whatever

23 hours ago, Danner27 said:

The player your are speaking about went or the GOJHL to cut his teeth, that is were Johnstown picked him up from. It had nothing to do with the predators. We know the other player that went with him to Canada. 

Yes,  He went from the Predators to the GOJHL. ~ Then to Johnstown. You cannot say his time at the predators had nothing to do with it.  He was cut from both Esmark and Pens.  There is a heck of a lot of players that played at both Esmark and Pens that never moved to juniors at any level.  I bet he's glad his parents didn't read this board and see your comments.  You are misleading people. I do recall this remark from you: If someone thinks playing midget  “AAA” at the predators or icemen is going to get their kid somewhere, I’ve got a bridge to nowhere they can buy and I’ll sell it much cheaper than what the faux AAA club will charge for a season.    

On 4/30/2021 at 2:06 PM, Danner27 said:

I suspect covid had something to to do with the mid am district getting all 3 at large bids. traditionally our district is considered “middle of the pack”. It looks like a few districts may not be represented. 
 

For better or worse, politics & imports (it pains me to say it) - we can all agree PPE is the best tier 1 program in western pa. 90% of the time PPE wins the district at 14,15,16 & 18. Locally, Esmark is the only other real “AAA” option. You folks can see how far that gap truly is now with esmark sneaking into nationals due to covid. 9-2 loss to the NJ Avs (who were rolling lines at the start of the game). PPE is 2-0, esmark 0-2 with the worst goals differential in the tournament. 
 

this should be a lesson to the dreamers paying for FAUX teams such as the predators, icemen & vengeance. You folks are wasting your money, these teams are just mid to low level AA teams. I would be willing to wager the top 3 PAHL AA teams at U18 & U16 would beat the “AAA” teams put out on the ice by the predators and icemen this season. 
 

 

I was thinking Esmark got a bid because their 18 team won districts last year and Nationals were cancelled.    just a side note:  the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL drafted a kid last year from western PA that played his 18U year as a Predator.  I believe he was cut at tryouts from the Pens and Esmark.  Bet he's glad his parents didn't read you comments about how FAUX his team was and a waste of money.  

On 4/18/2021 at 9:59 PM, Danner27 said:

I agree U18 real AAA hockey is better than any tier 3 junior pay to play stuff such as the usphl, na3, wshl etc. regarding the young man at Mt St Charles - that is the top prep school in the states, it’s a much different situation than what we have in western pa. 

yes, I agree it is a rarity but you have to be coming from PPE or ESMARK (in that order). If someone thinks playing midget  “AAA” at the predators or icemen is going to get their kid somewhere, I’ve got a bridge to nowhere they can buy and I’ll sell it much cheaper than what the faux AAA club will charge for a season. 

There is a kid that was drafted by the Tomahawks NAHL team ( and made the active roster) that played for the Pittsburgh Predators at 18U.  He was cut from both Esmark and Pens Elite.  After his 18U team he played juniors for a Canadian team in the OJHL.  

I haven't had kids at local tryouts for a number of years.  But, I remember all to well and wish I knew then what I know now.  My two sense....I'll never forget the year my kid played AAA  - then at the end of the year a ton of kids crossed over from another competitive AAA organization to try out because this one was first.  Two teams were being put together ~ the Gold  (national) and Black team.  After a week of tryouts, my son's current coach pulled him aside and told him he was going to suggest a difficult decision for him.  He was going to put him on the black team.  He felt the black team would give him more ice time and special teams time. He said - if I put you on the first team - you aren't going to get the experience that will benefit you in the long run.  All my sons teammates were going to be on the Gold team. My son had a tough pill to swallow. If memory serves me right it was only him and one or two that were put on the black team.  At the time it was painful.  The coach on the black team was new to me and the organization. Turns out it was the best coach he has had up to this point.  The black team actually beat the Gold team in districts at the end of the year ~ which was amazing.  He continued onto his hockey journey and currently plays in the NAHL.   Do I think parents should get to watch - nope!! Save yourself the aggravation.  We don't always know what is best. We get too emotional.  Let the kids tryout without looking over their shoulders at mom or dad or pap watching every move.  Stop thinking being on the top is always the best. Of all the kids that played on that top team that year - I believe 2 are still playing hockey today.  Life's lessons are learned through the tryout process.  Drive, desire and determination are learned.  What you view as failure may be exactly what your kid needs.   P.S.   Just for clarity - those black teams you all act like are nothing but a rejection, a waste and useless helped build my son. He is still playing hockey today in juniors.  (and one of his teammates on his NAHL team tried out for both top AAA teams in western Pa and was cut.  Made his way to another league and found his way - but that is another story for another day.)  

Find an organization that you can get behind and trust the process.   Let your kids learn about life and be their biggest cheerleader. 

On 9/19/2020 at 10:20 AM, nemesis8679 said:

Maybe directing your anger at the federal government, who has remained unable- but probably more accurately unwilling- to step in and help its citizens who are in a tough spot. Lord knows there's been no problem when corporate America needs financial help. 1200 bucks to get people through six months and counting? That's unacceptable. The shutdowns are what they are, were necessary, and you can't help that. But the response has been severely lacking. 

Read today Allegheny county has had 354 deaths.  66 of those were outside of nursing homes.  1.2 million people in the county and 66 deaths outside of nursing homes but countless livelihoods destroyed because of a governor acting completely on his whim along with an un`elected health secretary.   It didn't need to be this way.   This devastation is a state issue. All states are not equal.  Pa is being screwed by a true dictator. 

On 8/31/2020 at 6:43 PM, 66PensMom24 said:

I am very real and all of your comments further validate why we are so happy at PPE. You all are just jealous your little Johnny’s can make a real hockey team and are stuck playing PAHL. Or should I say, not playing. 

oouuii.   

16 minutes ago, hockeyisgreat said:

You are right and that's probably why I get so mad. I can't figure out what a rink would be liable for if a person thought they got covid there. How could they prove it?  Anyway as you stated people sue for a lot less. Sad world we live in.

I've wondered that as well.  How can anyone prove where they get covid to the extent that a place would be liable? 

12 hours ago, Danner27 said:

I would agree with this statement. Gilmour has really fallen off the past few years though. SSA has really never been taken serious by real junior programs, great academic school.  

By falling off - do you mean from moving on to Juniors?  Last year they had a forward go directly to the USHL and had a commitment to Brown and I saw yesterday their goalie from last year just signed with Waterloo in the USHL. They had a few NAHL draft picks last year and a few this year including a 2cnd round draft pick.  Their social media is full of advancement posts for their prep team players this year.   

On 8/3/2020 at 12:52 PM, sadday4hockey said:

It says SSA is much more to difficult to get accepted into than Gilmour.

How about, if you want to play some form of Junior hockey  - your chances are better if you go to Gilmour

I know a few kids from the area move on to Gilmour in Ohio.  Last year's roster had a nice representation from the area. 

https://www.ohiohockeydigest.com/news_article/show/1114300?fbclid=IwAR36g7tZ-IXZ2Pc5b2WkHLqaH1ccv8jfQ8aKViWiPpk2-yefwXCp5vvDiA8

I was at that Gilmour game.  Top 4 forwards left the game and showered after the first period.  There are a handful of kids from Western , Pa playing at Gilmour  .  

On 9/24/2018 at 1:49 PM, fafa fohi said:

I have noticed some of the Black PPE teams have lost games to PAHL teams - some to team that are not the #1 team from the organization.  I have no skin in the game but if I were one of the parents on a Black team losing to a PAHL team I would not be too happy.  

It is developmental hockey at that age.    It will be interesting to see if after a year of more ice time and on ice training if they have improved over these teams with less practice slots and games.