F Joey Cullen - Moorhead Bantam AA, 15U AA (2028 Draft)

[KillerMillerTime]

50-3-1 this year. Only lost to the 2nd and 3rd teams in the rankings.

My nephew played on back-to-back National Midget Champions back in prehistoric ages of AHAUS and were strictly a town team. They beat Michigan\Illinois AAA
Teams and were all from Burlington, Ma.

They went like 100+ games without a loss!!!! About 2\3 of the 1976-77 Team were
EMass HS Hockey Champions in 1978 and were a #2 seed in the
1979 EMass HS Tourney losing to the Bobby Carpenter St. John's Prep Team 3-2.
Mark Fusco was the best player on those BTB National Champions.

Looks similar in progression to Burlington group with Minnesota State HS Title.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

There are zero states in the rest of the US that could pull the Minnesota model off, though. There are 236 rinks in the state of Minnesota alone. Minnesota has a rare combination of very high participation rate and accessibility. Actually, it would be a horrible development model in the rest of the country.

Massachusetts could theoretically do it.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Yup I'm aware of the handful of players in and out across the two teams. But moral of the story is MN hockey community development model is the best there is and all these people paying crazy money to get their kids on a super team is kinda funny. And Kesler's team deserved it for the 42-0 and I'm loving that.

My sons Massachusetts Bantham team played Livonia Knights 5 months after Kesler won the Title.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

It’s the best in general, IMO. Kids play for their hometown growing up, parents don’t have to drive and fly all across the country. The way it should be.

I noticed you deleted that Minnesota has always been the best in the US for producing hockey players.

From the years beginning 1972-73 (my senior year HS) through
1987-88, Massachusetts was every bit as good as Minnesota and from 1980-81 through 1987-88 was clearly better. There were years from 1982-83 through 1987-88
Michigan produced better players.

Even as recently as 2013-2015 an All Star Team of Massachusetts HS aged players were better than Minnesota All Star Team. That group would have included Daccord, Hanifin, Marino, Eichel Garland, Donato, White, Burke.

 

[MNRube]

I noticed you deleted that Minnesota has always been the best in the US for producing hockey players.

From the years beginning 1972-73 (my senior year HS) through
1987-88, Massachusetts was every bit as good as Minnesota and from 1980-81 through 1987-88 was clearly better. There were years from 1982-83 through 1987-88
Michigan produced better players.

Even as recently as 2013-2015 an All Star Team of Massachusetts HS aged players were better than Minnesota All Star Team. That group would have included Daccord, Hanifin, Marino, Eichel Garland, Donato, White, Burke.

I did tone down my statement because I realized it was a bit much.

From 2013-2015 Mn still represented over 20% of drafted Americans. That’s from a state with the same amount of people as Boston’s metro area.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I did tone down my statement because I realized it was a bit much.

From 2013-2015 Mn still represented over 20% of drafted Americans. That’s from a state with the same amount of people as Boston’s metro area.

Massachusetts does have a higher % of Hispanic American & African Americans, which lessen the population effect. Also you are a Canadian border state which doesn't hurt hockey interest.

Not going to debate who is better now, as its Minnesota but over the years Massachusetts has been as good or better at least a third of the time since
my last year of HS or 52 years.

 

[bigdog16]

Cullen leaving MN and playing for Honeybaked next season

 

[clevelandcane]

Cullen leaving MN and playing for Honeybaked next season

HB?!?! Odd choice. I'd rather watch him at one of the powerhouse academy schools like SSM, BK, or Mount.

 

[Wildabeast]

HB?!?! Odd choice. I'd rather watch him at one of the powerhouse academy schools like SSM, BK, or Mount.

His entire family is movingn to michigan. Two brothers playing for MSU in the near future, one is at usntdp already. So, that is why.

 

[Bonin21]

It's just for a year before he goes NTDP

 

[BondraTime]

His old man has had the most under appreciated career in NHL history

 

[bigdog16]

It’s an interesting move because Honeybaked wasn’t particularly great last season. They are the 3rd best team in Michigan and ended the year 22nd in the country. A move to the Little Caesars powerhouse team would have made more sense but maybe he wanted to be the guy on a lesser team

 

[north21]

His entire family is movingn to michigan. Two brothers playing for MSU in the near future, one is at usntdp already. So, that is why.

This makes sense.

 

[clevelandcane]

His entire family is movingn to michigan. Two brothers playing for MSU in the near future, one is at usntdp already. So, that is why.

Makes sense. I hope he's smart enough to Go Blue and not play for sparty

 

[Al Lagoon]

His old man has had the most under appreciated career in NHL history

I was always a big fan of him as a Wild. Such an excellent skater. I mean 1500 games played, and at a good level, until 42? Dream bottom 6 center who won face offs at a 52.3 clip over 21 years of NHL.

3 Stanley Cups to boot.