UtahYeti

While it’s true that a lot of the top kids or 1% can play juniors at this age, it doesn’t mean it’s over for other great players, or even good players. Additionally, some top players take longer to develop due to physical maturity or other uncontrollable circumstances and are playing 18u. Then there’s some top players who are in juniors but don’t see the ice, due to various reasons and at the risk of development or wouldn’t see ice, so the family made the decision to play 18u. There’s so many layers and nuances to the hockey path, that anyone who truly understands the path isn’t giving a one size fits all explanation on the various levels of youth hockey. To put it in perspective, there’s guys being paid to play hockey, in the United States, from the NHL to the ECHL who played 18u hockey. The college ranks are filled with kids who played 18u. None of this is black and white. Most of them are probably better off playing a year of 18u, depending on the situation and if they are physically ready to compete with 20 year old men in a junior league, and also how that aligns with their development. A portion of them will start to climb through the various junior leagues and some end up in the same place as the “best kids”. The “best kids” just had a faster route. There’s a lot of stigma’s and myth stemming from this board and echoing its way throughout rink lobbies in Pittsburgh. It’s a shame. From the debate about AA and AAA hockey, to having to be playing for the Chicago Steel at 17 in order to be considered a good player. Pittsburgh is a relatively new hockey scene, in terms of how popular it’s become in the last two decades, with that comes a lot of parents who are prone to reading these “opinions” and taking it to heart. Regarding the Mooney/Cooley family. John Sr. is a shirt off the back, salt of the earth guy. The kids were fortunate that they were born into a family who knew the path. With this said, they worked for every inch of it. Great people and wish the boys all the best on their path.