It has been my observation from raising two kids that most grass roots youth organizations run by parents are run like crap. The issues usually range from lack of funds, to parents lobbying to preferential treatment of their kids to leadership turnover when kids age out. Youth sports, band, scouts, you name it. They all suffer from these issues. I am not justifying what the Stars are doing here, but their heavy-handed tactics kind of addresses all of this. There is a price to be paid for good facilities, stable leadership, and established structure . It just so also happens that the Stars are using TAHA as a farm program to scout and develop players.

Football.
Baseball.
Basketball.





































Rugby.
Hockey/ LaX.






























Deepest depths of Hell



Communist football (Soccer)

Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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That said. I like hockey. I think it's way better than basketball.

But football and baseball are the best.

Will take a look.

annie88 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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That said. I like hockey. I think it's way better than basketball...

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... because you're racist.

I'd prefer a green grass of private school rich girls in short plaid skirts playing field hockey on a hot sweaty day to all the indoor sports. and I could be the ball.

Texas velvet maestro said:

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annie88 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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That said. I like hockey. I think it's way better than basketball...

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... because you're racist.

I'd prefer a green grass of private school rich girls in short plaid skirts playing field hockey on a hot sweaty day to all the indoor sports. and I could be the ball.

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I'm sure you would.

But you figured me out. I am racist because I like hockey better than basketball. Glad I don't have to hide it anymore. Whew.

I was today years old when I learned that Texas as kids playing hockey!

I grew up a hockey fan ... yes, a hockey fan in Texas. I remember watching the NHL on NBC with Peter Puck explaining the rules. When the Howes arrived to play for the WHA Aeros, I was in heaven.

The way the Stars have invested in youth hockey makes perfect sense (the IHL Aeros did the same around the same time in Houston with its Aerodromes) because they are growing the game in their own backyard. But it just seems they could do so with the behind-the-scenes skullduggery.

***** about youth hockey all you want. But, attending summer games in a cold ice rink beats the hell out of sitting in sweltering sun shine on a soccer field.

annie88 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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annie88 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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That said. I like hockey. I think it's way better than basketball...

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... because you're racist.

I'd prefer a green grass of private school rich girls in short plaid skirts playing field hockey on a hot sweaty day to all the indoor sports. and I could be the ball.

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I'm sure you would.

But you figured me out. I am racist because I like hockey better than basketball. Glad I don't have to hide it anymore. Whew.

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i'll take the sarcasm dreamboat but remember, you gotta stand over me to hit me

redag06 said:

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Bet there are more people doing this with all of the club sports than you realize.
Dance, baseball, softball, etc.

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Oh I realize it. They are morons too.

I bought my kids nice Ping Prodi G clubs, a golf membership, and a bay boat to take them out all the time for a fraction of what these dorks will spend in years of travel sports.

Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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I blame ICE.

This article explains a lot of the dysfunction of hockey in Dallas. My son played for a travel hockey team in Houston and to some degree we were always having to adapt to new Dallas hockey organizations. Dallas had , and still has the only critical mass of youth hockey players in Texas.
Hopefully Houston can get an NHL team and make some investments in youth hockey like Watson did with the Aeros…and Houston teams will not have to be beholden to TAHA or any other Dallas dominated organization.

Very capital intensive business + youth select sport factor = you're always going to have some that think the price and/or structure and/or other operational decisions are not fair. Someone is always going to think they are being forced to pay too much or have a problem with how things are run.

Me too bro, my son played for the Jr Aeros from '98-'07. Dallas Jr Stars virtually ran all of TAHA.

He also played for Fort Bend Austin in the IHSL

I'm sorry, but you're automatically disqualified from an opinion due to the rugby insert.

Texas velvet maestro said:

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annie88 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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annie88 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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That said. I like hockey. I think it's way better than basketball...

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... because you're racist.

I'd prefer a green grass of private school rich girls in short plaid skirts playing field hockey on a hot sweaty day to all the indoor sports. and I could be the ball.

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I'm sure you would.

But you figured me out. I am racist because I like hockey better than basketball. Glad I don't have to hide it anymore. Whew.

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i'll take the sarcasm dreamboat but remember, you gotta stand over me to hit me

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Nah, I can just get you with a hockey stick to your groin from below.

Burdizzo said:

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It has been my observation from raising two kids that most grass roots youth organizations run by parents are run like crap. The issues usually range from lack of funds, to parents lobbying to preferential treatment of their kids to leadership turnover when kids age out. Youth sports, band, scouts, you name it. They all suffer from these issues. I am not justifying what the Stars are doing here, but their heavy-handed tactics kind of addresses all of this. There is a price to be paid for good facilities, stable leadership, and established structure . It just so also happens that the Stars are using TAHA as a farm program to scout and develop players.

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I participated in a half dozen organized activities like this when I was a kid. Some I only did for a couple of years, others I stuck with longer. My adult hobbies evolved into completely different areas.

The point was I was involved in something other than just school, and I was a better person for it. Parents need to not lose site of this and stop thinking about national championships on travel teams or college scholarships for sports nobody watches.

Teslag said:

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Quote:

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Kat Pierce's son played the 2024 season for his local high school team and a competitive travel club, the McKinney North Stars. She said she and her husband spent about $30,000 on hockey expenses last year alone.

Club and league fees which cover teams' ice rental cost about $9,000. Another $8,000 went toward airfare, hotels, rental cars, gas, and meals for out-of-town games and tournaments. The rest covered private camps, lessons, training, equipment and team apparel.

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Quote:

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Pierce and her husband struggle to make ends meet. Medical ailments have prevented her from working consistently, she said. Her husband works a full-time job and makes side income from refereeing and donating plasma.

"We live hand-to-mouth," Pierce said. "It's a huge struggle just to keep your kid's dreams alive.

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What a bunch of f'ing wetards. Good lord, it's youth sports.

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I'd rather eat than dream but maybe that's just me.

And as you can imagine, when some parents are putting every cent they have and some they don't into these things, they are going to have some opinions when things don't go exactly as they think they should. Many times loud opinions.

Some parents are convinced that their kid is going to earn a college scholarship and maybe earn a pro roster. The money would be better spent on college or trade school.

DannyDuberstein said:

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And as you can imagine, when some parents are putting every cent they have and some they don't into these things, they are going to have some opinions when things don't go exactly as they think they should. Many times loud opinions.

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Travel hockey parent here and yes I can confirm it's about $12-15k per Year all in, and some are spending more due to private lessons and camps on top of this. I've heard of one family refinancing their house to fund their son's dreams, all in the hopes that it will be worth it if he earns a scholarship. Zero chance we would be playing if we couldn't comfortably afford it. That said we love the sport and community and are ok with the travel as it takes us to some fun (and freezing) places

$12-15k a year?

skinny2001 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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Post of the century. Hockey is a novelty. Sorry IDGAS.
Go Outside.

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Soccer in Texas sucks (and I played in college) and for that matter any outdoor sport in the fall or summer. Yes hockey is a novelty here but still a fun sport that quite possibly requires the highest degree of coordination and athleticism outside of gymnastics. I'm mid 40s and can still skate well and play in adult leagues and some do it into their 50's or older. Cant do that in football or even soccer.

TXAG 05 said:

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$12-15k a year?

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I mean, aren't your country club dues at least double that?

torrid said:

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TXAG 05 said:

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$12-15k a year?

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I mean, aren't your country club dues at least double that?

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Wouldn't know. Don't belong to one.

neutics said:

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skinny2001 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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Post of the century. Hockey is a novelty. Sorry IDGAS.
Go Outside.

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Soccer in Texas sucks (and I played in college) and for that matter any outdoor sport in the fall or summer. Yes it's a novelty here but still a fun sport that quire possible requires the highest degree of coordination and athleticism outside of gymnastics. I'm mid 40s and can still skate well and play in adult leagues and some do it into their 50's or older. Cant do that in football or even soccer.

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You clearly don't swim. Swim me a 200 Free SCY. Or better a 200 IM SCY.

$12 to $15k a year put in a college fund would be more than a hockey scholarship wouldn't it?

DallasAg 94 said:

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neutics said:

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skinny2001 said:

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Texas velvet maestro said:

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If Texas kids were supposed to play hockey we'd have more frozen ponds.

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Post of the century. Hockey is a novelty. Sorry IDGAS.
Go Outside.

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Soccer in Texas sucks (and I played in college) and for that matter any outdoor sport in the fall or summer. Yes it's a novelty here but still a fun sport that quire possible requires the highest degree of coordination and athleticism outside of gymnastics. I'm mid 40s and can still skate well and play in adult leagues and some do it into their 50's or older. Cant do that in football or even soccer.

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You clearly don't swim. Swim me a 200 Free SCY. Or better a 200 IM SCY.

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You clearly don't know how to skate or play hockey. My hockey player son was also city champ in summer swim league (north Austin) so yeah swimming is great cross training for hockey and other sports.

Another hockey dad friend who is a world class athlete has said this to me many times. Hockey players can play almost anything well, but more and more the pressure is to specialize too soon unfortunately. Try again

Yeah but can you swim in a particular stupid stroke that's slower than faster strokes? Swimming: where athleticism and the ministry of funny walks converge

TXAG 05 said:

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$12-15k a year?

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Season fees for travel are $5-7k depending on team and level. Add in $500-$1k for uniforms/sticks which are a few hundred each and break. Skates $500-$1k.

The big cost in Texas is the necessity to travel for tournaments out of state so I'm including that in the cost figure flights rental cars and hotels $5k easy as most teams play in 3 or more out of area every year (Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago, Fargo etc)

So yes stupid expensive and the stars (not unlike most youth sports) know how to milk crazy hockey parents

This is interesting. Thanks for posting.

torrid said:

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Burdizzo said:

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It has been my observation from raising two kids that most grass roots youth organizations run by parents are run like crap. The issues usually range from lack of funds, to parents lobbying to preferential treatment of their kids to leadership turnover when kids age out. Youth sports, band, scouts, you name it. They all suffer from these issues. I am not justifying what the Stars are doing here, but their heavy-handed tactics kind of addresses all of this. There is a price to be paid for good facilities, stable leadership, and established structure . It just so also happens that the Stars are using TAHA as a farm program to scout and develop players.

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I participated in a half dozen organized activities like this when I was a kid. Some I only did for a couple of years, others I stuck with longer. My adult hobbies evolved into completely different areas.

The point was I was involved in something other than just school, and I was a better person for it. Parents need to not lose site of this and stop thinking about national championships on travel teams or college scholarships for sports nobody watches.

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No question about it my child is a better person for doing an activity like this. Heck, I wish I had learned to play hockey as a child (Beer League hockey looks like way more fun than adult softball) The point of my original post was that people should not be shocked that the Stars are doing what they are doing. It is an expensive sport to begin with, and it is even more difficult to run these leagues well. If parents want that quality and stability, it will cost them. This applies to almost all youth activities.

If the stars were simply providing a good structured product that was expensive no one would have an issue. But they went behind that with stay to play and ostracizing people for having options or criticism.

Teslag said:

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If the stars were simply providing a good structured product that was expensive no one would have an issue. But they went behind that with stay to play and ostracizing people for having options or criticism.

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Cue the "start your own league" argument then read my comment at the top of page 2. Maybe the Stars don't like troublemaking parents.