Icebucket

37 minutes ago, sadday4hockey said:

Based upon the picture above it looks like it will be spectator's nightmare to find a good spot or two?

Hopefully something is in the works to improve that.

That upper runway is actually nice as it looks directly down at the rink, but there's no seating so it's only good for those who want to stand the whole game.

I saw on the huskies site they had one of those fancy black bear flyers for their teams and it listed that they are pushing for birth year teams at every major age. Think they have an actual chance to field AA teams from bottom up?

I don't at all think having a paid coach automatically makes it better at all. There are plenty of good coaches out there who happen to have kids playing. Why not help out your own kids team if that's an option?

My initial comment was more aiming at how some of the local AA teams have significantly better coaches than the paid coaches on many of the faux AAA teams.

33 minutes ago, HockeyFan6687 said:

What is the intended goal of this when there will be mid to low level A players on it with little experience?   It’s really a shame these days that these “experts” are taking advantage of families that really have no clue what they are really getting into and for the ridiculous expense.  The hockey system is broken.  Integrity is sacrificed for $$$$.  

It really is wild.

However. I've noticed a recent trend of better coaches landing with AA PAHL teams. Right now people are still opting for that extra A and some always will, but I'm hopeful that people will start to notice that a handful of AA programs actually have higher level coaching than the faux AAA programs.

1 hour ago, aaaahockey said:

Was a little shocked to be honest. 

I actually give them a lot of credit. How many other local "AAA" options would have just fielded a very weak team to collect that AAA cash

38 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said:

So is their final tryout for tonight cancelled!  Anyone know why they folded?  

I'd assume they will still hold the tryout tonight.  Never know what can happen.  I think the top couple SHAHA players are leaving and it's causing the rest to scramble a bit.  I don't have any kids at the u18 level though so this is all second hand info

1 hour ago, hockeyisgreat said:

Is that because they are trying to keep up with PPE?  Rumor has it the really good 06AAA team at SHAHA is folding.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Esmark try to get a few of those really good kids, even though their tryouts are over and team was picked.  Brutal time of the year!  Tryout season is the worst!

Yea last I heard those players were going to vengeance.

I actually think it's quite the opposite. He's done a great job and that shouldn't go unnoticed. But people always feel the need to justify poor decisions of the local player. He messed up and should be held accountable just like any other player from any other city.

The argument of he's only 18-19 shouldn't even be a factor. He's well beyond the level of needing to know the situation and to be able to control himself.

1 hour ago, Pa Hockey said:

Great Story and he's not Logan Cooley (who his team beat) but may end up playing with him on the Coyotes at some point 

And he can thank Cooley for giving the game away when he gets to Arizona. What a terrible, terrible, childish penalty in such a big situation.

Just be honest and talk with organization 1. Most clubs are willing to help out to some degree.

But I will also say, it probably doesn't matter much to have kids playing for two different clubs. Unless they are the same age and capable of playing on the same team, there's not much of a benefit to having both with the same club. At most, you'd save a small amount of money if you are in a club who offers a discount for multiple players from one family.

7 hours ago, Carl Racki said:

Esmark, tryouts on Easter Sunday????? Enough said about the organization.  

I was thinking the same thing. That's nuts 

46 minutes ago, nemesis8679 said:

What I think would help a ton is if there were a few more in-house leagues. This gives kids that aren't as serious or just want to have fun or something to do the option of teams to play on, without the commitment of travel hockey. As it is now, they end up in PAHL. Where some of them (or their families) don't really want to travel anywhere, and really aren't interested in playing competitive games. Some don't want to come to practice. Or have more interests than hockey. So what happens? They commit to travel teams because they're interested just enough to want to play, but not enough to work hard. So teams get watered down. 

Also fewer "AA" teams (you could say "AAA", too). You have so many AA teams, that most of them have a couple actual AA players and are filled out with A Major players. A Major then ends up having some A Major players, and filling out with A Minor players. Not sure there's a solution to this one though, not when bragging rights of an extra A and money are involved. 

 

 

It's all just a trickle down. Half the AA kids play "AAA", then half the A major players get bumped to AA as a result 

Guess I'll wait for someone to post the players number and team here.

3 hours ago, BLC said:

So what makes you pick 28 over 18 for PT? Especially if you say "just compare sometimes" Comparing stats you would have to go with 18

If you watch them play, it's clear 28 is the guy. 18 is very good as well, just tough when you are limiting it to 6 across all schools.

Just speculating here, but hard to believe 28 doesn't land in the USHL or NAHL next season. 18 will probably return to peters and likely be in the stellar 6 next season.

8 hours ago, Mysonisagoalie said:

Not about this season but I see the Tier 2 U-18 national championship is in Delmont in 2024.

Damn that's a shame. Always hear about some of the great venues teams travel to for nationals, and these players will wrap up their youth careers at delmont.

5 hours ago, carroll81 said:

Put another way...

AAA is open boundary schools (i.e. private and parochial schools where students do not have to live in a specific area to attend)

AA and A are public schools districts where you have to live in the school district and attend the public school.  The split between AA and A is based on male student enrollment, just like the PIAA uses. 

Would be interesting to look at the numbers to see where some of the Western PA schools would fall if they were in the east.  I'd think a handful of AAA schools here would land in single A over there.

40 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said:

How many are at large bids?  Which 2 didn't make it?

I'm no PPE fan, but I'd say the at large bids they got this year were all justified.

9 minutes ago, Stackthepads said:

Partially correct icechumpket-

Nobody would cheat by billeting kids, who are obviously billeting for aaa hockey, just so they can play HS hockey.  But why would they not be upset about a group of kids not being able to compete for their school?  It’s about the kids.  Kids play sports to compete.  That’s why parents were upset- kids were robbed of their right to compete.  Talk about not letting it go…

I was simply trying to point out how people are quick to jump on the "nobody cares about HS hockey theme". HS hockey isn't an overly high level here, but the kids still care a ton (even the AAA ones). If you watched any of the hockey over the past 2 days it's pretty apparent that the AAA guys were out there to play and not just going through the motions.

Some of the parents here are pretty damn funny.

The defense by the Montour parents was that noone cares enough to cheat in HS hockey. Then they were outraged when they didn't get to compete for something "they didn't care about".

Armstrong parent runs their mouth about how great winning the pens cup will be. Then backtracks after losing saying that noone cares about pens cup and all that matters is states.

6 minutes ago, champeen said:

I'm not currently married to a particular part of town.  Ideally, would rather be closer TO the city -- Alpha, RMU. South Hills.... as opposed to Southpointe, Baierl, etc.

 

I'd probably rule out alpha as it's not any closer to the city than baierl or southpointe.

There are lots of options in the south. You never know from year to year, but on a general basis I'd say you are more likely to run into crazy parents at the preds than with shaha or mt lebanon. Foxes would be a good option north of the city.

37 minutes ago, 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.

Do you have a general area you are looking to move to? That would help narrow down the options right away

On 3/14/2023 at 10:54 AM, fafa fohi said:

Peters looked pretty dominant against NA last night and neither of their top scorers had a single point.  It shows the depth this team has and I would not be surprised if they repeat as state champs.  

I agree.  Pretty wild to think their Head Coach fired for "poor performance".  Then was rehired and won states, and is now in a decent position to do it again.

37 minutes ago, Carl Racki said:

Told you so, and no I have no affiliation with USC.  Saw a couple of their games and when they have all their players they are a very good team.  Goaltending would be my question mark for USC.  If they have all their players and great goaltending, it should be a good game.

I haven't seen much of USC this year, but just checked out the numbers from the regular season. Looks like they might not need all their players, just the right 3 players.

2 hours ago, zam said:

I'd imagine if they own multiple rinks in a region and ice utilization drops they will consolidate all the teams and programs into other rinks and shut one down.  They won't sell it to someone else to compete with them as an ice rink. It will become a Christian church or a YMCA like the last couple rinks in the area that couldn't find a buyer.

AAU is the work around for fielding full ice mite teams.  The programs that compete as sanctioned USA Hockey teams aren't going to compete full ice. They will spin off a separate program that roster AAU.  And they will claim no affiliation.  They are the Pittsburgh Icemen when they compete at USA hockey events, and they have a separate Pittsburgh Snowmen jersey for when they compete Full ice mite.  (Before you all go look for Tryout dates for the Snowmen, it's not a real thing, just an example) lol

 

 

I 100% think the icemen should just rebrand as the snowmen. Love the idea haha

-Snowbucket

8 hours ago, CranjisMcBasketball said:

I read a comment elsewhere they turned in by a disgruntled parent on the own team?  Not sure if anyone here has heard more. 

No idea if there is any truth to this.

But if true it's pretty wild that Montour cheats and all the parents do everything they can to defend it. McCort cheats and gets away with it, just to have their own parents turn them in.