JohanHedberg1

7 minutes ago, Duster19 said:

Once you mentioned an Icemen team all credibility was lost, haha

https://www.yetisicemen.com/schedule/team_instance/8818786?subseason=871525
 

🤷‍♂️

1 minute ago, ice is cold said:

My bad. Had them backwards  I have not followed pahl for 6 years closely. But this year all I have heard from friends is it is a hit mess with placements. Maybe it's a new system. Lol 

It wasn’t a placement game, just a random scrimmage so it won’t count, but if it’s any indication of the results, then it would make sense 

20 minutes ago, ice is cold said:

So the foxes (group 3) beat the yetis (group 5) 6-1. So may not stick is correct. Foxes may drop or yetis may move up a group depending on the following scrimmages 🤷

No it was the Foxes 09 (Group 3) beat the yetis (group 1)(Icemen team 2) 6-1. 
 

Foxes 09 up to AA and Yetis (Icemen team 2) down to A Major, IMO. 
 

Aviators 09 have a better shot at AA than Johnstown Warriors as well IMO

7 hours ago, YardSale said:

14U group 2 is AA Minor.  The Huskies team is mostly 2010s.  They are eligible for AA Minor due to the number of 2009s on the roster.

The Aviators submitted their 2 2010 teams as 1 and 2, the 2009 team is 3 and in group 3.

The foxes 2009 group largely left.

This won't stick, foxes 09's (division 3) beat yetis (division 1) 6-1 in a scrimmage this weekend. 

20 minutes ago, Hockey00 said:

So are all 09 AAA and AA teams done with tryouts? Is it true icemen is having two AA teams?

Looks like that’s what they posted, dont know if the 2nd team players actually accepted or went elsewhere. Their top team looks solid with a couple AAA add ons. Same with Allegheny. 

4 hours ago, JohanHedberg1 said:

100%, its a new age in youth hockey unfortunately. I think that people are starting to see if you are not in the top 25 to maybe 40-50 tier 1 teams, you are not elite and AA teams can play with and beat you. Its not worth the $$ if you are not in the elite category.

 

Western PA tier 2 may very well be close to as good as the CSDHL this year. There was not a single top 30 team last year for Western PA tier 2. This year in 23/24 we could very well see 3 or more. 

not saying youre wrong but there is 10 "AAA" teams in the Central Region and 9 in Mid AM. Agree that there shouldnt be more than 2 in Pittsburgh but there is 6-7

1 hour ago, RicoFata said:

100% 

PAHL would be just as good as the CSDHL.

Top 25 or so teams are AAA, the rest are high level AA teams with a few AAA players.

100%, its a new age in youth hockey unfortunately. I think that people are starting to see if you are not in the top 25 to maybe 40-50 tier 1 teams, you are not elite and AA teams can play with and beat you. Its not worth the $$ if you are not in the elite category.

Western PA tier 2 may very well be close to as good as the CSDHL this year. There was not a single top 30 team last year for Western PA tier 2. This year in 23/24 we could very well see 3 or more. 

22 hours ago, RicoFata said:

With all the movement (and I'm sure more to come), what are everyone's rankings going into the season at 09 AA with some teams really improving?

Last year's Myhockey rankings at 09

#1 MidState 37-9-6

#2 PHA 40-15-10

#3 Steel City 43-19-2

#4 Allegheny 33-19-5

#5 Viper Stars 33-13-1

#6 North Pitt 22-15-3

#7 Arctic Foxes 19-24-6

#8 South Pitt 20-27-10

#9 Preds 14-29-4

 

I've only seen PHA and they looked like a juggernaut when I watched them, had some holes but I'm sure they'll pick up some guys after such a successful season.  Going off what the other people have said in this thread for new teams to watch.

 

I'll go with: #1 PHA, #2 Steel City, #3 North Pitt, #4 MidState, #5 Allegheny, #6 South Pitt

 

Probably very wrong, but let's hear what everyone else thinks!

Gotta agree with you here. With everything I’m hearing I’ll go with just one change

#1 PHA, #2 Steel City, #3MidState, #4 North Pitt, #5 Allegheny, #6 South Pitt

2 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

PHA 09 in the wrong category here. They are Tier 1 next year. So with Esmark 09 not happening the Tier 1 09 teams may go something like this:

1. Pens
2. Vengeance
3. Preds (T1HF)
4. SHAHA
5. Icemen (T1HF)

For Tier II 09 AA this is my guess:

1. Mustangs (non PAHL)
2. *SCIR
3. *North Pitt
4. *Rebellion (PAHL & AHF)
5. *Allegheny (PAHL & AHF)
6. Preds
7. SHAHA
8. Lebo
9. Foxes

* - Those four are the top PAHL AA teams, all of them should be very close. Pick or choose the top one. Should be a clear delineation after those four.

If you did slot the Icemen in Tier II, I think they would be in the #3 spot. PHA isn't the only team picking up AAA cuts. So is North Pitt, SCIR, and Rebellion. AA teams are getting a lot better at the top next year.

Says on PHA website that they are going Tier 2 this last season at 09, then making the jump to tier 1 at 15UAAA. But they are also claiming and promoting that they are in the T1HF. T1HF claims they are only letting in tier 1 teams this season, but maybe allowing them to join with their future intentions, or due to the rest of their organization participating in it. Would be real strange if they promoted it everywhere and then weren't in it this season. Guess we will see. 

Sound like it is going to be a great year of AA hockey with a lot of teams in the top 30 from Western PA for Tier 2...

2 hours ago, RJUSHL said:

I agree that it's important to have some information out there. Some people will walk into a situation expecting one thing and end up getting something completely different. Meanwhile the team they thought they were joining all scattered without them knowing. It happens all the time.

I'm most familiar with the 2013s and 2009s so I'll stick to that. And in those years I'm most familiar with teams up and down 79 and even some in the south hills.

2009s have seen more movement than any season for any birth year that I can remember. It will be helpful for parents to understand what is going on.

FOXES 09: I think their 2009 tryouts are over, but they are losing most of their top players to either North Pittsburgh or Rebellion. It's a big organization so I'm sure they filled out an 09 BY team but they will struggle. If someone is a good player that has never quite made a AA team, it may be worth inquiring with the Foxes but I would do it ASAP. This will be one of the easier 2009 AA teams to make. Don't think they've announced a supplemental but I would still inquire.

NORTH PITT 09: 2009 tryouts starting this weekend. They are picking up a lot of the Foxes players and others. I think some AAA kids trying out there as well. If you are expecting to jump in and make that AA team because you've always been AA, you may want to start thinking about another option just in case. This will be a good team.

LEBO 09: Lost 3-4 of their top players to AAA teams. This was an ok team that was top heavy before but not good depth. These losses will change the team. Like Foxes, this will be one of the easier 09 AA teams to make. They are going to have to give spots to kids who have previously never played higher than A Major. Could be a good option for someone who wants to break into a AA team but they won't be a strong team. The long time head coach is now an assistant coach. Not exactly sure of those circumstances. I'm guessing after losing a lot of their top players, they'll have more players explore other AA options this weekend.

REBELLION 09: Solid AA team last year and I haven't heard of any of their top players leaving. I haven't heard of a single person on that team wanting to leave, and I am familiar with some of them. Their strength is their coaching (Shell, Tingle, etc.) and if coaching and structure is a priority, this is the place. Just like many of the Foxes 09 players are looking north to North Pitt, many of them are looking to move to Rebellion as well. AAA cuts from SHAHA and Preds are looking here as well. This team will get a lot better but may not be as hard to make as North Pitt.

PREDS 09 AAA: Big tryout numbers with lots of Pens and Esmark kids. Longtime AAA kids didn't make the team. Most of those cuts being offered spots on their AA team, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest with some better teams with better coaching nearby. Kids are looking at lots of options like Rebellion and Lebo to a lesser extent. Kids that were cut from this AAA team will have a very good chance of making Rebellion or Lebo. I think both of those tryouts are this weekend. Not sure how the Preds AA will do. They were a last place team last year. Depends on if the AAA cuts stay or leave, and it seems like more are leaving. Preds 09 AAA may end up being the second best 09 Tier 1 team in the area. They should be close to Vengeance.

SHAHA 09 AAA: This team made lots of changes and improved. They took some of the Lebo AA players which is nice to see they didn't just favor existing AAA kids because they had an extra letter. Also picked up some Vengeance kids. It will be an improved team. Their AAA cuts seem to be looking at Rebellion and not staying at SHAHA.

Lots of movement already, but even more to come over the next few days and over the weekend. Parents should go into these situations aware of what is happening. But parents should also remember that one team getting weaker could mean an opportunity for their kid.

I think parents should prioritize:

1. Coaching experience
2. Location to their home
3. After those two, consider competitiveness of the team

Coaching is what keeps a team together, helps them improve, and can prevent drama (with parents and kids) even before it starts. Driving distance from your home will make a huge difference in how much your kid loves (or starts to hate) hockey.

We'll see some 09 supplementals next week. Usually those are used for filling in mixed birth year teams, but some desperate AA teams could offer them as well.

Shocker to hear Preds going to be that strong. T1HF can’t be the draw right. League defintely isn’t in the elite category but defintely growing. 

35 minutes ago, RicoFata said:

With all the movement (and I'm sure more to come), what are everyone's rankings going into the season at 09 AA with some teams really improving?

Last year's Myhockey rankings at 09

#1 MidState 37-9-6

#2 PHA 40-15-10

#3 Steel City 43-19-2

#4 Allegheny 33-19-5

#5 Viper Stars 33-13-1

#6 North Pitt 22-15-3

#7 Arctic Foxes 19-24-6

#8 South Pitt 20-27-10

#9 Preds 14-29-4

 

I've only seen PHA and they looked like a juggernaut when I watched them, had some holes but I'm sure they'll pick up some guys after such a successful season.  Going off what the other people have said in this thread for new teams to watch.

 

I'll go with: #1 PHA, #2 Steel City, #3 North Pitt, #4 MidState, #5 Allegheny, #6 South Pitt

 

Probably very wrong, but let's hear what everyone else thinks!

PHA was good and played a good Schedule. Not hearing much about them picking anyone up this year on here, seems to be every other AA team. Aren't they disqualified from tier 2 states for joining the Black Bear AAA T1HF though? They are advertising everywhere that their 09 team is joining it. maybe false advertising?

You would think they are the leader this year if they improved. Mid state has no one to pull from.

On 4/19/2023 at 6:45 AM, RJUSHL said:

With Preds 09 AAA and SHAHA 09 AAA improving and making changes, will be interesting to see if Esmark tries to come in and scoop up their cuts. If so it will be the definition of AA team. Getting the kids who really should be in AA anyways. The other option is for them to pack it in for a year, not field a team, and regroup with a better plan next time around.

I know Esmark advertised practicing in New Ken and Southpointe, but Esmark never even really took the time to explain how that will look. Parents rightfully have questions about that so why not be specific and detailed? And then it comes out that Esmark (across the entire organization) would just have one single ice slot per week at Printscape. So it's really just PIA & Printscape in name only and PIA for 95% of practices and games. Bad job by Esmark being specific and explaining how that would work.

I'm sure other things went into basically their entire 09 AAA team leaving.

Bottom line: Have a plan way ahead of time, be detailed about that plan, communicate that plan, and then tactfully sew up your top kids and get their feedback and thoughts about a month before tryouts. Yes it's a lot of work, but it's not complicated.

A lot of organizations are dismal communicators and I never even have an avenue/method for gathering feedback in order to improve.

Someone said it early in this thread and I think it's true: If you're not getting better you're getting worse.

Some 09 organizations/teams across AA and AAA seem to be getting better: Preds AAA, Rebellion AA, and North Pitt AA. One thing they have in common is they all had a plan and communicated that plan.

Preds 09 AAA announced their move to Black Bear's Tier 1 Hockey Federation. These kids now have a championship to play for and a league that is well structured. They announced this early.

Rebellion 09 AA announced a plan for the season over a month ago. They announced all four coaches (which is a crazy lineup of experience with specific coaches for forwards and defenseman), the fact that they are playing PAHL AA as well as Black Bears AHF league as a showcase team, and even announced what other specific tournaments they are playing like a CCM tournament. All this was announced and communicated early and that inspires confidence that they have it together and have a plan.

North Pitt 09 AA announced Cliff Loya as their coach early on in the process. That is a good get as far as a coach and I'm sure that helped them get the interest they are getting, although I'm not sure if he will travel with the team. Bottom line is they seem to have a plan.

Those three examples are a lot different from the many teams that seem to be taking a step backwards. Have a solid plan and communicate that plan early and often and you will grow/improve/win as an organization or team.

Suprised to hear everyone heading to the Preds for the T1HF... That was a weak league at 09 last year with a lot of the "AA & A" teams actualy at the middle of the pack above a lot of "AAA" teams. Just suprising to me.