Questions21

I can agree with CORRECTIONS, that is a better way to say those things. They are plenty of kids at PPE that play other sports. Soccer, Lacrosse, Basketball, Baseball all year, Roller/Dek hockey and even school ice teams. The agreement is more that you don't choose the other activity over PPE. And it is not about putting any kids down really, never said the 08 was horrible, just said there were better choices at the time. To be top 5 in this area is amazing and the PPE could say they have the top 4 08 goalies in the area and yes the 08 Elite definitely have 1 of the top goalie in the USA or Canada easily. That kid is an kid amazing on and off the ice. HOOMIE makes a good point also with development, if they are so high on the training they provide then why do they have to brings kids in from out of town/country for the older teams instead of the kids that have been there for years. Dazed and confused and you sir are correct with the best 07 playing up and that kid is something to watch if anyone ever gets a chance. There are YouTube videos also if you don't. See. Him in some summer leagues, very nice kid also. Rico I agree with you also Squirt and PeeWees are just break away hockey, and it has a lot to do with USA hockey not allowing teams to teach a system. That is why Canadians teams are more advanced at those ages.

The only thing that held the 07 player back was his temper on the ice, but best yes and if it is not a big deal then why argue the point. The 08 goalie playing up was in the right place at the right time, definitely is 3rd or 4th in the 08 birth year. There is nothing wrong with 3rd or 4th best in the birth year, but there is definitely 1 or 2 that the 07's should/could be using. And yes he made the Brick team and just like at every tryout he was the worst goalie and he proved that by being the worst goalie at the Brick tournament. Money buys your kid happiness but doesn't make him look good. On the having a couple teams ranked, that is awesome for how small Pittsburgh is. But if some parents put their differences aside, these teams could be really good and could even possibly have 1 or 2 in the top 10 and even 1 near the top. The only reason the 08's are a big deal is because they will not play the other team and even went as far to put them in a different division last season for their host tournament so they could avoid them. If it really did not matter until Bantom there would not be a ranking system at the 10u and 12u age.

Just looked it up, looks like 09, 08 then it jumps to 04. So 07's would be s.o.l.

The 07 Elite is meh, they lost their best player from last year when they fired the coach (his son). They can't find a good 07 goalie and the #1 is an 08 who may be the 3rd or 4th best in the 08 birth year. The 07 Black is just ?. The 08 Elite says they have had trouble scheduling teams to play because the teams they scheduled outside the top 100 canceled on them and they have 3 teams scheduled that their black team has played and either beat, tied or kept close in a loss. And the top 08 teams don't want anything to do with the 08 Elite because they don't want to waste their time so they are in a limbo unless they go to a tournament. Plus the 08 Elite had a decent turnover from last season as they lost a goalie, a player from the top line (injury) and 2 defenseman. The 08 Black is doing pretty decent for themselves with the addition of a few players. The 09 Elite is small and has no goaltending, but they are at least trying to put themselves out there to play games by traveling as much as possible since home ice is so hard to come by. The 09 Black is trying hard and getting some wins here and there. To also say about the Vengeance, if those kids would go up to UPMC or the Pens would try and get some of those kids, they would have some solid 07, 08 and 09 Elite and Black teams or vice versa. The addition of A's to some of the other local teams just dilutes the pool.

No idea, someone on here pointed out that the dad was removed and said it was a Jets coach. You can go on the Pens Elite website and see that half the staff for that team is Jets parents.

The Jets head coach was supposedly just the team manager but there were 2 or 3 other daddy coaches on that team. It is very sad that someone who spent so much time and money on this would jeopardize their kids future so young.

He actually is having trouble with the growth in his knee and it is putting him in a lot of pain and he has to wear a brace to walk.

The 07 Black did in fact tie NP PW #1 and lost to NP PW #2. Those teams are mixed. The 07 Black also lost to the 08 Elite team. The 08 Elite actually won the 07 showcase that the 07 Black hosted last year.

A squirt player had a season ending injury, he nor his father were suspended. He is a very good kid.

I agree with you, it just seemed like there was so much going on already this time last year.

Nothing new yet with the Pen Elite? Besides a few kids that didn't try out and get to walk right on teams.