How does Express work?

By Anonymous · Published · Last Active · 8 replies · 0 upvotes
CSDHL

This has been brought up before, but never saw a good answer. Express has very few teams, e.g. 2 BY teams for Peewee, but no prospects; 2 squirt teams, 1 BY and one prospects. How do they keep that program going with no lower teams that can move kids up or team to give people a reason to try out in the first place without fear of being left high and dry?

Don't give me the "good coaches" default line. What incentive does a person have trying out for Express and then scrambling to find another team when they are cut completely? Is it that Express operates more like AAA tryouts where you have to do Spring, know the coaches, etc and basically get an offer in early Summer?

I'm not trying to say what they are doing isn't working, I just don't get how it works and why parents want to mess around with a program that has a high rejection rate. I guess once the program was established and people saw the success, people were ok rolling the dice and trying to find a spot for their kid while keeping their foot in the door elsewhere?

I would love some insight that isn't just "good coaches."

Replies (8)

Top 4 · · 2 upvotes

The Express almost always have teams that are competitive. It's nice to see out of a small club

Anonymous · · 1 upvotes

Express runs their program a bit more like a "travel sports" team from ages ago. The kids are all good but not great yet, but they all want to be there and they arent trying to run the meter with 3 prospects teams at every age. The HD is good at what he does. Yes you can get cut , but they communicate it and give families lots of lead time to make decisions. And they will help you find a new location, watched that happen a few times. They have 1 main home rink so that limits what one can do numbers wise.

And its not good coaching , though they have that. Its good selection and a simple biz model, executed pretty well.

What incentive does a person have trying out for Express and then scrambling to find another team when they are cut completely?

They have a solid product. Thats it IMO. My oldest did 2.5 years there -- I always felt informed and eventually he moved on to other sports and everyone was cool. They were happy , we were happy -- it can be like that.

Lightweight nice program. Not elite , not a fees mill -- just a small and good travel club.

Anonymous · · 1 upvotes

Actually they are trying to get AHAI to change the rules so they can take more imports because they know the model doesn't work.

Anonymous · · 0 upvotes

Coaches are nothing special.. it's exactly what you said they're like AAA. people who's kids have outpaced their First clubs players go there to play on the strong teams without the benders who's parents or parents friends run the board

Anonymous · · 0 upvotes

They’re getting big names over there by glancing at the rosters.

Anonymous · · 0 upvotes

They must have a lot of faith that the few kids they have will stay year to year. They must do a good job at keeping 3rd and 4th liners happy or maybe actually playing

something to think about if your kid is riding the pine elsewhere

Anonymous · · 0 upvotes

“fees mill”

Gee who do you have in mind?

Anonymous · · 0 upvotes

“…not a fees mill”

There are people from Darien who read this, Anon.