Week #20 Rankings are released. Wow, that means some of you have been playing games for more than six months. It's been a long season and while some of you are just getting ready to bear down and make a playoff run, others are ready clean the equipment and let it finally dry out.

Makes me think of a line from a popular song more than a few years ago by Crosby Stills & Nash: "Love the one you're with". Whether you still can't get enough of the players and parents on your team or if you secretly dream of an unfortunate gas leak and explosion, they are your teammates and loyalty is required. You may be dreaming of a new team next year, but being disloyal to your existing team can actually make it more difficult to find a new place in the hockey world. Don't trash your team, coach, players or parents. Use phrases like, "It was time for us to move on" or "Johnny had a good experience with so-and-so, but I think he might develop more in a different environment". The parents (and kids) that can go on at length about how bad a coach or team is/was and is willing to do so publicly, is probably a time bomb waiting to happen on the next team.

It's OK to start looking, if you have a number of options, but do so discreetly. If you are asked about your team and/or coach by a third party, be honest, be discreet and be positive. If the third is not possible decline to comment. If that is not acceptable, ask that your comments be kept in confidence and then as briefly as possible, express your concerns.

Best of luck to everyone who is starting the process of looking for a home next season...