hockeyisgreat

44 minutes ago, Eddie Shore said:

Your logic is flawed.  You are making the assumption that the infection rate is standardized.  It is not.  Over 65% of all cases are the elderly and nursing homes are hit the hardest.  News flash for you, those people don't go outside!  It has also been proven that hospitals get more insurance money if they code a case as COVID versus not (look it up from any news source).  Also, it has been proven that any death that occurs and the person had symptoms of COVID (ie a temperature) will be coded as COVID.  That means if I have a heart attack when I had a temperature, or were coughing it gets coded as COVID (straight out of the CDC guidelines).  These are facts, and they are undeniable.  Look up the flu deaths from the past years 

You tell him Eddie!!!!  I agree 100%  Besides that, who thinks we will see business as usual any time soon.  I will practice social distancing and all the rest of the guidelines and still go out in public.  That is just the new normal.  I can't believe anyone thinks they can live with a shutdown of our lives until the virus is gone.  There has to be a middle ground.  I am very interested in hearing more about AAU Hockey. Thanks for the info.  Do you know of any teams in SWPA?  Competition for USA Hockey would be a good thing.

USA Hockey put out their Return to the Rink guidelines on their website. Basically sounds like they are leaving it up to the rinks based on State reopening. No mention of dates to allow tryouts.  At least they are thinking in the right direction.  Some of the things discussed here are in their guidelines. Like  suggesting that players dress at home and spend as little time at the rinks as possible. Limiting parents etc.

If you don't like Little League you can always join Pony League. So USA Hockey has no rival? It's them or nothing? Do the rinks have to pay into USA Hockey? Does any inhouse league at a Hockey rink have to be USA Hockey approved? Is it because of Liability issues?

5 minutes ago, The King said:

That’s a complex question. Because the affiliates and the national office are separate entities. Your local affiliate in WPA works on a “limited” budget according to the “independent” audit done. Their issue will be that many of the facilities under their umbrella may not survive. But it’s not like any of the people that make up their BOG actually do anything. It’s the folks at the top of that chain that reap the benefits. How it effects the national office is that, they will have to choose what entities to maintain. Is the NTDP their priority? Is the ushl or now the NAHL the priority? Can they afford the expanded executive committee? Where does the money come from? Many of the donations and grants will take a hit as well. Forget the youth level. My bet is they allow competing governing bodies take over certain leagues in order for their money makers to survive.

Wow, I had no idea of the complex nature of USA Hockey. I do think that if one or two rinks are willing to open and fight the system the rest will be forced to do the same. I would be willing to bet that if a few rinks opened up they would have  unlimited people coming.  20 more cases today in Allegheny County with no new deaths! 

2 minutes ago, The King said:

No one will fight back. And it’s not an issue of being a mindless drone. It’s being submissive and subservient. You can’t do anything until the governing body tells you to. If you want it back, you’ll have to fight for it. They know you won’t. Which is why their financial interests will remain safe and secure. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but prove me wrong.

I agree we as a society are soft. But I do see some reports of people opening up their business against government orders. I know this is a big minority but if this goes on months longer I would bet that more and more people are starting to feel the same way. Don't forget this country was founded in a revolt. Granted 250 years ago but hopefully enough of us believe in what this country was founded on. Life, Liberty & the pursuit of Happiness.

King, I enjoy listening to your opinions here. How long do you think USA Hockey can go before they have no revenue streams and have to close up shop.  I would imagine that registrations are way down.  I wouldn't join for 20-21 until I know what is going on.  I think current memberships expire August 1st. Can they go a year without registration money?

11 minutes ago, Denis Lemiuex said:

Experts are starting to come out and say it is not as bad as people think it is.

https://www.stress.org/stanford-professor-data-indicates-were-severely-overreacting-to-coronavirus

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/04/umpc-argues-covid-19-not-as-deadly-as-feared-says-its-hospitals-will-shift-back-to-normal.html

It is very deadly for a certain populace and need to be protected but it can be done with minimal disruption to our everyday lives. If you live with or have contact with a high risk person be very careful. My wife is over 60 and battled breast cancer several years ago, Her immune system still isn't 100 percent and during that time I took a lot of precautions. Most what we are experiencing today. I coached two teams ranging from Pee Wees and high school during this time. I used wipes almost to an obsession. I made other coaches handle the water bottles. I kept my time in a locker room to a minimum.  Fist pumped players in the handshake line (and quickly used wipes on my hands once it was over). And for about 3 years I never had a cold which was a regular occurance during hockey season because my players were typhoid mary's.

When we are allowed out full time. I will be wearing a mask and continue to do what I started several years earlier. As long as you regularly and properly wash you hands and limit handshakes and hope people learn to sneeze properly then 99 percent of the population will be fine.

So grandparents don't go to games any more until a vaccine/treatment is developed. Small trade off. But with LiveBarn they can still watch in real time. Same with people in the at risk category. Parents may have to miss attending games. It stinks but as a parent I know I would rather my kids play sports without me being there than not at all (insert your own helicopter parent comment here).

Be safe and smart everyone.

Two thumbs up to all of this!!!!!

From what I see of the protests in various states people are starting to revolt against the Hysteria. I go back to the fact that a free society should be able to make their own decisions. I choose not to live in China.  At this point everyone should understand the risks. I'm sure you could modify things. Kids get dressed at home. No more locker rooms for a while. It's called adapting and adjusting to the situation. I just think that if we don't get things moving soon the whole economy of the US will be in chaos. I by no means am advocating business as usual. I do agree that warning signs and liability wavers might be the in the new normal. But to expect no sports for several years is unrealistic. Danner27, shouldn't kids and parents who would be willing to take the risk to play know better than to be around high risk people?  Give us some credit, or are we all just mindless drones?

5 minutes ago, Danner27 said:

In my humble opinion, After reading this, don’t expect youth and amateur hockey this season. 

https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/georges-laraque-coronavirus-pneumonia-1.5553967

 

What part of this made you decide that we shouldn't expect youth and amateur hockey this season?  Do you think society should just shutdown totally until a vaccine is found? 
Don't we take risks every day getting in a car? Walking across a street? ( Maybe not so much now)  I just don't think we should all stay in our houses until they find a vaccine, What if it takes 3 or 4 years? Laraque took a risk delivering food. He should have known he was a high risk with asthma!  I'm not sure what quality of life you want, but I want more than just staying in my house for the next year or two.

Has anyone seen any more information from CMU as to where they are with this "decision support tool"  

To that end, the commonwealth is partnering with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) to create a data-driven decision support tool that will enable a balance between maximizing the results of our economy while minimizing public health risks. This tool will help better understand the current health and economic status, as well as the inherent risks and benefits to easing restrictions by sector and region.

How long before we see this?

I really don't like this moving target that Wolf has put out there. He says one thing and then backs off from it. By now everyone should have an understanding as to how easily it spreads.  I would venture to say that we will see the use of masks in every day life for a long time.  There is not going to be a day when everything goes back to the way it was last November.  I could deal with it a lot better if you told me by July 1st (or any date in the next 60 to 90 days) we expect to have things reopened with modifications.  Give me some light at the end of the tunnel so I can work to make it happen.

8 minutes ago, Django said:

I’ll have to disagree with most of PB’s assessment - I’ll leave it at that.

Great book about 1918 pandemic by John Barry, The Great Influenza. 
 

Wow, I'm somewhere in the middle of all this.  You just can't shut down the world. The only way that would work is to stay shut down until the virus is gone! How long will that take? It's just not realistic. I don't understand what more testing will do. I can be negative today and 3 days later test positive. You would have to test everyone every day to isolate the virus. Is that realistic?  We have to make up our own minds as to how we want to live with this thing. Some will choose to stay inside and some will choose to take the risk. It's called freedom of choice. It's being taken away from us right now.   I will look up that book. I'm sure it is an interesting read, But 1918 didn't have our advanced technology.

I Guess I am leaning more toward PB's assessment- I will leave it at that.

2 hours ago, Pucks11 said:

There are clinics (just posted yesterday) scheduled next weekend (May 9th and 10th) at a local rinks. 

What rinks are you looking at?  Looks like everything is still closed as far as I can see.  No rinks till green phase. My opinion Wolf is going to start really feeling the heat. I think the western part of the state will be green by the end of May. No facts just opinion.  Then rinks up and running in the middle of June and Tryouts in July. Just my best guess.  It will still be a risk and some people might decide hockey is not worth the risk.

Very interesting. Thanks

How long does it take to freeze another sheet of ice?

I know I have seen that report before on the PIHL site.  I can't find it now. Can you tell me where to access it.  Thanks

Does anyone no how the PAHL teams get picked?

Travel champs.com site is really bad. they don't even list the dates for the tournament.  Must be one of those PAHL "secrets" as to how teams get selected for the tournament.

Renegades talent was diluted by the Vengeance adding teams this year. It will be interesting to see what direction they will take next year. 

So in looking at the PAHL calender it appears that there are no appeals for the Squirt placements.   Does anyone know if the placements are posted anywhere?

Anyone have the final placements for Squirt 19-20. Scheduling this weekend.   Thanks

5 minutes ago, sadday4hockey said:

All 3 "AAA" teams played in the JV bracket and while Esmark may have fared well on the ice this past weekend, things are not nearly so rosy off the ice. Multiple players have already either quit or have requested their release and the team will more than likely not exist through the end of the month.

Which Esmark team are you talking about?

I think what you are talking about is player development.  It really depends on the player. If they love it and want to skate more go for it. Just don't burn them out. There are some nice clinics over the Christmas break that keeps the kids skating and hopefully teaches them something. Preparing for next years tryouts should not be the goal.  Getting better while enjoying hockey should be the goal.

Mitch,

You guys do a great job of covering the local Hockey scene. I just came across you guys last year.  The PIHL & PAHL should give you guys a banner on their websites to promote Western Pa Hockey. Under the PIHL site for headlines it should direct to you instead of the nothing it leads to now.    

Anyway keep up the good work.

Wow, I guess I didn't realize how bad youth hockey has become! Parents that far out of control? How do you guys feel about myhockey rankings?  I read an article about how it came to be and that it's intention is to be able to group teams properly for out of town tournaments!  I am new to all this and must be naive because I did not see the down side to transparency. I have no doubt that the stories told here are true. I do understand that there are no boundaries and kids can try out anywhere which I'm sure leads to competition among organizations for players.  I guess I am kind of a stats geek. That's why I like the myhockey rankings. I like to see who the best teams in Western Pa are. What organizations seem to be doing the best and also how big the organizations are. I also like to listen to you all give your perspectives as to what is good and what is bad about Western Pa hockey.