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Couldn’t agree more. The kicker here is, Roberts’ company, PIHO, is supposedly focused on development of new officials and helping them out. He did absolutely none of that here.

I have to give it to the kid reffing though. He kicked him out and stuck to it without trying to hear his lip. On the other hand this is very clearly LOW level hockey being played and 2 kids ran into each other while going after the puck. It was a good no call by the refs too. Over the years of my kids playing the Badgers have easily had some of the most classless coaches around.

IMG_1174.MOV People wonder why there’s an official shortage not only in Western PA, but across USA Hockey as a whole. Especially after Pennsylvania Ice Hockey Officiating (PIHO) Officiating Director Zachary Roberts can’t even respect his own officials. An absolute disgrace to youth hockey. Over charging organizations for scheduling services to schedule officials, and then abusing the very guys who skate for him. Amateur hockey Christmas tournament and Roberts goes awol on this young official. Throwing sticks and gloves onto the ice like a 2 year old when mommy doesn’t buy him a pack of gum at the grocery store. To the organizations that have contracts with PIHO, take a look at how your officiating director treats people. Don’t renew those contracts. Find someone within the organization to schedule. It will save you mountains of money, and you won’t be associated with this disrespect. To the new officials coming on, do you wanna work for this guy? Absolutely not!

Dude, settle down and keep your blinders on. He started PIHO and was/is the key person behind it--and who knows what the behind the scenes tinkering that is going on. Maybe since you have his back your kid will get assigned more games.

Apparently Roberts stepped down today, earlier than planned, as he was apparently already ‘planning to step down at the end of this season.’ Seems pretty fishy to me, as there’s no context as to why he was planning on stepping down at the end of this season. However he may still be an owner, as he just stepped down as director. This would allow him to continue to over charge organizations with scheduling fees $$$ and still collect a portion of it. Something for organizations to look into for next season. Go back to independent schedulers, or guys who don’t charge an arm and a leg to click a button on a computer and schedule officials.

Correct. He owns PIHO. Emails that have been posted here, and from what other officials have said, Roberts has stepped down as director of PIHO, as he was apparently ‘already planning on stepping down prior to this,’ however there seems to be no clarification if he is still the owner. He may still silently be the owner and still collecting $$$ from the large amounts of scheduling fees they charge.

Judging by what has transpired, it still looks like ZERO recognition of the events that led up to this. Seems like some PIHO posturing.

Submit it to MidAm, where the person in charge will make sure it winds up in the garbage because its the Badgers? I can't think of a bigger garbage organization in PAHL than the Badgers. From top to bottom.

He has been removed from his position by the PIHO. Fyi, Ed Miller does the scheduleing for Badgers, and PIA and Nevin, maybe a couple others. I am not an official, but my child is and this is the email that was sent out to officials just minutes ago.

This incident of the coach throwing the stick and gloves reminds me of an incident in 18uAA last year at PIA, where the Preds and Huskies teams got in quite a heated game, culminated by cheap shots by the Preds onto a Huskies player (hit to the head/boarding) which resulted in a shoving match. (Read below) The HC of the Huskies stood up on the bench and was holding a water bottle, and did not do anything other than yell at the officials that they aren't calling the cheap shots. Huskies HC - who was not penalized during the game - gets a hearing with the league (Which I attended as the team manager), and they accused him of improper behavior for "thinking about" throwing a water bottle. Remember - thought police! In the meeting were PAHL staff from Armstrong and Indiana, and those personnel - who either coached and/or had players on competing 18uAA teams - threw the book at our coach and suspended him for 10 games. He didn't throw the bottle!!! We were VERY unhappy that personnel from teams we were in a battle with in the division wouldn't recuse themselves. They didn't and they screwed our team over. I questioned the PAHL personnel during the meeting about their rules and how they can find someone guilty of "naughty thoughts". PAHL= deer in the headlights look to me. Couldn't answer me. So fast forward to this coach throwing a stick and gloves on the ice. If we go on the basis of what happened to the Huskies HC, this coach should at minimum be gone for the year, if not permanent. My guess is he won't be hit hard due to his position with PIHO. Buddy-buddy at it's finest.

@happygilmore97 Thank you for your original post. I guess we will see what code of integrity that the PAHL/PIHO and Badgers will live by. Unfortunately I don't have much confidence that he will be removed from his positions.

This falls on the MidAm hierarchy and like most things in our District, they will sit idly by as he also gives Jim Weaver who is the District Ref-In-Chief all the games he can skate. It's just your garden variety quit pro quo.

Wow! This type of behavior is unacceptable at any level. The video shows a clear SafeSport violation as well--snatching equipment from a youngster's hand and chucking it on the ice. One would hope that this gets submitted to them as well as the USA Hockey discipline people.

Sort of like the Giant Entity named UPMC being a "non-profit" and paying their hospital workers a pittance so they can make billions?

Seems to fit. Roberts and PIHO have become some of the most classless people in officiating. Ripping off amateur hockey organizations with high scheduling fees and using a buddy-buddy scheduling mindset. 100% guaranteed this kid will never skate for him again, if it’s up to Roberts.

RE: the hit. At that young age unfortunately this happens quite often. large range of kid sizes and it was an unfortunate hit. RE: The dummy on the bench. Clearly needs to be removed from being coach and being the officiating director. That was horrible.

So how does this work? No annual elections? Same duo just appoints themselves in charge and nobody can unseat them. I’d be reaching out to the IRS in regards to compliance of being a non profit. Ryan Patrick is a very unimpressive individual in that position. Look beyond the last name. what is it with titles? GM of a kids hockey program. SMH.

Are you saying that the coach on the bench that tossed the goalie stick onto the ice is in charge of officials in some capacity? Glad the young ref tossed him. What teams are playing here?

Why exactly is he allowed behind the bench of presumably his child’s team? Doesn’t that seem like a bit of a conflict of interest?

the main issue is fundraising, if a non profit concedes its charter then the team can no longer fundraise. black bear takes over and you no longer can fundraise.. only option is pay out or don't play.. this was one of the main issues with allowing them to take over. I can't see that PIA will survive with the huskies only, and no fundraising. looking on black bear social media, i can't find a positive comment about them. everyone complaining they ruined the program and rinks falling apart.. why buy a new rink when our rink needs this that ect.. so i guess time will tell how this all plays out..

On a side note. Collin is a quality individual and a terrific ref.