zam

What do you mean by "smothered"?  I am assuming you mean overwhelmed?

Is there such thing as too much skill training?  That's how the game is played these days, skating, skill, speed. 

2 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

Is it just me or does anyone else miss the regular PIHL rankings from @Pa Hockey posted on a regular basis?  I enjoy them, it gives us something to talk about.  Is dude still sore at PB over the ad policy because we have only had one post from the man.

Bro - let it go and let bygones be bygones.  We gots to have updated rankings!!!!!

Peace and love.

Lots of experts in this forum, is PA Hockey the only one qualified to put out a Ranking? I'd like to see some others take a stab... Put your money where your mouth is. 

On 10/29/2024 at 10:44 PM, aaaahockey said:

Peters sinking fast.  Lost to South Fayette tonight.  

That's why they play the games.

45 minutes ago, Icebucket said:

This year they did an even split for A based on where teams fell in their formula. 1 is gold, 2 and 3 blue, 4 and 5 gold, etc...

It seems like they did actually get a pretty even split, but it was kind of dumb luck. The formula is a mess as it has McDowell, North Hills, and Meadville slated as the top 3 teams. 

The PIHL formula should come with the disclaimer "past performance is not indicative of future results" 

For example, McDowell had 5 wins last year but were originally slated to be moved to AA this year, they are currently mid in A.

More often than not the teams getting moved up just completed a multi year run of success. Graduated a number of those successful players, then are punished by being moved up a division. Then suffer a year or two of being a bottom feeder, before getting moved back down.

The formula should be used as part of the decision making, but so should the roster, and the success of their JV and MS teams. 

Hypothetically, maybe an undefeated team returning most of their players who adds a 9th grader that led MS in scoring would be a better candidate to move up than a team that graduates it's top players and a successful goalie being replaced by a goalie that had a 70% save percentage at JV. 

Add a "common sense" component to that formula.

You really nailed that Canevin ranking!

Kudos!

Atleast half the teams in A would have a hard time beating a decent JV squad.  

You could put your top 5 AA teams, and 5 A teams in one division, and it would be some really competitive games. 

Does anyone else think this black bear group is going to end with the same result as legacy global sports?? They were trying to corner the market on all the youth sports teams and tournaments. Buying everything up, partnerships, South Kent Selects Academy all within a couple years then...

Poof, Gone! Kids without teams, parents owed lots of money. They can blame COVID, but the trickle down of their failures was huge, and effected multiple sports and many businesses.

Cliff Notes version:

There are a lot of players trying to play division 1 college hockey.  There are not that many D1 hockey teams. Within the next couple of years it is possible that the NCAA will grant college eligibility to former Canadian Hockey League players. Those players may or may not be interested in playing American College hockey. If they are interested, there will be even more players trying to play D1 hockey. Therefore it will be even more difficult to get a D1 college scholarship, because Math.

Also:  If you are playing low level juniors, especially if you are paying for it, you are just wasting your time and money.  On the plus side D3 hockey should improve. And possibly a couple more schools might add D1 programs.

Did I miss anything?

Looks like a D2 school knocked off a team from AA, (recently AAA). I didn't think D2 was real hockey, it was just a bunch of kids padding their stats, can someone confirm?

So Vengeance has 2 AA teams at 16u, (I'm assuming a 08 team and an 09 team?) And do they additionally still have AAA teams at 08 and 09? 

32 minutes ago, Icebucket said:

The games are usually more competitive than you'd expect. The better AAA teams play bubble guys to see which JV players are more ready. That being said, a AAA team always wins. Seems like either PR or NA win it almost every year  

Maybe that is now the case, but I can recall some Montour games a few years ago against AAA teams that were like 10-0 and 15-3.  And honestly the games didn't even feel that close.

1 hour ago, dazedandconfused said:

They've taken 24 teams for the St Margaret's Event. This means the event is going to drag out over the course of 3 separate weeks unless they decide to play on Labor Day night or a Friday night.

Wonder if the Preds teams realize they won't have any ice for 2 weeks? Maybe they'll get a rebate.

And most games will be about as competitive as Non Conference Big 10 football games. 

11 hours ago, Hockey00 said:

any truth to vengeance having an 09AAA team with A Major Goalie and mostly Icemen 09 second team from last year that was A Major Black 

It appears they have three goalies. They must be expecting to get a lot of action if their players are all Icemen cast offs. 

Can anybody explain to me how a 5 win Erie McDowell team moves up to AA?

Don't tell me "Competitive Formula" or 3rd highest enrollment in the PIHL. Did anybody use their brain on this one??

They had a total of 5 wins against the 3 worst teams in the division, smoked by everyone else, graduate 7 seniors.

What am I missing?

I haven't watched any of the actual games but I was at the local tryout a few years ago. I could tell within 15 minutes that the level of play wasn't going to be very good.  With dozens of spring teams and summer tournaments, it's just not anything special. The idea of it is a good one, and it sounds like it was good long ago. 

22 hours ago, Icebucket said:

I don't think it's asking all that much for them to take care of their rodent problem. Especially when they are charging around 500 an hour for ice.

It would be great if the Vengeance started throwing toy rats on the ice after a victory. 

5 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

According to parents, there's like a dozen teams' worth of AAA players.

Lucky if there are 12 AAA players per birth year in the Pittsburgh Area 

9 minutes ago, aaaahockey said:

I didn't see anything on the midam website as to who the evaluators were.  I know the website is awful so that could be part of why I missed it but definitely didn't and still dont see it.  

You are correct I dont believe they list any evaluators by name.  I suppose for transparency they could list the guys who would be doing the evaluation, but might be for the best that they don't.  Id imagine there would be parents sending them stats, video clips, envelopes of money, etc. 

Maybe the system is corrupt, coaches choosing their own players and friends, that's why i was intersted in your opinion.

7 hours ago, aaaahockey said:

Any documentation to back this up?

I'm not sure what you are looking for as documentation. It is basically what is stated on the USA Hockey and Midam websites.

I am interested in what your opposing viewpoint might be though. Are they people without a hockey background choosing the players with the fanciest gloves and helmets? 

I believe the evaluators are current and former coaches and other officials from USA hockey. 

They are evaluating talent, skill, performance, the same type criteria as any tryout for any team in any sport.  Looking to see who they think would form a competitive team for international competition. 

Probably the best way to handle it is to mind your own business. Let him raise his kids the way he sees fit.  I don't know why everyone is concerned about how much hockey someone plays. If he gets burnt out or loses interest, so be it. 

5 hours ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

First off it isn’t my kid. That wasn’t in the cards for my kids. They just played because they enjoyed the game. I am curious because someone I know got an invite. I am hoping that it is a real opportunity just for his sake. 

Please let us know if that someone you know goes and how they fare! Care to share what age and level they play? Just curious

12 hours ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

I know that there are a lot of NAHL camps to go along with the USHL camps. Can anyone tell me if an invitation only camp for an NAHL team means that an invited player may have an opportunity to make said team. Is it still a long shot? And does an invite mean you have gotten someone’s attention? Or is it just another money grab? 

Has anyone from your players current organization/level ever went on to play in the NAHL??  If not then Money grab. 

Icemen/Preds for example never had a player in the NAHL as far as I know. Esmark a few, PPE a few more,  And if you're PAHL AA, you probably need to be the best player in the league to be considered. So use that as a general guide. 

Another way to think about it. There are 2 or 3 Pittsburgh area kids on the national development team. There are maybe 5 Pittsburgh area kids in the USHL. And maybe 5 to 10 Pittsburgh area kids in the NAHL. This consist of kids 16-21 years old.  So is your player in the top 15 or 20 Pittsburgh area kids, not just in his birth year, but birth years 2009-2005??? 

If he's somewhere close to that then give it a try. Maybe you get a look or invite to NA3 team or NCDC team. 

8 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

also coached Carrick good choice 

I didn't think D2 was real hockey. Lol

40 minutes ago, Saucey said:

At this age, one of the best things you can do with them that will cost you next to nothing is to....play with them at home. I am convinced that my boy developed some great hands because he was obsessed with....knee hockey. Whoever he could get to play with him, he played. Sounds silly , but those little light balls can move pretty fast. It helped his reflexes. That, driveway play....we get so focused on the skills training, lessons, etc that we miss the development that happens with unstructured play. And quite frankly, if they aren't pursuing the sport on their own time in some way, whether physically or watching it somehow, that gives you a big clue that you shouldn't be dumping a lot of money there.

Agree with most of those thoughts. However, the one thing you're going to fall behind on is skating.  It's hard to make up for lost time there. Kids that grew up in our neighborhood and only played deck hockey, they had great hands, they had above average shots, they struggled to make their school's Middle School team.  One took classes and private lessons. But became frustrated and gave up hockey.