Sticktime56

Speaking of moving in on youth hockey. Any truth to the chatter that Esmark will be using RMU as a base for teams to practice etc...? This would be huge as it brings these teams closer and the barrier for most people considering esmark is the drive right now.

They also pay double the price just to say my son plays AAA hockey when in reality he's on a A team who thinks they are AAA.

The SHAHA 09 team is a far better team than the preds 09 team. I have watched both teams play against my sons 09 team and was impressed with SHAHA, not so much preds. The coaching, skill,discipline and execution of the SHAHA was far better than preds .

I would agree! The SHAHA kid has more talent hands down

I get it and not being critical of you. Glad you can enjoy your grandchildren but not all people use live barn for the joy of watching.

Watching games on live barn is understandable but watching practices seems excessive and unnecessary. I don't belittle any of my kids but also give them space to practice without me hovering over them. I have an 8 year old and a 15 years old and I can say I let practice be their time but I watch all games and support.

Can we let children practice without having to watch their every move? Nothing is more absurd then adult men needing to sit in a cold rink analyzing their 8 years hockey practice or watching practice on live barn

I specifically called out Preds and SHAHA because they continue to put out AAA teams at all BYs and NONE of them are AAA. Alteast vengeance and esmark at most BYs can compete at AAA levels. I think it's fair to say if you can't or won't play for PPE, the next best place for youth AAA hockey would be Vengeance or esmark.

Well said friend but the fauxAAA teams are a bigger issue than the AA. . If someone can finally end the preds and SHAHA faux AAA fiasco pgh hockey would see better days.

You make some valid and fair points. It often feels PPE is always under fire. Yes they do things wrong but they do alot right for pgh hockey. They give you exactly what you sign up for and pay for. Great hockey, great coaches and some of the best teams in the county. Politics play a part and not everything is fair but life isn't fair. There are other organizations out there charging similar prices and selling the AAA dream that do not come close to offering teams that can even compete at the level, the training is mediocre at best and development is non existent. I don't need to mention these organizations but we all know who the faux AAA teams are locally. I cant even put all the blame on the organizations, the parents get some blame to, they fall for it all to have the extra A for their kid who likey won't go anywhere beyond beer league.

Agree. PPE has like all organizations has its faults. But they also do alot of things very well. If we dissected every program with every youth hockey program no one would want their child to play anywhere is western PA.

Well said. Those who do not want to hear the truth will hate on your for this post and those who know the facts will agree.

All of things you added to the list are accurate as well. I was simply mentioning that certain local organizations declare AAA and are faux and this Is a part of what's hurting pgh hockey in more ways than one. No one can deny that. I'm not suggesting it's the only problem.

I'm not sure what team or teams your referring to ? Sure every organization and BY is different. Vengeance 08s are an example of a legitimate AAA team but that's not to say the 06s are worthy of the AAA status at vengeance. The original point I was making is that places like SHAHA and preds declaring AAA at all/most birth years is absurd and ruining hockey not to mention extorting parents and selling some phony nonsense dream to make them think their kid is AAA.

I don't think 1 win against a legitimate AAA team could make any determination. What would make that determination would be AAA talent on any given team, as well as some consistent track record of beating legitimate AAA teams. Everyone knows 1 win is irrelevant, everyone can get lucky once during a season. Hell I watched a A team scrimmage a AAA and win due to bad reffs and a lucky day ha!

I agree, and the top organization outside of PPE, meaning esmark and vengeance can and have produced a few good real AAA teams. Organization likes preds and SHAHA going independent and claiming they are AAA is what is the real problem and why pgh hockey is becoming watered down and a joke. Preds apparently declared AAA for BY teams from 2013 to whol way up to 18U and none of these teams are AAA and Maybe a few players on those teams are AAA grade players. SHAHA is trying to follow suit and it's just bad. I guess If parents are ok traveling alot and going into debt to say their 13 year plays on a AAA team then they probably need a reality check.

In my experience vegennce can compete at AAA level depending on the birth year, but I would agree not all their BY teams are true AAA.

You make some valid points. But truth is there are faux AAA teams all over pgh. No one is saying PPE is the only real AAA team, I would add esmark and probably vengeance to the list of real AAA. The problem is organizations like preds and SHAHA adding AAA at various birth years when they don't have the talent and rank well under 40. They play the money game and sell extra A chasing parents a load of shit. It's sad and entertaining all at one's.

They try but depending on the talent they may or may not declare AAA each season.

There is a whole lot of A chasing in Pittsburgh hockey these days. Disappointing to see it all go to shit and local players going to Ohio to escape it all. Big money grab. Pens vengeance and esmark are the only real AAA organizations in the area. Everything else a money grab for desperate parents.

Buddy of mines kid plays for Thunder. He mentioned last week the rink sold but he had no details. I am interested to see if BB bought as well.