Dallas youth hockey continues to evolve, and the evolution is fueled by a desire to develop better programs for the participants. It all starts with A level hockey, then moves to AA, and eventually AAA hockey.
Those of us that have been around for the longest time believe that we must have collaboration and consolidation to have a AAA hockey association that competes on an international level. The benefits from having a working relationship creates a roadmap for players from Mites to Juniors.
Challenged in Dallas by the small census of youth hockey players, we work with to fill out our top teams. We have made lots of advancements during the past 7 years ? National Champions and many teams making it to Nationals. Players moving on to Juniors, getting full college scholarships, and even being drafted into the NHL.
To kick our progress in to hyper-speed, we are please to announce a collaboration between the Alliance, Attack, Ice Jets, and the Dallas Stars Midget Major AAA Hockey Club.
For the 2008-2009 season and beyond, a new AAA organization will be created. Teams will play under the Dallas Stars AAA Hockey Club brand. Players from this program will feed to Dallas Stars Major Midget AAA hockey program, and on through to the Junior A Texas Tornado.
The Dallas Stars have been around the longest, are well funded, and have been very successful in moving players on to Juniors and College. The Alliance/Ice Jets/Attack are well managed with great winning traditions, and a legacy of player development.
This agreement has the full support of the Dallas Stars, the Dr. Pepper StarCenters, and the Executive Boards of the Alliance, Ice Jets, and Texas Attack.
The Coaches for the new Dallas Stars AAA teams will come from the existing coaching staffs of these organizations, and additional coaches will be brought on to complement this arrangement as necessary.
Spring Training Program: One Spring Training Program will be offered and operated by a combined staff. A staple of youth hockey in the past, it will be bigger, better more advanced than ever.
Alliance and Ice Jets: These two storied and highly successful programs will continue to develop players, forming and operating AA and A teams to feed players into the new Stars AAA program.
Four years ago this month, the original proposed merger between Alliance and the Ice Jets failed to be completed. Indicated below is a portion of the letter posted to the Alliance web site and sent to Alliance families on March 5, 2004
"The Ice Jets have a fine hockey association and provide a quality product for their families and players, as well does the Alliance Association. In attempting to try and bring these two organizations together, there were several fundamental issues on which we could not come to a complete agreement. We wish the Ice Jets Hockey Association all the best, and anticipate a time in the future when the possibility of working together might be reconsidered."
It is the same founding members of Alliance and Ice Jets that have made this agreement, with their 6-7 year history and experience as the backdrop and foundation.
Call it prophetic or whatever you want, but 4 years ago we developed a trust in one another that would allow us to eventually work together, when the timing was right and the circumstances appropriate.
The circumstances are now appropriate, and the timing is right.
Ralph Searfoss
