Jack Handey

Some truth there but kids also get better developing against like skilled kids. I think Yuri is good but not for an incoming squirt. Yuri is all business which can be a bit much for a 9 year old.

Reg what's your solution for the teams that destroy every other AA team but aren't PPE and Esmark?

I can't help but read your posts in the voice of Mark Madden.

Mt Lebo beating everyone 7 to 1 isn't good for PAHL AA, and isn't good for Mt. Lebo's kids.

Some examples as of late: Icemen 2002 -started in PAHL as Butler Valley and North Pittsburgh -switched to independent AA for 2nd year peewee, finished in top 10 in Tier II for 3 straight years. -went AAA at 15u. Vengeance 2004 - started in PAHL as Steel City Ice Renegades -won PAHL 12u AA playoffs as first year peewees -switched to independent AA for 2nd year peewee -went AAA for bantam. Mt Lebanon 2004 - started in PAHL - 20-0-0 in PAHL 2nd year peewee - stayed in PAHL and went 20-0-0 again in PAHL 2nd year bantam. Outscored opponents 7-1. - went AAA at 15u. Predators 2005 - formed as independent AA team for 2nd year peewee; ranked 3rd in tier II. -went AAA for bantam. SHAHA 2006 - on the same path as Preds 05.

You have valid points and I largely agree, but some of the teams you call out are untouchable in the local scene. Perhaps they are the Allegheny 93s of their day.

In case you were wondering why the ratings were not updated, MHR posted this: Updated MYHockey Rankings Holiday Schedule! The next two weekly ranking updates are planned to fall on Christmas Day and New Years Day. In order to allow our small team to be able to enjoy the holidays with their families, the MYHockey team is making a slight adjustment to the rankings schedule this holiday season. MHR's modified holiday schedule will dispose of the scheduled Wednesday updates on Christmas Day (12/25) and New Years Day (1/1) rankings updates. We repeat, MHR will NOT release rankings on Wednesday morning the next two weeks. Instead, MHR will release a single holiday ranking update on Tuesday, December 31th. The December 31st update will include the previous two weeks of games results (12/19 to 12/31). The ranking's update schedule will return to normal the following week with the next rankings' update being released on Wednesday, January 8th. The MYHockey team wishes you safe travels this holiday season. Enjoy your time with family and close friends! Happy Holidays from your friends at MYHockey Rankings!

Saw 18u Esmark defeat 18u Pens Elite. Twice. Was that expected?

Moon hockey should enact some discipline. Even if they don't call their own foul, for sure the rink will.

That makes more sense.

@twoboys will let us know since she watches a lot of peewee hockey.

The purpose of the tournament was to showcase PAHL AA talent. PAHL bought in to this in part to showcase itself, i.e., to give families and players another reason to stay in the league and not go independent. So this selection is surprising.

AAA and independent teams - well it's no surprise. The coach is chasing ratings and career goals downstream. AA and below - Please share which orgs do this?

Yeah, they used to run one on their own. See https://www.ahabadgers.com/news_article/show/565555 . I guess it's gone now. Can't blame them though. Tournament planning is a ton of work and stress, especially over major holidays.

North Hills Vipers used to run one. The link on their page is not working for me otherwise I'd post it. Find more at their home page at https://www.pittsburghvipers.com/ I think Allegheny Badgers used to run one too but I don't see it on their web site. PAHL also has a tournaments page. Here is November's edition: https://www.pahockey.com/nov2019 Pens Elite has a girls only tournament going on. https://www.pittsburghpenguinselite.com/page/show/2134307-thanksgiving

@lferg can you do the same for 18u 16u 14u to see if it is consistently off? Does PAHL get it right or "righter" as the kids get older? You might struggle at 14u with what to do with AA Minor teams and where they should fit among the other divisions. AA Minor is such a bad idea and maybe lferg can show it.

Maybe it would help to understand that the scores in MHR are entered not by an official source like a league or tournament organizer, but by registered volunteers. Most of the manipulators will register as a volunteer so they can add their data to the system.

1. Reporting only those scores that boost your rating. 2.a. Willfully omitting scores that lower your rating. 2.b. (Corollary to 2.a.) Showing up to play in a different jersey or under a different name so that the outcome cannot be recorded against you. 3. Disputing scores that lower your rating so that they are removed from your record. 4. Reporting games where the roster is significantly different. 5. Recording forfeits as real games. 6. Scheduling games against teams with a rating of more than +7 over yours. These are the most common. Yes, the opposing team can make a claim against all of these, but most people don't know enough about MHR to do that.

It's also true that some people who know about MHR will manipulate ratings.

It looks like the A Major Gold division needs some more data for this to be valid.

He who owneth the ice maketh the rules.

I would just play local. Save $$$$ and making a local team won't be an issue either. A lot of kids are doing this.

Wow, who was the author of that?

what's the word at Belmont?

Most weeknight ice and weekend ice is booked between amateur and high school teams. Private lessons are sometimes available immediately after school or before school. In the East, look up Next Level hockey (Delmont), Puckmasters (Harmarville), Grant Springer, and Pittsburgh Hockey Academy (Mike Fritz and Dean Whittingham) at Frozen Pond.