happygilmore97

They were elite… at screwing organizations and officials over, not paying guys for 6 months plus, lying time after time… pretty elite!

they folded because their director decided to assault an on ice official.

AMEN brotha! The biggest hypocrite to the game of hockey.

To my knowledge and from the sources I have that are involved in scheduling, all games and replies are looked at, however an art goes into it. For example, if ref A1 has 2 games before and a TBA comes out and they put in for it, A1 will be assigned instead of having ref A2 or A3 come up for 1 game. Also, assignors can see what rinks officials are coming from. So for example, if official A2 has a game at rink 1 and will be driving by rink 2 on their way home from their first set of games, then maybe they are more likely to be assigned onto that TBA. Timing of the TBA also has a factor. For example, if an organization schedules a game for tomorrow, a TBA is sent out and more than likely that one is first come, first serve. Lastly, if there is a 10, 12 or low level 14u game, most assignors try to pair up a veteran official with a younger official for developmental reasons. So maybe a veteran official is already assigned that game, if time allows the assignor may wait to see if a younger official is available to pick up that open game. Not everything is perfect, but a lot of thought is put in to it.

The PIHO Monopoly and biggest buddy-buddy officiating system across youth sports finally FALLS! After former PIHO Officiating Director and 'highly decorated' AHL Linesmen assaulted a young official earlier this season by throwing sticks and gloves at him mid-game, his former officiating monopoly has finally collapsed. After all, maybe it just takes officials to speak up for themselves after being shafted by PIHO's unreasonable and outrageous officiating fees that also ripped off hockey organizations across the area. A few things I find hilarious about todays announcement is first, PIHO mentioned their "board of directors voted unanimously to cease operations effective immediately." After speaking with multiple members of the PIHO board (schedulers and admin personnel) they all noted that they were blindsided by tonights announcement ceasing PIHO's operation and noted that they never were involved in any vote. One admin member stated that this was a "fu**ing irresponsible decision made today." This just yet again seems to show PIHO's lack of communication and writing up something to the public to "look good" while blindsiding the people who worked for them. Needless to say, I am ecstatic that PIHO is no more. There are multiple other amazing scheduling personnel throughout the Pittsburgh area. First, local schedulers who schedule single rinks are great, as they build a person to person relationship with officials (normally because there aren't 500+ officials begging to skate at one rink) and are very simple to communicate with. Also, Alpha Ice Complex currently has an officiating scheduling company that runs circles around PIHO. Not only do they have an officiating scheduling service, but they also have multiple contacts to organizations that run tournaments year around (SuperSeries, HockeyTime, MyHockey, USHL, and PIHL just to name a few). Their staff is very personal, easy to work with, and the best part is, you don't have to wait 4-6 months to get your check. They pay officials monthly while not ripping off organizations with middleman scheduling fees and are very transparent with what they are charging said organizations without the hassle of contracts. Last, not only do they offer officiating scheduling, but also EMT and scorekeeper scheduling for events. Basically a 3-in-1 bonus! Today's news is very exciting for the officiating community, as those who knew what was going on with PIHO knows that this means new doors have been opened and new opportunities await. As registration for the upcoming hockey season opens, new officials are ALWAYS encouraged to sign up! Kids, teens and adults! If you are an official and want to join the Alpha Officiating System, be sure to join!

Everywhere that uses independent schedulers to my knowledge is thriving. A big reason for that is because guys do not have to wait 4-6 months for their game checks, like PIHO officials do. Also independent schedulers charge $0-$7 per game to schedule. PIHO is charging organizations around $20+, per game, to schedule. Plus, if that game gets cancelled or rescheduled, they charge another fee. Also, the PIHO motto is a joke. They’re all about providing ‘evaluation’s and advancement.’ However what they don’t tell you is the evaluator is at home sitting on his couch getting paid $75 an hour to watch a LiveBarn video and then after that game he sends the officials an email with an evaluation. The only place their evaluations have gotten local officials is a midnight beer league slot at Lemieux.

Apparently the team he was coaching is not part of PAHL, and they are independent. It’s being looked at by midam and the badgers organization as a whole.

Apparently Roberts stepped down today, earlier than planned, as he was apparently already ‘planning to step down at the end of this season.’ Seems pretty fishy to me, as there’s no context as to why he was planning on stepping down at the end of this season. However he may still be an owner, as he just stepped down as director. This would allow him to continue to over charge organizations with scheduling fees $$$ and still collect a portion of it. Something for organizations to look into for next season. Go back to independent schedulers, or guys who don’t charge an arm and a leg to click a button on a computer and schedule officials.

Correct. He owns PIHO. Emails that have been posted here, and from what other officials have said, Roberts has stepped down as director of PIHO, as he was apparently ‘already planning on stepping down prior to this,’ however there seems to be no clarification if he is still the owner. He may still silently be the owner and still collecting $$$ from the large amounts of scheduling fees they charge.

While I agree with you here 100%, Roberts, a ‘parent coach’ has been an issue for years. Ask any official, and 98% of them will tell you, within 30 seconds of the games he’s coached, there was constant verbal abuse towards those officials. Just another dad coach who wanted a front row seat to the game. However you are absolutely correct. Things seem to be moving along and it is definitely getting looked at by many!

Correct. Hopefully not for much longer however, especially after seeing this. I have heard word that this video has also been sent to the Allegheny Badgers organization, as Roberts and PIHO schedules for them as well.

I was trying to figure that out myself! I’m pretty sure it’s a safesport violation as well.

Seems to fit. Roberts and PIHO have become some of the most classless people in officiating. Ripping off amateur hockey organizations with high scheduling fees and using a buddy-buddy scheduling mindset. 100% guaranteed this kid will never skate for him again, if it’s up to Roberts.

Couldn’t agree more. The kicker here is, Roberts’ company, PIHO, is supposedly focused on development of new officials and helping them out. He did absolutely none of that here.