They recently played at Superior Ice Rink, which is less than 3 minutes from my house. Holy crap are these kids fast, and man do they hit every chance they can get. Also, not sure if it was the Royals (I wasn't there), but my dad was there with my little brother and Brian Rolston was there because his kid was playing.
The Royals have been a great program for years with great coaches. They once had Alexei Nikiforov, who's son, Vlad once played for Bridgeport. Tony Romano was on that Royals team with Vlad and James Marcou, who at last check was in the San Jose Sharks' system in the AHL. His brother, Mike, was a Royal, and the organization has spawned several Division 1 college players. I don't know who's still coaching there, I know Webb and LaFontaine are coaching now, as is Jack Creig. Kenny Hoey is or was coaching the Junior team. Richie McGuigan, Superior Ice Rink's owner, has always brought in strong coaching, even for his tot hockey program. All joking aside, Charles Wang can learn from how the Royals run their program. It's just a matter of bringing in good and qualified people. I haven't set foot in Superior in over 10 years, but that's because I moved.
The Royals have been a great program for years with great coaches. They once had Alexei Nikiforov, who's son, Vlad once played for Bridgeport. Tony Romano was on that Royals team with Vlad and James Marcou, who at last check was in the San Jose Sharks' system in the AHL. His brother, Mike, was a Royal, and the organization has spawned several Division 1 college players. I don't know who's still coaching there, I know Webb and LaFontaine are coaching now, as is Jack Creig. Kenny Hoey is or was coaching the Junior team. Richie McGuigan, Superior Ice Rink's owner, has always brought in strong coaching, even for his tot hockey program. All joking aside, Charles Wang can learn from how the Royals run their program. It's just a matter of bringing in good and qualified people. I haven't set foot in Superior in over 10 years, but that's because I moved.
It would be nice if isles followed this . Mike Marcou has attended the Isles last two prospects camp and is having a solid senior saeson at UMASS the offensive Dman will be a free agent at end of season it would be nice if isles signed him and send him to Bport to develope.His Brother James signed with San Jose and is coming back from injury,Romano last i herd was in Chicago in the ECHL and Vlad is playing in the CHL The Royals always have been the best youth org on Island
It would be nice if isles followed this . Mike Marcou has attended the Isles last two prospects camp and is having a solid senior saeson at UMASS the offensive Dman will be a free agent at end of season it would be nice if isles signed him and send him to Bport to develope.His Brother James signed with San Jose and is coming back from injury,Romano last i herd was in Chicago in the ECHL and Vlad is playing in the CHL The Royals always have been the best youth org on Island
Depending on your definition of 'youth hockey', Apple Core and PAL might want to have a word with you.
APPLE CORE
Doug Murray - Cornell/San Jose Sharks
Rob Scuderi - BC/Los Angeles Kings
Mark Eaton - Notre Dame/NY Islanders
Ryan Vesce - Cornell/undrafted, signed with San Jose (KHL at the moment)
Eric Nystrom - Michigan/Dallas Stars
Matt Gilroy - BU/Tampa Bay Lightning
Kevin Schaeffer - BU/Drafted by Nashville Predators
Kevin Mitchell - Drafted by Calgary Flames
Jekabs Redlihs - BU/Drafted by Columbus Blue Jackets
Anthony Bitetto - Northeastern/Nashville Predators
Martins Karsums - QMJHL/Tampa Bay Lighting (now in the KHL)
PAL
Mike Komisarek - Michigan/Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Higgins - Yale/Vancouver Canucks
Andy Merrick - Michigan/Drafted by Carolina Hurricanes
Jason Sessa - Lake Superior/Drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs
As for the show itself, good stuff. And always loved playing out at Superior, best ice on the Island.
Depending on your definition of 'youth hockey', Apple Core and PAL might want to have a word with you.
APPLE CORE
Doug Murray - Cornell/San Jose Sharks
Rob Scuderi - BC/Los Angeles Kings
Mark Eaton - Notre Dame/NY Islanders
Ryan Vesce - Cornell/undrafted, signed with San Jose (KHL at the moment)
Eric Nystrom - Michigan/Dallas Stars
Matt Gilroy - BU/Tampa Bay Lightning
Kevin Schaeffer - BU/Drafted by Nashville Predators
Kevin Mitchell - Drafted by Calgary Flames
Jekabs Redlihs - BU/Drafted by Columbus Blue Jackets
Anthony Bitetto - Northeastern/Nashville Predators
Martins Karsums - QMJHL/Tampa Bay Lighting (now in the KHL)
PAL
Mike Komisarek - Michigan/Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Higgins - Yale/Vancouver Canucks
Andy Merrick - Michigan/Drafted by Carolina Hurricanes
Jason Sessa - Lake Superior/Drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs
As for the show itself, good stuff. And always loved playing out at Superior, best ice on the Island.
Great post but i was talking about Youth Hockey and the Royals .Marcou Bros went on to the USHL and Romano and Vlad went to the OHL for JR .As for Apple Core JR half those players didnt come from Long Island your PAL list is good with all Long island kids .All in All you are right good stuff for these guys
Last week I stayed with my Grandma who just had hip surgery. And she has Time Warner. All I watched was the NHL network. It's awesome. Not quite as good as MLB network, but still good.
It would be nice if isles followed this . Mike Marcou has attended the Isles last two prospects camp and is having a solid senior saeson at UMASS the offensive Dman will be a free agent at end of season it would be nice if isles signed him and send him to Bport to develope.His Brother James signed with San Jose and is coming back from injury,Romano last i herd was in Chicago in the ECHL and Vlad is playing in the CHL The Royals always have been the best youth org on Island
I take personal offense to that statement . When I played PAL in 96, the Royals sucked. Funny how things do change but I think it has more to do with LaFontaine than any real achievements of the Royals. Either way, good exposure for LI hockey. I do remember Apple Core being one of the toughest teams to play against though...real hard hitting, wanted to phyiscally hurt you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Law
Depending on your definition of 'youth hockey', Apple Core and PAL might want to have a word with you.
APPLE CORE
Doug Murray - Cornell/San Jose Sharks
Rob Scuderi - BC/Los Angeles Kings
Mark Eaton - Notre Dame/NY Islanders
Ryan Vesce - Cornell/undrafted, signed with San Jose (KHL at the moment)
Eric Nystrom - Michigan/Dallas Stars
Matt Gilroy - BU/Tampa Bay Lightning
Kevin Schaeffer - BU/Drafted by Nashville Predators
Kevin Mitchell - Drafted by Calgary Flames
Jekabs Redlihs - BU/Drafted by Columbus Blue Jackets
Anthony Bitetto - Northeastern/Nashville Predators
Martins Karsums - QMJHL/Tampa Bay Lighting (now in the KHL)
PAL
Mike Komisarek - Michigan/Toronto Maple Leafs
Chris Higgins - Yale/Vancouver Canucks
Andy Merrick - Michigan/Drafted by Carolina Hurricanes
Jason Sessa - Lake Superior/Drafted by Toronto Maple Leafs
As for the show itself, good stuff. And always loved playing out at Superior, best ice on the Island.
Fond memories of the Royals and Superior. Worked there during high school from 97 through 2000. Between working and playing, I was on the ice 6 days a week... Now I'm happy if I skate 6 times a year
Went to see the Royals play w/my 6 year old son at Ice House in Hackensack a few weeks back in NJ. Royals smacked the Avalanche 5-1. Kids are very impressive.
Avalanche are no slouches either.
Son was hyped to see LaFontaine and morseso to watch the game. He knows no difference between that and the NHL so it's nice to watch for free and w/no pressure or travel involved.
My son plays for the Avalanche ADM program. Still too young to be a mite, but he's playing up... just turned 6 and is as good as the best 8 year old he plays with. He loves the game. Maybe he'll suit up w/the Avalanche as years go on.
Either way, great to see how dedicated these kids are. LaFontaine is w/out a doubt laying out his own cash for these kids. Power skating coach... sheesh.
Watching LaFontaine's son is interesting too. Skates like Patty at times, but is too upright in comparison to Patty's squat. Just doesn't have it. Big shoes to fill. You can see the skill and desire aren't really there. Who could blame him, he's set for life.
lol, you must have not been there in a while. I practice there every friday and play on weekends. It's definitely one of the lesser quality ice now. I was there this morning for a clinic, they were fixing the walls, and it almost looked like fire damage. Also, it doesn't help that they haven't full resurfaced the ice in more than a few years
My son plays for the Rebels Midget 16U team and practices right after LaFontaine's team at Dix Hills. That team is all speed - very hard for anyone to keep up with when there really isn't a slow one on the team.
It is pretty cool as someone who watched Patty play (I am older than him ) to see him and Webb coming off the ice as my son goes on.
As for a shameless plug for my son, take a look at this pic:
. When I played PAL in 96, the Royals sucked. Funny how things do change but I think it has more to do with LaFontaine than any real achievements of the Royals. Either way, good exposure for LI hockey. I do remember Apple Core being one of the toughest teams to play against though...real hard hitting, wanted to phyiscally hurt you.
) to see him and Webb coming off the ice as my son goes on.
