I sat in on a parent meeting where he told all of us that none of our kids would play past high school and if anyone there had those aspirations for our kids that we were plying in the wrong place. That was just a dumb thing to say. These kids give him their heart everyday and no one can tell me that there hasn't been one kid that could have moved one. My own kid had two junior offers from playing in Showcase- not anything Melton did
.

As far as his comp in regard to running Wilmette hockey that is ridiculous. 100k for a program that can basically run itself? The Hockey Director job , with everything properly delegated should be a part time job. I hope Lavarre doesn't have a similar deal at Winnetka but if he does he'll probably be next to get the ax.

Do the math. Although I am sure you have an exceptional first round draft pick for the NHL next season. The majority of good high school players aren't going down the path toward the NHL. Can you name any? Moore was exceptional and followed a route that lead him beyond HS level, so who else? So Maybe Melton is being a realist and you or your kids cannot handle it?
As far as Wilmette it is unfortunate that a sector of parent's have decided that they have more knowledge then that of over a decade of experience which in the end loses credibility. I am of the theory if you are a banker, lawyer, pilot,... then stick to what you know. If you have a lifetime of hockey knowlege then maybe work with that so you can have the best program afforded to the kids. Because at the end of the day it's about the kids and face it parents if you do the math then you will see that having a great experience from mite to high school is about as far as it will go for your kids, barring club hockey or men's league. Do the math!

I'm not sure how math enters into anything here. My point was that there was never a process in place to move kids up IF they wanted to move up. You mention Moore but he never played at NT. Personally I think he is overrated but admire the kid for working hard and making the most of his opportunities, I have watched him since he was a little kid and the fact that he has reached the level he has says volumes about him and his parents having a plan in place to move on to another level. I've watched Wingels for years and really like how he plays but when he played with his NT friends in the summer Tommy never stood out as much as you might think. Again, my point ere is that the parents and the kid had more to do with the success of each kid than anything else.

A couple of other examples from two kids that played at NT: Lindblad and Olvany. Lindblad made White when he was a Soph. at Nt and then made Green as a junior. Had a nice year as a junior but had he stayed at NT for his senior year he would have been done playing competitive hockey because Melton wouldn't have been able to help him move on to the next level. Instead he goes to CYA and gets drafted #1 by the Steel and now is playing at Dartmouth. Olvany is a similar player to Lindblad skillwise and played all 4 years at NT and just finished a successful career at Williams. His parents drove the whole moving on process. If you compare these two kids to all the players that have just gone through NT over the last 13 years you''d be hard pressed to put them in the top 20 of all the top players that came out of NT. The difference was that the parents drove the process without the help from anybody else.

Your question then might be why were there not more kids such as Lindblad and Olvany playing after HS? I think the answer is twofold: there was never a process put in place for a kid to move on and frankly alot of the kids had a chance to play juniors (alot of these offers came from Showcase) but choose to get accepted at the best college they could first before thinking about any further hockey. And if you are being accepted at Michigan, Wisco, Harvard, Miami of Ohio you are not going to play hockey there.

I realize it's always fun to say that NT sucks at hockey-it makes people feel better about themselves to pick on a hockey powerhouse but to think that there was never was a bunch of kids from /nt that could have moved on is ignorant. A lot of other HS have kids that could have moved on as well. The bottom line is that Melton never even tried to get something in place to help the kids. The fact that he told everyone that if they stayed at NT to play that they were going to be done playing after their senior year is just plain stupid. Even if that is the case for most of the players you don't make a stupid remark like that.

I wish Bob success wherever he goes. He's a decent guy who has a tough job at NT every year coaching 20 kids and 40 parents.

So the NT coach hasn't moved players on to the next level? What about the other HS coaches? I know a couple of Loyola players did the same as the NT players you mention a few years ago... On their own without the HS coaches help.

This issue isn't specific to NT. What about Fenwick, LA, GBN etc. etc.? What about very good HS players playing over the years at various high schools? No, this problem is squarely with the AAA midget coaches. What are they doing to promote the best players from this state and move them on? What tells you any of these AAA coaches would listen to HS ooaches on players?

The AAA teams have had players move from HS to AAA and then college, and they STILL do not take the time to find these players among the HS ranks. Why? Because they feel they don't have to and besides, what are the chances a HS player would become a top 1/2 player on the AAA teams. This requires time and effort and these coaches are not going to do it.

I have seen a LOT of players return from AAA Midget hockey to play HS and guess what, they are almost never the best player on the HS team.

If you gathered the true top 20 HS players, 8-10 of them would be able to play AAA with a few potentionally moving on further.

The AAA Midget coaches have no responsibility to any HS player to find them, groom them, and then move them on to the next level. They don't do it for AA players either. The responsibility to tryout and make a AAA team is squarely on the shoulders of the players. I know that is a unique concept for the entitlement crowd, but the tryouts are posted and anyone can give it a shot. People from out of state even come to Illinois for AAA tryouts and make it.It comes down to how bad you want it and how hard are you willing to work for it.


The kid's drive with the parents' support makes a big difference, not some HS coach that wants to hold you back so he can win a BHC, or a Midget coach that only pushes the "can't miss" studs.

Point is this is not solely a BM and NT issue. Let's chat about the other coaches of top programs that do "nothing" as the previous post describes. Better yet, tell me what HS coach moves their players to the next level?

NT had a great opportunity to become an unique program in Illinois by both creating a more competitive schedule over the years as well as put a process in place to help kids move on if they expressed a desire to do so. I'm not saying that other high schools couldn't have done the same but NT has been the most consistant program in the state and the most obvious one to at least try to get something like this going. It wasn't done for two reasons: poor Presidents overseeing the NT program or Melton didn't feel like helping out here. Maybe Melton doesn't have any contacts at the junior level like all the AAA coaches have. Who knows.

If all the above was done then there would have been no reason for a lot of kids to go the AAA route instead of playing at NT. I think some people were just satisfied with getting all this talent handed to them every year and letting it go from there.

A couple other things-where's the weight room for the NT players? Where is the dryland training? Malstrom is the only guy who does that. If you are going to play a 6 month season (it's really a 12 month season now)why not give all the kids the tools to be the most successful they can be?

Want to play for your HS and have a shot at moving on plus get a great education.....LFA is the way! Or any other prep school. Look east young men!

LFA is not very good, and neither is the Midwest Prep. League.

Okay, I have waited like everyone else on the "Big News" of the announcement of the Wilmette level Directors. I received my E-mail yesterday. Guess what we got? The same average coaches that BM hired over the years. One coach is just a medication away from the loony bin. Not one of these "Directors" has any playing experience past High School hockey.
House Aybar (How old is he?)
Girls Sedam (was able to finally drink leagally last week)
Mite Cecil (brought back from the Dead)
Squirt Diamond (Ex Goalie, should be able to teach the forwards, right?)
PW McMahon
BT Bidwell
I am soooo excited on this news!!!! LOL

What is the experience level, have not heard of some of those guys.

At first glance, these choices for director are brutal, but as most people know, there is a big difference between being good at something and being good at teaching something. So the fact that they don't have experience past high school does not necessarily mean they are bad coaches, but I will say playing at higher levels does often help, but not always.

Generally speaking, former goalies usually aren't great coaches. There are exceptions to this, but from my experience goalies can't cut it as coaches. That said, I don't know Diamond, and maybe he is in fact a great coach.

I am curious to see how this new structure works for the club. I think having a single director works pretty well because it gives the program some continuity between levels, but I can also see having multiple directors who are committed to one age group working well.

On a final note, the club should bring back their old Rangers style jersey's. Those were sweet. I like the Montreal jersey's they have now, but the jersey quality is low, and the 'W' logo is a little weak.

Good luck to WHC.

Coaching experience is more important and there is a shortage of that.

Breaking WHA News. NO Central States this year! Wilmette applied for both Squirt and Peewee levels and were denied (check CSDHL website).
Top players will begin to leave for CS Organizations this Fall. The snowball has started downhill and will gain speed and momentum. Bantam level will be next as players run to NT and LOY instead of staying in a dead program. More to come.....

I thought Wilmette already had CS at Squirt

There is no room at NT.

Next.

Wrong! Many House level players made the NT JV team last year so I'm told. Good Bantam Freshman will replace House level kids at NT.... Next

1. The squirt team is already hit from the AAA evacuation. Who knows what will happen there.

2. The Peewee team will be good. No reason to leave. CSDHL is not much of a draw to those that know what they are doing.

3. New Trier - last year was last year, this year they have plenty of players without bantam-eligible players.

With Wilmette and NBK getting rid of their HD's and replacing them with sub-par coaches; Glenview and Falcons will benefit in the coming years. Tier 2 hockey is around $4,000. For that kind of money you want a good coach for your child. Glenview is a great option for Wilmette kids. Jim Philbin (GBS Varsity) is coaching the SQ Central States Team. Did I mention Wilmette was denied at SQ and PW Central States entry? Sylvain Turquotte is outstanding at the Mite level. Just compare the Mite and Squirt coaches at Glenview compared to Wilmette and NBK alone! Not even close. Falcons have one of the best coaches slates top to bottom.
So if your childs potential coach at Wil / NBK has a hockey background in pond hockey, JV HS, or someone who picks up pointers in his mens league game, check out Glenview or Falcons. A much better situation for your child. Parents often wonder about the 2 choice rule. AHAI will give you a 3rd choice since both Wil and NBK won't let you back once you leave. Been done many times.

Having coached at Glenview, Falcons, Northbrook, and Wilmette, I have to say the differences between the programs are nominal. They all have very good coaches, of course an exception or two splattered in, but that's at all programs. Most of the kids at all these programs, learn, have fun, and make friends. 95% (or a number close) of the kids will not go to Division I 1evel and their focus is to learn, have fun, and make friends. They all have boards that care about the program, again, you can argue one is slightly better than the other, but they are all very good programs and have excellent amenities. Now if your kid is elite, in top 1 - 5% of the players, you might want to look at the specific options, like who the coach will be, AAA options, etc. but for everyone else, you should be happy at any of the programs, again with a few exceptions. Now dealing with the parents at the respective programs, that's another topic.....

unless your 70 years old, you obviously sucked as a coach if you moved around that much!

Let me see, attacking a person instead of discussing the issue, you must be 17 years old. Actually coached one year in spring for Glenview to help out the director, then the Falcons coached one year to coach my step brother. Have been coaching for about 15 years since I graduated college. Yes, I'm a pretty good coach and speak unbiasedly about the programs. Seriously, you're 17 right?

Wilmette and Winnetka kids won't leave their programs to play for Glenview or the Falcons. Put down the crackpipe. Any kid that does that has idiots for parents.

Next.

Perhaps you need to put down the pipe. If the drive is not significantly different, why not look at another program? Meet again with some old friends and make new ones? All my kids at three very different levels, have made friends from all over playing with or against kids. Their hockey circle is actually quite large and there have been kids from all over the area and midwest sleeping over at the house as my sons' team mates or adversaries for the weekend's games. I've enjoyed making breakfast for every one of them.

If you look at the history of those two programs (Wilmette & Winnetka)the kids don't go anywhere else except AAA and I doubt one kid has gone to the Falcons ever. A couple of 2nd tier players have been at Glenview but thats it. Why would a kid that wants to play at NT play for another program? There has never been a reason and there never will as long as NT is a powerhouse.

It's really as simple as that.

Next.

all you have to do is go back to last season and you will see that 2 of Wilmette's best 01's left to go play for the Falcon CS dream team. So everything you just said is completely untrue.

Correct! Also 2 Wilmette 1996's went to Falcons as well to play Bantam Central States. So that would be 4 Wilmette kids. More will leave this year.

all it takes is to loose a couple of their best players and it changes where they will tier. It's possible their top squirt team doesn't even make NIHL elite now.

And with Diamond as the "Coordinator" of the squirts that does not help and definitely hurts. What a choice????????

Correct again!!!! You guys need to stay on this thread longer. Your making too much sense! I don't know Diamond personally but he is a goalie. Will he demonstrate how to deke and stick handle in his goalie skates? What is his playing background? Coaching Background? The SQ AA team will be last years Mite AA team which did win state, however, will a few top kids move to a CS club like last year? Would make sense then jump to AAA the following year! The Mite Director is even scarier. Don't let him alone in a room with your child.

Anon-you come in here and just take shots at people without any real information to back it up. Get some balls and say who you are and why you are so qualified to bash people!

Those kids parents are idiots then. They'll never play for Green if that is in fact true. The parents need to wake up.

An 01 going to a different program? LOL!!! I bet the dad is a dork and the mom wears the pants in the family.

Next.

first you lost credibility when you made the erroneous claim that no one ever left wilmette, then when you finally realized you didn't know the facts considering the status of your own program you had nothing left to offer but 3rd grade level insults. What is next, I know you are but what am I?

Credibility on an anonymous message board? OK, pal whatever you say. I was involved in the Winnetka program for 12 years and no quality kid ever went to any other program. There might have been a couple of fringe kids that left but nobody knew them or missed them.

Like I said if some kids have left (an 01? LOL) and gone to either Glenview or the Falcons their parents are idiots. That I am sure of. Leaving for AAA is one thing. Leaving for another program that is the same approx. level is hilarious. Somebody should call the police so the kids get protected.

Next.

The first post on this subject claims that the coaches at mite and squirt in NBK have no resume and test Philbin is great. Hmmmmmm...NBK has a former professional hockey player and D1 coach who has also coached 10+ years of HS varsity as their Squirt AA coach. He coaches the GBN JV team that has won state and produced many of this year's state runners up and still remain the core of what will be a good varsity team in 2011-2012. He coaches JV by choice, BTW.
I like Philbin but his resume is better how?
The mite coach hadn't even been named yet. How can you say he will be less than Glenview's coach?

JV? HA! Toughest Job in Hockey! If he was any good he would be Varsity coach.

NBK coaches across the board have better creditials at Mite and Squirt level. Kids and parents are better off at NBK they'll have more fun. Mite be a couple good coaches at Glenview, but all the coaches at NBK are excellent, more consistency.

when was the last time NB had a competitive team at the mite or squirt level. Their program is a mess. The best thing they have going is the electric zamboni.

I've never liked the electric Zamboni.

They don't put an emphasis on winning like other programs where they recruit, shorten benches, and do other things just to win. They develop, teach, and make sure the kids have fun. It pays off with great pee wee, bantam and high school teams. Doing all of this with a lot smaller enrollment. Its a model program.

they must serve great kool-aid, keep drinking my man.

Plenty of good players in NBK coming out of squirt. Will be a nice peewee team, bantamAA will be very good and GBN will be good at both levels. We read all about "development" on this board. NBK develops good players. That's why GBN is consistently good.

gbn is consistently good because they play against god awful teams.

There was a question a few comments above when Northbrook had a good squirt team. Five years ago they won state AA, silver sticks AA and only had one loss for the entire year. I think that was a pretty good season.

it would be, but when you consider the majority of really good players are playing AAA or CS at that level it's not quite the same.

In the Blackhawk cup, CSDHL teams play either AA(major teams) or A(minor Teams). So it was a good season for that squirt team.

okay so 5 years ago you ruled the chicago hockey world. awesome stuff. but unfortunately we live in the present, and the present world is not so good for you right now.

5 years ago? Huh? That team is now the GBN vasity team....the team that made the UC this year with sophomores contribubing big minutes with a class of seniors that won state as PWs. Now you have the central core of the team playing at GBN along with their coach. I don't think anyone at GBN is struggling right now....this is a good time to be a Spartan.

And to the idiot poster who said that GBN is consitent because they play bad teams...HS hockey is HS hockey and GBN plays in two of the better leagues in the state and has made the UC 3 of the past 5 years. The state tournament requires them to play the best teams and they seem to be OK. Who would you like themto play that they don't (and please don't name AA club teams who are want-to-be players that have a pipe dream of playing college hockey.)

your paranoid for a reason because you know its inferior hockey

Inferior to what? Midget AA? Midget AA is a joke in so many ways they can't all be listed. But #1 by a long way is the perception that playing there means you might go somewhere you can't go by playing HS hockey. ACHA club and college intramurals can be reached either way and at least you get to play in front on a couple of hundred fans at a HS game. Show me the midget game with that.

I'm curious when did Glenview last rule the hockey world ?

I like the NBK mite coach who wore more earings than my mom... looked like he came straight from Woodstock. horrible

Glenview doesn't rule the hockey world, but their mite and squirt teams consistently tier elite and now they have CS again so they will stop losing players to other CS programs. But they do have issues with ice time having only the 1 sheet they have to buy ice out of twin rinks which is far for alot of people.

the pw director is a piece of work those initials of his fit more than than his name how about being a piece of S**t

Spineless member of society takes a shot at someone anonymously, over the internet. How come this is not surprises. Really speaks to the kind of piece of shit Larry Pedrie is for even allowing a site like this to remain open. As long as Larry makes money, Larry is happy.

Appears the stars have done a good job getting back on track from a few years ago. Good to have solid organizations nearby.

stars still have the best uniforms for what it's worth.

the worst uni's = winnetka

Winnetka realized this and are getting new ones for the Fall

What everyone knew was a joke, the level directors at Wilmette has begun to implode. Nobody thought it would happen before the season. Mite level Director Josh Cecil who was also assigned to coach the Mite #2 and #4 travel teams has resigned. Conor Sedam (girls director) who according to the Loyola Girls High School Website "captained his High School Hockey Team" in Michigan has now been appointed to Mite level Director. You would have just as good of chance at finding a qualified director at a public skate on Saturday afternoon. Now, we wait and watch for the Bantam implosion in August!

why not just switch to a different program then and don't worry about it anymore.

This is like a car crash on the highway. You just have to look.

Maybe Wilmette and Skokie should merge...just a thought.

Anyone around 10-20 years ago knows that Glenview was one of the best clubs around and Northbrook sucked. Glenview hit the skids about 7 years ago but will be back because of the development of Sylvain and his staff. BTW, I am not with Glenview but do know plenty about history.

Check out the # of players Glenview sent to AAA and college hockey from that era.

I remember Glenview then and yes they were good. Wilmette is beginning its decline and free fall now. The leadership at Wilmette is horrible and all their kids are bronze level players. You can't be president of a club and have your kids suck. Doesn't work.

those who refuse to acknowledge the past and focus on the present generally dont have anything in the past to be proud of...hawks won the cup june of 2010.....is that erased because its in the past???....dont know if gbn will win anyting the next two years, but past success is called a track record.....whats yours?

If Mr Yuck could tell the truth, they would be fine. But since he shoots his mouth off and never backs it up, there's trouble.

Only those willing to be his bitch can survive Mr Yuck. Everyone knows that.

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=mr+yuck&hl=en&sa=G&biw=1280&bih=620&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=I5wn7XitbBMRzM:&imgrefurl=http://dormivigilia.wordpress.com/2009/07/31/mr-yuck-has-a-circadian-rhythm/mr-yuck-713258/&docid=rNb1Xf8t-pZdMM&w=426&h=426&ei=mOsuTpu5EoTj0QGX07XXAQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=313&page=1&tbnh=161&tbnw=161&start=0&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0&tx=73&ty=94

Glenview is D-E-F-I-N-I-T-E-L-Y on it's way back to the top. New crop of young coaches, strong expierenced coaching across the board at mites, aquired CS at squirt Philbin to run. Had 5 teams and mite and squirt in the spring. Will be fun to see this organization make it's run back to the top. Major shift in paradigm for falcons as they will have to develop their own talent. Good job to president and sylvain.

getting CS not a huge accomplishment anymore. The Ice Dogs have a squirt team as well now, and that program is a disaster.

Wilmette lost their CS Team (s) and now they are a disaster! Kids stay when you have a CS team (s)

Too bad Glenview lost one of their best coaches to Falcons. JD is going to be a nice addition to already deep coaching bench at the Falcons. Glenview should always be a top tier organization. The town is close to 45,000 people, affluent and can draw additional players from the suburbs to their due west. Those are huge numbers to draw on, no excuses.

whoever JD was it must not be a big deal. They have the same mite and squirt gold coaches still in place which is where a program gets developed.