BEHIND THE  BENCH- Campapalooza II:  The Search for More Money

January 1 is the unofficial start of what I call Campapalooza. The inbox flood programs from teams, leagues, coaches, trainers, and advisors.

Some of these events can be useful. Most are not. A lot of invitations are built to create urgency and emotion, and they are polluted with disingenuous promises designed to sell registrations.

For families who have been through this before, consider this your yearly+ refresher. For families who are new to it, save this letter and use it as a filter when the invites pile up.

When you are trying to decide whether an invitation deserves your time and money, I want you to evaluate it using three parameters: Interest, Worth, and Expectations.

Is this something your player genuinely wants to do for the right reasons? Or is it mostly fear of missing out, peer pressure, or the feeling that you have to say yes because an email made it sound urgent? Real interest matters because it usually leads to better preparation and better results.

ALL events are financially motivated. That is reality. Your job is to decide whether this specific event is worth it for your family. Look beyond the registration fee. Add travel, hotel, meals, and missed work. Then look at what you actually get: total ice time, quality of instruction, level of competition, and the coach-to-player ratio. Also consider what comes with the camp: is there real feedback, video, or a clear development plan, or is it mostly a jersey, a group photo, and a follow-up email asking for more money?

This is where families get hurt. No camp is likely to be the single moment that defines your player’s hockey future. Camps can hold value for development, networking, and benchmarking, but the "this is your golden ticket" pitch is marketing. Keep expectations realistic and you will make better decisions.

Before you even apply those three parameters, do a quick legitimacy check. Many "personal" invites are disguised mass emails. Look at the salutation. Does it include your player’s name? Does the body reference anything specific about your player, or is it generic? A form email does not automatically mean the event is worthless, but it should reset your expectations immediately.

Now, let’s talk priorities. If you are going to spend money on camps, start with the camps that typically matter most: Main Camps and Training Camps.

Be cautious with creatively renamed programs such as Pre-Draft and Pre-Main events. Those labels are often just new paint on the same concept: big numbers, big promises, and limited true evaluation.

The most productive exposure usually happens when a team already knows who your player is and expects him to be there. That is why we at the Victorious Hockey Company, put so much emphasis on targeted team visits and purposeful main-camp planning. If you are being invited as a legitimate prospect, the team should be prepared to evaluate you, not just take your registration fee and blend you into a crowd.

A smarter approach is strategic exposure, not more exposure. Too many players attend events where no one knows who they are. No introduction. No fit. No communication. Then the only follow-up they get is a generic email asking them to pay again next year. If you are going to a camp for exposure, do work before you arrive: identify programs that truly fit, contact coaches ahead of time, keep your hockey resume current, and communicate professionally. The goal is to be one of the names they already recognize when you arrive, not just another number in a check-in line.

There are also specific red flags that should stop you in your tracks:

The attendance list trap: Some camp hosts advertise that certain coaches, scouts, or programs will be in attendance. What families do not see is how those lists are often built. A camp host asks a coach, scout, or general manager to attend. If that person has no intention of going, the polite response is often something like, "Send me the info and I will try to check it out." That is not a commitment. It is professional courtesy. Some camp hosts then market that response like it is verification. If the attendance list is the main reason you are paying, verify it through clean, direct channels before you register. Also be skeptical of lists that grow constantly or change week to week.

The recycled connection trick: Sometimes a name is included because of a loose past connection, not because the person agreed to attend this year. A program might have been involved in a related event years ago, or someone from that organization might have stopped by a different camp once, and the name keeps getting reused like it means something today. If someone is listed as attending, it should mean they agreed to attend this specific event this year. Anything else is marketing spin.

The advisor bait and switch: A family pays to attend a camp hosted or sponsored by an advisory company expecting fair evaluation inside that camp, and then is told that the player must sign up with the hosting advisory company in order to be properly evaluated. You already paid for the camp.A proper advisor will never force you into anything. If this is part of the model, it is a major red flag and a reason to walk away.

More aggressive marketing, earlier, with stronger promises. Invitations are being sent earlier every year, and the language is getting more The goal is to trigger urgency. Do not let marketing language make your decision for you. Run the invite through Interest, Worth, and Expectations first.

More rebranding of the same event types. We are seeing more creative and similar. Often, it is the same structure with a new label. In most cases, Main Camp and Training Camp are the events that should hold your attention first. Everything else needs to earn your time and money by passing the three-parameter test.

More league-label selling, especially tied to tier language and NCDC branding. The junior hockey landscape has become increasingly deceptive, particularly with organizations exploiting outdated perceptions. The NCDC, once positioned as legitimate Tier 2 hockey, has effectively become a Tier 3 league following the CHL's NCAA eligibility change and the mass promotion of many USPHL programs. Yet teams continue marketing themselves as "Tier 2" opportunities because families still associate that label with value. What they won't tell you: only about six players per NCDC roster will play for free, while the remaining 40 players on the roster are paying customers. Don't let clever marketing and outdated reputations cloud your judgment about a program's true value and your realistic path forward.

Campapalooza is not slowing down. The only way to win it is to be selective and intentional. The goal is not to attend everything. The goal is to attend the few things that actually fit your player and move the needle.

“Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made!”,

-Yogurt

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The 2026 World Junior Championship quarter-finals are locked in, with Sweden leading the pack after a dominant 4-0 preliminary round. Traditional powerhouses Canada, USA, Czechia, and Sweden continue their streak of playoff appearances since 1996. Matchups feature historical rivalries: Sweden faces Latvia for the third recent time, while USA meets Finland in a series split by close contests. Canada battles Slovakia, recalling their thrilling 2023 OT finish. Germany and Denmark clash in a critical relegation showdown. All eyes now turn to 2 January’s decisive games.

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Sweden secured a 6-3 victory over the United States to complete a perfect preliminary round at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship. Lucas Pettersson led the way with two goals, while Eddie Genborg added a pair of power-play tallies. Despite goals from Chase Reid, Will Zellers, and Teddy Stiga, Team USA couldn’t overcome Sweden’s offensive pressure and special teams efficiency. Sweden went 3-for-4 on the power play, while outshooting the U.S. 43-31. The U.S. will face Finland next in the quarterfinals.

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Canada clinched first place in Group B at the 2026 World Junior Championship with a high-octane 7-4 win over Finland on New Year’s Eve. Cole Beaudoin led the charge with two goals and an assist, while Brady Martin also netted a pair. Zayne Parekh added three points, and the third line dominated with eight total. Despite a fast-paced, back-and-forth start, Canada surged ahead and never looked back. The team now advances to face Slovakia in the quarterfinals.

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Switzerland secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Slovakia at the 2026 World Juniors, capitalizing on a double minor penalty early to build a crucial lead. Their power play, now hitting its stride, contributed two goals with disciplined puck movement and effective net-front presence. Despite being outshot in the final two periods, Switzerland held firm as Slovakia mounted a third-period comeback. Strong goaltending from Elijah Neuenschwander and Michal Prádel kept the contest tight until the final horn.

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Czechia secured a 4-2 win over Latvia in group play at the 2026 World Juniors, fueled by dominant puck possession and standout efforts from Adam Jiricek, Tomas Galvas, and Max Psenicka. Despite Latvia opening the scoring and a late push led by Bruno Osmanis and Kristers Ansons, Czechia controlled the pace and sealed the victory with a Vaclav Nestrasil empty-netter. The Czechs outshot Latvia heavily and now enter the quarterfinals with momentum and rising individual performances.

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For the first time, an NCAA all-star team—United States Collegiate Selects—is competing in the Spengler Cup, facing elite European professional teams in Davos, Switzerland. Representing all six college hockey conferences, the 25-player roster blends top NHL prospects like Aiden Fink and Mac Gadowsky with rising NCAA talent. The initiative, years in the making, aims to spotlight college hockey's speed, intensity, and depth on an international stage, offering players pro-level exposure while celebrating the sport’s evolving global presence.

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USA Hockey has revealed the 42-player roster for the 2026 Chipotle All-American Game, set for January 15 in Plymouth, Michigan. The annual showcase highlights top NHL Draft-eligible talent from the USHL and USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Players will be split into Team Blue and Team White, with 40 NCAA Division I commits and representation from 11 USHL teams. Minnesota leads all states with 11 selections. The game will air live on NHL Network at 7 p.m. ET.8

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While most junior hockey players return home for a holiday breather, stars like Cole Reschny and Keaton Verhoeff will compete for Canada at the 2026 World Juniors—now credited to the University of North Dakota after their departure from the Victoria Royals. Meanwhile, standout Ludovic Perreault leads the Royals in their playoff push, earning WHL rookie honors. The BCHL’s Cowichan Valley Capitals dominate the Island scene, and several top performers, including Owen Warnick, are NCAA-bound next season.

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Riding a 14-game win streak and boasting a dominant 29-2-0-0 record, the Rockland Nationals (CCHL) will end 2025 ranked No. 1 in the CJHL Top 20 – Fuelled by Gatorade. Their December run included six straight wins with just seven goals allowed. Niverville Nighthawks (MJHL) and Collège Français de Longueuil (LHJAAAQ) follow closely at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. The rankings reflect top Junior A programs across Canada as the second half of the season approaches.

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Players and families, we want to hear from you. If there are any questions, concerns, or if you just want to have a conversation, please feel free to contact us directly. We want to hear from you. Good Luck and Great Hockey!

 

Thank you,

Team VHC

 

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