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26 minutes ago, PittsburghHockeyFan said:

Prices are out. $4500 for birth year. Seems pretty expensive to play PAHL A Major Gold Hockey.
https://www.scirhockey.org/information/team-cost/

Includes uniforms, independent games and tournament fees too though so actually not too bad considering most others are around $3k with uniforms, independent games and tournaments all being extra. 

14 minutes ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

Jake Coleman

Reading comprehension must not be your thing.

Jake is the 09 coach this year (15O)

Nick has the 10’s (14u) and the 12’s (12u)

Ty has his favorites the 11’s (13u). He had the 09’s as well up until this year. 

2 hours ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

Not all of the AAA coaches are listed as instructors there. So I am pretty sure you are incorrect that all the coaches offer private lessons. The U14 and u13 coaches were not listed there. And I didn’t see the U18 coach there either. I think your statements are false. 

How are my statements false? lol I didn’t say ALL their coaches do lessons and I provided a link to their site. 

9 hours ago, Happy Hockey Fan said:

Do the Preds coaches have access to ice to even do private lessons? It seems to be a big assumption considering that only certain people are approved to offer private lessons at the Ice Castle. I definitely could be wrong, but I have known of a number of kids that have played at the Preds AAA level and they haven’t taken any lessons from coaches at all. I will find out though as I have a friend whose son played for them last year at the 2010 BY.

They offer small group or private lessons every day from like 3-5pm with their AAA coaches. 
www.ichockey.net

5 hours ago, nemesis8679 said:

So when you figure out how Pittsburgh supports the amount of supposed AAA teams it does, while cities with double or triple the population have half as many or less... maybe you'll understand. 

4 hours ago, sadday4hockey said:

Provide some factual data on this please. Not your opinion above, but actual facts with the cities which you believe this happening. And please use actual USA hockey registration data and not the entire population of say Philadelphia.

 

The numbers are actually pretty even. Lets look at Pittsburgh VS Detroit. 16U and 150 Tier 1 specifically from this past season.

Pittsburgh (Western PA):

1,483 registered players aged 15-16

11 total teams with approx 17 players on each (187 total)

That's 12.6% of registered players on AAA teams

Detroit (Michigan):

2,662 registered players aged 15-16

16 total teams with appox 17 players on each (272 total)

That's 10.2% of registered players on AAA teams.

$4k tuition for a PAHL team….yikes

28 minutes ago, Elitedaddy said:

Sure it counts! But there are different perspectives in sport and not one linear path. Lift up all kids and do not insult those who have produced players. 

Not to completely derail this thread, but the Preds are a joke. You mentioned you “spoke to the coaching staff”. That’s great. They will tell you anything you want to hear to get your tryout money and if your kid sucks up to them enough, or your wife is hot and flirtatious, your kid will make the team. However, he won’t see any playing minutes unless you are ponying up and taking weekly private or small group lessons with the coach. Thats a fact. DM me for more info. I know these guys personally and have for many years. Nothing ever changes. Ask some of the 08-12’s who have left because of those exact reasons.

They over promise, under deliver, and over charge you. 

6 minutes ago, Elitedaddy said:

Absolutely! I watched the games and spoke to the staff-we can reconvene here next year! Let me know how many D1 athletes you  have in your home. 

Does being a former one myself count?

57 minutes ago, Elitedaddy said:

For 2010, I signed my son up for the Pittsburgh Predators AAA tryout. They impressed me in mid ams. That tryout is 4/13-4/15

They went 1-2 and were out scored 17-9 and that impressed you? 

2 hours ago, Icebucket said:

It's my understanding that RMU isn't packing the barn. I haven't been to a game this year but I've heard this from multiple people so I'm assuming it's the case.

Is the "seating capacity is holding us back" just something they thought sounded good to help get the grant?

It’s holding them back recruiting wise. Think of how many prospective players would be enticed by brand new ON CAMPUS facilities. Bring in better talent, put a better product on ice, attract more fans. 

34 minutes ago, aaaahockey said:

I'm just curious if they will keep the old sheets open when they switch.  Don't want to lose ice locally. 

I’m sure Black Bear would be very quick to buy the facility and keep it operational.

https://www.scirhockey.org/february-news/
 

1 hour ago, Spear and Magic Helmet said:

What is not clear to me is whether you have to be in the school district to play on the Jr Gold team. I think their school districts are much larger than here, so probably they do not have "co-op" Jr Gold teams. However, it doesn't seem like it is something that is against the rules.

It also sounds like the JV & Varsity teams are funded by the school districts and Jr Gold teams are not.

Yes, you have to live in the school district to play on the Jr Gold teams. They are not funded by the school and are a part of the community based organization. 

Vengeance and Renegades will merge. All other youth orgs are out at Alpha. Vengeance AAA teams will use the red helmets, AA-B teams will use black. Uniforms will be slightly different. 

That is what I have heard from a very reliable source within the Vengeance organization. 

38 minutes ago, Deke715 said:

Puckcovid19

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

In more ways than you can even imagine, my friend!

There are some differences, CJ can skate and Posey got winded tying his. 

Don’t forget about the occasional drive to southpointe for practice too! 

7 hours ago, ice is cold said:

The closest rink to your  house, best cost and a place you feel welcomed... and then reevaluate at u14/u15. 

 

This is the correct answer. Assuming you live in/near cranberry your best options would likely be North Pittsburgh who play out of Baierl, or Yetis who play out of Frozen Pond. Both have good programs.

Wouldn’t hurt to try out for 66ers for his final year of mites if that’s something you’re interested in.

Just understand that as he gets older, hockey is basically like having another full time job that doesn’t pay. It’s a massive time commitment and a huge investment. If your son continues to play at a higher level you will never be home on weekends and most weeknights your dinner time will be 9pm. You will put thousands of miles on your car, spend way too much at the drive through, and alter your families schedule around hockey. As cliche as it is to say, it really is a lifestyle.

Also understand that your son will likely never play professional hockey, or even collegiate hockey, and that if he’s lucky and still loves the game later in life he will get to play beer league at 11pm on a Tuesday. 
It is 100% worth it if you ask me. Just don’t chase the extra A and always make sure it’s your son driving the train. 

I don’t see any commercial construction projects permitted for anything of the sorts in that area using multiple search engines through my work. 

Not saying it’s not happening, but if it is it’s likely very early on in the process. 

Maybe shoot a message to Murray Gunty, as I’m sure he’s involved in some capacity.

On 9/22/2023 at 3:59 PM, sackbear said:

Brand new sheet and some of the lights aren't working. You had all summer to test these things out? Sort of embarrassing if you ask me. That's some exposure! 😉

To be fair I don’t think they touched anything else besides the concrete floor all summer. The boards and glass are the old ones. Then they hit a few obstacles when trying to fill, so it was pushed back a couple of weeks. I do believe they have intentions of replacing the lights, scoreboard, LiveBarn camera, sound system. I have heard all of these will be updated in the coming weeks per a rink worker. The locker rooms were a clusterf*ck for sure. The ice okay. Like I said I think they rushed it, so it’s not ideal. However I do know the SP people are happy to have the extra sheet and the more frequent and longer practice slots. 

50 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said:

Update on PIA and Printscape Ice!   I'm pretty sure PIA was putting ice down over the weekend.  Not sure about Printscape!  No livebarn listed yet!

Must be some delay at Printscape. They have the logos on the concrete but no paint or ice down yet.

1 hour ago, aaaahockey said:

In all honesty I assumed (maybe wrongly) that they would schedule the vast majority of games on the other sheet with bleachers and the bar and this would be a sheet for practices, open skate, figure skating, etc.  Then seating not really an issue? 

I have heard that is exactly what the plan is. Rink 2 will primarily be used as practice ice and additional overflow if needed for games/tournaments and what not. It will only be an ice sheet from Sept-March so they can continue to host other sports and events during the summer months. 

Not the best photo but you can see the concrete is poured and curing. I think it’s been like that for at least a few weeks now, so I’m sure it’s getting close. 

They have the concrete slab poured and it’s curing. I’ve heard everything from ready by second week of august to ready by Labor Day, so not really sure. But they did do a bunch of work on it over the summer and it’s in its final stages. 

From what I can tell it’s full contact traveling beer league? I really don’t understand the draw to that from a player or a fan perspective but to each their own I guess 🤷🏻‍♂️.

4 hours ago, Pucks11 said:

Just call Ice Castle and find out. Everyone is so worried about if this place will have a team or that place will have a team. Just call and ask.

Yeah because the front desk girl will have all the answers. Trying to effectively communicate with someone within the Preds organization is a complete waste of time.