Jack Handey

Been on both sides.  The explanation we got (years ago as parents) was that they are prepping the kids to understand how things work at Varsity, and Varsity doesn't roll lines. Seemed reasonable to me.  For our kids - they were mostly unaffected, got regular playing time, except one.  After a season of getting shorted, that one lost interest in school hockey.  Not our preference, but allowed for other interests to develop, and potentially saved us some bucks.

Also, most of the JV coaches make up the pool of prospects for when there is a Varsity vacancy.  So they have an incentive to perform.

It's a little more.  like if you win regional, you still get to participate in a national event.  Most tournaments and showcases don't have that kind of opportunity.  but i do agree the prestige is dwindling.

17 hours ago, TourneyGuy said:

They are playing in our ATC Presidents Day Tournament.

how nice of NA to give them a weekend off

2 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

Does this not pose a conflict with those players that play on amateur teams?

Yes for sure.  See the 18u Foxes team where all the NA kids play - hardly any games reported outside of PAHL.  

1 hour ago, Saucey said:

The independent teams have really decimated the level of play in AA.

Due to low participation numbers, most competent 05s Pittsburgh kids have made the jump to Pittsburgh AAA.  @Danner27 there are probably more first year midgets (06s) in 16uAA than 05s.  Doesn't excuse sloppiness, lack of breakout, etc. but you are watching mostly younger kids.  I'd say PAHL should just make a class AAA division, but ...

2 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

January 22 - Piit vs Duquesne

We'll call it the 71D Hamilton Rivalry game.  Teams can even share the same PAT bus.  Convenient.

23 hours ago, Pucks11 said:

If it was the '10 team that may be true. A lot of those parents are getting ready to walk because of the coach. 

I totally took this as a reference to the Renegades 2010 team.

22 hours ago, carroll81 said:

Trade deadline. 

That's funny.  Is there a salary cap too?

I think N.A. has a real chance this year.

On 12/23/2021 at 9:09 AM, Danner27 said:

Yes & No

Yes he does semi-privates in the mornings at Baierl before school.

What will be real interesting is if they put his photo up in the locker room hallways with all the other Hornets success stories.  Congrats to Ty and Marc.

1A 2A 3A is determined by geography and hockey-engagement within geography, and isn't indicative of the quality of a team.  Example: last year 16u Tier II Ashburn Xtreme.  MHR RANK: #1.   Yes that says #1.  At the top of Tier II.  USA Hockey placed them in tier 2A for nationals.  Obviously they could have hung with any of the 3A crowd.

keep up the good work.  keep on keepin' on!

1 hour ago, forbin said:

Maybe if Pittsburgh had a NAHL or USHL team with their own barn it would make for a perfectly sized venue to host High School state finals..... 

Yeah that's been on the Penguins radar for awhile.  Looks like lots of unused property north of UPMC Lemieux for a bigger venue.  It might happen some day.

12 minutes ago, Pa Hockey said:

Absolutely and could be better if they chose to which is my point !

well they are pouring money into Hunt Armory.  Does that count?

Just now, Pa Hockey said:

Very well Thank You !

I am glad to hear it.  You put a lot of effort into it.  But your last report was that you were around 200.  You say there are 100 HS programs so you are averaging 2 per program.  That's not enough interest to build the movement you want to see.

7 minutes ago, Pa Hockey said:

Without the Penguins UPMC Lemieux never happens ?

Right but building UPMC Lemieux is pretty self-serving.  Us first, tax deductions second, community third.  And by community, I mean only elite portion of the community.  You know, the Pens and Friends.  So again, very self-serving in many ways.

2 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

My question is why not Pennsylvania?

well how are book sales doing?  that there might tell you why not. 

Minnesota hockey is such a different animal.

14 minutes ago, Saucey said:

 I feel like they rode the wave, rather than built it.

Yes, very opportunistic approach.  How much input did Baierl have on moving the game?

14 hours ago, Rock Hard-Pride said:

Rock Hard Pride

Is that your porn hub handle? 

This is a thread for positive experiences and identifying good guys.  Take your remarks to your own thread please.

2 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

How about PIttsburgh Hockey Digest

Yes, they do a fantastic job for our kids.  Nice guys too.

Bob Arturo was a great guy and was very pleasant to work with years ago.  He had a very tough job at times especially trying to run the Nutcracker tournament with all of us entitled parents giving him an earful about the placement of our superstars.  It's too bad he retired but I guess everyone hits that point in life.  I imagine it's both hard to walk away but in some ways gratifying that you don't have to deal with certain parents any more.

In the Armstrong thread, some local Pittsburgh hockey vets have been blasted and labeled everything under the sun - terrible, corrupt, incompetent, yadda yadda yadda.

I'm so tired of the negative.  You are too.

So please name one local hockey guy who does good job, or has done a good job.  There hast to be one.  Go ahead and call them out here.  Who are they and what do you or did you admire about what they did?

1 hour ago, Danner27 said:

I thought he had to step down due to conflict ?

I recall that.  Right after he became part owner.  Which was the right thing to do, right?  I don't think Jim would have put up with this BS in his rink.