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I think it's going to be a difficult year for the whole league. I know there has been a lot of turnover, but it just illustrates how organized, detailed, invested but most of all, under-appreciated Mr. John Mucha was in this role.

Agree! Seems like PIHL is behind. By this time last year the site had rosters and full season schedules for all teams in all divisions and ages. Mucha definitely was under-appreciated!

I started a thread on this at the beginning of last season. More often than not Esmark has been passed up by Vengeance, Preds, and SHAHA according to the rankings. That will probably accelerate as they continue to play out of PIA. And in terms of what constitutes a legit AAA team, I think it's more helpful to look at the rankings of recent teams that have won Tier II national championships. Where were they ranked? SCIR 16U won a Tier 2 national championship as the 178th ranked 16U team in the country. Yes that's low, but you have to be a ridiculously good AA team, borderline AAA team to win a Tier 2 national championship. And there are also countless examples of teams ranked in the 75 range that do very well at Tier 1 nationals. So for all the AAA gatekeepers that say you have to be a top 40 team to consider yourself AAA, you're just wrong. And it's kind of gross how you take pride in delegitimizing teams. (Not speaking to this particular comment, just in general.)

Pens are also pulling from a much wider area.

what other local AAA organizations have CONSISTENTLY produced quality teams at the younger levels? Besides Pens. I’ll answer for you, NONE. So with their consistency at the U18 and U16 levels qualify Esmark as the number 2 AAA organization in the area. I know you disagree with me, but that is my opinion. I have presented nothing but facts. Like they produce more D1 players, and no other local org has produced consistently good teams at ANY level.

The money and connections thing is fact. A kid I coached made an NAHL team last year. Had one point on the year. A kid I have watched play and was definitely better than the NAHL kid, way better, didn’t make an NAHL team. One kids parents are rich, others not. Which one do you think was in the NAHL last year? After this season is over, we shall see which one of these two kids advances. My bet is on the kid not in the NAHL. He is in another junior league that is comparable to the NAHL. And you have seen it in the past. Kids making Pens roster because who their parents are. Even on current roster there is someone that is only there because of who their parents are and you know it. And yes, money and connections also help in everyday life, but I think it is even more pronounced in youth amateur hockey. I still think Esmark is the number 2 program, not even close really based on what I said in previous posts about them being the only team to advance kids to D1 besides Pens. And I don’t think your bantam team example is much of an indicator for how good of a program Esmark is. Time will tell I guess.

Esmark 18U has sent more kids to D1 than any other AAA program besides the Pens. That is a fact. And they will probably be the team that send the second most kids to D1 from the area in the future too. who in your opinion is the the number 2 local team? I know of not one other team that has sent kids to D1 or even free to play juniors. and you say that AAA U18 isn’t the pathway to free juniors or D1. Why did the kid from SHAHA move to another organization to play for a U18 AAA team? And if you really want to know what the best pathway to D1 or free juniors is, I’ll tell you now. First the kid has to be pretty good. But that isn’t enough. It has everything to do with the amount of money and connections that your family has. I have seen kids move on to juniors programs with less talent and skill than others. But their parents have more money and connections. I could name names, but that isn’t appropriate here. When I see kids from SHAHA, Vengeance or maybe Preds advance a kid to D1. Then maybe there will be a new number 2. Until then, Esmark it is.

What were the U18 rankings? I believe that the SHAHA teams were a one and done type of high ranking team. They did a great job of recruiting for a couple teams. But it doesn’t look like they are going to be consistently ranked higher than Esmark. Their U16 team scattered and I don’t see them putting together teams that good consistently. I think Esmark remains the higher ranked teams at least at the U18 and U16 levels.

And as long as Esmark is around there will not be another Tier 1 program in Pittsburgh that will jump them as the No. 2 in the area. Not even a new one in the South Hills!

If you don't think PPE are money grabbers you live in a different reality. Regardless of what they are ranked, their entire model is built around money grabbing.

Wow, not a very good review of one of the few privately owned rinks left in this area. That sounds like something that would have been said about PIA. I do know that rink gets a lot of use. Where is all the money going. Into owners pockets as opposed to repairs. Bummer!

Alpha Ice Complex is the Host. What a DUMP. They must have a had or do have a rodent problem. Smells like Mouse and or Rat $hit BAD Giving the "Barn" analogy a run for it money. The Ice Sucks, all flood, little to No Cut. I've seen better lighting at Club Erotica. The Hockey was mediocre at best.