forbin

Are these people seriously driving the 4hr plus round trip from Pittsburgh to Cleveland 2-3 times a week for Barons practices? That seems insane to me

Can 100% confirm this happens even at the younger age groups (10U). We were approached about my son and asked to come to team practices starting in Feb and talk with the coaches. We really liked what we saw and my son felt super comfortable. Coaches said he a great tryout and made the team. I don't see a problem with this, because we are on the "winning" side of the situation this time. Now the kid who had his spot taken because of my son, I'm sure his parents hate me.

Why is every thread turning into a pissing match lately? I feel like we are back in the days of The King ? @Pucks11and @hockeydadlife I'm all for debate and heated discussion, but lets keep it civil and leave peoples spouses out of the conversation, ok?

Is this the WBS Knights team?

unless you're PPE....

This is the understatement of the year. The problems start from the top down. Good luck to those younger teams this season, they may have some talented kids, but it's my understanding that some of those teams don't even have coaches yet....

Apparently just a different logo and more money?.... which is a shame.

I have without a doubt seen Viper Stars teams placed in PAHL A divisions, so just because they are a AA program doesn't mean they will be automatically placed in AA.

So you were specifically looking for A Major it sounds. Isn't that decision made based on PAHL placement games and not at the time of tryouts? How was it determined that the next team available to your son would be A Minor without playing any games? I'm not trying to belittle your decision to change organizations at all, I'm just wondering why you think it was predetermined as it sounds you do.

Curious as to why you word it as being "forced" into AA Stars?

So now PPE has dad coaches?!?

Did they bring in kids from other states to fill these spots?

The 2011 birthyear IS rather deep with talent all things considered. Does it warrant 5-6 "AAA" teams in this area? No, of course not, but that's not stopping people from doing it.

Wouldn’t ya know…

Wouldn’t be surprised if PPE tweets about their former player they cut turned BK kid making the roster…..

I do really like this idea, however I think you are severally overestimating the popularity of high school hockey in Western PA. Maybe things could change with the right people involved. Bottom line is there is zero advertising done for this and its a damn shame. The Penguins should be responsible for doing a better job at getting the word out regardless of the venue. If it were to be held at PPG, then they should provide free tickets to all students of all schools involved, as well as free tickets to all players and families of local PAHL organizations that share a rink with those high school teams. Maybe then you have 5-6k people showing up, maybe.

Hess Ice Rink in Newcastle, PA. It was a terrible rink before, pretty nice now. Locker rooms are some of the best around actually in my opinion. Biggest negative is there is only one small bleacher area so you just have to stand along the glass.

No argument there but aside from myself and probably a handful of others, the crowd was 99% students/parents. There's not enough to fill the lower bowl that way. PIHL and the Penguins do absolutely no advertising for these playoffs and its a shame. Hell, they can't even sell out the lower bowl for the NCAA tournament that RMU used to host. We just aren't a hockey town in the sense that random fans with no affiliation to either team will come watch a game like they do in some other parts of the country of Canada. It is what it is, and I think the players enjoy playing to a loud house in Cranberry more than they would playing at PPG.

Great idea in theory, but I don't see them selling out the lower bowl. The atmosphere of the completely packed house in Cranberry is really cool to see. It was SO loud in there for the Norwin/McDowell game.

3 out of 4 ain’t bad!

Tons of Barons on that list. How does that work logistically for these kids? Billets? Or tons of miles on the family SUV?

NOPE. Not gonna allow that to happen. Lets keep this forum to hockey content only please!

You'd have to think that Alpha is next on their list. Especially given that the Vengeance play in the USPHL and their Tier 1 league just combined with them. It makes sense all around. Alpha could use some updates as well...

Both videos taken from LiveBarn. Looks pretty cut and dry to me... Penalty.mp4 Goal.mp4

Yes the are. And an 06 NB team.