kid310050

Teams like this aren't helping the girls game as a whole. Steel City gets a 2nd team that could cause 2-3 other orgs to not have enough players to field a team at all. 

17 minutes ago, PittsburghHockeyFan said:

Still seems like a lot of money for a PAHL team if those numbers are true.

They also list mixed year teams which I believe play way less games and only practice once a week, now if those teams are 4K that's a huge problem but I would guess they are at a lower cost than the birth year teams. 

This is directly from the Renegades/Tier 2 Vengeance Website, so they are anticipating close to 55 games I would guess its all based on the coach and the teams commitment level as to the exact number of games that get played. 

• Team will include top talent from the 2011 birth year
• Includes 6-8 summer skills sessions
• Includes 2 weekday practices (+weekends when available, 75-80 practice throughout season)
• Includes weekly workouts or yoga sessions (28-32 throughout season)
• Includes bi-weekly off-ice coaching sessions (20-25 throughout season)
• 4-5 tournaments/showcases (may require overnight travel, tournament budget included)
• Includes 8-12 independent games (may require overnight travel)
• 45 - 55 games in total
• Team will participate in PAHL 13U AA

18 minutes ago, pickle said:

Tier I and Tier II are the only designations that USA Hockey recognizes.  AAA, AA, etc. are skill levels typically applied by leagues to distinguish their different levels and groupings.  Independent teams are outside of league designations and can say they are whatever they want.  The problem is that people always use these terms interchangeably when technically they are not.  Tier I does not automatically mean AAA and Tier II does not automatically mean AA, etc.  These AAA/AA skill designations generally were a factor of age level, but were more about team depth.  The AAA/AA skill designations only mean something when they are given by respective leagues and tournaments and used for separating team levels.  You now of the "AAA-Elite" designations to separate the top AAA teams from everyone else.     

Tier I means that teams can and do recruit and billet players from all across the country/world to assemble the best possible team they can regardless of where the players come from.  Tier II requires that players generally reside within 50 miles of the teams home rink (varies by region) with some exceptions.  Tier II was generally just the top AA programs from the respective local leagues (PAHL) and used to be happy playing each other to be the best local team.  Tier I was reserved for the best teams who typically played outside of the local area and basically were "independent" or played in "AAA" level leagues and competed with the best of other regions.  They used to be better/higher than the top "AA" teams from the local leagues.  

Tier I and Tier II officially only applies to 14U teams and up (now 13U at Tier I) and only those teams officially competing for the respective Tier I or Tier II National Championship, although associations emerged as "Tier I Programs" and typically refer to all their teams as Tier I, while other programs try to field both Tier I and Tier II (and all other level) teams.  My understanding was that USA hockey was cracking down on programs fielding only 1 or 2 "Tier 1" teams.  You basically had to have a full Tier I (14U, 15O, 16U, 18U) program.  This limits the teams actually eligible to compete - but this doesn't mean teams can't call themselves whatever they want, whether it means anything or not.

Obviously it is always about money and teams can charge more and make more money the higher level they call themselves and try to compete - whether they are at that level or not.  The thing about MyHockeyRankings is that it gives a rating and teams are ranked accordingly regardless of what they call themselves. 

This was a good explination!

2 minutes ago, zam said:

Oh Man! You aren't disputing this guys legal troubles, just disputing his job title?

An ankle bracelet sounds like more than an unpaid parking ticket... Was he even able to travel with the team?

No idea actually he just doesn't run the rink is all I know. Never heard a good thing about him though. 

45 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said:

In my opinion (isn't worth much) there are good players on almost all AAA teams. Just not enough of them. Once again most folks here will tell you that if your team isn't ranked in the top 25 of Tier 1 it's a Faux AAA team.   I didn't know that the Aviators were trying to put together a AAA team.  What age group?  I'm guessing they had a good AA team they think can move up! Most likely they will end up in the bottom of AAA!

So they claim they are playing an "AAA" independent schedule but are declaring for the Tier 2 National Championship so AAA but not really I guess?

39 minutes ago, Pucks11 said:

08, The guy runs the entire arena and is coaching the 2012's this year.

He doesn't run the entire arena he is the VP of the Tier 1 organization

2 hours ago, aaaahockey said:

But not one but TWO 2011 teams. 😂

One of which is no better than mid level PAHL AA team but hey why not pay 6K in tuition and probably 10K in travel when you could have stayed home and had a similar experience. 

34 minutes ago, Loach said:

Gunty is being an idiot, but yes, teams can just report their scores to MHR as before.

Black Bear just making things a little more difficult is all. 

This is going to be interesting

https://myhockeyrankings.com/news.php?b=1111

1 hour ago, sadday4hockey said:

That's a first for them. Since their inception, they had only ever been known as the final home for malcontents. Now, the malcontents are so many they just migrate from place to place like the Nomads.

They go to the Aviators now 😂

I have heard the new system them are using to place teams isn't working very well so I won't be shocked if they are very delayed 

20 hours ago, Wes said:

Link?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/737357036840038/user/100091950467063/

I saw this on Facebook a couple of days ago, I was wondering if this was a Black Bear creation since they were playing at Printscape. 

22 hours ago, YardSale said:

Aviators are the last one I believe with the Huskies now taking over at PIA.

Aviators just steal kids from Renegades instead of having their own ADM program. 

3 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

https://atlantichockeyfederation.com/south-pittsburgh-rebellion-join-for-the-2023-24-season/

South Pittsburgh Rebellion joining AHF for the 2023-24 season.

So Black Bear affiliated organizations in the area:

Badgers - AHF
Rebellion - AHF
Esmark - THF
Preds - THF
Yetis - THF

Am I missing any?

Mon Valley I believe is too

3 hours ago, Hockey2011 said:

Was this an invite only tryout. Who is the coach? What level?

From what I've been able to gather it was mainly kids who tried out and did not make the 2011 team. I've asked multiple times who the coach is and have yet to get an answer. My son's team had 2 kids leave to play on this team so I assume it's happening and if it's not some kids are gonna be left without a team 

5 hours ago, PUCKCOVID19 said:

runaway very very fast 

I want no part of it but it's yet another team taking kids away from playing PAHL AA. I'll bet at the end of the season my kids PAHL AA team is better than this team. 

Has anyone else here heard about the possible Esmark B team at the 2011 age? A few of the players from our 2011 team went to a skate for this team and were made offers yet they arent sure if the team is happening yet. I feel this is Black Bear at work trying to fill as much ice time as possible

I didn't stick around to see so I have no idea 

They were holding tryouts for what looked to be a 16u team last night

Talk about too many teams, at the very least Esmark is fielding a B team at the 2011 age. 

What does black bear taking over have anything to do with Plum hockey? If kids are progressing and getting better but not winning is that a totally terrible thing?

Where is all this ice time coming from? The organization as a whole has less than 10 hours of ice per week and they are floating 3 practices a week for AA and 2 for single A. Unless they only have 2 or 3 teams the math doesn't work unless the 3 ice slots a week are half ice with another team. 

On 3/19/2023 at 3:48 PM, champeen said:

I'm sure this one won't go off the rails.  After several years of "possibly" moving to PGH, my situation is now more like "probably" moving to PGH.  Tryouts are all really soon and would need to come into town with my youngest of 3 sons to do tryouts.   Older two boys have their situations sorted.  Youngest would be 10uAA.  Not going to pay and do AAA travel for a 10 yr old.  Yes, I'm interested in good coaching and player development, but I also am burned out after doing this for years and just can't deal with the insanity.  Which orgs would you say have the most chill vibes?  lol.   i.e. -- fewest parent fights and ejections and abuse of refs and coaches and opposing players.  

Thanks, and sorry in advance.

I guess you can wipe Mt. Lebo and Aviators off your list of least crazy parents ?