Saucey

Didn't have a choice until midget. And that was dependent on his skill and willingness to work. I won't send a child to college just because they want to, pay for it and there is no indication that they would do well or work. That's not good for the child or my pocket book. My background is definitely not what ever the child wants they get.

So says the parent of a AAA kid on Icemen. Because I don't think it helps our area. I get it a parent doesn't care. You just want your kids happy. And I don't believe that kids find it fun to be beat down by large margins. Again, it's parents driving development. But Mid Am or someone interested in developing the game, should be looking at this trend.

Absolutely. Exemplifies my point, you have no players in the pipeline you've got nothing eventually.

Absolutely, you get it. We don't have six to 8 AAA teams when some of them aren't in the top of Tier II obviously. But if we are talking about AAA, you are not talking about AAA if you exclude PPE. That's exactly what these AAA teams want to do, ignore PPE and pretend they are AAA.

Those kids belong in in house. Travel hockey is too much for those kids. Used to be, low level hockey teams weren't traveling. And I hated he idea that high level hockey means no fun.

So......six teams that play each other with PPE most likely winning all the games? Or are you going to exclude PPE, because I doubt they'll play. You mean..... a different AA league. I hate BY model for our area. If your skill puts you at the top team, that's where you go. If people are dissatisfied with PAHL, I get it, but current situation stinks.

If we had 150 AAA players around here we would see more than one or two players making the national development team. Small hockey market with a lot of wishful thinking.

It is repeated on this Board constantly how having 6 to 8 'AAA' teams is growing the game in Western Pa'. I challenge the long term sustainability of this notion. We have a long term problem around here with this trend. The biggest fallacy with this is that PAHL programs in general are not using their resources in the minor levels. Few are doing anything but concentrating on their top teams. The AA and AAA get all the ice, etc. So when these programs need talent, they are not pulling from their own ranks. They are raiding the programs that do a good job developing their young, less experienced players, and there aren't that many of them. That means there are not enough players to go around. Consolidation happens into one or two super teams, they have no one to compete against, and have to travel to play. Increases the cost of hockey and does not grow the game. Increasing costs creates a barrier to entry. AA play should not require travel outside of PAHL. And that's what the low level teams are, AA. This is driven by coaches and parents who are only interested in their own child. What do they care if the lower levels are developing? Their kid is taken care of. I'm sorry, this is not growing the game. Parents of kids who are playing minor levels, you need to become active in your boards. All the eggs should not be placed in one or two baskets. Directors of hockey ops, other people are also paying for their kids to play. Their children also deserve to develop. And we know kids develop in different stages, so they should be given that opportunity.

To know that, your kid went to all those tryouts and you have a check book for the Icemen. If kids got better playing there, I would be quiet. A lot of these AAA options are not AAA, but the kids do seem to improve. Not so with the Icemen 'Hockey is so much better in Western Pa'. Except this program isn't contributing to that statement. Parent demand does not equal development. Shifting players to more expensive hockey without development does not grow the game.

Icemen as an organization has fielded one AAA team. That was the team with the owners son and their first year. After that, the highest level was AA. Totally the story of the dad wanting to fulfill his kids dream. They will form teams just to form teams, regardless of skill level. If there is no other option to fill the roster and the parent is writing a check, you can go there and say you are AAA. Are you doing your kid any good? No. You do not create AAA players by playing on that kind of team. Does your kid get 'exposure'? No. Scouts go to certain events and tournaments that teams like the Icemen do not get into. Can the coach guarantee your kid will make NAHL or anything else? I mean, if you are listening to that kind of pitch and buying it, can I have access to your check book? There are no guarantees. If I wanted to call my kid AAA, this is the worst choice out there. All you are doing is doubling the cost of your kid playing hockey. Will your kid become a better player? No. I have known a lot of kids that went there who play the same as before they went. So what are you paying for, exactly? Just the ability to say you are AAA.

NP 06 AA schedule from my hockey rankings shows that they played that Preds AAA team and won. ?‍♂️

Yes. If the parents want to proceed the organization will do it. What's your point?

This isn't new. This organization in my experience is very up front about the talent that comes out. If they don't think the team will compete at AAA, they tell parents that and give them a choice as to whether to proceed. I think the teams on the website are last seasons, btw.

I know nothing about the issue but I can almost guarantee that you won't get good insight here. Plus most people that post things such as this are looking to stir trouble and are suspected as much as you already have seen. Anonymous forums are incredibly unreliable sources of information.

Parents on that ride believe their kid will be the one not cut. ?‍♂️ Just like most of the ones who got cut will go to the next best 'AAA' option around here until they land. Some just opt to play high school hockey or, most sad in my opinion, give up hockey altogether.

To be fair systems play per USA hockey is like ten percent of practice at that age. Systems doesn't really increase hockey IQ. But off ice, have at it.

Minnesota has an entirely different system. School hockey is where it is at, with a focus on community based hockey over travel. I think many organizations would love to offer ice three times a week, but many rinks don't have enough ice for that. But video review, that could happen for certain.

I think Western Pa hockey as a whole suffers from low hockey IQ and a terrible passing game. It is very apparent when our better teams play higher levels. Is it our coaching, something not being done right throughout the system? Some have speculated that our kids don't have enough free ice as in other big hockey markets to help develop that (ODRs, community rinks with lots stick times, etc) I don't know how to fix it. Maybe time spent with buds at the dek hockey rinks in the summer, I don't know.

It is crappy to denigrate the accomplishment. It seems better to root for our local teams when they compete at such levels, PPE or whoever. The players can't be faulted for the lack of competition or how the tournament is set up. I root for whoever goes up because it suggests this area is developing talent. I have lots of complaints about faux AAA teams, but I will be more than happy to root for them if they compete at the national level. Because maybe then they aren't so faux anymore. When that happens.

Just get on their mailing list, they will email you every day. ?

When you need players.....we need more girls playing.

The rules on rostering on multiple teams are a little different for girls. You can find the rules in PAHL. Lower numbers of girls playing means some creativity in allowing play. You can only play for one team in the national bound tournament I think though.

Having to keep their feet moving before tryouts is a pain. But USA Hockey revolves around Tier I hockey and they don't want to have Nationals affected by kids tryouts. Even though that number is small.

The age group who would benefit the most from a later tryout is the squirts. If anything, they really change the most from tryout to starting the next season.

Can't agree more. Can't find refs or coaches because of parents. Plus I think many kids do better knowing their parents can't see them. I never watch my kids try out.