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  1. He was impressed with the extra "A"
    6 points
  2. My son played in the AHF. I'll say that the league does a much better job of managing their website. Live scoring, stats, players of the week, all-star teams are all pretty cool and certainly add to the experience. I'll also say that the level of competition in that league is absolutely not worth the 10-12 hours of driving you'd do for a weekend, even if you do get 4-6 games. If you're in PAHL already there's no point in adding that amount of driving and hotel stays to play teams that are equal to the competition out here (at best). If you're an independent team you can easily find equal or better competition within 2-3 hours (Ohio, Buffalo) and not take that long trip on the turnpike.
    6 points
  3. One would suspect that the AAA Champion would disagree quite strongly?
    5 points
  4. Not to completely derail this thread, but the Preds are a joke. You mentioned you “spoke to the coaching staff”. That’s great. They will tell you anything you want to hear to get your tryout money and if your kid sucks up to them enough, or your wife is hot and flirtatious, your kid will make the team. However, he won’t see any playing minutes unless you are ponying up and taking weekly private or small group lessons with the coach. Thats a fact. DM me for more info. I know these guys personally and have for many years. Nothing ever changes. Ask some of the 08-12’s who have left because of those exact reasons. They over promise, under deliver, and over charge you.
    5 points
  5. The Pittsburgh area is great for tourneys - just not there in Delmont. Alpha, Baierl, UPMC and Neville have plenty of hotels and restaurants nearby and all are close enough where multiple facilities could co-host together.
    5 points
  6. I feel bad for the 18u teams. It's the last year of youth hockey for most of the players. They battled hard all year to earn a trip to beautiful Delmont, PA.
    5 points
  7. I think more than one thing can be true here. Do teams typically get screwed over at Belmont? - Yes Was Armstrong the strongest 18AA PAHL team by a good margin? - Yes
    5 points
  8. 100% - publish them anytime possible, but once published they're final. Parents F off. Don't get me wrong, so do I enjoy seeing my kid's accomplishments where others can see them on web pages such as the PIHL and others as they progressed. However, having watched any of those games I will also know which kid won important face-offs. Blocked shots, hard fore-check, positioning and all the other things nemesis mentioned are what create good hockey players and better teammates. I can leave the rink knowing his stats, if any but more importantly acknowledge the little things that few people notice. Sort of like Lindsey Horan said about US soccer fans, this really does apply to a lot of hockey parents. For the 14 and under crowd on here, don't get so caught up in the skills training as there is far too much of that. Find Coaches who will teach your kid how to play the game and they will be successful not only in hockey, but in life.
    5 points
  9. People who are so fascinated and caught up in stats are almost 100% of the time the ones living vicariously through their kids because they NEVER accomplished anything in their athletic lifetime.
    5 points
  10. Some may say the life experiences of living with a host family in a new city, and traveling the US and Canada while developing relationships with that family, coaches, and players all while pushing oneself to succeed at the highest level of their sport might be more beneficial than attending a dance at the Burgettstown Days Inn.
    4 points
  11. The back referee is the exact person to make that call. That is why they are there. There is no way the low official could have seen the spear through the crowd. Again, doesn't matter what the intent was. USA Hockey is very clear on it. Any spearing motion is 5+GM at a minimum. Not exactly sure who that official was, but I am familiar with the process for assigning those officials. They are all very experienced.
    4 points
  12. Congratulations to all the teams that won their Divisions this weekend. Too bad all we get is scores! No game sheets to see how the games went! Or for that matter any coverage at all. Does PAHL have a facebook or Twitter site? It's ashamed how far behind Black Bear Tier 2 they are. Hopefully we will be able to find the MidAms on Score Sheet this weekend. If PAHL is not going to recognize their top AA players, I would suggest all those teams Join the Atlantic Hockey Federation and have their own Western PA Division.
    4 points
  13. If there is that coach needs to be fired. Anybody that is so delusional that they think their amateur team is so important that their players shouldn’t play PIHL for whatever reason shouldn’t be allowed to coach at all. U15 AAA Preds will probably be sending 5 or 6 kids to the NHl right? What a joke!
    4 points
  14. Well I do have to admit I don't want to spend 4000 dollars + travel to spend 8 months with a bunch of loud jack******. It makes the entire experience miserable and I'd rather my kid have fun and the parents have fun too.
    4 points
  15. The bottom line is that hockey is the sport with the most variables during the course of a game. In any ONE game, between teams that are anywhere even close to skill, either team can win. Bouncing pucks, stunning goalie performances, how penalties are called or not called, kids being focused or not that particular day, momentum swings at opportune times (or not).... in one single game anything can happen. It happens all the time in hockey at every level. Ever wonder why professional gamblers mostly stick with basketball & football? Less variables.
    4 points
  16. Top 5? Armstrong is the gold standard for homerism, and hearing the Armstrong faithful parents attempt to say it isn’t so is comic relief.
    4 points
  17. PAHL wants to charge the money and do the least work possible. Basically they run an organized in-house league that travels to play. I can see it getting to where they're being challenged with a competitor now and will probably end up rolling over and giving up as they continue to lose players and teams. However, I'll add that the AHF/THF groups on Facebook have an awful lot of complaining about "my kid faced 60 shots but the scoresheet only said 58", "they totally missed my kid's secondary assists 3 time this weekend", or any different incarnations of that you can think of. So I can see where PAHL doesn't want hounded week in and week out with those kind of complaints.
    4 points
  18. ECHL average pay is somewhere in the 700/week range. Minimum is like 500-something and up to around 1000. Very few if any players around here would have the ability to make a team. It might be a "lower" league but when it comes down to it those guys are closer to nhl players than the best players around here are to the ECHL.
    4 points
  19. Be careful stating such a thing on this forum. Unless you have your kid play AA hockey within 15 minutes from your home until they head to college you are an irresponsible parent.
    3 points
  20. Are we sure that CV and PR actually won those games on Tuesday? It doesn't appear that the PIHL is certain. What's it take to upload some pictures? 8 minutes? Maybe 10. Each month it should become more and more apparent to all the haters what a great job John Mucha did as Commissioner. This sport could use more people with his passion AND his ability to work with just about everyone for the good of the game.
    3 points
  21. I know two kids that played both amateur and high school, didn’t stop them from going D1. Only missed one or two high school games because of amateur travel. For a coach to deny a kid an opportunity to play a game they love with friends is absolutely atrocious. Deal with any conflicts as they come up and playing for both teams is not an issue. The EGO of these coaches that say you can’t play both is the problem. A high school coach suggesting a kid not play for that kind of coach is not a problem. Missing an amateur practice occasionally for a high school game should not be a problem. The kids are on the ice. They are not going to a movie. The coaches that think missing a couple practices for other ice time need to move on to another career. Go coach adults, kids are kids and should be treated as such. Because no matter how good of a coach you are, a couple missed practices are NOT going to change the trajectory of a player or hurt their amateur team.
    3 points
  22. If my kid wanted to play high school hockey and club, and the club told him he couldn't play HS then I would move on and move fast. Granted, HS hockey is not at the level of some AA and AAA level club teams, but kids love playing in front of their school friends. I have watched numerous Pens Cup games this year and the vibe has been nothing but outstanding. The Preds AAA level teams are a joke anyhow - did any of them make MidAms?
    3 points
  23. Reopen the Golden Mile
    3 points
  24. I feel like it should be the other way around. Any responsible HS coach should advise his players to avoid that train wreck A chase.
    3 points
  25. Outscoring the next team in your bracket by 6 goals, only giving up 4 goals in 4 games and having a +17 goal differential seems okay... How'd the team that "impressed" you do?
    3 points
  26. They went 1-2 and were out scored 17-9 and that impressed you?
    3 points
  27. Read between the lines people. Jaison Kelly has to be the worst human that resides in Pittsburgh. He’s a con artist and a flat out loser . A fuckup. Until his hands are still on this River Monsters, I’m staying away. Praying he goes to jail on his arraignment that’s in April for fraud.
    3 points
  28. Agreed. Need to figure out a host org and a coach. I think pens, one North hills and one south Hills team would be fine. Same with 08s.
    3 points
  29. ‘09s need to be trimming AAA teams, not adding them
    3 points
  30. A lot of you don't understand the landscape and just spread rumors. Have any of you dads that have zero hockey experience even watch anything but your own child? Pens - Top two lines are solidified. Good luck to any new kids breaking their top two lines. Better have good attitude and happy you are wearing Pens gear if on 3rd and 4th line. Preds - We all know the dad that loves to be on the bench that ruined Esmark. Otherwise they could be a very good AAA team, but south hills area doesn't seem to figure it out. Vengeance - That team has not improved in the last 2 years and only holds its ranking bc of teams they play and being a "AAA" team. Import a coach from Detroit that doesn't attend practices really shows how invested the organization/coach is with these kids. So keep spending $10,000 to fill pockets. Also, how many other shady things can happen over there before it's exposed. SHAHA - Tough to compete with Preds in same area. Would be a good team if they combined top two lines. But much cheaper option than Preds. Icemen - The rink sucks and the location isn't good to attract players. This is the only team out of the 3 listed above that has consistently rose in the ranks the last two years and proving to all the haters. Pens have been a top 5 team for the last 3 years. We all know they are the top dog and is #1 destination. Esmark - Team folded last year bc of a certain parent taking players to Preds. We see it every year, whoever has the money and filling these organizations pockets the most, thats all they care about, they have the control or balls of these organization heads. This team next year will be nothing but a A major team next year if they even get enough to field. If you ask me, a lot of kids stay put and all of this is nonsense. Get on with your lives and enjoy the limited time you have with your kids. Spend your money wisely. And if you have extra cash to toss around. I will gladly accept your money and tell you how good your kid is and how he is going to the NHL. Seems to be the way things are anymore.
    3 points
  31. 3 points
  32. Based on that, MHR is pretty spot on.
    3 points
  33. Honestly to me that's a very successful season.
    3 points
  34. The people that are in St Louis are thrilled. It's their first Nationals and that is always special and exciting. Huge for St Vincent and the Martz (father-son) coaching tandem. Big congratulations to their program
    3 points
  35. Pitt 4 Jamestown 1 # 4 Seed goes down - Awesome Win for the program !!
    3 points
  36. Maybe they should just all play for fun and not keep score! But then why even have PAHL? Just let all the kids play pickup at their home rinks! I just think if you are going to do something do it the best possible way. There will always be parents who complain about something. That's life! I admire the kids who play outside of PAHL and have their stats published!
    3 points
  37. If the stats are published or not, parents and coaches already question scoring decisions. I still officiate games, and at the younger age groups I get questioned more about awarding secondary assists than I do about getting calls right in a lot of games. As far as shots goes, that has always been arbitrary even at the NHL level (I can remember the stories about the way NJ was legendary for some of the shot totals they came up with in the 2000's), so that will never be agreed upon. I disagree with the idea of giving out awards for scoring accomplishments because we already see players (and parents) who are ONLY concerned with how many goals their little player scores and that would only perpetuate selfish play. The bare minimum should be that the stats should be published and updated each week during the season. At the very least, this would provide a single source regardless if people are satisfied with the accuracy. People aren't always happy with the accuracy of the stats the NHL publishes, that's the cost of doing business.
    3 points
  38. There was a glitch in the reporting of the game scores this season for most of the year. You actually could click on the individual games and have access to the digital game sheets and summaries. Nobody complained about it. It was actually pretty nice to see something other than just the final score of each game. Once the league caught wind of their loophole of their statistical lockdown; they sewed it up for good. If there was any one person that complained about the score sheets being open to the public…well, it was the PAHL (obviously). Someone who monitors these boards and has the ability to remove the players’ individual competitiveness. The player statistics were obviously being tabulated and recorded. Why not be transparent about it? Hockey is a team game where keeping score is important. The Fair Play Points make a big difference down the stretch and sometimes it’s what makes teams more or less competitive depending on how aggressive they can be. The game sheets also show these penalties, minutes, and tabulations of the FPP. Without transparency, corruption has a haven.
    3 points
  39. I'm hoping this was a typo and you meant were not changed. I can't imagine having every game in an amateur league have stats challengeable what a nightmare.
    3 points
  40. Icemen charge about $4400 for the season. Does not include coach fee or team fees. Also does not include jerseys, socks, shell, jackets, etc. The AHF is a low level “AA” league at best and traveling 5+ hours to Philly and NJ? Not great value for the competition.
    3 points
  41. Sure would be nice to see the score sheets and have the PAHL name an all tournament team!
    3 points
  42. Wouldn't it be nice if the PAHL had a social media presence and actually did more to recognize the players in their league! You would have the best of both leagues here at home!
    3 points
  43. thats too much work for the paid " Executive Administrator " to handle - What do we pay for again?
    3 points
  44. Just wait...... because you know it can't be far away. Every other female sport basically has had and maybe hockey already has too, the transgender athlete playing in the female division and the risk/probability of that causing injury. This sport is so f'd up from the top of USA hockey down through every level. Somehow the fun and enjoyment of this game needs to be placed back at the top of the priority list ahead of all of this other bullshit.
    3 points
  45. I agree with that. Plus it's not like the rink will come up in a month. It's a years-long plan to get the rink built.
    3 points
  46. I think this is absolutely true. You can see from the discussions on this forum that girls hockey is unimportant to many. And it's obvious to anyone who pays attention at any organization that, even at the orgs that really care to try to make girls hockey work, the girls are less than a second thought. It was only a year or two ago that basically every organization was giving their girls only one practice a week - at some orgs, every other week - and often they were on Sunday nights. Or late Friday night. The reason for allowing girls to roster on an extra team is simple - to promote girls hockey in the region. And for many orgs the only way to make girls teams happen is to dual roster the maximum number of girls. The proposed rule justification says that it "could cost us a small number of girls teams". It surely will do that. What's hard to understand is why PAHL thinks that's not a big deal as implied by that wording. Of the 25-or-so organizations listed on PAHL's website, only 11 have even one girls team. And every season some teams fold while others arise, so that it's never possible to predict who will have a team or how many teams will be in a division. Because of the small number of teams, almost all girls divisions play reduced schedules - that is, the girls teams don't get the same 20 game seasons the boys teams do. The 19U division this season, for instance, had 12 game seasons. A girl who dual rosters on two girls teams won't end up playing 40 girls games on top of whatever coed schedule they have because girls teams normally don't get that many games and also because they probably won't get to every game for both girls teams either. As for girls missing coed games, I've coached both girls teams and coed teams that had girls who missed games for their other team. As long as everyone is up front about it, that situation is what it is. Normally you are either prioritizing one of the teams over the other all the time, or you make a case-by-case call depending on the opponents and/or the importance of the game. It's not ideal, but it's something teams have been working with for a long time. I'm not going to get into arguments about whether girls can or should play coed hockey at any level. I've long believed that girls should play coed at least through 12U because they get exposed to more players and more teams and there are more games in PAHL for coed teams as well as more tournament opportunities. I've known plenty of girls who handled 18U coed just fine. My experience is that as the players get older teams expect more and more from their players and I cannot imagine that most 16U/18U coed teams would tolerate players missing games because of their "other" team, whether the "other" team is a girls team or another coed team. So honestly I don't think that allowing girls to roster on both girls teams and boys teams is a big deal, because at the 16U and 18U levels girls tend to play for only one or the other anyway. PAHL has to make a choice between parents complaining that their male player is getting discriminated against on the one hand and the viability of girls hockey as a thing on the other hand. Personally I think this whole argument is a waste of air because nobody is really hurt by the current rule. Regarding the Tier 1 rule, it's really not that significant. I agree with it in principle, but in practice I understand that the primary Tier 1 organization in our area generally tries to keep players from also playing on PAHL teams anyway.
    3 points
  47. You don’t seem to be a fan of RMU hockey.
    3 points
  48. Yes, they probably will be behind the programs that I mentioned (except maybe Niagara) but as was pointed out by other members, D1 hockey is the one sport that is not as divided into "have's and have not's". The Michigan's, Minnesota's, BU's, and Denver's are going to be the programs that recruit the 18 year old's that get drafted in June, but because of the role of junior hockey, teams like Quinnipiac, Union, and Providence can compete and win by bringing in players that are 20-21 years old and compete at a championship level. RMU could and can compete with those teams, and having better facilities would help with attracting better players.
    3 points
  49. well aren't you just a ray of sunshine. I did some research : The Colonials got off to their best start in program history in 2021 at 11-3 and saw themselves ranked within the USCHO Top 20 for much of the season, reaching a program-best #17 in January. At 15-9 overall and 10-5-0 in AHA play, the Colonials earned a West Division title while boasting the AHA Coach of the Year as well as conference MVP, Rookie of the Year, and Defenseman of the Year. The top offensive team in AHA and one of the most prolific in all of college hockey, RMU's 85 goals was one of the highest totals in all of NCAA DI, and their 25% success rate on the power-play was tops in the conference. - this happens to be the SAME year the program was ended by the President. Schooley's team has reached four AHA title games and raised three championship banners since the start of the decade. After making the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament via an AHA postseason title in 2013-14, the Colonials ruled the league during the grueling regular season in 2014-15 and 2015-16, winning 24 games in each of those years. Additionally - several players from RMU have gone on to play professional hockey on some level. Then let's talk about the women's program - 4 women played in the Olympics - 2 earning medals. 3 banners for winning CHA and several women drafted into Professional Women's hockey.
    3 points
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