Puck01

In AAA nobody will touch Peters. They have at least 10 AAA players more than 1/2 are high level AAA. They are murdering teams. The only way they lose going forward is if they miss a Thursday/Friday game for AAA weekend games. They play NA tonight which are temporarily in 1st in the division & PT will destroy them.

PPE & Esmark will get you more looks along with a better chance to be drafted to a junior team agreed. That said getting drafted doesn't mean anything. I have seen multiple high drafts be totally embarrassed because they were drafted because of the high ranked team or Dad played D-1 with connections. There is over 100 Tier 3 junior teams & any above average PIHL player can make a Tier 3 team. Games are over in juniors & it doesn't matter who you know. If your good enough, you move up in Tier when the League above says you're ready. If You're not good enough Mommy & Daddies excuses will not help you. You can either play your Tier 3 career out until your 20 or pack it in. Just in USA not counting Canada there are almost 160 T3 - T1 junior teams. Each Tier there is a noticeable speed & skill difference. A special place where opinions don't matter only your skill.

PPE 06 beat Barons this weekend 3-0 & 4-2. Anyone seen the games a bit surprising Barons beat them last year 4 or 5 times to 0!

Following PIHL after a couple weeks & it looks like a couple of surprises. 3A looks like Central Catholic, USC & Erie CP are the 3 top teams. 2A looks like South Fayette, Armstrong & GL are the top 3. 1A Montour, North Hills & possibly North Catholic. Open looks Like Ringold, BC & Neshannock. I am sure things will change as season progresses. PIHL is now streaming the games with Burg hockey & Tenbandtv with announcers. I think this was a good move. Should give better exposure to PIHL. AAA hockey is great, but it is sad to see kids not play PIHL with his buddies show case the talent to his district when 99% will never play juniors or higher. I think parents should entertain this unless you have a legit shot at playing a higher level. PIHL seems a lot more competitive & I know the PPE is viewed for the most part in a negative manner on this platform. That said because most local kids do not play PPE seems to benefit PIHL as looks like more are playing PIHL than years past. Any thoughts on players to watch? 24 from Norwin seems impressive was not on PG list.

Just checked it must not have made the website yet there must be a delay from the paper copy to the site. I will try to send the link when it hits site.

Saucey - Not sure how to add a link of it but it's in the post Gazette High School section.

Post Gazette today came out with there initial rankings along with players to watch. Not to many surprises on the rankings. 3A- 2A- 3A- 1.) Peters Township 1.) TJ 1.) Norwin 2.) NA 2.) Armstrong 2.) Fox Chapel 3.) Seneca Valley 3.) Franklin Regional 3.) Montour 4.) Pine Richland 4.) Penn-Trafford 4.) Indiana 5.) USC 5.) Meadville 5.) Moon Players to watch: Mostly seniors.... There was a Peters Township sophomore & (2) Juniors from TJ & Peters Township. I am assuming they do not recognize B Division because number 11 from Ringgold is an absolute beast & he is not on this list. Feel free to verify this but In only 2 seasons & I know it's B hockey still he has played 32 Games & has 89 points. He is like 8th or 9th in Ringgold history in points & is only a junior. He should easy be you scorer after this year. I think he is on that SHAHA 06 team. I cannot imagine any other reason why besides playing in B he was not a player to watch easy one of the top 3 players in the entire PIHL. Other than this I think the rankings & the list are pretty accurate.

I was just reviewing the USHL tournament in Pittsburgh for the 16UAAA. Noticed there are 26 teams but no SHAHA anyone know why they are not included? I would assume the Pens would want revenge? Does PPE organize this or have any say in what teams are invited? At least the Barons are included.

Looking at a couple SHAHA players PIHL Stats. 11 while playing in D Division as a Sophomore had (17) GM - 27G 25A 52 Points, 15 Freshman AAA had (19) GM - 19G 13A 32PTS & 12 AAA who I believe is on that 1st line with 15 & 11 had in Sophomore (19) GM - 12G 17A 29PTS. I know the PIHL is not AAA but these are impressive stats for Freshman & Sophomores. I think 15 made Steller 6. Does anyone know if any other Freshman made Stellar 6? As for the PPE 18 / SHAHA 15 it is close & nothing against 15 but PPE 18 is clearly better. It's not hype at all. That kid has skated more than he has walked since he was born!

PPE #18 is an absolute nightmare for any team he is the #2 2007 in USA/Canada. Game #1 Friday Tabia it looked was trying to match #15 line up with PPE #18 but had a hard time with the home last change. I think PPE #18 & SHAHA #15 both had about 2 or 3 primary assists. At Bethel SHAHA #15 line matching up against PPE #18 was the difference. SHAHA 2nd line had both goals. Not only did SHAHA win you could clearly see they have much room to grow as some of the forwards & Defense you could tell were intimidated & that should not happen when they get to MID-AMS. PPE #18 is probably one of the best if not the best hockey players to ever come out of Western PA but I can tell you 15 & 11 on SHAHA are not as far away as what I thought before watching that match up. I would not be shocked if SHAHA starts out top 10 & finish top 20. PPE still should crack top 10 & Barons are in a league of there own.

That's a good one. You base your credibility on spelling I will stick with numbers.

PPE is a good team probably a top 10 team. Once again though they will ride mostly Pittsburgh kids up to 8th grade then 90% will have to go to NC/Excell & pay a fortune or they will get bumped out by an out of state player that will. Again they do not hide it so it's not a surprise. As long as they continue to to get the out of Starters it's not going to change. It's a shame that little respect is given to parent/players/Orgs that the PPE is the only show in town. I have no issues with PPE because they are clear & do not hide there approach & they continue to be top 20. But I also respect & do nothing but support & respect the players that go to the Barons, SHAHA, preds, Vengance. I also respect the PAHL. All hockey players/parents are on a separate Journey. Everyone has there own opinions & those opinions should be respected & debated. The reality is PPE does what they so let's support the kids that have to drive or can't afford PPE/Excell not put them & any other organization that tried to make a birth year or a couple to help these players out. Even if they are not ranked super high at least they are trying. But let's also appreciate the AA/A players also for not being a serious. Allow the kids to enjoy there hockey career no matter what level or team they take. Just think one day they will be old, miserable & arguing about things that 99.9% of the people that will read this don't give a shit about. I would like to respectfully bet Sticktime56 & anyone who wants action on these odds. Let me know who is game. We all have opinions but at the end of the day numbers don't lie. The 06 BY It will go as followed. Cleveland could end up top 3, PPE top 10, Shaha possibly top 20 then big drop Esmark possibly top 60 at best. Not a shot they are all good teams. Take it to the bank this will be the exact order at mid AMS. The good thing about numbers is they turn opinions into facts & provide insight on whos opinions hold the most weight. #1 Cleveland Barons #2 PPE #3 SHAHA #4 Gilmore Then there will be substantial distance #5 Esmark

Definitely not part of the PPE squad. Thought I was clear that I do not believe in there business plan & that players can succeed without PPE. Sure it would be great if PPE could change there system to help develop Pittsburgh kids. I am sure everyone on here would like that. I respect your positions even agree with some, most of them. PPE is very clear on what they are doing & I am sure they see the amount of turnover so it has & probably will not change. It won't change until the owners or the organization change it.

"PPE"- They are a private organization just like the other hockey orgs. At the end of the day they will dictate there terms & conditions & each family can decide weather to play for them or not. Whomever owns PPE has that right. The academy is a requirement for 99% of the players & they do not hide it. I personally respect that even though it's not what I would do. My opinion at the end of the day is meaningless because I do not own the Pens Elite. "PPE being only option" - It's not the only option. Take the 06 most recent birth year Junior draft. The original PPE 06 1st year Squirt team was ranked 4th in the country. There is only one player left in that birth year & he is an 07 that is still with PPE. That original team has 1 player that made the U17 NTDP team, 3 that were drafted by the OHL, 1 drafted by the USHL & 2 drafted by the NCDC. Some kids were cut, some left on there own terms & some were cut unjustly. There is also an 07 that is the only player left & will 100% make the U17 NTDP that is the only player remaining. If you really know any of these 7 players & have seen them play regularly & are objective at all you will agree they all have a chance to play D1 hockey. They made it leaving the pens at some point. I think the current PPE team has about the same amount of draft picks so they also have a good group of kids. "MID AM PPE influence" - PPE has influence for sure. That said they should. Again use the 06 birth year PPE was ranked 1 spot below Cleveland who was 6th. Shaha was the next closest ranked 42. 10 kids made nationals 5 PPE, 3 Barons one a goalie & a BK & Mt St Charles kid. If you understand this birth year & follow it or have a player in it you will know that Cleveland should have had 4 or 5 kids pens 2 or 3 & there is 1 or 2 kids from Shaha & the BK kid for sure. The kid from Cleveland there top scorer who arguably could be considered the top 06 at the MID AMS who was drafted by the USHL & OHL minus the "U17NTDP" was not even picked. All that said be happy for the kids that were picked they are all good players. Only the "U17NTDP" who qualified in another district made it of the former PPE kids that were drafted. "Solution to PPE" * Purchase PPE organization * Play for another organization * Complain about PPE