oneanddone

If PAHL wants to call their championships Penguin Cups, then they would need to take that up with the Penguins organization. The issue is not with what they are called - it is with being considered basically a separate entity where the players/teams are "less than" the others. I think you missed the point of this not being about PIHL and more about coverage and including all Varsity hockey players in consideration for the accolades that are given. That is why this exchange was directed at Keith Barnes and not PIHL.

Yes - this was the response from Keith Barnes several weeks ago when asked about the Penguin Cup coverage and then my response - then crickets KB- We cover the D2 championship game every year, but D2 schools do not compete for the Penguins Cup and are ineligible for state finals. This was a Penguins Cup playoff preview. That's what makes PIHL co-ops different from WPIAL co-ops. Penguins Cup teams have to be 'pure,' which is the league standard word used and not mine. I know that may not explain it to your satisfaction, but that has been the policy for the 10 years I have written for the Post-Gazette. My response - I am very well aware of how PIHL classifies the teams and what the difference is between a "pure" and co-op team. I am also aware that they won't call the D2 championship a Penguin Cup - that is a story in itself. I guess you missed my point in that nothing is ever covered for D2 teams/players. Have you written anything about a D2 team/player this year? - there are some really good players/teams that get no recognition. Are you aware that a D2 team - Bishop Canevin - will be going to US Hockey High School Nationals for the third year in a row? Last year they made it to the semifinals. And an additional question: will D2 players be considered for the "Stellar 6" or "Player of the Year" that will be published soon, or is that just for "pure" team players even though they all fall under PIHL?

FYI…. The goalies for BC since they became a co-op have not been Canevin students….. so there’s that

So for your reference, here are the rules from PIHL 4) There shall be a “no-cut” policy for all co-op teams. If a report is received and verified of any co-op program cutting or discouraging players from any of their co-op schools, this shall be subject to review and discipline by the Executive Committee. 5) An association meeting the minimum requirement of 12 eligible players from their school/school district shall not be permitted to field a co-op team with any other association unless extenuating circumstances, showing a hardship, etc., are approved by the Executive Committee. a) If an association exceeds twelve (12) players from any one school within the co-op, after being approved as a co- op team, there shall be no discipline until they exceed fourteen (14) players from one school. Upon reaching fifteen (15) players from one school, that co-op team shall be required to declare a pure team for the next season if enough returning players are grade eligible. I know you don’t like the rules, but at no time in the years that BC has been in D2 have they had more than the number of players from Canevin outlined in the rules. If they had, they would have become a pure team. If you would like specific information on where kids go to school feel free to contact the registrar from BC or the school’s Athletic Directors. With the internet these days, it would also be pretty easy to find out where kids go to school.

Perhaps you need to look at the rules for determining a D2 (co-op) team - they are very clear on how this is decided. It is not about having a "full" roster.

FYI - 9 out of 23 players are BC kids, 8 are from Seton and 6 are from KO so not sure where your information is from. This is not enough to make a "pure" team for any of these schools and thus why the co-op continues to exist.

Bishop Canevin represented PIHL D-2 very well at USA Hockey High School Nationals. Made it to the semis and lost against PREP team from Illinois who won the championship. 3 players in the top 15

So not really about the size of the venue, but having back to back championship games in a rink that basically has 1 way in and 1 way out is a nightmare. The first 1,000 people are trying to leave the early game - or if you are the winner, you are hanging around for pics, etc. and the other 1,000 people are trying to get in to watch the next game and it's all happening through basically 1 entrance/exit with a 10/15 minute window - it's a nightmare and the same problem exists at RMU for the semi's. Tensions were running a little high in the stands last night at the change of games and it is probably a recipe for disaster at some point.

Force at more than 12 from the same school, but can go up to 14 depending on certain situations - again, ambiguity! From PIHL playing rules: 5) An association meeting the minimum requirement of 12 eligible players from their school/school district shall not be permitted to field a co-op team with any other association unless 16 extenuating circumstances, showing a hardship, etc., are approved by the Executive Committee. a) If an association exceeds twelve (12) playersfrom any one school within the co-op, after being approved as a coop team, there shall be no discipline until they exceed fourteen (14) players from one school. Upon reaching fifteen (15) players from one school, that co-op team shall be required to declare a pure team for the next season if enough returning players are grade eligible.

12 or more - but sometimes there can be ambiguity there with PIHL - go figure

Yes, and the team/player stats are also lopsided due to the fact that within the groups each team plays all of the teams 2 times and plays 2 of the teams 3 times, and only plays the teams on the other side 1 time during the season.

OLSH, Seton LaSalle and Keystone Oaks

Bishop Canevin has been a Co-op (B Division) for the previous 2 seasons as well.

Announcement coming at 10 a.m. today and this is what my representative had to say: Tomorrow there will be announcement regarding increased capacity for indoor and outdoor sports. There has been a lot of compromise on the issue but I’m sure that hockey players/parents will be satisfied. This issue has been time consuming but a very worthwhile result in my opinion. The kids are able to play and parents will be there as they should be