HockeyDad23

I see. I assumed if you made a AAA team or in this case PPE the evaluators determined you are better than others that tried out. We know a few kids that tried out with my son that are top notch players but they did not make it. We will never know how they measured up with the 30 kids on PPE last year. I would assume it wouldbe tough for a player to be on PPE one year and then not make it. Wonder if any didnt.

What do tou guys mean “beyond their means?”

Hahahaha dunno I am lost. It didnt matter to me. If my son was good enough he would have taken a yellow helmet players spot. He didnt, and we will work to improve. But some parents that get worked up, especially with the conspiracy theorists about the favoritism and politics in sports, may see that all kids trying out with yellow helmets made it and the 15 without yellow helmets did not. Not a big deal but just an image thing. But honestly if the evaluators are judging on skill and not who made the program last year it shouldn't matter.

Ok

Yeah. Probably not a super big deal if the evaluators are being objective. But it looks bad and frankly we are all human. If I was an independent evaluator I see the yellow helmet, Im like “this kid has been here before.”

There were a total of 5 goalies. 4 from last year and 1 random. The 4 made it according to the website and the 5th kid is an alternate. No change. I personally did not see a big mix up if at all. In total last year there were 9 kids of 8 coaches on Elite and Black that played that made it again. So thats 9 spots already fill out of a possible 30. And being coaches kids they probably are very advanced players. My study of the numbers and what I know from friends that tried out is little to zero new kids made it that were not in the program. No a “shake up” by any means. My only feedback or negative experience is when there are tryouts you are told not to wear PaHL stickers etc to avoid bias. Well every PPE kid from last year that tried out had on a yellow Dicks helmet with their stickers. You can tell who has been there. Other than that it is a tightly run ship!

Totally. And for 3 sessions with PPE coaches was worth the money

Well our PPE journey for this year has come to an end. I think it was a good learning experience. Was an eventful 3 days. My son was in a group with a lot of elite (elite not black) kids from last year (over 1/3). We assumed that might be a good thing as the coach said they were re grouping based on similiar skill level. But turns out it wasn't. So not sure how groups were set up. I originally started this post looking for advice so now I can give some if parents are considering PPE tryouts. Know the following: -be sure you can handle the truth - my kid is not ready for AAA hockey -is your family reasy for the committment if you do make it - financially committed and time -be sure your kid is mentally tough to handle disappointment is rejected -know your hands are tied during tryouts. You cannot see it happening so therefore cant provide feedback to your kid on areas to improve-this will make you feel helpless as a parent -know at this age there is a ton of hockey left. This is not the end. Good luck to any parents and kids that try out.

Nope. And tryouts are closed so cant even tell.

Thanks to everyone for your guidance. My son ended up convincing us to try out for ppe. After 2 days of tryouts in alphabetical order they are now broken in to group 1 and 2 according to skill level. About 23 vs 28 in numbers. So we shall see what happens after day 3.

Can anyone recommend any camps over the summer for like a week where our kids can stay? I saw folks post Kent State and Penn state. Anything under 2 hours away? We want to crawl in to being away from home. thanks.????

Hahaha well apparently if I paid people or had friends in high places. Cheers

Makes sense.

This is all very overwhelming. Also seems very expensive for kids under 14. I am curious what the driver is? Fun, play at high level, possiblity the kids goes on to bigger things? What are stats on kids “making it?”

My first time on this forum was my first post. Secondly, my kids dont play AAA hockey. Frankly I dont think what I have learned here that play does speak for itself. Sounds like a lot of politics and parents living vicariously through their kids hoping they make it to the NHL at age 9. I can totally tell as a “newb” you are one that makes your kids do drills in your basement and yell and scream at the games. Chill fella. Life is too short.

Sounds like a popularity contest or fraternity. My kids just want to play hockey at the highest level. This too me sounds like a money grab to take weekend vacations to non vacationing spots

Yikes. I may just save all my travel try out money. I never realized all these programs were fixed and so political. I assumed teams “reset” each year. But I can see how the kids that played for a team last year move to the next age group and get preferential treatment having been in the program. I didnt expect this stuff till HS. Not at such a young age. Oh well ?

Thanks all great advice. All makes sense

Thank you i appreciate the feedback. I guess its a delicate slope either way.

Im new to the forum and learning a lot as a hockey parent. My son is a 2009 birthday. He really wants to try out for Pens Elite. Last year at North Pittsburgh he dis not make a travel team. A lot of coaches that know my son from ADM and summer league told me they were he didnt make travel. Soooo we opted for the NP in house league. In a matter of a few games he is on Line 1 of 3 and for the most part is noticeable in a good way on the ice. Needless to say he became a stronger skater since tryouts. i want to give him the opportunity to try out at Pens elite to see what it takes to make it as I dont think he would make it. Any advice on this? Is it a waste of our time? Any advice for preparing for North Pittsburgh travel tryouts? Thanks all!