Birddog

Not sure where the Rebellion got players from but I can’t see how they udgraded. I am pretty sure Shaha players ended up at MT Lebo and Vengeance predominantly, with NP and Steel City maybe picking up a couple. Seems that the Rebellion lost several players from last years team to a few different teams and some of those were even out of state.

16U Esmark was chosen before Vengeance. The only thing I heard was that they we’re holding a few spots open for imports.

By the looks of things 16AAA and 16AA in Pittsburgh should be a little more competitive with Shaha dropping out at 16 and 18 AAA. Seemed to be a shakeup on most teams at that 16U in the area. 16U AAA Looking like Pens, Esmark and Vengance should be at the upper end. 16U AA should be Mt Lebo, North Pitt and Renegades pushing the upper end of AA.

PPE cannot be happy with their showing this weekend by the looks of things. I would say the gap is closing.

Depends on who the advisor is and if they are actually working in the best interest of the player. A google search of the advisor should be done right away to determine their background. Also they should be able to provide a track record of players that they have worked with. Lots of really poor advisors out there.

I just looked at my hockey and it seems that so far this year shaha has played icemen, Preds and Vengeance already. Do the Pens ever play local AAA teams? I doubt they will.

My understanding is 06 Pens Elite

How are the 07 Independent teams looking at 07? Pens I heard have brought in several kids, but overall lost Moony which is a hit. Esmark brought in many new players but kept core I think. Vengance swapped a player or two with Esmark and added a few SHAHA may have added a couple Icemen I think jury is still out on. Preds added some players Foxes disbanded Allegheny disbanded Who did I leave out? What are you guys hearing? Did anyone get significantly better or worse?

I heard Preds had over 80

How does a team that finished second at Nationals go to not even having a tryout? That seems rather odd. I could understand dropping a few players but can’t imagine that they could not draw players for a team that did so well.

I just heard that Vengance 06 team just folded. Can someone verify that? If so that is going to change the landscape pretty significantly, I also assume if this is true then this is how Esmark is getting a team.

Is Esmark still having open skates? Still by invite only?

I saw Esmark named their 07 coach Chris “Sluggo” Stern. https://www.esmarkstars.com/news_article/show/1218529 I thought he was tied into Pens heavily Seems to be an interesting move for Esmark, are they going to now have a parent coach? If so, that’s a pretty strong statement about what’s going on at Pens. Why isn’t Yuri going to do it? They do not really have a 16U team.

I found it interesting that 3 western PA teams found their way into the finals at Silversticks this weekend.

https://www.facebook.com/100022757365011/posts/857556058346298/. Dont know if you guys can open this. Looks like TK is going to be involved.

I have watched several games and have gotten to see various applications of the contact rule from one rink to the next. I have to say that I am disappointed with this new rule. So now we move the puck at the last second and draw a penalty. What a great tactic. So now we don't hit at all and just watch shake and bake and kids now back to skating with their heads down, because good luck knocking them off the puck. All I have seen from these new rules is a lot of sloppy hockey and no skill development. Refs are watching the blue line so close they miss half of what's going on out there. Checking is now basically a free for all away from the puck, because no one is watching that.

Sounds like I will stay off the mailing list!!!

Does anyone know the actual dates for the PHA Iceman Tryouts? All I can find is a February announcement for week of May 17th. Most organizations I can find it on their website.

With tryouts in full swing, what is everyone seeing? I have heard that many people think numbers are down overall. Seems that some people are signed up, but are not attending as well. I have been to 3 different rinks and each place I heard the same thing.

The Vengeance will have an 07 team this year. Esmark usually doesn’t work til Midgets. The exception was the 03 team which left the Renegades for Esmark at some point. Was it Bantams? I'm guessing then that the Vengance with just be the SCIR team that played independent this year. Funny that they did not play in PAHL, but were Tier 2. Would have been nice to see them and SHAHA face off against each other.

I know tryouts will not be happening soon, but I figured it's just as good of time as any to look through the options. And while doing that I am a little puzzled with options for the 07 players. It seems that the Vengance have a team for every birth year except 07. Esmark also does not have an 07 birth year team. But yet they had an 06 team last year. It just seems there are a lot less options overall for this birth year.

Will there be an Esmark Team? I saw the tryouts up to 06. But nothing for 07. Since the Renegades did not play PAHL this year will they become Vengance for next year? I would think the Pens Black folding would help bolster a few other teams. Just wondering which teams will start to load up on players because as we all know many of these kids will start dropping hockey over the next 2 years. Just wondering if any of these teams will remain relevant.

Agreed!!

Based on preseason post. It seems that there were some surprises and some not so suprises in the final rankings. Altoona looked strong in preseason but the regular season did not go so well for them. Allegheny took a revamped team and challenged for the title, but seemed to struggle as the season continued. Shaha caught fire and never looked back. Indiana and the Huskies appeared to be outsiders to start the year but looked competitive for the most part. Would like to hear thought or ideas on how things ended where they did.

Has anyone used Sport International Hockey Acadamy? I just came across them and they look ok, but I cannot find much info about them.