It seems that Mn hockey is scouted much harder then the MM level.. By the time a kid makes the major level, The Top Players across the US are playing on National Teams,OHL or the USHL if there really good. I'm thinking the true talent pool is seen much better at the younger minor level. This could be the reason why the D1 rides at the 92 level all went to the kids playing Minor not Major.

If your skater is good enough to play up at MM although just qualifies for mm they most likely are a top player in the country and will be scouted.

Players who played up at MM and moved on to USHL at 16 or the NTDP include:
M.Jones
Likens
Brown
Bartlett
Carlson
Meckler
Z.Jones
Bearson
Kearns
Sova
Sweatt
Cook
Phillips
Calabrese
Simonelli
Russo

The numbers for those making a USHL or NTDP at 16 without playing MM are small.

LoVerde
Mersch

Dodero made the USHL as a 16 yr. old

Can someone help answer a question? Would it be better for a Bantam AAA player to play up on a U16 (CSDL)tier II or stay down and play Bantam AAA Major? Would development be better one way or the other?

Without doubt, playing bantam major aaa.

wrong. play mm for sure.

Depending on the bantam major aaa team you could be playing for, playing up could be the right move. But if you can make the top 2 aaa teams in chicago at the bantam major level, thats probably the way to go.

I totally disagree. There is no doubt that the mm level is highly scouted, the bantams...not so much. Just the fact that your kid is playing makes them "notice".

do scouts really look at midget minor cs?

no

At this kids age it is not about getting noticed. It is about getting better. Play with your age at AAA and get better.

play older and get pushed

A big group of 92's played older last season and were pushed.Pushed to the side.
A small group of 92's played monor and earned 3 D1 rides from THEE OHIO STATE,

REO SPEEDWAGON played a song back in the 70's " Keep Pushin On "
Play were you can excel!

Seems to me that there were alot of 92's that played MM that were drafted.

morale of the story: if you want to go to Ohio State play mm if you want to go elsewhere looks like playing up is the best opportunity. At some point top players will be tested against older players so to sandbag and be best of younger groups and be compared to less physically developed talent play down but the list is pretty strong evidence that playing up on a MM team gets more players more looks.

Add to the MM list

Topher Scott

It depends on the quality of the U16 Team that you are looking at. I would argue that if it's a bottom feeder team desperate for players, then you're better off playing Bantam AAA. Let him play with kids his age, excel, have fun, etc...

correction: Topher Scott never played midgets, he went from National Champ bantam team to Steel and played all four years at Steel.

maybe best to skip Midgets all together: one player did and got a D1 commitment to Cornell.

Ohio recruit never showed for Fargo tryout in MN. Seems like playing down is his way to "be seen" and develop. He might have had some visiability playing for Dean Blais, who will coach team USA and lead Fargo to USHL runner-up in first season. So is it about being seen or being with younger talent and looking better?

And yes know the kid is said to be baseball phenom but if hockey is paying his tuition he will have to play it against the older boys at some point.

Seems he is becoming like his coach, who tells of being drafted but never played in the league drafted to.

Thanks for all the above imput. Getting "noticed" is not the objective to move to U16. Keep in mind it's U16 tier II. I think the levels wash themselves out.(Bantam AAA Major vs U16 tier II) However, playing with bigger kids should develop a younger player more quickly and better prepare him for U16 AAA the follow year. To clarify, the player played AAA in the prior years. Again, will he be better prepared to play U16 AAA the following year if he plays up this year on U16 tier II? Thanks for everyones imput.

No he won't be better prepared by playing at a lower level with older players. Those kids won't push him. They will try to intimidate him. They are at Tier II because they don't have the speed and skill to play at the Tier I level. They have nothing to teach but bad habits.

Let's try an analogy. Your kid is a HS freshman. Would it be better for him to take honors English with the other smart freshmen or remedial junior English with the remedial juniors?

Don't be in a rush.

The kids are bigger at mm, however there will be less time and space at the AAA Bantam due to the better overall quality of players. Adjusting to less and less time and space is what takes a kid to the next level. Not playing with bigger slower kids.

Coaching is most important.
Is Jonnie Forfeit still doing TI Majors?
He's one to avoid at all cost!