sadday4hockey

43 minutes ago, whatever said:

maybe Pittsburgh will get a USHL team someday

This isn't happening. The guy who had the best chance at making this happen has moved along. I tried to find the old thread but did not have success but about 12-15 months ago there were people on here crowing about another sheet of ice at UPMC and they were "in the know" that a USHL team was assured.

Not a shovel-full of dirt has been dug.

The USHL has the perfect model, keep it small enough to prevent it from being watered down and they will remain the best Jr League in the world.

You have 20 posts.

That website appears to have been updated with far more data than it's ever had and most looks to have been added in well...... the last 30 days.

Maybe that's a testament to this site for people have been pleading for this for years.

Why not supply that information to the original poster over the last 3 weeks?

Girls hockey in Pittsburgh and the District is in a far worse place than boys if you can believe that.

One of the issues is this, the PPE program with their magical powers are somehow able to field not just one, but two "Tier 1" teams at both 12U and 10U.

Yet as the players get older, no one else in Western PA is allowed to field a Tier 1 Girls program by declaration of the MidAm district.

So by logic, there aren't enough of these players being developed properly to continue at the Tier 1 level past 12U..................................................... ORRRRRRRRRR

There are some 12U and 10U families that have been sold a large dose of Kool-aid for their 4 years in the program.

That's called equity. If one goes, they all should be invited so as not to make anyone feel inferior.

The desire to have better officiating in my belief is shared across many groups and that includes the Referees themselves and the scheduling partners. Despite what many believe, it's hard to imagine that anyone actually chooses to be screamed at by making bad calls intentionally.

However, this latest discussion highlights where the real issue lies. Who can help when there is a legitimate problem with specific individuals. The answer should be simple right? The affiliate governing body, or in our case the MidAm District.

Here is the website for the MidAm district which has no less than 46 current positions. That's right 46. And they include 9 separate DEI positions. 9 of them.

https://www.midamhockey.com/page/show/5022993-board-contacts

How many people are there to deal with any referee issues? One. That's right, one person for six states but yet some states need multiple DEI personnel? That's basically saying that on any given weekend there is a 9 times more likely chance that there will be a DEI issue as opposed to an officiating issue? Give us a break.

You want better officiating? Look no further than this group and when the Annual District meeting happens this spring, tell your association President to speak up on matters such as these.

The remnants of La Cosa Nostra leave a lot to be desired.

On 2/24/2024 at 4:07 PM, whatever said:

its small size and limited ability to upgrade it were factors in RMU deciding to eliminate the hockey programs after the 2020-21 season.

Yeah, this may have played a part but the ultimate decision was made by an overzealous egomaniac named Chris Howard looking to fast track himself.

Right, it's called asking for consistency which is a fair ask.

Is she the same person who did the whole story on Chico Adrahtas?

That story played out over decades and yet Jim Smith is still a part of USA hockey.

Good for the Ministry of Sport in Canada. Government so often f's things up but they knew how to hit Hockey Canada - right in the wallet. And what do you know, they reopened the investigation.

2 hours ago, Spear and Magic Helmet said:

Meadville was once one of the best AAA schools in this area, then in the 2010s, they were relegated to the co-op division when they couldn't field a pure team anymore.

Before my time but there are many questions about the purity of those teams back then.

3 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

NP and RMU have the best youth development programs in the area, hands down.

Not sure I agree with this. They both definitely have the most participants but they also both do a lot of cattle-herding as they push the limits of too many players on the ice which can limit reps and stunt improvement.

I'll guess Mt Lebo

7 hours ago, Pa Hockey said:

So if you're a 7 / 8 Def or 13-16 Forward on Pitt, IUP, RMU or other local ACHA Power pay attention and you can go someplace like SRU and get a good education and play for this once up and coming ACHA Dynamo

Soooo........ now people should leave their school of choice (presumably for the academics) so they can be a top 9 forward or top 6 d on a different club team?

I thought they were student athletes which means academics as priority 1.

If this was football and they were athlete students - different story.

I don't think it's a single solution problem, what they meant was they got out in front very quickly to minimize the issues. As is always the case, hockey folks and Pittsburgh folks are usually quite formidable when it comes to helping out neighbors in need.

A handful?

More like a metric ton one would think over the course of 4 weeks.

Tomlin sucks, but Western PA is a strong hockey area.

Pittsburgh Youth hockey is a lot like Mike Tomlin, the rest of the country thinks we have a pretty good thing here while the locals all think it sucks.

If you do a deep dive into the CCM results, I think you would find a lot of what should be deemed as successful weekends. Especially when we have so many "faux" AAA teams whom water down the AA. Like that doesn't happen anywhere else in the country except Western PA.

Good thing they decided to play the season out.

Unrealistic expectations begat unexpected results and therefore parental disappointment, but hey keep making the excuses (# of skaters) for them as that will definitely teach them life lessons.

24 minutes ago, NOSHObender said:

picked up another international goalie as well.

Of course they did. That school is the destination for all of Yuri's recruits.

You seem surprised.

That in and of itself is surprising.

I'll start the festivities.

Icemen 18U "AAA"

Currently tied for 15th in the Mid-Am District Tier 2 rankings.

20 hours ago, fafa fohi said:

Bank on it.

I'd like to bank against it. 15 games under would require a 2-17-1 record.

What's the limit and what's the vig? Standard 10%?

I get both 2nd teams, right? Put me down for a 1100 to win a dime.