forbin

Well if you want the truth I grew up playing in Minnesota. Would have went pro if I wasn't for a cheap shot to my knee. Now I'm an alcoholic lawyer who coaches peewee. I also don't stand in the corner. I like to be right by the bench so I can berate my kid for going offside.

No, the purpose was to share a story that people in general will do stupid/stressful things for their kids to be given the best chance at success (or for other selfish reasons). Another point to this post was to simply share a story that some may have found assuming in a thread where other posters were talking about the stress of different associations, and one poster mentioned the old ways of dividing players up by geographical regions. I also in no way compared WPA to MN. If you're just out to bash every post I make now that I brought to light your insecurities about your prior employer then have fun buddy, I'm not going anywhere as i actually live in WPA, unlike yourself. You're just mad I didn't reference USA hockey in my post. Sorry, I will remember to do so next time, you miserable piece of shit.

While I tend to agree with that statement I will mention this little story you may find interesting/assuming. My lifelong friend lives in Minnesota with his wife and 3 boys (13,10, 8). As I am sure you are aware, MN divides their associations into districts based on where you live and your kids can ONLY play for those teams within your district. The high school teams use the local associations as feeder leagues for their JV and Varsity teams. My friends 13 year old was approached by the head coach of a high school with a VERY good hockey program in the Minneapolis area. Only problem was that they lived about an hour and half away in a completely different part of the state. After several talks with the coaches and some handshake deals, he decided to move into an area completely out of his budget and go from a 4 bedroom home to a 2 bedroom apartment, and commute to work the almost two hours each way so his kid could play for this schools varsity team. Stupid? Kind of. Stressful? Hell yes. Worth it? I guess time will tell. I hope I don't derail this thread too much, but I always get a kick out of things like this.

I'm not going to argue with you about this as I am just small brained, complicit sycophant of low intelligence. I'll just force my kid to play soccer or football where nothing bad ever happens at all in those governing organizations. I guess I should change my username to The Jester as I am but a clown.

Serious question for you King: Can you make ONE single post without either subtly or overtly referencing USA Hockey? You were obviously involved with them at some point, probably on a large scale and they have done you wrong. I get it. Everyone gets it. Drop it. Our kids play hockey in the united states and USA hockey runs the show. Every organization has bad apples from churches to schools to businesses to non profits. It's all a shit show. Start a thread about USA Hockey if you want to talk about it. It's not needed in EVERY SINGLE thread on this (and other) hockey forums.

None of these rules make any sense. How many Michigan players and parents will make the choice go play in Chicago this season because of these stupid regulations? I'd be willing to be A LOT of U14-U18 AAA kids and parents are willing to make the drive. Especially if they are on the west side of the state.

Interested in watching this. When do you expect it to be finished? I grew up playing when checking was introduced at the peewee level. Being a little guy (until I shot up at 15) I "got my bell rang" way too many times to count. However, I think the advancements in gear and the emphasis on teaching these kids how to do it properly has made a difference. You're never going to be able to get over the gap of kids being different sizes unless its segregated based on height and weight which is completely absurd. I had the opportunity to watch a 10U game in MN this past season. It was part of the Minnesota Made Choice Hockey Super Checking league where they teach checking at the squirt level. I'll be honest....it worked. Now, obviously my observation on this was only based on a single 45 minute game, but the kids seemed better prepared to take the hit and there wasn't any instance of a kid charging or violently checking. It was more reserved. Maybe teaching it at younger age resonates with them better than it does with a pre-teen with hormones flowing through them. I am 100% against pushing back the checking age to 16U or 18U. I think that would be the most damaging thing this sport could do.

I don't care if my kid has to be a home dresser, I have to wear a mask, social distance from the other parents, and leave the rink immediately after for the rest of season, we will do whatever we have to so he can play. I am positive I am not the only parent that feels this way as well. However,I don't see these restrictions lasting very long and I sure as hell don't see this train slowing down or stopping now. Speaking on a youth sports level as well as a country as a whole.

In terms of NHL fan base sense you are correct. Pittsburgh is a fair weather fan town. No question about it. I would estimate 70% of the Pens fan base today is made up of unintelligent homers who latched on when Crosby brought the cup to town. But can you blame them for that? In terms of youth hockey, the Pittsburgh area has come a long way in popularity from when I played as a kid in the 90's. Hell, I was part of a high schools' inaugural season and it took A LOT of convincing to the school board to allow the sport be even be added as a club at the time. As a kid when I told people I played hockey they didn't even realize my suburb had an ice rink. The only place to get equipment was Play it Again and Perani's. Much different scene today. A "hockey town" like cities in MN, MI, or MA? No, not even close.

Playing devils advocate here, and hoping for some interesting comments... Why not make a Western PA AAA hockey league? 6-8 organizations with only one team for each birth year 12U to 18U. They all play each other 2-4 times a season plus their normal travel and tournament schedule. Essentially a glorified "PAHL AAA" Maybe then PAHL will have less teams at each age group, making those teams more competitive, also opening up some ice slots.

I will say that you are completely right about it being the parents that care about the extra A. I've even seen it so far at the mite level which is absurd! Although I will also say that if the 10U AA teams practiced more nights a week than the B teams did, I would prefer my son have a good try out and make the AA team as there's nothing else he'd rather do than be on the ice. Obviously as he gets older that may change, but I can totally see the parental influence in forcing the AAA issue. I always chuckle when I see little Johnny carry his AAA team bag into the rink followed by John Sr. and Karen fully decked out in their AAA team garb with their chests puffed out and nose in the air. Obviously this is a generalization and I am only stating it to ruffle some feathers. I have had many conversations with AAA parents who are great people and realize the BS that comes with the territory. I am all for more avenues for players to play the game, but it has without a doubt watered down the talent pool at the local level. Maybe there needs to be more focus on skill development at younger ages?

Prepping them for Prep school! Makes about as much sense as PPE's new *not associated with any school* Prep team. Haven't you heard about the new Pittsburgh Super Selects High Performance Elite Prospect Prep 6U Mite team?

I don't see that happening, considering their slogan is "We are more than just ice!". Someone needs to buy that land next to Top Golf in Bridgeville right off 79 and put a 2-3 sheet arena there.

In theory couldn't most organizations hold tryouts even as late as June/July and still keep there normally scheduled August practice start times? Yes, this wouldn't be ideal, and I know there are teams that practice and/or play in tournaments over the summer but at least it wouldn't derail next season completely. I am still optimistic that the real big threat and impact of this will be a thing of the past come May or so.

I am hopeful that they resume the regular season the first week of April and playoffs starting in early May. Maybe this will give the Pens time to get their shit together and get Guentzel back. A blessing in disguise?

This information can be found on the associations websites. The PAHL website lists them all as links, so you can easily navigate to each one. Most PAHL teams are roughly the same amount per season +/- a couple hundred dollars. It also depends on the age and level of play.

That was not MY post, i just chimed in and was simply commenting on the fact that in this very thread about the Iceman U16 team looking for players, there was an argument about them looking for players..... Basic reading comprehension really seems to be lacking on this board.

You would have realized that if you had actually read through this thread before commenting.

Yes, this makes ZERO sense whatsoever. If it's not affiliated with a school, then what exactly is the difference between the new "Prep" team and the current 18U team? Funny how their practice times will line up perfectly with the Excel program....hmmm... what a crazy coincidence huh?! Furthermore - Do people REALLY think that the team will consist of kids who don't attend the NC/Excel program? Not happening. Mueller and the powers that be will handpick their favorite Excel kids to fill the roster. Maybe one or two slip in on the 4th line to save face but that's it.

Without derailing this thread even more lets just use this as an example: A 17yr old kid living within commuting distance to Shadyside, no need for the boarding option. Tuition cost would be around $30k. (Probably closer to $23k with financial aid, maybe even less but lets not factor that in at all). 6 practices a week and school provided transportation to away games. Take that same kid and do the PPE/NC/Excel model. $17k for North Catholic and Excel Program plus an additional roughly $7k for PPE 18U and the cost of travel. I'd estimate that comes out to approximately $28 -30k total. Now back to shit talking Mt. Lebo...

I can't knock people who choose the prep school route because honestly if I had the means and my son had the desire and talent to go I would do it in a heartbeat. I've never looked at the numbers, but I'd have to assume its roughly the same cost wise as playing for PPE and doing the NC/Excel program. And doesn't Shadyside practice everyday and have a team bus for away games? Sounds okay to me.

I have this mental image that @fafa fohi and @The King are the same bi-polar person arguing with himself.

Obviously. What I'm asking is why would it hinder the development of a 9 year old to play with all 9 year olds in Pittsburgh, but not hinder his development if he lived in Toronto? Other than the broad skill level of all of the kids, what is the difference?