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This guy has an axe to grind but in my opinion what CJ did with the original 2010 and 2011 teams was flat out amazing. Teams that he started with were mostly kids cut from Vengenance/Pens Black, AA/A major kids, and a bunch of kids playing up. He inherited a faux AAA roster twice and helped turn those teams into top 40-50 programs within a few years.

Pens are the only option for good AAA coaching in Pittsburgh. Esmark has become ghetto and trashy since CJ started coaching. Vengeance once again lost half of their roster to Esmark and Predators due to a narcissistic dad coach. Predators lost all their top players because of coaching / assistant coaching decisions. The lack of coaching leadership of both teams caused the fight. 10’s parents should take note from of the 09’s and ask the question why Esmark and Vengeance can’t field 09 teams anymore.

Think you missed a few. I came up with 9 that have ties to Pittsburgh. Although, I think one is an out of town PPE kid.

Injured players wearing a helmet that were on the bench during the game are allowed on the ice for the end of game handshake line. Dude didn't throw punches or get involved in the on-ice mess.

Five Pens Elite players were drafted into the USHL yesterday. Most impressively they are all locals, not the usual out of towners we often see coming in for one or two years of exposure at Penns then leaving. Three former Vengeance players were also drafted. All players who followed their ring leaders out of Alpha last year when things fell apart there. Doesn't appear any of the remaining vengeance players were picked. Would they have been picked if they stayed there, would others have been picked if they left, I guess we will never know. But I'm sure there are more than a few options on this board. One of those players counts in both categories, HMMM, so I think a total of 7 local kids picked. Probably a record draft class for the area. Kudos.

Obviously a troll. "Smoked"? 3-0... lol okay. There was 3 PPE kids. The hits looked okay to me, but called penalties so agree to disagree. What I find more interesting is you came to an anonymous forum to gloat and antagonize the short comings of 13 year old kids. You're a real hero, we should get together so you can tell me about all the victories and accolades that you've accomplished. Let me know when so I can block my day out, I'm sure it's extensive. #FCKINLOSER!!!

I get that, I also get they probably weren't in the mood after breaking up fights. But as an official, if a score sheet is being kept, which it obviously was, I would feel obligated to accurately document the game.

Still a bad situation, for what I'm assuming to be an injured player with no real equipment on to be in, right?

The kid wearing the shorts and helmet did nothing other than walk onto the ice at the end. He was not involved in this in any way.

My kids are older now. Some years we did Spring hockey. Some years we didn't. Some years one kid did it and not the other. Some years both did it. People clearly have an axe to grind. I think it all comes down to the fact that some parents don't want to or can't spend the money on Spring hockey. To say your kids were out having fun with their friends probably means that you didn't want your kids playing Spring hockey for whatever reason. Because I can assure you that if I asked my kids if they wanted to play Spring hockey they would respond that they would like to play. The debate about Spring and Summer hockey doesn't end when the kids get older. The events just become more frequent and more expensive ... Mid Ams, Nahl combines, USHL combines, main camps, etc. You have to pick and choose. Can't do it all but you have do some things. Oh yeah, there are the lessons. And if you kid is going to be any good he/she better be doing lessons all summer. Guessing it will be at least a couple of times a week. Oh yeah. You gotta hit the gym too. None of this means that my kids are going to play NCAA hockey. It just means that they are doing what they can to give themselves a chance.

Nope, not personal at all. I just know the guy! My kids were too busy out having fun with their friends to be a part of that shitshow😝 Just calling a spade, a spade! Thank you for your useless input though, Zam

Wow, this seems a bit personal to you. Did your kid not make the cut for his spring team? And no I don't condone coaches sending players out on the ice to seek retribution, if that's what happened.

You watch the video close enough, there is a player that's not even dressed, helmet on but wearing shorts out in the middle of all of this!!! CJ sending his Stella Sh*ts off the bench to join in. WTF For reasons unknown to me, they continue to let this guy lead our youth. What a disgrace!

But but but but but what about the fact we all have to pay for our USA hockey numbers to cover "insurance"

So that makes it okay?

The event was non-USA hockey sanctioned, so no penalties would carry over to anything. Nowhere to file a report because there is no governing body for this tournament.

Not sure

And are they PPE this year?

There were 3 PPE kids...

Smoked mostly Preds kids and Preds coach

At first glance hard to believe this happens in a spring game, BUT looking at those rosters posted above it is clear that the 2010 esmark and venegance kids smoked the PPE 10 kids on the other team 3-0. How embarrassing for them following the 2010 PPEs losing way at Nationals. So goon it up w late illegal hits and then the fighting after. 2010 esmark and venegance kids #WINNING!

Is this the coach telling these boys to go fight at the end of a spring consolation game? Where have all the good coaches gone? Will they now add MMA private lessons to the skills lessons?

Wouldn't want to cut into profits for the tournament next weekend with the same kids? 😃

Thanks for sharing! A real exciting end to a meaningless consolation game. Interesting there don't seem to be any penalties on the score sheet for the little dust up. https://gamesheetstats.com/seasons/6330/games/1829869

I get the idea of keeping players in "house" leagues and not doing the travel stuff, but we need to remember that many of these players and parents have already done what the programs offer. Some programs only offer "Little Pens" or "Learn to Play" and then their progression is to move into their ADM/8U program which then necessitates travel for jamborees. I feel like many parents would rather travel a few times on weekends to play at a different rink than have to drive once a week to find an "in house" program if their "home" rink doesn't offer one. I am not sure if the programs that operate out of rinks with a single sheet of ice have the ability to offer much beyond the "Little Pens" to ADM progression due to ice availability.