Q. Will you have one team
at each age division or multiple teams?
A. For all age groups we will evaluate the number and caliber of players
attending our tryouts and make a determination on the number of teams.
Some age brackets may have more teams, others may have less. We won't
advertise a set number of teams and just take bodies to try and fill
them. Our goal is to intelligently deliver the teams that can be filled
with quality players.
Q. Will they be AA or A?
A. We will determine the level of the teams once we see the caliber of
talent. We have no interest in claiming to be something we aren't so our
skill level will drive the playing level.
Q. Will you split the
teams by age (i.e. a 96 entry level team, a 95 level team, etc.)?
A. Once again this decision won't be made until we evaluate our talent.
Our objective is to assemble competitive teams and if we determine
blended birth year teams will best meet this goal then we won't use pure
birth year teams. Generally speaking, pure birth year teams are rarely
as competitive and since the league we play in here, as well as
virtually all tournaments we might participate in use AA, A and B,
rather than birth year this just seems
to make more sense.
Q. Will you be playing in
any tournaments?
A. Each team will have the discretion to select tournaments that fit
their schedule. The Jr. Brahmas are planning to host at least one
tournament each year in our rink as well.
Q. What is the cost for
the season?
A. Costs are still being finalized but at this point we anticipate our
cost structure to be very similar to most of the larger Associations.
Depending on the level the teams plays, the amount of ice time will vary
and with that, so will the cost. Generally though we are anticipating a
season cost of between $2,800 - $3,600. This fee would include around
100 hours of ice time (less for the younger ages and more for the higher
skill level), scrimmages, league fees, uniforms and tracksuits. All our
clubs will have the opportunity to participate in fundraising activities
to help reduce costs.
Q. Will you have any open
skate sessions or pre-tryout training camps to help the kids be ready?
A. The Jr. Brahmas are currently holding weekly skates (Tuesdays
7:30p-9:00p @ Fort Worth Ice) and our Midget Major coach is holding
every other week Saturday skates (see note on front page).
Q. You also talk about
your new facilities. Where are they? Where will the teams practice/play?
Will it be at this new facility or will it be spread out across the
rinks that are going to be used for the tryouts?
A. Our home rink will be the NYTEX Sports Complex in North Richland
Hills. It is a state of the art twin rink that will feature a full pro
shop, restaurant, and a main rink that will seat 2,200 (soon to be the
home of the CHL's Texas
Brahmas). Once the ice is put in our Midget tryouts will be held there,
as will our practices and home league games.
Q: Where will the teams
practice?
A: At this time we anticipate all of the teams to practice at the North
Richland Hills facility. It will have 2 sheets of ice, with the
JrBrahmas having priority over all but the Texas Brahmas. As will most
organizations, the younger age teams will practice earlier in the
afternoon with the older teams skating later.
Q: How many teams and at
what levels will you field teams?
A: Ultimately we won't know exactly how many kids will tryout until
theyactually touch ice on the 9th and 10th. If the number of calls
andemails we are receiving is any indication, yes there will definitely
beenough to be competitive. We would expect all our clubs to
participatein the NTXHL. while our official announcement was only made
this week,remember this has been in the works for several weeks. Many of
theplayers who live on the west side who have been playing for the
jets,alliance, djha and stars want to stay on this side of town and
believe this program will deliver what they are looking for.
Q: Can you expand on
travel team organizational philosophy, how manypractices a week, will
your teams travel and will you have dryland?
A: The Jr Brahmas will seek to ice competitive teams at all skill
levels.Teams will practice 3-4 plus hours per week depending on
leveldesignation. Dryland will be a component but delivered
intelligentlybased on age and level of competitively play.
Q: Are the Brahmas talkin
to other AA and AAA gaolies? Will they be at tryouts or will there be a
seperate try-outs for goalies? Tier 1 or tier 2play?
A: Goalies will likely tryout with age group. Tier II is our goal as
thereare already more Tier I teams than players out there. We are not
goingto play the same game as other groups.
