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Winning is all that matters for some. And winning means new opportunities. That Aviators 12UAA team 1 is going independent next season.

So I’ve had a few pops. Neighbors just went home. Probably shouldn’t respond. But I’ll give it a go. There is so much wrong with this comment. Do you think that what we’re doing for our 12 year old children is about hockey? You do know that 99% (probably more, actually) of 12u PAHL players have no shot of long term development as it relates to NCAA Div 1, or some level of pro hockey, right? This isn’t about ignoring morales for the sake of development. It is about providing our young men and women the opportunity to develop a passion and learn life skills along the way. If they aren’t doing both, I want no part of it. Some people might think it’s ok to sacrifice one for the other. I won’t ignore the parental ‘model’ behavior for the sake of teaching my kid to make a few more dekes. We won’t see eye to eye on that, ever.

I’ve only seen them play twice in the past 2 years. Last year ? They beat iup’s club team in OT 1-0 or 2-1. @Pa Hockey would know better about that game he was there. Personally I’m not a fan of ncaa d3. It’s mostly on par with the acha. “Ncaa” is used as a status recruiting tool to pay some very high tuition. 50% of these schools you wouldn’t send your kid to for an education to begin with. I’m sure there are a few that are pretty dang good, but I also have seen a few that couldn’t hang with our local acha programs. There is a kid on the pitt acha team that transferred from a ncca d3 school - he doesn’t play on the top half of the team if that tells you much. I personally know a kid who passed on multiple ncaa d3 schools to play for miami’s acha team. Cost of the school ended up much less. In his words “the hockey is much better & I don’t have to submit to all the ncaa rules” in general he really like Miami of Ohio’s degree program to top it off. yes rmu is back - lots of Canadian prospects from what I’ve seen.

Great place for Gary Bettman!

There are certain organizations that attract the crazy parents. Those organizations aren't interested in controlling the parents. My family (and kids) have never been interested in playing for an organization where a holey is tolerated either on the ice or off. The behavior IS a part of the game. Eventually you get penalized, etc. And it is embarrassing. Being associated with a team calling you to girls that they shouldn't play hockey? No. No. No. I don't care how skilled the team is.

Maybe organizations should screen the parents before tryouts! Or maybe have the parents tryout! Or maybe the PAHL should not let the kids of crazy parents play. Or maybe ban spectators! Just trying to solve the crazy parents problem for you all!

Sometimes a few beers helps settle the nerves

My son felt he was ready for AAA hockey around 12 or 13. Tried out at Esmark - was cut. Was told his size was too small. Pens Elite tryouts were the next week He asked to tryout. We believed all the things we had heard - the team was pre determined, If you didn't get invited you didn't stand a chance, it's all political....blah, blah, blah. We still let him tryout. He made the team. Yes, he was a bottom player. The next year (14U)- was the very first year black teams were being introduced. He was put on the black team. Coach explained - if we put you on Gold - you'll sit on the bench for games. If we put you on black - you'll get top minutes. My son was crushed - but after cooling down and thinking it through he decided to stick it out. He played the next year on black team. My kid worked hard as did every kid on that black team. (That year - the Black team beat the gold team at Mid ams.) My son continued to develop - loved the game. He continued to learn to play the speed of the game and to even pick up the speed on his shifts. It wasn't always roses and sunshine at Pens Elite. But, he continued to grow. He stayed through 16's then played 18's at a prep school. He ended up playing in the NAHL and is playing NCAA Div.1 hockey. He was a bottom player of a AAA team at 12 / 13. What changed that? skating, skating, skating - drills, practice, lessons, shooting pucks everyday in the driveway. Does the kid want to wear the jacket to wear the jacket or does he actually want to put the work in to develop? I watched Pens Elite cut a kid that then went to a prep school - that led to being drafted by the USHL and then committed to an Ivy league school for Div.1 hockey - the Pens Elite aren't the final say on a kids destiny.

They take the strongest kids that try out each and every year. Yes there could be SOME exceptions and favoritism. They generally keep the best and cut the worst. There will be players that are the best when they are are 9, but by the time they are 12 they are average. And there are other kids that don't become the best until 14. You want your kid to be the one that keeps getting better and then knocks off a Mite Superstar. All it takes to be a Mite Superstar is being slightly faster than everyone else and having a good Celly. Also, and I haven't seen your kid play, and I don't mean to sound harsh. But, the reality is, your child is playing A. So if your organization has a AA team there are probably at least 10 kids in the birth year better than yours there. Multiply that by 10 other PAHL organizations, and there could be 100 PAHL players alone better than yours. I think if you watch a season of AA PAHL and your kid is one of the top 5 players at that level, then he stands a chance of making AAA pens. If he's not then maybe the next stepping stone is one of the many other "AAA" teams.