howard1

Hey all, 

Is anyone used a hockey advisor either currently or in the past? Anyone you would recommend? If this topic has been discussed prior I apologize

Have most of the u18 rosters been set at this point?

Thanks for the info guys/gals

As a side note to this thread, would anyone happen to have a contact email for the scir u18AA coach? If so can u send me a DM?

Meanwhile numbers at Esmark and Vengeance U18 where 40+

Do u have to sign up for these pre skates? I don’t see it on their website.

1 hour ago, Danner27 said:

Where is that ? Just curious. I agree with skating, teams and coaches don’t matter much at squirts, skating & having fun is important at that age. 

My son didnt play AAA at squirts.  In fact he didnt move up to that level until bantam. My point to the OP is if you want to become a better defenseman, you need to work on skating first, then shooting as u get stronger then small area games. Skating lesson can be taken as a squirt i dont think that is a stretch. As far as small area games, kids love it, at least the kids i have been around. They love the competition and seem to enjoy while getting a lot out of it, even at squirts.

look i agree with you all that you dont need to be AAA as a squirt to be a “stud”,later on. However, working on the fundamentals i listed above and becoming good at them is a recipe for sucess whether you are a B, A, or AA player.

Enough to get him where he is today.

Skating, Skating, Skating.  My son plays tier 1 midget and the best thing he did was work to be the best and strongest skater when he was younger. When he started getting stronger he worked hours a day on his shot, and home and at stick time.  Lastly, small area games 1v1 2v2 puck possession and protection. Just my opinion, this is what worked for my son

Let’s say bantam or midget age and location is not an issue.

OK, I this is a loaded question but i am very interested in opinions. Hypothetical - I just moved back to the Pittsburgh area and i have a son who wants to continue playing hockey.  I am looking for the best 2 or 3 programs (tier 2) in the  area that can accomplish one goal: provide the best opportunity for my player to develop on and off the ice to give them an honest shot of playing at higher levels in the future (B player moving up to A, or A player moving up to AA).  What 2 or 3 programs in the Pittsburgh area provide this?

Yeah, so the problem i see is with the older age teams...u16 and u18. There are kids that may have been AA the year before, worked there butt off in the gym, on ice clinics, sticktime not to mention they may have hit a growth spurt who will conceivably not have a chance to at least compete for a roster spot. We are told its about developing at your own pace and to put in the hard work to get the results you want. I guess not this year.

if the atlantic amateur hockey assoc is doing this i bet mid am is not far behind

AAHA announced a couple days ago that they are allowing Tier 1 programs to start offering player contracts starting June 1st.  Some programs saying if there are any unfilled roster spot on respective tier 1 teams after initial player contracts given out then there may be a tryout later to complete rosters.

Hershey u10AA beat North Pitt wildcats 3-2 in OT

I assume he is talking about the Vengeance not having midget teams

There are 2 Lehigh Valley team, black and orange. Black team is the better team. I am surprised they are ranked #11

Yep, I think they were playing philly blazers that game when the sticks went flying

I know that one of the teams we played were the viper stars and that were at the lower end of their standings.  I don’t recall the other team, it wasn’t, shaha, maybe arctic foxes?  

It is set up to showcase top 3 teams at AA level between pahl and dvhl. My experience is dvhl fields top 3 AA teams per standing but pahl did not. Last year my sons team was one of 3 top teams at u14AA in dvhl. Only one of the 3 pahl teams was top 3 the other 2 were not and got blown out.  Mt lebanon AA was legit and won the whole thing.

DVHL takes top 3 teams in divisions. They wait until season is 3/4 done. My son plays in dvhl and this is how it was done the past couple years anyway

I don’t have a kid playing Tier 1, how does the usphl stack up to previously mentioned leagues?

I agree, been going to TK clinics for the past 2 weeks and my son is getting a good skate.

Sadday4hockey, Do you know why the off ice turmoil?  Coaching? Player personalities?

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. I am looking at TK and rmu.  On TKs website it says his skills clinics are for up to bantam ages, not midget. My son is a first year midget, any other midget age kids go to him?

Any rink east of Pittsburgh would be best but not really picky.